Each of these centres will be encircled by 464 beautifully carved pillars. Hoysala style architecture will be seen in these pillars. This architecture took birth around the 11th century in Karnataka under Hoysala Empire. A prolific architect, Sri Jakanachari architected several temples in south India in this ancient beautiful style.
Baselana black marble will be used for these pillars. Out of the 464 planned pillars, 120 of them have reached the site at JIVA. Last week, 2 pillars are positioned and tested. 6 craftsmen worked on fixing the pillars and around 25 more artisans will join them in positioning the remaining pillars. 160 artisans are working on these pillars at Jaipur and Bandra, Rajasthan.
– Update from our Chief Architect, Sriman Prasad Sthapathy ji
This project is a matter of pride for the entire mankind as it reflects who we are from deep within, and the means to live peacefully in harmony with all fellow beings and nature! It reflects Equality of all beings in the eyes of the Supreme ! It presents to the world the most time-tested philosophy of great seers and scholars!
Recently, on May 5th, Sriman Mahanth Swamy became the Head of Sri Swami Narayana (BAPS) Institution. During his visit to Hyderabad, BAPS, He invited Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji accepted the invitation and visited them. HH Swamiji briefed them about Samatha Murthi at Samshabad and invited them to JIVA Asramam.
Due to time constraint, Sriman Mahanth Swamiji expressed his inability to attend the place and said that his members would visit instead.
On May 6th, Sri Swami Narayana Institution members Sriman Atma Chinthan Swami, Sri Ama Nishta Swami, Sri Atma Swarupa Swami, Sri Anandsagar Swami, Sri Sadhughan Syam Swami visited Samshabad Asramam to see Sri Ramanuja – Samatha Murthi. They were spellbound seeing the majestic Ramanuja Swamy seated on a Lotus showering His grace to the whole world.
Returning back to their asramam, they explained their divine experience, the amazing work and the magnificient creation to their guruji Sriman Mahanth Swamiji.
The very next day, on May 7th, Sriman Mahanth took time to visit Samatha Murthi and was very happy to see the wonderful work and the message it conveys. Sriman Mahanth Swami, although very old (nearly 80 Yrs), climbed the three levels and reached the Badra Vedi. He touched the Gajarajas there and was extremely thrilled and happy. He asked more details about Sri Ramanuja from our HH Swamiji and was amazed to know about the life history, philosophy, mission and works of SriRamanuja.
Out of the 106 centres of inspiration that are on this land, 11 of them have been raised above Foundation level. Chitravana, Upapeetam, Adhishtanam have beautifully shaped up mirroring the original centres!
39 of them have CRS walls being constructed. 16 of them are in the stage of excavation. 4 of them are at the Foundation level. 18 of them are in Grade slab level. 18 of them have yet to start!
DivyaDesams, Centres of Inspiration – Foundation for 30 temples that inspired Ramanujacharya with their history of Samatha,equality, is complete and 30 more in progress.
Bhadravedi – the huge stage that seats 216 feet of Ramanujacharya, 95% of the first floor work on this stage is complete. Railing and sajja work is in progress. First floor pillar and plain cladding work is in progress
Dynamic Fountain – Concrete work is in progress. Flower walls and haunch plastering is in progress.
Discussions around 4K projector shows on Ramanujacharya have started
We invite everyone to take part in this effort. You will not only make history but also play a role in shaping a direction for future generations on the best way to lead a balanced life, best way to deal with problems of any kind, best source of knowledge on various aspects!
Above all, you can proudly be a part of making the statue, a message of, Equality allowing all of us to treat ourselves and every being around with dignity and respect for what they are in a broader perspective!
A hamsa can separate water from milk! It represents satvik quality of people who are able to differentiate between incorrect or unhealthy practices from right ones! Great seers take good attributes of everything around and ignore unnecessary aspects.
An elephant is mighty and exhibits valour. It represents rajasik quality of people who are aggressive and is competitive rather than collective in nature.
A lion is fierce and intense for its food. It represents thamasikquality of people who are only self-centric and do not care for anything else.
Beyond these three is a Lotus flower. It emerges from sticky muddy water, but is a beautiful flower. This represents an extremely great state of people who are amongst all such three qualities but do not get carried into them.
The dynamic fountain therefore is arranged to reflect this amazing set of characteristics of everyone in the world. 8 Lions lie on the bottom-most part, followed by 8 Elephants and then lie 8 Swans. On top of this is a beautiful Lotus in which Bhagavad Ramanuja is seated in honour!
We wanted to update you on the progress of Bhadravedi work which has hamsas being used in window carvings! Enjoy the update on the carving and the progress on the rest exclusively for all our donors and promoters…!
More than 30 trucks of carved material being shipped from Pindwara to the SOE site
Second floor thoranam carving is in polishing state
Bhadravedi door frames work is in progress
Tulasi beads of Bhagavad Ramanuja are being shaped accordingly
216 Feet Ramanujacharya seated in honour on Padma Peetam is being held by 36 Elephants! These 36 elephants which represent valour and majestic nature are a part of God’s creation. At the same time, the tender and beautiful lotus shaped base is also part of the same God’s creation!
As Swamiji says, ‘Rough and hard teeth work cohesively with the sensitive and delicate tongue because they work according to your intention. Similarly, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, strong and weak all should work together for one common cause as we all belong to one big family. If parts of the body begin to fight, there is no YOU! Understand the differences and make them unite you for a stronger world!’
