SriSri ChakraChakra The Source of the Cosmos The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY Special Navarathri 2006 Issue! Bl ossom 10 Pet a l 5 November 2006 Arulmigam Bala NovemberNovemberNovember NewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletterterterter Since the last issue... At the beginning of August, Aiya seated Aiya attentions were turned in the toward preparing for the Vibuthi makeshift Saivite Immersion camp for kids. yajna shala with the 36 After the camp concluded in mid- Tattva August, Aiya was on the road kalasas. again and performed three grihapraveshams (or housewarming pujas) before Ganapathi Chaturthi on the 27th. Immediately after Chaturthi, Aiya left to spend about two weeks in Australia, where his schedule was packed. He performed a Gayatri Mahayajna in Sydney, and held two elaborate workshops on the 2nd and 3rd of September. He participated in bhajans at the local Sai Center, as well as a call- in radio show for Sydney Tamil Radio. Also in Sydney, Aiya spoke at the Murugan temple. In chocolate was free-flowing and (facets of nature). Outside the Melbourne, he performed a Maha little girls uncannily appeared frame sat the digdevata kalasams. Ganapathi homam in a public hall during pujas every day. These Puja and naivedyam were offered and spoke at the local Shiva/ were the characteristics of Bala every morning to the tatvas and Vishnu temple. Throughout the Navarathri, a festival focused digdevatas, totaling 46 kalasams trip, he performed eight private completely on Balatripurasundari in all. pujas. from the daily homams to the This was also the first Aiya returned on Sept. 13, two Bala Navavarna pujas at night. Navarathri that the digdevata days before the dvajarohanam for The main text was Nivasatu Hrdi bali peetams outside were used. Navarathri. After Navarathri Bala by Sri Atmananda, which These peetams were installed in concluded on Oct. 3, he took a was released as this year’s the summer and each stands with private trip to California. Navarathri malar. A children’s its own baby tree. As in previous Throughout the end of October, malar was also released, called Navarathris, the Durga palanquin Aiya performed a Maha Tales of Balatripurasundari. The daily went around the temple on Pratyangira homam complete homams varied, but included Bala Sunday Sept. 24, Lakshmi went with a madday at the temple, mula mantra homam, Bala around on Wednesday Sept. 27, performed the last day’s puja of Sahasranamam homam (1008 of and Saraswati went out on the KedaraGowri vratham, and did Her names), Bala Khadgamala last Saturday of the festival. the Skanda Shashti festival from homam and Bala Hrdayam Chandi homam and the chariot Oct. 22 to Oct. 27. homam, among others. procession were on the last What was different about this Sunday, the water-cutting Past Month Events festival is that there stood in the ceremony was on the last Sharada Navarathri Sept 22-Oct.23 middle of the yajnashala a large Monday, and Kulurthi took place by Kamya Ramaswamy wooden frame enclosing the main on Tuesday Oct. 3. clay kalasam (in which Bala was It was a particularly sweet invoked) as well as 36 small note: ‘Our Thoughts’ will return Navarathri at the temple, as kalasams representing the tatvas in the next issue of the Sri Chakra. 2 Arulmigam Bala ENJOY NAVARATHRI 2006 PICTURES! Kedara Gowri Vratha (last day) Oct. 21 by Kamya Ramaswamy The end of Navarathri marks the (threads to worn around the relating to jnanam (knowledge). beginning of KedaraGowri, a wrist) and other prasadam. Each of the faces were festival that marks Devi’s quest to worshipped with its respective merge with Shiva. This year, Sahasranamam by different about 90 people sponsored the temple devotees each night. entire festival and/or just the last The final day began at 6pm and day. The evening’s program began encompassed the final at 6:30 p.m. with the final puja to Sahasranamam, along with Ardhanareeshwara and the abhishekam, alankaram, mercury Shivalingam. Murugan’s defeat of the Asura, The murthis were set in a tub in Murugan and Devayanai’s the middle of the temple while wedding, and Murugan’s secret everyone performed milk marriage to Valli. All palaharams, fruits and other Following a few thevarams and Twenty one types offerings were placed beautifully in the final arathi, maha prasadam of palaharams front of Ardhanareeshwara after was served. were offered to abhishekam and a grand Ardhanareeshwara. alankaram. Upcoming Events O.S. Arun concert, Nov. 18 Skanda Shashti Oct. 22 - 27 by Kamya Ramaswamy by Abhi Somaskanda This renowned master of Skanda Shashti marked the end carnatic music will be performing of a long leg of festivals at the at the temple on Sat. Nov. 18 at 4 temple, beginning