In the presence of the Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Rajesh Agarwal, the followers of the Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple at Cowley, Uxbridge witnessed a unique Shri Yantra Maha Puja on the afternoon of 21 July in London which was organised by Temple Connect.
Famed to destroy poverty, pain, and illness, it is believed that Sri Yantra leads one to wealth, higher potential and self-realisation, helps in personal development and gaining knowledge about the soul, giving us inner strength.
Rajesh Agarwal emphasised that he felt truly blessed to be at the event.
“Getting puja done with the help of a number of people simultaneously is a great idea. Most people here have the iccha shakti (will power), gyaan shakti (power of knowledge) – and kriya shakti (power of action) will eventually follow,” he said.
He also emphasised the contribution of the Hindu community in the UK both economically and culturally over the years. There are 600,000 people of Indian origin in London alone and there are 1.5 million in the UK who are truly the living bridge between UK and India. Addressing the Acharya, he said “I hope that happens and we will love to see you here and that you make London your second home at some point.”
The temple of the goddess Divine Mother Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi was chosen for the Sri Yantra puja. According to Girish Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect, the Archarya wanted to start his first puja in the UK from a Devi temple.
Acharya Umesh Tiwari told globalindianstories.org that for us to be successful in life, we need three tenets – desire, knowledge, and creation. “The Sri Yantra Puja guides you to your highest potential and releases from the ups and downs, helping you find bliss and joy at all times.”
“According to many followers, the puja removes obstacles and helps you in reaching the path of self-realisation, helping you receive the Divine Grace of the Divine Mother, the goddess.”
Temple Connect is a digital platform that connects over 8500 temples worldwide. An Initiative to Connect the Global Pilgrim with the Various Temples and Shrines across the world – the initiative that started with a Facebook page, is now a popular app among Hindus globally, especially the elderly who are unable to physically visit temples and participate in puja.
According to their post on the Facebook page: The Sri Yantra or Sri Chakra is a form of yantra used in the Shri Vidya school of Hindu tantra. Shri Yantra is a very powerful yantra that brings wealth, prosperity, and harmony in life. Shri means wealth and yantra means instrument so it is an instrument of wealth. Shri Yantra is the symbolic representation of Goddess Laxmi which is the Goddess of wealth in Hindu religion. It consists of nine interlocking triangles that surround a central point known as a bindu. These triangles represent the cosmos and the human body. Because of its nine triangles, Sri Yantra is also known as the Navayoni Chakra or nav chakra. The various deities residing in the nine levels of the Sri Yantra are described in the Devi Khadgamala Mantra. These levels, listed from outermost to innermost, are:
The Structure of the Sri Yantra
Trailokya Mohana, the outermost square, traced in three lines and interrupted by four recessed portals;
Sarvasaa Paripuraka, the outer lotus, consisting of 16 petals;
Sarva Samkshobahana, the inner lotus, consisting of 8 petals;
Sarva Saubhagyadayaka, the outermost ring of small triangles (14 in total);
Sarvarthasadhaka, the next ring of triangles (10 in total);
Sarva Rakshakara, a smaller ring of 10 triangles;
Sarva Rogahara, a ring of 8 small triangles;
Sarva Siddhiprada, one small triangle containing the bindu at its center;
Sarva Anandamaya, the bindu.
When the two-dimensional Sri Yantra is represented in three dimensions, it is called a Maha Meru. Mount Meru derives its name from this shape. In addition to Mount Meru, all other yantras derive from the Sri Yantra. Sri Yantra is the worshipping place of the form of the Goddess Mahatripura Sundari. It is her divine adobe. All the gods and goddesses are worshipped in it and all other religious adorations are done here. Vishnu controls and runs the universe. Shiva along with Shakti is engaged in the eternal dissolution and recreation of the universe. The Bindu in the centre of the Shreechakra Yantra is the symbolic representation of the cosmic spiritual union of Shiva and Shakti.
There are three kinds of Shree Yantra – Bhuprastha, Kurma Prastha, and Meru Prastha. A Shree Yantra that is plain is called Bhupratha, one which is raised on a tortoise back is called “Kachchhap Prastha” and that which is raised fully like the Sumeru Mountain is called Meru Prastha like a mountain. It is the symbol of spirituality and source of supreme energy.
Nearly 160 people were present at the Puja, which was followed by an arti and mahaprasad.
Smita is a multi-cultural freelance journalist, writer, and filmmaker based out of the US, London, Hong Kong, and India. Global Indian Stories is her brain-child. Created to chronicle diaspora stories written by Indians of all age groups, from different walks of life across the globe, Smita makes sure that the platform remains inclusive and positive.
