13 DEVI MAHOTSAVAM 2013 LOCAL HISTORY / STHALA PURANAM !"#$%&'(#)%"* Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) had the Bala Alaya Prathish- ta in 1984 with the establishment of Sri Siva and Sri Vishnu Parivars along with 5 Devis (representation of Sakthi) name- ly Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Parvathi and Andal. ey were consecrated in the current Temple permanently (Sthira Prathishta) during the Kumbhabhishekam in 1991 and 1992 along with Valli & Devayanai and Sita Maathaa. Subsequent- ly Malikaipurathu Amma was consecrated in the Ayyappan Sannidhi in 1995. Over the years we have had many Mahot- savams celebrating many of the deities/Devis during Na- varathri, Parvathi/Gowri, Andal, Valli and Devayanai Kaly- anam as well as that of Sri Srinivasa, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. But this is the rst time in our SSVT’s history the 5 Devis are having a Mahotsavam in 2013. It is extremely appropri- ate that Sri Kalidas and Sri Shanmuga Sivachariars, who are the sons of our Aasthana Sivachariar Late Sri Sambamurthy Sivachariar who had conducted the Kumbhabhishekams for all the Devis, will celebrate the Devi Mahotsavam along with our eminent Priests of SSVT this year. Acharya Sri Savyasa- chi Swamigal has also blessed the festival. Let us recall the history of these Devis consecrated in SSVT. +,-./* In discussion with Sthapati and Acharya it was decided to install three deities in 1990 – Sri Ganesha, Sri Hanuman and Sri Durga. Knowing full Pratishtapana will be done in 1991 along with all Siva Parivars they were established as tempo- rary abodes. us it so happened Sri Durga became the rst Devi established in SSVT. Sri Durga is standing on Mahisha Asura’s head aer vanquishing him in the battle and hence also called Mahishasuramardhani. So Sri Durga is called Jaya Durga and at SSVT is called Vishnu Durga and faces North. During this Devi Mahotsavam SSVT is doing special weekly Pujas celebrating the 9 dierent Durga forms with devotee participation. She has four hands and carries the various Asthras and bestows the blessings on the devotees. Every Tuesday, in the morning, Abhishekam and Alankaram are done with Sahasra Nama Archana in the evening. During Na- varathri (9 nights of celebrations) special Pujas, Alankaram and Pujas are performed for Durga Maathaa for the three days. For many years monthly Chandi Homam (chanting of Devi Mahaatmiyam) is being performed. In 1999, a Satha Chandi Homam (see separate article) was performed at the end of which we had rains pouring to relieve the drought not seen in 100 years in Maryland. is was published in Wash- ington Post as a full page article with pictures. Such is the power of Durga Maathaa of SSVT. e architectural style is from 10 th century AD Chola dynasty. !"# %& '(# )%)*+,- .+%/, %- )-,0#- 1. “Sarva Mangala Maangalye, Sive Sarvartha Saadhake! Saranye ryambake Devi Naarayani Namosthuthe!!” And the Gayathri is: “Kathyaayanaaya Vidmahe, Kanyakumaari Dheemahi! anno Dhurgi Prachodayaath!! 0/-/01/2! 45 06/-/+6/* Decision was made early in the history of SSVT that there will be the deity of Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning, rep- resented as Sri Sharadha of Sringeri. She is sitting with four hands – one holding the book, another with a vessel con- taining Amruth (nectar of immortality), third with rosary or Japa Mala, and the fourth hand in Chin Mudra (showing the Chin Mudra). e architectural form of the Garbhagraham where the Devi sits depicts the Chola dynasty 10 th century AD. Regular morning Abhishekam and Alankaram are done weekly on Wednesdays with Sahasra Nama Archana in the evenings. During Navarathri 3 days of special Pujas includ- ing Abhishekams and Alankarams are done. At the begin- ning schools and colleges in the fall season, a special Puja is done for the students to get the blessings of Goddess of Learning – Sri Saraswathi. It is always a hit with students who come in big numbers. One of the popular slokas or Prayer for Sri Saraswathi is “Saraswathi namasthubhyam Varadhe Kaama Roopini! Vidya-Arambham Karishyami Siddhir Bhavathu me Sadha”!! And Gayathri is: Mahaa Devyai cha Vidmahe Brahma Pathni cha Dheemahi, anno Vaani Prachodayaath! 0-! 7/6/8/9067! %$ 0-! +:;!* She is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. In 1992 Sri Lakshmi was installed and consecrated along with Anan- tha Padmanabha Swamy. As the spouse of Sri Vishnu and as the Goddess of Wealth, this deity is always one of the most AUM Sri Gurubyo Namah! History of Devis at SSVT By Dr. Siva Subramanian
Transcript
13DEVI MAHOTSAVAM 2013
LOCAL HISTORY / STHALA PURANAM
!"#$%&'(#)%"*Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) had the Bala Alaya Prathish-ta in 1984 with the establishment of Sri Siva and Sri Vishnu Parivars along with 5 Devis (representation of Sakthi) name-ly Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Parvathi and Andal. !ey were consecrated in the current Temple permanently (Sthira Prathishta) during the Kumbhabhishekam in 1991 and 1992 along with Valli & Devayanai and Sita Maathaa. Subsequent-ly Malikaipurathu Amma was consecrated in the Ayyappan Sannidhi in 1995. Over the years we have had many Mahot-savams celebrating many of the deities/Devis during Na-varathri, Parvathi/Gowri, Andal, Valli and Devayanai Kaly-anam as well as that of Sri Srinivasa, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. But this is the "rst time in our SSVT’s history the 5 Devis are having a Mahotsavam in 2013. It is extremely appropri-ate that Sri Kalidas and Sri Shanmuga Sivachariars, who are the sons of our Aasthana Sivachariar Late Sri Sambamurthy Sivachariar who had conducted the Kumbhabhishekams for all the Devis, will celebrate the Devi Mahotsavam along with our eminent Priests of SSVT this year. Acharya Sri Savyasa-chi Swamigal has also blessed the festival. Let us recall the history of these Devis consecrated in SSVT.
