Where his princess dwells

As classical keyboard player and music composer A S Ram’s apartment at Rangarajapuram, his worship room, which is partially a study-cum- working space, on a shelf in a puja space is where goddess Shakthi dwells. Ram, who follows Shaktham Upasna, that is, the worship of the divine form of Shakthi, says that it all started 12 years ago for him, when he was gifted an idol of Annapoorneshwari by his relatives from Kashi. “Although, she is Annapoorneshwari, I worship her as Lalithambikai and worship her as per all the vidhi vidhaans required. I have the Sri Chakra, both in the flat plate from and also in the form of Maha Meru, which is a three-dimensional form of the Sri Chakra. And I also have the Banalingam,” he says and adds, “This form of the Lingam has its third eye visible, which is very unique. Ever since I have had them here at home for the past 12 years, I have been performing abhishekhams regularly and follow strict worship patterns, which is a mandatory requisite that comes with the possession of these.” He goes on to elucidate that there are special pujas on Tuesdays and Fridays, with worship for Bala Thirupurasundari and Chandika Parameshwari. Apart from lotuses for Mahalakshmi Ashthoram, Ram uses fragrant flowers for every single name/mantra that he chants during the puja and decorates his goddess’ pedestal with these flowers. Other than the idol of Annapoorneshwari, he has different forms of the Devi on his puja shelf. “There is Shakhambari, Sampathkari, Chandi, Maheshwari and Mahalakshmi, which are quite rare and unique. I got them through my guruji who performs an elaborate kodi kumkuma archana every year for a particular form of Devi.”  This apart, there is also an oonjal (swing) in the puja room where his ‘princess’ is placed all through the Shravan month. “The idea is that as the climate is cool during that period, the Devi enjoys herself on the swing all through the month,” says the 25-year-old.There are also other things one can spot is his puja room which are not normally seen in other rooms of worship. “For my princess, I have a make-up/cosmetic kit in the room, complete with bindis, kajal, eye-brow pencil, talcum powder, lipstick, comb, perfumes, mirror, jewels and so on. I use it every day to deck her up. To me she is like a kid and I do everything to take care of her just like any father would take care of his child. At my home, she is 12 years old today,” he says. For Ram and his family, their kuladeivam is Dharmashastha (Lord Ayyappan), for whom rituals are performed on a regular basis and also during the auspicious months of karthigai and margazhi, thai and panguni. “I am a follower of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his ideals. Probably that’s how the shaktham (a worshipper for Shakthi) form of worship was inculcated in me,” he explains.[email protected]