Sunday, June 8, 2014

2014 06 08 Holy Mother Ganga, Daughter of the Mountains

GANGA DASHAHARA
June 8, 2014
http://www.shivamandir.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/GANGA-DASHAHARA.pdf

"Ganga Dashahara is celebrated every year between May and June. Hindus celebrate this festival very significantly because Ganga fell down on this day from heaven to earth. According to the Hindu alendar Ganga Dashahara or dashami is celebrated (on tenth day of the month) in waxing moon of the month of Jyestha.

"Devotees take holy baths during this festival of Ganga Dashahara at the Varanasi Ghats. On this day devotees gather at the banks of the river Ganges and take a soak in the Holy water of the Ganges in order to get rid of the ten sins (dasha means ten and hara means to destroy).

"One who cannot travel to the river Ganges, can take a bath at his home by mixing some amount of Gange Jal to the normal water, he will achieve the same benefit. At this occasion, devotees keep a fast for all day and they do not drink water for full day, In the evening they take a bath and break their fast (by taking only fruit) after moon arises. After the bath they offer jal and agarbatti to the Ganges and then break their fast.

"Ganga Dashahara 2014 would be celebrated by the people on Sunday, on the 8th of June.


"Religious and Cultural Beliefs and Significance 

"Woman in India offer floating lamps in the sacred water of the river Ganges. Hindus take baths in the Holy water and wash out their sins. They also offer flowers as well as rose petals with the clay diyas filled with oil or ghee lit with wicks. They bring holy water of Ganges to their home for other puja purposes. The Ganges is the incarnation of all holy waters in Hinduism. Ganges has been an emblem of purity in India for culture and civilization for a long time.


"History of Avatarana or Descent of the Ganges 

"According to the Ramayana, Mahabharata and several Puranas, the history of Avatarana of Gange begins with a clever king Kapila. It is considered that Kapila was doing intense meditation but bothered by the sixty thousand sons of the King Sagara. Then Kapila burned them with his irritated stare and diminished them to ashes, and send them out to the netherworld. They could get their salvation only by the holy water of Ganga. That time Ganges was in heaven. The great offspring of those sons was the King Bhagiratha who was much worried to renovate his ancestors. He had done a great Tap for years to bring Gange on the earth.

"Finally he granted the reward of Ganga’s fall to earth from heaven. Ganga gave him a Vardan that she agreed to go to earth but her tumultuous and forceful water flow will definitely destroy the earth. Bhagiratha convinces Lord Shiva on his habitat Mount Kailash to control the flow of Ganga to earth by the coils of his matted hair. Lord Shiva agreed with Bhagiratha for Ganga to descend. She then led Bhagiratha down to earth at Haridwar, flowing together with the Yamuna at Prayag and Kashi and finally meeting the Ganga Sagar, ocean. In this way Bhagiratha became successful in saving the life of his ancestors."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My first view of the Ganga was on October 14, 2012 as I taxied through Rishikesh on my way to Guptkashi. Little did I know, I would have an amazing, mystical Rebirthing experience during a Chaat (Sun) Festival on November 19, 2012 in the Ganga on the ghats at Varanasi. I saw Her again in Kolkata (Calcutta) from the Yogananda Yogoda Satsanga Math Ashram in Dakshineswar. A few pics of Mother Ganga follow the playlist. ~ Shellie

EnJOY!

1 - OM Namah Shivaya - Krishna Das (Extended Version_HQ Audio) 9:55

2 - GANGES or GANGA - A COMPLETE Documentary: [MUST WATCH] 49:07

3 - Om Namah Shivaya With Shiva Manasa Pooja [Shri Yogi Hari] 10:33




Playlist url
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMeomEl4txkAgETPWhVKKpYV



This is the view of the Ganga from the terrace outside my room at the Ganesha Inn Hotel in Rishikesh, October 14, 2012. Little did I know that I would experience a powerful rebirthing in the Ganga in Varanasi approximately one month later.



My Rebirth in the Ganga in Varanasi at a Chaat Festival on Assi Ghat, November 19, 2012.



The Ganga as seen at the Serampore Roy Ghat in Kolkata (Calcutta) where Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Sri Yukteshwar sat and talked.



Friday, May 9, 2014

2014 05 09 Yogis of Tibet

From the introduction to the documentary:
"The Yogis you will see in this film took unprecedented risks. Once vowed to extreme secrecy to maintain the purity of their practices, they agreed to these unique interviews and rare demonstrations to help preserve for posterity their vanishing culture.

"It is to these Yogis that this film is dedicated."

