Kumbhabhishekan # 3 here

[Vinayaka]

The little temple I go to regularly is having its third kumbabhisheham in a few weeks. The deities have been in separate temporary shrines for 2 months now. The worship space is much smaller which makes for a very different experience than normal. These special events, like a lot of other large events in Hinduism, happen every 12 years. For us, the years are easy to remember as the first one was in 2000, so 2012, 2024, 2036, etc. Workers - tile, electric, plumbing, and specialized concrete silpis have been hard at it, to get it done by July. One can see the progress behind the 'no entry' signs.

The event itself will feature at least 9 priests from all over, often working simultaneously, and well co-ordinated. My Guru will also be in attendance for the actual final consecration which occurs at the very top of the temple.

I hope the workers have done a good job, because it has to last the full 12 years. Once the deities have resettles in their shrines, they have to stay put, and no 'inside' construction can happen.

The complexity of the rituals involved in Hinduism continues to amaze me. It will be a rewarding time, darshan wise.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Kumbhabhishekam is a South Indian thing. In North, the deity area is not touched, but changes can take place in the prayer hall. The idols have been there in our old locality temple at the same place through the 81 years of my life, except the time when my grandpa caused a new Parvati idol to be added. People did not agree to removal of the old Parvati idol, it retains its place. So there are two idols of Mother Parvati on the dais.

 

[Vinayaka]

Kumbhabhishekam is a South Indian thing. In North, the deity area is not touched, but changes can take place in the prayer hall. The idols have been there in our old locality temple at the same place through the 81 years of my life, except the time when my grandpa caused a new Parvati idol to be added. People did not agree to removal of the old Parvati idol, it retains its place. So there are two idols of Mother Parvati on the dais.

Yes, it's unique to Agamic temples, and the rituals are meticulously outlined in these vast sets of that knowledge. Things like what shape of homas for various deities, the precise ingredients in the water filled kumbhams, the precise chants to charge them, the astrological timing, etc. One has to have incredibly keen observation to pick it all up, as often there are several thongs going on simultaneously. My favorite thing is the calm after the storm, when the temple is recharged, and it's just this incredibly peaceful place due to the chaotic ceremonies a few days earlier.

 

[Aupmanyav]

BTW, if they had asked me, I too would have gone with old Parvati idol. The new one from Jaipur has modernity but not the same aura.

 

[Vinayaka]

BTW, if they had asked me, I too would have gone with old Parvati idol. The new one from Jaipur has modernity but not the same aura.

That is very true. We have two Ganesha murthies here for that very reason. The one that started the temple has His own special place. The elder devotees who know the history will often sit in front of His space.

 

[Vinayaka]

So it's over now. Nine + very busy days. Priests with little sleep, board members with little sleep, and devotees with little sleep. I learned a lot, worshipped a lot, drove around a lot, made a lot of malas, talked too much, explained a lot ... but now the One Tusker, back in His normal place in the center of His temple showering his energy on all who can feel it. All that chaos over a few days, just to bring greater calm over the next 12. Amazing stuff.

 

[mangalavara]

I learned a lot, worshipped a lot, drove around a lot, made a lot of malas, talked too much, explained a lot ...

You were busy. Out of curiosity, what did you explain?

but now the One Tusker, back in His normal place in the center of His temple showering his energy on all who can feel it.

Jaya Ekadanta!

 

[Vinayaka]

You were busy. Out of curiosity, what did you explain?



Jaya Ekadanta!

My Tamil friends have non-Hindu friends who are curious, and they ask if I can sit with the non-Hindu to explain things about Hinduism, this temple, the Guru, history, etc. One such person was a 23 year old Orthodox girl, and another was a curious Jewish lady in the 70s. It was as much conversation as me just explaining. The Tamil friends just recognize I know more than they do about lots of stuff. Of course, throughout those conversations I also learned a lot.

 

[mangalavara]

My Tamil friends have non-Hindu friends who are curious, and they ask if I can sit with the non-Hindu to explain things about Hinduism, this temple, the Guru, history, etc. One such person was a 23 year old Orthodox girl, and another was a curious Jewish lady in the 70s. It was as much conversation as me just explaining. The Tamil friends just recognize I know more than they do about lots of stuff. Of course, throughout those conversations I also learned a lot.

That’s pretty good. It is wonderful that there are curious persons of other faiths who attended and were able to learn. It is also nice to learn much the way that you did.

 

[Vinayaka]

That’s pretty good. It is wonderful that there are curious persons of other faiths who attended and were able to learn. It is also nice to learn much the way that you did.

I enjoy it, but especially when the other person is bright, curious, friendly, etc. It's different than hosting a school group as they actually WANT to be there.

 

[JustGeorge]

I enjoy it, but especially when the other person is bright, curious, friendly, etc. It's different than hosting a school group as they actually WANT to be there.

I have mixed feelings about the school groups.

Its good for folks to learn... but its also not good to have unwilling participants on the premises being disrespectful. I've heard comments from such groups about "am I going to burn in hell now?" and a guy making faces at his prasad and saying to his friend he was going to throw it away.

 

[mangalavara]

I have mixed feelings about the school groups.

Its good for folks to learn... but its also not good to have unwilling participants on the premises being disrespectful. I've heard comments from such groups about "am I going to burn in hell now?" and a guy making faces at his prasad and saying to his friend he was going to throw it away.

For reasons like those, I would not allow school groups if a temple were my responsibility.

 

[Vinayaka]

I have mixed feelings about the school groups.

Its good for folks to learn... but its also not good to have unwilling participants on the premises being disrespectful. I've heard comments from such groups about "am I going to burn in hell now?" and a guy making faces at his prasad and saying to his friend he was going to throw it away.

I concur, but it's not my decision. It is the Board of Trustees that agrees to allow a school group, and here it's actually quite rare. If it were up to me, I'd do an introduction at their school first, and I'd say "if you're not prepared to show respect, please don't come."

 

[Vinayaka]

A few pictures ... http://www.mahaganapathytemple.com/frames.html

 

[Jainarayan]

The Tamil friends just recognize I know more than they do about lots of stuff.

Not to sound full of myself, but I've been told that too. A few people at temple were amazed and impressed, and even said "You know more about this than we do, and we were raised with it". I said and there's the answer ... when you're raised in a tradition or culture, there are things that are taken for granted and not paid attention to. For those of us who choose the culture or tradition we feel obligated to learn as much as possible. But there's a fine line between showing interest and showing off. Especially for someone like me who likes to talk, and can be pedantic.

 

[Aupmanyav]

.. and can be pedantic.

We are all pedantic. Do we know everything? Even the priests are that.