There was a mood of festivity and celebration at the Vedic Temple in Los Angeles today. Swamiji announced the inauguration of the new Nithyananda Vedic Sciences University and the Vedic Temple in Montclair, CA from Nov 7 to Nov 11, 2007. To mark the beginning of this new project, a masters gift to mankind, the beginning of a new Era, Sri Vidya Puja was performed to the Vedic chants of Swamiji. The University would stand for the rich Vedic tradition and spread this science to the world,  by facilitating further research and development in Vedic sciences. The Temple would be one of a kind by having the largest and tallest murthies in North America, not to mention the largest number of murthies in one single sacred space. This new place would serve as the city center and temple for all spiritual services of the mission. 

Swamiji explained in detail each step of the Sri Vidya Puja for all the devotees present and all the devotees who performed the puja under the guidance of Swamiji. In his talk Swamji said "The Vedic Rishis have created millions of techniques and methods to connect with the divine. However the most beautiful and sweetest way is to relate with the divine as a mother. Its a complete path that can lead one to enlightenment by itself."  Having said that Swamiji lead everyone through a meditation to connect with the physical mother thereby creating a inner space where one is ready to receive and connect with the cosmic mother.

The Sri Vidya puja is performed with the Maha Meru or the Sri Chakra (a mystical construction representing the mother energy) which has 43 seemingly simple but intricate triangles in it. There are 43 energies inside a human body like the energy to breath, see, feel anger, fear or desire etc. If one integrates all these 43 energies to one single point, one becomes enlightened. During the Sri Vidya Puja we invoke all 43 energies. When we intensely pray to Devi, they start opening up. As they open up, we realize the Devi within us, and become Devi - the cosmic mother. This is the science behind Sri Vidya Puja.

The puja and Maha Arati was followed by individual blessings to everyone present from Swamiji and Maha Prasad. 

Following are some of the pictures taken during this event