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Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati

 
 

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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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