Celebrating The First International Day of Yoga

TEMPLE INSTALLATION REPORT
Sri Akhandeswara Mahadev Temple
INSTALLATION FESTIVAL
Sivananda Kutir, Netala
27th April – 3rd May, 2015
Early Spring was a time of tremendous energy and activity
at the Sivananda Kutir ashram in Netala with TTC going
on alongside the preparations for the Installation Festival
of the Sri Akhandeswara Mahadev Temple.
The auspicious morning of the installation began with a puja
conducted by four priests from Kerala and four local brahmins. Over
the next week countless pujas and fire rituals were offered both inside
and outside the temple throughout the days and evenings. A temporary
puja area was constructed in front of the temple in the dining hall,
beautifully decorated with plants, banana trees, temple umbrellas,
fresh marigold garlands and flowers throughout. The Ashram was
colourfully decorated with festive lights and decorations, and the new
temple was completely filled with hundreds of fresh marigold garlands.
Srinivasanji, Prahladji and visiting staff from our Ashrams and
Centres in India and guests from south India: Mr & Mrs Mamallan
from Trivan drum, Dr. V. Narayanasamy and his wife, daughter, son-inlaw
and grand daughter from Madurai, Mr Ananta Krishnan and
Lalitha Amma from Palakkad, Vishnu from Toronto and Durairaj from
Chennai were all on hand for the festival. The TTC concluded with a
beautiful graduation satsang led by Prahladji and an inspirational talk
by Srinivasanji. Many of the new teachers chose to stay on after the
ceremony to enjoy the festivities.
“Bells rang, conches were sounded
and traditional temple music could
be heard throughout the village”
Local village Devatas from both Siror and Netala were also invited
to offer puja to Sri Akhandeswara Mahadev and they were each given
beautiful South Indian temple umbrellas know as muthukudas. During
one special puja, bells rang, conches were sounded and traditional
temple music could be heard throughout the village as a mother
cow and her calf were led to the temple for darshan. More than
100 sadhus were in attendance, including Swami Janardananda,
Swami Hariomananda and Swami Govindananda who sat and
chanted Rama Namam, bhajans and arati at the evening Bhandara.
An offering of dakshina was given to each of them.
The auspicious concluding ceremony took place with Prahladji
and the priests rollingup their dhotis and climbing on scaffolding to
the top of the temple to offer Kalasa puja. Flowers and water prasad
were showered upon all. The sounds of Om Namah Sivaya, bells and
Pancha vadyam music filled the air and all were in awe of the beautiful
vision of Sri Akhandeswara Mahadev’s garlands and elegant silver face.
The evening concluded with puja and arati.
This was a unique, high energy event full of meaningful rituals with
the majestic Himalayas above Mother Ganga at Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi
place receiving the blessings of all who attended the ceremony.
The beautiful, colourful south Indian temple now soars high for all
to see and many locals stop on the bridge to offer their prayers and
see this magnificent addition to their village. The temple is open daily
from 6.30am – 12 noon and 4 – 6.30pm for the public darshan.
Om Namah Sivaya!
Sri Akhandeswara Mahadeva Swamine Namaha!
From Top left to right: Sri Akhandeswara Temple, Bhandara,
The Sivananda Kutir Ashram next to the River Ganges.
Inside the Temple – Sri Akhandeswara Mahadev
YOGALife |Autumn/Winter 2015
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