Shikhar Puja to Aatm Puja
Aastha
Chh. Sambhaji Nagar
Prostrations at the Holy Feet of Sree Guru Parampara!
Pranaams to Guru Maa ji and Chaitanya ji. The visit of mine this time to SISS on the occasion of Kumbhaabhishekam and Maha Shivratri was one of the most blessed one, as it was power packed with overflowing grace. Never before I had heard or seen or known of Kumbhaabhishekam, though have been to temples before! And to have this sacred occasion at our very own Sree Ishwar Darshan Temple at SISS, felt very close to heart. Once again, the sacred ancient wisdom & science behind this once in 15 years commencement made me feel so blessed to be born as a Hindu and come under the grace of Spiritual Science of Sanatan Dharm.
The Kumbh atop the vimaanam of the temple collects the Divine energies from cosmos and channelizes it on the sacred Idol consecrated underneath the Vimaanam, in the depths of Garb Griha. Since temple is symbolic to the body, this divine sight stirred a thought - that may the kumbh in me (my thought Kalash) get activated into sajaatiya vritti pravaha, with the sadhana blessed by the divine touch of Sadgurus, invoking the Purnattva in my Spiritual heart.
The original Kumbh with all auspiciousness was brought down from the temple top, re-plated, cleansed, purified was again filled with fresh Navadhanya with an elaborate and auspicious Puja performed on 1st Feb 2026.
It was then covered with red cloth and placed atop for Abhishekam, that was performed on an auspicious day of Pradosh (14th Feb 2026)
On 14th early morning, with chants reverberating, all of us assembled in the temple to invoke the Divine powers with the Puja and Homam led by Chaitanya ji, with the blessings of Sree Ishwar, Sree Guru Parampara and learned priests - it could not have been more inspiring!
After the Abhishekam of Sree Ishwar in the Garb Griha, Kumbhaabhishekam was performed again led by Chaitanya ji followed by other devotees. Words cannot express the Divinity that I, and am sure, we all must have felt when each vyashti was held under the grace of the auspiciousness, making a beautiful Samashti around.
The old dravyas or ingredients with which the Kumbh was filled earlier at the time of inception of the temple in 2010, now potent & vital has come to the homes of all we blessed ones in a beautifully designed miniature Kalash as prasad. Along with this, the Kalash also holds the Panchtarini jal from five great rivers – Ganga ji, Yamuna ji, Godavari ji, Narmada ji, Kaveri ji.
The evening Paad Puja at the Holy Feet of Guru Maa was a unique chance to offer gratitude at the Holy Feet of Sree Guru Parampara and seek Their blessings. The day gradually ended with cherishing SISS in its infant stage then, and now when SISS stands high providing shelter to so many. The glimpses shown by Chaitanya ji on big screen made me realise how I transitioned from a child to youth as I grew in SISS.
Thus, staying connected with the Divine, steadied our minds to welcome yet another powerful day that followed on 15th - Maha Shivratri! This day is very important for a Vedantic seeker as it stimulates the union of mind with the subjective intelligence - absorbed in Shiv Tattwa. That entire day, we were guided into antarang saadhna and the turning point for me was, that day, I was blessed with a new name by Guru Maa ji - 'Aastha' (earlier Shikha). The meaning of the name, strengthened my sense of duty towards my journey on the path of Spirituality, as it means to keep steady what I receive from Him, which is possible only by unwavering Faith.
Like me there were other devotees, who too got Naam Deeksha on this auspicious day along with Mantra to chant for our inner purification. Smita ji (earlier Sudha Bazaz ji), Malini ji (earlier Mythili Murlidharan ji), Samarth ji (earlier Sunil Todi ji), Sumant ji (earlier Manoj Bazaz ji), Vineet ji (earlier Suresh VP ji) were all initiated on the Spiritual path with Naam Deeksha.
With my head bowed down, taking blessings from Maa ji, I took to the beautiful opportunity of performing Sree Shivratri Puja, supported by Chaitanya ji under Guru Maa’s auspices, in the evening at the Altar so divine - it felt like Sree Shiv ji's abode. Sitting in front of the divine Altar, contemplating on His beautiful Form, invoking Him only so that we can adore and adorn Him with Guru Maa guiding us, led to the understanding, that He is the only One alone Life Form!
Maa let that feeling remain kindled in us by guiding our saadhna that had started early in the morning on 15th, until midnight, getting us absorbed in deep meditation through 'Guided meditation on Shivtattwa'.
Words will not justify the experience, that I felt in me, and any expression falls short. It is still a lingering prayer to Lord Shiv ji to make me steady on this path so that I can be with Him forever.
My gratitude indeed to Maa ji and Chaitanya ji for bringing Their connection with the Divine into manifestation, only for us to get a glimpse into that Divine experience. Seeking blessings of Sree Guru Parampara which flows through Them.
May we all learn to serve at the Holy Feet.
Seeking forgiveness for all my mistakes,
With reverence,
Pranaam!