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Blossom 11 Petal 2 Blossom 11 Petal 2 Blossom 11 Petal 2 Blossom 11 Petal 2 Blossom 11 Petal 2 May 2007 May 2007 May 2007 May 2007 May 2007 The Source of the Cosmos Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY

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Blossom 11 Petal 2Blossom 11 Petal 2Blossom 11 Petal 2Blossom 11 Petal 2Blossom 11 Petal 2May 2007May 2007May 2007May 2007May 2007

The Source of the Cosmos Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra Sri Chakra

The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY

Page 2: Blossom 11, Petal 2

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Amritham

Dear Devotees,

This issue of the Sri Chakra is very dear our hearts for quite a few reasons. First of all, it commemoratesthe recent kumbhabhishekam at Devipuram from the vantage points of several visitors—many of whom arefriends and regulars of our Rajarajeshwari temple in Rochester.

Secondly, this is the first issue of the Sri Chakra for which Aiya has written an original article since ourrevival in 2005! Just think—it took two whole years to convince him to write! Fortunately, it didn’t take thatmuch convincing for all the contributors who are featured in this issue. It’s the first truly international issueof the Sri Chakra, with generous contributions from devotees from Chennai to Holland.

A kumbhabhishekam is the general term for the grand celebration and series of purification rituals thatare done during the construction or major renovation of a temple. It’s traditionally performed every 12years, at which time any repairs are also commissioned.

Devipuram’s kumbhabhishekam marked its first 12-year period of existence and to re-energize theproperty as well as the murthis on the premises.

“Kumbham” refers to a highest peak of the temple, which receives abhishekam at the culmination of thefestival. A full kalasam, or many kalasa as is often the case, is charged with mantras and pujas for severaldays. The kalasam can also hold the existing power of the mula murthi(s) at the temple. Sometimes, puja isonly done to the kalasa until renovations are finished.

On the final day of this observance, the murthi and/or the actual temple itself receive the abhisheka ofall the kalasa used throughout the festival—sometimes, it is arranged so that both abhisheka will happensimultaneously. The remaining water is sprinkled throughout the property.

This pattern of events changes from temple to temple. The activities and methods of worship willdefinitely vary from temple to temple—for example, bhajans, homams, chanting, or any combination ofpujas can be performed. But the one thing that always takes place at a proper kumbhabhishekam is thecharging or re-charging of the deity and the surrounding environment.

The Hindu belief is that it’s not just enough to build a temple; it must be maintained both physicallyand spiritually. This strict and regular maintenance schedule is a major reason why so many temples havelasted centuries and are still in use today, such as the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram, which is about3,500 years old. Compare this to the state of ancient temples from Greece and Rome—which were built noteven 2,000 years ago—that lie in ruins today.

A kumbhabhishekam is also a community-building activity by its very nature—so many people areneeded to co-ordinate the different parts that the event naturally draws hundreds of devotees who areconnected to the temple. This was the case in Devipuram, which hosted and fed hundreds of people duringthe festival at the end of January and the beginning of February.

The Sri Chakra would like to thank the guests who were also contributors to this issue—namely Aiya,Guruji, Ahalya and Sundara Arasaratnam, Gratuz Devanesan, Raj Jadon, Sangeetha Prakash Krishna,Sunandini Lakshminath, Dr. Devi Padmanaban, Frances Perera, Shyamala Ramaswamy, Soumitro Sengupta,Bill Thomas, and all the contributors to the Temple Lore section. A very special thanks goes out to KathyAllen as our guest editor, whose stalwart efforts have made this issue what it is. As always, please send usyour articles, pictures, questions and comments at [email protected]. Every e-mail will receive aresponse!

thoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsthoughtsourourourourourourourourourour

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!The Sri Chakra staff

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Amritham

PPPPPast Month Eventsast Month Eventsast Month Eventsast Month Eventsast Month Events

Maha Shivarathri, Feb. 15

Since the last issue...Since the last issue...Since the last issue...Since the last issue...Since the last issue...The beginning of February saw

Aiya and Amma in Devipuramfor the Maha Kumbhabhishekamfestival. Aiya returned home toRochester for a few days after thefestival but then had to jet offagain to Arizona where heconducted a series of lectures.Before mid-February, he alsotraveled to the United Kingdomfor four days to perform a seriesof pujas.

Aiya came back in time forShivarathri on Feb. 15 andremained in Rochester for most ofthe rest of the month. On Feb. 27,he left for Europe to consult witha committee in Pfozheim,Germany (about 125 km fromFrankfurt) whose devotees wereplanning to build a temple. Hereturned to North America onMar. 3, and stayed in Rochesteruntil Mar. 18 when he taught hischildren’s class in Toronto.

He attended a wedding inNashville, Tennessee Mar. 25, butthen left four days later toGermany again, for anothersession with the Pfozheimcommittee. He returned to theStates on Apr. 4 and performed awedding in Rochester on Apr. 8.The weekend of Apr. 13 saw Aiyaperform the dhani puja for TamilNew Year and a grandPratyangira homam on Apr. 15.

Sri Subbarao Kompella ofDevipuram visited the temple onApr. 21-22 to conduct aNavavarna puja class. Theremainder of April was filledwith preparations for thetemple’s annual Pratishta festivalin May.

MaMaMaMaMayyyyyMaMaMaMaMayyyyyNewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletterterterterterNewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletterterterterter

by Abhi SomaskandaThis year’s Shivarathri was

celebrated in grand fashion asvolunteers arranged 1008

valampuri (right-handed)shankus to be poured on the Shivalingam for abhishekam.

Set up of the shankus tookvolunteers almost 9 hours as eachshanku was filled with tulasileaves, dharba, lotus petals, andwater mixed with 108 differentherbs. In the line of shankusstretching from the homakundam in the yajna shala to thedvaja stambam inside thesanctum, there were sevendifferent sections. In each section,the shankus were shaped into theamount of petals in the sevenchakras of the body , andaccompanied by the appropriatedeity in the center.

Aiya began the puja at 6 p.m.and devotees had the opportunityto perform abhishekam to thethree mula murthis and also toperform bilva archanathroughout the night. Volunteershanded out bilva leaves todevotees circumambulating the1008 shankus, and bilva wasoffered at each of the sevenchakras as well as the mulasthanam.

