~~OM~~

Nothing can quite prepare you for what awaits you at the Devi Mandir. The books I had studied, whose words tended to float around in my head every day of my life, dropped away soon after my arrival. I found my well-enforced personality defences unexpectedly disappearing and I turned into a stuttering child, suddenly unsure of herself. But through all my nervous stumblings and wordy questions, compassionate encouragement underlay everything.

Coming to the Devi Mandir is an odd mixture of coming home and meeting a famous celebrity. The overwhelming beauty and intensity of the temple and the ashram grounds only hints at the amazingly loving beings who reside there. Anyone who has watched Swamiji on the webcam will immediately recognize Swamiji’s seat and the homa fire. Shree Maa’s lyrical voice seemed instantly familiar and comforting.

I met Swamiji just before my first arati. Sitting in front of the homa fire, Swamiji seemed precisely in his element, comfortably and confidently chanting words from ancient texts as though they were coming from his own heart. Even though I was very nervous to finally meet him, Swamiji had absolutely no hint of pretension or self-importance and I was put immediately at ease.

Every word that comes out of Swamiji’s mouth seems to come straight from his soul and his deep eyes sparkle as he speaks (a characteristic that simply can’t be picked up by the ever-present temple webcam). He offered his time and unending knowledge freely and answered all my questions, including some that hadn’t yet escaped the confines of my mind. Swamiji has an abundance of knowledge, both ancient and modern, which he weaves together into very personal advice and enthusiastic teachings.

If Swamiji hadn’t become a sadhu, he could have made a very prosperous living as a computer nerd. His office is immediate evidence of the hard work he puts into the extended Mandir family who tunes in via webcam and internet from around the world. He has used his brilliant mind to learn how to offer his ancient knowledge to the modern citizen of the world. The shreemaa.org website is overflowing with information and teachings freely offered to whomever will take the time to learn. The seriousness of the knowledge he embodies in no way restricts him from being a buoyant and passionate guide and lover of Divine Mother. Throughout the entire day, Swamiji’s words are full of wisdom and humour. He never failed to produce one-liners and word plays when the opportunities presented themselves.

I met Shree Maa the following evening. She has a beauty and softness that is immediately perceivable and as I knelt down to touch her feet with respect, she jokingly commented that I actually knew the proper way to make a greeting. Shree Maa is not of this world and this is immediately seen on her blissful face and light, thin body that seems to float more than walk.

The temple always smells like smoke and fire from the constantly burning homa fire, but when Shree Maa is there, a sweet, ethereal scent of incense fills the room, no matter how smoky it gets. Shree Maa evokes feelings of love with her motherly presence but also with her childlike bliss and innocence. Although she is a regal figure, her playful side is just as prominent. She always asks how you’re doing with a smile on her face and then sneaks in a joke or two. She is also an extraordinary cook, singer, decorator and seamstress, among her many talents.

But Shree Maa and Swamiji aren’t the only family members living at the Devi Mandir. There is a small group of permanent residents and extended family from the area who work together to make the Devi Mandir what it is. The ashram is surprisingly busy and everyone belonging to the Devi Mandir family works hard to improve the grounds and to take care of the family. Each day, nutritious, delicious meals are produced in the kitchen and major projects, including gardens, construction and the arrival of power lines, around the grounds are worked on.

But there are less obvious offerings of service pervading the ashram. The temple is kept meticulously clean and more often than not, singing and chanting drift through the air throughout the ashram. Each person I met offered unlimited kindness and patience with me and I brought home special words from each of them.

My heart called me to the Devi Mandir but Divine Mother and Her family actually got me there and took care of me. It is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people and I am forever changed for having visited. Shree Maa and Swamiji selflessly offer everything they have to whomever will accept and the world is so blessed by their gifts. Although I had a sneaking suspicion that they knew better than I just what it was I needed.

Updating the numbers after a two week gap. We have had three people complete this sankalpa in the meantime. Congratulations to Vasantha, Rick Veda and Usha !!!

Here is what Ushaji had to say "I’ll miss doing this sankalpa. Do you think Shree Maa would give us a new one – or should we just keep going on this one ?"… Well, Ushaji, there is another sankalpa in the air, this time given to us by Swamiji … Stay tuned.. and thank you for your enthusiasm and participation !

Rick had this to say "All victory to the Mother of All Beings! I have completed my sankalpa. I am going to celebrate with some friends" Thank you Rick Veda !

Vasantha sent in a moving account of her experiences with chanting this mantra.

She says, " This year has been a very challenging one healthwise. I started it with a major surgery . The sankalpa mantra became my refuge during the slow and painful recovery process. Being restricted in movement , this became a perfect opportunity to keep at the mantra. I was gifted a clicker, and this became my constant companion. I used to go to sleep with the clicker in one hand and the mantra on my lips. It took away the physical pain, kept me focussed on the higher good, and made me at peace with my situation. My pranams again and again to Shree Maa and Swamiji for providing this opportunity to stay on track with my sadhana even during my illness. Their blessings make it all possible." Thank you Vasanthaji.
Here are the numbers for those of us that preferred to chant the mantra at the fire (Week ending April 8th 2007)

Name	Number of Mantras
Swamiji & Mandir Residents	Priceless
Michael	12,960
Janitri	6,048
Mousumi	10,908
Parvati	3,240
Total	33,156

And for those of us that chanted without the fire

Name	Number of Mantras
Arati	20,000
Babu	1,296
Bharata	81,000
Bharati	13,068
Brendan	3,843
Carie	2,732
Chocatane	33,048
Chris K	26,352
Chris W	34,765
Debi	111,111
Donna	32,490
Durga	9,396
Egyirba	9,180
Eric	94,824
Gauri	10,044
Georgiann	7,891
Henny	34,020
Janitri	19,196
Jayadeva	35,640
Julia	27,360
Kalachandra	20,736
Kaliananda	25,164
Kamalaji	31,861
Kanda	28,080
Karen	28,000
Kathy	26,920
Linda	824
Marsha	22,572
Maruthi	63,111
Mausumi	22,680
Michael	21,600
Michele	5,710
Morningsong	35,640
Muktimaa	15,120
Nickolas	2,300
Nirmal	5,184
Nirmalananda	15,700
Nanda	16,115
Papia	32,400
Patty	27,784
Prasana	10,840
Prathibha	20,422
Raghu	34,128
Rebeca	23,020
Rick Veda	103,140
Robin	24,500
Rolf	25,056
Rukmani	7,560
Sadhu Maa	11,261
Shubal	23,760
Sitara	7,424
Sundari	30,240
Shankari	11,880
Surya	111,111
Susan	51,732
Usha	105,732
Vasantha	108,000
Wendel	25,800
Wendy	31,860
Vinay	2,160
Visveshwar	34,236
Yogini	76,680
Total	1,915,299

“Thank you Shree Maa and Swamiji. I am so happy you are here. These classes are alive!” -Jason “These classes which Shree Maa and Swamiji generously offer to us all […]