Hindu mission to install sacred statue

[suchandra]

Hindu mission to install sacred statue

 

'Krishna is a very favorite form of the one God'

 

<!--p--> <!-- Article Publsih Date --> August 29, 2008

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1133866,5_1_WA29_HINDU_S1.article

 

<!-- Article By Line --> By JUDY MASTERSON JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM

<!-- Article's First Paragraph --> <!-- BlogBurst ContentStart --> GRAYSLAKE -- There are a multitude of stories about the Hindu deity Krishna, whose sacred likeness will be installed Saturday in special ceremonies at Chinmaya Mission, Lake County Center, 30877 N. Fairfield Road.

In one such tale, Kamsa, Krishna's evil uncle, plots to kill the infant lord with the help of Putana, the Rakshasi (female demon). Putana disguises herself as a simple cowherdess, sneaks into Krishna's home and lifts him to her breast, intent on murdering him with her poisoned milk. But the divine baby Krishna tricks the demon. He suckles her so hard that he extracts her life along with the milk.

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Swami Sharanananda (left) carries a Kalash on his head during a ceremony to ready the sacred statues of Krishna and Radha for installation at the Chinmaya Mission, Lake County Center, near Grayslake.

(Thomas Delany Jr./News-Sun)

 

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Rashmi Mehrotra of Naperville looks at the statues of Krishna and Radha that will be installed Saturday.

 

 

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<!-- BlogBurst ContentStart --> Such stories are the lifeblood of Chinmaya Mission, founded in 1953 to help "seekers of truth" acquire and impart the ancient teachings of the Upanishads -- Vedic treatises dealing with man in relation to universe.

The mission in Grayslake, one of 350 such centers around the world, was built in 2005. About 200 families visit the "Yamunotri," which means pilgrimage, for weekend classes on the Hindu faith and Vendanta philosophy.

The main floor of the building includes a shrine to Shri Radha Krishna. It is here, after two days of ceremonies, that life-size marble statues -- imported from India -- of Lord Krishna and his devotee, Radhaji, will be brought in procession and unveiled at about 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

The Hindu ceremony in which sacred images are formally installed is called Sri Radha-Krishna Moorti Sthapana.

Chinmaya member Shubi Mansukhani said Hinduism is often "grossly misunderstood."

"People often think Hinduism is polytheistic because we have so many names for God," Mansukhani said. "But we are monotheistic. Krishna is a very favorite form of the one God -- a very cheerful, playful, loving God."

According to Hindu belief, Krishna was incarnated to wipe out evil from the world. Radhaja, a female deity and Krishna's most devoted disciple, represents purity and love.

Lake County is home to several thousand Hindus. A Hindu temple was recently constructed by the Indian Cultural Association at 20444 Peterson Road in unincorporated Fremont Township.

For more information on Chinmaya Mission, Lake County Center, call (847) 740-1215 or visit: www.chinmaya-yamunotri.org.

 

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