Once milk abhishekam andalankaram concluded, the mainlingam was undressed again, andthe shanku abhishekamcommenced. Accompanied by thechanting of the panch sukta and

the Shiva Sahasranamavali, eachshanku was carefully removedand given to devotees to pour totheir hearts content. The water ineach shanku is considered as holyas the Ganga flowing from Shiva’smatted locks.

After the final arathi at 7 a.m.,devotees retired to the yajna shalafor maha prasadam.

Beginningof theshankusset up fromthe yajnashala toinside thetemple

One of the chakras with naivedyamfor each pair of shankus

A tray ofauspiciousitems thatwasoffered toMahaLakshmi

Tamil New Year, Apr. 13by Abhi Somaskanda

Festivities for the Tamil newyear began early morning, as thenew year dawned just after 1 a.m.Aiya performed a small puja toGanapathi and Devi, and returnedat 8 a.m. to set up for Dhani pujawith offerings to Surya Narayanaand Lakshmi. A pongal kalasamwas set up with two trays oneither side of jewelry, clothing,

kumkuma, rice, and several otherauspicious items to be offered toLakshmi for the new year.

Once the milk in the kalasam

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Amritham

For the second year, the templehosted its annual MahaPrathyangira homam the dayafter the Tamil new year. Again,devotees were allowed to sponsora bakshanam to be offered into thehomam. Because of weathercomplications, this year’s homamtook place indoors.

Over 34 different types ofpalaharams were offered to MahaPrathyangira as Her mula mantrawas chanted for more than twohours. Devotees lined up at the

Vayu konam and offered thebakshanams into the homam aftereach recitation of the mantra.

Aiya and the sponsors offeredPrathyangira Devi’s favorite, drychilis, by the basket. After all thebakshanams were given, the

The Sri Rajarajeswari PThe Sri Rajarajeswari PThe Sri Rajarajeswari PThe Sri Rajarajeswari PThe Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 -eetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 -eetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 -eetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 -eetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 -19701970197019701970

In Three MonthsIn Three MonthsIn Three MonthsIn Three MonthsIn Three MonthsThe next issue of theSri Chakra Magazine

Devi willing, the next issue ofthe Sri Chakra Magazine will beup on the temple’s website(www.srividya.org) at thebeginning of August 2007.

This issue will come along inthe middle of the summer andwill be the first time there willnot be a theme or feature sectionto the magazine. Articles, poems,stories, and the like about anyspiritual topic are welcomed andwill be accepted.

The Sri Chakra is looking fordevotees to help out this issue bycontributing stories, pictures,poems, experiences or anythingat all by July 9th. Please e-mailus [email protected] your submissions, as wellas your comments on this issue.

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!

Chitra Poornima, May 1by Kamya Ramaswamy

This was the day on whichpeople who have lost theirmothers may offer tarpanam for hersoul. This day only needs to beobserved for a person’s latemother if, for whatever reason,that person missed offeringtarpanam on her actual day ofpassing. Several devoteesregistered with the temple tosponsor the puja, which was ledby Aiya. They performed the pujathemselves in the yajnashala andthen made the offerings at the endto their late mothers.

spilled over, everyone presentoffered a handful of rice into thepot and Aiya performed a shortpuja to the kalasm. Following thepuja, Aiya gave everyone present“kai visesham,” an offering of adollar to all devotees as the Devi’sfirst blessing of the new year.

As the kalasam spilled over, devoteesoffered handfuls of rice

Aiya and the sponsors offer chili intothe homam as a devotee adds ahandful of palaharam.

Prathyangira Homam, Apr. 15by Abhi Somaskanda

purnahuthi was placed into thefire.

All devotees had a chance to eatthe leftover palaharams after thehomam.

Navavarna Puja Workshop,Apr. 21-22

by Kamya RamaswamyThis workshop was conducted in

the library room of the temple overtwo days by Sri SubbaraoKompella, the peetadhipathi ofDevipuram. A 30-year veteran ofSri Chakra puja, he has beenteaching the process for decadesand this was his first timeconducting a class at theRajarajeswari Peetam. SriSubbarao went through the stepsof the puja on Saturday andlargely used Sunday as a day forreview and questions. Thestudents went over severalmantras, yantras and ritualswithin the Navavarna pujathroughout the weekend.

Upcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming Events

May Festival (Pratistha),May 18-20

by Kamya Ramaswamy

This will be the ninthanniversary of the RajarajeswariPeetam, and it will be celebratedwith great pomp as usual. TheFriday will be devoted toGanapathi, Saturday to Devi andSunday to the Guru. Fridayevening will see the ceremonial

carrying of the Utsa Ganapathimurthi around the temple, whileSaturday will start with aChandi homam at 5 a.m. and endwith the pulling of the chariot atnight. The temple’s children willplan and execute Sunday night’sDattatreya celebration, shortlybefore the festival flag comesdown. All are invited andwelcomed.

Each year, Aiya chooses agroup of students to implementGuru Poornima the followingyear. This year, that group is theteam from Syracuse, NY. All areencouraged to participate. Pleasee-mail your ideas andsuggestions to CharulataChawan Amma [email protected].

by Kamya Ramaswamy

Guru Poornima, July 29

please check theplease check theplease check theplease check theplease check thewebsite,website,website,website,website,wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.srividya.org, for.srividya.org, for.srividya.org, for.srividya.org, for.srividya.org, formore festival pictures!more festival pictures!more festival pictures!more festival pictures!more festival pictures!

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Amritham

“Paiya” in Tamil means, little boy.During the Thiruvempavai festival, thetemple was graced with a surprise visitby someone who had known Aiyaduring his university years. FrancesPerera (or Nicky as we now know her)was best friends with Aiya when theyboth attended Colombo University inthe late 1960s. While visiting herchildren in Mississauga this Christmas,she called the temple to reconnect withher old friend. The Sri Chakra had anintimate chat with her about Aiya, thenand now. Here is the second half of thatconversation.

