Chinmaya Chitrakoot Inauguration
May 2010
May 8, 2010 is an extraordinary day in our lives. It is Pujya Gurudev’s Jayanti, a day divine in and of itself. Those of us in Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) however, were blessed to have witnessed and accomplished the eagerly awaited pravesh (entry) of Chinmaya Chitrakoot in Irving, TX on this propitious day. Gurudev’s grace and blessings flowed throughout the day starting with perfect weather in an otherwise unpredictable springtime in the D/FW metroplex. Indeed the day could not have been more auspicious and divine!
Festive decorations greeted us at the entrance and lead us to the divine altar decorated by dedicated volunteers. Center stage was Ram Parivar (Ramji, Sitaji, Lakshmanji and Hanumanji) along with Ganeshji and Gurudev Padukas. Deities of Lord Krishna and Kamadnathji adorned with pushpam (flowers), tulasi and toranam (garland) made from fresh mango leaves flanked on either side. Multitude symbols of auspiciousness such as, banana plants, rice and jaggery, soaked yellow moong, coconut, akshata, ornaments for Sitaji and many more from all parts of India were potent reminders of the uniqueness of our oneness in diversity! Artistically decorated cutouts of elephants sought earnestly to bring a little more of our traditions into the already sublime environment inside the hall. It was indeed a divine sight to behold and cherish! Diligent volunteers had painstakingly arranged and ensured that all samagri (materials) for the puja and havan (sacred ritual) were ready at hand for the ceremonies to start on time in keeping with the trademark of punctuality at Chinmaya Mission everywhere.
The ceremonies commenced with the symbolic cow (ornamental cutout) entering the building followed by the purohit Anant Padmanabhanji, our acharya Brahmachari Uddhava Chaitanyaji and the four yajmans. Ganapati puja at the very start removed all obstacles and paved the way for the performance of Ramji puja, Navagraha puja and Gurudev puja amidst chanting of Purusha Suktam, other Vedic chants, Rama ashtottarashatanamavali and Chinmaya ashtottarashatanamavali. The worshipped deities of Ram Parivar and Gurudev Padukas (feet) were then taken outside the building and back in a ceremonial procession replete with embellished umbrellas and traditional blowing of the divine conch.
As with any gruhapravesh, the shanti havans for Ganapati, Vaastu and Navagraha were also performed under the able guidance of our purohit and Br. Uddhavji. Yajmans subsequently went outside to further consecrate the premises by performing puja in all eight directions and by breaking a white gourd to ward off evil influences. Sprinkling sacred water using mango leaves, the yajmans also sanctified all the rooms. During this time members inside the hall chanted Guru Paduka stotram. Naivedyam was then offered to the Lord and sumptuous Mahaprasad was served for lunch in the spacious dining hall. Members mingled with each other enveloped in happiness and good vibrations of the ceremonies. Thus the 21000 square feet of divine space of Chinmaya Chitrakoot was inaugurated.
Thanks to Gurudev’s blessings, now the members from various parts of the D/FW metroplex have one more place to call their own. Children are excited and eagerly looking forward to starting their next Balavihar session in Chinmaya Chitrakoot! As an early manifestation of this anticipation, the Chinmaya Mission D/FW board successfully held its annual General Body Meeting for 2009-2010 in the dining hall in the afternoon. Located centrally in the DFW metroplex with easy access to three major highways, the airport and the surrounding suburbs with 2.75 acres that promise plenty of room to grow, Chinmaya Chitrakoot is poised to be humming with activity soon and is eagerly awaiting Ram-Bharat Milap, the divine picture that will adorn the main hall!
