SNASS – Religious Trust

 

Birth of SNASS

Thappalampuliyur, a renowned village for rich tradition and culture is blessed with two comparatively big temples Viz. Sri Nithykalyani amman sametha Sri Vyagrapureeswara samy Temple ( Sivan Temple) and also Sri Bhoomi Neela sametha Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple ( Perumal Temple). In addition to that there also exists 4 smaller temples for Sri Sidhdhi Vinayagar,( Pilliar Temple) Sri Pidari Kulundalamman, Sri Ayyanar as well as Sri Mariamman Temple.

Traditionally, for ages, while Sivan, Perumal, Pilliar and Ayyanar Temples are managed by the Brahmin community of the village, the other two temples are managed by other community of the village.

Over a period of time due to the effect of migration of people from village, political and social developments, the operation, control and the divinity of the temples got eroded including the temple maintenance. Particularly the temples managed by Brahmin community were seriously affected due to lack of continuous attention. 

It came to a situation that likeminded people (of local/outstation village people) started feeling that some immediate corrective action to be taken in an united manner in a formal way to bring back the old tradition of and functioning village/village temple.

Formal meeting was conducted to give birth to SNASS on 25th December 2009, when various like-minded people joined together and felt the need to improve the maintenance/operating condition of our temples, particularly Sri Nithyakalyani Amman Temple, which is ‘Kula Deivam’ for many families and the Sri Varadhraja Perumal Temple. These temples have devotees not only from our village but also from other parts of the country (viz.Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Kerala etc to quote a few!!) who come all the way to worship and to fulfil their wishes / prarthanais.

Formation & Structuring

In Jan 2012, we formalised this Samithi by way of a registered trust under the name and style “SNASS RELIGIOUS TRUST” which got approval from the Department of Income tax under section 12AA of the Income tax Act 1961.SNASS Religious Trust was formally founded by our village then eldest member of village and renowned Vedic Pandit (Late) Sri. M.Subramania Sasthrigal. The Trust has a managing trustee and other trustees from different parts of the country. 

SNASS MEET is also periodically conducted, with one of the meeting conducted at Thappalampuliyur village during Annual Samshti Rudhrabhishekam function wherein members from various parts of the country has an opportunity to participate and contribute for the functioning of the trust. Opportunity is also taken by core members to organise formal meeting, wherever possible outside Chennai whenever they visit other places like Bangalore/Mumbai etc so that they meet local members from that town to discuss improvement actions.

SNASS has also created a system to maintain an ADDRESS BANK of all members’ who are associated with this village temple. Their contact ( Phone No.& E mail)and postal address details are stored in an updated condition to reach them on need basis. It is ensured to collect and include all such details periodically from new members who are identified through various sources such as Website contact, Leads from existing members and members visiting our temple. The purpose of this initiative is to reach members for various temple related communications, Sending Prasadam as well as any postal communications. Privacy of all details are maintained by SNASS, so that this is exclusively used for SNASS related activities. Managing Trustee manages this data base in periodical updated condition and also ensures security from loss or corruption of this data. Proud to say that we have currently approx 500 members associated with SNASS family.

SNASS is maintaining an excellent communication system on need basis for various activities/function/ fund raising and any other communication pertaining to our Village temples. An exclusive Web site has been developed and published for everyone to know more about our temple and SNASS initiatives.

Members are also contacted with SNASS either through group E mail or through Postal address. It is ensured that once in a year during Samshti Rudhrabhishekam/Sri Rama Navami function Pathrikai is sent to all members in their postal address. On all occasions, Prasadam is sent along for sponsors/donors for common/special occasions and also along with receipts. Members help is sought to update their contact details (Including Phone No. & E mail ID) to SNASS as and when there is a change.

