Omkarananda Kamakshi Devi Mandir

Brahmotsava-Celebration
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
20th & 21st March 2008

The spiritual fragrance raised by the Mahakala-Bhairava Mandir Inauguration was still in the air and soon after that the Ashram witnessed another great spiritual function – the Brahmotsava of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

The morning celebrations of the 20th March started at the Yagnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir with Ganapati Kalasha Sthapana, Maha Ganapati Puja, Ganapati Avahana and Maha Ganapati Hawana.
This was followed by the Abhisheka of Omkara-Ganapati with the sacred water of the Kalasha by our Chief Priest, Suresh Panditji, in the presence of Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami Satchidananda, Kumari Somashekhari and other residents and devotees of the Ashram. The morning worship came to conclusion with Arati and Prasad distribution.

The evening programme began with the Sahasra Kalasha Sthapana – installing one thousand earthen pots with sacred water followed by Kalasha Sthapana for every Pratishtha Murti in the Temple, Sthapana Puja of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati and Navaavarana Archana. These Sthapana Pujas have tremendous spiritual significance and form the base for the main Pujas to follow. The beautiful looking small earthen pots, thousand in number, filled with holy Ganga water, stand for 1000 forms or aspects of Shri Lalita Mahatripurasundari, who is the same as Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.

The thousand names of the most beautiful Devi, the Lalita Sahasranama, were recited by our Pandits and with each name a different earthen pot was worshipped with flowers, rice, etc. It was about 11 pm night when Arati was performed and Prasad distributed.

The Brahmotsava day, 21st March, began with Navagraha Homa followed by Moola Mantra Hawana for all the Pratishtha Devatas of the Temple, Shri Lalita Sahasranama Hawana and Purnahuti. Then began the Uttarangam Puja – a process necessary, so that all holy Kalashas can be taken from the Altar and carried in a procession. Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari, along with our Temple-Priests and some Ashram Residents and devotees started the Kalasha Yatra – that is the Parikrama (procession) around the Temple with the water Kalashas – sanctified by all these Pujas. Finally Abhishekam of all the Temple-Murtis was done with the respective Kalashas, installed for each Deity. Abhishekam for Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi was performed with the holy waters from all the 1000 Kalashas.

Then Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi was decorated and the Darshan of the grandeur of Devi after Alankar (decoration of the Divinity with beautiful clothes, shining ornaments, etc.) left everyone speechless and hands folded automatically in prayer and gratitude. The Devi then was offered delicious Prasad which was distributed to everyone after Arati.
In the night a special Navaavarana Puja was performed by our Chief Priest Suresh Panditji for the Meru-Yantra in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, which generated a beautiful, calm and mystically charged atmosphere.

As conclusion of this highly elaborate beautiful Puja a Suvasini (a married lady, whose husband is alive) was worshipped and presented gifts.