Kanchipuram is such an ancient powerfully spiritual place, that we wanted to take advantage of the presence of literally hundreds of smaller, more intimate temples as a site for our yagyas.
For June Seetharam selected a Kanaka Durga temple. There are many stories about the creation of Durga from the combined energies of all the gods. She is considered to be a form of the Divine Mother who is fiercely protective. She is usually depicted holding a trident and other weapons in her many arms. She usually is depicted as having fangs and stands on a lion or tiger.
What makes the temple that we selected for this month so unique, is that Durga is combined with a gentle form of Lakshmi (called Kanaka) and so if much more friendly than usual! So the efffects of the yagya are protective, purifying, and wealth giving.
In the photo that follows, you can see the priests preparing some of the traditional ingredients for the abishekam yagya. They are preparing various fruits which will be mixed with honey and yogurt to make "panchamrita" (five nectars).
In the background of the photo you can see coconuts, sesame oil, rose water, lemons and limes, silk saris, rice, turmeric, sandalwood powder, kumkum, melon, honey, betel leaves and nuts, bananas, grapes, pomegranites, mangos, milk, and yogurt.
Of course special flower garlands made with hundreds of small jasmine blossoms and carnations are prepared. Nothing reminds me of India so much as the sweet fragrance of fresh jasmine.
The image of the deity is carved in a dark granite common to South India. In its natural state the stone is a greyish green which turns a deep black when rubbed with sesame oil.
In the following view you see the oldest murti in the temple; the small one in front, and then a relatively new and larger form in the back. In typical Indian fashion, when I asked how old the small diety was, the reply was that " no one really knows", which (in my experience) usually means over 400 years old because generally temple records go back at least that far.
After the liquid offerings are poured over both the murti, they are dressed in the new saris that we brought and garlanded with the fresh flowers and long strings of lemons. Sandalwood and kumkum powders are mixed with water and used on the larger murti to decorate her eyebrows, and ears with yellow and red.
The smaller murti's face is coated completely with the sandal powder, giving her a friendly and smiling appearance.
Finally, the temple priest completes the yagya by performing aarti; an offering of light from the burning of camphor and offering fruit, coconuts, and fresh flowers.