Nickyand Aiyametagainaftermorethan 30years

Nicky : I called the temple fromOman, before we came toCanada), and they told me he’saway in India but he’ll be back onthe 20th (of December). I came hereon the 16th and was biding mytime. On the 22nd I called and thesame person answered the phone.He came on the line and I said,“Haran this is Nikki,” and therewas silence. Then he said, “Oh myGod, is it really you?” I was justjumping for joy on my end. Hesent Pravin to get me and all theway to the temple Pravin wasasking me questions about Haran.And then he said, “You knowsomething? All this time Aiya wastelling us it took him 60 years toget to where he is… but he knewand could do all of these thingswhen he was younger than I amnow!”

Sri Chakra: I’m thinking the samething right now! I’m so behindcompared to where he was then!

N: He must have started whenhe was 20 or even less. What hetold you guys is that it took him60 years for him to get to wherehe is, but he never told anybodyhow young he was when hestarted. Before that he knew therewas something there, but he wasone of these rioting kids—he told

me that he was a rioter and thatShaku (Amma) was the one whogot him to go to Mataji. They gotmarried in 1970 or ’71 I think. Hearranged a bus for my wholefamily to come to the weddingbecause we were like family tohim; he called my mom ‘amma’and my father ‘aiya.’

SC: So that was after you allfinished university?

N: I quit after he left! I neverfinished. He said, “You idiot, if Iwas there I would have made youfinish.” I told my children that if Ihadn’t quit they wouldn’t bethere, I would never have met myhusband and I probably wouldhave moved to Australia andmarried a white guy orsomething. You know, Haran toldmy friend, Prabha, that she wouldmarry a white guy. She’s aSinhalese Buddhist and shethought she would never do that,but today she’s married to a whiteguy!

When I just started going outwith my husband, Haran had

gone to Zambia but he had comeback to visit in ’74… Saru wasonly two years old. They werethere, and I left my husband nowin the car and ran in to see them.Haran said that the guy in the caris the one I’ll get married to.

SC: We all see Aiya as someonespecial who can see other thingsand predict other things. Whatare some things that made himmore human?

N: He was an absoluteprankster.

SC: Still is today.

N: You just couldn’t help butlaugh when you were with him.I’ll tell you what he did to us, mygirlfriend and myself, when hebrought Shaku for the first time(to Columbo). He used to writethese books—these 40-pagebooklets, when it was full he usedto book-post it to Shaku in Jaffna.He sat us down and told us Shakuwas coming and she didn’tunderstand English, and asked us

part 2part 2part 2part 2part 2

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Amritham

if we would take care of her. So wesaid sure, no problem. We cut oneclass and took her to the canteen.We were pointing to differentthings and asking if she wantedtea, if we could buy anything forher… she was so calm and soquiet, as if she really didn’tunderstand. And we bought hertea and cake.

There was this trellis to one sideand we could see Haran standingbehind it and peeking at us. Icaught him grinning and Ithought, “Oh, there’s somethingup here.” So I looked at Shaku andasked her, “Shaku, youunderstand English, don’t you?”And she said, “Yeah, I understandEnglish.” We told her to wait therefor us, and we chased Haranaround the campus but nevercaught him.

SC: Was that specialrelationship there between Aiyaand anyone else in your group offriends?

N: It was mostly me. I asked himwhy is that I seemed to get themost benefit out of his companyout of all of us, and he said I wasthe most open. And that I waswilling to accept anything, whichsurprised a lot of people; me beinga devout Catholic. Whatever it is,Haran—I don’t see him as a Hindupriest, I see him as a good, devout,honest person. I could relate himto Christ or something like that.It’s not that I think he’s Christ, buthe’s pretty close.

SC: It sounds like he was verymuch back then the way he isnow.

N: Absolutely! I didn’t see muchchange; I think he has got morepowers now. Then he had toconcentrate a little harder to helpsome others. He told me this timewhen I saw him that he hadinitiated me; I had no idea. Butthis time I said I would never losehim again. I wrote to him inZambia in ’77, and now 29 yearslater I found him. We told eachother we had so much catching up

to do but we never talked aboutanything. But it feels like we havecaught up. It’s strange.

I didn’t know I was initiated intoanything, I just knew I was closeto him. And I still don’tunderstand what he has done.Everyone else around there, likePravin and Kathy and Aparna,they all understood what it meantto be initiated... and I was askingif they could explain it to me. I likewhat Haran preaches, thatwhichever religion you are, youjust want to go to God, that’s it. Ie-mailed him yesterday askinghim what I’m supposed to bedoing—I have the feeling there’ssomething I’m supposed to bedoing, but I don’t know what it is.He said I will know it when I haveto know it.

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PART 1

ThiruneelakanthanThiruneelakanthanThiruneelakanthanThiruneelakanthanThiruneelakanthanmay 2007may 2007may 2007may 2007may 2007

by Gratuz Devanesan

Thiruneelakanthan is a common name for LordShiva, who having drunk the poison, ended up witha blue (neela) throat (kanthan). Whatever theesoteric meaning of that story, we do learn andunderstand that Lord Shiva separated the poisonfrom ambrosia in a fluid that contained both—andmaybe that he can do similar things for us.

Once there lived a devotee of Lord Shiva inChidambaram who always kept Lord Shiva in hisheart. He was a potter by profession and as a serviceto Lord Shiva he would offer his services freely forall those who bowed down to Lord Shiva. He wasgifted with an exceedingly beautiful wife, whosephysical beauty was only exceeded by her kindnessand her love for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva foreverabided in her heart and her mind forever dwelled onthe feet of the Lord. The potter devotee lived a happylife with his wife. His wife being exceedinglybeautiful, and the potter being quite virile, theyenjoyed the sensual side of married life.

One day the potter devotee glanced upon aprostitute who, for whatever reason enticed him andthough he had a much more beautiful wife at home,he wondered if maybe he could not try his luck herealso. His wife in the moment of ecstatic pleasurewould call him “Thiruneelakanthan” –that lovingremark going to his head, he convinced himself thathe too could separate the poison and enjoy theprostitute without any real negative effects.

Going home, having a loving truthful relationshipwith his wife, he saw no real reason to keep it fromher. His wife was understandably extremelydisappointed. Moreover, the potter devotee thoughtit would even be possible to visit the prostituteagain—which his wife immediately forbade. He triedto bring down her anger with kind words andgestures but she held on to her anger anddisappointment—after all she was a loyal and lovingwife, who happily did all her duties.

