Devi Mandir

Temple of Divine Mother

TravelOver the years we have visited many pilgrimage places around the world. Most of these yatras were for the purpose of conducting special vows of worship, pujas, homas, recitation of scriptures, and feeding people.

Enclosed are descriptions of some of the places we have visited, along with what we did while we were there, and in many cases what we found by doing it.

Also, we have included information about other places of worship, where you might want to visit.

Shree Maa- Trip to India- A devotee's story

~~OM~~

Many of Maa’s devotees came to have Her darshan even if for just a few hours from different places in India. One such devotee is Mr. Mitra, an extremely successful lawyer in the Kolkata High court. Mr. Mitra recounted how he met Maa many decades ago when he was a young man. He said he was not at all interested in meeting any saint and even today he said, “I don’t know about God. I know Maa. She is my everything.”

As a young man in college, he went to escort a family member who wanted to have Shree Maa’s darshan but when he saw Maa he was spell bound. In his own words, he said “I became crazy. Wherever Maa went, I tried to go there – by hook or crook. I waited outside the house, in a park, anywhere and anyhow I tried to have Maa’s darshan.”

At that time, he was studying for his M Com (Master of Commerce) exams. He went to see Shree Maa and took with him a packet of incense sticks and other offerings as is customary in India. In the house where Maa was staying, were many devotees waiting for Maa to open Her eyes from deep meditation to do arati. There was a big pile of incense boxes before Maa which had been brought by the many devotees. Maa opened Her eyes and got up to do arati. From the big pile, She picked the “Vaishak” brand that Mr. Mitra had offered and took out one incense stick. She used that for arati. She handed the rest of the packet to Mr. Mitra.
There was a month left for his M Com exam and each day Mr. Mitra took out one incense stick and broke it into a little piece and lit it to guide his studies. Needless to say, Mr. Mitra did very well in his exams and later following Shree Maa’s advice he went to law school and has since been practicing law with “truth”. As Mr. Mitra recounted this story, he smiled and handed a packet of the Vaishak incense and said, “Please light one tonight at arati time.”

Shree Maa- Trip to India- God is a Mystery

~~OM~~

One of Shree Maa’s young cousins was reminiscing about her childhood days with Shree Maa. She said that she loved Shree Maa very much as a child but she was very young when Maa left their family house. “She was a mystery to all of us!” Maa’s cousin exclaimed.
In response, I heard myself saying, “We stay with Her everyday now and see Her night and day and yet She is a mystery to us also.”

Next day, all of Maa’s relatives had left and the house we were staying in was quiet. As usual, Shree Maa awoke before dawn and conducted Her Nitya Karma (everyday worship). After worship, She blessed us with tilaks. Everybody was remembering the beautiful days we had spent with Shree Maa’s family and other guests. We recounted this conversation with the young cousin. Shree Maa smiled endearingly and said, “God is a mystery.”

Shree Maa- Trip to India- Trilochan's Music

~~OM~~

Trilochan was six years old when I was leaving India. I was carrying a small Casio keyboard around with me, in order to accompany Shree Maa in small events and sat sangh. I turned to him before I left and said, “You take this and learn how to play.”

His Dad, Sheojee Tiwari, asked, “What will he do with this? He is too young and won’t know how to play.”

Shree Maa blessed him, “He will learn. If Swamiji gave it, let him keep it.”

Trilochan has grown up now, and recording in Bhojpuri language under his family given name of Vinay Tiwari. The following is the first song from his new album published and distributed by T-Series, the number one music company in India.

Listen here

Trilochan often traveled with us on pilgrimage to visit temples. He always joined us in kirtan.

Now recording under his given name, Vinay Tiwari, T-Series, India’s Number One Music Company, is distributing his music world wide.

Shree Maa- Trip to India- Annapurna Temple in Banaras

~~OM~~

Shree Maa and Swamiji at Annapurna Temple

We awoke at close to 2 am, all of us excited to get ready to go to Annapurna Temple. Flowers and puja articles were assembled and everybody trooped into different cars. The cars are parked a distance away from the temple and we walked through the narrow gullies (streets) of Banaras to reach the Holy Temple.

