AN EVENING WITH GODDESS KALI & HER DAKSHINESWAR TEMPLE

AN EVENING WITH GODDESS KALI & HER DAKSHINESWAR TEMPLE, puja, lecture and film screening hosted by Kali Mandir
Goddess Kali comes to PRS in a multifaceted evening of learning and experience via our friends at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram. We will explore the history and worship at Her sacred home in The Dakshineswar Temple, first with an authentic Tantric Puja - a powerful Hindu ritual - performed on stage, accompanied by live traditional music. Then, a brief lecture on The Kali Temple and it’s beloved mystic Sri Ramakrishna will lead into a screening of the short film “A Day at the Dakshineswar Temple,” made from the first footage ever allowed to be recorded inside this holy shrine. The evening will conclude with a q&a with Kali Mandir’s Founder / Author / Filmmaker Elizabeth Usha Harding, Head Priest Swami Bhajanananda and Author Swami Ambikananda (moderated by Stephen Reedy).

6-7pm: Puja

7:15pm: Lecture

7:45pm: screening of A DAY AT THE DAKSHINESWAR TEMPLE (30 min)

8:30pm: Q&A

Kali Mandir is a California 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit religious organization that runs a traditional Hindu temple, ashram, monastery, and seminary dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother Kali in the devotional tradition of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Elizabeth Usha Harding Born in Vienna, Austria, Usha Harding lived most of her adult life in Laguna Beach, California. Usha has been a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna since 1970. She wrote a book entitled Kali, the Black Goddess of Dakshineswar. The publication of the first edition of this book in 1993 helped start public Kali worship in the United States. When the book sparked interest in worship, Usha brought Sri Haradhan Chakraborti, the main priest of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, to Laguna Beach to perform a grand worship festival of Goddess Kali in Laguna Beach, CA. He and his assistant Sri Pranab Ghosal brought a beautiful Kali image from India and ritually awakened Her (prana-pratishtana) with the name Sri Ma Dakshineswari Kali (The Goddess from Dakshineswar). In her professional career, Usha worked as a journalist covering the computer software industry. Since she retired from working as a journalist, she has dedicated her life full time to work for the Divine Mother Kali.
Pujya Swami Bhajanananda is a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. He met his Guruji, the late HH Param Pujya Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati of Prayagraj in 1987 and received formal monastic ordination (dasnami sannyas-diksha) in 1999 from Sri Mahant Param Pujya Swami Omananda Saraswati at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. He also received further initiations from the late HH Param Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswati of the Divine Life Society and training in Kali Puja from the late Sri Haradhan Chakraborty. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from UC Berkeley and a Doctorate in Ministry (Applied Theology) from The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York. When in India he stays at his guru’s ashram, the Yoga Vedanta Kutir, Prayagraj. In the US he resides at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram, where he serves the awakened deity of Ma Dakshineswari Kali and Her devotees as Head Priest, Vice President, and Dean of Ramakrishna Seminary. Swamiji can be contacted at [email protected]

Pujya Swami Ambikananda is a disciple of the late Sri Haradhan Chakraborty (head pujari of the Dakshineswar Kali temple) and Rev. Swami Aparananda Puri (senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission). He has been a student of Swami Bhajanananda for more than 30 years. He received sannyas-diksha (monastic ordination) from Swami HH Param Pujya Swami Omananda Saraswati at the the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Vashant Panchami, 2011. Swamiji earned his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and is currently completing his doctoral capstone project at Ramakrishna Seminary. He is presently working on a new translation of the five-volume Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita from Bengali into English (see Kathamrita Project). When not traveling in India, Swami Ambikananda resides at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram in Laguna Beach, serving Ma and Her devotees as pujari and Secretary of the Board of Directors and as a Research Fellow for the Ramakrishna Seminary. Swamiji can contacted at: [email protected]
Stephen Reedy is a longtime student and sometimes teacher at PRS. He strives to bring a relatable and energetic approach to exploring the basics of Symbolism and comparative Philosophy. His other life is in the film and advertising industries, where he has worked with companies like Masterclass, Blumhouse and Warner Brothers.

Uma Sanasaryan is a Los Angeles based multi-disciplinary artist and storyteller. Inspired by her Soviet upbringing, 1990's sitcoms, and a uniquely California brand of blended, immigrant spirituality, Uma operates under the moniker of Soup Commie. Uma creates esoteric landscapes, healing rituals, prayer portals, devotional spaces, and dinner parties via the mediums of film, sculpture, zine, installation, and actual soup.
Prasad snacks will be provided. Artist Uma Sanasaryan will create a flower yantra live on stage before the event, from 4pm - 5:30pm.

Suggested Donation: $10 (in person only event). All proceeds go to supporting Kali Mandir & PRS. We appreciate your support!

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

ACCESSIBILITY

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REFUND POLICIES

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PARKING

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PRS EVENT POLICIES

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States