Sri Chakra

The Source of the Cosmos

The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY

Blossom 20 Petal 1
March 2015
 Our
Thoughts
A friend of the Sri Chakra once said she finds it especially intriguing when she notices a new person at the temple who
joins in with the chanting along with all the devotees who regularly attend. That simple act tells a lot about a person, she said, if
they can walk into any temple for the first time and jump right into chanting difficult texts out loud such as the Rudram or Lalita
Sahasranamam. Most obviously, it shows they have dedicated a significant amount of their own time and effort to learning
these texts, and they’re not just in the habit of attending temples to sit for a few minutes, look around like it’s a museum, get
some prasadam and go home.
Knowing the pujas or texts doesn’t simply give you something to do (i.e. chant) when you attend a new temple; it’s the
most universal but most secret language. It can build an instant rapport wherever you go or make a very shocking statement.
This was the case at Aiya’s shashti-abhapurthi (60th birthday) celebrations in August 2003 in the temple town of Thirukadavoor,
famous for its Abhirami temple. Aiya later proudly told the story of how, as soon as the priests started chanting the Ganapathi
Atharvashirsam, about 30 of his students in attendance jumped in and started chanting along.
The priests were stunned as they looked around at the multicultural and multi-racial crowd and asked Aiya, “Where
have you people come from?” For localized wedding parties, they were used to having people sit there and chat on the kaly-
anam mantapam even as the pujas were going on, not paying attention and mindlessly letting the priests run the show. It was
shocking yet refreshing for them to see a band of people from the West so respectful of and so involved in the rituals.
Similarly, another friend of the Sri Chakra went to Kashi and decided to sit on the banks of the Ganga and loudly chant
the Rudram, mostly to pay respect to that sacred ground of Lord Shiva, but also to see if anyone would notice. Everybody no-
ticed. However, it was clear that the only people who thought it was significant for a young lady to publicly chant the Rudram
out loud were those who were well-versed in the Sanskrit text, themselves.
She and a few others among Aiya’s students have taken it upon themselves to follow what Aiya had done decades ago
when he moved from Zambia to the States and was separated from his own guru, Guruji—they are quietly engaging in self-
directed learning at home, and on their own time.
The texts we chant regularly at the temple in Rochester were not passed down through the guru lineage; they are texts
that Aiya took it upon himself to learn from people he has met before and after he received Sri Vidya mantra diksha from Guru-
ji. We chant things like Lalita Sahasranamam, Rudram, Purusha Suktam, etc. on a weekly if not daily basis, because Aiya has
incorporated them into the pujas. But if we really want to follow our guru’s example, we must ask ourselves, why stop there?
When we are away from the temple and immersed in our daily lives, why can’t we set aside time to teach ourselves
texts such as Medha Suktam, Navagraha Suktam, Durga Trisadhi, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Shyamala Dandakam, Hanuman
Chalisa, Abhirami Andadhi, etc.? Aiya and Guruji have both notoriously said that the Internet is the ultimate guru nowadays,
and there is no lack of audio and print materials online, in many different languages. It’s also often free.
Not many people at the temple knew the Kanakadhara Stotram before it was implemented into the Navarathri puja
in 2013, myself included. Upon learning it for Navarathri, I asked myself why my guru had to make something a part of the
temple puja for me to get off my duff and learn it. I found it to be a short, simple and beautiful stotram, and I was annoyed with
myself for wasting so many years of my life not knowing it.
Engaging in self-directed learning will not only open doors like in the anecdotes mentioned above, but is where we are
ultimately to go with our sadhana—not hanging on to the guru for every direction for several years. It’s not limited to chanting;
most of what Aiya has learned has come from burying his nose in hundreds of books.
Years after being separated from his guru, Aiya returned to Devipuram and while there performed a Maha Sodasi
homam and Maha Pratyangira homam. Afterward, Guruji said to him that he was so happy to see all the knowledge that Aiya
had received directly from the Devi, herself. He didn’t mean the Mother appeared before Aiya, sat him down, and taught him
different homams; he meant the Devi had revealed her grace to him through his efforts to independently learn about her.
It is the ultimate blessing a guru can give a student, and something I hope against hope to one day hear my guru say
to me. But to even come close, it means more independent learning and less hanging on to him. You can set a reasonable goal
such as resolving to teach yourself one new text per year, or reading treasures such as Paul Brunton’s Search in Secret India
instead of a novel on the subway each morning. The rewards are well worth it both intellectually and spiritually.

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!

The Sri Chakra staff

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 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

