(The
Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth, lovers of wisdom
and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path and
also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in United Kingdom
Highgatehill Murugan Temple, London,UK
200A Archway Road
London N6 5BA
Tel: +44 (0) 208 348 9835
Fax: +44 (0) 208 482 6508
Email: admin@highgatehillmurugan.org
Temple
Timings:
Temple is
open 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 pm and 5pm to 9 pm. Pooja times are at 8 am,
11.30 am, 5 pm and 8 pm
Tuesday & Fridays
Abishegam (ritual bathing of the deity) starts at 6.45pm. Other days it starts
at 7pm.
If any devotees would
like to perform any Abishegam earlier than the Temple's opening times, please
give at least 72 hours notice. We would try to accommodate your intentions or
requests depending on the availability of the Temple's circumstances .
Highgatehill Murugan
temple worship is conducted according to Saiva agama rituals and Tamil Saiva
traditions; as such reciting of songs other than those in 12 Thirumurai,
Thiruppugal an such religious compositions are not allowed in the Temple
premises.
OM MURUGA
Welcome
to the official Highgatehill Murugan temple Information.
The temple was opened on 2nd of December
1979 with a grand ceremony attended by more than 700 people. Built according to
the ancient Saiva scriptures, The Maha Kumbabhishegam - consecration ceremony
of this temple was held in June 1986. Attended by over a thousand devotees, it
was the culmination of 20 years of single-minded dedication and hard work of
Sri Sabapathipillai.On the 6th of June 2002, in her first major engagement after the golden jubilee celebration, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Highgatehill Murugan temple, the first Hindu temple to be visited by the British monarch here. Accompanied by Prince Philip, the Queen spent about 45 minutes at the temple and a special 'pooja' was performed during the visit.
The temple was chosen by the Queen as part of her wish to recognize each of Britain's many faiths.
Located by the A1 in Highgate, North London, it is easily accessible by tube or bus.
Temple is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm. Pooja times are at 8am, 11.30am, 5pm and 8pm. Extended timings will be followed on Festival & Special Auspicious days.
History
One of the largest
Hindu organisations established in this country, belongs to the saivaities.
This had its beginnings in 1966, with the inauguration of the Hindu association
of Great Britain on 23rd October 1966, in London. The main object of
the Association was to foster the Saiva Siddhantha religion and its form of
worship. The other aim was to generate a unifying force among the Dravidians
from various parts of the world such as Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, India,
Ceylon (Srilanka), Mauritius, South Africa, so that children of these families
may mix in a religious atmosphere so as to encourage them to follow their
parent’s religious faith and culture.
The late
Mr.S.Sabapathipillai, our founder and president spearheaded the movement of
this Association. He came to Britain with a mission to carry Saivism to the
west, bringing with him a background of religious services in Ceylon. Having
earlier relinquished his career in the legal profession, he came under the
influence of one of the greatest savant of Saiva Siddhantam, His holiness the
late Easana Sivachariar, the Principal of the Saiva Siddhanta College of
Palani, Tamil Nadu. Under the tutelage of his Holiness, he obtained the “Triple
Theedchais” enabling him to do Siva Pooja which he has been performing
regularly for the last thirty eight years.
In 1973, a
Thirchendur Murugan Vigraham was specially made in India by Mr.Mohanram of
Kumbakonam and this Vigraham was installed with special rites in October 1973.
The advent of the Murugan Vigraham and the regular abishegams and poojas
further intensified religious fervour. It was felt that the time was ripe for
the launching of a campaign to raise funds for the building of a Temple Trust.
Thus, the Brittania
Hindu (Shiva) Temple Trust was created by the Hindu Association of Great
Britain, on the 17th August 1974, and was registered with the
Charity Commission. This trust is administered by seven Trustees with the
advice and consent of an Advisory Council, consisting of more than 650 members,
who are elected on their pledging to pay £100 in 4 years.
Dr.Alagappan the
Secretary of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, took an active interest
with the affairs of the Trust. He contacted the reverent Pandrimalai Swamigal
of Madras and requested him to do pooja to a yantram for the purpose of
building the Temple in London. Poojas were maintained for 12 years to keep the
spiritual force of this vigraham.
The financial support
given by contributors of over £5000 made by the Parent Organisation (Hindu
Association of Great Britain) through its prayer services at Wimbledon and the
wedding and funeral services performed by its President and the contributions
of about 250 members of the Advisory Council till 1977, and the proceed of fund
raising activities netted an increase of about £12,000.
This sum made it
possible for the Trust to purchase a spacious freehold property at 200A,
Archway Road, Highgate Hill in 1977, where finally the Temple was built. This
Temple incorporates some of the richest facets of south Indian Temple
architecture, a library, two Concert Halls accommodating 500 people each, residential
quarters for the chief priest etc.
The Construction
Committee, the members of which include Chartered, Civil and Structural
Engineers, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Architect, was instrumental in
preparing the plans for the approval for the local authority. They were
instrumental in constructing in 1979 on annexe consisting of a prayer hall and
a Priest’s flat with all conveniences at a cost of about £3,000.
