More than 100 devotees over the age of 80 were felicitated on Sunday at the Mumbai Matunga Asthika Samaj temple, which is also celebrating its 100th anniversary. Of these, 57 couples were present: 27 single males and 25 single females.
“The event is a tribute to the devotees who have unwavering faith and lifelong commitment to our community,” said a temple trustee, K. Ramakrishnan (Sunder). After the recitation of Vedic hymns, each devotee was presented with a beautifully crafted memento, a shawl, a silver coin, silk sarees for ladies, and temple prasadam, followed by lunch. Notably, this is the only temple outside Kerala which houses the idol of Lord Guruvayoorappan, a unique feature that sets it apart.
As a gesture, the committee members also visited the houses of very senior people and invited them personally. The temple has idols of Ram and his consorts, Lord Guruvayoorappan, Lord Karthik, Lord Siva, Lord Ayyappa, Lord Hanuman, and Navagraha, all in one complex. This is a unique temple where a devotee can have the darshan of all their ishta devatas under one roof.
The Samaj, which was formed in 1923-24, has a rich history. It began with a few people who migrated from Palakkad, Kerala, to Matunga, Mumbai. These individuals would come to the temple after their office hours to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam with a picture of Lord Rama in front of them. K.A. Viswanathan started this tradition, which has been carried forward by the community.
