Pujas and Hawanas for Vishwa Kalyana (For Welfare of All)
by Dr. U. Vaidyanatha Sivacharyar, Chief-Priest Malai Mandir, Delhi, and his Team, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
from 28th April to 30th April 2022

With immense joy and delight, the Ashramites of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas are waiting on 28th April 2022 in front of the entrance of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, with the traditional Purnakumbha, for the arrival of the great Chief-Priest of Malai Mandir, Delhi, Dr. U. Vaidyanatha Sivacharyar, and his team of Priests. Three Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, clad in red cotton garments, are carrying the special Purnakumbha and plates with flowers and chanting special Mantras for Dr. Vaidyanatha. Next to them stand Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and Kumari Somashekhari, holding beautiful flower malas for the welcome of the great Priest and his wife.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, offers with great joy, love and affection a big flower mala to Dr. Vaidyanatha, while the Omkarananda Ashram Priests shower fresh flower petals on him.

Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Bharatanatyam Dancer, offers a flower mala to Thirumathi (Mrs.) Brahmavidya, the wife of the honourable Chief-Priest from Delhi, Dr. Vaidyanatha.

After having some rest and refreshments along with South Indian Filter-Coffee, Dr. U. Vaidyanatha and his team of Priests immediately proceeded to the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, to start preparations for Pujas and Hawanas for "Vishwa Kalyana" (for the Welfare of All).

Two of Dr. Vaidyanatha's South-Indian Priests established holy Kalashas in front of Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati's Photo.

The lovely Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi is being garlanded with a fresh flower mala.

Along with prayers, Dr. Vaidyanatha offers fresh flower petals at the Altar, below the feet of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi, where one can see photos of Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati (on the left), Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati (in the middle), Shri Swami Durgananda Saraswati (on the right) and various small Murtis and pictures of different Divinities.

The two initiated Shri Vidya Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, sitting behind Dr. Vaidyanatha, and Dr. Vaidyanatha's Team of South Indian Priests (standing), are assisting with the chanting of the Prayers.

Now Dr. Vaidyanatha starts the Main Puja.

Pranayama is an important part at the beginning of the Puja.

Sankalpa

Sitting (from left to right) in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas: Dr. U. Vaidyanatha, Sivacharyar, Chief-Priest Malai Mandir, Delhi, Shri Sanjay Panditji, Shri Vidya Priest of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Shri Suresh Panditji, Shri Vidya Priest and Chief-Priest of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. Standing (from left to right) the South Indian Team of Dr. Vaidyanatha: Priest Sureshji, Priest Jayshankarji and Priest Sarveshji.

Dr. Vaidyanatha prays at the Altar of the Utsava Murti of Shri Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga-Devi and other Devi Murtis and offers Tilakam, small fragrant flower garlands and rose petals to them.

Dr. Vaidyanatha offers the divine Light of the Arati to Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Swami Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari.

Kumari Somashekhari receives one Agarbatti (incense stick) from Chief-Priest Dr. Vaidyanatha for offering fragrance to the Divinities.

All are standing ready for Pushpanjali, with flower petals in their hands. From left to right: Shri Swami Satchidananda, Treasurer Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Bharatanatyam Dancer.

The team of South Indian Priests nicely recite the "Mantra Pushpam", the Vedic Hymn for offering flowers to the Divine, from the Yajur Veda.

After a short break, the Pujas, conducted by Dr. Vaidyanatha in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas for "Vishwa Kalyana" (for Welfare of All), continued till night.

Along with the recitation of powerful Mantras, Dr. U. Vaidyanatha is doing Archana with rose-flower petals for the Divinity.

The whole Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir was vibrating with the powerful recitations of South Indian Priest Shri Jayshankar.

Here one can see Kumari Kamakshi, the talented daughter of Chief-Priest Dr. U. Vaidyanatha, taking part in the special prayers in the night. From childhood Kumari Kamakshi has been nicely trained by her father in the recitation of Mantras and Vedic Hymns. Her fluent, clear and utmost correct pronunciation - even what most difficult or complicated Mantras are concerned - astonished all participants of this holy event.

Dr. Vaidyanatha concluded the beautiful and extensive Pujas, conducted in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on 28th April 2022, with Prasad distribution for Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Swami Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari.

On 29th April 2022, morning, a special "Vishwa Kalyana Homa" (Homa for the Welfare of All) was conducted by Dr. Vaidyanatha, Chief-Priest Malai Mandir, Delhi, in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

Purnahuti.

