|
| |
Featured News |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
NEWS
Chinmaya Mission is a very happening place and one cannot be at every place at the same time. Log on for news updates. |
|
- Mission happenings in India and abroad - be it about the new centres, the new Acharyas, the transfer of Acharyas or the various programmes in our 300 odd centres - this page has it all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murti Sthapana at Chimaya Ganapati
|
|
By Roshni Jhanjee and Anjali Madhok
|
| News date |
: |
2010-07-31 |
Late June found Chinmaya Ganapati in Chaska, Minnesota, USA, buzzing with activity. Mission members were weeding the garden, giving the centre a rigorous and thorough cleaning, and cooking pot after pot of delicious food. All of this activity was for one of the most important events that had occurred so far at Chinmaya Ganapati: the Ganapati Murti Sthapana, or the installation of the Ganapati idol at the centre.
A series of smaller ceremonies filled the three days from June 30 to July 2 that led up to the main installation and eye-opening ceremonies on July 3. The first of these ceremonies was the Ayush Homam, performed in order to ensure a long and healthy life for our beloved Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji, on his 60th birthday. This was followed by a Ganapati Homam, to invoke Lord Ganesha and ask Him to bless the ceremonies that followed. There was also a puja dedicated to Lord Varuna, the god of water.
Mission members and sponsors then participated in a Guru Puja to invoke the blessings of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji. The Deva Bhajan Group, comprised of male Mission members, performed devotional songs after the Guru Puja. The last puja before the main Ganapati Havan was the Sumangali puja, a ceremony performed by both married and unmarried women in honor of the Divine Mother.
The main installation and eye-opening ceremony of the Ganapati idol took place on July 3. The assembly room was filled with Mission members, friends and ardent devotees. Excited whispering pervaded the hall as everyone glanced curiously at a large lump obscured by a saffron-coloured curtain in the middle of the stage. A hush came over the room when Swami Ishwarananda of Los Angeles, California, serenely walked into the room and onto the stage. Slowly, he drew back the saffron curtain with the help of the priest and other Mission members, to reveal Lord Ganesha in all his glory. A murmur of admiration ran through the crowd.
Lord Ganesha’s skin was a flawless white sheet of marble, adorned with brilliantly coloured clothing. His face was both finely sculpted and strong, and a black blindfold covered His eyes. Reverently, Swami Ishwaranandaji removed the black cloth from Ganeshji’s eyes, to much enthusiastic clapping and cheering from the crowd.
One by one, members and their families stepped up on the stage to sprinkle Lord Ganesha with holy water from a kalasha using a flower. Each person looked upon the face of the idol with awe. This was followed by a small puja to celebrate the installation of the Lord. The children’s bhajan group sang three songs in different languages about Lord Ganapati. The children’s sweet, vivacious voices were filled with devotion, leaving everyone smiling. Swami Ishwaranandaji then gave a talk about temples and the power they wield over those who worship at them. For example, one could be blessed with prosperity by worshipping at a certain temple, such as Tirupati. We all listened to this discourse with rapt attention, and were thrilled when he mentioned that our centre would have the power of bhakti.
At the end of his talk, Swami Ishwaranandaji presented small idols to those who had ordered them a few months earlier. The beautifully carved and painted three-dimensional idols of many deities were admired by all. One little boy was so eager to receive his idol that he ran up onto the stage and hugged the small statue of Lord Ganesha that his family was about to receive, joyfully shouting, “My Ganesha!”
The ceremony was followed by a delicious lunch, provided by dedicated volunteers of Chinmaya Ganapati.
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
