Tantra, the word means expansion, it is a technique.
What I do is very classical and authentic Hindu Tantra. What most groups who use the word Tantra do is very different and I would classify as Neo-Tantra or New Age.
Mantra is the sound form of God, Yantra is a geometric form, Tantra is a way of joining the two to make them work in a very practicle manner. It is a distilation of the knowlege of the Vedas and a practicle way to remove the perceived sense of seperation between the individual and God in what form you choose to see Her.
This is done through working with mantra, the five elements, awakining hidden energies in the body etc... It is an experiential subject. If you wish to learn more you will need to attend events. Hopefully you have noticed that I am not "selling classes", my events are open for you to attend at no-cost with no-commitment on your part.
"The Goddess loves fun. She is deeply in love with You, making You HER Siva. So begin your journey to Goddess today, no matter how feebly. You can add power and depth as you move along." ~ Guruji Amrita
My Parama Guru (Guru's Guru) Guruji? He is a scientist, a perfectionist of the first order, a walking encyclopedia, an authority on Srividya and Tantra and, above all, a brahma nishta, carrying those who take refuge at his feet to that great source, the Sarva Yoni. With numerous loving disciples all over the world, Guruji and his wife, Srimati Annapurnamba (lovingly known as Guruji Amma) have dedicated their lives to the service of the people.
Moon Phases
Amavasya (new)
Mar 4 12:46pst
Apr 3 07:32pdt
May 2 23:50pdt
*Jun 1 14:02pdt - Solar Eclipse
*Jul 01 01:53pdt - Solar Eclipse
Jul 30 11:39pdt
Aug 28 20:03pdt
Purnami (full)
Mar 19 10:10pst
Apr 17 19:43pdt
May 17 04:07pdt
*Jun 15 13:12pdt - Lunar Eclipse
Jul 14 23:38pdt
Aug 13 11:57pdt
Sep 12 02:26pdt
Major Holidays
Sivaratri March 2nd, 2011
Guru Purnima July 14th, 2011
Adi Amavasya July 29th, 2011
Varalakshmi Vrtam August 12th, 2011
Ganesha Chaturthi September 1st, 2011
Navaratri Sep. 27-Oct. 5th, 2011
Vijayadasami October 6th, 2011
Diwali October 25th, 2011
Past Events(partial listing)
Soolani Durga Homam, November 30th, 2010
Ganesha and Soolani durga was performed with Panchamritam abhishekam, followed by a VanchaKalpa Ganapati homam including Ganapati Upanishad parayana, Navagraha Homam and Soolani Durga Homam including offerings with the Soolani Durga astrotram.
Navaratri, October 8-17th, Rochester, NY, 2010
Navaratri was celebrated at the Sri Rajarajeswari temple in Rochester, NY including a visit from Sri Akka Matholi Saraswathi!
Ganesha Chaturthi, September 11th, 2010
Ganesha Chaturthi was celebrated with a VanchaKalpa Ganapati Homam that ended with a Suvasani puja.
Ati Rudram July 1st-July11th, Rochester, NY, 2010
www.atirudram.comMany members of the group will be sponsoring, volunteering or acting as a homam kartha for this auspicious, once in a lifetime, event!Live Stream: http://www.atirudram.....
Ganapati, Budhan Santi & Rudra Homam June 16th, 2010
This homam was performed to <span> propitiate Mercury, thus increasing health and intelligence, in addition to the Rudra Homam. A Saturn (Sani) ans Sun (Surya) homam in the same style were performed the preceding Saturday and Sunday.</span>
Portland Sri Karunamayi Homam May 30th, 2010
A wonderful Homam was performed in Portland by Sri Karunamayi Amma with Her own hands. It was a powerful and transformational experience. In addition to the scheduled homams, Mother added many wonderful sections of the Chadhi to the afternoons worship.
Sri Chakra Ardhana in Seattle May 23rd, 2010
On May 23rd some of our group attended a Sri Chakra Puja performed under the auspicis of Sri Karunamayi Amma in Seattle at "VEDA (Vedic Education and Development Academy)
Sri Chakra Puja - Purnami April 27th, 2010
Everyone contains the powers of God/dess within them; this ritual is a means of removing the veils and conditioning that hide this basic truth. On this evening we expanded sections of this powerful practice in the evening. In the morning the monthly Khamadhenu puja was performed at Mt. Tabor.
Lakshmi Jayanti - Holi February 28th, 2010
We celebrated this auspicious full moon by performing 'The Freedom Ritual'. This is a powerfully moving, condensed version of the Sri Chakra Puja crafted by Guruji. We drew a Bala yantra on the floor, created energy internally (invocing the kalas), then projected it into the yantra for worship. We concluded the worship by offering Devi puja to a two year old girl.
Sivaratri - I February 11th, 2010
Homam was amazing! I followed the Ati Rudram format. After offering the grains for the 9 planets it rained lightly, same for the final Rudram offerings. The second the fire went out, it poured for a few minutes then stopped! Good sign... That evening we stayed up and chanted 11 Rudram Namakam sections followed by one Chamakam section for each. Interspersed by Milk, Vibhuti and Ganga Jal abhishekam.
Saraswati Panchami Jannuary 20th, 2010
Saraswati Panchami was celebrated in the Kenton district of North Portland with a Sodasi Upachara puja that included five chantings of the Medha Suktam and chanting of the Saraswati Astotram Namavali were all attendies made offerings directly to the Saraswati Murthi that was manifested by Sri Karunamayi. The puja was follow by a bhajan session and a wonderful vegetarian meal.
