Ayyappa Pooja in Atlanta at Shiv Mandir

Atlanta, USA: Padi Pooja, or the pooja of the Pathinettam Padi, in the name of the 5 Hill Gods of Lord Ayyappa was performed in the evening of December 07, 2013 at Shiv Mandir of Atlanta. 4th Year Celebration of Ayyappa Padi Pooja at Shiv Mandir of Atlanta was treat to watch not only for local Atlanta devotees but also for the devotees who came from Indiananoplis, Maryland, Virginia, and Charlotte. People from different communities including Keralites, Tamilians, Kannadigas, Telugus, Kashmirs, Punjabis and Sri Lankans has attended this celebration.

Pdt. Santoshi Ji from Shiv Mandir of Atlanta performed the Ganesh Pooja. Followed by Ayyappa Pooja, Bhajans, Padi Aarathi later Mahaprasad was served. Swami Kiran Mudigonda from Atlanta, Swami Shankar Iyer from Virginia, Swami Sivakumar from Maryland, other Atlanta local priest and Ram Iyer Swami, Venkat Reddy Swami, Harish Sajja Swami, Sateesh Swami, Kiran Kanne Swami, performed the Padi Pooja Celebration and were assisted by various local Priests Pdt. Phani Kumar, Pdt. Ranga Chari, Pdt. Ravi Kumar.

Melodious Bhajans were performed by various artists that included Swami Shanker Iyer from Virgina who has released few devotional albums and performed with Music Mastero Illyaraja group and the Bhajan Group led by Subra Viswanathan, Valmiki Raghunathan with their team carried people in trans.

The 18 Holy steps are the holy pathways for the Jeevaatma to reach the Paramaatma. Jeevaatma has to cross the 18 virtues to merge with paramaatma. The Holy steps 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent the 5 Panjendriams: (Smell, Hearing, Sight, Taste and Touch). The Holy steps 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 represent the 8 Ashtaragas: Kamam, Krodham, Lobham, Moham, Madam, Matsaryam, Thanbha and Asuya. The Holy steps 14, 15 and 16 represent 3 Gunas: Thamas, Rajas and Satva. The Holy step 17 represents Vidya and the Holy step 18 represents Avidya. By observing stringent vruthams (austerities), the Ayyappa devotees called Ayyappas and Malikappurams, purify their body, mind and intellect and achieve the ultimate sanctity to make pilgrimage to Sabarimala carrying on their head the Irumudi containing the Pooja items, to climb the 18 holy steps and have the Darsan of Lord Ayyappa.

Shiv Mandir of Atlanta was very happy to perform the Ayyappa Padi Pooja for Lord Shiva's Son Ayyappa every year, says Anatha Musku, board member of Shiv Mandir of Atlanta. We are excited to share that we have added a South Indian Priest in our Mandir, and also we started the construction of temple at 890 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Sugar Hill, GA 30518. A Gayatri Havan is performed at the temple construction site every Sunday at 10.00 am. We encourage our community to visit our temple and learn about the development of Shiv Mandir of Atlanta.