ASHLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, September 15, 2004: Since 1990 the trustees of the Sri Lakshmi Temple have been planning, maintaining, and coordinating the present and future plans for the temple. In the summer of 2005, the temple will be holding its first Kumbhabishekam. T.A. Balasubramanium, chairman of the temple, says, “That will be an important event in the history of the temple. That is an occasion to bring people together.” The article explains, “The weeklong Kumbhabishekam starts with the removal of the divine power from the temple’s deities, so they and their sanctums can be cleaned and repaired. The power is transferred to pots, or kumbhams, of water brought from sacred rivers. The water is later used to sanctify the deities, precincts and pinnacle of the temple.” Even while planning the major event the temple offers Sunday-morning sessions on Hinduism in an effort to reach out to second-generation Hindus in the area. On top of all that, the trustees are planning to build a performing arts center as well as build additional accommodations for the three full-time and two short-term assignment priests who perform the ceremonies for the temple. Balasubramanium adds, “So far, the temple has not borrowed any money. It’s completely mortgage free; there’s no debt now. The temple has raised $83,000 toward the performing arts center through a sponsor-a-brick program. That money will remain in a separate account until any building plans are approved.” Running the temple has not been without challenges and the article explains that disputes between former trustees have been settled. The present board has had five very productive meetings since the resolution.
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