In the afternoon of 29th April 2022, Dr. Vaidyanatha, accompanied by his wife Brahmavidya, his daughter Kumari Kamakshi, his team of South Indian Priests, and Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, had Darshan of the most beautiful, all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, Who is the same as Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari. At the Shrine of this Divinity, Dr. Vaidyanatha recited the Lalita Sahasranama with deep devotion.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari had attended Dr. Vaidyanatha's Lalita Sahasranama Recitation and after its completion came to thank him for that. Dr. Vaidyanatha remarked, that the Omkarananda Ashram Priests are indeed very lucky and must have done much good in their previous lives, that they got the golden opportunity to serve in such an extraordinary, divine, pure and beautiful Temple, like Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple and other Temples of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. Shri Suresh Panditji, Chief-Priest Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, standing in the back, wearing a red cotton dhoti, smilingly and happily agreed to Dr. Vaidyanathaji's words.

Kumari Somashekhari, accompanied by Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Swami Satchidananda, Dr. Anupam Vaid (Trustee), and the two most important Omkarananda Ashram Priests, Shri Suresh and Shri Sanjay Panditji, guided Dr. U. Vaidyanatha Sivacharyar, Chief-Priest of Malai Mandir, Delhi, to other important and very beautiful Temples in the area of the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

In the night of 29th April 2022, Dr. Vaidyanatha performed wonderful Devi Pujas in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, assisted by his team of South Indian Priests and Omkarananda Ashram Priests.

For these Pujas Dr. Vaidyanatha prepared big, beautiful, shining earthen Deepas and placed them on fresh Banana leaves, over heaps of rice-corns and rose-flower petals.

In the background one can see the Omkarananda Ashram Priests, Shri Suresh Panditji (left) and Shri Sanjay Panditji (right), assisting Dr. Vaidyanatha (sitting in the front) with the Vedic Recitations.

With each lighting of a Deepa, a specific form of the Divine Mother was worshipped with rose-flowers and prayers.

This amazing Devi Puja by Dr. Vaidyanatha was completed after the installation of the last Deepa, representing the aspect of Divine Mother Shri Vidya Rupini, Tripurasundari.

After this nice, calm, but very intensive and powerful Devi Puja, the daughter of Chief-Priest Dr. Vaidyanatha, Kumari Kamakshi (standing left), sang a beautiful devotional song.

Chief-Priest of Malai Mandir, Dr. U. Vaidyanatha, and his team of Priests, continued Pujas and a beautiful Hawana in the morning of 30th April 2022, in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir.

Purnahuti.

Finally, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Shri Swami Satchidananda performed Arati, while Dr. Vaidyanatha and other Priests were chanting.

When all the beautiful and powerful Pujas and Hawanas had been successfully completed by Dr. Vaidyanatha, Kumari Somashekhari, who is a professional Indian Classical Dancer and Musician, having specialized in the Temple-Style of Bharatanatyam and Kathak Dance, proceeded with Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Dr. Vaidyanatha and his team to her divine dance-room, which is situated very near to the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir.

Totally unexpected for Somashekhari, Dr. Vaidyanatha immediately requested her to dance. Though not prepared, Kumari Somashekhari agreed to perform two Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances, in which Lord Shiva is worshipped and glorified.

Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati has blessed Kumari Somashekhari with the Title "Kalanidhi". "Kalanidhi" is an attribute of Divine Mother Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari and means "Treasure Trove of Arts" or "Epitome of Arts" or "Ocean of Arts". "Kalanidhi" is considered to be the highest Award for Artists.

Sitting in the divine dance-room and watching Kumari Somashekhari's dance: (from left to right) Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Dr. U. Vaidyanatha Sivacharyar, Chief-Priest of Malai Mandir, Delhi, and Dr. Vaidyanatha's daughter, Kumari Kamakshi.

Dr. Vaidyanatha, his daughter Kamakshi and his team of South-Indian Priests, rewarded Kumari Somashekhari with great clapping and then expressed their total surprise, after having seen her graceful and perfect dance movements.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji deeply thanked and praised Dr. U. Vaidyanatha for his exceptionally divine and beautiful Pujas and Hawanas in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, assisted by his capable team. Here one can see Swamiji honouring Dr. U. Vaidyanatha, Chief-Priest of Malai Mandir, Delhi, with a Rudraksha Mala and other gifts.

Finally, Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari, Swami Satchidananda and Dr. Anupam Vaid shared a few joyous moments with Dr. U. Vaidyanatha, his wife and daughter and his team of Priests. Dr. Vaidyanatha and his wonderful team specially thanked Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati for their happy and comfortable stay in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and they promised to come again and again.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA OM