Activity Offerings
Weekly Pujas

Shiva PujaEvery Monday a Shiva Puja with chanting of Rudram will be performed by a male volunteer  from 7:30pm to 9:00pm . Puja will be followed by prasad. Anyone interested to padding-left:10pxsponsor the puja can bring flowers and milk for the worship.

 

Rama Puja: Every Friday a male volunteer will perform the puja for Sri Rama with chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam from 7:30pm to 9:00pm

 

Devi Puja: Every Tuesday a female volunteer will perform the puja for Sita Devi, invoking the grace of Devi in that form and performing 16-step traditional worship with chanting of Lalita Sahasranamam from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Special Pujas

padding-right:10pxGuru Paduka PujaSwami Ishwarananda or Mahadevanji officiate puja every year for the holy sandals of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda during Pujya Gurudev’s Jayanti (May 8), Mahasamadhi day (Aug 3), Guru Purnima. and also upon request by devotees. Paduka Puja can be hosted either at Chinmaya Rameshwaram or at a host’s residence. These can be on special occasions such as birthdays or wedding anniversaries.

 

Sri Krishna Puja: During Janmashtami of Sri Krishna in the month of August a special puja is performed to invoke the grace of Lord Krishna.

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Shree Lakshmi Puja: During every New Year that falls on or after April 14 (per the Hindu calendar), a special puja to invoke goddess Lakshmi is performed along with a grand festival known as Indiafest at Chinmaya Rameshwaram.

 

Mahashivaratri Puja: A grand celebration with special puja for the presiding deity Sri Kasi Vishwanatha is performed during Shivarati, usually in the month of February.

 

Ramanavami Puja:  A nine-day event celebrating the birth of Sri Rama is organized every year at Chinmaya Rameshwaram that includes recitals of Tulsi Ramayan, talent shows, and a grand puja for Sri Rama parivaar.

 

Ganapati Puja: At the beginning of every Bala Vihar® year in September to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha a special puja is performed at the main assembly, with children participating in the chanting.

 

Sarasvati Puja: During the occasion of Navaratri, the nine-day celebration in October for the three female deities of Hinduism, a special puja is performed for Mother Saraswati to invoke blessings for the children studying in Balavihar classes.

 

Rameshwaram Anniversary Puja: Just after the Uttarayana in January, every year a special puja is organized to mark the anniversary of Chinmaya Rameshwaram which includes Sudarshana Homa, Raama Bheeja Homa, and Guru Paduka Puja.

Festivals

Indiafest is a grand celebration highlighting Hindu culture and tradition, organized every year as part of ‘Vishu’, the welcoming of New Year in most parts of India. India is rich with varieties of festivals and celebrations and each state of India celebrates them with unique events and feast. In Chinmaya Rameshwaram the following unique events have been organized by the members with great enthusiasm:

  • New Year festivities in various parts of India
  • Worship of deities in each state
  • Religious traditions and illustrious teachers
  • Folk dances of India

 

The festival usually begins with Lakshmi Puja and concludes with grand feast with varieties of dishes from various parts of India.  For latest video of Indiafest click here.

padding-right: 10pxMahashivaratri is one of the important festivals celebrated by CMLA every year.  The festival occurs on the 13th night Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Phalguna that usually falls between February 15 and March 15. The day marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life. Lord Shiva is the Adi Guru–the first Guru from whom the knowledge originated. Hence, this is a special day for seekers on the spiritual path. Devotees fast on this sacred day and spend their time conducting hymns, prayers, and meditation.

 

Every year, as a precursor to Mahashivaratri, members of CMLA organize ‘Shiva Laksharchana’ when the names of Lord Shiva is recited 100,000 times with offering of flowers and ‘akshatas’. At Ramesharam, the Siva Laksharchana begins the prior weekend and complete by Mahashivaratri day.

 

On Mahashivaratri, Rudra Ekadasi is performed in the morning which consists of Mahanyasam, Rudram chanting by 11 ritviks led by an Acharya, and Rudram and Chamakam homam. In the evening there is abhishekam for Lord Shiva by devotees followed by bhajans, Shiva Puja, and Arati at midnight.

padding-right:10pxSri Ramanavami is one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar, marking the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama’s birth is celebrated on the ninth day of the first part of the month of Chaitra (which falls between late-March and early-April in the Gregorian calendar). Ramanavami celebrations last nine days.

 

At CMLA, during the erstwhile Kasi days Ramanavami was celebrated with the akhandapaat chanting of Tulasi Ramayan. Upon the opening of Mithila center and the installation of Rama parivaar there in 2005, Ramanavami celebrations gained more momentum and grandeur. At Mithila, Nav-din Tulasi Ramayana Paat became the norm. Led by Swami Ishwarananda each morning a group of devotees gathered to revel in the beautiful bhakti-soaked verses of Ramacharitamanas. After the chanting, they enjoy sumptuous home-made prasad. In the evenings, devotees gather to chant Vishnu Sahasranama and listen to melodious vocal as well as instrumental performances by students of well-known music teachers of Southern California as well as the Shruti, CMLA’s choir group

 

After CMLA moved into its new facility Rameshwaram in 2010, the celebration gathered more momentum with large number of children and parents participating in the week-end laksharchana performed for Lord Rama.

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