Hyderabad: The countdown for the inauguration of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri has begun with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao calling on Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy at the latter’s ashram in Muchintal in Rangareddy district on Monday. The duo is learnt to have discussed the ongoing works at the Yadadri temple as well as the upcoming inauguration of the Samathamurthy statue, marking the birth centenary celebrations of Sri Ramanujacharya, during their meeting.
The Chief Minister visited the Muchintal ashram along with his family members where Vedic pandits welcomed them with Purna Kumbham amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. The pontiff blessed the Chief Minister and his wife Shobha on the occasion. Later, the Chief Minister along with his family members had community lunch at the ashram.
Chandrashekhar Rao is learnt to have discussed with Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy various aspects of the inauguration ceremony and requested the former to visit the temple ahead of its inauguration. They are also said to have discussed the arrangements for the inaugural ceremony including a yagam to be performed on the occasion. The Chief Minister had announced in the State Assembly recently that the Yadadri temple will be thrown open to the public in the last week of November or the first week of December. He invited many dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who assured to grace the occasion.
Meanwhile, the pontiff reportedly briefed the Chief Minister about the upcoming birth centenary celebrations of Sri Ramanujacharya at the ashram on February 5 next year. Arrangements are being made for the installation of the Samathamurthy statue on the ashram premises, on the occasion. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of different States, have been invited for the event.
Later, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy and the Chief Minister jointly planted ‘Jammi’ sapling on the ashram premises as part of the Green India Challenge initiated by Rajya Sabha member J Santosh Kumar. The Chief Minister explained to the pontiff about the efforts being made to increase the greenery in the State under Telangana Ku Haritha Haram as well as Green India Challenge. The seer appreciated the initiative by Santosh Kumar. TTD Board member and My Home Group chairman Jupally Rameshwar Rao, Kaveri Seeds managing director Bhaskar Rao, Rangareddy district collector Ameya Kumar, Cyberabad police commissioner Stephen Ravindra, and other officials, participated in the programme.
Later in the evening, the Chief Minister took an aerial survey of Mallanna Sagar in Siddipet district and reviewed the progress of the reservoir which is ready for inauguration. In August this year, officials formally conducted a test run and started pumping Godavari River water from the Tukkapur pump house to fill the 50 tmc ft capacity reservoir. They filled up to 10 tmc ft as part of the test run. The Chief Minister is expected to switch on the pumps soon to mark the formal inauguration.