WEEKLY PRAYERS
Monday – Shiva Stotra Chanting :: 6:30pm – 8pm
Shiva stotra chanting and meditation
Dedicated to Lord Shiva. Constant repetition of Shiva-Stotra and Name of Lord Shiva is said to purify one’s mind and fill one with good and pure thoughts. Just as fire has the natural property of burning inflammable things, so also the Name of Lord Shiva has the power of burning Sins and Vasanas (subconscious inclination) and bestowing eternal bliss and everlasting peace on these who repeat the Name of the Lord. Take refuge in the Name of Shiva. Sing the Stotras and Chant the Holy Name. Listen to the exposition of Shiva Purana and attain perennial joy.
Tuesday to Thursday: Temple Darshana :: 6:30pm – 8pm
Friday: Vishnu Sahasranama followed by Prasad :: 6:30pm – 8pm
Mahalakshmi ashtakam, Devi suktam, and Vishnu sahasranama/Lalita sahasranama chanting
Meditation is the only royal path to the attainment of salvation or moksha. Meditation eliminates three kinds of Tapas or fevers and five kleshas or sorrows. It is an airplane that helps the aspirant to soar high in the realms of eternal bliss and everlasting peace. It is a mysterious ladder that connects earth and heaven and takes the aspirant to the immortal abode of Brahman. After a week long period of monotonous drudgery – a time to relax and re-energize the mind. Enjoy an evening of peace and blissful communion with the Divine.
Sunday Satsang followed by Mahaprasad: 10:30am -1:30pm
The highest goal and the foremost duty of every individual, having taken birth as a human being is to develop a taste and liking for the Divine Name. The satsang on Sunday’s starts with the chanting of Guru Stotram, followed by Ram Naam Sankirtanam and Hanuman Chalisa. It is said that Ram Naam is a very powerful mantra. It is the unfailing panacea for all ills physical, mental and spiritual to which man is subjected. And who does not know the power of reciting Hanuman’s name? Even by merely remembering Hanuman one is blessed with intelligence, strength, fame, fearlessness, health, alertness and eloquence. Following chanting and bhajans is the exposition of a holy text from our scriptures. Aarti is performed at 12:30pm; special blessings from the Divine Mother are invoked for devotees celebrating birthdays, wedding anniversaries or other special occasions.
ONCE A MONTH PRAYERS
Vinayaka Chaturthi Japa – Fourth day from newmoon – 6:30pm
Lord Ganesha is the most fascinating, widely known aspect of God. He blesses us with illumined intellect, and bestows supernatural power. He is the embodiment of all sacred blessings. JAPA is DIVINE SOAP for the mind. It purges the mind of all impurities, purifies and fills it with bliss. It helps overcome birth and death, burn sins, annihilates attachment, induces dispassion, roots out all desires, makes one fearless and a lot more. JAPA is a recitation of the LORD’S name with a rosary (mala). MANTRA JAPA stills the mind and makes it sojourn inward. In sanskrit, ‘manah’ means mind, ‘tra’ means that which takes you beyond the mind. The vibration of the mantra removes all worries from the mind, calms the emotion and brings peace and serenity. It has the power mystically to heal within and without.
Worshipping Lord Ganesha and doing Ganesh Mantra Japa on Chaturthi is considered very auspicious. Among many others four important blessings are received by the devotee:
- The great obstacles in life are removed.
- The sins are destroyed.
- All mistakes are forgiven and errors corrected.
- Lord Ganesha blesses the devotees with the right knowledge.
The Murthi of SHREE LAKSHMI VINAYAKA SWAMl was installed according to Vedic tradition on 24th May, 1993 at Shree Mahalakshmi Temple. A week prior to the installation several devotees took part in the ‘mauna japa’ morning and evening. They were initiated with proper rites in a traditional manner, before participating in the japa. Since then, every month on Chaturthi, devotees take part in the ‘japa’ at the temple. Several new devotees have since been initiated who also take part in the ‘japa’ regularly.