+,-./*In discussion with Sthapati and Acharya it was decided to install three deities in 1990 – Sri Ganesha, Sri Hanuman and Sri Durga. Knowing full Pratishtapana will be done in 1991 along with all Siva Parivars they were established as tempo-rary abodes. !us it so happened Sri Durga became the "rst Devi established in SSVT. Sri Durga is standing on Mahisha Asura’s head a#er vanquishing him in the battle and hence also called Mahishasuramardhani. So Sri Durga is called Jaya Durga and at SSVT is called Vishnu Durga and faces North. During this Devi Mahotsavam SSVT is doing special weekly Pujas celebrating the 9 di$erent Durga forms with devotee participation. She has four hands and carries the various Asthras and bestows the blessings on the devotees. Every Tuesday, in the morning, Abhishekam and Alankaram are done with Sahasra Nama Archana in the evening. During Na-varathri (9 nights of celebrations) special Pujas, Alankaram and Pujas are performed for Durga Maathaa for the three days. For many years monthly Chandi Homam (chanting of Devi Mahaatmiyam) is being performed. In 1999, a Satha Chandi Homam (see separate article) was performed at the
end of which we had rains pouring to relieve the drought not seen in 100 years in Maryland. !is was published in Wash-ington Post as a full page article with pictures. Such is the power of Durga Maathaa of SSVT. !e architectural style is from 10th century AD Chola dynasty.!"#$%&$'(#$)%)*+,-$.+%/,$%-$)-,0#-$1.
0/-/01/2!345306/-/+6/*3Decision was made early in the history of SSVT that there will be the deity of Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning, rep-resented as Sri Sharadha of Sringeri. She is sitting with four hands – one holding the book, another with a vessel con-taining Amruth (nectar of immortality), third with rosary or Japa Mala, and the fourth hand in Chin Mudra (showing the Chin Mudra). !e architectural form of the Garbhagraham where the Devi sits depicts the Chola dynasty 10th century AD. Regular morning Abhishekam and Alankaram are done weekly on Wednesdays with Sahasra Nama Archana in the evenings. During Navarathri 3 days of special Pujas includ-ing Abhishekams and Alankarams are done. At the begin-ning schools and colleges in the fall season, a special Puja is done for the students to get the blessings of Goddess of Learning – Sri Saraswathi. It is always a hit with students who come in big numbers.
One of the popular slokas or Prayer for Sri Saraswathi is
Mahaa Devyai cha Vidmahe Brahma Pathni cha Dheemahi,!anno Vaani Prachodayaath!
0-!37/6/8/9067!3%$30-!3+:;!*3She is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. In 1992 Sri Lakshmi was installed and consecrated along with Anan-tha Padmanabha Swamy. As the spouse of Sri Vishnu and as the Goddess of Wealth, this deity is always one of the most
AUMSri Gurubyo Namah!