with p.m. He is famous for his smooth abhishekam during the chanting Navarathri. This festival voice that can be powerful of the pancha-sukta. Aiya then dedicated to Murugan began a without being overbearing, as did panchambrutam abhishekam day after the 21st and last day of well as his ability to sing equally and volunteers then rinsed the Kedara Gowri Vratham. well in Hindi and Tamil. All are main murthi. This year Aiya and other welcome to attend. The festival kalasam was then devotees performed abhishekam Dravida Vedam V release taken around the temple and to Murugan, Valli, and Devayani in Toronto, Dec. 2 poured over the murthi, after daily and also chanted Murugan’s by Kamya Ramaswamy which Ardhanari was dried and Sahasranamavalli with pushpa Dravida Vedam album series is dressed. Finally, sodasa-upachara archana. appropriately on the puja was performed, and 21 The festival lasts six days, to Shivapuranam. Aiya and several women were given gifts of cloth, match Murugan’s six faces: other bhajan performers will fruits and kumkum among other Sathyojatham, Vamadevam, come to Toronto for the release of items. After eating Aghoram, Tatpurusham, this CD to Canadian devotees. mahaprasadam, Aiya and other Ishanyam, and the sixth being the They will perform at the same volunteers distributed the sharadu inward-turned Adho mukam, venue that has hosted many other 3 Arulmigam Bala CD releases, the Sai Baba temple Kids Homam, Dec. 31 Thai Pongal, Jan 14 on Ellesmere Road in by Kamya Ramaswamy by Kamya Ramaswamy Scarborough. The evening will The temple children are This year, Thai Pongal falls on a begin at approximately 7 p.m. and continuing their annual tradition Sunday. Aiya will perform a will last about three hours. of performing a full homam short puja to invoke Devi’s Karthikai Deepam, Dec. 4 during the Christmas holiday blessings in providing Her children ample grains, cloth and by Kamya Ramaswamy break. This year, they will be doing the Sri Suktam homam money to use in the following This year, Karthikai Deepam combined with the Raja Matangi year. This puja always takes auspiciously falls on a Monday, mantra between each stanza. If place in the morning and devotees and will feature the lighting of your kids want to participate and will afterwards receive the several deepams and tea candles would like to help sponsor the mahaprasadam of sakkarai throughout the yajnashala and homam, please call the temple. pongal (sweet rice). the temple. Amid the lights, Aiya will perform a puja and/or In Three Months homam, which always takes place The next issue of the in the evening, at 6 or 7 p.m. Sri Chakra Magazine Devi willing, the next issue of the Sri Chakra Magazine will be up on Thiruvampavai, Dec.25-Jan. 3 the temple’s website (www.srividya.org) at the beginning of February by Kamya Ramaswamy 2007. The pujas for this 10-day As this issue focused on Bala Navarathri, the next will be about Her Nataraja festival are always divine consort, Lord Shiva, in honour of the annual 10-day completed every day before dawn Thiruvempavai festival. The magazine is looking for Shiva devotees to and involve the singing of pure help out His issue by contributing stories, pictures, poems, experiences Tamil hymns in his worship. or anything at all by Fri. Jan. 5, 2007. Please e-mail us at Between each stanza, pancha- [email protected] with your submissions. upachara puja is performed to the Sri Gurubhyo Namaha! Nataraja and Sivakami murthis. Daily puja will commence at 5 ****The Sri Chakra would like to extend our deepest thanks to Aiya, a.m. and will conclude at about 7 Kathy Allen, Gratuz, and especially Dr. Somaskanda for making this a.m. The last day of the festival, issue a reality. Also thanks to the devotee whose experiences were Ardhra Dharshanam, will see the shared in Temple Lore. The magazine is very much in need of writers so abhishekam of the murthis with please contact us at [email protected] if you can contribute milk, as well as a full five-hour anything at all. Also contact us at that address with any feedback, puja commencing at 5 a.m. questions, or suggestions. VISIT WWW.SRIVIDYA.ORG FOR THE NAVARATHRI 2006 NAVARATHRI PICS! REST OF THE FESTIVAL PICTURES! The Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 - 1970 4 Arulmigam Bala NAVARATHRI 2006 NAVARATHRI PICS! 5 Arulmigam Bala When I was a kid, I found this My progression… once my Temple one sheet of paper, which was the kundalini reached my heart, Maha Mrutanjayaya Mantra. I just within two weeks it had moved memorized it and I started saying from my heart to my throat, from LoreLore it whenever I was praying. This my throat to my mouth, from my The stories of the devotees at one time, was saying it in japam mouth to my eyebrows.