Lord Hanuman Puja and Japa – Last Saturday of the month – 6:30pm to 8pm
Lord Hanuman is the Brahma of the present Kalpa. He is the very embodiment of strength, valour, devotion and service. This noble son of Vayu Bhagawan has innumerable virtues. He is the perfect master of His senses and is very wise. In the service (seva) of His Lord, His sincerity is unsurpassed. By the blessings bestowed on Him by Mother Sita, Lord Hanuman has the power to bestow on His devotee, the eight-fold supernatural powers of Yogis (Astasiddhi) and the nine kinds of wealth of Kubera (Navanidhi).
At Shree Mahalakshmi Temple, the Murti of Lord Hanuman was installed on the 6th of August 2000, after nineteen days of intense worship by the devotees. All those who were initiated with the powerful mantra of Lord Hanuman and other devotees, collectively offer prayers with the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa on the last Saturday of every month. Lord Hanuman grants the wishes of his devotees. By His Grace, anything is possible. Chant Hanuman Chalisa and obtain the blessings of the Lord.
Mahālakshmi Mantra Japa – Every Fullmoon – 6:30pm to 8pm
Mother Mahālakshmi is the first manifestation of Divine Energy. Mother, is always associated with unconditional love, compassion and tenderness. Just as a child feels safe and secure in the mother’s lap, so does the devotee feel in the presence of the Divine Mother. Even as a child believes its mother to be all-powerful and capable of doing anything for the child, similarly, a devotee believes the Devine Mother to be all merciful, all-powerful and eternally guiding and protecting him with her invisible arms.
Every month on full moon day, the devotees initiated with the Shree Mahālashmi Mantra, collectively recite stōtrās and offer japa to divine mother.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Navaratri is a 9 day worship of the Divine Mother divided into sets of 3 days to adore different aspects of the Supreme goddess.
The purpose of these prayers is for self purification, acquisition of divine qualities and to awaken knowledge.
During the first 3 days the Divine Mother is adored as Durga. We pray to Durga Devi to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
The next 3 days are dedicated to worship of Mother Mahalakshmito acquire positive qualities. Mother Mahalakshmi bestows Divine wealth.(Deivi sampath).
Once the evil tendencies are removed one becomes competent to attain wisdom. The last 3 days are dedicated to worship of Mother Saraswati who is Divine knowledge personified.
Join the prayers and receive Mother’s blessings.
If you wish to offer prasad please message Ms Uma Dayal at 778-868-7903
Holi – Cultural Event
Once a year on the occasion of Holi, Shree Mahalakshmi temple organises a cultural event outside the temple premises where youngsters and adults are given an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Sri Purandara Daasa Aaradhana
Every year in February the temple organises Purandaradasa Aradhana event to encourage young budding artists to present their musical talent.
Purandara Dasa (1484 – 1564) is one of the most prominent composers in Carnatic music. His contribution to music is immeasurable, and he is often called the “Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha” (Father of Carnatic Music). He propounded bhakti to the Lord through music over several years. Purandara Dasa, who always concluded his songs with a salute to Lord Purandara Vittala, is believed to have composed as many as 475,000 songs. However, only about 1000 are known today. All his musical compositions are in Kannada, the state language of Karnataka. Purandara Dasa is among the great saints of India in his understanding of the power of music and its appeal to illiterate common folk. The birthday of this great saint is celebrated with the rendering of his composition.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami
Shree Raghavendra Swami Aradhana
Sri Raghavendra Swami was one of the great proponents of the Madhva philosophy He is considered to be the avatara of Prahlada.He chose as his Brindavan, Manchale (Mantralaya) on the bank of the Tungabhadra, where Prahlada had performed his yajna in treta yuga.
He has written extensive commentaries on the Upanishads,Bhagavad gita,vedas as well as several granthas written by Madhvacharya.
This year is particularly very auspicious for students as Ganesha Chaturthi falls just before the start of the school year.