At the entrance they had everybody go through a security check to enter the temple! Some police men were standing guard and refused entry for everybody before 4 am. It was still before 3 am and we told them that Shree Maa and Swamiji would be performing pre-dawn worship for Divine Mother!!! All of us devotees were upset at the state of India today – that we need police permission for a saint to enter a place of worship!!! Shree Maa sat in a corner and said “Hush! Hush! Don’t make noise!” Swamiji was standing peacefully, unperturbed – like Mahadev. After some discussion, the confusion was cleared up and Maa and Swamiji entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Annapurna Temple.

We watched from a little distance and had darshan of Mother Annapurna’s inexpressibly beautiful black form. In the Adya Stotram, it says that in Varanasi, Mother Kali is in the form of Annapurna and here She is, resplendent in Her blackness, taking all our darkness away! How gracious is our Mother, taking away our negativities and nourishing us with all goodness and divine qualities as Annapurna. Lord Shiva Himself takes biksha from Her.

It is said that the power of a deity is enhanced by the devotion offered and in Annapurna Mandir we can feel the devotion of millions of devotees offering their hearts to Mother through the ages. With our own eyes, we witnessed the pure love offered to Her by Shree Maa and Swamiji. Shree Maa and Swamiji adored Mother Annapurna by offering milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar, panchamrit and Ganga water. She was adorned in a gorgeous red Banarasi silk sari and many, many ornaments.

After Mother was dressed and adorned, we sat outside the sanctum sanctorum with Shree Maa. Maa was playing drums and we were all ringing bells. Swamiji did arati. The entire temple resounded with the sound of Swamiji’s conch and all of us bowed down to Divine Mother in Her numerous forms everywhere.

The head of the Temple came to have darshan of Shree Maa and Swamiji and they humbly offered the Mahant dakshina and cloth. The Mahant garlanded Them and offered a beautiful picture of golden Annapurna Ma. We sat down a little distance from the murti and chanted Annapurna sahasranama as a group. The pundit at the temple gave us prasad from our worship – flowers and sweets.

As we left the temple to go to our car, Maa asked for some sweets and distributed it to the police men who gave us trouble in the morning. Later, I asked Maa, “Sakshaat Annapurna Devi came and those police men gave Her trouble!” Maa smiled gently and said, “They did not know. Don’t see fault. They were doing their dharma.” And Shree Maa was doing Her dharma – the dharma of a saint – to spread sweetness and love wherever She goes!

Shree Maa – Trip to India – Train to Banaras

We were on the train to Banaras. It was dusk and the sun’s light was gentle and soft. Shree Maa and Swamiji were sitting besides the window in our train compartment and the rest of us were peering outside along with them. The country side was so beautiful and we could see little huts, cows grazing, little children waving at the train, farmers working and ladies folding clothes. It was so simple, joyful and beautiful. Our hearts were inundated with love, unbounded and pure. Love for our beautiful Mother India, love for Earth Mother and love for the Divine Mother of all creation.

Shree Maa was smiling at us and pointing to the different scenes outside. We looked at the corner to see Swamiji. He was seated in an asan with a blissful smile on His face. His eyes were closed and He was completely still. He was there with us physically, but in some other state of consciousness. Where? How? We know not and understand not. Only Shree Maa knows.

She gestured to us, “Photo thoolo” (Take photo).

Hurriedly we scramble to find our cameras but we worry that the flash will disturb Swamiji.

But Mother said again and again, “Photo, photo.” So soon we were clicking away.

Nothing could disturb our Swamiji. Not our scrambling, our whispers, our flash sound and light. He was with God in a place which has no space or time. We were in awe. With deep veneration, we bowed to Him again and again in our hearts. The stillness of His presence, the beauty of His smile made that moment a magical drop in eternity. After a while, ever so softly and gently He uttered some mantras. Shree Maa gave Him a little cup of water. His eyes opened like those of Lord Shiva in Shudda Vidya. His face broke into a beautiful smile of benevolence. We bowed to our Lord of Benevelonce, our Lord of Compassion, our Lord of Infinite Goodness. Om Namah Shivaya!