As he approached her to hug her, in an effort tocalm her and convince her she said, “How dare youtouch us! Thiruneelakanthan!” He knew that Lord

Shiva abided in her heart and that at that momentshe had said “us” as supposed to “me,” he felt thatLord Shiva himself had send him this message. Helooked at her and immediately took a new resolve.He promised that from this day forward, a femalewould not be able to entice him even in his dreams.He promised that he would put away his lust andtouch no other female, including his wife.

Having taken that resolve he did not consider thedifficulties involved, considering that his wife wasstill very young and beautiful and his emotions hadin the past always drawn him near her. He took thisresolve with steady fate in the Lord and his wifeaccepted this promise.

From that day on they lived a loving platonicrelationship, with love flowing from their hearts andminds, but never extending as far as physicalsensuality. The years based by, and their skinswrinkled, their bodies tired but their resolve neverwavered.

Many years later, the potter devotee having gownquite old saw a sage very near his home. He walkedover and asked the sage what service he couldprovide him. The sage looked at the devotee andsimply said the he should hold onto this specialbegging bowl of his until he would retrieve it fromhim at a later time. The devotee, not suspectinganything, took the bowl and promised that he wouldkeep it safe. It had been Lord Shiva who had come inthis manner but the devotee did not even imaginethat Lord Shiva would have come to him in person.At night Lord Shiva came back as a robber andstealthily stole away the bowl. In the morning LordShiva returned as the sage and asked for his beggingbowl back.

The devotee looked in the place where he had putit, and not finding it there looked through his entirehouse and the surrounding area. However, he couldnot find the bowl. He came back and told the old sagethat he did not know what had happened and thathe would replace the bowl with a new one, even if ithas to be a golden one. The sage refused all such

NaNaNaNaNayyyyyanmarsanmarsanmarsanmarsanmarsNaNaNaNaNayyyyyanmarsanmarsanmarsanmarsanmars63636363636363636363

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Amritham

offers, demanding that he should have his originalbowl returned to him. The sage took this wholething to the priest of Chidambaram, for he said onlythey could pass proper judgment.

The priest heard the case, and the pleadings of thedevotee, but decided that the sage was right and heneeded his bowl returned. The devotee did not havethe bowl and had no idea what to do. The sage, whowas of course Lord Shiva in disguise, offered acompromise. He told the potter to take his first bornand jump into a well. The devotee explained that hehad no offspring, but did not elaborate on why. Thesage then said he should take his wife’s hand andjump and if he was telling the truth surely nothingwill happen.

The devotee now felt that there was a slightproblem as he had made the promise never to touchany female, including his wife. Nonetheless, hethought that to clear his name he should have faithin the Lord and jump with his wife. All these years

he did not tell anyone of the promise he had made somany years ago, and he felt only troubled bybreaking that promise and not by the fact that hehad to jump into a well.

He went home contemplating the whole thing andreturned with his wife; instead of holding her handthey both held a stick of bamboo. Once in front of thepriest of Thillai he explained to all the promise hehad taken many years ago and jumped into the well,expecting to die.

However, the very moment he jumped, the waterrose and lifted him up, transforming him and hiswife to a youthful age. The very same time the sagedisappeared and the Lord of Thillai appeared nearthe horizon, sitting on his bull and accompanied byhis loving consort. The Lord proclaimed that thepotter couple was truly great for conquering the fivesenses with a single resolve and holding on steadilyto that resolve all the way until the end. The Lordtook them with him to his abode where they lived inheavenly happiness with eternal youth.

Thiruneelakanthan Nayanar

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Amritham

TTTTTempleempleempleempleempleTTTTTempleempleempleempleemple

The stories of the devotees atThe stories of the devotees atThe stories of the devotees atThe stories of the devotees atThe stories of the devotees atthe Sri Rajarajeswarithe Sri Rajarajeswarithe Sri Rajarajeswarithe Sri Rajarajeswarithe Sri RajarajeswariPPPPPeetam creetam creetam creetam creetam create the vereate the vereate the vereate the vereate the veryyyyyessence of the temple’s soul.essence of the temple’s soul.essence of the temple’s soul.essence of the temple’s soul.essence of the temple’s soul. Aiya has verified all these Aiya has verified all these Aiya has verified all these Aiya has verified all these Aiya has verified all thesetales for their authenticitytales for their authenticitytales for their authenticitytales for their authenticitytales for their authenticity,,,,,and he urges devotees toand he urges devotees toand he urges devotees toand he urges devotees toand he urges devotees toshare their experiences forshare their experiences forshare their experiences forshare their experiences forshare their experiences forthe benefit of futurethe benefit of futurethe benefit of futurethe benefit of futurethe benefit of futuregenerations. All identities willgenerations. All identities willgenerations. All identities willgenerations. All identities willgenerations. All identities willbe kept in the strictestbe kept in the strictestbe kept in the strictestbe kept in the strictestbe kept in the strictestconfidentiality unlessconfidentiality unlessconfidentiality unlessconfidentiality unlessconfidentiality unlessotherwise informed.otherwise informed.otherwise informed.otherwise informed.otherwise informed.

LorLorLorLorLoreeeeeLorLorLorLorLoreeeee

Last year, the Sri Chakra was able tointerview an upasaka who hadrecently received diksha and was ona trip to Rochester. He told themagazine about his spiritualexperiences and some of the lessonshe has learned from Aiya and Devi.This month, the Sri Chakra featuresthe third in four parts of thatinterview.

Sri Chakra: When you say yousee things, or someone comes andtells you something (likeSaraswati did), does that happenwithin your head? Or is it anexternal experience that happensoutside of your body?

Devotee: From the way thatAiya has explained it to me, it’soccurring on a different plain, soI’m deep in my japam. But evennow I can see external things… it’slike, I would look at somethingand at the same time I could seeand overlay type of thing. It’s thesame sort of thing with auras. Ican look at a person, and with myeyes closed I could still see theiraura. So what I’m saying is thatyou’re looking at a person withyour eyes and then you’re lookingat them with your mind as well.Now I don’t look at people’s aurasnormally, because I think it’s aninvasion of privacy.

SC: What do you see when youlook at an aura and how is it aninvasion of privacy?

Devotee: Because what you seeis… For example, one time I lookedat Aiya’s aura. Now, for Aiya, he’sprotected by his Guru Padukaand the fact that he’s said it for solong… I cannot take a lock on thecolour of Aiya’s aura because itkeeps shifting. However, whenAiya was in union with Devi,during a time when he was doingbhajans, I could see this goldensphere that encompassed him.

