Ring in the New Year at Shanthi Mandir
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
With Vedic Chants and Gayatri Mantra
We will start at 6:30 pm (sharp) and recite Ganapati Prarthana, Gayatri Mantra (108 times), Mrityunjaya Mantra (28 times) and the Mantra Pushpam followed by 15 minutes of open time for devotional dedications from the floor and Aarti and Prasad.
Vedic chanting always begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha with the Ganapati Prarthana. Gayatri Mantra is a universal prayer that first appears in the Rig Veda. The 108 Gayatri Mantra chants are intended for invoking peace and divine inspiration for all at the start of the New Year. The 28 Mrityunjaya Mantra chants this new year are dedicated to those who lost their lives in the recent Newtown, CT tragedy. This Rig Veda prayer dedicated to Lord Shiva asks for immortality for the departed souls. The Mantra Pushpam from the Yajur Veda is chanted at the conclusion of most pujas and is about the origin and evolution of the natural forces like water, air, fire, earth, the Sun, the stars and is recited in praise of the creator. We will conclude with some open time for other devotional dedications from the floor, aarti and Prasad.
Flowers and Prasad offerings are welcome.
