Worship and Celebrations
Worship and Celebrations
The Universal Temple is the hub of all activities. All people, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, race, and nationality, are welcome here. They can either participate in the worship, bhajans, arati, etc or engage themselves in silent prayer or meditation.
Sri Ramakrishna is worshipped in the temple following the mantras and procedures systematized by Swami Ramakrishnananda. Daily Puja of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda is performed in the Universal Temple from 7.45 am to 9.00 am. The shrine is open from morning 5.00 am to 12.00 pm and evening 3.30 pm to 8.00 pm. Aratrikam or evening prayers will start at 6.30 pm. Immediately after Aratrikam there will be bhajans on all week days and special bhajans for half an hour on Sundays.
Ramnama Sankirtanam or chanting the name of Lord Rama is held on all Ekadasi days between 5.30 pm to 6.00 pm. Special Puja is performed on Ramanavami, Shivratri, Janmashtami, Navaratri, Kali Puja, and other auspicious days.
The Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda are celebrated in a grand manner every year. The celebrations are marked with special Puja, Homa, Bhajans, Musical programmes and Lectures. Prasad is distributed for hundreds of devotees who take part in the birthday celebrations.
The birthdays of all other direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna are celebrated every year. The Birthdays of other great Incarnations and world teachers like Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ, Sri Sankara, and Sri Chaitanya are celebrated every year.
Bhajans and Chanting
Bhajans and Chanting
‘All the sins of the body fly away if one chants the name of God and sings his glories’ says Sri Ramakrishna
We adore you, O breaker of the bondage of the world, worshipped by all humankind! You are stainless, yet have taken a human form...
After the evening Arati, bhajans are sung; on Sundays and all special days, bhajans are sung from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
The traditional Sri Ramanama Sankirtanam is sung on Ekadasi days between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm.
“Whatever may be a householder’s profession, it is necessary for him to live in the company of holy men now and then. … First of all, the company of holy men; then shraddha, faith in God. … it is necessary to seek the company of holy men, practise prayer, and listen to the instruction of the guru. These purify the mind.” – Sri Ramakrishna
Spiritual retreats are conducted for three days annually during July – August. Such retreats give an opportunity to live in the holy company of monks consecutively for three days, hear them give talks on varied spiritual topics, sing the glory of God, meditate — in short, live a spiritual life in holy company.
Sri Ramakrishna used to advise devotees to go to a secluded and sacred place and perform such japa to derive lasting benefit. This purifies the mind, strengthens it, and prepares it to face the realities of life.
Japa Yajna is the ‘sacrifice of the silent repetition of the holy name.’ Participating in the Japa Yajna is an opportunity for devotees who have received initiation from the gurus of the Ramakrishna Order, to perform japa (repetition of God’s name).
Japa Yajna is conducted every second Saturday of the English month continually from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Prior registration is a must.
Monks give spiritual discourses every week.
Monks conduct monthly Satsang at devotees' houses.
