KOTI KUMKUMARCHANA AT FREMONT

KOTI KUMKUMARCHANA AT FREMONT

It was a rare opportunity for the diaspora of Fremont, Bay Area to witness and enjoy the Koti Kumkumarchana for Sri Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari Devi considered as the Universal Mother! It was an unprecedented sacred function in the whole of America! So far It was not even contemplated by any other Temple in the United States! The chief priest of the Fremont Hindu Temple, Sri Viswa prasad, the devout, dynamic and selfless  bhaktha of Lord Someswara and the Goddess, thought about the Koti Kumkumarchana soon after the strenuous daily Rudrabhishekam during the month of Karthik.There were doubts about the success of such a huge program for it entailed a lot of funds and manpower to conduct it!  But the green signal was given by the goddess and the grand function was scheduled to take place from December 2 to December 10, 2016 at the Temple! The temple is under a private Trust and not much could be expected from them. But the strong determination of Sri Viswa prasad and the Divine Will made it possible to conduct the Koti Kumkumarchana successfully and splendidly!

A special Sri Chakra was brought from India for the purpose of Koti Archana! It weighed a thousand pounds and it arrived just a few hours before the function overcoming all the impediments on the way by the grace of Devi. No proper publicity or invitation was given. The big hall in the temple was rearranged to suit the function as hundreds of devotees were expected to participate in the chanting of Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama daily in the morning and evening sessions. The expenditure was huge and annadanam had to be done daily for those  who chant as well as to others! Initial funds were provided by Sri Viswa prasad himself and that included the cost of the Sri Chakra it self! With a band of a few dedicated volunteers, helping in every way, the function began on the 2nd of December,2016. Starting with Navavarana puja to the installed Srichakra daily in the morning, chanting Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama by the suvasinies continued.

Initially the strength of ladies who volunteered to chant was not much. But it soon grew and reached its maximum within a few days! The devotion and the special mantras recited by Sri Viswa prasad who lost himself in performing the puja, attracted the devotees and they came in large numbers from different cities nearby like Sunnyvale, Milpitas and SanJose. Diksha was given to many ladies who had to chant both in the mornings and evenings. Surprisingly the number of chanters either in the morning or evening was 108 which was very auspicious. Starting at about 11am chanting went on till 1pm when there came the lunch break.On week days chanting was both in the morning and evening. On weekends there was an additional session of chanting in the afternoon with an hour break for lunch. Everyday a chosen suvasini was worshipped specially as she was the embodiment of Sri Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari!  “suvasinyarchana pritayai namo Namaha” A Vipra, Vedic scholar was honored daily! The scholars addressed the gathering briefly and offered their blessings to the suvasinies gathered there. A few men also took part in chanting!

Slowly the number increased to 150,200, 250 and on the final day it crossed 300! The spiritual vibrations generated by the unified and continuous chanting of Devi’s name could be felt and experienced by each and every individual! Many were elevated to spiritual state! I had the rare chance of singing my composition “ Sri Raja Rajeswari pancharatnam” in the presence of Devi! I sang Sri Adi Sankara's famous stotra “ Tripurasundari Ashtakam” also. Puja was performed to to a young Brahmachari as it was the custom. “ Shodasopachara--16 types of worship at the end of the session were offered everyday. Though it was a herculean effort to have sufficient members to chant a crore namas, it was by the sheer grace of Devi that made it possible! On the final day of the Koti Kumkumarchana the hall was filled to its full capacity. Suvasini puja was done for all and thambula with a blouse piece was offered to every suvasini present! Temple authorities were honored. The chief priest, who had conducted the Koti archana so  diligently and with a religious and spiritual fervour was felicitated. Annadanam was arranged for all and the koti archana concluded on a grand scale to the delight and satisfaction of all! It was the grace of Devi that brought enough members to chant her name within nine days!

The Koti Kumkumarchana had the salutary effect of bringing in all the diaspora, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam families together! It was a treat to watch their interest and enthusiasm in the chanting of Devi’s name. Many came, with their kids, to chant despite the rain that came to inconvenience them. The other temple authorities in Fremont were amazed at the scale of the arrangements made. They are now thinking of having a similar archana in their premises! Let religious and spiritual fervour increase and bring peace and happiness to all! “ Sarve Janah sukhino bhavantu” “ Samastha Loka sukhino bhavantu!”