March
Newsletter
celebrations). with Guruji.
Since the last On the first day of those Aiya was in India until Feb. 15th;
issue... festivities, Dec. 28th, Aiya led the
ceremonies. Dec.29-31, priests
he came back to the States the day
before Shivarathri and conducted
from Chennai conducted the Shivarathri celebrations at the
At the beginning of December Rochester temple. In
Aiya was in India, and attended the last two weeks
a Sri Vidya conference in Gujarat of February, Aiya
at that time. Dec. 1-18, he was was in and around
attending to various temple the Rochester and
duties in India but on Dec. 19, Toronto areas
the temple’s annual India Yatra attending to various
started. The group first went to private pujas.
Thiruchi and the Thiruvanaikavil On Shivarathri
temple, where they saw Sri night, Aiya made
Amma. a very special
Dec. 21, the Yatra members went announcement
to Kanchipuram and the temples regarding the temple
in that area. Dec. 22-23 they Board. Sri Natarajan
were in Thiruvannamalai and on ceremonies. will continue as president, and
Dec. 24, they were in Thirupathi. The Yatra group returned to Sri Vimalan will continue as
On the way back to Chennai Chennai on the night of Dec. secretary. Mr. Pathmanathan,
they went to Kalahasti and then 31st and attended Sri Amma’s SriGanesh, Dr. Somaskanda, and
returned to Chennai. new year speech on Jan. 1st. On Shankar aiya are the new Board
Dec. 25 was free day for the the 2nd, they attended a local members, and all major decisions
Yatra group. Dec. 26-31 they annadhanam done by Sri Amma regarding the temple will be
travelled to Devipuram, attending and the Nandalala Mission. under the jurisdiction of the new
to preparations for Guruji’s Around Pongal time in mid- Board from this point onward.
sadaabhishekam (80th birthday January, Aiya spent some time

Past Events
All event
articles
by Kamya Karthikai Deepam, Dec. 5
Ramaswamy
Shivalingams were set up at the eight
Digdevata (directional deities) locations around
the homakundam on this night, as well as a large
Shivalingam atop the homakundam. Shankar aiya
conducted the evening’s puja.
About 30-40 visitors and volunteers
showed up this evening for a brief puja that lasted
about 2 hours and culminated with the lighting
of dozens of tea candles and deepams around the Shankar aiya prepares to show the final aarthi at
yajnashala and inner temple. the end of the Karthikai Deepam puja

3
 Thiruvempavai & Ardhra Darshanam, Dec. 26 - Jan. 4
Volunteers literally awoke at the crack
of dawn every day during this 10-day festi-
val devoted to Lord Nataraja and his consort
Sivakami.
On the final day of Ardhra Darsha-
nam, the puja began at 4 a.m. Several groups
of visitors and volunteers got to perform
abhishekam to the divine couple before they
received alankaram at mid-morning. The
murthi of sage Manikkavasagar and his holy
texts were then carried around the temple and
yajnashala in procession.
After the puja concluded, all those in Almost everyone present got to perform abhishek-
attendance partook in holy prasadam. am to Lord Nataraja and Sri Sivakami

Raja Mathangi homam, Dec. 28

About 100 school-aged children arrived
at the temple on this Sunday morning to sit at
a homam for Raja Mathangi Devi and make
offerings into the fire to her with their own
hands.
Organized into several groups of 8, the
children took turns sitting around the homak-
undam, group by group, and offering pur-
nahutis after many repetitions of Mathangi’s
mula mantra.
She is the tantric version of Saraswathi
Devi, and therefore offers the same gifts of the
mind (education, excelling in the arts, etc.) that
are extremely important for students.
After about 2 hours, the final purnahuti,
and offering of Bhairava bali, everyone partook
Volunteers beautifully recreated the Mathangi of mahaprasadam in the form of lunch.
yantra out of various produce

Thai Pongal, Jan. 14

As Thai Pongal fell on a weekday,

the festivities were very minimal and
simple.
There was a basic puja performed
just outside the garbha graha, and the hand-
ful of people who were present all had the
chance to offer grains into the pongal kodam
with their own hands.
The whole puja lasted about a half-
hour and all were given pongal prasadam
afterwards.

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Maha Shivarathri, Feb. 16-17

This year, Aiya performed the extended

version of the Mahalinga archana, as opposed to the
abridged version typically performed during past
Shivarathris. This year, Shivarathri coincided very
auspiciously with Soma Pradosham.
Aiya briefly told the crowd of at least 100
people at the beginning of the night about what he
learned about this puja during his recent trip to the
Somnath temple in Gujurat (one of the 12 Jyothirlin-
gams). Check back in the next Sri Chakra for details
of that story.
Eleven Shivalingam “stations” were set up
around the temple, and as in past years, devotees
were given bilva leaves throughout the night to of-
fer at all the stations.
One of the 11 Shivalingam stations set up around the
temple for recieving bilva archana by devotees

                   
Upcoming Events
Event Date/time Location
Tamil New Year April 14 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, indoors
Maha Pratyangira homam April 19 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, yajnashala
Chitra Purnima (mother’s tarpanam) May 3 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, outdoors

In Three Months
Our special thanks and gratitude
to this issue’s volunteers: Aiya,
Devi willing, the next issue of the Sri Chakra will Vilas Ankolekar, Sundhara and
be up on the temple’s website at the beginning of
June 2015. Ahalya Arasaratnam, Pamela
This magazine cannot keep publishing without Lang, P. Pratap Kumar, Sahana
contributions! Articles, poems, stories and photos Sivakumaran, Vimalan Sothinathan,
about any spiritual topic are welcomed.
The next deadline for article submission is May and Srividya (Amanda Carlson).
9, 2015. Please e-mail us with your contributions
or feedback about this issue at sri_chakra_mag@
srividya.org or talk to Kamya or Abhi at the
temple.
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!

The Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 - 1970
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 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

The Mother’s Mirror

Watching Her grace in India by Pamela Lang

Do special things hap- upon themselves to tell a doctor in ten about 15 minutes to the end,
pen only in India, or is it just that I attendance about me, and she came I was ready to sit down and wait
notice it more there? In India, She to my bedside with the exact two or until I either died there or someone
holds a mirror right up to your face three medicines I needed to ease my came to carry me. At that moment
and constantly shows you little, we passed a European woman who
huge, important things. Maybe noticed my limping and wincing
because it was my second trip, and took pity. She offered me her
but being there felt just the same shoes to get the rest of the way
as being home. I didn’t feel like down if I would leave them for her
I had travelled anywhere, which at the entrance.
seemed like an odd way to feel There was the usual minor
given the extreme differences in inconveniences and tests of pa-
living conditions. On the other tience. Which, added so continu-
hand, what was different was a ously together sometimes felt like
phenomenon of immediacy, (out- bigger problems than they were.
side of a delayed pair of shoes) And I kept thinking how worth it
that is harder to recognize back on a visceral level all that sacrifice
home. of personal comfort would be if it
In a restaurant in Chen- culminated in, say, a vision of Kali
nai I was so hungry I could feel or Shiva standing right in front of
the pangs, and they were taking me. Maybe we would sit down for
quite a while with the orders for a long conversation or they would
our large group. I was thinking give me a mystical amulet. Maybe
how I couldn’t remember the last symptoms. they would fly me around the world
time I was that hungry and how the Further, I did not travel in an hour and finally explain a
heck was I going to make it until with Aiya’s group and had not even thing or two. I tried not to imagine
my food comes. Just then a waiter seen him yet since they arrived at too much ahead of time so I could
came to our table with some curries Devipuram. I was still recovering in be surprised.
and said the equivalent of “Hey, the room on the last day when just None of that happened but
I’ve got this extra food here, do you at the end of everything someone lots of small things did that felt im-
want it?” Shortly after, all of our knocked and said Aiya told them to portant. For a few early mornings
meals started arriving and in the end bring me vibhuti. in Devipuram, before the crowds
I couldn’t finish it all. At Ramana Ashram in
At Devipuram, I fell ill for Thiruvannamalai, I found myself on
a couple of days during the birthday a long, arduous hike up a moun-
celebrations. I have an autoim- tain with no prior warning. I was
mune condition and the symptoms barefoot and the path was strewn
I experienced scared me. I usually with painful rocks. It was not easy
fare well in India, but remember- and I wasn’t happy about it. During
ing all the horror stories I started to the roughly hour up and again back
imagine wild things. All the way to down, I let God and Guru know
India is a long way to go just to be exactly how I felt about it. I wished
sick, with no medicine. But later fervently for a pair of shoes.
that night someone had taken it Finally, when we had got-

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 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

Sheela aunty and Pradeep. The who volunteers at Devipuram whom

dome was cool and earthen, all I didn’t really know but I loved, and
dirt and concrete—the most we shared a warm greeting when-
remote place from anything. ever we passed. On our last night,
For a few days it was the three just before the bus left, I met him at
of us, with only an occasional the kitchen entrance.
visitor. I didn’t realize it He touched my face and
would later be painted and said, “My daughter. Always remem-
cleaned up for the celebrations. ber this moment.”
Either way is good I guess, but And right away I knew if
I think I prefer the original. I didn’t write it down I probably
On this trip, I mastered a would forget.
few longstanding fears (some-
what by force, don’t give me
too much credit). I know I
learned a lot but I’m not quite
sure what. The mirror is
farther away here at home, or
I don’t have the right glasses.
came, I went to sit for homam with There was a gentle old man

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Atma Buddhi Sukham

by Sahana Sivakumaran

These words were shared to us by Yegnaratnam Mama, at the

Maha Shodasi Peetam in Chennai. After humbly welcoming us
from outside of his home, Yagnaratnam Aiya sat down to share
some of his knowledge of this Vidya.

Following the consciousness will always give you

the best outcomes. Always follow the heart, which will never
betray you. If you find yourself unclear, present the question to
the presence of your Guru and he will direct you. However, at
the end of the day the decision is yours, because you have only
presented Him with the limited choices that you see. The Guru’s
direction is always superlative. Even though he talks with you,
interacts with you, jokes with you, and eats with you, He is Maha
Tripurasundari herself. The way you look at him is the way he
presents himself to you. The moment you bow to your Guru, you
are equally bowing to Maha Tripurasundari.
Everything starts and ends with the Devi. The moment
you think of Durga, all your problems should vanish. There are
three types of problems that govern our lives: First, is the state
of daridrya: you are unable to provide another person with the

Sai Ruban holds the chatram over Sri Yeg-

naratnam when the latter presided over the
temple’s Kumbhabhishekam in 2010 7
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

