On a recent trip to Oregon, I was able to visit the Beautiful Gayatri Temple in Beaverton Oregon. Located in, of all places, a strip mall across the street from a Fred Myers store and in front of a busy freeway, it seemed a very unexpected place to find a Hindu Temple.
The Gayatri Temple was founded by my guru and dear friend, the late Namadeva Acharya, and his wife Satyabhama. She, who was initiated by Sadguru Sant Keshavadas as a Vedic Priest some twenty years ago, now carries on the work and the temple they had begun together.
The Gayatri Temple is an oasis for the soul.
Upon entering and removing my shoes, I could not help but appreciate the beautiful sanctuary, filled with varied and lovely murtis of Gayatri, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha/Ganapati, Buddha and others. A special place of Honor war reserved for photos of my beloved guru, Namadeva Acharya, his gurus Sadguru Sant Keshavadas and Guru Rama Mata. Flowers and candles lent their beauty to the altars, murtis wall-hangings and photos to create a deep sense of the pure and hallowed energy that permeates this sacred space.
During my visit I was excited and privileged to participate in several powerful and profound ceremonies, including a Friday night arati (ritual offering light and song to a deity or principle), a Puja (worship ceremony) and two Yajnas (worship ceremony with fire).
Unfortunately, Satyabhama was out of town teaching a workshop but had arranged for a wonderful visiting priest named Maheshwara / David Fahncke, from Denver Colorado to fill in during her absence. He performed these sacred ceremonies ably assisted by Tara Ma / Tonya Featherstone. Tara Ma lives nearby, serves regularly at the temple and is studying to be a priestess. Both Maheshwara and Tara Ma had the most caring and giving energies. Both were very welcoming; they embraced everyone with a peaceful gentleness I will always remember. I had met them both before, when I went to visit Namadeva before his transition on October 1, 2010. But this was the first time I had seen either of them in action.
The Arati on Friday night was to Lalita, as was the Yajna on Saturday. Sunday’s Yajna was dedicated to the Sudarshana Chakra, and Monday’s puja to Saraswati, the goddess of the arts, knowledge and wisdom.
I must have been born singing; I love to sing and I love to chant and sing God’s names. Music raises me up to exalted places like nothing else. So I was in seventh heaven when Maheshwara invited Ravi, visiting from the East coast, to lead an opening hymn or Kirtan. Ravi has a beautiful voice; I could feel the bhakti, devotion and beauty in every fiber of my being when he sang and I would love have him to sing in Chicago.
I also heard the devotion and bhakti in Maheshwara’s voice as he chanted the prayers of the Pujas and Yajnas. It was so awe-inspiring to listen to and be a part of these events. During the abisheka or ceremonial bathing part of the ceremony -as I was pouring conch shells full of water over the Murtis and other items in the tray that attendees had placed there to have blessed, including my two malas and murti of Lalita, – I experienced the purification of self, soul and heart as I offered each conchful and felt my heart open more and more. I was taken with the continued blessings as each person, in turn, made their oblation. The yajna has many beautiful aspects. After all the abisheka with the bathing and purifying there is a quiet time of prayer where you can offer yourself and speak to God with anything in your mind and heart.
In this sacred space, time seemed to fall away. I felt it deeply within my soul as I connected with my soul’s journey long ago and far away. As I looked around the space I could still the faces of those who were with me in present time, but I could also see ancient faces, beloved faces of those who were with me long, long ago, yet with us now And felt deeply the presence of my teacher Guru Namadeva Acharya, watching, giving guidance, smiling with approval at all who had come together and sitting next to Maheshwara and Tara Ma as they performed the services. He was present throughout the ceremonies; I could see him whisper to those around me and, once, he even nodded acknowledgement that I could see him. All this was deeply moving for me, filling me with awe and a desire to share with you these sacred encounters.
After the silent prayer, we moved to the tent behind the temple for the chanting of the 1,000 names of Lalita and the offering of rice and ghee into the fire with each name and Swaha. I was quickly drawn anew into the beauty and joy of participation. As the names of God were called and the offering made as sacrifice, I sensed the burning off of karma, the lifting of prayers, the offering of our light and both the honoring and the invocation of that quality of deity/principle described in each name. As with the abisheka each person took the opportunity, in turn, to offer ghee while all others supported by throwing rice.
Ordinarily I run from heat and with the very hot day and the fire, this was a perfect setting for such a run. And yet, to my surprise, I played the role of fire wallah, sitting close to the flames, adding pieces of wood and tending the fire for both days’ ceremonies but did not have to leave at all. This seemed to me a real testimony to the power of these ceremonies.
We ended with a variety of mantras and songs, offering our light and receiving God’s, praying for peace and asking that the entire universe be filled with peace, joy, love and light. Truly one of the most meaningful and beautiful services in which I have ever participated. I was honored and grateful to have been present.
My thanks to Satyabhama for maintaining such a beautiful and sacred space.
My gratitude to Tara Ma who was so welcoming, loving and helpful.
And thanks and gratitude to Maheshwara for being the wonderful prayerful priest he is and for sharing his talent and gift with me and all those present for the weekend services.
Prema and Shanti
Lalita/Deanne