18 Feb, Bharata Yatra 2008, Mangalore

Kalasha Sthapana & Prana Pratistha

The auspicious time for the Kalasha Sthapana was approaching and the excitement that always precedes this holy event was palpable. It is such a blessing to be present when a great Mahatma infuses life into a sacred murthi that people can hardly contain their enthusiasm. I certainly couldn’t even after having been present for many Pratistha’s before. These events are just so uplifting and purifying that I think on my deathbed I will look back on these as highlights in my life.

After 11 am onward people were waiting under Amma’s balcony waiting for her to come out. The astrologically calculated moment was calculated to commence at 11.45 and Amma came out just a few minutes earlier with a radiant smile on her face. She glanced at the gathered devotees with a loving look and headed for the temple where the usual ramp leading to the top was constructed. Amma looked so majestic standing on top of the temple, like the Goddess Herself. (Well obviously, since She is the Goddess.)

The Sthapana began with Amma turning full circle and greeting the devotees below. I this way She solicits their prayers for the ritual She is about to perform. Then She sat for some time in meditation, while the air was reverberating with the sound of drums, temple horns and bells. After that she started filling with rice the brass containers that make up the “cosmic antenna” and that are then placed on the central post one by one until they form a small tower on which she lastly added the pointed tip which completes the Stupika. After that followed the Abhishekam and Arati accompanied by fire works. There were many eagles hovering above the temple at this point. This is considered very auspicious. One eagle came down very close and Amma glanced up at him. The crowd was really excited and feeling the historical moment with all their being. After circumambulating the Stupika Amma came down and disappeared inside the temple after greeting the people gathered outside after which the doors closed and left it to peoples imagination what was going on inside. After some time the doors opened and revealed Amma in lotus posture wearing an ochre colored cloth and her hair tied into a bundle on top of her head. She was just radiating spiritual power. I couldn’t see clearly but in my understanding at this point she installed the Sri Yantra into the hollow base onto which the Murthi was to be placed. Next the Sacred Stone Image was carried into the temple by Pujaris and Brahmachari’s amidst almost uncontainable excitement after which the doors closed again.

When the doors opened next the glorious form of the Murthi was seen standing majestically in it’s base. Amma next performed Arati to all four deities on each face of the sacred Murthi after which she came to each door of the temple and blessed everyone present. The eagles that had been hovering above the temple for all this time finally dispersed being satisfied that the Murthi was successfully installed. So it is that one more Brahmasthanam temple is alive and radiating with sacred power for ages to come – Amma’s blessings to humanity in yet another form. The power and blessings that flow forth from Her are beyond comprehension and never ending.

Vishwanath