materialistic facilities they need at chanting Lalita Sahasranamam help towards the right path through the
the time of request. This brings you us gain true knowledge, inner mean- Ankusam. Pancha Pushpa Bana is
to a state of helplessness. Second, is ings, and allow us to experience the the five senses that she uses to teach
dukha, when your personal prob- bliss of the Goddess. You should be and interact with us. Lastly, is the
lems lead you to a state of distress satisfied by your own performance. Ikshudanda – She says the devotee’s
and suffering. Third, is bhaya, the Once you are satisfied the job is to desire, and whatever you
fear that arises from doubt. world will automatically love you. wish She will give you. You don’t
You should always have When playing the veena, you are have to worry that it will happen
confidence that you will reach your hearing your own performance. because of her power. Everything
goals. You should always ask that You are evaluating your own perfor- will get fulfilled. You have to trust
you can fulfill the duties set upon mance. You become the performer that.
you with little obstacles ahead, and as well as the audience. As Bala Tripurasundari, she
that She should protect you from all If anyone comes to you for holds flowers. Just as flowers make
the fears that hold you back. You help, you should be able to protect us happy the moment we see them,
should always believe that some- them. If anyone ever wants anything She will give the same for you. She
thing good will happen in your life. from you, you should be able to tells you to have no doubts. You
In order for Her to protect provide. As Lakshmi, she shows will get what you desire, maybe not
you, She needs to when you expect
take multiple forms. it, but it will
That role is dictated come Knowing
not by Her will but this we should
by the devotees’ ask, whatever
requirements. Now you give should
the same person be beneficial
can become a small at all times, it
child that soon shouldn’t ever
enters womanhood harm anyone.
and eventually At the end
becomes the status of the day every-
equivalent to a one wants to see
chairman. This is God and receive
the relationship of the benefits
Bala Tripurasun- directly. In the
dari, Lalita Tri- Sri Vidya sam-
purasundari and pradayam, God
Maha Shodasi. takes the form
They are different as the Goddess,
forms of the same who then has cre-
person, doing the same job. you Abhaya and Varada. She says, ated the female gender to take care
Maha Shodasi is described “I will protect you so be fearless, of all beings. She says, ‘they will
as fully encompassing Sri Bala, because whatever you want I will discharge my duties, each mother
Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari, give you.” However she shows will take care of their own child to
Lakshmi, and Saraswathi. Through that money shouldn’t stick, rather it the furthest extent possible.’ But
the form of Saraswathi, She holds should always abundantly flow from still we crave to see God in person.
a japa mala, book, and a veena. If you. Like a lotus flower, all your Therefore, She says, I will create a
you want to reach a particular status activities should lead to prosperity. person called a Guru. He will talk to
in society you need to acquire a As Maha Tripurasundari, you, He will answer your questions,
certain set of knowledge. To do so she holds the Pasam and Ankusam. He will clear your doubts. Now the
you should have the attitude of up- Like a mother pouring her affec- Guru takes the form of God.
grading your knowledge and to get tion onto a child, the Goddess does The Guru becomes the
there, you need to obtain particular the same to the devotee, drawing Goddess and the Goddess becomes
skills. You should assimilate and put you closer towards Her. Our plans the Guru.
the knowledge into practice – this constantly change direction, and
is the japa mala. Japam, Puja, and we are steered throughout this life SREE GURUBHYO NAMAHA

8
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

Transgression
& Power by P. Pratap Kumar

part 2

facing the
worship-
pers. That
is where
stood the
permanent-
This is the second of two parts of ly placed
an excerpt from Transgression and stone image
power: special reference to Srividya of Sri Ra-
temple at Rush, New York by P. jarajeswari,
Pratap Kumar, which was published flanked
by Routledge (Taylor & Francis) in by Lord
September 2014. The full scholarly Ganesha
essay appeared in the most recent on her right
issue of South Asian Diaspora, and side and
can be viewed at this link: http:// the Linga
dx.doi.org/10.1080/19438192.2014 seated in
.955342. the Yoni on exposed breast and a smaller Linga
her left side. on the back of Kamadhenu. This fig-
Entering the womb-house All three images were made ure, Ayya said, represents the breast
of black stone and were sculpted of the Goddess. That is, if the god-
Having thus established his in India by specialist sculptors dess is lying on her back, her main
lineage and authority and the power and were brought to the temple stone image in the inner sanctum
of the temple, he gradually drew us for their permanent installation. It is her head, Kamadhenu then is her
into the center of the temple. We was perhaps not too complicated to neck.
are now in the womb-house (garb- understand what these three images It is followed by the iconic
hagriha) of the temple. I have been symbolized in some general sense. image of Mount Meru. This image
to so many temples of so many What is not obvious to the layper- is surrounded by Shiva’s image and
different traditions, but never have son’s eyes is the arrangement of his spouse Parvati, and Ganesha and
been in a Srividya temple, let alone the rest of the iconic representation other cognate deities. Each segment
in the very core of it! My academic in the womb-house. There is open of the goddess’ body was beginning
knowledge of Srividya was no- space left behind the three main to become clear as she lay down in
where to help me connect the dots deities in the inner sanctum for the an autonomous ritual space. Mount
inside the womb-house. priests and also the lay worshippers Meru is followed by Nandi, the
This was just about half- to go around the images in a clock- bull of Shiva facing the goddess Sri
hour before the mid-day ritual wise fashion. Rajarajeswari.
began. In great detail, Ayya began The intriguing part be- While Mount Meru rep-
to explain every single aspect, the gan when Ayya started to explain resented the breast segment of the
icons and the positions of them in- the rest of the iconic representa- goddess, the Nandi is her belly.
side the womb-house. He said, “that tions in front of the main deity, Sri It is followed by the image of Bali
is the head” pointing to the firmly Rajarajeswari. In front of her was Peetam, which is followed by the
seated goddess in the inner sanc- stationed the image of Kamadhenu goddess Kurukulla Devi (goddess
tum which is located in the front with a human female face and an of the teacher). Together the Bali

