New Andaman Narayana deity is prepared for worship

On August 28 2015 a shipment containing 3 statues arrived at the ancient Andaman Narayanan temple site. The statues packed in crates were shipped from a the carving site of Panchami Associates in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. The crates contain a stucco statue model of the original Awaninarainan that was made in Phuket and shipped to Panchami Associates in 2012. Using this stucco model that closely resembles the Awaninarainan statue in Phuket's Thalang museum a black granite statue fit for traditional Hindu worship was made. This statue was completed in March 2015 and it is in the second crate. The third crate has a pedestal for the statue.

Original Awaninarainan deity in Phuket's Thalang Museum

Making the stucco model at the museum grounds in Phuket 2012

After arriving safely at the temple site, the granite statue was unpacked the traditional Hindu rite to prepare a deity for worship started. This involves soaking the deity in water for 48 days, then covering the deity with rice husk for 48 days and finally flowers for another 48 days. When I went to visit the temple site in September last year the diety was soaking in a big pool of water.

Statue soaking in water at the Andaman Narayanan Temple site September 2015

On February 10 this year after finishing 144 days of preparing the deity a ceremony to 'open the eyes of the deity' will be performed followed by prayers that will empower the deity for worship. 

Andaman Narayanan Statue Project Nearing Completion

A week ago I received a scanned copy of the bill of lading for a shipment of three crates containing the granite statue of Andaman Narayanan, a base pedestal with a lotus design and the stucco model of the deity. Since the last posting on this blog in 2012, the project has been been progressing slowly and will be completed when the shipment arrives safely in the care of the Anadaman Narayanan Temple committee in Phang Nga, Thailand. Below is a time line of the progress thus far.

December 2012–Stucco statue is packed at the Phuket museum and begins its journey to Chennai, India. It arrives at Selvanathan Sthapati's stone carving site in March 2013.

March 2014–Statue carving begins. It takes almost a year to identify and get required permits from the Indian Government to extract the large 7 foot black granite block that will be the new Andaman Narayanan statue.

November 2014–The carving is about 80% done and scheduled for completion in March 2015.

March 2015–Statue is completed and waits for permits from the Indian government for export and careful packing.

26th June 2015–Statues clears Indian customs and is shipped to Bangkok.

15 August 2015–Statues clear Thailand customs. Thai Shipping that took care of the delivery to the temple site sponsors the transport cost.

28 August 2015–Sri Andaman Narayanan Statue begins the 154 days of traditional rites before it can be worshipped by the public.

Thank You the the Contributors of Stage One–Deity Restoration Project

Thank You Very Much, Contributors!

Contributors:

Mr. Lavindran Sandragasu and Family

Mrs. Sivamalar Thuraisingam and Family

Mr. Sivagnanamurthi and Family

Mr. Vemalananthan

Jaya Subramaniam

Mr. & Mrs. Segaran and Soodamani and Family

Dr. Ratna Malar Selvaratnam and Family

Vinotha Selvadurai

Mr. Sharavanan Selvadurai and Family

Below are the expenses incurred for this stage of the restoration project.

Selvanathan Sthapati & Muthukumar (stucco modeling expert) Fees & Travel - RM 6,595.00
 • Expenses include Flight Tickets ( Chennai-Phuket-Chennai), Thailand Visa Fees, Sthapati's Fees and Muthukumar's Fees.

Swami's Trip to Chennai - RM 1,644.00
• Swami's trip to Chennai June 18 - June 23, including flight tickets (KL-Chennai-KL), made for face to face meetings with Sthapati to introduce and discuss details and logistics of the project and to secure flight tickets for Sthapati and Muthukumar.

Project Expenses in Phuket, Thailand - RM 3,135
• Raw material for making the stucco image, required tools, fuel for transport, food, Swami's travel expenses, 185 cm (6 ft) enlarged photo print of original deity.

Total Expenses - RM 11, 374.00
Total Contributions - RM 9, 931.00
Center for Hindu Studies Grant - RM 1,443.00

The Center for Hindu Studies also received a gift of a Sony HD Video Camera (worth RM 2,213.00) to record archival footage of this project.

Thank you very much to the contributors of Stage One of this historic project. This is a meritorious project and your continued support is much appreciated.

For more information on this stage of the project, please click here.