Kerala man's genius behind UAE's first Hindu temple; know more about Ananthan Achari

MANNAR: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to inaugurate UAE's first traditional Hindu temple, exhilaration is outpouring here in Kerala. Parumala native Ananthan Achari and his son are beaming in pride for their divine involvement in the temple construction.

The lord Ayyapa idol in the temple and the 18 holy steps were carved out by 10 people from the Artisans Group of Company led by PP Ananthan Achari (68) and his son Anu Ananthan. The company is based in Kattumpurath. The work for the temple in UAE was completed in six months. The temple trust officials and Ayyappa Seva Sangh workers reached Parumala to receive the idol from Achari’s company.

The idol is also special for being the world’s largest Ayyappa panchaloha idol and it is four feet tall. Apart from Ayyappan, the temple also has deities of Akshara Purushottam Maharaj, Shiva Parivar, Krishna Parivar, Ram Parivar, Tirupati Padmavati and Jagannath, who are worshipped by the Baps community.

The temple comes with seven towers which symbolise the seven emirates of the UAE. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of the temple in April 2018.

The golden flagpole(Kodimaram) in Sabarimala, Ettumanoor, Paramekkavu and even temples in faraway lands of New York and Chicago have the artistic brilliance of Achari and his company. The group also did wonders with the 1008 lamps constructed in one Guruvayuurappan temple in Michigan.