9
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

Peetam and the goddess image the womb-house of the goddess. On and chants in the course of the ritu-
constitute Sri Rajarajeswari’s waist the right-hand side of the womb- als. The energy produced through
segment. Finally, the Dwaja Stham- house are the images of Dattatreya, the sounds influences not only those
bam (flagpost) is placed behind the the proces- who come to
Kurukulla Devi’s image which sig- sional image of When he reported the temple, but
nifies the genitalia of the goddess. Rajarajeswari the sight of the also the entire
On initial observation I and the Ard- neighbor-
found it rather odd that a flagpost hanari image
woman to the hood which is
is placed in the womb-house of the of the god- priest, both of them incidentally not
temple which is not usual in any dess. On the returned to find a South Asian
mainstream Hindu temple. It is in left-hand side her but she was neighborhood
the outer precinct of the temple usu- of the goddess but occupied by
ally placed in front of the temple’s are the images
nowhere to be seen white American
main entrance. If the flagpost in the representing except footprints in families.
middle of the womb-house is odd the nine plan- a mound of ash The
enough, it is indeed in the center ets, Shivakami temple, he
of the segment identified as the and Nataraja pointed out,
genitalia of the goddess. But, now it images. stands on the
begins to make sense – the flagpost At the entrance to the ground that was trampled by horses
is indeed the Linga of Shiva seated womb-house, Shanmukha and Ga- and cattle before when it was a barn.
nesh are placed on the right-hand The estrogen from horse urine, he
side, while Kamakshi and Bhairava said, seeped into the ground which
with a bell in the middle are placed makes it the most suitable place
on the left-hand side. The goddess to build a sacred temple. Virtually
thus placed on her back with this all my students listening to Ayya’s
elaborate symbolic structure is di- explanation were quite impressed by
rectly related to the seven chakras Ayya’s quasi-scientific explanation
in the Srividya Tantric symbolism. that ‘hormone estrogen accentuates
With this grand entry into the spiritual sound of Om’.
the womb-house of the goddess, And I was struck by the
we were about to witness the mid- fact that the womb-house is open to
day ritual. As the preparations were the lay people, which is not normal
being made for the mid-day ritual, in mainstream Hindu temples.
Ayya led us into the hall where
there is a fire-pit at the center and Making Srividya public
adjoining the hall is a kitchen
where food is prepared for offering In order to understand
the goddess and the guests. Ayya’s determination to open the
On the side wall between esoteric tradition to the public, one
the hall and the womb-house there has to perhaps understand his own
hung a large size glass-framed personal history. According to the
Puja to the flagpost (dvaja stambham) is Mandala of Srividya with their intri- temple website the original name of
the first thing to take place each Navarathri cate triangles bounded by the outer Ayya was Navaratnam Wijayaharan,
circle. Ayya explained that a female the ninth and the youngest child of
in the Yoni of the goddess. follower took two years to meticu- Chinnaya Pillay Navaratnam and
There is now no mistake lously draw the mandala by hand Kamalambal.
that this indeed is the Srividya and embellished it with gem stones His early childhood is
Tantra temple and the entire womb- with their appropriate symbolic glossed over in the website, but
house representation becomes the significance within the mandala. mentions that he was born in Sri
union of Devi and Shiva. At this Ayya commented that this Lanka and graduated from Jaffna
point it made no sense to me to mandala represents the energy of College. His family belonged to
think of myself as an outsider to the the goddess that mediates through Devi worship for over six genera-
tradition that I am observing. the temple. He then explained the tions and the tradition ‘was abruptly
I am now in the middle of significance of the sound of bells halted in 1918 after the sudden de-

10
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

mise of Sri Wijayaharan’s paternal along with his wife. It was here his with modern science. His initiates
aunt’. desire to learn the thousand names include Western/Americans and a
Dempsey refers to the in- of the goddess (Lalitasahasranama) host of Sri Lankan and South Indian
fluence of Marxist ideas during his was fulfilled through a friend and Tamil youth. He offers a mantra to
youth. His interest in religion began committed the entire chant to mem- whomever he deems fit.
with a strange encounter in which ory and began reciting it regularly. Women play a large role
out of curiosity he went to a nearby He later met his Guruji, the in his temple. The mid-day ritual
temple and suddenly realizing that nuclear physicist who initiated him on the day when I took my students
the temple had ‘a reputation for be- and his wife into Srividya. It is now was performed by a female follower
ing powerful and dangerous’ he ran that he had the long awaited access of his. It is evident from her hand
out and saw outside ‘an untouch- to Srividya’s secrets. Although gestures and the one-hour long ritual
able woman with a basket on her traditional Srividya practitioners in accompanied by the recitation of the
head standing near the ceremonial the South uphold caste and gender thousand names of the goddess that
flagstaff’. roles, his Guru Srilasri Amritananda she had a strong training from Ayya.
Saraswathi (formerly known However, during festivals and main
as Dr N. P. Sastry) endorsed events, Ayya leads the ritual while
the defiance of such tradi- allocating various tasks to his male
tional roles (Dempsey 2006, and female followers.
92–93). In 1980, he moved His use of technology in the
to the USA and after moving course of the rituals, such as head-
around in different locations, phones, automatic audio recordings
he finally established the of goddess chants at the appropriate
temple in its present location times during the ritual is evident and
at Rush, New York, in 1998, perhaps makes him an unorthodox,
after performing an elaborate or as Dempsey put it, a ‘maverick’.
Chandi Homam. The cumulative effect of his rather
From this point onwards, eccentric way of spreading Srividya
Ayya’s narrative turns to how is that he brought it to the broader
When he reported the sight he has defied the traditional caste public defying caste and gender
of the woman to the priest, both of and gender roles and made Srividya restrictions.
them returned to find her but she accessible to not only South Asians, However, he was able to do
was nowhere to be seen except but also to non-South Asians. At so by centring himself in the ritual
footprints in a mound of ash (vibhu- a philosophical level, he seems thereby accessing the power of the
ti). While the priest was collecting to eclectically connect himself to goddess and distributing to others
the ash for the temple, Wijayaharan neo-Vedanta and Samkhya-Yoga seemingly at his will but in his view
asked for some, the priest initially philosophical ideas and blends them perhaps to the deserving ones.
was reluctant to give. ‘When the
priest finally relented, Aiya claimed
the left footprint’ (Dempsey 2006,
84–85).
This seems to be the begin-
ning of his transformation.
From now on the youth
was transformed into a very reli-
giously motivated and intent on
learning more about the Devi wor-
ship. His mother was apprehensive
of his zealous religiosity but could
not stop him. He later received ini-
tiation much to his mother’s objec-
tions from a female Guru referred
to only as Mataji.
Later, he became an archi-
tect and moved to Zambia in 1971 The author observed that women play a large role at this temple,
both in performing the pujas and in the practrice of Sri Vidya

