Inauguration of Columbus Ashram and Vedic Temple
During the tour of Columbus, Ohio we had our first kumbabhishekam (inauguration of temple) in USA. It was the inauguration of the Columbus temple. Devotees from all over USA gathered for this historic event. Columbus ashram is located on the banks of two rivers where there is a confluence, similar to Triveni sangham in Allahabad. Swamiji declared this place to be the Paschim Prayaag (Western Confluence) for our mission.
Columbus Kumbabhishekam program started with mahasapthayagam where Swamiji conducted the homa in the yagasala (a place where fire rituals are conducted) which was erected for the inauguration event. The seven deities representing the seven chakras (major energy centers) in the human system were worshipped in the yagasala. Homas were performed for each of the deities individually as part of the Sapthayaagam. During the second day, additional rituals were performed and on the third and final day Swamiji did the prāṇapratishtha or installation of the spiritual energy into the deity. It is a deeply esoteric process where Swamiji connects the deity to the cosmic energy and with the chanting of the mantras locks the connection. It is after the pranapratishta by an enlightened master that the deity now starts to radiate spiritual energy in the space where it is installed. This is the reason why so many devotees coming to temples where the deities are installed by Swamiji feel the sudden calming of the mid and the feeling of this spiritual energy. This is also the reason why when we go to major temples in Bharat, such as Thiruvannamalai, Madurai, Kanchipuram or Tirupathi we also feel the same stilling and calming of the mind.
During Columbus trip we saw the announcement of the formation of the THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM Community. Swamiji announced that every temple would be surrounded by a community of homes where people can live and experience the Vedic lifestyle. There were 15 families who instantly wanted to join the THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM community in Columbus. As of the date of writing this book, Columbus ashram planning is going ahead in full swing and construction work of the homes and the community is expected to commence very shortly.
During this tour of USA, news of the Vedic community spread rapidly among all devotees and now Nithyananda Vedic community is being planned in Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Phoenix, St Louis, Columbus and Houston. It has been truly been magical to see the excitement building in all cities as the organizers and devotees are now keen to start living the Vedic lifestyle centered around a temple and a meditation hall. This concept of living together in a Vedic community was talked about for quite some time now in USA. I know a lot of times when I visited my cousins living in US, they felt they lost connection with their tradition and wished they could have lived close to friends and family in their later years. Also, as our children were growing up in the US, we too felt the need to bring up children in a pure environment, free from media influences, peer pressure, fantasies and other problems facing society. However this concept could not become a reality since there is invariably groupism and power struggle that follows when a group of people try and organize such a community. However, now, with the presence of an enlightened master, this was happening effortlessly. Swamiji along with His Swamis and Swaminis of the Nithyananda Mission would help run the temple and meditation hall. This seemed to be the necessary catalyst.
Swamiji spent most of 2007 in USA. After the spring tour in 2007, Swamiji came back to Bharat for Himalayas Yatra and Gurupoornima. Hindu devotees were very anxious to see the master since he was out for more than four months in 2007. Swamiji was also out of Bharat for a large portion of time in 2006. They complained that Swamiji is not spending much time with them. It almost felt like they were all children seeking attention (which it was!) from the parent. Swamiji assured them that he will spend most of 2008 in Bharat. Gurupoornima celebrations in 2007 was conducted in a very large scale to accommodate the thousands that were expected to come to Bidadi. Over people came to Bidadi ashram where Swamiji gave blessings continuously for almost 14 hours to each and everyone.
After Gurupoornima, Swamiji left for the US. During this trip Ma Sachitananda and I stayed back and the new crew members from Los Angeles Ashram, Ma THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM Gopika started traveling along with Ma Dayamayi, Sri Sahajananda, Sri Paramananda and others. Swamiji told Ma Sachitananda that she needed to focus on children's education as THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM Sree and Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam Chinmayananda (Bhaktananda and Dayamayi's son) were getting ready to take the 10th class examinations. I was juggling between my corporate travels and Los Angeles ashram in 2007.
Swamiji spent time in Los Angeles between August and November 2007. He spent a lot of time with the ashramites and conducted the first living enlightenment program with a small group of ashramites in September 2007. I will write more about this program in the following chapters.