25 years of Tamil pride in City Beautiful

Shreyasi Thakur

Ellam Avan Paathuppan (He takes care of everything). An archetype of the Dravidian architecture—the majestic Karthikeya Swami Temple of the Tamilian community in Chandigarh’s Sector 31— is what it is today due to this very principle, believe its humble devotees.

A five-stage Rajagopuram or the grand entrance tower is hard to miss. However, a closer look is highly recommended. Avatars of Mahavishnu, Shiv, Ganesh and Durga are beautifully sculpted to represent scenes from the Puranas. Temple insiders claim this entrance alone has 121 statues.

“Temples have always been the highest among other structures in Tamil villages. The top of gopuram has a lightning conductor so that if a tragedy were to befall, it would be absorbed by the temple,” says SP Rajasekaran, general secretary, Lord Murugam Bhaktha Samaj.

“The gumbaj or the dome below the same was used to store grains so that in case of a flood, these could be used as seeds later,” he adds. The place of worship stands on 33 pillars, each one installed on 11 lakh Rama jayam (a book of handwritten mantras) praying for peace. The practice energises the shrine with powerful, positive vibes, believes Raju, a young priest.

All this grandeur, however, has its roots in humble beginnings.

In the 1980s, when militancy was at its peak in Punjab, what held Tamilians in the city intact was their belief in Lord Murugan (Karthikeya), son of Parvati and Shiva, known to be the Warrior God. They simply set up a small shed and placed a copper spear (associated with Karthikeya) and idols of lords inside.

“Over the years, there have been many additions and renovations. We faced challenges, mostly due to shortage of funds. But to everyone’s surprise, the Lord used to either send a devotee with donation or the right person for the job each time,” he adds.

Scores of senior patrons, mostly from the Air Force, who were instrumental in bringing up the temple and are now settled in other places, have come to the city to take part in the celebrations. This year, a huge wooden door and a chariot are the new entrants. Craftsmen are busy putting up golden brass layering inside. The glory keeps multiplying. Ellam Avansyal (He does everything).