On the Birthday of Bhagwan Sri Dattatreya

Newsletter

Dec 2005

On the Birthday of Bhagwan Sri Dattatreya, the Siddha of the Treta Yug, a special Bhajan session was organized on 15th December 2005. Devotees assembled in the meditation hall and it was full before the program commenced. The program started with the Avadhoota Stotram and chanting of Nityanandam Brahmanadam….. , Digambara Digambara…… and concluded with Arati Avadhoota. In the end the devotees had Darshan and received the holy Prasad from the Divine hands of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev.

The Siddha Meditation Intensive held on 11th December 2005 was unique in its participants being from age 18 to 78 and belonging to different walks of life. Some of the experiences narrated by them in the question slips were –
(i) “Will the happiness which I experienced in this moment endure ? ”
(ii) “I had a vision of a temple suffused in blue colour.”
(iii) “I saw a Siddha whom I had met in 1938 when I was a very small boy and other wonderful pictures in meditation.”
(iv) “I am feeling happy in a thought free state. Thanks to Guruji.”
(v) “It was a wonderful experience. I saw a peculiar colour light hitting my forehead.”
(vi) “Miss Pallavi Priya who received Shakipat Deeksha by Sankalpa (by resolve) in Stanford CT USA communicated her experience through Telephone that she had Darshan of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev while meditating.”

Oct 2005

Dipavali, the festival of lights, was observed at Siddhaloka from 31st October to 2nd November. All the three days the ashram was decorated with clay lamps and electric lights in the evening. On 1st November Dhanlakshmi Pooja was performed with Shodashopachar (the sixteen types of offerings) to the Sri Chakra. Prasad was distributed to the entire gathering which included village children in large numbers. In the night crackers were burst near the Siddhaloka natural pond. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev Himself distributed crackers and sweets to the children.

Sri Ayudh Pooja (worshipping the weapons) was held on 12th October with grand decoration of all the weapons, machines, tools and instruments. The Pooja was performed by showing camphor Arati kept on a big pumpkin. Finally the pumpkin which was stuffed with Kumkum, Turmeric and coins was broken at the Ashram entrance. Children gathered in large number struggled to get more and more coins and happily received the Prasad from the lotus hands of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev.

Paramahamsa Muktananda took Mahasamadhi on the full moon night in October 1982. On 17th October Sri Vishnusahasranam and ‘Om namo Bhagavate Muktanandaya…’ was chanted in the holy presence of Param Poojya Swami Chetanananda Saraswati. Sharp at 11 P.M. (the time of mahasamadhi 23 years back) ‘Arati Lijo’ was sung and Arati was waved. Prasad was prepared in the verandah of Dhyan Mandir as Sharad Chandra Darshan (vision of the full moon in boiling milk) was not possible due to heavy rain. Param Poojya Swami Ji distributed the Prasad to the entire gathering.

Param Poojya Sri Gurudev left for a 9 day Canara Tour on 30th September. On 1st HE stayed at MPML Guest House for one night at Bhadravati. Sri V. Madhu IAS, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Company made comfortable stay arrangements for HIM with enthusiasm. Next day morning the tour party left for Gokarna, the famous pilgrimage place in North Canara. Sri Sridhar Narayan Kamat looked after all the arrangements there. Param Poojya Swami Ji was invited to the house of the Chief Priest of the Ganesha Temple, the Sode Mutt near Koti Teertha and Sri Nityananda Ashram at Sane Katte. After the 3 day stay at Gokarna HE visited the place of Sri Nagaraja Dhanya for a day, one of HIS oldest devotees at Badakere in Udupi District. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev visited Mangalore, Gurupura, Kateel, Sri Nityananda Temple at Maravooru. Everywhere HE was received with great reverence and Paad Pooja (worship of the Holy feet). Param Poojya Sri Gurudev left for Siddhaloka on 8th morning.

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Param Poojya Sri Gurudev went on a tour of Maharashtra from 8th September. In Pune HE stayed for 5 days and had daily satsang with the devotees. It was raining throughout HIS stay nevertheless devotees also poured in the house of Brig. V.Y. Bhave for HIS Darshan from Mumbai and Pune city.
Some of the points illuminated by Param Poojya Sri Gurudev in these satsangs are reproduced below -
- Dependence on an outside support for meditation is a big mistake in the path of Yoga.
- Bondage to saints, cults and texts cannot lead to realization of the infinite Truth.
- We should search for the Truth within us.
- Mind is a vibration of the Prana which is the core life force.
- Reliance on external techniques or courses is futile. To realize what is within us Guru’s Grace is the only way.

