YOGALife I Summer 2010 - Sivananda Yoga

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Kumbha Mela Yatra 2010 Ganga Arati at Haridwar Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh Swami Sivananda’s Bedroom in Ananda Kutir, Rishikesh Main picture: Sivananda Kutir, Netala – the place of Swami Vishnudevananda’s Jala Samadhi in the river Ganga Peace Prayer which since then has been chanted 24hrs without interruption for over 60 years. We meditated in the Mahasamadhi Shrine and after going down the steep Ashram stairs we visited Ananda Kutir, Master’s small cottage by the Ganga. Many yatris were moved to tears when they saw Master’s meditation room and the desk where he wrote the unending stream of inspiring books. In the late evening we reached Haridvar and met more yatris and Swamis who had just arrived from the West. We settled into the spacious guest house which previously was the sadhana residence of a local Maharaja, at walking distance from the main Kumbha Mela sites. The rooms are situated on 4 floors around a courtyard with a small temple. It has a large terrace overlooking the Ganga as well as an exclusive ghat (bathing area). The week in Haridvar was marked by the continuous spiritual fellowship amongst the yatris and the group of 19 Swamis; the morning and evening satsangs were vibrant with the love and wisdom of the Masters. The first outing took us to the Har-ki-Pauri, the main Ganga Arati 56 YOGALife I Summer 2010 location. A group of local priests connected each yatri individually to the worship of Mother Ganga with special mantras and blessings. More and more people gathered in the area and a dozen priests swung huge ghee lamps standing on the river banks and the Ganga Arati was sung out loud by thousands of devotees standing on both sides of the narrow fast flowing river. On the way back to the guest - house we passed by some of the tent camps which had been erected for the expected multitudes of pilgrims on the Kumbha Mela’s main bathing days. Sri Potti Swami, a respected tantric priest from Trivandrum, had come specially from Kerala, South India, to conduct a Devi (Mother) puja and to invoke the blessings of Master and Swamiji for the yatris as well as for their ancestors, friends and families. Potty Swami is a devoted friend of Swamiji and a great spiritual support of the Sivananda organization. After the puja Swami Durgananda addressed the yatris, inspiring everybody to relax and fully focus on this unique sadhana stay, to take a daily bath in the Ganga and to absorb the powerful spiritual vibrations in Haridvar. Her words really helped everybody to become more settled and open to the experience ahead. Then started seven unforgettable days of Bhagavata Saptaha, the recitation of the Srimad Bhagavatam by Sri Venugopal Goswami. The daily sessions from 11am to 3pm immersed everybody deeply into the world of Bhakti – devotional philosophy, spiritual stories, mantra chanting and uplifting humour. It was a totally unique situation, authentic teachings from the scriptures from the great yoga tradition of India in the most auspicious time and place, in the company of sincere fellow practitioners. The daily pujas by two priests from Vrindavan and the classical musical accompaniment by a whole orchestra of excellent musicians who accom - panied Sri Venugopal Goswami’s exquisite chanting – these were true nectar drops in the Kumbha Mela experience. We visited some of the nearby Camps and were introduced to this special community. The hundreds of naked Sadhus are not just an exceptional sight, their presence is a powerful message of simplicity and
enunciation. They live year in year out in remote secluded forests following a strict personal as well as group discipline. One Sadhu who had not lowered his left arm for more than thirty years, explained that “he had offered the arm to God”, truly a thrilling statement. One morning the Swamis silently left the guesthouse at 3.30am to participate in the 5am satsang of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, offering prayers to Master and Swamiji. It is due to the grace of the Masters that the Swamis can follow some of the sannyas disciplines, literally nurtured by the love and support of the students in the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres and Ashrams all over the world. The Swami group returned with a special glow, just in time for the next session of the Saptaha: The Krishna Lila portion of the Bhagavatam which contains the uplifting stories of Lord Krishna’s childhood. As we listened to the soulful pranks of Baby Krishna and their deep philosophical meaning faces softened, hearts opened and eyes started to shine. One last outing took us on a longer walk by the Ganga to the Daksh Prajapati Temple in Kankal, where we witnessed the powerfull worship of the Siva Lingam. We also visited the nearby Ashram of Ma Ananda Mayi and meditated at the Mahasamadhi Shrine of this enlightened lady saint who had the most blissful and soothing spiritual smile, coming out of the depths of her union with the Divine. March 1st was the day of the famous Indian Holi Festival. It coincided with the 8th day of the Saptaha reading. For several hours we listened to the famous Holi songs presented by Sri Venugopal Goswami and musicians. The conclusion was the showering of Lord Krishna with thousands and thousands of rose and marigold flower petals which later gave way to a collective showering and throwing of the petals onto each other, a most playful and joyful experience for everyone. The next morning the return journey started, the buses reached the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Delhi, a modern building complex in a green oasis located right in the middle of the busy Indian capital. The highlight of the Kumbha Mela Yatra 2010 Bhagavata Saptaha, Haridwar Conclusion of the Bhagavata Saptaha Asana Class, Haridwar next day was the visit to the Sivananda Yoga Center in Kailash Colony, where some Yatris enjoyed an ayurvedic massage. Swam Atmaramananda gave a very inspiring Satsang in reminiscence of Swamiji’s own yatras in India. The day ended with an interfaith pilgrimage to the Ba’hai Lotus Temple. Here we spent some time in silent meditation. Next stop was the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Sikh temple, where we sat to listen to the reading of the Adi Granth, the ancient Holy Book of the Sikhs in a very calm and peaceful atmosphere. continued on page 61 Join the next Himalayan Yatra in November 2010! November 7 – 20, 2010 Delhi – Haridvar – Rishikesh – Uttarkashi – Delhi Netala, Uttarkashi YOGALife I Summer 2010 57
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YOGALife I Summer 2010 - Sivananda Yoga

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