When Aiya refers to an aura,he’s referring to the predominantchakra that you’re at in thismoment in time, which varieswith the colours. For me, what Isee is the electro-magnetic fieldaround a person, which extendsto about three feet or so. Or attimes it might be jagged or itmight change depending on thecondition of the person.

I think it’s an invasion ofprivacy because if I see someone’saura, I can see a person and I cantell whether or not they’re a SriVidya upasaka without askingthem. Because the colour of theiraura would appear a certain wayto me. Or I could see if this personwas a Kali worshipper orsomething else, or what hashappened to them.

I don’t think a person should beable to have that unless they’vereached a certain level. Now, Iwouldn’t talk to people about(other people’s auras), but I don’tthink it’s right for me to use it.Like with any siddhi, Devi willkeep you at arm’s length if you usethem because you’ll start gettingenamoured with them and alsothey’re a horrible distraction tohave.

SC: Are you at the point whereyou have attained any siddhis?

Devotee: Little things. I’ve hadpre-cognitions. When I’ve been injapam at times, I would think aperson has already walked up tome and I’ll open up my eyes. But

then there’s no one there and thenthe person actually comes along.It’s kind of seeing things a fewthings earlier. These things justget you slightly confused.

I’ve realized that all of thesethings, there’s no point looking forit… I don’t even bother with itnow. There’s no point in trying tounderstand what She has plannedfor you. She’ll let whateverhappens happen.

…to be continued next issue

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YA DEVI SARVA BHUTESHU PRITI RUPENA SAMSTITHA,

NAMASTASYAI, NAMASTASYAI, NAMASTASYAI, NAMO NAMAH

YA DEVI SARVA BHUTESHU PRITI RUPENA SAMSTITHA,

NAMASTASYAI, NAMASTASYAI, NAMASTASYAI, NAMO NAMAH

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Over the last weekend inJanuary the Sri Meru Temple inDevipuram saw the twelfth year“Punarutharana”kumbhabhishekam beingperformed. Quite a few devoteesfrom the Sri RajarajeswariPeetam in Rochester, NY werethere. Almost 20 people werethere from the USA and Canada,observing and participating in thefestivities. There was Suhir, Devi,Jayadeva, Thuriamba,Parameswari Teacher, Raj Jadon,Ravi and Rani, Venu andKanakeswari, Madhuri and hersister, Santoshi Ma, Sundara,Ahalya, and Amma and myselfattending the festivities.

The arrangements at Devipuramwere handled by a host of peopleincluding Dattatreyananda, SriSubbarao (the newly installedPeetadhipathi at Devipuram)Guruji’s daughters Ananta, Radhaand Rama and her husbandPrabhakar. Several dignitariesthat included Sri SwamiLalithananda and other senior SriVidya upasakas attended. Theywere all received with due respectwith Purna Kumbham and the

chanting of vedic mantras andChatra.

Notable attendees includedalmost 40 devotees from thefamous Nemili Sri BalaThripurasundari Peetam, led by

Peetadhipathi Nemili SriEzhilmani and his wife Smt.Nagalakshmi. They were properlyreceived at the entrance andconducted to the temple where

they had an audience with Gurujiand Ammah and later made theirway to the temple. They spent agood two hours at the peetam andleft after dinner. There wereexcellent arrangements made forthe food, a team of expert cookswere there preparing tasty,nutritious and timely meals forthose people attending.

The pratishtapana homa andkumbhabhishekam ceremonieswere led by a senior Sri Vidyaupasaka and a number of hisdisciples. There were a thousandkalasas installed by these menand they performed Vedaparayana, while Suryanamaskaram, Sahasralinga,Mahalingarchana and Mahanyasapurvaka Rudrabhishekam wereperformed daily. Gurujipersonally led the daily SriChakra Pujas to the 108 purnamahamerus sponsored by variouspeople. This was always thehighlight of the day. The suvasinisfrom Hyderabad led the dailychantings of Soundarya Lahariand Sri Lalita Sahasranamam.

In the evenings there weremusical performances from

by Chaitanyanandanatha Saraswathi

DevipDevipDevipDevipDevipuramuramuramuramuramDevipDevipDevipDevipDevipuramuramuramuramuramkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekamamamamamkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekkumbhabhishekamamamamam

Aiya leading a Maha Prathyangirahomam in Kamakhya Peetam

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various artistes from Chennaiand Vizakapatnam. Notableamong them were the muchbeloved and wildly popularnadaswaram duo of Kalaimamani Sheik Subhani andKalaimamani MehboobKalishabhi. They were nostrangers to the attendees fromthe USA and Canada. Theyaccompanied Sri Ganesh, Smt.Gnanapurani and I when we sangbhajans on the second day of theceremonies.

Sri Premasagar andSathiawathi, the longtimedevotees of Guruji from ChemburMumbai, who are living inDevipuram, made sure Gurujiand Guruji Amma were properlylooked after and were notoverstressed during thefestivities.

In the mornings, of the days Iwas there, I led anushtanas at theKamakhya peetham, thepowerhouse of the complex. Therewere daily Sri Sukta Vidhanapujas and a Maha Pratyangirahomam performed with Guruji’sthree daughters in attendance.The early morning pujas wereheavily attended. On the thirdday at Guruji’s request a homakundam was constructed at theEasanya side of the Maha Meru.At Guruji’s request I led a MahaShodasi Homam for the devoteeswho were there, in particular fora devotee based in New Delhi,who had sponsored it. This

homam was performed, Rochesterstyle and was very well receivedwith Guruji gracefully inattendance.

On the final day Guruji,Ammah, his children, The NewPeetadhipathi Sri Subbarao, hiswife, Amma and I were in theyajnashala for the purnahuthi ofthe Pratishtapana homamfollowed by kumbhabhishekamperformed by the chief ritvik,Guruji, Sri Subbarao, SwamiLalitananda, another senior SriVidya Upasaka and myself.Everyone who had sponsored oneof the thousand kalasa then got anopportunity to carry the kalasa

themselves to the top, and SriSubbarao and the chief Ritvikperformed the abhishekam forthem.

