Grand Opening of SVBF Canada?s $11 million complex
The highly anticipated grand opening of the Sringeri Sharadamba Temple and the Adi Shankara Museum was the theme of a press conference organized on Monday by Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation, Canada (SVBF Canada).
The Shri Sharadamba Temple would be one of the three main elements of the SVBF Complex, with the other two being the Adi Shankara Museum and the Sringeri Community Centre. The Adi Shankara Museum, the first such museum of its kind, to be inaugurated on June 27, would be graced by 16 specially commissioned marble panels telling the story of Adi Shankara, said Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, President of SVBF Canada. The Museum would eventually grow to be a storehouse of Indian spiritual and cultural traditions, enabling future scholars to conduct their research and for all devotees to draw inspiration from, he said.
The Adi Shankara Museum and the Shri Sharadamba Temple would join the Sringeri Community Centre, which opened in 2008 and is already the hub of numerous social, religious, cultural and corporate events. During the 10-day event, the Community Centre would host music, dance and spiritual narrative programs by both international and local artists, said Mr. Thiagarajan, who heads the Cultural Committee for the event. All the programs, in the time-honoured tradition of similar events in India, would be offered at no cost to the attendees, he said.
More than 150 volunteers have been working hard for several months to plan and execute the elaborate arrangements for the event. These arrangements include making parking arrangements for the anticipated 10,000 attendees, transportation, food preparation and guiding the visitors through the event for a hassle-free and memorable experience. Prominent dignitaries expected to attend include Federal Cabinet Minister, Mr. Tony Clement and Provincial Cabinet Minister, Mr. Harinder Takhar.
The Grand Consecration event will culminate on June 27 with ritualistic pouring of waters over the deities from 1008 silver and copper vessels (Kalasas), energizing the temple complex for the future generations. The completed complex will become one of the most popular points of interest in Greater Toronto, not only for Hindu devotees, but also for the general population interested in the great heritage of India and Hinduism, said Mr. Subramanian.
About SVBF Canada:
Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (SVBF) Canada was established as a non-profit, charitable organization to propagate Sanathana Dharma in communities across Canada . SVBF Canada is an overseas affiliate of Shri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, India and will promote teachings of Adi Shankara. SVBF Canada will also organize cultural programs for the community and encourage scholars to undertake research studies in the areas of interest to the community.
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