History of Sree Ayyappa Devasthanam, Lalbazar | Legacy of Ayyappa Temple Secunderabad

History of Lalbazar Ayyappa Devasthanam

Allow me to take you down memory lane, to revisit the corridors of time and trace the humble yet divine beginnings of the Lalbazar Ayyappa Devasthanam. The story of this sacred abode is one of faith, sacrifice, devotion, and the collective effort of countless devotees who toiled selflessly for Lord Ayyappa. What began as a simple spark of devotion in the 1960s has today blossomed into a temple that stands tall as a beacon of spirituality, unity, and service to humanity.

The Early Days: Seeds of Devotion (1960–1963)

During those days, the wave of Ayyappa devotion had not reached the heights that we witness today. In the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, there were only two places where Mandala Pooja was conducted — one at Bolarum and another at Mettuguda.

It was during this period that a turning point came in the form of Sri Kannappa Swamy, he bore the appearance of a true ascetic. That evening, a limited gathering had assembled to witness the pooja. As Poojari Sri Kannappa Swamy commenced the Deeparadhana, followed by soulful bhajans, arthi, and the resonating recitation of padi, an atmosphere of divinity filled the room. The pooja was performed with such serenity, sanctity, and devotion that everyone present was left in awe, their tongues tied by the holiness of the moment.

It was here that a thought stirred deep within me — “Why not work towards establishing a dedicated place for Mandala Pooja?” When I shared this desire with Swamy Kannappan, he readily volunteered to cooperate. That spark was the beginning of a divine mission.

Formation of Ayyappa Bhaktha Samithi (1964)

To give shape to this vision, I reached out to some of my close associates. Together, we formed a committee to support Swamy Kannappan in organizing the Mandala Pooja. The first committee included ardent devotees such as Sri A.R.C. Nair, Sri Kutappan, Sri C. Sethuraman, Sri C.S. Nair, Sri Guptan, Sri Balan, and Sri Achuthan.

Our first meeting was held at my residence in Robert Lines, MCEME. I was elected as the President, with Sri A.R.C. Nair as the Secretary. Thus, the Ayyappa Bhakta Samithi, Lalbazar came into being.

With its birth, the wave of Ayyappa devotion began to spread among the masses — transcending caste, creed, religion, and language. Devotees enthusiastically began sponsoring poojas in their own names, and the collective devotion grew by leaps and bounds.

Encouraged by this momentum, we planned our first Grand Final Pooja. Funds were raised through donations, and with courage and determination, we organized a historic event. For the first time in the twin cities, a procession was held with the deity carried in the most traditional manner. The grand spectacle included Thayambakam artists from Kerala, Nadaswaram, and even a caparisoned elephant from the Hyderabad Zoo carrying Lord Ayyappa’s idol.

The event left a lasting impression on devotees and onlookers alike. Newspapers reported and appreciated the grandeur and devotion of the celebrations. It was clear that Ayyappa Bhakti in Secunderabad had found its firm footing.

Shifting of Pooja Sites (1965–1982)

However, conducting the pooja in Dhoddi Village posed challenges. In 1965, we approached Sreeman Panthulu of the Mahakali Mandir, who readily permitted us to use the temple premises for Mandala Pooja. Around the same time, Brigadier Sen Gupta, Commandant of MCEME, also showed keen interest in our activities and granted us permission to conduct the Final Pooja at the MCEME Hockey Grounds.

In 1966, upon my transfer, Sri Sukumaran Nair, Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Picket, was elected President. Under his leadership, the poojas continued at MCEME Hockey Grounds and later shifted to Ganapathi Temple, Picket, and Kendriya Vidyalaya premises. After his transfer in 1967, leadership passed briefly to Sri Vijayan, and then the Samithi was revived in Lalbazar under Sri N.B.K. Nair as President.

From 1967 to 1973, poojas were conducted at Mahakali Temple, Lalbazar. In 1974, after my retirement, I once again assumed the role of President and continued until 1982. During this period, we introduced the noble practice of Annadanam in 1978, which became a regular and much-cherished feature of our celebrations.

By 1982, the Mahakali Temple Committee requested us to shift the site. From 1983 to 1988, the 91 Meadows Barracks served as our venue for Mandala Pooja, with the kind permission of the Sub-Area.

A Temple of Our Own (1983–1989)

The frequent shifting of venues deeply stirred the desire in every devotee’s heart to have a permanent temple of our own. The first step was taken with the registration of the Samithi. With united efforts, the devotees worked tirelessly, pooling resources and energies toward this goal.

In 1986, we succeeded in purchasing a piece of land near the Indian Airlines Colony. Yet, divine grace had even greater plans. Around this time an ardent devotee generously offered another piece of land at a truly picturesque location.

