America
Arizona Hindu temple consecrating 4-deities in 3-day elaborate ancient rituals
By
Rajan Zed
Maha Ganapati Temple of Arizona in Maricopa City
is consecrating Hindu deities— Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman—in elaborate
"Murti Prana Prathistapana Kumbhabhishekam" from May 8-10.
It will include Sita Rama Kalyana Utsav, Ganapati Puja,
Viswakshena Puja, Swasti Punyaha Vachanam, homams, adhivasam, netronmeelanam,
ashtabandhana, samphada aadhya lepanam, cultural events, etc.
The ceremonies will also include cow puja (worship),
processions, wedding ceremony of Hindu deities Rama and Sita called "Sita
Rama Kalyanam" performed by one thousand devotees, and a puja ceremony
exclusively by women. “The cow, after the puja will be led into the temple in a
ceremonial procession.†“We invite you to partake in this spiritual event and
receive divine energy that will permeate the temple,†Temple announcement says.
Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, applauded
efforts of temple management and area community for continuous growth of this
wonderful Hindu temple complex.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of
Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality,
concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in
the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this
direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should
focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh
(liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.
Over 5000 devotees are expected to attend these ceremonies
which will also commemorate the addition of new shrines of Hanuman and Rama
Parivar. “Kumbhabhishekam is performed for the welfare of the communityâ€,
according to a Temple
statement.
Sponsorship opportunities for the event include
"MahaKumbhabhishekam" at $5,001, jewels set for Hanuman at $1,121,
flower garlands to all deities at $1,001, cow puja at $121.
This Temple,
whose history goes back to 1999, opens every day. Srinivasan Subramanian,
Elango Ramanathan, Rajendar Tella and Pradeep Ganesh are President,
Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary respectively; while Jeyantheeswaran
Bhattar and Anil Sharma are the priests.
Ancient temple ritual of Kumbhabhishekam is believed to synergize-unite-homogenize the mystic powers of the deity and it involves ritual bathing with sanctified sacred waters accompanied by chanting of appropriate mantras, thus transforming the deity statue into a vibrant representation of the God.