HE then proceeded to Nagpur for a short stay and a satsang was arranged in the Air Force Command House on 16th September at 4 P.M. More than 150 people gathered in a beautifully put up Satsang Mantap (hall). After the prayer Param Poojya Swami Ji spoke about Siddha Yoga mentioning stories of Sant Kabeer and Samarth Ramdas Swami, Baba Muktananda and other saints. He explained the relationship between Guru and Disciple and Shaktipat Deeksha. After the discourse there was a 20 minutes meditation session with chanting of Kundalini Stavah, Siddham Sharanam Gachhami…. and Om Namah Shivayah. The question and answer session went on longer than the scheduled time and in conclusion Arati was waved to Siddhas.
The devotees mostly came from the Vayu Sena Nagar. They had the Darshan of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev in a disciplined way taking Prasad from his lotus hands and left with joy and bliss.

Aug 2005

On the morning of 31st July more than hundred members of the Air Force officers’ wives association visited Siddhaloka and stayed till the evening. Most of the ladies asked questions about their personal problems to Param Poojya Swamiji and HE replied to their satisfaction.

The next day i.e. the 1st of August Bhagwan Sri Nityananda’s 44th Punyatithi was observed. At 10 A.M. bhajans were chanted in the praise of Lord Nityananda. At 10.40 A.M. (the time Baba Nityananda took Mahasamadhi 44 years back) Arati was waved. After that Bal Bhojan (feast for children) was there for 200 students belonging to three primary schools. The Dakshina (cash offering) and stationery items were distributed by the lotus hands of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev .

SIDDHA MEDITATION INTENSIVE
“First there was darkness before my eyes and within minutes I had the vision of Lord Vishnu. I bow to the holy feet of Param Poojya Swami Ji “
“When I was concentrating on my breath I felt I was above the ground as if in air.“
“ I felt happy and relaxed and there were no tensions of life in my mind “
“ I felt flowers were showered on my head after the divine touch”
Above are the experiences mentioned in the question slips of the Siddha Meditation Intensive held on 15th August 2005. People came from as far as Australia and Indian states of Rajasthan, Assam, Punjab, Bihar, U.P. , Delhi and Karnataka. From now itself people have started asking about the next intensive dates. We will be publishing those dates soon.

Sri Guru Poornima was celebrated in a grand manner on 21st July 2005, Thursday at Siddhaloka. On 20th morning the Indian Air Force staff erected tents for the stay of devotees. From 4 P.M. onwards devotees from distant places started arriving at Siddhaloka to join the Guru Gita Chanting programme on 21st. At 8 P.M. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev briefed about the Shramdan (Voluntary service) to be rendered the next day. Some were given the duty of cooking and serving Prasad to volunteers. On Sri Guru Poornima one and all worked at the spots assigned to them till the evening after which the Siddha students and other visitors gathered in front of ‘Janananda’ where Param Poojya Sri Gurudev explained the greatness of rendering Guru Seva with sincerity and discipline. Finally HE blessed everyone giving them the holy Prasad.

Param Poojya Sri Gurudev was invited by Air Commander Kamal Singh for a meet with the engineers of the Air force Technical College at Jallahalli in Bangalore on 6th July. The wives of the officers also attended the meeting where Param Poojya Swami Ji expounded the secrets of Siddha Yoga and answered the queries of the participants. HE also invited them to visit Siddhaloka and extended HIS welcome to the gathering to participate in the next Siddha Meditation Intensive to be held on 15th August 2005.
Param Poojya Sri Gurudev then proceeded towards St. Martha’s Hospital to bless an ailing ashramite. HE also visited homes of four devotees living in the Cubbonpet area where the Paad Puja (worship of the holy feet) was offered to HIM. HE was later given a warm send off by the large number of devotees.

Under the scheme Education Aid of Siddha Yoga Dham, Param Poojya Sri Gurudev distributed school stationery and uniforms to the local children going to Middle and High School. Mothers of the school going children were given Sarees and clothes as an incentive for sending their children to school. These activities have been continuing since last 24 years from the inception of Siddha Yoga Dham. The devotees also donate books and clothes under this scheme.

On 16th June, Thursday, Param Poojya Swami Ji attended a wedding ceremony of Bhagya one of the village girls who was regularly coming to Siddhaloka to receive the daily nutrition from last 13 years. HE was welcomed with garlands at the entrance of village while the traditional band party played religious hymns. A procession was taken to the Marriage hall.

Villagers living around Siddhaloka attended the celebration in thousands and prostrated at HIS feet and received blessings. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev blessed the newly wed couple and presented clothes along with a memento of Siddhaloka . Everyone bid farewell to HIM with reverence.

The next marriage was Miss Umashree’s, daughter of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev’s old devotee Sri Channasiddhaiah, a government official. On the morning of 29th June HE proceeded towards the convention hall about 35 kms from Siddhaloka and reached in time. Siddha Brotherhood volunteers were already stationed for performing their duties. A warm welcome was given to Param Poojya Swami Ji and the Paad Pooja ( worship of the holy feet) was offered. Param Poojya Swami Ji left the place after blessing the newly married couple and the large gathering.

