Festivals and Pujas

1. Celebration of Festivals

Major festivals are celebrated at Sandeepany throughout the year, with pujas conducted by Pandit Ravichandran. Some of the festivals celebrated are Shivaratri, Swami Chinmayananda’s Birthday, Ramanavami, Krishna Janmashtami, Guru Purnima, Navaratri, Deepavali, Geeta Jayanti and Tapovanam Day. On the second Monday of every month, Shiva Abhisheka and puja are conducted. These functions are open to public.

2. Pujas

The following are some of the most popular pujas conducted at Chinmaya Sandeepany:

2.1 Maha Shivaratri Puja

On Maha Shiva Ratri, an elaborate puja and abhishekam are performed for Lord Shiva.

2.2 Lalitha Sahasranama Archana

Typically, on the last Friday of Navaratri, a special Lalitha Sahasranama Archana is performed. Over 100 people participate in the puja, making it a Laksharchana.

2.3 Monthly Shiva Puja

On the second Monday of every month, a puja and abhishekam are performed for Lord Shiva at Chinmaya Sandeepany.  Each month, a devotee and family sponsor the puja and abhishekam under the guidance of an officiating priest.

2.3.1 Shiva Puja Sponsorship & Contact Information

• Those who wish to sponsor the Puja should contact Needamangalam Balachander (bala.balachander@cmsj.org) at least one month prior to the puja.
• Since each Puja can have just one sponsor, devotees who wish to sponsor the Puja are encouraged to make their reservations at the earliest.
• The suggested donation for sponsorship is $151. Sponsorship checks should be made payable to Chinmaya Mission San Jose.

2.3.2 Sponsor Do’s and Don’ts

• Sponsors are requested to arrive at Sandeepany no later than 7.15 p.m.
• The dress code is traditional Indian attire.
• Sponsors are welcome to bring flowers, milk, and prasad of their choice. These items will be used for the puja.
• Sponsors can take pictures during the Puja

2.3.3 Puja Details

1. Puja will start at 7.30 p.m. sharp with the officiating priest performing:
   1. Chanting of Dakshinamoorthi Stotram
   2. Poorvanga Puja: The officiating priest performs the Sankalpam (conception), Kalasha Puja (pot of water into which the deities of the 7 great rivers are invoked), Shankha (conch) puja, Atma (Self) puja, and Peeta (altar) puja, chanting of Laghunyasam, and Avahanam (invocation of the deities)
   3. The sponsors will then be invited to the altar and guided to perform the Abhishkam to the Deities, using water and milk, to the chanting of Sri Rudram (Namakam & Chamakam). Thereafter, they will be also guided to offer Alankaram (adornments) to the deities, to the chanting of Shiva Mahimna Stotram
   4. Uttaranga Puja: The sponsors will be guided to do Archana to the Deities (Ganesha, Krishna, Jagadishwara, and Pujya Gurudev’s Padukas), and present the offerings of incense, lamps and Naivedyam
   5. The final part of the Puja, including Mantra Pushpam, Pradakshinam (circumambulation), Namaskaram (prostrations), and Ashirvadam (benediction) will be performed by the officiating priest, with the final prasadam being offered to the sponsors who can then take the blessings of The Lord, and the Resident Acharya