Sri Chakra The Source of the Cosmos The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY Blossom 22 Petal 2 September 2017 Blossom 22, Petal 2 I N Temple Bulletin 3 T H Past Temple Events 4 I Upcoming Temple S Events 6 I Balancing Your Life S in the Two Modes of Existence 10 S Kundalini: A U Mosaic Perspective 12 E Ganaamritam 14 Gurus, Saints & Sages 17 Naivēdyam Nivēdayāmi 20 Kids Korner! 23 2 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam • 6980 East River Road • Rush, NY 14543 • Phone: (585) 533 - 1970 Sri Chakra ● September 2017 TEMPLETEMPLETEMPLE BULLETINBULLETINBULLETIN Rajagopuram Project As many of you know, Aiya has been speaking about the need for a more permanent sacred home for Devi for a number of years. Over the past 40 years, the Temple has evolved into an import- ant center for the worship of the Divine Mother Rajarajeswari, attracting thousands of visitors each year from around the world. Facilities It is now time to take the next step in fulfilling Aiya’s vision of constructing an Agamic temple in granite complete with a tradi- Improvements tional Rajagopuram. With the grace of the Guru lineage and the loving blessings of our Divine Mother, now is the right time to In the past several years, the summer and festival crowds actively participate and contribute to make this vision a reality. have been increasing steadily, and the Temple facilities- have been strained to maximum capacity. To ease this sit The new Temple will be larger and will be built according to uation, we are busy making plans to improve our Temple the Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra. By following the holy Agamas, facilities. These additions, improvements and renovations more divine energy than ever will be attracted into the Tem- will make it more comfortable for visitors and volunteers ple, and the granite will hold that energy for 10,000 years, bring- and allow us to handle the increasing numbers of devotees ing powerful blessings to countless generations into the future. coming to the Temple for Sri Devi’s darshan and blessings. As Maha Periyava has beautifully explained: “Temple Renovation, If you have any construction experience or contacts and Reconstruction, Kumbabhishekam, etc. are all considered ex- you would like to volunteer (585)your time533 -or 1970 expertise,. If you’d please like tremely noble deeds. We all should do whatever we can towards contact Natarajan Mama at - these and earn Punya Karma. Whatever we offer, it may be a brick, to contribute financially to these improvements,General Fund” whenplease you vis but as long as that brick is there in that temple, we will spend it srividya.org/donate and choose “ that much time (thousands of years) in Kailash or Vaikuntham.” make your donation. We thank you for your kind support! To learn more, please visit srividya.org/rajagopuram. To contrib- ute or set up monthly donations, please visit srividya.org/donate and select “Rajagopuram Building Fund” from the menu. If you would like to offer your time or expertise towards this noble en- deavour, please contact Natarajan Mama at (585) 533 - 1970. Connect With Us (585) 533 - 1970 www.srividya.org (416) 628 - 3786 [email protected] Sri Vidya Temple Sri Vidya Temple Sri Vidya Temple 3 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam • 6980 East River Road • Rush, NY 14543 • Phone: (585) 533 - 1970 Blossom 22, Petal 2 PAST EVENTS ... March 2017 to September 2017 Apr Apr 13 30 Tamil New Year Pratyangira Homam As this day fell on a weekday Pratyangira is understood to be one of morning, about 50 people the fiercest forms of the Devi and is also were present for the grand puja known as Thillai Kali in parts of South- marking the Hevilambi year. A ern India. Aiya offered several buckets large pot, dedicated to making of Pratyangira Devi’s favourite Na- the sweet pongal, was decorated ivedhyam, red chillis, into the homam. with vibhuti, kumkumam and Devotees offered multiple handfuls mango leaves and surrounded of bakshanam into the homam with by many grains and mangala their own hands. Throughout the items, such as turmeric, saffron, entire 3-hour homam, regardless of and rock candy. Those present how many red chillies were offered, received the blessing of offering not a single person was affected by grains into the large pot while the chilli smoke as the Devi accepted making the sweet pongal. Apr Rasi Mandala Puja (NJ) everything. After the homam, Dig- Shortly after the the puja The New Jersey Rasi Mandala Puja devata Bali was completed and maha concluded, everyone received 23 was the first puja event organized prasadam was served to everyone. prasadam from the Shankar aiya. by the temple. Although it was the first, the temple did not hesitate to go above and May Chithra beyond as always and conducted this event Jul Guru