The festivities ended leaving allthose who attended with a feelingof fulfillment and belonging.

clockwise from top left: Aiya andAmma leading a Maha Shodasihomam; The gang from America andCanada hanging out with Aiya andAmma; Aiya and Amma with NemiliEzhilmani and his wife, Smt.Nagalakshmi.

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Arriving in Devipuram on theeve of Maha Kumbhabhishekhamfelt like a huge family reunion,with Sahasrakshi’s childrenarriving from around the world. Iimmediately felt swept away byloving smiles. As soon as I gotdown from the car, I ran to Gurujiand Guruji Amma’s house to offerpranaams. Sitting and chattingwith Guruji was YanamandraVenugopala Shastry, the acharyawho was to lead the four dayfunction. Right away I noticed thesame sparkling, loving eyes ofDevi. Throughout the festival hewas a bright light embodyingDevi’s love. As he lead a team ofritviks in front of the Yagna Shala,their chanting voices harmonizedwith the pujas simultaneouslyoccurring in the Sri Meru temple,Kamakhya and Shivalayam.Could we be in Deva Lokam? Itfelt like Chintamani Grihantasta.

Each day was a full feast ofofferings: divine pujas, chanting,music, friendship-new and old,chatting, sharing food andrelaxing in the cashew groves, allamidst the divine company oftrue Mahatmas.

On the final day, whichcoincided with magha masampournima, we spent a fullmorning with beautiful pujas andthen gathered in the yagna shalafor the maha purnahuthi. Oncethe maha purnahuthi had beenoffered, Guruji and Guruji Ammaclimbed the spiral stairs of the SriMeru temple accompanied by asmall group of devotees andpriests. Thousands of devotees

watched from the ground asthey climbed up 60 feet, to thetop of the bindu, aboveSahasrakshi’s sahasrara andpoured the first of 1,000kalasams which would soak thetemple and all the devotees inshowers of bliss for the nextseveral hours. The words whichbest describe the experience ofthis culminating puja areAmrita Ananda, as if the Guruphysically manifested his trueform and showered all withblessings and divine love. Afterfour days of charging theatmosphere and the 1,000kalasams, the flow of waterpouring over the Sri Merutemple was an ecstaticoutpouring of bliss. As the

water flowed off the temple somedevotees held empty bottles tocollect the tirtham and otherssimply stood under thedownpour and let it drench theirsouls. Sacred birds flewoverhead, circling the temple, asdevotees spiraled up the Sri Meru,chanting while carrying the claykalasams on their heads, rising toreach the bindu. Nothing couldbe greater than sharing the divineoccasion with your GuruParampara, as our Sri Gurus andParama Gurus bestowed fullblessings on the occasion. I willnever forget the ecstatic, crazy,blissful look on Aiya’s face as hesat with Guruji and GurujiAmma witnessing the greatevent.

by Kathy (Thuriamba) Allen

The divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s homeThe divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofThe divinity ofDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s homeDevi’s home

Aiya,Guruji,andGurujiAmma

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It is an understatement to saythat Devipuram is a beautifulplace. It is a place that embodiesthe beauty of the Goddess, bothphysically and spiritually. I spenttwo weeks in that paradiseduring the Maha Kumbhabhishekamfestival. It is Devi’s own Palace Of

Splendor (manidweepam). I finallyhad taken my much-dreamed-ofvacation in paradise and got tospend time with Mother at Herplace.

Before the festival started, allthe deities in the temple complex,including all the KhadgamalaDevis, were freshly garlanded,and they looked enchantinglybeautiful. The whole place lookedcolorfully decked and freshlypainted. Devotees had gatheredfrom many countries and frommany parts of India. Getting toknow them, living with them,sharing our experiences,recounting our stories, was amemorable experience. Evenwhile I was there, I rememberthinking that these were some ofmy best days.

I had the opportunity to spendtime with Guruji and Amma, toshare in their simple lives, andbask in their love and affection.Aiya and Amma from theRochester peetam were there forthe festival. While Amma madeher loving presence felt, Aiyaregaled us with his mesmerizingstories and anecdotes laced withdivine wisdom.

As if the collective power ofGuruji/Amma and Aiya/Ammawere not enough, we also hadother spiritual dignitaries visitDevipuram during the festival.One notable presence was the

peetadhipathi of Nemili BalaTripurasundari Peetam, and hisfamily. Once couldn’t have wishedfor a better divine constellation.

The events of the festival werestructured in such a way that theritual and spiritual activities (likepuja, homam etc) were scheduled for

the mornings, while theafternoons and evenings were forrelaxing and socializing withinthe temple complex. We hadworld-class carnatic music concertson all five evenings of the festival.It certainly felt like we hadgathered in the Mother’s home tocelebrate Her presence.

Celebrating thus, the day of thegrand-finale arrived. It was theday of ritual climax. After theceremonial completion (purnahuti)of the homam, Guruji and Ammaproceeded to the top of the templestructure to perform themahakumbhabhishekam—theceremonial bathing of the SriMeru Temple. I too, along with allother devotees, had theopportunity to carry the sacredkalasam (pot) of water to thetemple dome. It was a rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us todo so.

I was moved to tears when I sawGuruji at the top of the templegopuram (dome), who had climbedthere with considerable difficulty,over the makeshift stairs. Heperformed the abhishekam to the SriMeru Temple. It was a magicaland powerful moment, as the firstkalasam of water was poured overthe temple spire. That tinymoment in time will stay frozenin my memories. For me, itsymbolizes the culmination of afestival in a small slice of time, yet

simultaneously reminding me ofthe timeless eternal relevance ofDevipuram and Guruji’s vision.

When the abhishekam ceremonywas done by Guruji and Amma, Isaw three eagles (Garuda) in thesky circling over the temple dome.

In South Indian temple tradition,such a presence of the eaglesduring a kumbhabhishekamceremony is considered highlyauspicious. It is believed that thepresence of such garudas is areassuring visible symbol of thesacred presence of the gods, rishis,sages, siddhas and yoginisassembled to witness and to blesssuch a highly powerful ritual, andoffer their whole-hearted well-wishes to the temple.

