190802 - Making of Sri Ganesh Mandir - I do HOPE

Message from DrTPS for Sri Ganesh Mandir – Groundbreaking

Planning and Making a temple with all the rituals in it is part of the process of self-learning and realizing the importance of Hinduism to ourselves, friends and relatives at large to our community apart from sharing the experience with the coming generations who are to take it forward. Temple and the activities around it – like puja, festivals, religious and spiritual classes, and discussions, art, culture, etc are important for all around us in a culturally shifted community like American Indians as that is the way to receive, experience, learn and transfer the age-old tradition of sanathana dharma. Not compromising on the spiritual values and the significance we are here to follow ritual experiences from the ground-breaking to the long-anticipated follow-up and maintenance of the temple for the next many generations to come. When one has to take pride, let this American community think of this Sri Ganesh Mandir as not just a temple but tradition that is brought from native to this new world of each of the Hindu-Indians and followers to follow the heritage and use it in this modern life to be in bliss. I hope to see the Traditional Steps are followed in the making of the Temple, as this will be lessons for the community and all the generations to come.

Ground Breaking of a HINDU Temple

-AMERICANISED

– Bhumi Puja Vidhi (Prescription)

www.drtps-shiksha.in

[First part of this article is made on 28^th July 2019 on Srikanth’s request and posted to Vijaygopal for the 3^rd August 2019 Groundbreaking as tri-leaf distribution for the proposed Sri Ganesh Mandir. Guessing - that the Gharbhakudi Puja as Sasthra Prescription is not being done as the NE corner for the House / Shed Bhumi Puja is done and not at the Brahmasthana. Thought of writing this edited/added version on this day 2^nd August 2019, as an answer to those who were asking me the details of Groundbreaking. It could be modified for the American way.]

   Hinduism has approximately 1.1 billion adherents worldwide (15–16% of world's population). Nepal (81.3%) and India(79.8%) are countries with Hindus being the majority of their respective populations.  There are an estimated over  60 to 70 million Hindus who lived outside India. In USA there are around 2,300,000 (2017) Hindus, that is  
0.7% of the U.S. population.

Hinduism is by BIRTH and not adapted. Many Hindus are callow and are yet to be schooled in the noble religion they had been born into. Hinduism is existing in this world for past millions of years and is still relevant because of its Values and Virtues, called SANATHANA DHARMA (meaning Chirapurathana – Oldest of the oldest; and Most Modern – Nithya Noothana). Hindus live with the concept of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, "The whole world is one family" with The Virtue of Nonviolence, The Wisdom of Tolerance, and Effective Forms of Worship.

HINDU Gods are omnipresent as is in our Mind which can reach-out anywhere, it is symbolic to place God in a Room, in a Temple in shape as God is indescribable. But to permeate the concept and religious practices to the Generations from the past, temples installed.

Hindu temples in every corner of the world offer Hindus an achievable way to experience God's sacred presence. Divinity's presence uplifts those attending the temple, inspiring them to bring forth and perpetuate traditional Hindu culture in the form of sacred music, art and dance. As such, the temple becomes the hub of religious life in the surrounding Hindu community and thus is undeniably relevant to modern life.

Hinduism has tools, maps and guidelines for reaching every space of human goals. Through Purusharthas (4-fold stages in life achievements) explained in steps of Kama (desire), attaining Artha (wealth) through Dharma (Values) to attain Moksha (Happiness) is lessons from Temples.

First and MOST Popular event when  - HINDUISM Discussed in the United States was Swami Vivekananda's address to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. He spent two years in the United States, and lectured in several cities including Detroit, Boston, and New York. 

  Hindu temples come in many styles, are situated in diverse locations, deploy different construction methods and are adapted to different deities and regional beliefs, yet almost all of them share certain core ideas, symbolism and themes.

HINDU Temples in AMERICA was started by the Vedanta Society by building first informal temple in United States (1906). Traditional Temple (Mandir) in the United States is Shiva Murugan Temple, Concord, CA (1957) known as Palanisamy Temple. Today there are around 500 Hindu Temples across the United States.

     Hinduism is one such religion which has a ritual for almost every occasion in a person's life. Be it the birth of a child, marriage or buying a new house, there are certain rituals which have to be followed without fail. One of the basic rituals which is followed in almost all the Hindu occasions is the Havan or Homa.

