GEETHA PATIL
BOSTON: Shri Lakshmi Temple on Sunday, January 21, 2024 Hundreds of devotees from the Greater Boston area attended the program very with utmost zeal and devotion. Temple management made this a free event and gave a Japa Mala Blessed by Lord Ram to all the registered attendees.
The program started with Shri Ganesh prayer and the temple President, Ganesh Krishnan welcomed and thanked all the devotees for coming to the wonderful Pran Pratistha Celebrations event and becoming a part of the historic happening. He addressed the gathering by giving the overview of the program and shared the importance of VishnuSahasranamam chanting to the devotees. Then all the priests and devotees started group chanting with melodic rhythm. Vishnu Sahasranamam, a Sanskrit hymn containing a list of the 1,000 names of Vishnu.
It is one of the most sacred and popular stotras in Sanatana Dharma. Its chanting calms down your mind and sharpens your focus in life. This was followed by Rama Nama Japam for half an hour as this Japam is very powerful and helps to take place significant changes in life and reap the benefits of all that is desirable in this world and the other.
Ganesh Krishnan, Sukanya Mukund, and Sundar Rengarajan sang melodious Rama Bhajans and Nama Ramayana for more than an hour.
These eminent singers were accompanied by the skillful Dholak and Table players namely Rajesh Pai and Rama Bhaskar and showed their gratitude and love for Shree Ram Lalla.
The positive vibrations of singing devotional songs together with devotees created a sacred atmosphere in the hall, filled every one’s heart with joy, peace and contentment and elevated one’s mood, and created inner equilibrium. Young children danced to the tunes of Bhajans. They also played ‘Kolata’ around young Ram and Hanuman Ji who appeared in the midst of devotees and blessed all of them.
That was the best part of the program. The program was concluded with chanting of Hanuman Chalisa to destroy all the obstacles that come the way and able to have a harmonious and peaceful time ahead in the universe.
Temple priests, Pt. Krishna Bhatt, Pt. Balaji Bhatt with the help of from other priests namely Pt. Muthu Nagarajan, Pt. Aswath Sharma and Alagesan Kalidoss performed Rama, Sita and Lakshman Archana and Aarati to bring more positivity to life and victory in all endeavors.
By chanting Archana Hymns, the priests honored / praised the Lord Ram Lalla and sought humbly His blessings for all the people and other living creatures on this earth. The rhythmic waving of the Ghee lamp aided in feeling the presence of Lord Ram Lalla and created a spiritual connection between the devotees and the Lord.
The Temple kitchen leads, prepared very sumptuous Maha Prasadam and the dedicated volunteers of the temple distributed Maha Prasadam to all the devotees with a big smile on their face.
Temple President appreciated all the volunteers for their hard work and making this event a grand success.
One of the devotees said, ‘Shri Ram Lalla Mandir Murti ‘Pran Pratistha’ celebrations program was a great accomplishment and created a sacred cosmos bridging the material and spiritual realms, allowing a way for us to have profound connections with Lord Lalla.’
