SRI VITTAL RAKHUMAI MANDIR

SRI VITTAL RAKHUMAI MANDIR

Sri Vittal Rakhumai Mandir attached to Dahisar Sri Kashi Math is situated in Dahisar (E), a northern most western suburb of Greater Mumbai. This Mandir and Dahisar Sri Kashi Math are in the same building, a gigantic five storey structure. The Mandir is on the first floor of this magnificent edifice with a height of 120 feet Gopuram, tallest in Maharashtra and an additional 10 feet golden (5Kg) Kalasha atop. The entire structure is an embodiment of ancient culture, tradition and a marvel of modern architecture. The Math was inaugurated on 22nd May 2003 while the Mandir on 25th May 2003 by Param Poojya H. H. Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swami, the then Mathadhipati of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan, Varanasi and H. H. Shrimad Samyamindra Tirtha Swami the present Mathadhipati. Of late, the terrace floor has been added with all weather proof shade and other facilities.

The main deities of the Mandir are Sri Vittal Rakhumai as the very name with which the Mandir is recognised. As Lord Vittal Rakhumai are the principal deities of Maharashtra State, Param Poojya H. H. Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swami had installed the idols of Sri Vittal Rakhumai and dedicated this Mandir to the entire populace of Mumbai in particular and Maharashtra in general as a token of reciprocation to the people of Mumbai for having extended helping hand to the members of the G S B Community to live a decent life in Mumbai over the couple of centuries.This reflects the broad vision, sense of belonging and gratitude of our Swami to the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra. The life-size monolithic idols of Sri Vittal Rakhumai installed in the Mandir were carved out of black stone (granite) by sculptor, Shri Ranjal Radha Madhav Shenoy, grandson of Padmashree late Ranjal Gopala Shenoy, Karkala in erstwhile South Kanara Dist., Karnataka, a world renowned sculptor.

It is very pertinent to mention here that two small idols of Shri Vittal Rakhumai in Pancha Loha (five metals ie gold, silver, brass, bronze and copper) were presented to param Poojya Sudhindra Tirtha Swami by the trustee of Sri Vitthal Rakhumai Temple of Pandarpur, Maharashtra when our Swami visited that Temple in April 2007. These metal idols were provided with Prabhavali (back side support) and peeta (pedestal) and were placed ideally between the big granite idols of Sri Vittal Rakhumai.

Since then these metal idols are being treated as Utsava Moorties and are being offered Trikala Pooja every day with elegant flower decoration etc like the big idols of the Mandir. Since 2013 these Utsava Moorties are taken in procession ceremoniously in beautifully decorated Palanquin (Palanki) during certain important religious celebrations like Uthan Dwadashi, Kartik Poornima, Vaishaka Poornima, Mrigabete Utsava (on the fourth day of Rathotsava celebration) and on Avabhrat (Okkuli Snan ie, bathing in coloured water) Utsav. These Moorthies are also worshipped for Vasanta Pooja seated on the Vasanta Mandap (Silver Sheshnaag) inside Mandir for 45 days during the Vasanta Ritu (from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Vaishakha Poornima) of every year of Hindu Calender.

However, the most important day on which these Utsava Moorthies become cynosure of thousands of people is on the Ratharohana day (Rathayatra) ie on the fifth day of Brahma Rathotsava being celebrated by the Mandir since 2013, when beautifully decorated Utsava Moorties gracefully occupy the centre seat of the gigantic 41 feet Brahma Ratha and go in procession on this Ratha called Ratha Yatra giving blissful darshan (appearance) to thousands of devotees congregated during this function and also those who climb Rath and offer the Lord coconut, fruits etc and also Aarti and pray for their wellbeing. Only males, irrespective of any castes or creeds, can have the darshan of the Lord on the Rath and offer coconut, fruits etc and also Aarti.

Regular religious and cultural celebrations in the Mandir.

Apart from Trikala Poojas, Deepa Namaskar, Tender Coconut Abhishek etc being performed every day and Ksheerabhishek on every Wednesday by learned Vaidiks, certain other important religious and cultural functions performed in the Mandir are as under:-

Further, during Diwali Vacation every year full day Aadhyatmik Shibir (Spiritual camp) for 5 to 7 days is organised for children in the age group of 8-15 years to give some basic knowledge of Hindu customs, tradition, culture, chanting of certain shlokas from our religious books like Shreemad Bhagavadgita, practice in public speech, story telling, art, craft, and above all, about good behavior with parents, elders and friends. A fair idea about our Math Samsthan, Gurus / Swamis, temples etc is given. Sandhyavandana is taught to boys in the Shibir.

In addition, the Mandir makes elaborate arrangements to perform Shree Sathyanarayana Pooja by any Hindu individual inside Mandir. Thus, over a period of about 18 years Sri Vittal Rakhumai Mandir has become very popular not only in Mumbai but also other parts of the country attracting the attention of thousands and thousands of people of various denominations of Hindu Community with the grace of Lord Vittal Rakhumai and blessings of Parama Poojya Swamis of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan. The President and all the Members of the Vyavasthapak Samiti (Managing Committee) pray at the lotus feet of Sri Vittal Rakhumai, Ubhay Vrindavans at Walkeshwar and Guruvaryas of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan, Varanasi to give strength and vigour to carry forward the noble responsibility entrusted to Samiti Members in the coming years.