Temple of Divine Mother
(Sanskrit: विष्णु, viṣṇu)
Viṣ means the universe and ṇu means who pervades or embodies. Viṣṇu is He who pervades the universe, everywhere and in everything. By performing Viṣṇu’s pūjā and by remembering God in all of creation, we reach towards perfection; towards becoming a being of illumination, inspiring divinity wherever we go.
The Chandi Path is the allegorical story of Surath and Samadhi – the former is a king, the latter a businessman. They both go through the angst of living – note this was not any different hundreds of thousands of years ago than it is now. They both find themselves grieving over things they are attached to, a way of life they were used to, which is no longer available to them – i.e. life’s various changes. They happen to have the good fortune of meeting with Medhas Rishi and seek his guidance. He narrates the Chandi to them, the summary is this – “Chant the Chandi – that is all there is for one to do, when you are ready, when the Divine Mother is ready, she will give you what you need and what you deserve. There is no need for angst, depression, anger, stress, tension, nerves and what have you.”
I feel I was not any different than Surath and Samadhi, neither is anyone else. My prayers brought me to Shree Maa and Swamiji and what they said in essence is exactly what Medhas Rishi said to Surath and Samadhi. “Chant the Chandi, it is a privilege, what more could one ask for”. Swamiji also taught the proper way to chant the Chandi per his lineage in Siddhasana with Pranayam.
I have now been chanting the Chandi since 2007. Initially it took me a week to chant the Chandi, over a matter of several months to a year and half, this improved gradually to where I was able to chant it in a matter of an hour and fifteen minutes. The Asana was very hard and painful, this too improved with time to where I could chant in one Asana and finish the Seedha Path.
Over the last 2 years I have been chanting the Chandi with Samputs. I was drawn to the Chandi Samput book that Swamiji has written and asked him about it, he encouraged me to chant it with the samput.
I have not resolved all my problems, have not answered the meaning of life and continue to float in the river of life. Chanting the Chandi has made me handle what life throws my way in a more mature, able, calm fashion. I have noticed the very same demons rise and fall in my being that is described in the various chapters of the Chandi and patiently wait for the fruition of the penance that is described in Chapter 13.
Raghu
~~OM~~ The Worship of Lord Shiva Early in the morning of Shivaratri, we saw our beloved Swamiji sitting in asan by the sacred fire and chanting many, many scriptures – the Chandi, Rudri, Shiva Sahasranama. For 24 hours, the fire was blazing with the offering of various mantras, especially “Om Namah Shivaya.” The temple was […]
Sanskrit: विष्णु, viṣṇu Lord Vishnu is the all-pervading, omnipresent, Supreme Divinity of Creation. Viṣ means the universe, and ṇu means who pervades or embodies. Vishnu is He who pervades the universe or embodies the universe. Lord Vishnu, also known as Nārāyaṇa or Hari, is the Preserver and Sustainer of the Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). Together with His consort, Lakshmi, Vishnu creates […]
Neste vídeo Swami Satyananda Saraswati comenta o como e o por que nós adoramos no Shivaratri. Ele responde a perguntas sobre as Pujas dos dias sagrados, o simbolismo da loucura de Shiva após a morte de Sati, e conta uma das muitas histórias sobre a origem do Shivaratri. Swamiji explica que depois Sati deixou o […]
The Devi Prapannārti Mantra is Verse 3 from Chapter 11 of the Chaṇḍī Pāṭhaḥ. Shree Maa often asks us to chant this mantra daily as a prayer for peace. “Devi Prapannārti Hare” means, “Oh Goddess, you who remove the distress of all who take refuge in You.” “Devi” means Goddess. “Prapanna” refers to one who takes […]
Arogya Saptami is a puja that we perform to Mother Durga in the form of Kushmanda, the Goddess of Refinement. On the 7th lunar day, we worship Durga and pray that she heal those inflicted with disease, and we pray for her blessings of health and well being.
Every Saturday, we worship Lord Hanuman, the Divine Monkey who is the Embodiment of Pure Devotion. Hanuman is worshiped on Saturday because he has a connection with Lord Shani, the Emblem of Control and Discipline.
