CHICAGO: Formally launched six years ago, one of the most unique Hindu temples in Chicagoland, Hindu Mandir of Lake County, will add one more feather in its cap of growing achievements – adorning Lord Balaji with gold Kavacham.
Spurred by sixty plus of its devotees, the Mandir Management has announced hosting a two-day celebration of Kavach Samarpan and Pushpa Yagam on Friday August 23 evening and on Saturday August 24 from morning to well past noon at its facility in Grayslake. The celebration combining with ceremony involves placing of gold Kavach on the idols of Lord Balaji, a normal practice with the Lord’s idols in India and many other places.
The ceremony on Friday will commence at 6 pm with Vishnusahastra Parayan and end by about 8 pm with Ashtotram and Satmurai. The Saturday program is very crowded with lot of religious activities beginning with Sri Ventakshwara Subprabhatam at 8 pm and followed immediately by a procession carrying Kavacham by devotees around the Mandir.
The Kavacham, called adornment, will be placed at 10.30 amid chanting of Mantras by priests and devotees.
The devotees who took initiative and came out with funds for Kavacham would be honored at noon and there would be Darshan of Lard Balaji with Kavacham after that. Prasadam will follow.
The Mandir houses idols of most of the Gods and Goddesses highly revered by Hindus beginning with Lord Ganesha, Radha Krishna, Lord Ram Parivar and Hanumanji, Lord Shiva-Parvati and Kartikyeaswami, Goddess Nav Durga, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi. Jain Tirthankars and Guru Bhairavnath ji. It is probably at this Mandir only in Chicagoland that one can find Bhairavnathji. As put by President Dr Harsh Kumar, all the deities are in one hall and that is also a unique feature of the temple.
In a talk to this paper, he said that the Mandir conducts other activities besides celebrating different festivals too. For instance, it holds Yoga and Education classes. Very recently, it decided to honor Senior Citizens as part of Guru Purnima celebrations and 64 seniors were honored on the day in the presence of 300 plus devotees and guests. The Mandir’s popularity is on an increase judging from the large number of devotees, many coming from as far as Wisconsin, participating regularly or during festival celebrations.
The Mandir has two highly talented priests and they conduct Puja and rituals. Priest Anil Joshi is well versed in astrology and helps read charts or takes out Muhurats for devotees too. The Mandir is managed by highly committed executive team headed by Dr Harsh Kumar, Vice President Yogidner Kumar, Secretary Kumar Naatesiyer and Treasurer Yogesh Datt, besides a dozen committee members.
Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
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