On the 18th of Jan 2018, several key team members, Jagadish ji, Prasad ji, Mikkey ji, Mr. Woo, and several other designers discussed the mechanism behind the fountain of water that will shower from those 36 Elephants holding the beautiful Lotus. Some decisions regarding the design and details were taken and will be presented to Swamiji for final approval. There was also an in depth discussion on the lighting around Dynamic Fountain, the Speakers (recommended 7.1 system).
Bharath is a country that is based not only on what a brain is capable of but also on what a heart can give. It is built on the foundations of a kind heart that elevates one to a peaceful state. The Materialistic progress spiritual base can be harmful to society. It is equivalent to AK47 in the hands of a crazy person.
A mind that focuses only on materials or external growth will become selfish, dominant and can lead to hurting others around. However, when it is bound by a higher goal of spiritual enrichment, collaboration and collective work becomes easier and efficient.
Around 1000 years ago, Ramanujacharya spread the profound message of Equality, which is quite essential for everyone to believe in so that we don’t fight over supremacy. Today, we would like to revive those ideal thoughts, those great deeds in the form of an inspirational centre. We would like to reinstate those foundations so that the future generations can learn and grow into peace spreading souls!
Inviting one and all to become part of this noble mission that rebuilds us as strong pillars of a great future!
– From the discourse of Sri Swamiji in a gathering at Jubliee Hills, Hyderabad, India
Do you agree that ‘Knowledge is Power’? Yes, But – Knowledge cannot become ‘right power’ until it is used in empowering others. It cannot become ‘right power’ unless it is utilised in transforming one to be ‘giving’. It cannot become ‘right power’ until one realises the limitations of it.
Ramanujacharya had done all the above and therefore, a true Inspiration! He is like that ‘Sun’ who eliminates the ‘darkness’ of ignorance and makes lotus flowers of knowledge ‘blossom’ within us.
Today, Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami visited the Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi, SRS site to examine and review the work w.r.t the fountain. This fountain is a physical representation of the sloka above. Swamiji is giving us all an opportunity to ‘shower’ gratitude on Ramanujacharya who shared with us the essence of Knowledge.
Key aspects reviewed by Swamiji include but are not limited to:
Positioning of lotuses
Mechanism behind the opening and closing of the flowers
Emerging and retreating of Ramanujacharya’s deity from the Sun like structure
The finalisation of antique shade for the elements and structures used in the fountain
Control command room under the fountain
Samudrala Ranga Ramanujacharya Garu and Purushottham Rao Garu also accompanied Swamiji. Gopi Garu along with several devotees were along to facilitate the inspection. Chief Architect, Sthapathy – Sriman Prasad garu was along with Swamiji taking feedback to get it incorporated. As always, he was kind enough to share with us all the information on the progress of the site.
Swamijialso distributed delicious sweets to honour and appreciate the work force. HH also wished them well for the upcoming happy festive season of Sankranti. The workforce included the managers, designers, artisans, the craftsmen, the construction engineers, crane operators, security personnel![/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https://photos.app.goo.gl/mYRtlpcPtuGU5rKy1″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click Here For More Photos” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ box_shadow_style=”preset6″][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
We say ‘Thanks’ to someone who has given us a glass of water when we are thirsty. We say, ‘May everything you wish for come true”; ‘thank you’ to someone who has offered you delicious food when you are super hungry. We hug a friend and express gratitude for being with us in hard times. We say thanks to the trees by doing our bit in protecting the environment. We say thanks to the Sun by offering a prayer every morning. We are thankful to everyone and everything around us for keeping us the way we are now.
How about being thankful to Acharya who shared with us the ultimate knowledge of eternal truths? To that Acharya who gave us the knowledge which supports us in leading a happier life here while paving the path to the ultimate goal of the soul?
Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamijji’s dream is to express our gratitude to Bhagavad Ramanujacharya through this wonderful ‘Statue of Equality’ project that spread the message of Ramanujacharya to the entire world for many generations. Lakhs of people who are benefited by the knowledge of Ramanujacharya are participating in the making of this great structure.
Today, as Swami reached the site and looked at the progress of work – His eyes were filled with joy. While HH was mesmerised looking at the Acharyas 216 foot statue, everyone around there got lost into Swamiji’seyes that were filled with loads of happiness, gratitude and a sense of fullness.
Latest on Swarna Murthi, Bhadravedi, Dynamic Fountain and more..!
Tridandam(the flag pole) and Thirumukham(the face) polishing is complete
Dynamic Fountain erection process has begun
Bhadravedi (the stage on which 216 feet Ramanuja is seated in honour)
192 people are on the job
You can choose todonatefor the steps that take you to Bhadravedi, or any other work that is in progress.
Swarna Murthi, 120 Kg GoldDeityof Ramanuja – While the 216 feet high Ramanuja statue is set to invite the entire world to explore eternal truths, the 120 Kg Gold Deity will instil a deep sense of conscious connection with the Supreme power. The Gold Deity is being placed for letting us offer daily worship to thank HIM for elaborating on eternal truths in clarity!
The order for the Murthi needs to be placed in the next couple of weeks. If you would like your gold to the murthi, please donate now. Take pride for contributing to a cause that marks true knowledge on eternal truths!
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His Holiness graced the event organised by JET Albany Chapter in support of Statue of Equality . Dignitaries Kathy Sheehan Hon Mayor of Albany City, Jeff Quain, Capital Region Representative and Phil Barrett, Town Supervisor- Albany and other community leaders not only embraced Swamiji’smessage of equality, but also encouraged the society at large to take part in the same. Many children and youth were inspired by the greatness of Ramanuja, and went out of their way to donate for equality!
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