Kartika Somavas Mondays in November, 2009
The auspicious Mondays for Lord Siva were celebrated with the Rudra Abhishekam.
NavaratriSeptember 19th ~ 28th, 2009
This year Navaratri was be celebrated at the Sri Vidya temple in Rochester, NY.
Ganesha Chaturthi August 23rd, 2009
Chaturthi festivities began at the peetham with puja to an 8 foot temporary Ganapathi made from paper machee and painted by children at the Portland Art Museum.The Ganapati murthi was then transported in procession to the homam site. The homam began Ganapati Kavacha puja and the enlivening the tounges of Agni.The homam consisted of chanting of Ganapati upanisad four times accompanied by four rounds of Ganapati japum with four hutis fenced around a Pancha Arvana puja joining Ganapati with Siddha Lakshmi.Ganesha was then carried in procession and received abhishekam with panch amritam.
Nataraja Pratista Anniversary August 1st, 2009
The pratista anniversary included a Rudra abhishekam, a Mrtyujaya homam and a chariot procesion around the block.
Vara Laxshmi Vrtam July 31st, 2009
In the afternoon we visited the Khamadhenu tree to celebrate the anniversery of her Pratista. The Khamadhenu puja included a homam in the form of chanting of the Yagnaphala stotram. The main section of the evening puja consisted of Abhishekam with 16 times chantitng of the Sri Suktam Laxshmi was also carried around the block in procesion.
Guru Purnima July 6th, 2009
After the preliminary sections of the puja (achmanyam, seat, lamp, bell, etc...) each murthi was uncovered and awakened with arti and the bell. We proceded to do full Ganapati puja, a pancha puja with Sri Suktam chanting for Laxshmi, the Sodasanga Rudra puja for Nataraj fenced with Dakshinamurthi mantra in honor of Guru Purnima followed by Sodasi Upachara puja for the Devi, Rudra Abhishekum and a small homam that ended up not being so small. The homam smoke definitly helped with the transformation of the space (Siva-Sakti Upasana Peetham).
Ganapati Empowerment May 10th, 2009
We discused the significance of the ancient energy know to Hindu's as thebeloved, easily approachable, elephant headed god Ganesha. Four distinct types of worship were performed. Ganapati was bathed in panchamaritam, white sesame seeds and grass blades.
Sri Lalitha Sahasranama KumKum Archana PujaApril 5th, 2009
This event included Ganapati Abhishekum and Devi Puja.The highlight of the evening was the chanting of the thousand names of the goddess Namavali where each participant made offerings ofspecially prepared home made kumkum with each nama.
Yoga Mandiram Inaugural Puja March 6th, 2009
This event included a Ganapati to create an auspicious begining to the new space, a Sri Suktam abhishekum for prosperity,chanting of the Sri Lalitha Sahashranama and Rudram as well as binding of the 10 directions (digbhandha) to create an aura ofprotection around the space.
Maha Sivaratri February 22nd, 2009
A Rudram/Mrtyajaya homam followed by the Ekadasavara Abhishekam which consisted of chanting the rudram 11 times whiles offering abhishekam which a different item for each rudram chanted was held in North Portland spanning the entire night from 6pm-6am in honor of lord Siva.
Khamadhenu Instalation at Mt. Tabor January 3rd, 2009
On January 3rd we moved the prana from the Khamadhenu Murthi before returning the statue to it's owner and installed her ina young vibrant wild Oak tree.
Vasanta Navaratri October 2008
Navratri has celebrated with Sri Suktam Shodasi Upachara each day accompanied by chanting of the Sri Lalitha Sahasranama.A chariot festival has held for Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati.In additon to the MahaHoma held on Vijayadasami a homam was held for Saraswati and Matangi during the Saraswati portion of the festival. There were 7 homams held on Vijayadasami, one in each chakra! Ganapati Upanishad, Purusha Suktam, Durga Suktam, Sri Suktam, Medha Suktam, Gyatri and culminating in a Sri Lalitha Sahasranam Namavali homam.
Ganesha Chaturthi September 3rd, 2008
A chariot festival and a grand Homam was held in honor of MahaGanapati in South East Portland. Ganapati was adorned with a beautiful garland of marigolds as well as a garland of vegan donuts! 4 rounds of Ganapati Upanishad were chanted with huthis offered with rounds of Ganapati japam between each Upanishad.
Vara Lakshmi Vratam August 15th, 2008
A special Abhishekam was held at the Yoga Shala of Portland North Williams location in honor of Sri MahaLakshmi Devi with 16 time chanting of the Sri Suktam. In addition a Pratistha ceremony was held enliven Khamadhenu (Wish fulfilling Cow) murthi at the studio.
Nataraja Prana Pratistha August 1st 2008 (eclipse)
A 6hr Pratistha ceremony including a homam was held to enliven the Ganesha and Natraja murthis currently living at the Yoga Mandiram of Portland.
Tantra is removing the perceived veils of seperation between the individual and the Devi (Goddess), the individual and the world and the individual and all others in the world. It is the experience that all of the above are one. Not the theorectic understanding, but the actual experience.
Sri Vidya is the only school of Tantra that is both Vedic and Tantric. It is devotted to the worship of the Goddess as TripuraSundari. It is Advaitik, meaning that ultimatly the Goddess we worship is not other than ourself and the practices of Sri Vidya are designed to remove this perceived veil of seperation allowing us to realize our own divine nature and the divinity in those around us as well.