Chinmaya Mission Houston Celebrates Mahasivaratri

By Rajesh Thatte

If you are wondering if devotion and dedication can overcome tough situation, look no further than Chinmaya Mission Houston’s (CMH) celebration of Mahasivaratri on February 17. In spite of cold weather, thousands of devotees attended Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya to experience bliss, offer their prayers to Lord Siva and to receive His blessings.

Chinmaya Mission Houston started the celebration on Sunday February 15th with Maha Mrtyunjaya Homa. Maha Mrtyunjaya Homa is performed for good health and well-being of everyone. Homa was performed in main Smrti hall in two sessions. Sri Sriganesh Sathyanarayana, priest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya led Homa on stage with Acharya Gaurang uncle and Acharya Darshana auntie.  Each family was provided with all the necessary items required to participate in Homa. As a part of Homa, Maha Mrtyunjaya Mantra was chanted 108 times. The chanting of Maha Mritrunjaya Mantra along with Aum Namah Shivaya Japa most certainly brings quietude to individuals.  Homa was followed by Arti.

Tuesday’s main celebration started with Utsava Murti of Lord Siva’s puja performed by Sri Sriganesh ji. The basement of Saumyakasi Sivalaya was decorated to depict Kailasa, the abode of Lord Siva where devotees offered Ksirabhiseka to Siva-lingam and Lord Siva’s statue throughout the day till late night. It was very wonderful to observe families taking the opportunity to perform Ksirabhiseka with their young children, particularly to note that many children wanted their parents to help them perform the abhiseka themselves!  In morning, Mahanyasa Purvaka Rudrabhiseka was performed in main temple. The evening festivities involved Laghunyasa purvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhiseka which involves performing continuous abhisheka (with milk) to Lord Shiva while chanting Rudra. It is the evening time when the temple is visited by highest number of devotees. At dusk the temple was glittered with thousands of lights. As devotees waited patiently to offer Ksirabhiseka, the puja being performed in main temple was projected on two screens in courtyard. After Ksirabhiseka, devotees were led to main temple sanctum for darsana and Prasada. After the Rudrabhiseka, everyone participated in Arti. The final hour and half of celebration offers perfect opportunity for meditation where devotees chanted “Aum Namah Shivaya” from 10:30 PM to 11:45PM. This hour of meditation is the most joyous part of celebration that brings bliss and peace to devotees by calming their mind.  Pujya Gurudeva Swami Chinmayanand said, “process of constructive destruction is Siva, the annihilator. This Siva-Ratri is the destruction of the ego in the discovery of the Self”.

The entire celebration was organized to perfection. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers helped in organizing the event, from helping in kitchen, preparing food, decoration, audio or parking. It is the devotion of devotees that promotes dedication of volunteers. In spite of cold weather, many volunteers worked throughout two day event to bring most joyful experience to Houston community. The continuous flow of thousands of devotees visiting temple each year, on this day is testimony to the calming and blissful experience it provides.

For more information on Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya  and its activities visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi.org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233