Sarveshwara Dhyana Nilayam Temple, Thamaraipakkam –
The Temple
Sarveshwara
Dhyana Nilayam temple, situated at Thamaraipakkam, has a massive Shiva Lingam
which stands 65 ft tall. In fact, it is one of the tallest Shiva Lingams in the
world and is very unique. The temple is surrounded by 8 acres of land with
facility for housing the aged, a Charitable medical centre, a free school,
playgrounds, a go-shaala (cowshed), paddy fields, a meditation room, beautiful
woods where people can walk in solitude and rooms for mission acharyas, a
scintillating aquarium and an auditorium. The temple was constructed and run by
the Chinmaya mission.
Inside
the temple is a rare Spatika Lingam an endless form in crystal, encrusted with
a diamond studded crest, mounted on a special glass case. There is also a
granite Lingam beside it. Abhishekam of the Spatika Lingam is done annually on Mahasivarathri
day, while daily puja including Abhishekam is performed on the small granite
Lingam. Lord Sarveshwara is believed to take the avatar of Dhanavanthri every
Sunday. Hence, a free medical clinic is held every Sunday for the villagers of
the neighborhood.
It is
home to the Anant Medical Centre, the Pitha Maha Sadan Complex, a unique
Sarveshwara temple and prayer hall, the Geeta Satsang Hall and the Hari Hara
school for village children between the ages three and five. The Pitha Maha
Sadan complex which consists of several cottages ready for occupation by senior
citizens is another unique feature. The cottages are two-in-one units with a
common verandah, a bedroom, bath-area, a kitchenette and an alcove. Over 100
cottages are due to come up in this community village.
There is
a school called Free Harihara school in the campus. The school is based on the
ancient Gurukula system wherein not only education but also the other
developmental needs such as food, clothing, medication etc. of the village
children are taken care of. The Geeta Satsang Hall on the ground floor is a
well-ventilated circular prayer hall neatly furnished with a dais, suitable for
meditation, discourses, bhajans, satsangs etc.
The
Anant Medical Centre, named after a devotee of Swami Chinmayananda, was started
in 1987 in a small way under a banyan tree. Around 20 patients were seen each
Sunday by two doctors. Later with Saraswathi Anant donating the entire amount
for building a hospital, in memory of her husband Anant, the project received a
shot in the arm.
Today,
the centre operates at a spacious building (from Friday to Monday) with
emergency, examination and waiting rooms and counters for dispensing medicines.
About 700 patients from over 50 villages (Thamaraipakkam, Velliyur, Vengal, Avadi,
Periyapalayam, Thinnanur, Paganmedu and Magaral among others) are examined and
treated every week. A nominal fee of Rs. 2 is charged for per patient.
A panel
of 12 senior specialists offer their services. Specialties include pediatrics,
general medicine, gynecology, diabetes and ophthalmology. Special camps are
conducted for hypertensives, diabetics, asthmatics and those with orthopedic
problems. Quarterly eye camps are also held. Immunization for children at the pediatric
clinic, antenatal care for pregnant women, treatment of medical emergencies and
ambulance services for the villages are the other value additions.