Photo of the week – May 10 – May 16 2009
(Picture taken February 2009)
In one of Her impromptu moods, Maa gets up during evening arati and starts waving the chamaram (yak’s tail) at all the Gods and Goddesses!
Photo of the week – Apr 13 – Apr 19 2007
(Picture taken October 2008)
The fire at Devi Mandir burns 24/7 for Divine Mother.
Jaaaaaaaaaai Maa!
Shree Maa wishes to share with you, from the depth of Her wisdom, the duties of a human being: Truth Compassion Purifying austerities Purity Renunciation of Desires Appropriate contemplations Control of the mind Harming none Sacred studies Renunciation Recitation of the name of God whenever possible Simplicity Serving the messengers of God Serving the great […]
This is a vow of peace and a beautiful prayer from our Beloved Mother, Shree Maa:
Oh Divine Mother! Make us all the ideal of Perfection.
Oh Divine Mother! We pray to you to make us one family on earth and for unity on earth so that we can be instruments of your peace.…read more
Photo of the week – Oct 17 – Oct 23 2007
(Picture taken October 2008)
This new bridge was completed with love by several devotees who donated time and funds to beautify Mother’s path to the temple!
Jaaaaaaaaaai Maa!
Shree Maa, Hinduism Today
April 1990, Vol 12, Number 4
In spite of Hinduism’s persistent attempt to teach and demonstrate the realization that all existence is pervaded by One Supreme Divinity, and that “I” am, at the least, a part of that Oneness, even still, the selfishness of egotism makes men create divisions which expand their individual authority. Now a new concept of “alien Hindu” has evolved, a concept which can only serve to further divide men. Religious experience has nothing to do with race or geography. It is the essence of awareness, the unifying attitudes and values which go beyond experience.
Hinduism does not mean being Indian. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Jews all live in India. It has nothing to do with the color of one’s skin, nor the origin of one’s birth. Charvaka was as much a Hindu as was Ramanuja or Shankara. Every spectrum of thought and opinion has been accommodated with respect under the bannerhead of Hinduism. According to the Tantra Sara, “Who abhors violence and division in every form, who always practices harmonious behavior, who is a lover of Wisdom, who respects all teachers of Wisdom, who practices one-pointed meditation, such a one may be said to be a Hindu.”
Devi Mandir is located in a suburn of cosmopolitan San Francisco bay Area, where we serve Hindus from around the world. They come in all colors from many countries both East and West, speaking many languages, and yet they all have one thing in common: when they enter into the temple, they leave all thoughts of divisions and become simply children of God, children of the Divine Mother and the divine Father, members of the family creation.
No child is alien to the Mother. Every child, fair or dark, wise or foolish, talented or unskilled, belongs equally to the Mother. Anyone who would support an ideology of division or discrimination because of color or race is actually acting with disregard to the basic principle of our religious creed.”
Now many Hindus are battling racial discrimination in their adopted homes around the world. How foolish it would be for us to the practice the same in reverse, by excluding our own allies, who even go farther than we might imagine in trying to make their lives conform to our religious heritage.
Hinduism is becoming a moving force around the world. Is it prudent to create divisions within by discrimination between the faith of those who were born into the religion and those who have accepted its principles because they understand it from a thorough study? By acknowledging the validity of our religious teachings and their practical applications in life, people are really working for world peace and enlightenment. Shall we discriminate against them because they are practicing what we preach?
Rather, true Hindus will bow down with respect to the wise of every generation who demonstrate the principles of faith, devotion and surrender, the real fruits of religious inspiration. We will demonstrate the wealth of our heritage by joyously sharing with all who so desire, and we will overcome discrimination by our mutual respect and openness, as well as using the talents and skills which we individually possess.
In the name of dharma, manifesting the ideal of perfection, the solutions we seek are universal. In the name of ahimsa, the battles we fight are within. In the name of God, let us realize the ultimate harmony and peace in the universe.
I send you all blessings of wisdom, peace and joy!
From Yoga International. September/October 1994 Most of the people in the cars ahead of us on the narrow, twisting California road are tourists, visiting the region’s many wineries. But my husband and I are looking for something few wine and cheese aficionados would expect to find in Napa County. High up in the hills we […]
