IndiaPost.com - Navagraha Pran Pratishta celebration a grand event

Riverside Mandir President

RIVERSIDE: The Navagraha Pran Pratishta celebration at Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir was a grand event. Hundreds of devotees took part in the well organized and authentically performed Havans every day to Sthapana and actual Prana Pratishta.

The three-day Mahotsav started on Friday, March 9 and the celebration was completed with the Wedding of Shiva & Parvathi with over 300 devotees dancing with joy praising lord Shiva on March, 11. The Pran Pratishta ceremony was performed under the guidance of Sanatan Dharma Head Priest A. Sivaramakrishna Pandit Ji and M. Vaithianatha Sastri Ji from Bharatiya Temple in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. Resident priests Shukavaka Dasa and Seshacharyulu are excited about the completion of Navagraha Pran Prathista.

The Three day celebration felt like it was taking place in India with the Authentic music - Nathaswara Melam being performed by Taavil Vidvan P. Yogalingam and Nathaswara vidvan S. Sivagurunathan. The taavil is a special drum used in South India. It accompanies the Nathaswara, which is the South Indian version of a shehnai.

This was a very special occasion for everyone, Navagraha Pran Prathista was performed authentically by bringing the proper priests to do the Pran Prathista. Navaratnas was brought from India to be placed prior to the stapana, Raksha Bandan was placed to seal the deities in their place with each Graha facing in the correct direction and the actual invoking of Life took place on Sunday morning at the sun rise. This was perfect as Pran Prathista served as the gateway for raising funds for the "Gopuram" to complete the Mandir.

Many good hearted people have generously donated large amount of money for the Mandir, many of them have donated $10,008. The mega donors were Drs Prem Reddy and Shanthi Reddy of Apple Valley, who donated $110,124.00 for the Mandir, said Lakshman Koka, Board Joint Secretary & Coordinator for Navagraha Pran Prathista and Mandir Gopuram. He said it was beautiful when Dr Shanthi Reddy invited all the children attending the event to the podium and declared all this was being done for the sake of our children.

Lakshman also stated most of the senior Board Trustees along with the President, Ramesh Upadhyayula and Chairman Giridhari Purohit have donated $10,008. Dr Srinivas Nakka and Hema Nakka have once again donated over $10,008 in cash plus they have provided all the Navaratnas, Gold Yantras, Aacharya Sambhavana Pattu vastras and food for all three days. Mandir volunteers once again played a key role in the smooth completion of Navagraha Pran Prathista.

All funds raised will be used to complete the Mandir by making the traditional temple gopurams. Plans are already underway to bring four skilled TTD (Tirupati) shilpis (sculptures) to Riverside Mandir to construct four gold Gopurams. There will be Navagraha Maha Mandala Abishekam performed daily from 9 to 10 am for the next 48 days. On Sunday April 29 a very special Navagraha program will be held.