Brahmotsava of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh,
from 19th March to 21st March 2019

In the morning of 19th March 2019, Ganapati Puja and Sarva-Devata Avahana
were performed at a special Altar in the Yajna-Shala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
The divine Presence of the Deities, invoked into the Kalashas on the Altar, were worshipped,
like Shri Omkara-Mahaganapati, Shri Omkarananda-Hanuman, Shri Omkarananda
Radha-Krishna, Shri Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti, and so on. Here one can see
Shri Sanjay Panditji doing the final Puja.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
performed Arati for all the Deities.

After that, two important Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
Shri Suresh Panditji and Shri Sanjay Panditji, started conducting a powerful Hawana
in the Yajna-Shala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, offered the Purnahuti.

When the special Yajna was concluded, a Kalasha-Yatra started from the Mandapa
of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The Priests, along with Swami Vishveshwarananda
and Kumari Somashekhari, were carrying the Kalashas to their respective Shrines,
starting from the Omkara-Mahaganapati Mandir, the Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir
and the Omkarananda Radha-Krishna Mandir.

After the Kalashas had been placed in those Shrines for Abhisheka of the Deities,
the Kalasha-Yatra continued to the Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir.

Swamiji, Somaji and the Priests are on the way back from the Omkarananda-Dakshinamurti Mandir, passing the Shivalingam Mandir, while proceeding towards the Mahakala-Bhairava Mandir.

A wonderful Abhisheka for Lord Mahakala-Bhairava was conducted by the Priests,
observed by Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and
Shri Sitaraman, a Devotee from Tamil Nadu. After that they received Blessings from the Priest.

The first Day of the Brahmotsava 2019 Celebrations
concluded with Arati for Lord Omkara-Mahaganapati.

The wonderful and divine Celebrations of the Brahmotsava continued on 20th March 2019
in the Mandapa (Temple-Hall) of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
A beautiful Altar had been established there by the Priests, with the Utsava Murtis
of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi (in the middle), along with Maha-Saraswati-Devi
and Maha-Lakshmi-Devi. Different Kalashas on the top of the Altar, filled with
holy Ganges Water, had been sanctified with Pujas, and the Presence of
all Pranapratishtha Deities in the different Shrines of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
had been invoked into them. A beautiful Photo of Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and a Picture of Lord Shiva also had been placed on this Altar by the Priests.
A Shri Vidya Priest of the Ashram, Shri Sanjay Panditji, performed the holy Rituals at this Altar,
while he was supported with chanting of Vedic Mantras and Hymns by the other Priests.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and Kumari Somashekhari were called by
the Priest for doing the initial Pujas, starting with worship of Lord Ganesha, and the Sankalpa.

300 small earthen vessels had been arranged in beautiful geometric patterns in the
Mandapa of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. Each of them was filled with
holy Ganges water and fresh flower petals. Several Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
were chanting the 300 sacred names of Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari, called "Trishati",
and for every holy name of the Divine Mother, Sanjay Panditji offered small flower petals
and rice-corns into one of those small Kalashas (earthen vessels).
Thus, each of the 300 earthen Kalashas represented one of
the 300 different aspects or names of the Divine Mother Tripurasundari.

Towards the conclusion of this very special Puja, Arati was performed
by Kumari Somashekhari to all the 300 earthen Kalashas.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda is showing the
divine Light of the Arati to all the sacred Kalashas.

Shri Swami Satchidananda also worshipped the 300 holy Kalashas with the Arati.

The heavenly beautiful Altar, which had been specially established in the Mandapa
of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, is shining in the morning of 21st March 2019,
the concluding Day of the Brahmotsava.

The Celebrations of the final Day of the Brahmotsava were in full swing with a powerful
Sarva-Devata Homa in the Yajna-Shala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
conducted by the Priests of Omkarananda Ashram. They were supported with chanting
of Vedic Hymns by the students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya.
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari
also took part in this grand Yajna, offering Ahuti.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati offers the Purnahuti,
in the presence of Kumari Somashekhari, Swami Satchidananda,
the Ashram Priests and the Vedic Students.

Shri Sanjay Panditji performs a special Puja for
Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

All are getting ready for the Kalasha-Yatra. Here one can see Sanjay Panditji handing over holy Kalashas to Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari.

The Kalasha-Yatra starts from the entrance of the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
In the front-row, from left to right: Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
Shri Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, Kumari Somashekhari, Shri G. Sukumar
and Shri Suresh Panditji.

The holy Kalasha-Yatra proceeds around Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
passing the Navagraha Mandir.

From time to time the Procession stops, and a Priest performs a special Puja
for the protection of all the Participants in this Yatra and for the protection
of the precious Divine Kalashas, they are carrying.

The Kalasha-Yatra has reached its final destination, the entrance of the Garbha Griha -
the Sanctum Sanctorum - of Divine Mother Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi,
Who is the same as Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari. The Chief-Priest receives
the holy Kalashas and places them into the inner Shrine of
Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi for Abhisheka.

While Abhisheka is performed, some students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya
are chanting Vedic Hymns in a very beautiful and powerful way.

Other students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya are helping
to carry the 300 small earthen, divinely charged Kalashas to the Garbha Griha
of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi for Abhisheka.

Shri Swami Vishveshwar­ananda Saraswati and Kumari Somashekhari were expressing
their deepest and heartfelt Thanks to the wonderful students of the Omkarananda Ashram's Gurukul, Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, for assisting the Priests on the final Day of
the Brahmotsava and enriching the whole atmosphere with their skilful and
powerful Vedic Recitations. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji encouraged the students
and praised them for their exemplary lifestyle. Afterwards Swamiji distributed Dakshina to
all the students and Kumari Somashekhari rewarded them with chocolates and copies of
the newly published Ashram-Magazine, Vidya Prabodhini, issue 76,
in which the students could see themselves on many printed photos.

After the grand Abhisheka was completed, Divine Mother Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
was beautifully decorated with a shining Sari and glittering ornaments. Then Arati
was performed for Her, during which all Participants could receive Her Blessings.

Kumari Somashekhari and the students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya in
a joyous moment, under the Peepal Tree, in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas. The students very much enjoyed the newly printed Ashram-Magazine.

The Gurukul students receive the very well deserved
Prasadam of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.

Finally the students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya could take part
in a Bhandara, in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
near the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

In the night of 21st March 2019, which was a Full Moon night, the Shri Vidya Priests
of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas conducted an elaborate Navavarana Puja
inside the Shrine of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, with the beautiful Meru Yantra
in front of Her. As a part of it, a Suvasini Puja was performed in front of the Shrine
by Kumari Somashekhari, with the assistance of the Priest Sanjay Panditji.

The Suvasini was blessed with Prayers, Arati and so many gifts.
With this the Brahmotsava was concluded.