Guest guest Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Namaste Marsha and all family: I continued up the driveway, looking for the Temple. I did not know what to expect. Some large building with high spires and bell towers? Or, a royal Temple, built in the style of classical Indian palaces? Instead, I saw a simple one story building, modest, and well kept. So, I pulled up in front of it, and parked. A devotee came out and asked if I was Bill, and I replied that I was. She said that Maa was worried because I was late. I explained that I had to pick up some personal items and an apple pie for the Mandir. Just then, Maa came from the Temple to greet me. I bowed to Her with folded hands, and greeted Her. She said: " How do you like it here at My home? This is Heaven. " I immediately replied that it felt like heaven to me. She took me inside and led me to a small room behind the main altar. Outfitted with a bed, dresser, and small closet, this was to be my room. She left me to unpack. Simple, practical, and comfortable, and as I unloaded my suitcase, I pondered the incredible series of events which led me to this quaint room, in the Temple of my Guru's Ashram. No fictional account could have been as amazing as this journey. Spanning many lifetimes, Maa's Hand guided me, without my knowledge, to seek Her is many different forms and traditions. Now, I was Home. She brought me to Her, as if by a cord attached to my heart which She pulled to Her. Like a fisherman reeling in a catch, She brought me to Her. My reverie was broken by a knock on the door. I invited her in and she asked me to dinner, and if I needed anything. I thought, what could I need? What could I ask for? Every comfort had been planned and organized for me. Then she said: " Did you know that Maa personally made the bed, and cleaned the room so it was perfect for your visit? Well, Dear Family, I was stunned. What Guru would perform this humble task for their disciple? She, guiding me through many lifetimes, would take the time to make the bed, and clean the room? Thus the first of many lessons, profound and life changing, began to unfold inside me. Now what would happen? What was I to do here? How would I spend my time? To be continued………….. Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar , " Marsha " <FarrarE wrote: > > Namaste Vishweshwar, > > > > Please continue . what a Heart warming account thus far! > > > > My date for a visit to the Mandir is May 4 . it should be beautiful in Napa > at that time. I've lived in that general area ... Santa Rosa and Sonoma. > > > > Jai Maa ~ Jai Swamiji > > > > On > Behalf Of inspectionconnection108 > Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:01 PM > > [www.ShreeMaa.org] To Marsha and all: Mandir visit > > > > Namaste Marsha and all family: The first time I came to the Mandir I > had no idea what to expect, or what the Mandir was like. Back then, > there was no web camera, no on-line club, no digital images, so I had > only my imagination. I met Maa and Swami when they were on a road > trip and they came to our town in Iowa. I fell in love with Her, and > wanted to visit. It was 6 long months before I could come. Maa > invited me for Shivaratri. She said it would be like Christmas, > Easter, Thnaksgiving, and New Year's Eve, all in one night worshiping > Shiva. > So I came by myself, without family or friends. I rented a car in San > Francisco and drove up. When I came to the hills above the city of > Napa, and began to climb the hill, I thought I was going into the > mountains, especially after the flat lands of Iowa. > Higher and higher I drove, over a very narrow and twisty road. On one > side were rocks and hills, and the other was deep valleys and > incredible views. > Finally I arrived at a very non-descript gravel drive, with a closed > gate. A little sign on a pole, barely visible, read: " SHREE MAA > WAY " . I knew I had arrived. > I pulled in, and closed the gate after me. I immediately felt > different. I had entered another world. The regular laws of nature > did not apply here. The large oak trees overhung the long 1 lane > gravel driveway, and the trees and large rocks were painted with > mystic letters and signs. A creek ran babbling throught the rocks and > trees. What did the mystic letters say, I wondered? > To be continued......... > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > <%40> , > " Marsha " <FarrarE@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Vishweshwar, > > > > > > > > Thank you .. my mala should arrive by the end of next week! > > > > > > > > I received an email from Srini about the visit. > > > > > > > > I am looking forward to reading all postings of experiences at the > Mandir. > > > > > > > > Jai Maa ~ Jai Swamiji > > > > > > > > <%40> > [ <%40> ] > On > > Behalf Of inspectionconnection108 > > Monday, March 17, 2008 10:17 PM > > <%40> > > [www.ShreeMaa.org] to Marsha and all: Rudraksa Mala and Mandir > > visit > > > > > > > > Namaste Marsha: I would soak the mala overnight. > > Regarding visiting the Mandir, send an e mail to Srini through this > > club stating when you wish to come and for how long. He will confer > > with Swami. Maa and Swami maybe gone for several more weeks. > > Visiting the Mandir is a great privilege. The Mandir is Maa and > > Swami's home, and they desire that sincere devotees who visit come to > > perform sadhana and seek to deepen their experience of the Divine. > > The refined atmosphere of the Mandir is unlike any place I have ever > > been. It is steeped in the coherence and sattwa resulting from > > countless hours of deep prayer, meditation, pujas, and homas. Please > > consider this when requesting a visit. > > I ask that others who have come to visit, post their experiences here > > to help others prepare for the experience. > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > > > > <%40> > <%40> , > > " Marsha " <FarrarE@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste Vishweshwar, > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you! .. I will order a mala and follow your instructions and > then > > > bring it with me when I visit! > > > > > > How long do I soak it ~ overnight? > > > > > > > > > > > > What are the guidelines for arranging a visit? I want to wait until > > Shree > > > Maa and Swamiji have returned. > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa ~Jai Swami, > > > > > > Marsha > > > > > > > > > > > > <%40> > > <%40> > > [ <%40> > > <%40> ] > > On > > > Behalf Of inspectionconnection108 > > > Sunday, March 16, 2008 12:41 AM > > > <%40> > <%40> > > > [www.ShreeMaa.org] to Marsha and all: Rudraksa Mala > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Marsha: The Mandir does not sell Malas, but, if you are able > > > to come, ask Maa for a mala. She has given them to those who ask. > > > Typically prior to giving a mala to a devotee, She has offered it to > > > Her Shiva lingum on Her altar. > > > In the meantime, suggest buying one, and prior to use, soak it in > > > milk, and then rise it off in clean water, and put sandlewood oil on > > > it. I would also offer it during puja, to Shiva or Maa's picture, and > > > ask Maa and / or Shiva to bless it. > > > A mala is a sacred tool. There are wonderful verses we chant in the > > > beginning of every puja, thanking our mala, and blessing it. Use those > > > when you obtain a new mala, and every day, every time, while > > > performing puja. > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > <%40> > <%40> > > <%40> , > > > " Marsha " <FarrarE@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Namaste! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are there Rudraksa Malas available at the Mandir? . mine of > > > sandlewood is > > > > much worn (worn by time, and not all from japa I am reluctant to > > > admit). I > > > > know it is possible to find then on the internet, but prefer to > > have one > > > > from the Devi Mandir if possible. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Also, I want to plan a visit to the Mandir this spring or summer. > > > How do I > > > > arrange this? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Many thanks for posting the Siddha Kunjika Stotram. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Blessings, > > > > > > > > Marsha > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _ > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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