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Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple near Vellore, Tamilnadu
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Sripuram, Sri Lakshmi Narayani temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and is located at Thirumalaikkodi town near Vellore. I am providing information about the temple from various media sources.

I am providing information about the temple from various media sources.

From The Hindu, Saturday, Aug 25, 2007
hindu.com/
The Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple located in 'Sripuram' (spiritual town) in Thirumalaikkodi, about seven km from Vellore, was consecrated by Sri Sakthi Amma, head of the Sri Narayani Peedam, Thirumalaikkodi, on Friday August 24, 2007.

It is a unique temple whose 'Vimanam' and 'Ardha Mandapam' have been coated with gold both in the interior and exterior. Twelve layers of gold foils have been pasted on copper sheets embossed with the designs of Gods and fixed on the walls. One-and-a-half tonnes of gold has gone into the design of the Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple, which has been built at a cost of Rs.300 crore.

The temple has been designed in such a way that visitors can reach the golden temple only after going through a star-shaped pathway, which has the messages from the Vedas on both sides.


From Indian Express, Chennai, August 21, 2007
indianexpress.com/

A Mahalakshmi temple called 'Sripuram' and made of more than a tonne of pure gold will glitter and gleam under the sun on August 24 when it is unveiled for consecration by the Sri Narayani Peetam headed by a 31-year-old godman who calls himself Narayani Amma. Devotees hail the temple as 'one of the wonders of the world' and say that it is the only temple covered fully with gold.

More than 400 gold and coppersmiths from the Thirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam are said to have worked for six years to craft the Rs 600-crore gold temple located on 55,000 sq ft of land on a 100-acre salubrious stretch in Malaikodi, about 6 km from Vellore in north Tamil Nadu. First the coppersmiths set to work creating a copper base on the temple structure with engravings and etchings before the gold, beaten into nine layers of foils, was draped around it. The sanctum sanctorum will hold the deity of Mahalakshmi made of stone granite, but covered with gold kavacham (adornments).

"The gold sheets have been laid out in such a manner that it would cost more to rip it off than purchase the gold,” said a top Vellore district official.


From rediff NEWS, August 24, 2007
rediff.com/

A 31-year old 'godman' has built a Rs300-crore 'golden temple' at Sripuram near Vellore in Tamil Nadu. With his devotees spread across the globe and his foundation registered in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, funds kept flowing in for the project launched in 2001.

More than 800 craftsmen, including those working for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, worked day and night for six years to make the godman's dream realise. About 1.5 tonne of gold was purchased for the project through Minerals and Metal Trading Corporation in Chennai after getting clearance from the Reserve Bank of India, he said.

The lighting is arranged in such a way that the temple glitters even during night. With intricate carvings and sculptures, the entire structure, except the walking space, has been plated with gold. It has a rajagopuram, resembling the Tirupati temple, with 36 pillars around. Even the central chandelier is made of gold.

Explaining the concept behind Sripuram, he said, "A mother administers sugar-coated pill to the child to heal. It's physical ailment. Likewise, I am offering this golden temple to people to impart wisdom. This golden temple is just a tool to attract the world's attention."

People can reach the temple only through a star-shaped pathway, laid to a distance of 1.5 km. On either side of the pathway, the messages of 'Amma' and quotes from Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran will be displayed. Though the people's focus will be on the temple in gold, when they leave they cannot go without taking some messages and gaining some wisdom, he said.

"Some may ask why a golden temple for the mankind and why not a hospital? But in Sripuram, we bring about a change in people through messages like the nobleness of human birth and the need to serve the humanity. This will motivate them to built lakhs of hospitals across the globe," he said. The Narayani Peedam has a school, hospital and college on its own. It has also been carrying out charitable activities in Vellore and nearby districts to the tune of Rs 50 crore.
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai