Sri Lakshmi Puja

Once, the Devas and Asuras churned the Ocean of Milk in search of obtaining Amrita, the nectar of immortality.  Many divine and celestial objects emerged as well as the Goddess Lakshmi.  This form of Lakshmi, this is a picture of the murti at MN Hindu Mandir, is from Southern India known as Perundevi. It was made after the image of the deity at Lord Varadaraja Temple located in Kanchi, Tamil Nadu, India.

Mahalakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu.  She is the Goddess of generosity and prosperity, and the Goddess who help devotees obtain their spiritual goals.

Last night the temple was overflowing with thousands of devotees.  I talked to people from all over the country...  People visiting from India, some from Kanchi where the image of the deity comes from, locals from Minnesota, many people who traveled from chicago, from milwaukee, and many others who I did not have the chance to meet.  Everyone was so very happy to be there on Diwali.  I sat with a hundred other devotees who sponsored the Laksmhmi Puja in the main hall as crowds moved through out the temple.  The sound of Sanskrit echoing through the temple as priests did puja to Mahalakshmi, Bhagavan Shiviji, and Shri Ganeshaji.

I just closed my eyes, and felt the vibration of the Sanskrit flow over me, the smell of incense and the sounds of bells ringing....it was all most like being back in India again.

As I left late last night, parents were still in the parking lot lighting of fireworks with their children, everyone was smiling, laughing, and wishing each other a Happy Diwali!

Jay Maa

The Mother Goddess

After mentioning Chandi Maa, and carving her into a pumpkin with the greatest of respect, people asked who is Chandi?  While I don't claim to know how to explain the Goddess, I thought of a few verses that always make me smile and reflect some of the qualities of the Great Goddess.....from the Ratri Suktam in Chandi Path
v.4-8

tvayai taddharayate visvam tvayi tat srjyate jagat

tvyaitat palyate devi tvamatsyante ca sarvad

visrstau srsti rupa tvam sthiti rupa ca palane

tatha samhrti rupante jagato sya jaganmaye

mahavidya mahamaya mahameda mahasmrtih

mahamoha ca bhavati mahadevi mahasuri

praktistvam ca sarvasya guna traya vibhavani

kalaratri maharatrir moharatrischa daruna

tvam sris tvam isvari tvam hris tvam buddhir bodhalakshana

lajja pustis tatha tustis tvam santih ksantireva ca

The universe is sustained by you, and the perceivable world is created by you.  You protect what you create, Oh Divine Goddess, and you are the end for all.

As the creator, you are the form of the creation, and as the form of circumstance, you are it's maintenance.  Then at the conclusion as the form of dissolution of perceivable existence, you are the All-Mighty Measurement of Being.

The Great Knowledge, The Great Measurement, The Great Intellect, The Great Recollection; the Great Ignorance too, and your Ladyship, the Great Goddess and Great Source of Strength.

You are Nature, and the three qualities that you manifest in all: The night of Time, The Great Night, and the Night of Ignorance.

You are Prosperity, you are the Consciousness of All.  You are Humility, you are the Intellect, and the goal of all Knowledge; modesty, increase, then complete satisfaction.  you are the Peace and Patient Forgiveness.

Om Namaschandikayai

Jay Shiv Shakti