HAVAN is an age-old Hindu ritual in which offerings of ghee, googol, sugar and other saamaagri are offered into the sacred fire to the accompaniment of Sanskrit mantras. Fire is the central element of this "sacrifice ritual" because the fire destroys the offering (HAVIS). Fire has been regarded as The Prime God - SUN. Hence, the offerings made to the sacred fire is said to purify the surroundings as well as the individuals. The sacred fire is supposed to be the link between human consciousness and the cosmic consciousness. A Havan is performed with the aim to achieve material as well as spiritual success.

     Purpose of Havan According to the scientific theory, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. It can be only transformed from one form to another. Therefore, whatever is offered to the fire in a Havan is transformed from a material form to non-material form and is said to directly reach the divine spirits.

The process of BHOOTHA-SUDDHI (purification) of the TATWAS (material elements) is what is attained through HAVAN, thereby transforming one’s thoughts and behavior (Anger, Rash, irrational thinking etc.) to Calm, Tranquil and place the individual as a Citizen in the society in BLISS, which offers a brighter DAILY LIFE.

  As part of the BHOOMI POOJA (Ground-Breaking) major POOJA is for the brahmasthana /Garbhagraha (the main shrine) where the seat of the presiding Deity will be placed. At the base of the foundation of the brahmasthana, located at the station of Brahma on the vastu-purusha-mandala, a ritual called the garbhadhana. The ritual is to invite the soul of the temple to enter within the building to construct. During this ritual, a golden box is placed in the earth as part of the ground-breaking ceremony. The box is ritualistically filled with the presence of the corresponding God/Goddesses planned to be installed as the main Deity. At times the NAVARATNA (diamond, emerald, ruby, pearl, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, red coral, cats-eye and jade) too posted within as symbolically it is representing the energy of God in which the universe rests in space. The nine jewels invoke the astrological influence of the nine planets. A gold lid with the seven continents of the earth engraved on it is placed on top of the box following which the agnihotra, or sanctification ceremony. During the agni-hotra, the priest offers clarified butter, the symbol of religious principles, into the fire, which represents the mouth of the Cosmic Being. Along with the offering of clarified butter five types of grains-rice, wheat, barley, rye, and dhal, are also offered with the chanting of mantras. The set of priests includes from Rig-Yajur-Sama Veda Traditions as they have the role of direction-Performance-explanation.

   Special on this 2019 August 3^rd Sri Ganesh Mandir Groundbreaking - arrangements are made for - 

·       Public to Support and Energize the Main Pooja through Maha Ganapathi Homa Yajna.

·       Family Havan that will contribute into the Main Havan by performing for a Ghati (Nazhika) which is 24 minutes.

·       Any material activity requires funding and as part of the remembrance of the contributors we have the BRICK OFFERING that will be part of the temple wall to mark a thanksgiving for their contribution.

·       Today is the day for you to assure yourself as part of this great event as volunteers to spark in making the great dream realizes with your prayers and contribution.

For and behalf of

Sri Ganesh Mandir, HSSI, Columbus, Indiana, USA

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These steps explained below are to make a house / shed and then make the temple within the building as per the tradition.

-

STHAPATHI / Yajaman for the PROGRAM is to be the person to guide the whole process -

VASTHU PUJA –

Items required -

1.    coconuts [with husk if possible] bananas

2.    Seasonal Fruits 5 kinds

3.    betel leaves

4.    betel nuts (whole)

5.    Yellow mustard seeds Kumkum

6.    flowers

7.    camphor

8.    rice [white]

9.    matches or lighter

10.                     incense sticks

11.                     Sweet (mitai) or halwa Yoghurt

12.                     Black gram (boiled)

13.                     mango leaves - unblemished (washed) 5 paper towels (or hand towels) 1 roll Banana leaves 1

14.                     3 liters of water (if tap not available)

15.                     large mat to sit on

16.                     a few large trays and large bowls bag for rubbish

A poojari/priest and three associates from vedic tradition, viz., rig, yajur, sama to be part of the rituals.

BHUMI PUJA / Groundbreaking

   Request forgiveness of mother earth as we are troubling the nature and breaking the harmony

   Request forgiveness for disturbing the BHOOTHA (many creatures whose home we are disturbing.

   requesting spirits to leave the site and allow us to build the house and live in peace.

VASTU SHANTI

— once the construction is done, on moving in to use the house, this can be done.

Pratama-Ishtika / Corner Stone Laying

The first stone for the Temple structure.

