Brahmotsava of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
Mandir,
Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, from 28th March to 30th March
2018
In the morning of 28th March 2018, the
first day of the 3 days special Festival, a grand Yajna was
conducted by Priests of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir along
with Swami Vishveshwarananda.
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, offers the Purnahuti.
Holy Ghee is offered through a special
Dhara into Agni-Devata.
Swami Vishveshwarananda performs Arati for
the holy Kalashas, into which the spiritual Presence of
different Deities of the surrounding Temples, like
Omkara-Mahaganapati Mandir, Omkarananda Radha-Krishna Mandir, etc.
have been invoked.
From the Yajna-Shala of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir the holy Kalashas are taken
for a procession through Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and
brought to their respective Temples nearby. The Priest in front is
purifying the route for the procession with Ganges water.
The Kalasha-Yatra is first proceeding
towards Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir. Shri Swami
Vishveshwarananda is carrying the special Kalasha of Lord
Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti.
Swamiji and the Priests are arriving at the
beautiful Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir, situated under the
holy Banyan Tree, which is covering the whole Temple with its
branches and leaves.
The Kalashas are going to be placed in
front of Lord Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti for Blessings.
Abhisheka for this Deity will be performed with the special
Kalasha in the holy Hands of Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda.
After Abhisheka for Shri
Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti, Swamiji and the Priests proceed
towards other Temples, passing the Shivalingam Mandir (left)
and the Tulsi Mandir (right).
Swami Vishveshwarananda and the Priests
have arrived in front of the Omkarananda Radha-Krishna Mandir,
where Abhisheka, Arati, etc. are performed.
From the Omkarananda Radha-Krishna Mandir
all proceed to the Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir.
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda receives the
Blessings of Lord Omkarananda-Hanuman.
After special Abhisheka for Shri
Omkara-Mahaganapati the Priest is going to perform Karpura
Arati.
All proceed to the Mahakala-Bhairava
Mandir.
After special Abhisheka for Lord
Mahakala-Bhairava a beautiful Arati is performed inside the
Shrine.
After final Shringar for Lord
Omkara-Mahaganapati, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda performs a
special Arati.
In the evening and night of 29th March
2018, the second day of the Brahmotsava, elaborate Pujas are
performed in the Mandapa of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
Constant chanting of Vedic Hymns, Lalita
Sahasranama, Trishati and mystical Syllables by the Priests,
is enriching the holy atmosphere of the
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
Special Puja in front of the Utsava Murtis
of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, Shri Maha-Saraswati Devi
and Shri Maha-Lakshmi Devi.
A Priest purifies the many earthen
Kalashas, established in the Mandapa.
Kumari Somashekhari performs Karpura Arati.
Shri Sanjay Panditji makes a special Puja
for Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
During Recitation of Trishati - the 300
holy names of Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari - by the Priests
of Omkarananda Ashram, one of them offers additional flowers and
rice-corns to the small earthen Kalashas, filled with holy
Ganga water. Each Kalasha represents one of the 300 holy names
of Tripurasundari.
Arati by Kumari Somashekhari.
Arati by Swami Vishveshwarananda.
Arati by Swami Satchidananda.
Arati by Sanjay Panditji.
During offering of Pushpanjali by Shri
Swami Vishveshwarananda to Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda
Saraswati, a rose petal directly reached the forehead of
Gurudev and remained there.
Final conclusion of the Pujas on the second
day of the Brahmotsava by Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami
Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari.
The beautifully decorated special Altar in
the Mandapa of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir during the
Brahmotsava.
The Brahmotsava Celebrations of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir on the third and final day,
started in the morning of 30th March 2018 with a powerful
Yajna in the Yajnashala of this Temple. The Priests of
Omkarananda Ashram are nicely assisted by the students of
Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, the Gurukul of Omkarananda
Ashram Himalayas.
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati
performs a special Arati for Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda
Saraswati, Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi and other
Divinities, whose Presence had been invoked in the Kalashas,
established on the Altar.
Final Puja by Sanjay Panditji before the
Kalashas are taken from the Altar for the procession.
Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami
Satchidananda, Kumari Somashekhari, Omkarananda Ashram Priests
and students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya are ready
for the Kalasha Yatra around the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
The holy procession around the Temple has
started.
From time to time the procession stops and
special purification Pujas are performed.
The Kalasha Yatra around the Temple is
almost completed.
The Kalashas are going to be carried now
into their respective Shrines.
Abhisheka for the Navagrahas.
During Abhisheka of all Deities in the
different Shrines of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir students
of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya are constantly and
tirelessly reciting Vedic Hymns.
Everybody is watching the Abhisheka in the
Shrine of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
Finally the divinely charged earthen
Kalashas went from holy hand to holy hand, till they reached
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi for Abhisheka.
After completion of the special Abhisheka
for Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, She was beautifully
decorated and then a grand Arati was performed for Her.
Everybody proceeds to a Bhandara, specially
organized for this holy occasion.
Many Sadhus joined this Bhandara.
Shri Swami Satchidananda distributes
Dakshina to each and every Sadhu.
Kumari Somashekhari is reciting the
Sannyasa Suktam from the Maha-Narayanopanishad for the Sadhus.
All the Sadhus are very happy and
satisfied, after attending the Bhandara in Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas.
Also the students of Omkarananda Gayatri
Ved Vidyalaya were rewarded with a Bhandara and Dakshinas.
The night of the third and final day of the
Brahmotsava of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir was a Full-Moon
night. A beautiful long Devi Puja – Navavarana Puja – was
performed by the Priests in the innermost Shrine of Shri
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. It is a tradition in the Shri Vidya
Worship to conclude this extraordinary special Devi Puja with
a Suvasini Puja, which took place in front of the Shrine.
Kumari Somashekhari worships Shrimati Bina
Sharma from Viththal Ashram, who had been specially invited as
Suvasini.
Arati is offered to Shrimati Bina during
the Suvasini Puja.
Shrimati Bina accepts nice gifts from
Kumari Somashekhari at the conclusion of this divine occasion.
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