5 May, Kannur Brahmasthana Pratishta, Bharata Yatra 2011
There was an air of expectancy in the air as Amma was to consecrate the temple. The pujas had already started a few days prior to Amma’s arrival. On the 4th bimba shudhi and vaastu shuddhi was completed.
The morning of 5th Amma appeared in a yellow shawl, with a lotus mala and hair tied up. Amma’s eyes wore an other worldly expression as if She were gazing into things unknown and unseen by us. Amma ascended to the scaffold on top of the temple and meditated there for some time. As she opened her eyes and looked into the skies and all around her, it was as if she were invoking all of natures blessings. The pratishtha is a lesson in humility for us – Amma, the master, seeks the blessings of nature and of all the devotees before doing these ceremonies.
The sun was burning down as Amma did the Kalasha Pratishtha – the Pancha vadyam players reached a crescendo – fireworks resounded in the air, there was a continuos chant of Aum Shiva Shaktyaikya Roopinyai Namah mantra. Devotees overflowing the ashram premises stand in neighbouring properties to catch a glimpse of Amma as she placed each copper kalasha one on top of the other; she filled the kalashas with paddy. An eagle, said to be an auspicious sign, soared overhead, circling above the temple. After the pratishtha Amma did abhisheka, then after garlanding the kalashas Amma postrated to the Kalashas after arati.
Amma entered the temple. The idol was carried in by brahmacharis. Amma sat on the side of the Shakti Peetham, facing East. Amma placed fully bloomed lotus flowers on the four corners of the peetham and then embraced the peetham infusing it with shakti. The doors were closed and the idol was installed after Amma infused it with her energy.
Amma said that her sankalpa in the pratishtha was world peace.
When the doors opened again at 12.38pm the expectant devotees craned forward, chanting mantras, seeking the first darshan of the Murthi. Some local devotees and ashramites carried pots with consecrated water to the temple. Amma did abhisheka to the newly installed idol with this sanctified water.
Amma went to each of the doors – bowing down to the devotees seeking their goodwill and then offered flowers to the vigraha. Four of the Swamis did arati simultaneously to the four deities. It was not only within the temple that Amma had installed God – a new faith and devotion seemed to have sprung up in the hearts of the devotees, as both Indians and Westerners jostled and reached out to get just one petal used by Amma for the puja or even a drop of the tirtham from the abhishekha.
In the satsang Amma said that the temple is like a mirror – it is meant for us to see ourselves so that we can cleanse ourselves of the dirt on us. Amma says that the suffering we undergo is a result of our past actions. To rectify the situation we need to do good karmas. Pujas conducted in brahmasthanam temples help alleviate the negative effects of our karmas. So people are encouraged to do pujas for themselves. The four facets of the single idol – Shiva, Devi, Ganapati and Rahu/Kartikeya, members of one family, also shows unity in diversity – all names and forms representing but different aspects of the one reality. The temple also embodies the concept of the world or universal family – which is represented by the Shiva Kutumba.
This is the 21st Brahmasthanam consecrated by Amma. It will definitely serve as a beacon light of faith and hope to all who come here.
–Sakshi
