News and Announcements

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MUNGER

Following the ashram tradition, the Maha Samadhi of Swami Satyananda was observed on 5th and 6th September in the Akhara of Ganga Darshan with Rudrabhisheka and Sri Yantra abhisheka performed by Swami Niranjanananda.

Durga Havan

The daily chanting of Durgasahasranamavali (1,000 names of Durga) and havan performed by Swami Niranjan continued throughout September. During Lakshmi Narayana Yajna the anushthana took place at Paduka Darshan.

Lakshmi Narayana Yajna

From 8th to 12th September the inauguration of Lakshmi Narayana Yajna conducted by Swami Niranjanananda took place at Paduka Darshan. This sacred event was held between two special dates: Swami Sivananda's birthday on the 8th and Swami Satyananda's sannyasa diwas on the 12th.
Lakshmi Narayana Yajna was the inauguration of Sannyasa Peeth and will become the annual event of Sannyasa Peeth, Paduka Darshan.
The children of Bal Yoga Mitra Mandal undertook the entire proceedings from venue security and crowd management to the chanting of mantras and stotras in worship of Lakshmi and Narayana, singing of kirtans, dancing and performing of havan.
Each morning, before sunrise, the venue awoke with the chanting of Durgasahasranamavali by the sannyasins and havan performed by Swami Niranjan, followed by stotras completing the daily anushthana.
At 8.00 am each day Lakshmi Narayana Yajna commenced, performed by learned acharyas from Trayambakeshwar, continuing to early evening, when arati was performed at sunset.
On the first day of the yajna the murtis of Sri Lakshmi and Narayana were installed in the vedi. As the procession moved towards the havan vedi the prokshan, sprinkling of holy water, of the murtis came in the form of light rain auspiciously falling from the sky, as though the devatas were welcoming Sri Lakshmi and Narayana.
Swami Niranjanananda was present throughout the entire yajna, guiding the smooth, precise flow of each and every aspect. In short satsangs he introduced the Lakshmi Narayana Yajna, and told us of how Sri Swamiji, before his mahasamadhi, gave him the mandate to conduct Lakshmi Narayana Yajna as part of Sannyasa Peeth. He described Lord Narayana as Adi Guru, the primal guru, of the sannyasa tradition and therefore one pays respect to Lord
Narayana through the mantra 'Namo Narayana' or 'Hari Om'. Swamiji also spoke on Lakshmi-Narayana as the Divine principle pervading all the elements in creation, which are worshipped and invoked through the aspects of yajna for peace, plenty and prosperity.
On the 3rd day, Swami Satyasangananda arrived from Rikhiapeeth. On the afternoon of the 12th, Swami Satyananda's sannyasa diwas, she spoke on Sri Swamiji's missions: yoga at Ganga Darshan, 'serve, love, give' at Rikhiapeeth and sannyasa; and that the development of the ideas of sannyasa will be seen at Sannyasa Peeth. She described this yajna as unique and historic, and dedicated to Swami Satyananda.
Those who were fortunate to be present at this inaugural Lakshmi Narayana Yajna were blessed to experience its birth, with its spontaneity and the intimacy of smaller crowds. Although this year was a prelude to the larger scale mahayajna to come in future years, nonetheless it had all the magic and splendour of such a grand and auspicious event. Over 2,000 people attended the yajna each day, including sannyasins and residents, guests and students, local residents of Munger and children.

OTHER PROGRAMS

• Between February and August, Swami Maitreyi conducted programs and seminars in Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Sweden. In Colombia she gave talks and seminars in Bogota, Medellin and Baranquilla on Mind and Mind Management, Yogic Lifestyle and Mantra and Meditation through the Satyananda Academy, Colombia.
  In Chile and Uruguay, in May, she gave seminars in the Satyananda schools on Prana Vidya, classes on Chakra Shuddhi and talks on Yogic Lifestyle, Mind Management and Tantra.
  In August Swami Maitreyi conducted In-Service Training in the Satyananda Ashram, Sweden, and gave workshops on Antar Mouna and Personality Development in different Satyananda Yoga schools.
• From 3rd to 20th September a Health Management Course was held at Ganga Darshan for 50 participants. The course was conducted by Swami Atmabhiskek.
• At the inauguration of the Manava Seva Diwas program, conceived by Sadbhavana Pustakalaya, Jamalpur, on 5th September, Swami Gyanbhikshu spoke on the philosophical foundation of seva and the seva activities conducted at Rikhiapeeth. Over 500 people attended the program.
• From 9th to 15th September a group of 18 students from Chennai successfully completed the 3 year kriya yoga course. Swami Yogakanti conducted the course assisted by Swami Nirmalratna.

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