|| Om Namo Shree Venkateshwaraya Namaha ||
Of the many Sri Venkatesh Devasthana (temple) in the country, the one at Fanaswadi in South Mumbai has secured a special place. The temple has earned this reputation because of the hands that consecrated the Temple and these were those of Prativadi Bhayankara Jagataguru Ananthacharya Swamiji.
In 1920, the devotees of Sri Venkatesha, in Mumbai, came together to give shape to the Acharya’s desire to build divyadesa (temple) to further the cause of Vaishnavism. They pooled in all their resource, both in cash and kind for this noble cause. Thus began the work of temple construction under the supervision of the Jagataguru himself. In 1927 the construction was successfully completed and between June 4-10, 1927 the murthy (idol) of Sri Venkatesha was consecrated ceremoniously and the temple was gifted by the Acharya to the citizens of Mumbai.
With the primary agenda of working out a plan for the smooth functionary of the temple a meeting was convened on June 26, 1927. The outcome of this meeting was the formation of a trust which was registered on June 21, 1935.An encoded document regulates the daily rituals and routine practices of the temple.
Presently the Trust is headed by Srinivas Acharyaji the grandson of the Jagadguru Ananthacharya.The temple houses an office which services as coordination point for all activities.
The temple resembles the temples of the south. The hall has 12 pillars and an image of Prativadi Bhayankar Ananthacharya Swamiji adorns the main door that leads to the path adjoining the temple. A library is housed within the temple and there are guest rooms for visitors. A golden flag post and gold offering stand adorn the temple.
Beside the main deity S. V Sridevi -Sridevraj, Sri Lakshmi Narsimhanji and Sri Chakraraj Sudershan also adorn the temple. To the North stand Rukmini, Satyabhama with Srirajgopalji and Laxmanji, Sitadevi and Hanuman with Ram.
Outside the main temple is the Utsav bhavan where ceremonies on special occasions are performed, other chambers include Vastra graha, Chandan graha, dhudh graha,Shukrawar Mandap and Kanch mandap.Various utsavas such as Kalyana utsava are performed with great pomp
The daily poojas and utsava at the temple are performed as per the panch ratra agamas palval utsav, rathotsav centenary celebrations are also observed.Apart from religious activities the Sri Venkatesh Devsthanam is deeply involved in social welfare activities.The trust runs an Ayurvedic clinic and medicine are distributed free. Together the trust runs a guest house, Anant Bhavan, for outstation visitors.The trust also supports Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute, which is affiliated to the Mumbai University. The Institute offers the Ph.D. and M.A. courses in Sanskrit Philosophy of Account.Thus the Sri Venkatesh Devasthan is involved in social, religious and education activities and serving society in all walks of life.
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