The season of marriages continued around Siddhaloka. Children who were only toddlers when Param Poojya Swami Ji came to live here 13 years back have now grown up and ready to enter the household life. The second marriage of this year which Swamiji attended was Miss Nagaratna’s, the daughter of the head of the village Doddipalya. The large gathering of 4000 people witnessed the procession started from the entrance of the village with 'Poorna Kumbha svagatam' ( customarily decorated pitchers held by four young ladies) while the local band party played religious hymns. The paad puja (worship of holy feet) was offered by the parents of the bride. Param Poojya Swami Ji blessed the newly married couple by pouring milk on the coconut jointly held by the couple. The gathering prostrated at the lotus feet and received blessings.

Laying of Foundation Stone

Param Poojya Swami Ji laid the foundation stone for a Montessory school building at the nearby village Sevanagara on 05.06.2005.

Senior education and social welfare officers attended the function with the large gathering of the surrounding village people. Program commenced with a prayer by small school children.

In HIS brief address Param Poojya Sri Gurudev advised the villagers to leave all their bad habits and save money for welfare of their children. HE asked them to maintain good health and hygiene, taking proper nourishing diet instead of eating from roadside vendors.

The program concluded with distribution of Prasad.

                                             SIDDHA YOGA SUMMER CAMP - 2005

Circulars of the Siddha Yoga summer camp 2005 from 20th May to 23rd May were issued a month earlier to all the devotees. The participants including small children to old persons registered their names well before the last date.

    On 20th May morning participants assembled in Siddhaloka and collected their badges. At 11 A.M. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev briefed the daily schedule and the discipline of the camp. In the entrance of the welcome rock there was a maxim taken from Siddha Vani (voice of Siddhas) saying “one who follows discipline is only a disciple, other are fools”.

All the participants used to wake up at 3 A.M. listening to the chanting of bhajans in the cd player. Every morning Vyayam (Yogasana) was conducted for ladies and children . At 10 A.M. Param Poojya Swamiji taught how to conduct one’s daily routine along with mantras right from waking to going to bed at night. Bhajan sessions of Gurugita, Vishu sahasranam and Shiva mahima were attended by all. Every evening there was a special bhajan class of reciting the poems composed by Param Poojya Sri Gurudev. On Sunday night elocution of bhajans was held and prizes were distributed.

    Monday the 23rd May was the 97th Birthday of Paramahamsa Muktananda. Sri Gurugita was chanted in the holy presence of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev. After the Prasad distribution the camp was concluded by recollecting the Siddha yoga discipline explained by HIM. All left at 10A.M. after completing their 3 day happy summer retreat.

Param Poojya Sri Gurudev undertook a ten day spiritual tour for the propagation of Siddha Yoga covering the states of Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh. Air Marshall K.S. Chaturvedi arranged for HIS stay in Gurgaon, Haryana. A Siddha Yoga Satsang at Sun City was arranged which the Defence staff attended in large numbers. The second Siddha yoga Satsang was held at Delhi in which HE greeted the gathering saying I the king of universe , Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, welcome you all in my kingdom of bliss with love and respect. At Chandigarh HE visited the places of several devotees and everywhere small Satsangs spontaneously happened. Detailed report of these Satangs will follow in few days.