11
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

On Naivedyam
by Aiya

The simplest way of feed- to the food, and the person holding “Apanaya svaha,” another area will
ing the Devi is in the shastras, and the plate won’t have their thoughts light up. These mudras are called
Paramacharya (Sri Chandrasekhar- transferred to the servers either. The graasa mudras, by the way, and they
endra Saraswati) has spoken about impurities of anyone involved will are:
it over and over and over again. All not travel either way.
of our people cook rice, right? For Sometimes the people who Praanaya svaha (ring finger + pinky
everything else, people can’t resist always do a particular job—like finger + thumb tips touching)
tasting it to see if the salt is correct. volunteering in the kitchen for ex- Apaanaya svaha (index finger +
You can’t taste that food before of- ample—tend to resist change. “Oh, middle finger + thumb tips touch-
fering it! Otherwise it becomes uc- we haven’t done it that way for even ing)
chistam (tainted). And while we’re one day!” Or, “We’ve been doing it Vyaanaya svaha (ring finger + mid-
on that topic, no smelling either! this way for 25 years! Why should dle finger + thumb tips touching)
It’s okay if you’re in the kitchen we change it now?” You think just Udhaanaya svaha (ring finger +
and the smells are wafting around because you’ve been doing some- middle finger + index finger +
you, but you can’t put your nose in thing one way for 25 years it’s the thumb tips touching)
the pot and take a sniff of it! correct way to do it? Is it that you’re Samaanaya svaha (all 5 finger tips +
Rice is the one thing you unable to change for the better or is thumb tip touching)
don’t taste when you cook. When it that you think you know every- Brahmane svaha-ah (ring finger
you’re putting the rice to boil, thing? That’s not right. You must + thumb tip touching and circling
take about a tablespoon of toor dal make the change. around the naivedyam)
(thoram paruppu, tuvar dhal) and Next, the mudras that you Madhye madhye amritapaani-
let it cook in the rice. When it’s perform when you offer the food yam samarpayami (offer the food
done cooking, take a few drops of (pranaya svaha, etc.) affect and through your third eye or top of
ghee and put it on the rice. That is activate certain organs in the body. your head)
called maha naivedyam. And even When you slowly and meticulously
if you don’t cook anything else, that chant the mantras and show the
combination is more than enough accompanying mudras at the same
for offering. time, you must make sure to hold
Some people ask if it’s those mudras for the length of the
enough to only offer it once a day. mantra.
Do you only eat once per day? If If you rush through both the
not, try to offer something to the chanting and the mudras, the mudra
Devi at each meal that you partake. wouldn’t be held for the right mea-
On the rice, the ghee is added to sure of time. So the changes that
purify it. should happen within your system
I’ll teach you something and your mind won’t happen. Be-
for when you are serving food at the cause where do those changes take
temple. When you form the serving place first? They will happen in the
line, make sure there’s someone energy field around the mudra itself
there with a ghee patram (vessel) when it is performed.
who is putting a drop or two of ghee Think of your brain as a
on everyone’s rice as they come mass of Christmas tree lights that are
through. Even that small amount all in a bundle but without a switch.
will immediately purify the food— When you perform the appropriate
the thoughts of the people cooking mudra and say “Pranaya svaha,” one
and serving won’t be transferred section will light up; when you say
Preparing naivedyam and annadhanam is the highest
12 puja, as these two volunteers did at the temple’s
kumbhabhishekam in 2010
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

