NAVARATRI and the science of Yajna

Navaratri  Means Nine Nights

Nine days of fasting  and  prayer  in dedication to the female energy ,[DAIVI or MATRU SHAKTI ]  imbibed in the cosmos ,enveloping and surrounding us like a mother  holding  a  protective  sheath around her children

Air Water Fire Earth and Ether are the Panchabhutas  or the five sacred elements  of which our body is made up of
During these nine auspicious days ,there arises the opportunity when we can restore to th Mother Earth whatever we have been taking from her all the while

 This is achieved by performing havan or homa.  Scientifically it has been proved that yagya purifies the atmosphere and has  a healing effect on body and mind

Let us see the sequence of the homas performed during these nine days
For first five days Nava Rudrabhishek is performed for Peace Prosperity and Happiness and maintaining unity among the family members


On Shashthi or sixth day , Shri Maha Ganpati homa is offered to Ganesh for removing obstacles before initiating any new venture followed by Shri Subramanya  Homa to overcome fear and remove negative vibrations

Navagraha homa is performed to propitiate and nullify the negative effect of the nine planets and seek their blessings


On  the seventh day ; Shaptami,  The Rudra Homa is performed for the removal of Negative Energy

Sudarshan Homa is performed to Narayana
Su means Auspicious and Darshan means  the Right Vision
It helps to remove the Ignorance and ensures the usherance of new life , enriched with the Right Knowledge

Highlight of the Navaratri is the Sathi Chandi Homa which is performed on Ashtami, the eighth day.
700 verses praising    Goddess Durga are chanted and 108 different herbs are offered in the Sacrificial Fire. The grace of God is thus invoked

Kalash Pooja consists in  a pot filled with water, decorated with leaves and flowers surrounding it.
Our consciousness is nothing but The Mother Divine and she is immortal in Waking ,Dreaming and Sleeping state and immanent in our wakened  state

ATHA YOGA ANUSHASHANAM

This is the first Sutra of Patanjali’s  196  Sutras

The verses are written  to guide us to understand yoga from the basic background   and their study can  enable us to reach higher  level of consciousness.

The word Atha means now therefore or so then , meaning that this worse is written in context  to some previous statement

Atha can also mean instructions; a Yoga aspirant  will be ready for further instructions in yoga only after he prepares his body and mind through tough practices  of  Karma Yoga .

The  physical karma yoga will enable  him to purify his body  and his thoughts too ;it will kill the ego as the sense of humility starts developing within him.

 The practice of Bhakti yoga  will direct the mental energies towards achieving a divine and spiritual  goal; by infusing the spirit of dedication  and  discipline. The  yoga aspirant ' s heart  is pure and mind is balanced and can now aspire for path to freedom through consistent yogic practices ultimately leading  towards  liberation surrender.

The  Yoga Aspirant is now ready  for instructions for higher development ,

Anushtasana  means  complete instructions .

YOGA,THE SCIENCE AND ART OF RIGHT LIVING

Yoga is intented to be approached in day to day life as  it  works on all aspects of the person: the physical , vital , mental ,  emotional,  psychic and  spiritual

The science of yoga begins to work on the outermost aspect of the human personality:  The Physical body for most people it is practical and familiar in the beginning ,when imbalance is experienced at the level of the organ, muscles and nerves no longer function in harmony , rather they act in opposition to each other.

For instance the endocrine system  might  become irregular and the efficiency of the Nervous system  decreases to such an extent that disease will manifest.The aim and purpose of YOGA is to bring different bodily functions into perfect coordination ,so that they work for the good of entire body on holistic approach.
From the Physical body yoga moves to Mental and Emotional level
Many people suffer from different illness , phobia and neurosis as a result of the stress and the interaction of everyday life.
Yoga is the best solution for management of such illness and suffering.
Swami Shivananda says Yoga is an integration and harmony between  thought , feeling and deed or integration of Head ,Heart and Hands.
The regular practice of yoga brings developed awareness of the interrelation between Emotional , Mental and Physical level  and how a disturbance in anyone of these affects the other.Gradually this awareness leads to an understanding  of the more subtle areas of existence

Asanas for aiding Hearing Problems

ASANAS
1  Simhagarjana asana
2 Kandhara asana
3 Sarvang asana
4 Dhanur asana
5 Neck rotation all the four stages
6 Jalandhara Bandha
7Alternate Nostril Breathing
8 Kapalbhati
9 Nadi Shodhan with holding Breath
10 Brahmari
11 Shav asana
12 OM chanting

GITA - THE ESSENCE OF LIFE

Before nearly 6000 years ago,Shree Krishna narrated to Arjuna, the secrets of life on the battlefield on
the first day of the war fought between the Pandavas and Kauravas.The battlefield was Kurukshetra ,
instance was when Arjuna, on seeing Pitamaha Bhisma ,Guru Draunacharya and several of his kith and kin in the enemy camp ,at whom he would have to target his arrows ; felt very sad and dismayed.