Purnima Pournami in a grand, well-organized manner. With 10 several weeks of planning and preparation, 8 The special day commenced Many showed up on the puja was performed on a 30ft by 30ft Rasi with disciples performing this auspicious Purnima day in Mandala. The set-up included several murtis, Ganapati Tarpanam in Aiya’s presence the month of Chithra to partake around 300 kalasams, 96 gajas, beautiful early morning. Aiya then performed in the puja which honours the decorative ornaments and many lamps. a homam in the morning and paid soul of one’s departed mother. This grand-scale puja would not have been homage to his guru parampara. In Each devotee offered their possible without all the temple volunteers and the evening, Aiya and Amma were deceased mother pindams, small most importantly, the New Jersey volunteers welcomed around 4:30pm. After all the balls, made from banana, white who pitched in their time, effort and energy disciples performed puja to Sri Veda rice flour, ghee, jaggery and to make this event, that brought in over 600 Vyasa, they received prasadam from black sesame. Several additional devotees, run smoothly and successfully. Aiya and Amma. The night concluded pindams are also offered to the with wonderful Bhajans by disciples. other spirits that may not have had the ritual performed for them. 4 Sri Chakra • [email protected] Sri Chakra ● September 2017 Jun - Jul Vibhuti Saivaite Jul - Aug Immersion (VSI) 30 3 This year, the 13th year of 29 5 VSI, there were a little over 60 campers and 20 counselors. Everyone had a fun and learning- filled week with many classes, activities and experiences. The Alankara Utsavam saint of primary focus this year The annual temple festival festival began on Friday was Sri Bhaskararaya, who is a morning with Ganapathi homam, followed by prominent figure in the Srividya an Utsava Ganapathi procession in the evening. tradition and known for his Saturday morning started with Goh puja, followed commentary on Sri Lalitha by Chandi homam, Anna Pavadai (rice skirt) and Sahasranamam and many other a grand Chapparam procession in the evening. On works. As opposed to previous Sunday, the Rasi Mandala puja, which eliminates years, this year a Kalasa Puja Nakshatra and Navagraha doshams, was held on was conducted every other day. the proposed location of the future Rajagopuram. The campers learnt the overall The festival ended on a beautiful Monday routine and sequence, as well morning with Bhairava madai held outside. as how to prepare for the puja and how to chant the pujas. Using this knowledge, they Jul planned and conducted the Youth Chariot Festival for Sri 22 Dattatreya. Parent volunteers, while participating in their own program, proficiently took care of the day-to-day duties, from cooking to cleaning, to help VSI run smoothly for all the campers and staff. Adi Amavasya Similar to Chithra Pournami the puja and Jul rituals on this day are performed in honour of the soul of one’s departed father. Approximately 100 devotees performed tarpanam, led by Aiya, 26 and offered pindams to pray for their deceased ancestors. Following this ritual, everyone present performed abhishekam to the Shivalingam. Aug Varalakshmi Vratam Adi Puram This puja was performed by a group This grand annual festival celebrating Devi’s 24 of married women, guided by Aiya attainment of maturity begun early in the and SriG aiya, to pray for the well- morning with Chandi Homam. As this day being of their husbands. As always, fell on a weekday, approximately 75 people the puja was held on a Friday evening attended and witnessed the homam and rituals. and as the festival fell during the Following homam, Vana Durga received week of VSI, all the sumangalis abhishekam and beautiful alankaram. She was who were a part of the parent adorned with a garland made with glass bangles, program were given an opportunity which multiplied Her gorgeousness in the eyes to participate also. The evening of all devotees. Several mothers carried Her was made even more auspicious throughout the procession and brought her back as it was Pradosham night as well. in to receive the concluding pujas and arathis. 5 Blossom 22, Petal 2 Aug UPCOMING EVENTS 11-13 13th: Dwajarohanam 20th - 29th: Navarathri September 29th: Kedara Gauri Vratam (start) 30th: Rathosavam st Shata Chandi 1 : Tirthabhishekam, Dwajavarohanam A festival that spanned over 3 days, started with 2nd: Kulirtti Chandi Navakshari Japam and Homam Friday evening in the main homa kundam (in our existing October 18th: Diwali yagnashala) and outside in a yagnashala that the th volunteers worked hard to build. The Vedhikai 19 : Kedara Gauri Vratam (end) was located in the centre of this new yaga shala. th th The Navadurga kalasams sat on the Vedhikai 20 - 25 : Skanda Shashti Vratam throughout the entire festival.