The chosen site carried a unique spiritual significance. Surrounded by a mosque atop the hill, the bells of a nearby church, the presence of a Nagdevata Temple, and a Guruvayoorappan Temple, it embodied the essence of unity in diversity. Here, caste, creed, and religion merged into the ultimate truth of humanity under the grace of Lord Ayyappa.

On 16th November 1989, the Lalbazar Ayyappa Mandiram was formally inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Y.V. Radhakrishna, VSM, Commandant of MCEME. His words of devotion and his active participation in the ceremonies remain etched in our memories.

Considering the compelling demand of the devotees, it was decided by the samithi to install the idols of Lord Ayyappa,Lord Ganapthi and Lord Murugan after restructured the Bajana Mandapam into a devasthanam. The consecration ceremony of the 3 Idols( Sree Bramha sashtha and 2 upadevathas sree Ganapathi & Sree Murugan ) was performed by Brahmashree Kandararu Mohaneru, Traditional thanthri of Sabarimala on 31st Jan 1994.

Growth, Legacy, and Homage

From its inauguration, the temple blossomed into a vibrant center of devotion. The sanctum sanctorum was graced by the beloved Poojari Sri Radheshyam, whose presence and rituals elevated the temple’s sanctity. The temple also resonated with the lilting devotional songs of Sri Anantha Raman, whose quiet yet devoted contributions were invaluable.

This historic journey would be incomplete without remembering the sincere and dedicated souls who are no longer with us but laid the foundation for what we have today. Among them were Swamy Kannappan, Sri P.S.R. Pillai, Sri C. Sethu Raman, Sri A.R.C. Nair, Sri K.R.K. Kutty, Sri M.U.K. Nair, Sri Thankappan, Sri V.M.P. Menon, Sri K.N. Nair, Sri Chakrapani, Sri K.K. Raghavan, and Sri Ramabhadran.

We also pay homage to the departed souls Sri N.B.K. Nair, Sri O.R.K. Menon, Sri Krishnan Kutty, Sri A.G.K. Nair, Artist Kuttan Pillai, Shri. N Surendran, Shri Subbaiah and Shri Rajan Nambiar. Their contributions, sacrifices, and vision continue to guide us.

Gratitude and Support

The successful establishment of the Mandiram would not have been possible without the ceaseless efforts of many. Special thanks go to Sri G.R.K. Potty, Chairman of the Construction Committee, who ensured that the Mandiram was completed within the stipulated time, enabling us to celebrate the Silver Jubilee at our own site.

We also remain indebted to the Army units, especially MCEME, whose consistent support since 1966 has been invaluable. Surrounding army units too have always extended their help wholeheartedly.

Expansion Works Undertaken

After the consecration of 3 deities , successive committees were worked tirelessly to develop the temple, however the committee precided over by Shri N.Surendran added to another achievements by constructing Gopuram for 3 deities, Sree Dharmasastha Bhojanalayam, West Gopuram,Kitchen Building and Annadanam Hall, with the Support of Members and devotees. The samparanam of the Bhojanalayam was done on 16 Nov 2009.

In addition the previous and present committee were made many developments i.e Construction of East Gopuram, installation of Transformer, CCTV camera’s, Replacements of doors of 3 deities, digging Borewell and many more works done with the help of all members and devotees.

Conclusion: A Beacon of Faith

The subsequent committees devotion and hardwork the Lalbazar Ayyappa Devasthanam stands not merely as a temple but as a symbol of unity, devotion, and hope. It is the abode where:

To those groping in darkness, Lord Ayyappa is the beacon of light.
To the weak and weary, He is the nourishing elixir imparting courage and strength.
To those lost in despair, He is the oasis of hope and guidance.

The Sree Ayyappa devasthanam , Lalbazar today stands one of the Major Ayyappa Temples in the Twin cities. The devasthanam is followed by the traditions of the Sabarimala Temple and conducting all Hindu Religious activities, Like Mandala Makaravilakku Pooja, Onam, Vishu,Thiruvathira festival, Karikadaka Vavu bali Pooja, Ramayana Masacharanam, Bhagvatha and Narayaneeya Parayanam, Navrathri Mahotsavam & Attukal Pongala etc, during every year.

As we look back on this sacred journey, we remain ever grateful to every devotees, committee members, supporters, and well-wishers who has helped us to reach this milestone. Together, let us continue to uphold the momentum of devotion, service, and love for Lord Ayyappa, ensuring that the devasthanam remains a guiding light for generations to come.

SWAMY SARANAM

Sree Ayyappa Devasthanam

Lal Bazar, Secunderabad