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During Mahakumbha time, at the beginning of
the year 2010, a beautiful Temple was
constructed below Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, at the Omkarananda
Public Ghat, on the holy river Ganga.
It was decided that this Temple should be
dedicated to Gayatri Maa. So a most beautiful Marble-Statue of
Gayatri Devi came from Jaipur, Rajasthan, which is famous for
Marble-Statues of Divinities.
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Banner, announcing the
inauguration of Omkarananda Gayatri Mandir,
at the
holy Ganga, on the Omkarananda Public Ghat, Muni-ki-Reti |
The lovely statue of Gayatri Maa, with her
bewitching sweet smile, was placed safely in the courtyard of
Omkarananda Shanta-Durga Mandir, where she remained, till her
Temple, at the Ganga, was fully constructed and nicely painted.
Finally the auspicious time had come, when
this Gayatri-Murti could be established in her Temple, at the
Ganga.
The Omkarananda Temple Priests had selected
the time of Ganga-Dussehra for inauguration of that Temple.
Preparations for the inauguration started
on 19th May 2010, in the morning hours, with Purifications and
Bhumi Puja. Punya Vachanam, Ganesha Puja and then Gayatri
Sahasranama Homa were done by the team of Omkarananda Ashram
Priests, under guidance of Chief-Priest Suresh Panditji. Purnahuti
of this wonderful Hawana was performed by H.H. Shri Swami
Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President of Omkarananda Ashram.
In the afternoon-time the beautiful
Gayatri-Murti was carefully shifted from Omkarananda Shanta-Durga
Mandir, situated on the mountain, above the Ganga, down to the
Ganges-shore, near to her Temple. There, Murti Purification was
done by the Priests, followed by Yantra Sthapana, which was made
at the spot, where Gayatri Devi was to be placed.
Afterwards, with chanting of Holy Prayers,
the Gayatri Murti Vigraha Sthapana was done, which means, Gayatri
Devi was carefully placed and installed in Her beautiful new
Temple.
On 20th May 2010, which was Ganga Jayanti,
Ganeshaadi Panchanga Devata Puja, Vastu Homa, Gayatri
Prana-pratishtha and Maha-Abhishekam were performed for
Omkarananda-Gayatri Devi.
After that the Devi was dressed in new
shining clothes and decorated with glittering ornaments and
flower-malas. She looked bright and shining.
Then Arati was performed for her and
Prasadam was distributed.
In the evening time, when the graceful
Omkarananda-Gayatri Temple was to be finally inaugurated, a lot of
people had assembled at the Omkarananda Public Ghat, to witness
this event.
First all assembled at a newly con-structed
platform of the Omkarananda Public Ghat, where an Altar with
Gurudev Swami Omkarananda's photo had been installed by the
priests. At this place several Bhajans were sung by the Priests of
Omkarananda Ashram and also by Kumari Somashekhari.
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On a platform of the Omkarananda Ghat, an Altar of Gurudev
Shri Swami Omkarananda
and a Yajna-Shala had been
established for special Pujas and Hawana in the evening. |
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Devotees, who helped to acquire the beautiful Murti of
Omkarananda-Gayatri, are being blessed by the Priest. |
At
sunset, a huge crowd of devotees celebrates
the final
inauguration of Omkarananda-Gayatri Mandir |
Then all were requested to move to the new
Omkarananda-Gayatri Mandir, nearby, where Swami Vishveshwarananda,
among chanting of holy Mantras, finally inaugurated the beautiful
Temple with lighting of Deepas. Afterwards all devotees, present,
offered flowers to Omkarananda-Gayatri Devi.
Again all went back to the platform,
nearby, where a Hawana was conducted by Kumari Somashekhari and
the Priests in front of Swami Omkarananda's Altar, with view to
the Ganga.
After Purnahuti, at around sunset, Arati
for Gurudev, Ganga and Gayatri was performed.
Then many devotees proceeded to the Ganga
to offer small flower-boats to the holy river.
This wonderful event concluded with
Prasad-distribution to everybody.
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