Union Home Amit Shah offers prayers at Lord Ayyappa Temple in Delhi, inaugurates Sabareesam Complex
New Delhi, June 7
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in RK Puram in New Delhi and inaugurated the newly constructed Sabareesam Complex within the temple premises.
Sharing details of his visit on X, Shah said he was fortunate to perform puja at the temple and offered prayers for the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.
"Fortunate to offer puja at Lord Ayyappa temple, in R.K. Puram, New Delhi. Lord Ayyappa is the bestower of bliss and the embodiment of the sacred values that unite our nation. Prayed to the deity for the well-being and prosperity of all," Shah posted on X.
The Union Home Minister also inaugurated the Sabareesam Complex, a new facility that will host spiritual, cultural and welfare activities associated with the temple.
In another post on X, Shah said the complex would serve as a centre for spiritual discourses and community welfare initiatives while helping preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Malayalam-speaking community residing in the national capital.
"Today, at the Ayyappa Temple premises in New Delhi, inaugurated the newly built SABAREESAM Complex. The new facility will house spiritual discourses and welfare initiatives undertaken by the temple and strengthen the cultural roots of our sisters and brothers from Keralam," added Shah.
Several leaders and dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony, including BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, who expressed hope that the newly inaugurated facility would emerge as an important centre for spiritual and cultural activities.
Speaking to reporters, Swaraj said, "We are at Ayyappa temple... A building called Sabareesam has been inaugurated by HM Amit Shah...I wish the facility emerges as a centre of Penance, Yoga, Spiritual practice and Meditation."
BJP MLA Anil Sharma also welcomed the inauguration of the new complex and thanked both the temple committee and the Union Home Minister for the initiative.
"HM Amit Shah inaugurated a new complex at the Ayyappa temple... I want to thank the committee and HM Amit Shah..." Sharma told reporters.
The Lord Ayyappa Temple in R.K. Puram is a prominent spiritual centre for devotees in the national capital, particularly members of the Malayali community.
Lord Ayyappa, also known as Manikandan and Dharmasastha, is a revered Hindu deity believed to be born from the divine union of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in his female avatar, Mohini. He is widely worshipped as the embodiment of truth, righteousness, self-discipline and devotion.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ayyappa was born to defeat the demoness Mahishi, who had received a boon that she could only be slain by a child born to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The deity is particularly associated with the renowned Sabarimala temple in Kerala, one of the most important pilgrimage centres in the country.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Building a new Sabareesam Complex is a nice initiative. Spiritual and cultural activities bring communities together. I wish more such facilities come up in different parts of the country. The Malayali community in Delhi will surely benefit from this.
Interesting to see a Union Minister inaugurating a temple complex. While I respect the religious sentiment, I wish similar resources were invested in secular community centres that serve people from all backgrounds. Just a thought.
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa! 🙏 It's heartening to see the government supporting regional cultural heritage. The Sabareesam Complex will be a great place for spiritual discourses and community welfare. Hope they also include facilities for pilgrims visiting from Kerala.
This is purely political, nothing more. Leaders visit temples for photo ops. I'd rather see them focus on real issues like inflation and unemployment than inaugurating temple complexes. But that's just my opinion. 🤷♂️
As a non-Indian, I find it fascinating how diverse the religious landscape is here. Lord Ayyappa's story is unique. The complex sounds like a positive community initiative. Hope it serves its purpose well.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.