A Sacred Milestone in Tripura

After completing my three months of training in the Youth Empowerment Program, I received my first posting in Tripura. Swami Mitrananda asked me, “Are you happy?”I replied honestly, “I don’t know, Swamiji.”At the time, I had no idea what this journey would become, nor that one day I would feel so deeply connected to it. Initially, building a temple seemed like just another project. Everything changed when I arrived in Tripura. Chinmaya Mission has had a presence in Assam and West Bengal for a long time, but not in Tripura.Guided by Gurudev’s ideal of ‘maximum happiness to maximum people for maximum time’, the Chinmaya Mission Tripura established a free CBSE school, the Chinmaya Hari Hara Vidyalaya, to uplift underprivileged communities. It serves orphans, children of single parents and landless labourers, and low-income families. Currently nurturing 100 students, it plans to expand by admitting 25 new children annually. The next step was to establish a mandir. The journey formally began with the Bhoomi Puja performed by Swami Mitrananda, Mentor of Chinmaya Mission Chennai and North-East Bharat, and Swami Anukoolananda, Director, All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra.The Mandir is dedicated to Maa Tripura Sundari, one of the foremost Mahavidyas and a revered form of Adi Shakti. She has been worshipped in Matabari, Tripura, for centuries, and is recognised as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Bharat.The Mandir is envisioned as a unique open-air shrine in the form of lotus petals. The monolithic murti is 15 feet tall. It is encircled by 27 monolithic granite pillars, each inscribed with the immortal shlokas of the Soundarya Lahiri composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Each pillar is also engraved with the 108 names of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and his quotes. The pillars also bear the Nakshatras, inviting seekers to reflect upon their Janma Nakshatra and their cosmic connection. It has been created as a vibrant centre for worship as well as for spiritual reflection, devotion, and cultural inspiration, standing as a beacon of Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.A unique feature of this temple is its integration of devotion with sustainability. Devotees are encouraged to plant a sacred tree aligned with their Nakshatra, at their preferred place, as a living offering to Maa Soundarya Chinmayi. This initiative nurtures a sacred bond with nature, reinforcing the vision of caring for Mother Earth and promoting ecological responsibility. .The sculpture itself deserves special admiration. Its serenity and lifelike grace create the feeling that Maa Soundarya Chinmayi herself stands in the sanctum, radiating compassion and divinity upon all who come before her.Swami Mitrananda explained that the North-East has always been a land of Shakti worshippers, yet often remained overlooked. When asked how the idea of building a temple in Tripura arose, He replied, “Who am I to think of such things? It is all His plan—Gurudev’s plan, the Supreme’s will.”As the temple slowly began to take shape, it felt surreal—as though something magnificent was unfolding before our eyes.Then came the most emotional phase: the arrival of Maa’s Murti from Mahabalipuram, where it had been carved by award-winning Sthapati P. Bhoopati. It travelled by road for 15 days on a truck, reverentially guarded by two Yuvaveers, Kunal Giri and Aleti Rajesh, who accompanied the truck drivers and lived their lives through the journey.Sacred rituals of Pushpadhivasam, Dhanyadhivasam, and Kshiradhivasam were performed before the murti’s installation. With that, something shifted—it was no longer a temple of stone. It had become a living, breathing presence of Maa..When the first pillar was installed, I was blessed with the opportunity to perform the puja and place the Navratna, Panchdhatu, and Navadhanyam within its foundation. Every step of the construction felt like a sacred offering.Together, the pillars stand like living scriptures, harmonising devotion, cosmic knowledge, and the Guru’s grace within the sacred precincts.Maa Soundarya Chinmayi is a radiant expression of divine beauty (Soundarya) and pure consciousness (Chinmaya). She stands as the embodiment of Devi Tripura Sundari—the supreme consciousness pervading beauty, wisdom, and creation. In Her serene yet powerful presence, the essence of Saundarya Lahari is not merely worshipped, but inwardly experienced.The temple was dedicated to the people of Tripura on the auspicious day of Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti, marking a profound spiritual milestone and commemorating 75 years of Chinmaya Mission.The three-day consecration rituals included pujas and havans, invoking divine blessings for universal well-being. Abhishekam for Maa was performed with waters from many sacred rivers, symbolising unity, purity, and the sanctity of creation.The chief guest for the Pranpratishtha and Mastakabhishekam was Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Mananiya Sarsanghchalak of the RSS. Also present were the Hon’ble Governor of Tripura N. Indrasena Reddy, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Sri Jishnu Dev Varma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, Rajmata of Tripura Bihu Kumari Devi, Sri Ratan Lal, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Power and Election in Tripura, Maharaja of Tripura Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, Swami Vigyananda from VHP, swamins of Chinmaya Mission, and other distinguished dignitaries and devotees..On arrival, Dr. Bhagwat offered purnahuti in the Chandi Havan and then planted a Peepal sapling, the tree associated with his birth nakshatra.In his address, he said that a temple is not merely a symbol of faith; it gives moral direction to society. A school guides children towards their future. When a temple and a school stand side by side, values and education unite to build a strong and enlightened society.Yajmans, the architect Sri CN Raghavendran Rao, a Padma Shri awardee, and other volunteers who served relentlessly to make this mandir were honoured at the hands of Dr. Bhagwat and Swami Vigyananda.After the formal programme, Dr. Bhagwat and the dignitaries performed aarti to Devi Maa, as a specially composed aarti for Maa Soundarya Chinmayi was sung. This was followed by the unveiling of plaques commemorating the occasion and honouring the yajmans.The momentous event concluded with the distribution of prasad to all.

A Sacred Milestone in Tripura

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