Sri Parvati
Sahasranama part 1
by Srividya (Amanda Carlson)

physical. A few days later, I began but Parvati escapes notice. She is
to feel that Lord Shiva wanted this gentle not a “warrior goddess,” and
Stotra composed as a lovely gift to doesn't “offer” wealth or wisdom
DEDICATION his wife, Parvati, whom he adores per se, so She is often overlooked.
above everything. I think that when Though overlooked, She is not far
This Sri Parvati Sahasrana- Shankara is pleased, he bestows on away...
ma was composed in English over a his devotees love of his wife. Of She is the seat of the Vedas,
brief period of time, always around course, none of this can be proven, the world's oldest scripture. The
and it may well mystical knowledge of mantra,
be the fanci- tantra and yantra known as Sri
ful musings of Chakra. According to Lao Tze she
an imagina- is both Tao and the mother of the
tive me. God ten thousand things. In Buddhism
knows! And She is known as Tara, the Mother of
we'll leave it at liberation, and Her various colored
that. expansions. Patriarchal Christian-
Nonethe- ity presupposes Her existence by
less, I offer speaking of the Father, Son and
this Strotra Holy Ghost, because how can there
to Mother be a Father or a Son without a
Parvati, the Mother? We speak of Mother Earth
foremost lover and Mother Nature, and the major-
of all humanity ity of all people hold a special love
-- Her sacred of their own mother. So, Who is
child, and the this Mother who is so integral to
safe Harbor our lives, yet so over-looked and
and Refuge of dismissed from our culture? What
us all... And do we make of Her? Is She at all
midnight, and seemed to be an ur- to Lord Shambhu, who may want to useful on a daily basis?
gent requirement to write down the gift it to Parvati as the tiniest token This Sahasranama, 1008
names as they came. At first it was of his affection... Stranger things names of Mother Parvati, offers a
just an interesting exercise. Then, have happened... Om namo Parvati- glimpse of the scale, scope, breadth
as the names kept coming, around pate! and depth of who this Mother is
50 in number, it became clear that and what She means to us. Even
it could become a 108 name Stotra Introduction if you don't know anything of the
(Hymn of Praise). But, 108 names Hindu culture in particular, there are
came and went, and by 250 names, Many people don't know much enough references in English that
I began to wonder whether it would about Goddess Parvati, the wife of provide an experience of Her ex-
be 1008 (the second sacred number Lord Shiva. They may have heard hilarating energy! After all, it is the
for this Stotra). Sure enough, here about Goddess Kali (black in color Mother who births us, nourishes us,
it is. About midway through I got with a very long tongue, a large nurtures us and develops us. She
the distinct impression that Lord machete and a garland of skulls), or is the energy of dynamic growth
Shiva was in the room. It felt as Durga (Warrior Goddess on a lion), and possibility that never ceases
though he were tangible, and I could Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity) or throughout our lives!
easily see him although he wasn't Saraswati (Goddess of Learning), Mothers are famous for

13
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

their unconditional love, their (37) Prize of the destitute

all-knowing abilities, their heal- (38) Transformation of the
ing presence, their beauty, their pitiful
wisdom, their adoration of their (39) Redemption of the
children. They are often quiet, wayward
behind the scenes, doing exactly (40) Silence of the peace-
what's necessary at all moments to less
make everything come off without a (41) Daughter of Mena
hitch without claiming the spotlight. (42) Daughter of Himavat
Mother Parvati is no different. Be- (43) Beloved of Mahesh-
ing the Mother of all mothers, She war
does this on a cosmic scale, and (44) Mahadeva's worship
contemplating this elevates one's (45) Shambhu's penance
consciousness. Reading it all the (46) Autumn worshipped
way through even once, see if you (47) First Night of 9 Nights
don't feel the difference... (48) 9 and 3 divided
(49) Esoteric Devi
Sri Parvati Sahasranama! (50) Multitudinous God- (88) Touch of transcendence
dess (89) Boon of the fortunate
(1) Jewel of Shiva's heart (51) So fond of Her devotees (90) Dawn of good fortune
(2) Himalaya Nandini (52) So sweet to Her children (91) Rise of the intellect
(3) Himalaya Yogini (53) In love with Lord Shiva (92) Gayatri's witness
(4) Kailasha Mani (54) Rudraksha cherished (93) Yuga stepper
(5) Moon gazer (55) Makes Shiva a poet (94) Manvantara stitcher
(6) Ganga dweller (56) Makes Shiva a romantic (95) Supreme love meditator
(7) Ganesha's mom (57) Makes Shiva an artist (96) Obstacle obliterater
(8) Nandi's safeguard (58) Made Shiva an ascetic (97) Ignorance healer
(9) Camphor luminescence (59) Creative Power (98) Happiness spreader
(10) Smile adorned (60) Eternal Nada (99) Joy delivered
(11) Ash beloved (61) Transcendent Bindu (100) Femininity encapsulated
(12) Cobra pranamed (62) Home of the unlovely (101) Prosperity's abundance
(13) Mountain breeze garments (63) Ruler of the humble (102) Timeliness prompt
played with (64) Empress of the pure (103) Timelessness befriended
(14) Tender mountain lotus feet (65) Queen of the obedient (104) Shiva's heroine
(15) Anklet jum-jum strong & (66) Confidant of the stillness (105) The moon's shyness
rapturous (67) Manosarovar of females (106) Hamsa intellect
(16) Amazing multi-faceted woman (68) Swan of discernment (107) Paramahansa cherished
(17) Pride of Saraswati (69) Pearl of samadhi (108) Lifetime's present
(18) Friend of yogis (70) Lotus of unfoldment (109) Universal accomplishment
(19) Refuge of the pitiful (71) Kundalini of ascension (110) Luckiest day
(20) Mother of the wayward (72) Crescent moon of self-mastery (111) Purest moment
(21) Fountain of mercy (73) Damaroo of awakening (112) Shiniest diamond
(22) Repository of beauty (74) Trident of austerity (113) Realized resplendence
(23) Gentleness incarnate (75) Nandi of steadfastness (114) Treasured asset
(24) Infinite gracefulness (76) Ganesha of auspiciousness (115) Blazing furnace
(25) Ocean of acceptance (77) Deerskin of protection (116) Shiva's servant
(26) Universe of loveliness (78) Horn of plenty (117) Dattatreya's role model
(27) Starlight of Shiva (79) Snow of righteousness (118) Atri's determination
(28) Sunlight of the hopeless (80) Cool breeze of omniscience (119) Anasuya's chasteness
(29) Direction of the lost (81) Breath of ever-presence (omni- (120) Ashvini Kumara's respect
(30) Beacon of mercy presence) (121) Bharata's grandeur
(31) Strength of togetherness (82) Beloved of the secret (122) A cave's depth
(32) Mother of the abandoned (83) Repository of goodness (123) Indra's enchantress
(33) Redeemer of the damned (84) Gaze of the infinite (124) Sri Rama's second mother
(34) Way of the forgotten (85) Blessing-rich Goddess (125) Gem bejeweled magnificence
(35) Refuge of the cursed (86) Sita's Benefactress (126) Grace incarnate
(36) End of the fortunate (87) Prism clear gazes (127) Sati's attainment
14
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

