Ernakulathappanu Oru Adi Mannu

One foot land for Ernakulathappan

This was a " Bhoomisamarpana" scheme offering land to Lord Shiva and was launched to facilitate the purchase of 1.25 acres of land adjacent to the temple for the temple. The price of the land , Rs.3.75 crores, which was contributed by over 17,000 devotees of Ernakulathappan has been handed to the Corporation of Cochin, the present owner. The registration formalities are expected to be completed soon.

Even though there was a delay in mobilizing the funds and its payment to The Corporation of Cochin, the Corporation has condoned the delay. The devotees of Ernakulathappan and the Kshetra Samithi are grateful to the Corporation for this.

The Govt. of Kerala, is also extending all possible help and support in order to facilitate the registration formalities. The Kshetra Samithi and devotees of Ernakulathappan fully appreciate the noble gestures shown by the Govt. of Kerala for this cause.

 Details of the Land : Krishnavilasam Palace Ground.

The Land measuring about 3.15 acres lying adjacent to Ernakulam Shiva Temple was formerly owned by the Royal family of Cochin. Consequent upon the abolition of the Royal Rule, the palace and the land came under the custody of Palace Administration Board, which decided to sell the land. The land was divided into two and an area measuring 1.25 acres was then purchased by the Corporation of Cochin. Their intention was to construct a multistoried building complex there. Since situated very near to the temple, this action of the Corporation of Cochin drew stiff opposition from the devotees. When public agitation intensified, the Honorable High Court of Kerala acting upon a set of petitions stayed the construction of the Building Complex. The remaining portion of the land was later acquired – purchased by Cochin Devaswom Board which is the custodian and owner of the temple.

For over twenty years, Ernakulam Kshetra Kshema Samithi had been trying various methods to acquire the land owned by the Corporation of Cochin. It was felt that for the successful completion of the envisaged developmental activities of the temple, the above mentioned land is highly essential.

After series of discussions with the Cochin Devaswom Board and the Corporation of Cochin, the Samithi could prevail upon them the need for purchasing the land. A sale consideration of Rs. 3.75 crores for the above area was fixed. Cochin Devaswom Board, a body formed by the Kerala Government to administer the affairs of about 400 temples in the districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad expressed their inability to mobilise fund for the purchase of the land. On an information that some Bombay based builders were planning to purchase the land, the Samithi, which has been functioning all these years for the development of this ancient temple could not keep away from its responsibility. It came forward to assist the Cochin Devaswom Board and decided to embark upon the challenging task of acquiring this land knowing fully well the financial implications and huge commitments. The primary objective was to prevent the transfer of land to forces that are detrimental to the interests of the temple. For raising the required fund of Rs. 3.75 crores, Samithi launched a noble scheme called Bhusamarppana Padhathi ( Land Endowment Scheme), a scheme which envisages an act of offering a minimum of one foot land to Lord Ernakulathappan. As per the scheme which has been approved by High Court of Kerala, devotees, public trusts, organisations, institutions get an opportunity to become participants to this great event, rarest of its kind, in offering to Lord Parameswara a certain area of land as Kanikka.

	Handing over the first instalment of Rs. 50 Lakhs to the Corporation of Cochin.

Projects visualised on the land

Once the land is purchased, Samithy proposes to develop the land in a manner that is conducive to the atmosphere of the temple. Various activities are proposed to be taken up in this land for the enjoyment of the future generation of this great religion. These include:

1. Centre for vedic studies.

2. Research studies on Hinduism and Culture and temple rituals.

3. Construction of Auditorium – Prayer Hall.

4. Activities connected with Indian Art and Culture.

5. Humanitarian activities for old people.

6. A library and reading room for Puranic Books and other books of ancient times.

7. Schools for teaching temple arts and temple percussion instruments ie. Kshetra Vaadyangal.

8. Museum of Indian Performing Arts.

9. Conducting seminars, symposiums and organizing meetings based on Sanathana Dharma and Indian Culture.

 Samithy visualises that it would be possible for it to achieve these plans with the wholehearted co-operation and involvement of the public at large.

	Swamiji Sree Poornanantha Puri of Amrithanandamayi Math arriving at the temple to attend a function in connection with mobilisation of fund for the land dedication scheme.

One Aiswarya Hundika in every Shiva Devotee's Home

This scheme, with a pious slogan - One Aiswarya Hundika in every Shiva Devotee's Home was launched with a view to make total participation of every devotee in the "Bhoomisamarpanna" according to their might. Each devotee can have a hundika from the counter functioning inside the temple, free of cost, which may be taken home to keep in the prayer room and return the Hundika to the same counter when it is filled, as early as possible. The Hundika will be opened in the presence of the devotee, and he will be favored with an official receipt for the amount received. The amount thus received would go to the land endowment scheme Ernakulathappanu Oru Adi Mannu.

	Smt. Kamakshi Balakrishnan, Director Chinmaya Vidyalaya donating an amount of Rs. 3 Lakhs collected through Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Ernakulam.

	Sri. Raj Kumar M.D Sree Sakthi Paper Mills donating an amount of Rs. 20 Lakhs for the scheme.