Sri
Vishnu
Thurkkai
Amman
Temple

From the very beginning of the establishment of the Sri Vishnu Thurkkai Amman Temple, the person who has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the temple’s growth and divine service is Sivashri Balakantha Sivachariyar (Murali Sharma). He is the son-in-law of the temple’s founder, Sivashri Sarahanabhavananda Sivachariyar (Sharma Iyya). In the early days, Murali Sharma served diligently as a daily priest and was deeply involved in decoration and ritual-related duties. Having formally studied the Vedas and Shivagamas for eight years at a traditional Vedic school in Tamil Nadu, he devoted the knowledge he gained entirely to temple service.

 

Due to the declining health of the Chief Priest, Murali Sharma assumed full responsibility as Chief Priest and Head of the Temple in the year 2023. From that moment onwards, he introduced many positive changes within the temple. Within just two years, he successfully overcame the financial difficulties that the temple had been facing. He implemented several reforms and spearheaded numerous development projects, including a new temple chariot, a new ceremonial palanquin, and a golden crown. He also brought together more than 40 youths and founded the “Ilanthondar Sabha” (Youth Service Association) - a significant achievement attributed solely to him. With the noble vision of taking the temple to a global level in line with modern times, he directed the formation of a temple social media team. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the temple being spoken about worldwide today is a result of Murali Sharma’s far-sighted vision.

 

Murali Sharma’s long-standing desire has been to establish a permanent place of worship for Hindus who have migrated and are living here. Today, Sri Vishnu Thurkkai Amman Temple stands as an easily accessible place of worship for people living in the southeastern region of the Canton of Zurich. To make temple worship more convenient for devotees who otherwise have to travel long distances, and to ensure that future generations preserve our religious traditions, it is essential that this temple continues to exist permanently.

 

With this noble thought, Murali Sharma and the temple volunteers have initiated efforts to acquire the temple premises on a permanent basis. The temple’s goal is to complete this permanent acquisition by the year 2027.

By the divine grace of Sri Vishnu Thurkkai Amman, this will surely come to pass!