Purva Pratishtha Japam (Chanting Before Opening a Temple)

In preparation for opening a dedicated space for the Temple, we are chanting 600,000 repetitions of the Shakambhari Devi Gayatri Mantra.

We are asking supporters to pledge to chant daily with us 16 or 160 repetitions (you may chant along with the video at the bottom of this page if you desire).  

People participating in chanting are asked to use the form on this page to report the number of repetitions completed, so we can add their efforts to our total.   

We will also be planing several gatherings to chant as a group and one 24 hour continuous chanting session.

May the abundant nourishment of Shakambhari Amman bless all who chant with us (and their families), may the Richmond area be filled with the palpable shakti of the Devi, and may She bless us to meet our goal of moving into a dedicated Temple space by May.

Before a Temple is consecrated or an image installed, it is required that Japam or recitation of the Moola Mantra (Root Mantra) of the Devata (Divinity Aspect) of that Temple be recited by the devotees.  This may be called Purva (Before) Praishtha (Consecration) Japam (Recitation) and it is done to attract Devonic assistance and to empower the Temple and Murtis (Images).

This practices is important because it helps to uplift the consciousness of the devotees of the Temple and the region where a new temple is to be constructed, otherwise the energies of the devotees and that place may not be supportive of the energies of the Temple.  It can actually be dangerous for people to suddenly be exposed to such intense spiritual energies without some energetic work to easy the transition to a higher vibrational level of atmospheric energy.  Swamiji compares this to falling back when standing on a train which suddenly speeds up.  If a person is unprepared for the acceleration (or increase of spiritual shakti) it can cause them to loose balance, but when accustomed to the increased energies, a person can remain in balance despite the speed or intense energy.  We are conducting 600,000 repetitions of Devi's Gayatri mantra at this phase of the Temple project, because when Swamiji was meditating on what the next steps should be this is the practice which the Devi Herself recommended.