Early morning of 9th August 2003, preparations were in full swing for the Nav Graha installation puja. Around 9:00am, the Nav Graha Pran pratistha puja was performed by Pdt. Ramesh who came from India just for this ceremony and was accompanied by Pdt. Amol Mishra and Pdt. Pathankar. It commenced with the Shobha Yatra, where nine women lead the procession, holding the ‘Kalash’ on their head. The main kalash was carried by Dr. Sanghapriya Thakker and Annapurna Bhangdia who had to take turns to carry it, as it was very heavy. Sankha Dhwani (conch) was played by Rishi Sharma and Ghanta Nad by Dr. Bhangdia, devotees followed ferverishly. Guru Maa directed the devotees to the square from where all turned back, first to the Hanuman Mandir and then to the Shiv Shakti mandir where a detailed puja and Pran Pratishta of the Nav Graha devtas took place. Guru Maa personally directed the sponsors and all other devotees to their respective seats.
The Nav Graha and Lotus Leaf sponsors were in the front row. The Nav grahas are Ravi (sun), Chandra (moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (ascendant node of moon) and Ketu (descendent node of moon). All the Nav grahas have been sponsored and the sponsors are Mr. Narendra Khosla, (who was not present) for Ravi, Prajyot and Sangita Lunavat for Chandra, Swaran and Ajay Prakash for Mangal, Dr Somyamitra Chabbra for Brahaspati, Mr. Vipin Khullar (who was not present) for Shani, Mrs. Krishna Paul (who came all the way from Tennessee) for Rahu, Anu Vidya Bakshi and Mangal society from all over the United States for Ketu, Mr. Narendra Dadarwala for Budha and Mrs. Neelima Arun Madan for Shukra.
As for today, the Lotus leaves sponsored are Nayan Kisnadwala for Chandra, Dr. Sanghapriya Thakker for Mangal, Annapurna Bhangdia for Budha, Beena Harnath Singh (who came all the way from Flagstaff, Arizona) for Brahaspati, Jayshree Dave for Shani. Sponsorship is available for Shukra, Rahu and Ketu Petal leaves.
The Nav Graha lotus is a spectacular display of marble, carved and created in India by renowned artisan Shri Muni Shankar of Jaipur. The installation of the Lotus was very tricky but nothing is impossible for Walter Wrobelewski. Walter and his team accomplished the installation of the lotus beautifully for everyone to see and marvel. A small pond with water in it and real lotus floating in it to give a very real feel of beauty is being built very creatively to accentuate the beautiful colors of the petals. The eight grahas have been made in their corresponding color s with the yellow for the sun in the centre with red spots on it. Special lights focusing on the centre of the lotus, glittering like the powerful, dazzling sun itself. The lotus is one of its kind in the entire United States and a very ambitious project in the undertaking.
At 11:30am, the puja was over and everybody was served lunch prepared by Anu Bakshi and her group. At 12:15 in the afternoon, Bhaktas started chanting the 108 Hanuman Chalisa Path which finished at about 4.30 pm, and the last 3 paths were down with garba dance by all present. This was indeed a great sight of celebration as everyone joined in the dance. At 5:30 pm the Sunderkand Hawan wa started. It was very cloudy and had poured non-stop for over three days. Everyone was very concerned, but Guru Maa assured them not to worry. She had predicted way in advance that the rain would stopped just in time for the Hawan, and amazing enough, it did. Interestingly, it started raining again after the hawans were successfully completed. Once again over years I watched Guru Maa’s prediction as usual come true. Due to huge crowds, arrangement was made for 3 hawan kunds. Her Holiness Sri Sri Guru Maa led one and Pandits Ramesh Shastri and Amol Mishra led the other two. Over 350 Bhaktas attended the Hawan.
Every year during Ramayana time, a miracle occurs. This year too, Guru Maa was assured that it did. Every day, early in the morning, Guru Maa feeds birds in the garden. This year, from the first day of Akhand Ramcharitra Manas Path, a little bird dropped pennies on Guru Maa’s head. This went on for five days and again on the finally on August 9th too. To Guru Maa, this indicated that She should not worry about funding Her projects in India and America. Hawan was followed by a grand Aarti of the Nav Grahas with over 108 deepaks and 101 Aarti Thalis. This view of the aarti was indescribable. People were chanting with great joy, devotion and serenity. It was a very beautiful and pious sight. I came from London just to witness this great moment and to participate in one more difficult project that my beloved Guru has effortlessly succeeded in.
After the Aarti, Guru Maa and other disciples broke their month long fast (sadhna). Following this, everyone gathered in the mandir for pravachan and kirtan. The mandir was over crowded and there was absolutely no place to move.
Crowds collected outside the mandir. Guru Maa was trying to give her Pravachan, but bhaktas wanted to express their joy and gratitude to Guru Maa for the success of this grand event. Some described their experience with Guru Maa as a miracle; some felt that they had witnessed the Darshan from a Live Goddess. It was wonderful to feel the energy in the mandir.
After Aarti, around 9:30pm, the auctioning of Ramayanji’s Chandoba was next and Guru Maa had indicated that this chaddar was going to be 'karishmatic' or miraculous for whoever takes it. We got a record price for the auction with Dr Bhangdia, Tinu Patel and Anil Jain equally determined to obtain the chandoba.Guru Maa requested Tinubhai to drop out and finally, Anil Jain was the final and lucky bidder for $7,500. !! Eleven dresses of Baba were also given out to the true bhakts for $101. Over 1350 people had attended the function and a grand Mahabhog was prepared by Anu and Vidya Bakshi and their group from Phoenix. 56 variety of dishes including 26 types of mithais which was sponsored by Bhaktas were served.
The Bakshi family and group did a fabulous job of preparing and serving the Mahabhog . This was a great climax to a very successful 21 day program. The Akhand Ramcharitra Manas Path was sponsored by devotees of the mandir which included Sunita Jain, Sharma family, Krishna Dhoot, Asha Patel, Sangita Lunavat, Nitu Malhotra, Vijay and Anita Singh, Devender Gupta, Sachdeva family, Trilok and Yutipriya, Gopaljee Jaiswal, Amrish Kacchy, Annapurna Bhangdia, Neelima Madan, Falguni Patel, Chabbra family, Beena Singh, Harish Kakker, Renu Sharma, Chandrashekhar Sushma Kaushlik, Neena Behl and Anu Bakshi.
Each day, breakfast, lunch and bhog was served and we had overwhelming response from people who wished to participate in the prayers. Bhaktas read the Ramayana path day and night and were joined every evening by Guru Maa.
This year, just like the years before, the Akhand Ramcharitra Manas Path was a time of community, where Bhaktas shared each others responsibilities as hosts, children and elders prayed and contributed in every way possible to help make this a great success. I want to take this opportunity to thank Guru Maa for her undeterred vision, commitment, and leadership in making this once again a very memorable moment for all of us.
Jai Sri Hanuman! |
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