Sadhana Mandir celebrates Mahashivratri with traditional fervor and great devotion

Sadhana Mandir celebrates Mahashivratri
with traditional fervor and great devotion

The age-old Hindu festival of Mahashivratri was celebrated with the usual fervor and devotion by the devotees of Sadhana Mandir in the Impact Conference Center within Global Mall in Norcross, Georgia. Acharya Ved Prakash Joshi, the temple priest led more than 500 devotees to a series of steps of the puja that lasted almost 3 hours. The puja was followed by a delicious mahaprasad (vegetarian meal) enjoyed by about 700 participants. 4,000-5,000 devotees came to the temple throughout the day. The same puja was repeated by Joshi ji in the temple from 9:00 pm-12:00 midnight for the benefit of those who were unable to participate earlier in the evening.

MAHASHIVARATRI
In Hindi, Shivaratri means the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night thru the 14th day of the Maagha month (per Hindu calendar) in the Krishna paksha (waning moon). The festival is celebrated by offerings of dhatura and bel leaves to Lord Shiva followed by an abhishek (bathing) of the shiva-ling with milk and water. The devout devotees resort to fasting throughout the day and a night-long vigil. Everybody chants the sacred panchakshara mantra dedicated to the Lord "om namah Shivaya".

ACHARYA JOSHI PERFORMS DETAILED PUJA
Devotees came from all directions and assembled at Global Mall Impact Conference Hall. Several volunteers had worked hard the previous few days to collect necessary items for the puja, decorate the hall, set up the altar, and arrange about 100 platforms (smaller altars) for the devotees to sit with relatives and friends to perform the detailed puja. The puja started at 6:00 pm and continued thru almost 9:00 pm.
Joshi ji started with Sri Ganesh puja, then went on to perform Shivparivar puja, Shiva puja, complete Rudrakshabhishek, Ang puja, Shivastrotram and 108 names of Lord Shiva. The devotees watched him and followed his instructions at their own platforms. The formal puja culminated with some bhajans and aarti of Lord Shiva.