The Story of Ambal coming to our Ashram
When we were planning for a temple for Sri Arunachala Atmalingeswara, we had an Ambal sannidhi also in mind. However, we thought to have a separate sannidhi and perform abhisheka aradhana there too would need more than one priest and more expenses which we could not afford at that time. Therefore we installed Ambal in a Srichakra form along with Atmalingeswara in the same sannidhi and have been worshipping her along with Iswara.
But Ambal being Karunambal had other plans. She inspired us from within to take Soundarya Lahari classes for devis at Anna Nagar, Chennai. Sri Adi Shankara’s hymns on Ambal describing her beauty from her keshathi (hair, etc.) to pada paryantham (till the feet) were very exhilarating. We were following Kanchi Sri Maha Periyava’s upanyasam (talks) on Soundarya Lahari to explain the deeper imports of the verses. Maha Periyava being a great devotee of Kanchi Kamakshi and an authority on the subject was explaining beautifully the glories of Ambal and inspired us so much that we felt compelled from within to bring the Mother of the Universe, Bhuvaneswari to our ashram by building a separate sannidhi for her. After that no going back. We requested the devis who were listening to Soundarya Lahari to form a team and put efforts in that direction.
We were told we have to place a Srichakra Yantram on the peetam and on top of it, Ambal should be placed. And that Yantram should be charged by regular mantra chanting and other means of worship. Then it sparked in our mind, why not take Ambal in the form of Srichakra to 108 devotees homes, perform special poojas by chanting Lalitha Trishati, etc. and then use that Yantram to seat Ambal in our Sannidhi. If devotees who are performing Srichakra Pooja also contributed funds for the building of the temple, it would be a great blessing for them we thought. That worked like a miracle!
Soon, the devis formed a team, contacted devotees and started organizing the Srichakra poojas. The idea caught the imagination of people and Ambal started visiting houses not only in India but also Sri Lanka and United States of 0f America. Funds started flowing and the Ambal Sannidhi was built without much struggle!
People were very happy to invite Ambal to their homes, learnt the basics of Srichakra Pooja and performed poojas with shraddha and bhakti. Their children also participated in the abhisheka and archana which parents thought was a great blessing for their younger ones. Time rolled on and we completed of 108 poojas. All Her blessings!
Now Karunambal has come to the Ashram, brought lots of funds for building her temple and inspired devotees to contribute liberally for the Kumbhabhishekam and other infrastructure work related to her temple. She has done magic even before adorning the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Imagine what She could do if you worship Her with devotion and offer yourself at Her lotus feet!
Jai Jai Karunamba!
