Post by Sumi on Mar 31, 2012 15:42:58 GMT 5.5
Source: THE HINDU dated 21st May 2004
It is about 3 p. m. Anyone walking along the Kopar Road in Dombivli West, a suburb of Mumbai, is sure to be moved by the collective melody of nearly 500 women singing the glory of Adi Parasakthi. Drawn by the reverberating and soul-stirring divine chanting, one enters the temple of Amba Bhavani. The deity here was installed by the divine guidance of the Maha Periyava, the 68th Pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal.
The ambience cannot be described in words. Adi Sankara in his Soundaryalahari (22nd verse), says, "Bhavani Thvam Dase Mayi Vithara Dhristiyum Sakarunam, Itish Dodum Vanchan Katayati Bhavani Thvam Ithiyaha, Thathai Vath Thvam Tasmai Thisasi Nija Sayushya Pathaveem Mukunda Brahmendra Sputa Makuda Neerajitha Patham."
The meaning is: The moment a devotee utters the name of Goddess Bhavani he/she is bestowed with the `Divine Status,' identical to Her own, rendered lustrous by the brilliant crowns worn by Vishnu, Brahma and Indira.
Such is the munificence of Mother Bhavani. More things are achieved by prayer than this world dreams of. And when individuals who believe in this get together to help the less privileged, divine guidance comes to them in the form of a saint. This is how the temple for Amba Bhavani came into being — on a piece of land voluntarily sold for a nominal price by an elderly fisherman in Dombivli.
The Atma Gnana Jyoti Sabha has been helping the needy perform the obsequies (last rites) of the deceased since its inception in 1962. When the then president and secretary of the Sabha had a darshan of the Paramacharya in Kalavai in 1973, the saint asked them to build a complex for performing `Apara Kirya' in Mumbai.
And the fisherman's offering the land at a nominal price came just in time. The land is opposite the famous Raghavendra temple. The Dharmasala complex now enables eight families perform the last rites. The next project was the construction of the meditation hall, which did not make much progress though it began well.
The Paramacharya again came to the devotees' rescue. He said Mother Bhavani, the presiding deity of Tuljapur, which he had visited in the recent past, would be the presiding deity in the complex. The Mother would shower Her blessings on all devotees, especially unwed girls, whose number was on the rise, he added.
The temple complex was completed with the guidance of Paramacharya as indicated in the Ashta Mangala Prasna. The sanctum sanctorum has Amba Bhavani as the presiding deity, flanked by Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. There are also the bronze utsavar idols of Goddess Rajarajeswari, Vinayaka, Maha Mehru and the Lingam.
The temple complex also houses the shrines of Ganapathi, Subramanya, Siva in the form of Dakshinamurthy, Gopalakrishna, Dharma Sasta, Hanuman, Vittobha and the Navagrahas. Both Vasanta Navaratri and the Sharad Navaratri are celebrated in grand style. Devotees render Lalitha Sahasranamam and Sri Durga Saptha Sathi Parayanam everyday. The Sakambari Alankaram of Amba Bhavani during the Vasanta Navaratri festival is a visual treat. Panguni Uthiram is celebrated with Ganapathi Homam, Rudrabhishekam, Paal Kavadi, Paal Kudam and Kalyana Utsavam. Devotees throng the temple on Tuesdays and Fridays to perform Rahu Kala puja.
It is about 3 p. m. Anyone walking along the Kopar Road in Dombivli West, a suburb of Mumbai, is sure to be moved by the collective melody of nearly 500 women singing the glory of Adi Parasakthi. Drawn by the reverberating and soul-stirring divine chanting, one enters the temple of Amba Bhavani. The deity here was installed by the divine guidance of the Maha Periyava, the 68th Pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal.
The ambience cannot be described in words. Adi Sankara in his Soundaryalahari (22nd verse), says, "Bhavani Thvam Dase Mayi Vithara Dhristiyum Sakarunam, Itish Dodum Vanchan Katayati Bhavani Thvam Ithiyaha, Thathai Vath Thvam Tasmai Thisasi Nija Sayushya Pathaveem Mukunda Brahmendra Sputa Makuda Neerajitha Patham."
The meaning is: The moment a devotee utters the name of Goddess Bhavani he/she is bestowed with the `Divine Status,' identical to Her own, rendered lustrous by the brilliant crowns worn by Vishnu, Brahma and Indira.
Such is the munificence of Mother Bhavani. More things are achieved by prayer than this world dreams of. And when individuals who believe in this get together to help the less privileged, divine guidance comes to them in the form of a saint. This is how the temple for Amba Bhavani came into being — on a piece of land voluntarily sold for a nominal price by an elderly fisherman in Dombivli.
The Atma Gnana Jyoti Sabha has been helping the needy perform the obsequies (last rites) of the deceased since its inception in 1962. When the then president and secretary of the Sabha had a darshan of the Paramacharya in Kalavai in 1973, the saint asked them to build a complex for performing `Apara Kirya' in Mumbai.
And the fisherman's offering the land at a nominal price came just in time. The land is opposite the famous Raghavendra temple. The Dharmasala complex now enables eight families perform the last rites. The next project was the construction of the meditation hall, which did not make much progress though it began well.
The Paramacharya again came to the devotees' rescue. He said Mother Bhavani, the presiding deity of Tuljapur, which he had visited in the recent past, would be the presiding deity in the complex. The Mother would shower Her blessings on all devotees, especially unwed girls, whose number was on the rise, he added.
The temple complex was completed with the guidance of Paramacharya as indicated in the Ashta Mangala Prasna. The sanctum sanctorum has Amba Bhavani as the presiding deity, flanked by Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. There are also the bronze utsavar idols of Goddess Rajarajeswari, Vinayaka, Maha Mehru and the Lingam.
The temple complex also houses the shrines of Ganapathi, Subramanya, Siva in the form of Dakshinamurthy, Gopalakrishna, Dharma Sasta, Hanuman, Vittobha and the Navagrahas. Both Vasanta Navaratri and the Sharad Navaratri are celebrated in grand style. Devotees render Lalitha Sahasranamam and Sri Durga Saptha Sathi Parayanam everyday. The Sakambari Alankaram of Amba Bhavani during the Vasanta Navaratri festival is a visual treat. Panguni Uthiram is celebrated with Ganapathi Homam, Rudrabhishekam, Paal Kavadi, Paal Kudam and Kalyana Utsavam. Devotees throng the temple on Tuesdays and Fridays to perform Rahu Kala puja.
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