Arjuna pondered over the futility of partaking in the war.''What happiness can the victory in the Mahabharat give me when I shall receive it
packed and covered with the bloodshed of my own loved ones?''

Profound grief struck over him and the bow and arrow dropped from his hands

Lord Krishna read his mind and the message he gave to his devoted disciple to overcome this grief is
contained in the beautiful verses of the devotional song celestial THE SHREEMAD BHAGWAD GITA

The Eleventh day of the Shukla Paksha ,brighter lunar half of the Margaseersha month ,is celebrated as Geeta Jayanti,
the Birth day of GITA which was told by the LORD himself proclaiming the essence of human life,the process of life and finally making us realise the real purpose of our life .

The Bhagwad Gita is full of knowledge relating to the role of the human being in a society,his actions and his awareness.
Once we are endowed with human form, we have to take care of this physical frame ,perform the duties allotted to us by the society and try to attain higher form of awareness .Actions should be performed to perfection,that too without a thought of expecting any rewards.Arjuna ,Krishna says,'' Direct all performances towards me as if you are offering the fruits of your actions to me.If the jivatma does this and comes to my shelter with total surrender ,I shall destoy all his bad karmas and give him salvation.''

Thus the knowledge of the Gita will help develop complete higher awareness which has answer to all the quests between the process of life until the purpose of life.

Artha
Dharma
Kama
Moksha
These are the four wheels on which the human life moves .
The Gita advocates the different role an individual plays as a social being and develops awareness between Jivatma and Parmatma.;the Gita guides and illumines the path which leads from individual to the Supreme . The role of Jivatma is living in society and his interaction with other human beings.

The teachings of Gita which are Broad ,Sublime and Universal,teach us how to resist Unrighteousness and fuses us with inner strength when we are feeling weak and feeble to perform our ordained role here while we are facing adverse times and losing hope. Eternal peace and supreme bliss is experienced by all who follow the teachings of the Gita and tread the path of Truth

Gita is a message for all, irrespective of race ,creed or religion ,teaches the tough performance of one's duty in society, a life full of active struggle and responsible for keeping the inner self untouched by outer surroundigs and renouncing the fruits of action to Krishna and finally paves the way to rise above the world of Dualism

Happiness Unhappiness

Light and Darkness

Hot and Cold

Joy and Sorrow,etc

Emerge as a true Karmayogi Action with Perfection ,without worrying about the fruits of the karma

A Sanyaasi amidst the society,attachment with detachment

This sacred classic has all solutions to the modern man facing day to day problems

Surrender to the Supreme!

Bhakti Yoga

“Na Aham Vasami Vaikunthe, Yoginaam Hridayam Cha Na,

Madmast Bhakta Yatra Gayanti, Tatra Tisthtami Narad”.

SHRI KRISHNA declares his love and priority for his devotees [BHAKTA and the path of THE BHAKTI } to sage Naarada.

“O, Naarad, I do not dwell in Vaikunth, nor do I reside in the hearts of the yogis who practice physical and mental austerities to attain my grace or get my Darshan.

But I am always besides my devotees {BHAKTA} whenever they remember Me with love and devotion.”

Wherever my Bhakta is lost singing Bhajans [lyrics in my

Remembrance], I instantly I reach out for him, and you will find me beside them.

I am not lured by any complicated rites or karma kand practice of austerities or knowledge of the scriptures , it is Pure Love and Devotion which draws me closer and compels me to appear besides my Devotee.”

Let us first make an attempt at understanding the concept of BHAKTI.

BHAKTI begins with BHAVA

BHAVA means EMOTIONS purified in the stream of

Unfaltering FAITH

Complete SURRENDER

Unconditional LOVE

According to the BHAGWAD GITA, BHAKTI IS CULMINATED WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE SUPREME REALITY AND ARE ALWAYS ATTACHED TO HIS NAME

For you nothing matters and no one matters, you are always connected.

With the God’ s name and remembrance, be it in Happiness or Unhappiness.

There are different kinds of yoga and all have equally important role to play in an individual ‘s life at physical, mental ,emotional and spiritual level.

But Bhakti Yoga is the easiest and simplest yoga ,the path to GOD and Self Realization in this Kaliyug. Just forget the world, remember HIM all the time And HE will be the shield protecting you from all kinds of disasters.

Have faith in him and just wait,

Fulfill your karmas in this world but connect your heart only to HIM

Shri Krishna respects Gyan Yoga, the path followed by the learned and those in quest of knowledge of the self, with the help of ancient scriptures.

He also respects the path to salvation through Kriya yoga, the path to inner engineering and deepening inner awareness

Karma Yoga which is performing actions but it is not only performing these actions that is called Karma Yoga . Performing immaculately without any attachment to the fruits, without any expectation from the result and devoid of any selfish motive.

There is only the witness attitude attached to the deeds by the doer.

HATHA YOGA ; comprising of cleansing techniques helps boost physical health and promotes mental peace and stability After the removal of toxins at the physical level, the mind feels relaxed and can be worked on for higher awareness.

Kundalini Yoga reduces and tries to kill the ego.

