(Swami chetanananda with nuns at Santa Barbara in 1970s)
Picture courtsey: http://www.vedantastl.org/photo-gallery/our-collection/12348556


SANTA BARBARA: A HOME OF THE HOLY MOTHER - 05
PRAVRAJIKA VARADAPRANA
Prabuddha Bharata – December 1987 : 506-508

On the birthday of Sri Sarada Devi a special 16-item Puja and Homa is performed and attended by many of her devotees. Chanting, bhajan and usually an English song to Holy Mother is sung. At arati “Sarva Mangala” is sung every evening along with the other arati hymns, and “Prakritim Paramam” is sung Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Mother is saluted with “Jai maha mayi ki jai” after arati and meals. Thus many of the Indian traditions have been adopted as well as our own traditions.

We have frequently been told that Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi are one. One can repeat the name of Sri Ramakrishna and think of Sri Sarada Devi as she loved to hear his name. It is the Divine Mother, the Shakti power, call that Kali or Durga, that has incarnated in the forms of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi.

It has been our tradition to celebrate Durga Puja in Santa Barbara, and Kali Puja in Hollywood. One year at Durga Puja we sang bhajans only to Durga and Kali. The Swami corrected us saying, “You must always sing at least one song to Holy Mother – she is our Durga.” Since then we have always included at least one song to Holy Mother.

For several years the Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi) has been recited weekly in the shrineroom in English translation. Many of the nuns also recite it regularly in rooms. Portions of the Chandi are chanted in Sanskrit on special occasions.




To be continued...

Location: Bangalore, India