Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
The next opportunity to worship at the Vaishno Devi Temple came on an early morning excursion. Having experienced such a wonderful Arati on our first visit, we all longed to witness the morning puja and offer our own worship to the Goddess.
Shree Maa gleefully sat on her palki and was more than happy to be the star of the “palki photoshoot,” as one of the devotees quickly snapped a few adorable pictures of our smiling Shree Maa.
We carried our Mother that crisp early morning through the streets of Katra to the Temple, all the while chanting “Jai Mata Di! Jai Mata Di!”
Morning worship was sublime. Shree Maa was very delighted to see how the pujari’s meticulously performed puja to the Goddess, offering their hearts and souls along with all of the tangible offerings. She was so pleased to see the devotion of the pujari!
While at the temple, we were so fortunate to have an opportunity to chant some of the verses in the Chandi Path! Swamiji has written a few words of this experience that he so kindly wanted to share with us all:
However, I managed to bring five copies of our English version of the Chandi Path as an offering to the temple priests, and the Officer in Charge allowed me to take one copy into the Temple for myself.
When the priests began their recitation in their own proprietary tone, I had a book with me, which I immediately opened to share with Shree Maa and Adaityananda. They were chanting with Udgita, breaking at the half verse or matra.
Because we have been learning and practicing reciting at two verses to the breath, it was very easy for us to follow them, and adjust our tones and pauses to fit their system. We got louder and louder, as we often do, and we maintained perfect sync with their style of chanting.
Then the policeman who was standing next to where we were sitting, said incredulously to the pandit who was preparing the puja items: “Can you imagine that foreigners know so much Sanskrit?”
By the time we left the temple, all the priests wanted a copy of our Chandi book, and all of the police bowed every time we passed. They greeted us and treated us with the greatest of respect.” ~ Swamiji
And so, after experiencing another beautiful day of worship in one of India’s most revered temples, my heart was touched knowing that everything that Shree Maa and Swamiji teach us — all of the mantras, the exquisite chanting style, and the method of pranayama — can efficiently be modified and adapted to the styles and traditions of temples all around India.
I am sufficiently inspired, as I hope you will be, to keep learning, growing, and practicing in the path that our Guru’s have shown. For sure, we can make a difference!
Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!