Chanting different mantras and purifying the mind and emotions is Mantra Yoga.

Then there is Naad Yoga, Swara Yoga ,etc

Bhakti Yoga is a yoga of complete faith; this faith is generally in the GOD or the supreme consciousness in any form ie. GURU. There should be a strong emotional bond with the object of faith.

According to Bhagwad Gita , a bhakta is able to connect with the supreme power or GOD. Ramkrishna Paramhansa is such an example. Another example is Vamakhepa whose bhakti forced Godess Kali to eat from his hands. One, who practices bhakti is called bhakta, represents in terms human.

Relationships, there is example of guru bhakti, personal form of god as a lover,

Friend–friend and divinity [nirguna form]

Intense love is the common factor.

According to Gita, by loving GOD, we also love the immortal self, find harmony in ourselves, find ourselves at peace with the entire cosmos.

Intense LOVE for the Supreme is the common factor

LOVE for GOD and love for the world are diametrically opposite things; one has to be renounced to achieve the other

Bhakti softens the heart,

Removes Jealousy, Hatred, Lust, Anger, Egoism, Pride, Arrogance, Anxiety, Fear

Fosters LOVE AND DEVOTION

BHAKTI YOGA denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to a personal form of god

The bhakti age saw poets like KABIR AND RAVIDAS resulting in a mass of devotional literature, devotional music and devotional art that enriched the world at large .The bhajans and compositions of Narsi Mehta, Meerabai and Rahim till today spell divinity and a touch of inner joy .

The Lord dislikes pride and ego and loves the humble and uninterrupted faith and devotion.

-The most powerful motivational force in a spiritual aspirant’s life, is pure selfless love, devotion and servitude.

MUMBAI TO MUNGER VIA RIKHIA

The first day of the year 2011 began with a spiritual journey for Swami Rajeshji, who decided to visit Rikhia Ashram and Munger, the seat of Bihar Yoga School of Yoga where he stepped out after his post graduation with high grades in 1998;acquiring the Master's Degree in Yogic Science.

Rikhia Panchayat, in the remote areas of Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand district became the focus of Paramhamsa Satyananda and since then it emerged with vitality and prosperity, while once it was in a deprived and desolate state.

Swami Rajeshji along with Rajeev Dubey of Mahindra and Mahindra and myself stepped on Rikhia, a small town in Jharkhand on January 1, 2011,The Land of Swami Satyananda's TAPAS[austerities].

This land is full of spiritual vibrations where, Swami Satyananda spent last twenty years of his life, working for the economic, social and spiritual welfare of the people of Rikhia and spending most of his time in seclusion pursuing his own SADHANA.

Rikhia and the Ashram inmates are a witness to Swami Satyananda's Panchagni Sadhana, which he practiced by bearing the heat of five fires. He sat in the middle, surrounded by heat of fire lit from all four directions and the fifth one was the Sun overhead; a very rigorous penance to wash off his Karmas.

For six months, from January 14th to July 16th he faced the heat for five years and burnt the five internal fires of kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), mada (arrogance) and moha (delusion).

Did the Darshan of PANCHAGNI STHAL

Next to it is the MAHASAMADHI STHAL of Shri SWAMIJI, the incessant Mahamrityunjaya Jaap ringing in the air, the serene atmosphere, the purity and peacefulness of the vibrations around, constantly reminding all of Swamiji's promiscuous presence.

Met Swami Satsangandha the Peethadhis of Rikhiapeeth, who cited many instances from her life with Swami Satyananda and gifted Swamiji's books as Prasad to all three of us.

Enjoyed the The Vishnu Sahastrapath, Mantra chanting, the Havan and programme performed by the Kanyas and Batuks.

Left for Munger in the morning in Mahindra’s Scorpio arranged by Rajeevji.

The drive along the banks of Ganga was exhilarating as we gasped at the wide expanse of water, experiencing the gentle cool breeze.

Going through the interior Bihar, we met and spoke to the simple local people, the broad shouldered sturdy frame. Enjoyed the masala tea made with cow's milk on the way to Munger and relished the Dal fry, roti and ethnic fresh vegetables at a local restaurant in Munger.

Swamiji was thrilled to see the gates of the Bihar School of Yoga after twelve years, a yoga institute dedicated to acquiring wisdom and where he studied for two years 1996- 1998.

All of us thanked our stars when we came face to face with our Guru Swami Niranjananand.

We were also lucky enough to listen to two of his satsang series ;one in Hindi, the other in English. Here also we were bestowed with gifts and warm hospitality. We enjoyed to live in the disciplined Ashram atmosphere, observing their rules like we were students again and enjoyed the simple and nutritious food.

One day stay at Rikhia , a medium for connecting with people through service, love and sharing.

Another day stay at Munger a seat for knowledge of yoga.

These were the two memorable days, the spiritual experience of which, will always remain fresh in the mind and a dip into their memories will rejuvenate our body cells and the neurons of our head.

There cannot be a better way to begin the new year with!!

HARI OM!