A unique ritual followed by Abhedashram, of circumambulating a holy lamp with a thamburu, uninterruptedly, is about to complete six decades of spiritual passion. For the past 58 years, the monks of Abhedashram here have been carrying out the ritual of carrying the thamburu, chanting Maha Mantra incessantly around a lamp, which has never been put out.
The thamburu was never laid on the floor, even once, ever since the inception of the ritual. The ritual is carried out inside the sanctum sanctorum known as “Akhanda Nama Vedi” at the Ashram. It was first started in February 24, 1955 after the instrument was brought here from Pandharpur in Maharashtra.
It is carried day and night by devotees, who take turns, around a Kedavilakku, a lamp whose flame is never allowed to be extinguished. The flame for the lamp was brought from Panmana, the samadhi sthal of Swami Abhedananda’s spiritual guru and social reformer Chattampi Swamikal in Kollam.
“Those who hold the thamburu are considered the embodiments of deified sage Narada, of Hindu mythology, who is believed to be wandering the universe singing hymns in praise of Lord Vishnu. The hymns chanted by the carrier are repeated by the people present at the Vedi,” said Ashram general secretary NSK Nair.
-The Sunday Standard