The programme

The ceremony started at 8:00 in the morning on May 4, 2015, on the auspicious day of Vaishakha Pournima, the day’s proceedings of which can be described in three stages:

1) Jogawa Parikrama
2) Guhyasuktam Parikrama and 
3) Samarpan Parikrama

1) Jogawa Parikrama – Before heading towards the Jogawa Parikrama (circumambulation), Shraddhavans were applied Naam on their forehead. When the shraddhavaans entered the hall, before starting the parikrama, they were handed a paper with a sketch of a Mooshak (Lord Ganpati’s vehicle or carrier – Mouse).
The Shraddhavaans were asked to draw three Mooshaks. Let us first reiterate the importance of the Mooshak as told by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha and then proceed to the Jogawa Parikrama.

The importance of Mooshak (mouse) – Mooshak is the carrier of Ganapati, who governs the Mooladhar Chakra. This Mooshak symbolizes ‘breathing’. Breathing helps generate energy, which is then provided to the rest of the body. Just as a mouse moves in and out of his burrow, so does the inhalation and exhalation process works (breathe in and out). And hence, the Mooshak was to be drawn thrice, (which represented our inhalation, circulation or absorption and exhalation). This paper was to be offered to the Moolarka Ganpati, placed right at the beginning of the parikrama with a prayer, “Oh Ghanaprana, May you control our breathing and protect our Trividha Deha!’

Offerings to Adimata included daal and rice grains, three bananas and some leaves, which were carried by the Shraddhavaans for the Jogawa Parikrama. This offering was entirely depended on the willingness of the Shraddhavans. Some considered themselves fortunate to simply participate in the Parikrama. They sought the darshan of the various forms of Adimata, through the images placed in a particular sequence during the Parikrama. The echoes of ‘Jai Jagadamb Jai Durge’, ‘Om Namahchandikayai’, ’Aai you are loving and I am Ambadnya’, ’O Sadguru, you are loving and I am Ambadnya’ were heard all throughout. The Parikrama concluded with darshan of Trivikram. The Shraddhavaans, on completing the Parikrama, felt a steadfast assurance that, ‘Trivikram is the whole and sole support of their life!’.           

A Jalakunda was placed ahead, wherein two bananas were offered to Adimata from the rice and pulses which Shraddhavans were carrying in a winnowing basket or a sort of scuttle. The pulses and rice grains were donated to the needy, through the Annarpurna Prasadam Yojana, running under the aegis of Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Foundation. Out of the three bananas, the remaining one was given to Shraddhavans as prasad. On completing the parikrama, the Shraddhavaans, would seek blessings from the Chandikakul on the main stage and Shatakshi Mata (Goddess Shakambhari) placed adjacent to it on one side and the loving and nurturing form of Anjana Mata with a young Hanuman sitting on her lap, on the other.

Importance of Shatakshi Mata (Goddess Shakambhari) – As described by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha in ‘Matruvatsalya Vindanam’, ‘Seeing the terrible plight of humans caused by the hundred years of drought, Maharshi Agastya and other Maharshis called out to Mata ‘Paramba’ single-mindedly, by singing her glories. Chandika Mata then, herself appeared before them. All Maharshis chanted her praisings in unison and prayed, ‘O Chandika Mata, Kindly set aside your fiery ‘Ran-Ragini’ form and bless your children on earth with motherly compassion. Adhering to the noble request of the sages, Adimata assumed a soothing and benign form. This wonderful form of Adimata had a hundred eyes and hence, she was named as ‘Shatakshi (Goddess with hundred eyes)’, carrying a tender-leafy branch, flower, fruit, roots, Akshay Jalpatra, bow, arrow and a plough in her hand. With her hundred eyes, Shatakshi Mata looked upon the earth with compassion, and the earth became green and fertile again. Upon witnessing her grace and glory, Agastya Rishi conferred the names Shakambari Annada and Neeldurga to her.

The photograph of this illustrious Shatakshi Mata adorned the main stage in the ‘Shree Shwasam’ Utsav. Sadguru Shri Aniruddha hailed Shakambhari Mata with the prayer to keep our earth irrigated, fertile and prosperous (Sujalam, Sufalam and Samruddha). Soldiers and farmers – the pillars of the nation should prosper, was a generous emotion behind the ‘Shree Shwasam’ Utsav.