History of Devis at SSVTBy Dr. Siva Subramanian
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History of Devis at SSVT
DEVI MAHOTSAVAM 2013
LOCAL HISTORY / STHALA PURANAM
popular ones in SSVT. Weekly Pujas including Abhishekam and Alankaram is done on Fridays with special devotee par-ticipation with Sahasranama Archana in the evenings. !e eight forms of her are celebrated as Ashta Lakshmis. During Navarathri Sri Lakshmi is specially addressed for 3 days with special Pujas. In Gujarat and some of the others parts of In-dia, Deepavali is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja and start of the New Year! A special Mahotsavam “Lakshmi Koti Kumkuma Archana” was conducted over several weeks many years ago. Every Friday for 9 weeks special Kumkuma Archana was performed by devotees in large numbers. !ere was a moun-tain of Kumkuma (Vermillion) at the end of the celebrations of that Mahotsavam distributed as prasadam to the devotees. We are following similar weekly celebrations over 9 weeks prior to the Devi Mahotsavam in April 2013. !e architec-tural style is that of Rayar style of 12th century AD. One of the popular slokas/prayers is
Namastesthu Mahamaaye Sreepeede Surapujithe!Sankha Chakra Gadhaa Haste Mahaalakshmi Namosthuthe!!
And the Gayathri is:Mahaa Devyai cha Vidhmahe Vishnu Patni cha Dheemahi,!anno Lakshmi Prachodayaath.
!"#!$%&'%()**%#+,-.%Considered as the incarnation of Mother Earth, the famous Devotee of Sri Vishnu at Srivillipuththur was installed and consecrated at SSVT in 1992 along with Sri Anantha Pad-manabha Swamy. Even while she was in the human form she joined her Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha of Srirangam. She is the author of the famous “!iruppavai” sung especially in the month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). She is the Best exponent of Bakthi Maarga and is celebrated as the representation of “Bridal Mysticism”. Regular weekly morning Abhishekam, Alankaram and Pujas are done on Wednesday with Sahasra Nama Archana. Every year in January a special Andal Kaly-anam celebration takes place and attended by large number of devotees. It is also the new Trustees take oath of o"ce and the retiring trustees are honored! !e architectural style depicts the 10th century AD Chola dynasty style. !ere is a separate article on Aandal and a collection of her poems in this volume.
One of the popular slokas/prayer is Sree Vishnu Chiththa Kula Nandhana Kalpa ValleemSree Ranga Raaja Hari Chandhana Yoga Dhrusyaam!Saakshat Kshammaam Kaarunya Kamalaami VaanyaamGodhaam Ananya Sarana: Saranam Prapadhye!!
And the Gayathri is:Dhanurdharaayai cha Vidmahe Sarva Siddhayai cha Dheemahi!
!anno Dharaa Prachodayaath!!
/0-%1!0,!2)-%&'%1!0,!#)!,!0#)-"-.Sri Siva at SSVT was consecrated as Sri Ramanatha Swamy of Rameshwaram and so his spouse here at SSVT is called Parvadhavardhini as a representation of Parvathi as well as Sri Raja Rajeswari. She is the representation of Universal Power (Sakthi) represented by multiple names and forms like Lalitha, Meenaakshi, Kaamaakshi, and Visaalaakshi.
Weekly morning Abhishekam, Alankaram and Pujas are done on Fridays. Every Friday evening ladies gather to chant the Sahasra Nama of Parvathi. Special Pujas are done by in-voking her in the Lamp and is called “Deepa Puja”. Bhagavathi Seva is a very famous such celebration with Lamp. Meen-aakshi Kalyanam is a yearly celebration on Chitra Pournami (April-May) and Gowri Kalyanam as well. !e architectural style is also that of Chola dynasty from 10th century AD. One of the special slokas/prayers is
And the Gayathri isMahaa Dhevyai cha Vidhmahe Rudra Pathni cha Dheemahi!!anno Gowri Prachodayaath!!
3&456789&4.Now in 2013, SSVT in collaboration with AVG is celebrating all the Devis including these #ve Deities over the 9 weeks (9 forms of Durga) and culminating in a three day Devi Mahot-savam in April 19 through 21, 2013.
!e Devotees are asked to participate in large numbers and get the blessings of the Mother or Sakthi in many forms. Hin-duism had always elevated the status of women in the form of feminine Goddesses and Devi Mahotsavam is a clear proof of such great thinking of our Rishis. In fact the statement “Shakthi Illayel Sivam Illai” meaning if there is no Maathaa Shakthi the God Siva has no power!! May the Blessings of All Devis in SSVT during this special Devi Mahotsavam celebration be showered upon all devotees. Sree Maathaa Ki Jai!
References: 1) SSVT web site2) SSVT 25th Anniversary issue 3) SSVT Deities by Dr. Gokulanathan
Dr. Siva Subramaniam specializes in Pediatric Neonatology and is a Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Georgetown University.! As one of the key founder members,! he has worked for SSVT right from its inception, guiding it to its current stage. He currently works with Inter-faith groups and national temple associations helping to provide guidance other temples in the US.
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The drawing of Sri Rajarajeshwari has been carried out in poster colors by Punya Keerthi, a student artist from Bangalore. He is doing is undergraduate in !ne arts. He has won awards and recognition from Karnataka government and regularly wins in art competitions.
