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The nicely
decorated Altar of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga |
Grand Nine Day
Celebrations (Navaratri Festival) of Durga Devi were observed
with great excitement, exultation and jubilation at
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, from 19th September 2009 to
28th September 2009.
Great preparations were
made for the performances of Sacred Yajna and Saptashati Path
(recitation from sacred text) and prayers at the holy
Yajnashala, at the Altar, specially designed for this purpose
and decorated with beautiful flowers and colourful light
illuminations all around, as the Goddess/Divine Mother is the
Goddess of Light, Beauty, Wisdom and Purity.
Like on all the other 9
sacred days, on 25th September 2009, the serene and holy
atmosphere all around resounded with the recitation of the holy
Mantras of the sacred Text in glorification of the Mother Durga
and filled the holy surrounding with sacred vibrations
everywhere. The devotees, visitors and guests all seemed to be
transported to an ecstasy of divine bliss in the Omkarananda
Ashram.
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The
beautifully shining Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
during Navaratri at day time ... |
... and at
night |
To add to the glory of this celebration, the
sweet fragrance of Guggul (herbal scent) and other herbs from
the Hawana Kunda, surcharged the whole atmosphere with its
healing and delightful effects. Thus the whole Temple premises
in the Omkarananda Ashram was filled with healing fragrance
coming out in the form of fragrant flames from the Hawana Kunda,
and the melodious notes of the divine recitations of the
Mantras, Hymns and above all sweetest melodious notes of the
music, accompanied by the ecstatic dance performances.
While one’s eyes were feasting on the beauty
of the aesthetic performances all around and one’s ears
listening to the divine sounds of mantra recitation, hymns,
prayers, and one was also smelling the sweet nectarine fragrance
from Yajna, one could not help but get lost in an ecstasy of
divine bliss.
It was a novel experience. A divine feeling
seemed to be running through the breath and nerves of every one.
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Purnahuti |
Arati by
Soma |
The Pandits chanting and invoking the Vedic
texts, singing the divine invocations in chorus, waving the
lights (Arati) at the beautifully decorated altar of the
Yajnashala and then also in the Main Temple of Goddess
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, need no mention.
The Divinity and Grace of the Goddess seemed
to have entered into every heart. These were the moments of
divine experience, when one forgets everything and is lost in
the spirit of divine experiences. One can hardly express what
one feels at this moment.
To the joy of every one, there rose a tall,
elegant, graceful lady, dressed as Goddess Divine Mother, danced
to the tune of the hymns, songs, waving lights before Divine
Mother Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi in the Temple,
accompanied/joined on both sides by little, pretty, doll like,
tiny Deities, dancers, performed the classical dance, glorifying
the Divine Mother so exclusively captivating and delighting the
audience. She was no other than Kumari Somashekhari, the artist
par excellence, now at this holy hour seemed to be Divine Mother
Incarnate, from her dress, make up, gestures and expressions as
well as body movements, along with her students, dancing in
perfect harmony and rhythm and melody. The exalted devotion in
her heart expressed itself in her gestures and body movements in
harmony, while performing the Indian classical dance.
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Devi-Dances by
Kumari Somashekhari & her students |
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Offering the
light to the Devi |
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Thus it was a grand festival of chanting,
praying, singing, dancing, full of exultation and transcendental
bliss.
H.H. Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President of the Ashram, the real guiding force behind all these
grand successful celebrations, rose amidst great joy to welcome
all guests and devotees and said: “The Goddess Durga is the
Goddess of Love, Compassion, Beauty and Purity. Let us pray to
Her every moment of the day as She is present everywhere, in
every moment.”
So we inculcate the divine spirit of the
Mother Goddess every moment, every hour, every day in our hearts
and inculcate love, beauty, compassion and purity in us, as
Swamiji is himself an embodiment of love, compassion and purity
– these virtues/ideals manifest outwardly in the Ashram
activities and its management. There is no exaggeration to this.
Swamiji further thanked all and blessed
everyone present. The artists were garlanded and presented with
gifts by honourable guest Shri Venkateshwar Raoji, representing
Lord Venkateshwar, a scientist who graced the function and Usha
Mataji congratulated and garlanded Somashekhari for her
excellent performance in classical dance and Somaji reciprocated
by garlanding her too, as the devotees are no less than the
artists.
Last but not the least, Swami
Satchidanandaji, an unassuming Saint, who managed all the
function with light arrangements, photography and decoration,
does not need any words, as silence speaks itself more
effectively. Ever smiling and working, his actions speak louder
than words.
The function concluded with prayers to Goddess Divine Mother and
Gurudev H.D. Swami Omkarananda Saraswati by Whose grace we all
feel highly blessed, and because of Him the celebration became a
grand success.
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