Recitation of Moolark Ganesh Mantra, Shri Dattatreya Stotram, Shri Suktam, Panchamukh Hanuman Stotra, Ashwini Kumar Sukta and Usha Sukta were continuously being recited while Shraddhavans were steadily moving ahead for darshan. With the above recitations, Trivikram Gayatri Mantra was also chanted. The atmosphere left the Shraddhavaans completely drenched in the sweet nectar of devotion.

ॐ मातृवेदायविद्महे।  श्रीश्वासायधीमहि।  तन्नोत्रिविक्रमःप्रचोदयात्॥

Shraddhavans would pass under the jhal, a form of Adimata’s blessing, which was erected at two points, one being just before the stage and the other at its exit after the darshan. As explained by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha in his discourse, the Jhal is nothing but Mata Chandika’s pallu – the loose end of the saree that shelters every Shraddhavan.    

2) Guhyasuktam Parikrama – The hall to the left of the main stage had idols of Panchamukha Hanumanta and Ashwini Kumars where Shraddhavans were to perform a Parikrama(circumambulation) with a small kalash of holy water The jal was brought from the rivers of Tapi, Indrayani and Panjara. Shraddhavaans performed this Parikrama holding the kalash in the left hand from below, covering the mouth of the kalash with right palm and listening to the Guhyasuktam. This was the prime attraction of the event. 

Nowadays, it is observed that the condition of a person has been deteriorating not only at the physical level but also at the mental and intellectual. The need for ‘Healing’ is ardently felt in various levels of life such as relationships, jobs-businesses, family life, education, finances, etc. This healing is required and is indispensable for every individual, society, country and the world.

This urgency was felt by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha and it stirred his emotions to beseech Mothi Aai – Adimata Chandika with a solution. The answer to his prayer was the ‘Vaishvik Nirogikaranam Guhyasuktam’! (The Universal Healing code – Guhyasuktam)

Just as a baby in mother’s womb simply listens and his mother’s breathing moves throughout his body, the Shraddhavaans too need to listen to the Guhyasuktam attentively. When Shraddhavans listen to the Healing Code and breathe out normally, they exhale all their ailments, vices and evil and, Adimata accepts all, inhales it and exhales the healing power, which Shraddhavans breathe in.

Shraddhavans attained the highest pinnacle of contentment by receiving this greatest gift of Guhyasuktam given by Bapu. This Guhyasuktam is ‘The universal healing code’, listening to which loving words and rhythm provided heavenly harmony, ease, content and satisfaction to Shraddhavans. They realized that every word and syllable of Guhyasuktam was healing them. This healing energy (power) of Adimata that encompasses the entire universe was showered generously upon Shraddhavaans at the event. Shraddhavaans proceeded with the parikrama with the belief that the journey of their life is being directed by Trivikram the same way as that of the Vigat in the Matruvatsalya Upanishad, written by Sadguru Shri Aniruddha.

When should one listen to the Guhyasuktam?

In the moment of happiness to double the joy, at the time of sorrow to pacify the grief, every day in the morning for a cheerful start and at every night for a peaceful sleep. In addition, one can listen to it during sickness also for a quick recovery.

The CDs of GuhyaSuktam in Marathi, Hindi, English and Sanskrit are available. 

3) Samarpan Parikrama – After performing the Guhyasuktam Pradakshina at least for thrice, Shraddhavans offered the holy-water from the kalash to Usha Devi and Trivikram, by looking at their idols placed at the other end of the hall near the ‘Pushkarini Teertha’.

The ‘Sapta Chakra Swamini Mahapujan’ in front of the image of Mothi Aai (Mata Chandika) was made available at the ’Uttar Bhartiya Sangh Hall’- close to Shri Harigurugram (New English School, Bandra). After this Mahapujan, the Shraddhavaan had to return to the main stage at Shri Harigurugram to offer flowers, vegetables and fruits to Shatakshi Devi (Shakambhari Devi) and a khann (blouse-piece) to Anjana Mata. This would ensure the grace and blessings of the holy undertaking. This Pooja was not mandatory and was to be conducted out of the Shraddhavan’s own willingness.

4) Mahanaivedya Arpan ceremony – At 8:00 am in the morning, at noon and at 8:00 pm, the deities on the stage were worshipped and Mahanaivedya was offered at 1:00 pm in the afternoon and at 8:00 pm at night amidst the beats of auspicious traditional instruments. It was indeed an incomparable celebration!