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Yoga Poornima Dec 2008

Christmas 2008 Celebrations at Rikhia

Yoga Sadhana Shivir 2009 at Mumbai and Navi Mumbai from Feb 25 - Mar 4 2009

Yoga Poornima Dec 2008

Yoga Poornima, a celebration of yoga, was held at Rikhiapeeth between Dec 8 to Dec 12 2008.

It is a tribute to Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who was born on the full moon day at mid-night during the month of Marga Sheersha, in the year 1923 at Almora. As per the mandate of his Guru Swami Sivananda Saraswati, he hoisted the flag of yoga in every nook and corner of the world. Today, yoga has moved out of the caves of hermits and ascetics into the mainstream of the society. This annual five day celebration culminating on the full moon night of his birth is a dedication to Swami Satyananda, whose insight, vision and tremendous compassion have touched and inspired countless lives through the path of yoga.

Sannyasi Krishna Yogam, along with 24 disciples from Satyananda Yoga Centre, Mambalam left on Dec 6th to Rikhiapeeth via Kolkata. As stated by Paramahamsaji in Sat Chandi Maha Yagna 2007, numerous ashram buildings have come up in Rikhiapeeth, constructed by many state units. The SYC Mambalam group was given accommodation in the newly constructed Patanjali Complex. We had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the homam, chantings and karma yoga on all 5 days of the celebration. We also had the good fortune of getting an exclusive satsang from Swami Satyananda Saraswati. As if this was not enough, Paramahamsaji addressed our group in Tamil for most part, sending us all into ecstatic raptures!

Maha Mrityunjaya Homam and Rudri chants from Krishna Yajur Veda were performed on all the 5 days by learned pundits from Varanasi in honour of the first yogi and Adi Guru, Lord Siva, who as Mrityunjaya, is the ishta devata of Swami Satyananda. This powerful mantra is the remover of all ills and wards off difficulties of every kind. It bestows good health, long life, ever-lasting peace and prosperity, guarding the worshipper from all dangers.

Christmas 2008 Celebrations at Rikhia

Jn.Yoga Sharan a member of Satyananda Yoga Centre - Mambalam along with his 10 year old son P.Suprajeett a (Mantra Diksha Initiate) had been to Rikhia via Kolkatta to experience ashram life and also to participate in the Christmas Celebrations there. They had reached Rikhia ashram on 21st December 2008 and registered themselves as participants at the ashram. They were provided accommodation at Patanjali Ashram 1.5 KMs from the main ashram.

They were blessed with karma yoga opportunity at the kitchen. There were about 500 people from across the Globe who took part in this program. There were 150 people from Bulgaria, a few from Germany, Australia, U.K, USA Canada etc apart from people from various parts of the country. According to them it was wonderful doing seva along with people of mixed race and origin forgetting their nationality and living as one unit which is the ultimate aim of yoga.

Everyday afternoon the Bhet or Daan was given to a host of villagers living in the nearby villages and every evening there was a program like Kirtan, Bhagawad Gita chanting etc. by Kanyas of Rikhia and joined by all participants. Jn. Yoga Sharan and his son were given an opportunity to have a darshan and meeting in private with Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati (Peetathishwari of Rikhia) during which they were able to clarify many of their queries with regard to yoga practices and spirituality. In fact when young Suprajeett enquired whether he can take Jignasu Diksha, Swamiji after asking him pertinent questions affirmed the same.

On 23rd December Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati arrived from Munger and Bhagawad Gita was chanted as it was an Ekadasi day. On 24th evening Diksha was given to select few from across the Globe. Some were initiated into Mantra Diksha, some were given Nama Karan, some were given Jignasu and three were initiated into Karma Sanyasa. It was a great day for Suprajeett as he was blessed with Jignasu Diksha and also given a spiritual name Mantrananda. In the evening the Church area in the ashram was decorated with lights, balloons etc. and there were host of programs by the participants from across the Globe. Infant Jesus was taken in a procession by Rikhia girls to the stage amidst the chorus of Haleluja by all the participants. In fact, to a lot of people, it was not just the mere birth of Jesus Christ which took place there; rather 'Christ Consciousness' dawned on them. The pastor of Jharkhand also came and addressed the gathering and it was a great moment when he started his speech with “Namo Narayan”. Jn. Yoga Sharan also was a part of the group that rendered a Sufi song. Jn. Mantrananda also played the part of Elf along with Ron Stewart of Canada who was the Santa Claus.

In all Christmas program was, to many who participated there, more of Inner Christmas than the festivities.

Yoga Sadhana Shivir 2009 at Mumbai and Navi Mumbai from Feb 25 - Mar 4 2009

A grand Yoga Sadhana Shivir was held in Greater Mumbai from Feb 25 to Mar 4 2009 in the auspicious presence of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.

During this 8 day tour, Swamiji delivered satsangs on wide ranging topics in multiple venues spread around Greater Mumbai - from Hyatt Regency at Andheri, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Dadar, NMSA Ground at Vashi to Chembur Education Society at Chembur.

Swamiji spoke about the Relevance of Yoga in Modern Life, Developing Creative Faculties, Awakening Life Potentials, Stress Management through Yoga and The Road to Spirituality for the Common Man. In Vashi, Swamiji's yoga sadhana shivir sessions and satsangs were focused on yoga for sports person. He spoke about the importance of will power for success in sports, business, education and other fields and how it can be strengthened through yoga practices. He also spoke about how sportsmen and others can maintain optimum health through yoga.

Shri Narayanan from Satyananda Yoga Centre Mambalam, who is currently posted in Mumbai, had the good fortune of attending many of these satsangs. He shared his wonderful experience with Sannyasi Krishna Yogam and has sent us the CDs of some days of the program. Interested disciples can watch these CDs in the computer system in the ashram before the evening sadhana.

Rikhia Events in 2009