Sri Meenakshi Temple Society Celebrates Guru Peyarchi Homam and Abhishekam

By Kamala Raghavan

PEARLAND: Guru Peyarchi Homam and Abhishekam were conducted at MTS on Tuesday August 2 with Navagraha Abhishekam at 7:00pm, followed by a more elaborate event on Sunday, August 7 in a grand manner. Guru Peyarchi symbolizes the transit of Jupiter or Guru from Simha Rasi to Kani Rasi where he will rule for the next 14 months. The event on Sunday saw more than 150 devotees participating in the Sankalpam and Homam with 108 kalasas for Lord Dakshinamurthy performed at the tent outside the Navagraha Sannidhi. The Homam was performed by priests Sri Manicka Sundaram Bhattar, Sri Kalyana Sundaram, Sri Balaji Sethuraman, Sri Pawankumar Sri Bhashyam and Sri Parameswaran. After performing the Purnahuthi (below), the devotees got the opportunity to carry the beautifully decorated 108 kalasas with the sacred water to the main temple in a procession, which was truly a sight to behold.

Inside the main temple, the devotees were thrilled to see the majestic idol of Lord Dakshinamurthy decorated by priest Sri Manicka Sundaram Bhattar (below).  Dakshinamurthy is a form of Lord Shiva who is the Adi Guru (teacher) of all types of awareness, understanding and knowledge. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, complete and rewarding meditation. He is regarded as the ultimate Guru – the embodiment of knowledge and the destroyer of ignorance. He shows the Jnana Mudra with the thumb denoting God, the index finger denoting man, and the other three fingers showing the three impurities of man: arrogance, illusion and bad deeds of the past births. When man detaches himself from these impurities, he reaches God. The Abhaya Mudra with the hand lifted above thigh with palm facing out and fingers pointing is interpreted as His grace upon His students. The snake signifies tantric knowledge and the fire represents illumination, removing the darkness of ignorance. The fifth day of the week, Thursday, also referred to as Guruvar or Guru vaaram, is associated with the planet Jupiter, and are considered auspicious to start any educational efforts. Special worship services are offered to Dakshinamurthy on that day of the week.

Once the devotees gave the kalasas with sacred water to the priests, the event continued with Abhishekam, Alankaram, and Archana to Lord Dakshinamurthy in the outside praharam. The devotees got a chance to pray to the lord and get prasadams brought by the devotees.

The devotees sat in the main temple in front of the Utsava Murthy, and recited the mantras as guided by Sri Manicka Sundaram Bhattar.  Priests Sri Kalyana Sundaram, Sri Sridharan, Sri Pawan kumar, Sri Parameswaran, and Sri Balaji Sethuraman made the event very meaningful to the devotees, and the MTS staff provided able support to the volunteers. The event ended with an extensive Deeparadhana to Lord Dakshinamurthy. The MTS priests, staff, and Board deserve our thanks for the tireless effort in the set up and arranging this auspicious event.