Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin
Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin
"Love All, Serve All, Help Ever, Hurt Never"
CHANDI HAVAN DURING MAHAKUMBHABHISHEKAM
Friday, March 31, 5:30 pm
On Friday, March 31st, devotees and their families will have a chance to perform Chandi havan at one of 22 homa kundas as part of the Mahakumbhabhishekam. This is a rare opportunity for devotees.
(Normally devotees cannot offer directly into the sacred fire). It will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. The havan will start at 5:30 pm Friday evening.
Chandi is the Divine Mother. The havan is used to remove obstacles, and to promote family happiness. Whereas the Ganapati havan removes obstacles in a gentle, loving way (like an elephant), Chandi havan removes obstacles in a quick and sometimes violent way (like a lion or tiger).
To be part of this great yagna and to reserve a seat at the homa kunda, visit
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EXPERIENCES WITH CHANDI HAVAN
In the 1990's, whenever Jill and I had a little extra money, I would send it to the Pittsburgh Sai Baba Temple. I would request that a yagna (havan) be performed in our names. Often I didn't pay much attention as to which havan was being done on any particular date.
At that time I had a business partner. We enjoyed good relations. However, on the day the Chandi Havan was being performed, something unusual happened. He called on the phone and started screaming at me. It really shocked me. Only afterwards did I realize it was on the same day that the Chandi havan was being performed.
In the next few years, we performed Chandi havan several times. It usually brought an eruption of anger from my business partner. How interesting! I realized that although my partner taught me a lot about business, he had some bad qualities. I think the Divine Mother wanted me to separate from him. Perhaps this is why Chandi is said to be good for relationships. She strengthens good relations and weakens bad ones.
Most of my clients at that time described me as an extremely calm and peaceful type. But during one Chandi Havan, I got very angry at a group of clients and wrote a resignation letter. The end result was that they still retained my firm, paying almost as much money, but I did not have to be involved with them at all. Chandi saved me from a lot of grief.
Two things stand out about this experience. First, I had completely forgotten that the havan was being performed on that day. Second, Pittsburgh, where the havan was being performed, is 4,600 miles from Maui, where I was working! Isn't this miraculous?
During a nine day Chandi havan when I was at the Pittsburgh Sai Temple, I had the experience of "watching my life pass before my eyes". They say this happens right before you die. Long forgotten memories came back to me. Perhaps in some sense my old "self" died and I was reborn that day.
These are some of my experiences with the Chandi Havan. Please reserve a spot to enjoy Chandi Havan on Friday, March 31st, when it will be conducted at 5:30 pm with 22 homa kundas reserved for sponsors, and five for priests. Click
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-Craig Sastry
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