Subramuniya Mandapam Kumbhabhishekam

While Iraivan Temple was concluding its kumbhabhishekam events, another auspicious installation was happening in northern Sri Lanka. The recently completed Subramuniya Mandapam in Alaveddy received its kumbhabhishekam, performed by Sri Prasanna Kurukkal from Nallur Temple.

Gurudeva lived on this land when it was the home of a Yogaswami devotee. The home was later removed and a small Siva Temple built. The lingam from that temple is now the center murti of the Subramuniya Mandapam. So the land has gone from a devotee’s home, to a Siva shrine, to a meditation pavilion holding the murtis of four of our historical satgurus.

For background, here are the recollections of Kandiah Chettiar’s daughter-in-law: "When my father-in-law—who was staying with Robert at the Colombo YMCA and was impressed with his steady morning devotions—wrote home to inform the family that he would be bringing a young American to our home, all were horrified. The home was too humble. To prepare for the guest, we decided that the family would move out of the house and give it entirely to Robert for his stay.

"Upon his arrival we were astonished to see his great height. He was so tall he couldn’t stand upright except in the very center of the house! After some hours, he was very close with us—like a brother to my husband. That evening my father-in-law took him to the Ganesha Temple. The priest asked his name, and my father-in-law said, 'Thamby. We just call him Thamby ["young one"].' He made everyone so comfortable, like part of the family; we all stayed in the house."