Brahmotsava for
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh,
from 6th April 2020 to 8th April 2020

The Brahmotsava, the grand yearly Festival for the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
started on 6th April 2020, with elaborate Pujas, followed by a Yajna in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The Yajna was conducted by the resident Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, took also actively part in the great Yajna.

Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, offers the Purnahuti.

Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji performs Arati for Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and different Divinities, Whose living Presence had been invited into the Kalashas
through special Prayers and Pujas by the Omkarananda Ashram Priests.

A Kalasha-Yatra has started from Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and a few Omkarananda Ashram
Priests carry the Kalashas to the Shrines of Shri Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir,
Shri Omkara-Mahaganapati Mandir, Shri Omkarananda-Radha-Krishna Mandir,
Shri Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir and Shri Mahakala- Bhairava Mandir,
where the holy water in the Kalashas will be used for Abhisheka of the Divinities.
The Priest, leading the Procession, is continuously sanctifying the ground with Ganga Jal.

The Procession has arrived at the beautiful Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir,
which is situated under a holy Banyan Tree. Shri Sanjay Panditji is performing
a special Arati for the removal of all obstacles to the divine proceedings and
for the protection of all participants in this holy event.

One special Kalasha has reached the Temple of the cute, blessing Divinity,
Shri Omkarananda-Hanuman, where Mukesh Panditji is performing Puja and Arati.

 The Ashramites and Priests have moved to the
Omkarananda-Radha-Krishna Mandir, where the Pujas continue.

Finally all have reached the Mahakala-Bhairava Mandir, situated on a Hill-Slope
in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, for making Pradakshina
around the Temple. Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda leads the Procession,
carrying the divine mask of Lord Yogeshwara. Behind him is Kumari Somashekhari
with the divine mask of Shri Yogeshwari, followed by Priests, carrying holy Kalashas.

Before the Kalashas are placed inside the Shrine of Lord Mahakala-Bhairava for
Abhisheka with Him, Priest Sanjay Panditji and Mukesh Panditji are performing Pujas.

Finally, after Pujas, Abhishekas and Alankara (decoration of the Deities with beautiful
fresh clothes, ornaments and flower-malas) had been completed by the
Omkarananda Ashram Priests, a special Arati was performed for Lord Omkara-Mahaganapati, followed by a delicious Prasad for all, which had been prepared by the
Omkarananda Ashram Priests themselves.

In the night of 7th April 2020 the Brahmotsava continued in the Mandapa (Temple-Hall)
 of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir with powerful Mantra-Recitations and Pujas
by the resident Omkarananda Ashram Priests. 300 small earthen Kalashas had been placed
in geometric forms inside the Temple-Hall and filled with holy Ganges Water and fresh flowers.

For these special Celebrations a beautiful Altar was established inside the Temple-Mandapa,
facing the Garbha Griha (the Sanctum Sanctorum) of the powerful and vibrant Divine Mother,
Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. On this Altar holy Kalashas had been placed,
in which the living Presence of all the Deities, residing in the different Shrines of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, had been invoked by special Rituals and Prayers.
In the front of the Altar can be seen the Utsava Murti of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
in the middle, and on Her sides are residing the Utsava Murtis of Shri Maha-Saraswati Devi
and Shri Maha-Lakshmi Devi. The Altar is also adorned by a photo of
Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and pictures of Lord Shiva
and other Deities. Priest Shri Sanjay Panditji is conducting preliminary Pujas and Prayers.

Sanjay Panditji is assisted by the Mantra-Chanting
of the other resident Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

The beautiful Full-Moon is shining brightly above the
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir during the Brahmotsava Celebrations.

Before the start of the Main-Pujas, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji,
Shri Sanjay Panditji and Kumari Somashekhari are performing a Ritual, called
"Punyahavachanam" with a special Kalasha. Afterwards the sanctified water in
this Kalasha will be sprinkled by the Priest on the Puja-Place, the Altar,
the area of the Temple-Mandapa, etc.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, Kumari Somashekhari and Sanjay Panditji
offer flowers to Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

During the recitation of the "Trishati", the 300 holy Names of the Supreme Divine Mother
Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari, the Omkarananda Ashram Priest offers fresh flower-petals,
Kumkum and rice-corns to each earthen Kalasha, which had been filled with Ganges water.
Each of the 300 Kalashas represents one name or aspect of Divine Mother Tripurasundari.

Final Arati for Divine Mother Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi,
Who is the same as Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari.

Shri Swami Satchidanandaji, Treasurer Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
receives Blessings from Priest Shri Sanjay Panditji at the conclusion of the
elaborate Night Pujas in the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple.

On the concluding day of the Brahmotsava a grand Yajna was conducted by the
Omkarananda Ashram Priests in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati performs the Purnahuti.

The beautiful Altar, which had been specially established for the
Brahmotsava of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

Before the holy Kalashas are taken from the Altar for the Kalasha-Yatra,
a final Arati is performed by Kumari Somashekhari and others.

From left to right: Omkarananda Ashram Priests, Shri Swami Satchidananda,
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari, in the Temple Hall
of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, holding Kalashas.

In a procession, led by Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, the divine Kalashas
are carried around the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
With the help of fresh Mango-leaves, Shri Sanjay Panditji sprinkles
Ganges Water on all participants of the Kalasha-Yatra.

After every few meters the procession is coming to a short halt, and the Priest
performs special Pujas for the protection of the Kalashas and their carriers. 

Finally the Kalasha-Yatra has reached completion in front of the Temple Hall of
Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. Shri Sanjay Panditji welcomes all with
an auspicious Arati. After that all Kalashas will be carried into their respective
Shrines for Abhisheka with the Deities. 

Shri Sanjay Panditji, assisted by Shri Mukesh Panditji, performs Abhisheka for
the Navagrahas with different holy ingredients, like Cow's Milk, Haldi, Curd, Honey,
fragrant Vibhuti (holy Ashes), Kumkum, Ganges Water and so on. 

Finally all the 300 earthen Kalashas, which are charged with special Prayers and Mantras,
are carefully carried from hand to hand into the Garbha Griha of
Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, where the Omkarananda Ashram Priests
perform Abhisheka for the Deity. 

After the grand Abhisheka for Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi had been completed,
She was decorated beautifully and then a wonderful Arati was performed for Her.

It is a tradition to include a Suvasini Puja in the annual Brahmotsava Celebrations
for Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. In the night, a married Lady - a Suvasini -
was respectfully given a seat in the Temple-Hall. She was garlanded and Pujas were
performed with her. She also received beautiful gifts from Kumari Somashekhari.

Kumari Somashekhari concludes this special worship
with the offering of fragrant incense and Arati to the Suvasini.

OM SHRI OMKARANANDA-KAMAKSHI-DEVI KI JAY OM