On the 2nd
December 1979 we had the grand ceremony on the occasion of the Opening of the
premises with a congregation of more than 700 people. On the day of the Hindu
New Year of the following year we had a preliminary Prana Prathisda
(life-giving) ceremony to the Statues of Shanmuga and the Shakthis which were
made at the historic Sculptor associated with making statues for that Temple.
The final Prana Prathisda was held on 28th May 1982, the auspicious
day of Vaikasi Visakham.
From then onwards we
did not look back, membership grew rapidly and the finances improved. So in
1982 we were ready to build the three storied building complex for the Temple.
As the Temple become very popular in 1980, it was decided to appoint a
permanent Priest.
It must be mentioned
that substantial portion of the funds was raised by means of social and cultural
events. Over the years up to 1982 the Social and Cultural Committee organised
several cultural events which netted a substantial amount of money. Some
noteworthy events are: recitals by Seergazhi Govindarajan, M.L.Vasanthakumari,
and T.M. Soundararajan. Dance recital by Shirmathi Jalaja Kumar, devotional
music recital by Pithukli Murugadas, and music recital by Salem Jeylakshmi.
These recitals were also a forum to increase interest by the general public
through which the membership committee were able to recruit more members to the
Trust and also to the Unit Block Scheme. The Religious Education Committee has
been responsible for the education of youngsters in the religious field, and
also organised children’s parties. The Trust had employed a teacher to give
religious education to youngsters studying at the Greenford Tamil School during
weekends.
The Maha
Kumbabhishegam (Consecration Ceremony) was held between 9th - 13th July 1986
followed by Mandala Abishegams for 45 days.
Latest News
The work that is in progress is for a front extension incorporating a 'Gopuram' elevation so as to give a Saiva Temple appearance and identity.
For fund raising
purposes, the front elevation of the construction project is divided into 900
units. Each units can be booked for £500 and devotees can book one of more
units.
All donations are
gratefully received and will go towards he project.
Receipt will be
issued by the Board of Trustees to all donors.
Contributed funds
will be monitored, updated, accounted and displayed for your information on a
weekly basis.
20th Puratthaasi Sani begins
24th Navaraathiri festival begins
27th Luxhmi pooja begins.
30th Saraswathy pooja begins.
24th Navaraathiri festival begins
27th Luxhmi pooja begins.
30th Saraswathy pooja begins.
Daily Pooja: 8 am, 11.30 am, 5 pm and 8 pm.
Special Abishegams (Ritual bathing of deity):
Tuesdays & Fridays: 6.45pm. Other days by request.
The temple has two halls which can be utilized for weddings, 'Thivasam' ( Death Anniversary services) and blessing ceremony for babies.
Priests are available to conduct various religious ceremonies in your home, please contact the temple administrator for further details.
We also have a small library of religious books which is available for reference.
Management:
Trustees 2013/2014
Chairman: Mr.Sabapathipillai
Manoranjitan Srikantha
Secretary:
Mr.Kathiravelu Nagarajah
Treasurer:
Mr.Appathurai Viravamoorthy
Dr.V.P.Narayana Rao
Mr.Kulanthaivelu
Nithiananthan
Mr.Mailvaganam
Perinpanathan
Mr.C.Canagasundaram
Executive Committee 2013/2014
Chairman:
Mr.Sabapathipillai Manoranjitan
Srikantha
Secretary:
Mr.T.Kankeyan
Asst. Treasurer:
Mr.C.Sothilingam
Committee
|
Vice
Chairman
|
Asst.
Secretary
|
Construction
|
Mr.S.Thanabalasingham
|
Mr.K.Sivakumaran
|
Membership
|
Mr.L.Dhayalan
|
Mr.S.Kesavan
|
Religious Education
& Physical Training
|
Mrs.S.Sabaratnam
|
Mr.M.Srikantha
|
Social &
Cultural
|
Mr.A.Bremkumar
|
Dr.K.Ravendran
|
Committee Members
Mr.B.Arudshankar Mr.S.Logeswaran
Mr.K.Thirurasa Mr.T.R.Nageswaralingam
Mr.T.R.Gnanalingam Mr.S.Ravendran
Mr.B.Arudshankar Mr.S.Logeswaran
Mr.K.Thirurasa Mr.T.R.Nageswaralingam
Mr.T.R.Gnanalingam Mr.S.Ravendran
Membership:
Devotees are welcomed to be members of
the temple. Please fill up the membership form and return it to the temple
office.
Contact us:
200A Archway Road
London N6 5BA
Tel: +44 (0) 208 348 9835
Fax: +44 (0) 208 482 6508
Email: admin@highgatehillmurugan.org
(Directions) Location:
Tube station: Highgate or Archway (Northern Line)
Bus stop: F Northwood Road / Archway Rd
From Archway Station:
Take the route bus 134 from stop: D towards North Finchley or
route bus 263 fro stop: D towards Barnet Hospital
From Highgate Station:
Take the route bus 134 from stop: T towards Tottenham Court Road or route bus 43 from stop: T towards London Bridge or route bus 263 from stop: T towards Holloway, Nags Head
Om
Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to
the great devotees and Pilgrimage
tourist guide for the collection)
(The Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth,
lovers of wisdom and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the
spiritual path and also this is purely a non-commercial blog)