On a typical, cold, moist Saturday of December, I make a left turn on Arrowhead Avenue, an unassuming relaxed little street. I drive past a row of neatly lined houses, to the far end, i see some hurried movement. People in silk sarees and dhotis jostle about. Time to slam on the brakes, I decide. I slowly maneuver my way, through the Shiva-Vishnu temple gates hoping for a parking space inside the temple complex. Aah! I see one and hurry towards it.
Inside the temple
As I brace myself to squeeze into the last bit of space, I can't help but throw an occasional glance at the whitish hue of the temple gopuram. How wonderful, no matter how many times I come here, this edifice never ceases to dazzle me. Hmm, I say with an intriguing sigh, as I rush barefoot towards the warmth of the temple, pun intended. Moving closer, my senses open up to the faint chant of singer Yesudas,” Swamiye sharanam Ayyappa,” a record plays on. What a divine voice? What a soulful rendition from the inimitable Yesudas! I muse. Inside the main door, there is a flurry of activity.
The scene reminds me of an expression "order in chaos," a smile crosses my lips. How apt, I think to myself, people all in chatty groups trying to find their unique connection to Ayyappa- their chosen diety. As my eyes glance around, I catch sight of a newly decorated, gold adorned Sannithi of Lord Ayyappa. A devotee is adding his final touch-ups to the beautifully decorated sanctum. The Lord stands there with all his regalia, the mood upbeat, and the excitement almost palpable.
Positive vibes
A major portion of the main hall is cordoned, paper mats being rolled out, paper plates ripe with all the dravyas being laid out, a sense of divinity fills the air, as I see Ayyappa devotees gearing up for the very elaborate Laksharchana; repetition of ayyappa namavali, one hundred thousand times.
I am spellbound, at the sheer vivacity of the volunteer devotees, a kind gentleman ushered me in and encouraged me to take part in the Laksharchana. At first I am tentative, but the devotee’s invigorating spirit quickly rubs on to me and I am sold in. With questioning eyes, I glance at the person sitting next to me, he explains “Laksha, in Sanskrit, means one hundred thousand. A Lakshārchanā involves the repetition of god’s name one hundred thousand times. To achieve this goal several people sit together and perform repetition of the names in chorus. Here, it is happening for the very first time.”
On further quizzing, I learn that Pandit Subramanya Sharma, who previously worked at Tirupati is the lead for this event. Just then, the very austere pandit appears, waves to the crowd and begins chanting as everyone follows suit. To my surprise, as each mantra is being chanted, a deep sense of peace and satisfaction flows through my veins, the slow hum is almost meditative. I close my eyes and revel in the soothing calm and let the feeling flow through me.
Offering prasadam
Within an hour or two, the puja is complete, devotees are packing up for the day, but the feeling lingers on. It is time for prasadam as I follow the trail of devotees right up to the dining hall. Each one gets a generous helping of the very elaborately prepared delicacies. Lord Ayyappa- the annadana prabhu (food for all) proves it yet again. The prasadam serves as a symbol of abundance and prosperity and it is said that Lord Ayyappa blesses his true devotees with a prosperous life.
Power of faith
Faith can move mountains, they say. As I walk out of the temple, I meditate upon the power of faith and positive energy, flowing within me. What a relief! I finally grasp the essence of true oneness. To sum it up, the event is a perfect example of the power of collective unified thinking, of collective peace and togetherness.
-Chitra Padmanabhan
(Ayyappa Laksharchana was conducted by Bay Area Ayyappa Samaj on December 17, 2011 at the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore, California)
