Sri Gurubhyo Namaha, Sri Maatre Namaha!
Bhaskara Prakasha Ashram is really blessed to have conducted the global online Devi Mahatmyam Parayanam for the last 9 nine days of this Vasanta Navaratri culminating with Lalitha Sahasranamam and Trisati on the 10th day with the Sankalpam for Global healing and well-being. Seeing the outpour from people for the Viswa Svastya Chandi Parayanam on March 22nd, we decided to host this 10 day event in a very short time.
With the blessings of our Gurumandala and Goddess Chandika Mahalakshmi, I am very happy to let you know that, we have chanted more than 2,000 Devi Mahatmyam Parayanam, completed more than 10 lakhs of Navakshari Japam and had 693 people joining the Parayanam by listening to it entirely with complete devotion. None of this would have been possible without the outpouring support and participation of devotees from across the globe.
This Vasanta Navartri was truly a special event -- First time we have ever conducted Devi Mahatmyam parayanam for nine days completely online. Although we all are geographically separated, it felt as if we were together in front of Devi chanting in unison. In the end, all of us have experienced true surrender, true bhakthi, true belief and our immense love for the Divine Mother.
As we look back, who would have even imagined in their dreams, the 180 degree change in our lives - life before Covid and after Covid. Social distancing, Janata curfew, Shelter in place have become routine aspects of our lives and will continue to be for some more time to come. Just as Suratha and Vysya did penance and worshipped Chandika Mahalakshmi in the forests far away from hustle and bustle of life, all of us could do the Paarayanam as a tapasya in isolation with Swaatmaanubhuti.
Exactly 32 years back, in March 1988, my Guru Sri Vimarshananda Nathendra Maha Swamigal directed me to go to the Katyayani Temple, Chattarpur, New Delhi to perform Chandi Homam and Srividya Homam for 15 days starting the first day of Vasanta Navaratri until the full moon day. Keeping my personal and family commitments aside, I just followed the direction of my Guru who always insisted on the importance of participating in a yegna performed for Loka Kalyanam.
Until I reached the temple, I was unaware of the strict restrictions that all ritwicks needed to follow for those 15 days. We had to stay within temple premises without any kind of communication with the outside world. We were not allowed to talk unless it was really required. Each day started at 4AM with Veda Parayana, followed by Chandika Homam, Vishnu Sahasranam Paarayanam, Sri Lalitha Sahasranama and Sri Lalitha Trishati Parayanam and Sri Vidya Homam Poornahuthi at 8PM. The first day was a bit hard but at the end of the first day we were all fully energized and looked forward to the next day's events. Infact, we all felt sad on the final day and wished the Pujas and homams continued further. The same kind of feeling everyone got at the end of this Vasanta Navaratri Parayanams.
I never imagined that after 32 years, during the same Vasanta Navaratri, Chandi Paarayanam, Japams and Srividya Navavarana Puja would be performed in Ekantha (isolation) during this period of lockdown in Bangalore. This parayanam we all did in unison as a Maha Yegna for Loka Kshema will surely please Chandika Mahalakshmi. Her blessings will give all of us inner strength to deal with the current situation and enable the world to quickly bounce back from the current gloomy situation to a bright and prosperous future. I strongly believe that when we help others by forgetting our own problems and challenges, it will in turn ease ours. I pray to our Guru Parampara and Chandika Mahalakshmi to bless each one of you who have taken the time to join us in the Parayanam session leaving aside all challenges you may have had.
Everyone felt as though we have transcended the physical distance. All of us were in everyone’s house - everyone’s Pooja room, making Navaratri visits! This year, as many of you pointed out, everyone had the divine darshan of Maha Shodashi and Sri Yegnarathnam Dikshithar from Chennai Ashram visiting their houses and blessing us all on the ninth day! To summarize, the 10 days of Vasanta Navaratri have brought us all spiritually closer and have made us all mentally stronger with the firm belief that Devi will take care of us.
We would appreciate it if you can let us know your interest in future online classes and parayanams and your valuable thoughts by filling this quick form at https://bit.ly/2UYLzi5. Your inputs will help us plan our future activities.
Here is a brief on the next set of upcoming events,
Saptasloki Seva on Sunday, April 5 at 7 AM PST (7:30 PM IST, 10AM EST)
Children aged 6 - 10 from all over the world will be singing Durga Saptasloki set in a simple tune 36 times. Please visit https://bhaskaraprakasha.org/durga-saptasloki to listen and learn Durga Saptasloki so you can all participate.
We have provided texts with meanings in English and an Art material for children (and interested adults) to colour while they recite.
Feel free to forward this link to all your family and friends and encourage them to join in this online event for Global welfare as we hope to get 1008 voices to sing in synchrony the Durga Saptasloki from their homes.
Here is the Zoom link to register for Saptasloki Seva:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kDLwh-0RStiQadSHstLNMw
Weekly Devi Mahatmyam Parayanam on Sunday, April 12, Apr 19, Apr 26 at 6 AM PST (6:30 PM IST, 9AM EST)
Based on all your inputs, we will continue the Parayanams through the month of April. We will post the links to join closer to the event.
Namaste!