I joined other devotees inwholeheartedly praying thatDevipuram, always and foreverremains a vital resource fortantric Sri Vidya worship of Devi,for all our future generations.When Guruji did the abhishekam, Ihad this refrain on my lips -“pallaandu, pallaandu,pallaayirathaandu, pala kotinooraayiram.” It is a Tamildevotional song that is sungduring a blessing, and roughlytranslates as, “May the blessingsbe showered for many years,many years, many thousandyears, many ten million hundredthousand years...”

After all, that is what amahakumbhabhishekam is in itsessence—it is a collective prayer, awholehearted blessing, a spiritualreaffirmation and a timelyreassurance that the symbol andlegacy of the shakti peetam(Devipuram) will live on forever!

by Sangeetha Prakash Krishna

The Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence ofThe Essence of

MahaMahaMahaMahaMahaMahaMahaMahaMahaMaha

KKKKKumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekamamamamamKKKKKumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekamamamamam

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KKKKKumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekamamamamamKKKKKumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekumbhabhishekamamamamam

· The onlooker cannot miss thegrandeur of the Meru Temple. He(She) was at the Meru Temple,dressed in white, radiating like themoonlight and enjoying thepresence of His (Her) children.Guruji Amma greeted everyonewith her most inviting smile whileall the volunteers and workersembraced everyone with motherlygentleness and endearing smiles.

Devipuram pulsated with aunique energy throughout theMaha Kumbhabhishekam. Ecstasysprints through your spinewitnessing Sahasrakshi revealingHerself as Ganapathi, Meenakshiand Varahi. How fortunate wewere to have both Gurus andPatnis in one sacred, esoteric place.Wherever Aiya and Amma went,they magnetically drew crowd likebees to honey. Kamakya Peetamechoed with Aiya’s mesmericchants. In the early morning,Guruji’s chants in a soft, tendervoice exuded life in every particleand granule while the homamsconducted by Aiya resonated in theair with invigorating energy. Fromyoung to the old, trees to the birds,inanimate to animate werepregnant with vitality.

Like a lotus in a pond, the MeruTemple blossoms in the midst of alustrous cashew plantation. Stayatop the Shivalayam and feel Herexuberance all around you. Marvelthe beauty of the breast-likemountains, witness the cloudimpregnate the valleys, listen to the

distant chants, laughs and cries,let Her wrap your body with acalm breeze and warm your skinwith gentle rays, admire theunfolding beauty with everytwilight and dawn and taste itslusciousness. Let thesurrounding intoxicate everycell in your body while you meltaway into the timeless warpsleeping in this Mother’s womb.It was enchanting andelectrifying.

It is a place where time orthoughts do not dwell. Nothingmatters anymore. This cannot bepainted on a canvas by an artist,nor can any vocabulary conveyits spirit. It is an experience thatwill remain in one’s soul througheternity.

Ahalya Arasaratnam

· I was a child playing in theMother’s lap

Cherishing every momentnourishing Her sap

Floating in the boundlesssmothering love from KanchiKamakshi

Déjà vu inspiration tearing myheart at Madhurai Meenakshi

The playful little Girl, gigglingand ruling my life atKanyakumari

Trotted along to enjoy thedivine Grace at Pillaiyar Pathi

Went in search to experiencethe Maha Senathipathi

Bounded by the harnessingenergy in Swami Malai

Proceeded to rejoice thespearheaded divine force ofThiruperungkunram

Bathing in the twenty twowells for penance atRameshwaram

The shiver of bliss and losingmyself at Chidambaram

Lost the weed of need atArunachalam

Drowned totally in the AbsoluteContentedness

Permeating every cell was theinexplicable Sweetness

Defeating my human will whilefeeling the “SHE”

Now, nothing ever matters as tohow things will be

Without the grace of my Guruswhere I will be

Without adoring Her feet thereis no life for me

Everything She is to meNothing will bother what come

maybeNo more need I have, now no

fear I haveThe Guru’s Grace is protecting

all the “we.”Anonymous

· In my moments with divineMother, I asked her “when wouldI see you next?” She replied, “Mysweet child look into the eyes ofevery devotee and you will see methere.”

Guruji

· After Guruji had performedthe abhishekam of the kumbhamhe came down and sat before theSri Meru temple with Amma togiving blessings to the people. Afew volunteers and I formed ahuman chain around him so thatthe oxygen supply to Guruji andAmma does not get compromiseddue to the large crowd. There wasa long queue of people waiting totouch his feet. A few of them weretaking a longer time and trying to

Hundreds of people descended onDevipuram for the MahaKumbhabhishekam in Jan/Feb 2007. Thepeople below were kind enough to sharetheir thoughts and experiences during theevent with those who could not be there.

ofofofofofofofofofofslicesslicesslicesslicesslicesslicesslicesslicesslicesslices

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talk to him while getting hisblessings.

Suddenly two more guestpeetadhipathis came and sat nextto Guruji and Amma and startedto bless people who prostrated.This was further delaying thequeue. So a few of us wereushering the people to make itfaster, as each one of themprostrated separately before fourGurus. We stopped people fromhaving too many words withthem and prevented people whohad darshan to stand aroundGuruji. The prime screamer wasme saying please don’tovercrowd, please make it faster,please don’t talk now, etc. Gurujicalled me closer and said with hisusual smile, “It is okay, now thereare two queues! Why do youhasten them; see the people in onequeue are all standing in the sun,first make them to come under theshade.”

While reciting the LS mantra–Avyaja karuna moorthi–in myopinion and experience refers tothe unusually benevolent Guruji,as he usually usual walks histalks and spreads ripples ofKarunya Rasa.

Sunandini Lakshminath

· Devipuram truly is a placethat defines solitude, as it iscradled deep within a valleysurround by giant hills thatguard against the encroachmentof civilization, where time has nosignificance, where Devi’s graceand love flows in abundance. Onarrival you feel like you havereached your spiritual home, asthe warm fresh air caresses yourbody like a mother affectionatelycradles her child after a lengthyabsence.

By attending theMahakumbhabhishekam we wereall able to quench our spiritualdesires and fulfill our innerspiritual quest as the guru’s graceoozed profusely. During the fourdays of celebration, the landgraced use with its beauty fromdawn to dusk, the winds caressedus all with her gentle motherly

breeze, the devotees were all filledwith goodness and love, theyoung pundits (ritviks) chantedlike thunder to provoke the godsto shower their blessings. Eachday of the celebration wasdifferent, aside from the regularpujas, devotees could participatein numerous activities such ashomans, cleaning and sponsoringpujas.