(166) My Mother, my Fortress (218) Damsel of the mountains

(167) Self-sufficient (219) Plenty of the richest
(168) Paired with Lord Shiva (220) Kindness of the kindest
(169) Shankara's heiress (221) Flowers of the garden
(170) Dancing fire-lit (222) Tilak of the Vaisnavas
(171) Nataraj's Universe (223) Adornment of all ornaments
(172) Chandra's reflection (224) Pacific of the peaceful
(173) Surya's vision (225) Martyr of ascetics
(174) Mahishasura's penance (226) Fire of the clearest
(175) Savitri's righteousness (227) Brilliance of diamonds
(176) Yamuna's single-minded- (228) Star of the heavens
ness (229) Mindfulness of the mindful
(177) Prayag's sanctity (230) Truth Incarnate
(178) Sangam's holiness (231) Satiri manifest
(179) Hidden grace of Varanasi (232) Peace as a Goddess
(180) Pride of Pashupatinatha (233) Two cobra adorned
(181) Sweentess of Bhagamati (234) Bewitching Highness
(182) Greenness of Peepul (235) Shiva's surprise
(183) Slenderest of waists (236) Vishnu's envy
(128) Daksha's obeisance (184) Perfect of breasts (237) Lovely distraction from ev-
(129) Maya's unraveling (185) Loveliest of women erything peaceless
(130) Ego's suspension (186) Mightiest of faithfulness (238) Anapurna chef
(131) Wisdom's true rest (187) Not to be crossed, fought or (239) Food of the hungry
(132) Delight of the nymphs missed (240) Kasi dweller
(133) Gandharvas song fest (188) Culmination of the Infinite (241) Shiva's patron
(134) Earth's favorite (189) Full measure of the Ultimate (242) Makes Shankara a beggar
(135) Shiva embraces (190) Durga, Srividya, Seat of the (243) Marvelous Goddess
(136) Linga languishes Vedas (244) Playful Mother
(137) Clouds imitate (191) Cow of plenty (245) Mighty magnificence
(138) Grass bedecks (192) Mother to Ganesha (246) Several blessings
(139) Mountains Her envoy (193) Modak in hand (247) Pool of mercy
(140) Sublime Motherliness (194) Broken tusk pendant (248) Ocean of beauty
(141) Smile wide-spread (195) Rat comes to visit (249) Helper of the helpless
(142) 16 Ornaments of preciousness (196) Kailasha's amulet (250) Boon of plenty
(143) Time's transcendence (197) Coconut's resemblance
(144) Ground so hallowed (198) Sweet white milk of inno- Watch the next Sri Chakra for the
(145) Resolve of perseverance cence second part of these names
(146) Bull riding (199) Power of enlightenment
(147) White garment dazzling (200) More sure than death
(148) Pearl nose dangling (201) Friend of the forest
(149) Compassion eyed blessings (202) Lover of the wind
(150) Heart of mercy (203) Succor of the saints
(151) Love incarnate (204) Kindness of the sages
(152) Shakti purest (205) A sharp gleaming sword to
(153) Power hidden lop off your head
(154) Tender red steps (206) Shiva enchanted
(155) White camphor skin (207) Kailash family fed
(156) Each gesture poetic (208) Agni tutored
(157) Each glance love's depth (209) Yajna's purity
(158) Hip belts bejeweled (210) Breath of the breathless
(159) Ash smeared renunciant (211) Mother of the fallen
(160) Meditated gorgeous (212) Blessings of beneficence
(161) Fabulous Pendant (213) Glances of weightlessness
(162) Shiva's breast (214) Friend of the friendless
(163) His life, His breath (215) Awareness within
(164) Third eye vision (216) Stillness of the waked
(165) Red jewel lips (217) Prize to be coveted

15
 Eka bilvam Shivaarpanam

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha

16