Chinmaya Shivam Temple Consecration

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With the surrendered efforts of Swami Abhedananda, Chinmaya Mission South Africa reached the cusp of growth where expansion becomes a necessity to continue the momentum. It was evident that the ashram infrastructure needs expansion to enable the progress. With Pujya Swami Tejomayanada’s blessings, Swam Abhedanandai gave the expansion project a glorious start by building a grand temple for Lord Shiva, in all its splendour and magnificence.

Within the large and picturesque Chinmaya Ashram premise is this magnificent temple of Lord Shiva – that has become a monumental structure of Love, Knowledge and Service for posterity to cherish. The temple’s main deity is Lord Shiva who is seated in a meditative posture along with the Shivlingam inside the sanctum sanctorum. In the outer hall of the temple are the idols of Lord Ganesha, Mother Goddess Parvati, Lord Kartika and Lord Nandi.

An internationally experienced construction team put in their dedicated efforts and completed this temple construction in a record time of less than six months in October 2012. With unmatched expertise of specialized temple architects &

craftsmen from India and South Africa, a beautiful structure epitomizing the new abode of Lord Shiva, now stands tall in the Durban Ashram. The masterpiece statue of Lord Shiva – with His radiating smile and compassionate looks, has been made by the best sculptors in Jaipur (India).

Amidst blissful chants of ‘Om Namaha Shivaya’ by ecstatic devotees, Chinmaya Shivam temple was consecrated by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji on 4th November 2012 in Durban, South Africa. Over 2000 devotionally charged seekers from across South Africa thronged to witness this landmark event, and offered abhishek to Lord Shiva with 1008 milk pots on this auspicious occasion.

swamiji

Pujya Guruji and Swami Abhedanandaji performed the Kumbhabhishekam for the main temple Kalash as well as for the new “vigraha” (idol) of Lord Shiva installed in His majestic seated posture inside the sanctum. They also performed special abhishek of the Shiva Linga that was originally installed by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda.

The consecration ceremony was conducted over a period of seven days, with four Vedic priests who had come from India, Singapore and Botswana, performing all the pujas, rituals and daily havans as per Shivagamic traditions. Pujya Guruji thoroughly enjoyed attending the pujas daily and appreciated the priests for conducting the program in such a systematic and traditional manner.

On the final day of the event (4th November), after performing the Kumbhabhishekam, Pujya Guruji was overwhelmed with joy and emotion as he addressed the massive gathering of devotees. He said that he was extremely delighted to see the beautiful temple as well as the phenomenal work that has been performed by everyone under the dynamic guidance of Swami Abhedananda. Lauding the ‘tapasya’ of Swami Abhedananda, Guruji said that the Lord alone inspired Swamiji to take up such a great sankalp of constructing this temple, and the Lord also provided him the strength to accomplish it. All those who witnessed this grand event, complimented the Mission and its members for organizing what they termed as the most celebrated, grand and spiritually uplifting event ever.

Swami Abhedananda performs 11 times Rudrabhishek for the Shiva-linga every single day, invoking His grace for the good and welfare of all. Thousands of devotees throng to the temple on special occasions like Mahashivaratri, to offer milk pots to Lord Shiva. Every evening, Aarti is offered to the Lord wherein several devotees come to receive the assuring and benevolent grace of Lord Shiva. With a large hall to accommodate around 150 devotees during pujas and special occasions, the temple has become the heart of the ashram.

To devotees who have always been visiting & supporting this ashram, they have now found a new and bigger home to revel in the glories of their beloved Lord Shiva. With this grand temple of Lord Shiva in place, the Chinmaya Mission ashram has become a regular stop-by, to seek knowledge, bliss, tranquillity, solace and immense grace – something that the material world of objects and relations can never provide.

 

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