Shree Maa- Trip to India- Banares by day and night- March 27-29, 2008

Shree Maa and Swamiji are in Banares!
Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares.

Picture taken March 27-29, 2008- Banares

Shree Maa- Trip to India- Holi Festival in Delhi

Shree Maa giving blessings on Holi.
Picture taken March 21 2008 in India.

The Divine Mother’s holy feet decorated for Holi.
Picture taken March 21 2008 in India.

Sushil and Sanjay properly adorned for Holi.
Picture taken March 21 2008 in India.

Our Delhi sat sangh after playing Holi.
Picture taken March 21 2008 in India.

Shree Maa & Swamiji- Trip to India- March 20 2008

~~OM~~

A Temple in Every Home, God’s Abode in Every Heart

Our plane touched the sacred soil of Mother India on March 11, 2008 and our hearts were filled with love and joy! Shree Maa and Swamiji humbly bent down and bowed down to Mother India as soon as we got off. Swamiji has explained to us that Bharat means the land where the Light of Wisdom shines. Today, even amidst neon signs proclaiming malls and global brands, we still see the eternal light of Divine wisdom shining and feel the sweet love of God in the lap of Mother India.

We were taken to a devotee’s house which was decorated with marigold flowers and lights and most of all devotion to Mother and Swamiji! We went to their temple room which had many little Shiva lingams, numerous deities and beautiful pictures of Shree Maa and Swamiji. The shrine room is small and can seat only 10 people.

We walked around the house and saw the living room. It was decorated in a modern cosmopolitan style – with western European hand sketches, an ancient blouse from the Mughol era and decorative statues. Maa and Swamiji said, “We will make a temple here.”

In a matter of minutes, the couches were moved and space was made on the northern wall. A long table was placed and Chandi Maa’s picture housed in the middle. The walls were decorated with artificial flower garlands. Shree Maa placed two beautiful vases of flowers besides Chandi Maa. She was smiling at all of us – in Her new home! We brought a Shiva Linga for Maa’s puja and all other deities came running too!! Besides the main altar, Maa made an altar for Ganesh on the right and Thakur Ramakrishna on the left. Tea candles were placed all around the altars and incense sticks were lit.

Maa started ringing the bell and lit the arati lamps! She was singing to God and our hearts were brimming with delight! The room was completely transformed – from a room for dinners and parties to the divine abode of Gods and all devotees. In a matter of minutes, we learnt from Shree Maa and Swamiji, make place for God and God will come! We learnt that as we create a divine atmosphere outside, we create space within ourselves for divinity to reside.

That very evening, we had satsang with arati and little singing. Our host, Maa’s devotee was drowning in tears of joy, adoration and love. The whole community joined us in singing to God and feeling divine presence in our lives.

Shree Maa- Trip to India- Family Reunion

Shree Maa welcomes her Mother, Bara Maa.
Picture taken March 14 2008 in India.

This is Shree Maa’s immediate family. They all met in Delhi from all over India. Unfortunately, the aunts, uncles and cousins of the extended family could not come, but it was a wonderful reunion after 25 years.
Picture taken March 15 2008 in India.

Shree Maa welcomes her Mother with Offering.
Picture taken March 14 2008 in India

Bara Maa.
Picture taken March 14 2008 in India.

Patala Bhuvaneshwar

~~OM~~ Patal Bhuvaneshwar looks over steep green valleys to the Himalayan foothills, beyond which lies the glorious view of the snow-capped mountains from Kailash to Yamunotri. Between Gangolihat and Berinag in Pithoragarh District, the atmosphere remains pure and uncompromised from when rishis performed their tapasya over several hundreds of years ago. View of the Himalayan […]