An Upanayana and Guru Tatva

Having begun the month with a piece on a Guru Pujya Gurudev HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji of The Art of Living I sign of the month also with a piece of Guru Principle or the Tattva. Cutting down on the verbosity, this would be almost a photo blog of an Amazing place I happened to visit to attend an Upanayana ceremony of Vatu Chinmay, son my friend Deepak Naik and Sister Sushma Naik . The venue was Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandira. A few interesting snaps uploaded here.  Do not miss this place at any cost when you visit Bangalore.

Firstly, my tributes to the Vatu, Chinmay, who became a Dwija (Twice-born) in the Honor of Sanatana Dharma and the ancient Vedic Tradition. He was given Upadesha (instruction) as part of introduction to the concept of  Brahman. He is vested with a Three-Stranded Sacred Thread (Janivara) representing Goddesses Gayatri (Mind) Saraswati (Word) and Savitri (Deed). He was also initiated into the all powerful Gayatri Mantra formally today. My respects to the Vatu

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Chinmay with his Father Deepak Naik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1576" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Being Explained various Concepts of the Sadhana[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1577" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Bhiksha Karanam[/caption]

Wishing him all the prosperity, wisdom and success in his life. 

Coming to the main purpose of this blog, some interesting details on the venue where this Upanayana Happened, Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandira

[caption id="attachment_1586" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandir[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1585" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Entrance - Couldn't capture Beautiful Padukas[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1590" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Mahaganapthy Temple as we enter[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1584" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1578" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sri Sadguru Paduka Mandir Entrance - 1st Floor[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1580" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Gallery and Sthapana Stala of Padukas[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1581" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Another Row of Paduka Sthapana Stala[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1582" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The 3rd Row[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1583" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The Primary Paduka Puja and Ashtottara performed here - Sri Dattatreya[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1587" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sadguru Dhyana Mandira - 2nd Floor[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1588" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Extremely Rare Comination - Sri Dakshina Murthy and Sri Dattatreya Together[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A very Happy me - customary sit-down in a Temple[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1592" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A Photo-op Proud me with that Dwaj[/caption]

A brief write-up on the Presiding Deity Sri Dattatreya and this Mandira would not be out of place here. It is believed that Sri Dattatreya is a Deity encompassing the Holy Trinity or Trimurthy - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. (depicted with 3 heads). He is the Author of Tripura Rahasya, a treatise on Advaita Vedaanta (which incidentally is my current reading) that was instructed by Him personally to Parashurama.

This Mandira was primarily built to showcase and make available in a single place Padukas of  various Gurus including that of the present and previous Acharyas of Shringeri Sharada Peetha, Avadhutas of Sri Dattatreya lineage, Sri Raghavendra of Mantralaya,  Sri Gondavale Maharaj of Hebballi. Sri Bharathi
Teertha Mahaswami, The Jagadguru of Dakshinanmaya Sri Sringeri Sharadha Peetha, His Holiness Bharathi Theertha Swami blessed the trust members with Sri Dattatreya Paduka with a mandate to worship in all Guru Peethas - thus each of the Padukas in the Paduka Mandira has been worshipped in over 40 holy Peethas.

Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandira's Prathista Kumbhabhisheka of Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Dattatreya and Sri Sadguru Shila Paduka by His Holiness Bharathi Theertha Swami was performed on 4th March 2012

Another highlight of this Mandira is Ganesha Prapancha, where unbelievable variety of Lord Ganesh in different Postures and made of different materials are on display. Will update with some pictures after my next visit

The Mandira Address :

Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandira, Bharat Housing Layout, Thurahalli, near Poornaprajna Layout, Uttarahalli-Kengeri Road, Bengaluru.

About 3 km from Uttarahalli Circle, towards Kengeri (a left turn before Patalamma Temple)

Wikimap of Sri Sadguru Chaitanya Mandira

||Namo Namaha Sri Gurupadukabhyam||