Sri Gurubhyo Namaha! Sri Maatre Namaha!
With the blessings of the Guru Mandala and Goddess Shi Mahatripurasundari, Bhaskara Prakasha Ashram along with the Hanuman Mandir of Greater Chicago, Glenview, IL, celebrated both Sri Sahasrachandi Maha Yagnam and Sri Maharudra Yagnam concurrently for the very first time in the Chicagoland Area from Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4, 2022. The two Mahayagnams were performed for global well-being. Besides these, the Trishati Suvasini Pooja and the Sri Lalitha Sahasranamavali Koti Archana Samarpanam were celebrated. These huge yagnams and poojas were possible because of the benediction bestowed on us by Sri Hanuman, the main deity of the temple in which all the prayers took place.
In 2019 when the sankalpam was taken for the Chicago Sahasrachandi Mahayagnam, the pandemic was nowhere in sight. In 2020 when the event was round the corner, the pandemic was upon us, and a difficult but practical decision was made to postpone the yagnas. This decision that seemed disappointing to so many of us, in retrospect, seems to have been a blessing. It has been a lesson in many ways: to trust Devi even when things are not going the way we would want them to and the realization of a benevolent and infinitely merciful mother who looks out for her children no matter what. The most positive outcome of the postponement of the events is having many new disciples of our illustrious parampara joining us this time around. We felt abundantly blessed with the opportunity to add the Maharudra yagna to the 5 day packed list of spiritual festivities.
On Wednesday the 29thof June, the preliminary prayers and Bali pujas were offered to Shodasha and Ashta Matrukas,Yoginis, Kshtrapala, Vastu and Navagraha for the uninterrupted and smooth conduct of the events. The Pujas started with the auspicious Go (Cow) pooja followed by Anugya from Guru and all the devatas of the Hanuman Mandir. On 30th June, Thursday morning, with Sahasramodaka (One thousand modakas) Ganapathy Homam was performed with Vaancha Ganapathy mantram followed by Navakshari Moola mantra Homam.
The highlights on Friday morning were Purusha Suktha, Sri Suktha, Navagraha, Rashi, Nakshatra, Srividya, Trishati, Navakshari and Hanuman Homam. It was overwhelming to see the Tishati Homam performed with 300 fresh Lotuses in each of the two Homa Kundams, At the end, when Purnathuti was offered, it looked as if Devi was seated on a forest of lotuses - literal to the invocatory mantra of Devi ‘Mahaa Padma Vanaantasthe, kaaranananda vigrahe’! May She bless us with unparalleled devotion to the lotus feet of our gurus and shraddha towards the purpose on hand.
Friday evening began with Upanishad rendition, followed by selections from Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada’s Soundarya Lahari rendered and led most soulfully by Smt. Priya Paramesh and Sri. Paramesh Gopi, senior disciples of the Ashram, in the same raga sequence as Sri Sri Vimarshananda Nathendra Saraswati Swamigal’s revered rendition of Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram. The whole hall throbbed with ethereal energy.
This was followed by Sri Lalitha Sahasranamavali Koti Archana Samarpanam. In July 2019 the disciples of Bhaskara Prakasha Ashram took a sankalpam of completing a Koti (10 Million) Archana of the Lalitha Sahsaranamavali. Typically this endeavor runs for several months, sometimes a couple of years, but with the grace of the Gurumandala, the Koti Archana was completed within months and well within a year of taking the sankalpam just as it has been with the spectacular effort of the Laksha Chandi Mahayagnam. Disciples worldwide took part in the Koti Archana as the global pandemic hit us and people continued to pray from their homes and connected with each other through Google Meet and Conference call sessions. The total count at the end of the samarpanam stands at 1.45 crore. The US Midwest along with disciples from all over is humbled and blessed by the opportunity to offer the samarpanam of the Koti archana. 189 performed the kumkumarchana - we were able to offer to Her lotus feet 189,000 archanas that evening. The atmosphere was electric.
The Maharudra Yagna on Saturday, July 2nd morning commenced with the Bodhayana Mahanyasam with Sri Rudram and Chamakam parayanam and Homams. The decision of conducting the Maharudram created lot of enthusiasm and the fervor of the disciples was inspiring. The efficacy of Maharudram is well known as a panacea for all ills and the bountiful blessings that it showers on all.
The highly auspicious Trishati Suvasini Pooja took place on the evening of July 2nd, in which 300 Suvasinis were deemed as Devi Herself and and invoked with a naama (name) from the Sri Lalitha Trishati with pujas and sowbhagya dravyas offered to her to seek their blessings. The Trishati Suvasini Pooja is a rarity, especially in a place like North America, as 300 suvasinis to assemble under the same roof is quite a challenge. Everyone who was present that day was moved by the beauty and majesty of the august assembly. Each suvasini was offered the panchopachara after invocation and was honored with vastram and namaskaram. The solemn pooja was given a fitting conclusion by the stately Chenda Melam performance as an Upachara to Devi’s presence in the form of the Trishati suvasinis.
Sunday was devoted to Devi worship in the form of 2 Chandi Homams offered in 2 homa kundams. 42 Homa Riwiks assembled very early in the morning and were all set to perform the Chandi Homams one after another. It was extremely inspiring to see all the 42 of them sitting around the Holy Fire for 8 hours with all sincerity and dedication. We could complete 84 Chandi Homams that morning!
The seed for this Sahasra Chandi Mahayagnam was planted in 2019 with Devi Mahatmyam parayanams being done with devotion and fervor. Most of these 1000 Devi Mahatmyam Parayanams were done in person with disciples hosting these sessions in their homes. During the pandemic online parayanams were carried out and early this year as a culmination of the Sahasrachandi effort and to ease into the Mahayagnam, in-person parayanams were resumed by a host of disciples in the Chicagoland most of these being relatively new learners of the sacred text during the pandemic time when Guru Sri Raghu and Akhila manni took up teaching of the text.
The evening program on Sunday included the much anticipated Anugraha Bhashanam of our beloved Sri Sri Yegnarathnam Deekshidar mama who has a natural flair for expressing the most abstruse thoughts in the simplest of terms. Early that evening, donors, ritviks and volunteers were acknowledged for their absolute devotion to the purpose on hand. They were the backbone of the 5 day austerities. We acknowledged the presence of many devotees of Bhaskara Prakasha Ashram who flew in from Toronto, New Jersey, Virginia, Dayton, Columbus, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego and the Bay Area. It was indeed a Mahotsavam due to all of their presence!
On Monday, July 4th 2022 the final day of the festivities, the 3rd and concluding Chandi homam was performed to seek Devi’s blessings for good health, peace and well being of all. We were blessed with rejuvenating showers later that evening; it was the most fulfilling sign of Devi’s acceptance of our offerings over the last 5 days. Sri Rudram from the Krishna Yajurveda and Sri Devi Mahatmyam from the Markandeya Purana are the most powerful hymns offered to Lord Shiva and Shakthi. The combined prayers of both Mahayagnam were spellbinding. Devi’s infinite compassion allowed all of us to congregate and celebrate her glory for protecting the world through punishing times. May we all come together soon on another joyous celebration!
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavanthu!!