In the evening, a variety ofspecial singers would come to paytheir respects to Devi and sing Herglory. The ultimate joy was to seeAiya and Amma grace us all bybeing able to attend thecelebration, but moreimportantly, it was theindescribable joy that Gurujiexpressed on seeing Aiya andAmma that filled our hearts andgave him strength. As thecelebrations ended on the fourthday with the commencement ofthe abhishekam from the highestpoint of the main temple by ourgurus, we all regained ourspiritual strength by drenchingourselves into the abhishekamwater that trickled down to thetemple floor, while eaglesacknowledged and celebrated thesuccessful event.

Raj Jadon

· Most of the old crowd inRochester remembers me I’m sure;I was present at the firstKumbhabhishekham atDevipuram 12 years earlier andwhen I heard that this washappening again, I felt I needed tobe there for this even though itwas happening at a mostinconvenient

time with very little time toprepare.

After a very difficult trip gettingto Devipuram, I was finally there.Everyone was very busypreparing for this and I toldGuruji that I would like to dophotography for this function.And he gave me thisresponsibility, so that was mypart to help out during this time.

Well, it was not easy; I washaving back trouble and even got

very sick half way through thefunction. I was not the only oneincluding Guruji. Even with allthis going on I felt it was onlybecause of the Devi’s blessings andgrace that I was even there. Thisfunction was a crowningachievement for Guruji andAmmah. With the release ofGuruji’s new Merus, I eagerlypurchased a five-inch version totake home. It was great seeingHaran and Amma and so many ofthe Rochester crowd as well asmaking many new friends.

My powerful experiencehappened the day after thefunction, when I was allowed tosit in the Sahasrakshi Merutemple alone by myself insidewith the gate closed. I was sittingand talking with the Devi frommy heart when I heard a women’sanklet jingle in my ear. I tried tosee if someone was there outside. Icould not see; I was sitting too farto the right. When I heard it again,this time I got up, and outside wasa beautiful young lady in a goldensari.

She was motioning with herhand towards the inside of thetemple, I said do you wish to donamaskara to the Devi and shedid not speak, but kept movingher hand towards me to theground. I opened the gate and sheprostrated before Devi. Withouteven thinking and as though someone had taken control of me, I tooksome kumkum, touched it to theMeru, Shiva’s feet, and the Devi’sjewelry and placed this on theyoung woman’s forehead.

When I did this, some tearsrolled from her eyes and this musthave been something very specialto her. I thought this was strangethat she was all alone. I leftshortly after and I did not see heranywhere outside. I thought wasshe real, but I knew thisexperience was very special,moving and real for me, as it wasfor that young woman. I willalways remember that for themoment that Devi and I sharedthose blessings.

Bill Thomas

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· It was the last day of theKumbhabhishekam atDevipuram. The day’s activitieswere not clear to me. All I knewwas that the sacred energizedwater in the 1000 kalasams thatunderwent days of constantchanting with various powerfulmantras was about to begenerously offered to theKumbham that sits on top of theMeru Nilayam temple. Devoteeswere scattered all over the placeand there was no sight of theRochester group. I found myselfwalking aimlessly. Suddenly Iremembered that the offering ofthe 1000 gold coin mala wasscheduled for that day.

I rushed to the Sahasrakshigoddess who sits on the bindu ofthe Meru temple. There I met withPrema aunty, Tejasvi, and Vijayaall disciples of Guruji engaged insorting out the garlands for thealankaram. The young boyassigned for the Devi’salankarams, for all the days wasalso there. I expressed myappreciation for his devoted,artistic and creative touch to thedifferent alankarams of the Devi.The mother was dressed up asGanesha, Shyma and Varahi inthe past days and today it wasgoing to be Lalitha.

Before I could plunge into avolley of questions, Prema auntypulled me aside and asked me tohelp with the sorting of thedecoration articles. I could seethat they were all pressed for timeand orderly completion of thealankaram before the arrival ofGuruji to do the prokshanamwith the kalasam water. Iwatched the young boy applyingsandalwood paste to the Devi’sface with intense concentrationand devotion. Something told methat he was going through somejourney doing it, for every moveappeared to be dictated by theMother. Meanwhile, the jostlingcrowd had gathered outside theSahasrakshi sanctum door,anxiously trying to get a glimpseof the Devi. We all took turns tohold the sanctum door tight.

As we were just done withdraping of three sarees as one onthe mother, we heard the dooropen. Guruji, Amma, and themain priest walked in with thekalasams. The ritviksaccompanying them werechanting loudly, and then I sawAiya, Amma and Subbarao jostletheir way through inside. They alltook turns in doing theprokshanam for the Devi with theenergized kalasam water. Later,they headed to the pinnacle of theMeru temple, to pour the kalasamwater on the kumbham. The restof us stayed back in the sanctumto complete the alankaram. Weadorned her with garlands madeof different sizes and flowers andShe looked beautiful.

Suddenly, drops of water weredripping from the sanctum roof.We soon realized that it was thekalasam water that was beingpoured on top of the kumbham.We all acknowledged the fact thatthe mother was showering herGrace to us in this form. Outsidethe sanctum, devotees made abeeline to offer the kalasams. Aladder was laid to get to the top ofthe kumbham. Only few peoplewere allowed to climb on it due topracticality issues.

As I was helping with thetechnicalities of adorning the kasumalai for the Devi, Guruji’sbrother-in-law walked inside andasked the few of us if we wouldlike to offer a kalasam. We alljumped with joy. I picked up akalasam from a devotee andclimbed up the not-too-steadyladder. I did not care. I reached thetop and gave the kalasam toSubbarao, who was engaged indiligently pouring the water fromthe kalasa offered to him. I sawRema (Guruji’s daughter) sittingright near the kumbham,drenched in water smiling at me.Someone asked me if I wanted tosit there. All this was sounexpected that for a moment Icould not collect myself. I camedown to the sanctum and mademy humble pranams to my Gurulineage and the Mother.

Dr. Devi Padmanaban

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Sri Gurubhyo NamahSri Gurubhyo NamahSri Gurubhyo NamahSri Gurubhyo NamahSri Gurubhyo NamahSri Gurubhyo Namah