Visit to the Devi Mandir - #1

[Guest guest]

Namaste dear family,

I visited the Devi Mandir to coincide with the fall Navaratri, it was as usual a beautiful and peaceful trip. Over the next few posts I will like share a bit of my experiences during that time.

 

The first activity was Mahaloya on 17th September. Swamiji says that in life we owe three debts, - to Gods, Guru and Ancestry. At Maholoya we are given the opportunity to dissolve our attachments and express our appreciation to our ancestors for the path they have prepared for us, leaving our minds free to worship during Navaratri.

 

Swamiji commenced the ceremony at the Cosmic altar with puja during which time He called out the names of the ancestors (600+ names were called) while pindas (made from a mixture of rice flour, banana, yogurt, milk, honey, rose water and tap water and rolled into a small ball) were offered at the main altar for each name – the remaining mixture was offered for all ancestors unnamed/unknown.

 

At the homa, as Swamiji again recited the lists of ancestral names, with each name a pinda was offered into the fire along with masala by the devotees present and the Sanskrit word "Swadha".

 

The third step of this process was the offering to Mother Nature. Swamiji then led us to the outside, armed with the remaining mixture which was offered for all unnamed/unknown ancestors of the Devi Mandir Family. This offering was made to the beautiful forest of Mother Nature surrounding the Devi Mandir.

 

Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

 

 

Kalia

 

[Guest guest]

Beautiful! JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

 

 

-

kaliananda_saraswati

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 7:51 AM

[www.ShreeMaa.org] Visit to the Devi Mandir - #1

 

Namaste dear family,

I visited the Devi Mandir to coincide with the fall Navaratri, it was as usual a beautiful and peaceful trip. Over the next few posts I will like share a bit of my experiences during that time.

 

The first activity was Mahaloya on 17th September. Swamiji says that in life we owe three debts, - to Gods, Guru and Ancestry. At Maholoya we are given the opportunity to dissolve our attachments and express our appreciation to our ancestors for the path they have prepared for us, leaving our minds free to worship during Navaratri.

 

Swamiji commenced the ceremony at the Cosmic altar with puja during which time He called out the names of the ancestors (600+ names were called) while pindas (made from a mixture of rice flour, banana, yogurt, milk, honey, rose water and tap water and rolled into a small ball) were offered at the main altar for each name – the remaining mixture was offered for all ancestors unnamed/unknown.

 

At the homa, as Swamiji again recited the lists of ancestral names, with each name a pinda was offered into the fire along with masala by the devotees present and the Sanskrit word "Swadha".

 

The third step of this process was the offering to Mother Nature. Swamiji then led us to the outside, armed with the remaining mixture which was offered for all unnamed/unknown ancestors of the Devi Mandir Family. This offering was made to the beautiful forest of Mother Nature surrounding the Devi Mandir.

 

Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

 

 

Kalia