Darnestown Shree Ram Sharnam Temple Officially Inaugurated Monday

It was a little after 9 a.m. on Monday that Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharajji emerged from a .

The short man in his early 70s, wearing a peach colored tunic and matching hat, covering his hairless head, walked out to join the puja—a ritual offering ceremony that is traditionally conducted prior to an event—that had been in progress for the last hour.

Immediately, the crowd of fifty or so began to grow, as people rushed towards the man who followers refer to as “Master” or “Swami”.

By the start of the official ceremony, more than 300 Shree Ram Sharnam followers had arrived, some coming from as far as India and Australia, others from as nearby as Gaithersburg.

Purchased by local followers in late 2009, the temple, located at 14000 Darnestown Rd., opened for prayer services a few months ago, a local member told Patch. But the center was not officially inaugurated until Monday.

Seated in a large marquee behind the house, hundreds of people watched live video of Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj’s inaugural prayer inside the main room.

The mixed crowd, made up of children, men, women and the elderly, predominantly of Indian descent, sang and clapped in celebration when Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj returned to the tent to greet the crowd. He then led the crowd in a reciting of the organization’s prayer book and delivered an hour long address in Hindi.

According to one of his followers who traveled from India for the event and identified herself as Ms. Shabnam, Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj spoke about the importance of humility in being one with God.

"Humility is the largest lesson we need to learn. Humility is a sign of courage," Shabnam told Patch that Dr. Vishwa said in his address.

Central to the organizations philosophy is the reciting of the mantra, Ram-Ram, which followers translated as omnipresent God. Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj instructed the crowd to find love and to find God within those words.

"All our worries fly away when we say 'Ram,'" Shabnam said. "Love grows in you when you chant."

Following the service, a meal was served to all in attendance. But followers said that is a rarity for the organization. In accordance with their anti-materialism philosophy, which focuses on humility and service, food is never given to followers and donations are never requested of them.

Rup Nayyar, a local Shree Ram Sharman volunteer who helped organized the inaugural event, said that Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj upholds that central philosophy in his own life and never accepts gifts from followers.

After serving for 20 years as a leading ocular micologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj quit his job and entered his spiritual exploration. According to his followers, he supports himself with his pension benefits from his 20-year career.

Darshana Aggarwal traveled from Ottowa, Canada to attend the events in Darnestown.

"I feel like I'm in heaven," she said after the ceremony. "This is something very precious. Nothing else is as important to me."

On Tuesday, Dr. Vishwa Mitterji Maharaj will travel to Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, for a three-day long event, accompanied by many of his traveling followers.

Shree Ram Sharnam, located at 14000 Darnestown Rd., holds prayer service on Sunday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.