Activities

Following are the scope of Activities of SNASS:-

  1. Ensuring regular conduct of Nithyapadi poojas, Regular Special Poojas like Pradhosham, Sahasranama archana, Deepam/Ennai Kappu for all deities in various temples, Saturday archana for perumal Koil etc.
  2. Conduct of Periodical functions like Kala Arumbu, Navarathri, Samashti Rudhrabhishekam, Arudhra Dharsanam, Thaippoosam , Sri Rama Navami, Radhakalyanam, Vaikunda Ekadhasi, Margazhi Uthsavam etc.
  3. Conduct of Kumbabhishekam periodically to preserve Temple structures
  4. Maintenance of temple structures, Pooja and utility items
  5. Facilitating temple visit arrangements for outstation members on demand basis.
  6. Maintaining and updating Address Bank of SNASS periodically to ensure proper connectivity with all members.
  7. Periodical communications on matters related to SNASS and its activities through E mail, Post and also telephone.
  8. Providing need based support for other village temples, being maintained by other community both financially and physically.
  9. Enabling Crowd pulling initiatives to enable more devotees to visit our temple and seek the blessings of Temple Gods.

Achievements

  1. Conducting / facilitating conduct of Kumbhabishekam for all 6 temples in Thappalampuliyur village.
  2. Ensuring conduct of regular traditional rituals for sivan/Perumal/Pilliar/Ayyanar temple which are under the control of SNASS.
  3. Conduct of Annual and special functions/festivals of various temples in a traditional manner.
  4. Brought about cohesion and unity  in spiritual culture  in the village by supporting the other elliamman temples of our village maintained by other communities for poojas and functions on need basis.
  5. Facilitating the outstation members for their visit to temple and also conduct of Abhishekam /archana etc on their specific request.
  6. Working towards satisfaction of devotees by ensuring good housekeeping, cleanliness of worship place, as well as providing divine and clean environment in place of worship and also temple surroundings.
  7.  Have brought our temple and its importance to the world through media, Journal, special initiatives like “Nava Puliyur Yathrai” etc. so that the entire world can be benefitted by their visit.
  8. Have built a system and expanded SNASS family to a strength of 500 + members as of now.
  9. Created an effective communication and postal contact system for information flow, and also activities like Donation receipt, sending Prasadam and also to have one on one contacts with every individual members.

Finance and Funds

SNASS, being a Sec 12AA of Income tax act approved trust has ensured an excellent system of maintaining financial discipline and transparency in its operation. All donation/contribution receipts are properly ensured with the issue of receipt to members. Budget driven expenses, periodical analyse of expense variance, cashless financial transaction wherever possible, Yearly filing of Tax Return and Audited Annual Reports for Income tax authorities  are some of financial controls being followed by SNASS. To ensure transparency with Donor members, we also publish in our web site every year the Annual Reports being submitted to Income tax authorities.

SNASS is being funded by likeminded devotees purely on voluntary basis. While currently voluntary contribution is being done by around 30/40% of members, SNASS is putting a tireless effort to persuade 100% of members to join in the any of the method(s) of funding to support sustainability of this great initiative. 

Following are the funding routes (Click Link for donation methods) for resource mobilisation for carrying out all above activities.

  1. Contribution through Annual/Monthly donations by devotees for general maintenance of temple.
  2. Donation towards Corpus/Family trust funding ( Min. Amount Rs.25,000/=) 
  3. Responding to appeal for donation for carrying out special  Annual/Monthly functions/festivals associated with Temple ( viz. Samashti Rudhrabhishekam)
  4. Financial / Sponsorship Participation with trust for various Small/Major functions
  5. Motivate /Encourage Hundi savings in each family to be used as donation for trust.

( Note: Donations/Contribution in Indian Rupees only acceptable.)

SNASS appeals to all devotees and other likeminded people for financial support in any one of the above methods, which will go a long way for ensuing sustainable functioning of this noble cause. 

Other Information

So over the last ten years since the inception of SNASS, we are tirelessly working for the improvement of maintenance and operation of our temples to keep up the traditional Poojas and function and also to ensure fullest satisfaction of visiting devotees, particularly those who are coming from outstations. 

We do not hesitate to accept that, we are still faced with many challenges and in terms of scope for improvement, we have miles to go and a long way to reach excellence. However, we have no doubt, that over a period of time, with support and motivation from people like you and with the trust and confidence reposed by the members on us, we will be able to achieve this.

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