Chandi Homam at Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam in Mangere, Auckland
Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 16, 2020
The concept of universal goodness pervading the human hearts and minds for the betterment of the world came alive at the ‘Chandi Homam’ and other associated rituals conducted by the New Zealand Hindu Temple Society at its Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam (located at 69 Tidal Road) in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere last fortnight.
The three-day religious programme, a dream project of the Society’s Founder-President and current Treasurer Ilango Krishnamoorthy, brought together more than 1500 people, among who were devotees so ardent that they were overwhelmed by emotions.
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About Chandi Homam
Sage Markandeya (who belongs to the Bhrigu Rishi clan) is believed of have delivered ‘Devi Mahatmayam’ (Glory of the Goddess) during the times of Vedas. The Goddess is portrayed as Goddess Chandi, Chandika or Chamunda, the reckless one and the fierce manifestation of the Goddess, feminism personified. She is enraged, zealous, or devastating.
It is said that when the Gods were furious, all their energies put together brought forth a blaze that was transformed as Chandika which is a cosmic form.
Chandi Homam Significance
As a powerful and fierce Deity, Goddess Chandi is the primordial power that is responsible for the cycle of creation, maintenance, and destruction of the entire Universe and is the sum of all energies in the Universe. Chandi Homam should be performed by people seeking freedom from the negative influences in their horoscope and those who suffer from the afflictions of planetary positions in their horoscope. The Goddess is like a mother who cares for her children, and those who invoke her blessings take refuge in her strength and courage to have a victorious life.
Extensive outdoor arrangements
It was inspiring to see men, women and children actively participating in the proceedings, chanting slokas and extending a helping hand to those in charge of the religious rites. The oneness of spirituality combined with the desire to serve was evident throughout the three days of Chandi Homam and other related events.
It is to the credit of the Temple, its Trustees and Priests that they were able organise a massive Programme at no cost to the public. In fact, almost 2000 people received Maha Prasadam along with breakfast, lunch and dinner on each of the three days, all provided free of cost.
With no entry free or participation fee (the latter was voluntary to those who desired a special Archana), it was a people’s event.
The outdoor of the extended Temple land was converted into a shaded ‘Yaga Mandalam’ with a huge ‘Yaga Kundalam,’ resembling similar events held regularly in ancient India and sparsely in modern times. The presence and willing participation of a cross-section of our communities was an added factor, strengthening the belief that combined efforts please the Supreme Being.
Participating Priests
The officiating priests were Mani Gurukkal and Karthik Gurukkal, Senior Priests at Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam, who conducted the proceedings under the guidance of R Kalyanasundaram and A Sankaranarayanan of India.
Among the other priests who conducted the programme included Parameswaran (Chandru), Chief Priest at Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple (Papakura), Kishore Kumar Shima Bhatt of Balaji Temple (Hamilton) Dr Devram Kashavlal Raval from Radha Krishna Temple (Auckland), Shravan Kumar from Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan (Auckland), Markhand Bhatt from Ram Mandir (Auckland), Chandan Kumar from Maa Durga Temple (Auckland), Vishal Joshi from Shiv Mandir and Nandlal Shastri from Shiv Mandir (Mangere) Ajay Tiwari, Rishi Maharaj and Shradha Nand Sharma.
They were ably assisted by Yaga Salai Priest’s assistants Vikranth Kasibhatla and Saravanan Duraiswamy.
According to Mr Krishnamoorthy, while the weather prediction was ‘bright and sunny day’ on December 4, 2020, there were two bouts of rain while the priests were changing ‘Durga Saptha Sathi’ and Yaagam.
“The devotees felt energised from chanting and blessings, with many, including the members of our Committee shedding tears uncontrollably. We are grateful to our President Rajaguru Rajamanickam, Vice-President Indira Devi Nair, General Secretary Charanya Mohanakrishnan, Festival and Events Chairperson Sri Charanya Kailash and many others,” he said.
Somethings to know
On the left side of the Yaga Salai, invoking of three Kalasams, one each for Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi took place, representing 16 types of Power and Courage, Wealth and Prosperity, and Knowledge and Progress. It is often said that the presence of the Trinity of the Goddesses is essential for a life of completeness.
On the right side, there was a large Kalasam on tier one for ‘Thamilarasi Nayagi’ (Parvathi), below which were placed 13 Kalasams representing the following Devi Saptha Sathi Chapters and corresponding Goddesses. They include (1) Maa Kali Chandika (2) Mahalakshmi Chandika (3) Shankari Chandika (4)
Jaya Durga Chandika (5) Maha Saraswathi Chandika (6) Padmavathi Chandika (7) Raja Mathanki Chandika (8) Bhavani Chandika (9) Arthambika Chandika (10) Kameshwari Chandika (11) Bhuvaneswari Chandika (12) Agni Durga Chandika and (13) Sivatharika Parameshwari Sri Vidhya Saptasati Chandika.
Eleven Priests with 11 Ahuthis (offerings), 700 Slokas corresponding to 7700 Ahuthis accounted for Chapter One Poornahuthi.
The continuous offering of Ghee led to the final Maha Poornahuthi.
There were eight Kalasams placed around the Yaga Salai representing as many sacred (Ashta Nathi). Among them were River Waikato (Ganga), Yamuna, Saraswathi, Narmatha, Sindhu, Kaveri, Tungabhadra and Krishnaveni.
Another explanation
Th Grand Chandi Homam is regarded super powerful and legendary.
Offered to Goddess Durga, the Homam, if conducted religiously and flawlessly, helps in clearing deterrents and obstacles in the path to success. The hallmark of the Yagam is the recitation of the Durga Saptasati. These are 700 obscure and effective mantras in acclaim of the Goddess who is invoked to grant the various demands of her devotees.
The Homam gives strength to face obstacles in life and brings success. Conducting the Homam helps people to win over their adversaries and succeed in long-pending court cases.
The Homan is a serious offering to Universal Mother Durga.
Heat Energy
In Hinduism, Gayatri Mantra is stated to be the ultimate of South Energy, whereas Yaagam is the ultimate of Heat Energy.
Yajur Veda is a reservoir of precise formulas for Yaagam and performing several types of them.
In a Yaagam, specific types of medicinal herbs and woods are burned in specified amounts in a certain sequence. Precision is of importance here – even the size of the Yaaga Kundalam must be according to specifications.
Men of lore have said that Yaagam is the scientific way of fumigating the medicinal herbs for the benefit of the individuals as well as the environment.
“When a medicine is inhaled, 80% to 90% of it is utilised by the body. When the Mantras are recited along with the Yaagam, the sound energy interacts with the light energy to produce desirable effects. The right sounds must be uttered at the right points in the progress of the flames.
Yaagams can cure mental disorders like depression, neurosis, psychosis, schizophrenia and melancholia. The stress and strain of modern life, degradation of social behaviour, fall in moral values contribute to psychosomatic diseases. Yagna might offer a solution to this problem as well.
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