Sri Naveen Sharma reports from New Delhi :-
Devotees from all over Delhi came together at Siddha Yoga Satsang held in Dwarka. It became a new enlightening experience for several devotees, for whom, it was a first contact with Param Poojya Sri Gurudev. HE welcomed everyone by saying that “I, the king of universe, Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, welcome you all to my kingdom of bliss with love and respect.” Swamiji then explained further that every one of us had at one time, the chance to be “Brahma (king of Universe)”. The mantra ‘So...Hum’ was given to us by the Almighty God in the seventh month as an unborn child. It literally means “you are same as me”. God told us that you are my part, so do not fear for I shall be there within you. We forgot this as soon as we came in contact with illusion.
Our ignorance of the above fact is the cause of all the troubles. Swamiji explained further with the story of a poor fakir who used to beg for his needs. One day he decided that he would go to Sultan (king) for some alms. It was evening and he was already late for appointment. So he decided to spend the night in an old tattered mosque. As soon as he sat with his back on the wall, the wall crumbled. A soldier came to the site hearing the noise of the collapsing wall. The soldier arrested the fakir for bringing down the mosque.
The fakir was presented in the court of Sultan and his crime was read out. The Sultan was very angry. He ordered that fakir’s head be chopped off for this serious offence. On hearing the verdict, the fakir raised his hand and smiled. Puzzled by this, the sultan asked as to why he is smiling. The fakir replied that if the penalty for unknowingly bringing down an old mosque is death, I am wondering the punishment that you would get, in Allah’s (God's) court, for bringing down a mosque that is live. Sultan immediately understood the fakir’s words. He realized his mistake and asked forgiveness from the fakir. The fakir’s realization that God dwells within us helped him to save his life and give a precious teaching to the Sultan.
Param Poojya Swamiji normally explains complex ideas through simple stories. It is no wonder that answers for several questions, which might not be answered by reading religious texts come naturally by proximity of Sadguru. After highlighting our oneness with God, HE went on to explain doubts which many people normally have. “Where is God? What does HE do and how can we feel him? These were precisely the questions put forward by a King to his Chief Priest in a Kingdom. The priest had studied the religious scriptures but not followed them in his life. So he could not think of satisfactory answers to these questions immediately. The King ordered that he find answers to these or else he should lose his life since he has failed at basic level. The priest was upset. He had never thought about these questions and frankly had no answers. He became very sad. His Son, although uneducated and a cattle grazer by profession, was a realized soul, noticed his father being very upset. He asked as to what was the matter. On hearing the whole issue he said that he would answer the questions in front of the King. The King was surprised to find an illiterate coming to answer his queries. And so it began. The priest’s son asked the King to be his disciple if he really cared for the answers. The king, who genuinely wanted the answers agreed and offered him the throne and sat at his feet as a disciple. The priest’s son ordered a glass of milk, which the king gladly obeyed. But instead of drinking it he started stirring it with his index finger. The king was puzzled. The cattle grazer said he was trying to find the butter in the milk. The king said, “It can’t be found like this; you need to add some curd and leave it for some time. And then stir the curd so that the butter could be separated from milk .So have you got the answer to the first question that where does God live”, said the priest’s son. God is in every individual as milk is in every household. He is like butter in it. You have to stir the soul, with grace of Sadguru to see it emerge. “But How about the last question?” asked the King? What does God do? The priest’s son answered calmly, he makes cattle grazers like me the king, and back again.
Simply put the above remark signifies that this entire world is a stage of Maya, where people continually play different roles and only a few are able to realize the truth.

Siddha yoga Satsangs held during Param Poojya Sri Gurudev’s Spiritual tour were unique in the way HE propounded Siddha Yoga and its various aspects. The intricate and complex spiritual matters became so easy to understand through the simple stories and examples rendered by HIM. Like Param Poojya Sri Gurudev quoted in one of these Satsangs “Everyone knows that ocean contains tiny drops of water but only a rare one realizes that a drop itself holds the entire ocean”. To know this truth HE emphasized the necessity of meditation which happened spontaneously in HIS presence in all the Satsangs. Many had the rare vision of Divine light and colours of the thousand petal lotus located in the crown of the head.
Some of the pearls of wisdom revealed by Param Poojya Sri Gurudev in these satsangs are reproduced below.
- “We are ‘everything’ but most of us aspire to become ‘something’, and if no such efforts are made then we become ‘everything’ by the grace of God”
- “One may demolish temples, mosques or churches but never break anyone’s heart which is the real abode of God.”
- “God is the only truth and if there is only one truth then there is only one God.”
- “Matter and spirit are mutually inclusive and inseparable”
- “Self itself is God. Apart from this indwelling truth everything else is nothing but play of consciousness and illusion of mind.”
In a satsang specially for children Param Poojya Sri Gurudev had an interactive talk with them answering their queries. Explaining the meaning of ‘Acharya’ as one who is supreme in his conduct HE said that conduct is more important than long speeches. HE stressed upon Mahatma Gandhi’s values of non-violence and truth. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev asked children to meditate daily even if only for five minutes. This would immensely help them in their studies increasing their memory power and they would have better concentration.

Sri Karamaballi Sanjeev Shetty (75), former member of Karnataka Legislative Council and a stanch devotee of Param Poojya Sri Gurudev merged with Bhagwan Nityananda on March 29, 2005. Since Param Poojya Swamiji's childhood Mr. Shetty was with HIM and was HIS colleague when Param Poojya Sri Gurudev was a social worker for a period of 12 years. He was the Chief Guest on the occasion of 2nd Siddhaloka Anniversary in 1994 and a regular visitor to the ashram.

SIDDHALOKA had a festive ambiance on the auspicious day of Sri Maha Shivaratri (the great night of welfare) with a well arranged Siddha Meditation Intensive. The staff members came for their duty the previous day on time. Param Poojya Sri Gurudev took the first check-up round at 6A.M., when prompt preparations for Intensive were going on. By the time HE came for HIS second round at 8A.M. all the arrangements were completed and the staff members were ready for duty in their sky blue uniform.
The second Intensive of 2005 went smoothly. All the 15 participants happily recounted their experiences in the Question-Slip and asked for further guidance to face their destiny in future. All took a round of historical monuments around Siddhaloka after taking the Holy Prasad blissfully.

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