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The Religious Hub
In India, there is a tradition and common practice to
have a family deity or Kula-Devata. So, we find a temple in most of the
Ashrams and the main Deity of the temple is like the presiding Deity of
the Ashram. In this sense, Lord Visvanatha (literal meaning is 'The Lord
of the entire Universe', Lord Siva) is the presiding and protecting Deity
of Sivananda Ashram and the entire Sivananda family of devotees spread
all over the world. The temple has Lord Siva in the centre, and behind
Him, there is Lord Krishna in the form of a very beautiful Murti (idol)
of Murali Manohara (the charming One with a flute). As per the tradition,
every Siva temple will also have Lord Ganesh and the Devi, and we have
followed this tradition. We also have in our Temple, Lord Rama with Cosmic
Mother Sita, brother Laxmana and His chief lieutenant Hanuman. The Temple
complex houses a very beautiful Murti of Sri Sankarachaya and a Yajna-sala
also. There is a very spacious porch also. Swami Sivananda the founder
of the Sivananda Ashram was known for his very broad view and generosity.
As such, special days of many deities are celebrated in the Ashram with
the traditional fervour, zeal and gaiety in the Visvanatha Mandir. In
other words, it is the hub of Puja, celebrations and all the traditional
religious activities of the Ashram.
Background: When Swami Sivananda came to Rishikesh and
settled in Swargashram in the year 1924, the present sight of the Ashram
was a dense forest and the only road was along the river bank. During
his days of very intense sadhana, he used to remain in seclusion to the
extent possible. But, his majestic, imposing yet magnetic personality
attracted many aspirants. So he used to come to this steep hill and go
deep in the forest and sit under a bilva tree for almost the whole day.
The supreme Experience is possible only if the seeker transcends the three
gunas. (attributes). The bilva tree gives leaves in a set of three. So,
many seekers are offering the bilva leaves to the Lord in a symbolic way.
Puja of Lord Siva is done with the oblations of bilva leaves. So, he used
to start his sadhana with offering the bilva leaves at a particular spot,
which he intuitively liked very much. It is believed that during his long
hours of deep meditation and samadhi, he had the supreme Experience at
this very spot. After a few years the King donated this land to the Divine
Life Society. So, he thought that it is God's Will that a temple should
be established here.
There was another unusual point. Gurudev was extremely sensitive, kind
and compassionate person. He sincerely wished an early end of the World
War II. So, in order to spread peace currents throughout the world, he
started round-the-clock non-stop kirtan of the Mahamantra in the Bhajan
Hall from 3rd December 1943. And after a few weeks only consecrated the
Visvanatha Temple on 31st December. This modern saint arranged for traditional
Puja three times a day for World Peace. He was also doing peace prayers
in the daily Satsanga. And he also made peace Yajnas as a regular feature
of the Ashram activities.
Puja: This extraordinary background of the Temple created
wonderful spiritual vibrations. Though, this unorthodox saint had resorted
to the traditional Puja for World Peace, the Temple and its Puja inspired
the devotees so much that it was continued in a systematic way. The number
of devotees requesting for Puja is more than one hundred every day. The
Temple opens at 4 in the morning, the first Puja commences at 5-45. While
the Veda Mantras are recited in side the inner chamber of the temple,
in the main hall, devotees are doing kirtan of the "Om Namah Sivaya"
mantra in a sweet melodious manner to add to the spiritual vibrations
and sanctity.
Celebrations: Special days of various Deities are celebrated
in the Temple. The whole night Puja on the Mahasivaratri Day attracts
a very large number of devotees. Sri Krishna Jayanti, special 9-day programme
on Sri Rama Jayanti are other important functions. Occasionally, discourses
on Srimad Bhagavatam, recitation of Ramayana, Akhanda (non-stop) kirtan
and other programmes are also held here. But, the 9-day Devi Puja and
Vijaya Dasami programmes, and Christmas and New Year programmes are arranged
in the Library Hall. And the 6-day annual Skanda Puja is continued in
the Bhajan Hall.
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