ceremony at Chennai

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

The temple consecration ceremony went through the whole week from

5-2-2000 to 13-2-2000.

 

The main event of Mahakumbhabhishekam was on 7-2-2000 morning. All the

four hundred Rev. Swamis and Brahmacharins took out a procession from

old temple to the new one at 6.30 am. We devotees were lining the two

sides of road and occupying every inch of ground available for watching

the great event. There was jubilation as well as gaiety.

 

The discipline was worth noting, which indeed was praised in many

newspapers of India (The Hindu, Indian Express, etc.).

 

The president Maharaj, Swami Ranganathanandaji, was leading the

congregation, and behind him the sadhus and brahmacharins were dancing

and singing bhajanas and reciting the great hymns from Holy Scriptures.

It was so wonderful and pleasing to eyes and ears.

 

The most attractive thing was childlike dance of so many monks and

brahmacharins.

 

After circumrotating the newly constructed shrine thrice, the president

maharaj followed by monks entered the main hall and puja was performed.

All the events were shown on closed circuit TV, therefore everyone could

watch the events with ease.

 

The temple is beautiful and reminds us of Belur Temple. It has capacity

to accommodate 1000 devotees at a time for meditation. SRI Thakur seats

graciously six foot tall in life size marble form and smiles at every

devotee who takes His Darshana. He was adored with most luxurious and

rich silk clothes of orange and red decorum, reminding us how graceful

and impressive Swami Vivekananda must have appeared at the parliament of

religions in similar attire.

 

Then we were allowed to take Darshana in a queue.

 

Free food (prasadam) was served to thirty thousand and more devotees

that afternoon and of course daily for seven days which included lunch,

dinner, afternoon tea, and morning breakfast. On the last day thousands

of daridri-narayans were fed sumptuously.

 

Evening Aarati was performed in the New Temple which was all inspiring

and elevating.

 

The whole atmosphere was like a great Royal wedding! Enjoyment,

stress-free happiness, well dressed devotees -ladies and gentlemen,

ochre robed sadhus, and white simplicity of Brahmacharins.

 

Daily from morning to late evening there were programs that included

recitation of Bhajanas, music, lectures and discussion on various

religious and spiritual topics by monks and reputed scholars.

 

I stop here. More some time later.

thanks, dr c s shah

Jay wrote:

>

> Dear Dr Shah

>

> It is nice to have you back from Chennai.

> Please send more info about what it was like to be present at the festival.

>

> Such postings can be of great interest to many (including me) - who would

> have

> liked to have attended.

>

> regards

> jay

> Vivekananda Centre London

 

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