It could be done for both the building and also the temple brahmasthana / Sikhara/Gopuram/Kumbham/kalasam/dome/mandapam.

If the side wall inside the house as a Brahmasthana is made - The towers (vimanas) that rise over the main place to install God, is to be taken as the temple

AS and when the temple is being made inside / on mainland – for the Garbhakudi / Brahmasthana – do – SHILA KARMA (NYASA)as is the Pratama-Ishtika Karma is done

 — laying of the foundation stones. Once excavated the land to perform this ceremony.

- sanctify 5 bricks and place them in the corners and center of the foundation.

- lay five metals (pancha-loha) and also the nava-ratna.

- Do a slab on this and construct on this

 

Garbhanyasam

A golden box containing avahana manthra written + valuable gems (Navaratna) + sanctified herbs and grains - place underneath the Vigraha before installation; symbolic Garbhadharana (birth of the spiritual energy – embyon – consumed from the nature)

 

Dwaara Staapana / DOOR Installation

Keeping the Door – is the pulling of the Human Leg as the birth is in Process. Rajagopuram (royal gateway) can be the main entry / specific to the mandapam / gharbhakudi.

Nayanonmilanam is for opening the eyes of new idols

Panchagavya-Jala-Dhana-Dhanya-Athi-Vasam  

All the deities to be installed are to be covered in all these from the time it is brought in and till it is installed to be placed in sleeping position

Panchagavyam

Preferably running water

gems, paddy

INSTALATION - place at designated location

Homas (doing different havan as per Agama Sastra) and Poornahuti (final pouring to the agni) and place the vigraha.

 

ASHTABANDHANAM

Ashta-Bandhanam means tying or fixing on all the 8 sides - an icon to its pedestal (peetham) with a clay-like paste made of 8 specific herbs mixed with wood lac, limestone powder, resin, red ochre, beeswax and butter. The paste is formed into long rolls about 2 cm thick and applied directly around the base of the icon, so that the cemented joints become watertight. This process is believed to keep the icon rejuvenated for a period of 12 years. When the Bandhanam is performed with gold (Swarnabandhanam), the rejuvenating power of the deity is believed to last for a period of 100 years.

The '''Ashtabandhanam' paste is pliable like rubber. Through repeated interactions with abhishekha dravyams - materials used to bathe the icon during daily worship like water, milk, buttermilk, sandal paste and oils - and atmospheric oxidants, the paste loses its flexibility, becomes rigid and gets riddled with a lot of fissures. Through these fissures, the abhisheka dravyams percolate and attack the Yantra embedded under the peetham, obliterating the Bijaksharamantras-- mantras of sacred syllables (bija) -- that are inscribed on the Yantra, and this is believed to contribute to the lowering of the pranic spiritual power of the deity with the passage of time.

PRANAPRATHISHTA/ Murti Sthapana 

Prana (life force / breath) and Pratiṣṭhā (resting / position/installed/consecrated) of an idol or image means-  bringing life to the temple.

Traditionally, this was the step when the eye of the sculptured idol is opened inside the garbhagriha (Purusha space of the temple).

Samprokshanam / Kumbhabhishekham / consecration
Nuutana Alaya Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam is called AVARTHAM.

Pouring the water from top to the stoopa is to enargise, homogenize, synergize, get united to nature with the unique mystic powers of the deity. 

Kumbha/Shikhara/Crown/Stoopa/Gopuram

Giving Bath is Abhisekham/Prokshanam

Message from DrTPS for Sri Ganesh Mandir – Groundbreaking

Planning and Making a temple with all the rituals in it is part of the process of self-learning and realizing the importance of Hinduism to ourselves, friends and relatives at large to our community apart from sharing the experience with the coming generations who are to take it forward. Temple and the activities around it – like puja, festivals, religious and spiritual classes, and discussions, art, culture, etc are important for all around us in a culturally shifted community like American Indians as that is the way to receive, experience, learn and transfer the age-old tradition of sanathana dharma. Not compromising on the spiritual values and the significance we are here to follow ritual experiences from the ground-breaking to the long-anticipated follow-up and maintenance of the temple for the next many generations to come. When one has to take pride, let this American community think of this Sri Ganesh Mandir as not just a temple but tradition that is brought from native to this new world of each of the Hindu-Indians and followers to follow the heritage and use it in this modern life to be in bliss. I hope to see the Traditional Steps are followed in the making of the Temple, as this will be lessons for the community and all the generations to come.