C 2002 June Bug Films, aka JEHM Films


1 - Gayatri Mantra ( 3 Times ) Artist: Rattan Mohan Sharma 1:51

2 - Yogis Of Tibet - Rare Documentary 1:16:36
C 2002 June Bug Films, aka JEHM Films

3 - Asato Ma Sadgamaya, shanti mantra, by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison 3:23





Playlist url
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMeJTQT0xaW8d7L8DT1vaeAP

Friday, May 2, 2014

2014 05 02 Satsang Fr Richard Rohr, Christian Mystical Tradition

If nothing else, I am eclectic in my beliefs, and along with Daoism and Vedic tradtions, I very much enJOY the daily inspirational messages sent by the Center for Action and Contemplation.

There is a tradition that says Jesus visited India for a period of time, and I would not be a bit surprised since the non-dualist teachings of the Christian mystical tradition are so closely compatible. Having been on pilgrimage in India for 74 days, and having spoken to many Indians as well as Westerners while I was there, as well as having had mystical experiences of my own, I can whole-heartedly say that the non-dualist teachings of Fr. Rohr fit perfectly with the Vedic teachings one finds in India. I also follow and teach A Course In Miracles which offers no conflict with these experiences as well. Divine harmony at its finest!

Every true Yogi is a Mystic. It is the only way to experience Oneness.


1 - Gayatri Mantra 9:04

2 - Fr. Richard Rohr: The Paradox of Truth - an Aspect of Christian Mysticism 42:48
Published on Feb 23, 2014
Paradox is at the heart of reality, says Franciscan Priest Fr Richard Rohr, but we're just too wedded to our egos and dualism to embrace it.

In this Interview Fr. Richard Rohr talks about his latest book The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, which offers an understanding of the Christian mystic tradition as a nondualistic way of seeing the moment. This is what Fr. Rohr says is the most important book that he has written to date.

Fr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, and the author of Everything Belongs and Things Hidden. Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) https://cac.org/richard-rohr


3 - OM TRAYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHAE Version 2    7:24


Playlist url:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMdXDWUiF4wVMROe2lcO9IwB

Saturday, April 5, 2014

2014 04 05 Vasanta Navratri

Vasanta Navratri, March 31 through April 8, 2014, is the Spring celebration of  Nine Nights of the Divine Mothers honoring Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali/Durga. Playlist includes a special puja at the Kali Temple in Kalimath, followed by beeja mantras, gayatri mantras, and chalisas for Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali/Durga.

It was while creating this Navratri playlist in spring of 2012 I was inspired by a photo of Kalimath to be there for the fall Navratri that same year. That and more may be read about in my book: Pilgrimage to India: An American Woman's Adventure.



My inspiration: Kali Math www.vedic-yagya.biz-pages-Vasant2011.htm

13 videos play for 91 minutes.


1 - Pooja at Kalimath (संदीप शर्मा "अज्ञानी")   4:39
Kalimath, the only place where all three goddesses, Saraswati, Laxmi, and Kali are worshipped together.

I am very thrilled to be able to share this with you even though I did not take this video; it was taken during spring Navratri of 2012. I was there for fall Navratri in October of that year.  The man in the white pants and scarf with the tan sweater/jacket is Pandit Sanjay Bhatt, Pujari Sidhpeeth (The Priest of Kalimath). I enJOYed several aaratis with him while I was there. The cloaked statue of Kali is in the center altar (looks caged).


2 - Sarasvati Beej Mantra 5:29
Lyrics: OM SHREEM HREEM SARASWATYAI NAMAHA

Syllable Meanings:
OM: Divine Reality
SHREEM: for material prosperity
HREEM: for becoming a leader and fulfilling desires for power
SARASWATYAI: Saraswati Mata
NAMAHA: we bow/ show reverence.

3 - Vedic Mantras to Improve Education & Memory - Sri Saraswati Gayathri 4:14
Om Vakdeviyai cha Vidhmahe
Virinji Pathniyai cha Dheemahe
Thanno Vani Prachodayath.

Om, Let me meditate on the goddess of speech,
Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect,
And let Goddess Vani illuminate my mind.

4 - Saraswati Chalisa - श्री सरस्वती चालीसा - Jayati Jayati Jai Bharati 6:09


5 - Goddess Lakshmi Mantra (Deva Premal) 8:19
Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namaha
Salutations to that heart centered and great Lakshmi

6 - Lakshmi (Laxmi) Gayatri for Spiritual Wealth and Luxuries 3:20
Om Mahalakshmyai cha vidmahe
Vishnu patnyai cha dhimahi
Tanno Lakshmihi prachodayat

Translation: "Om. Let us meditate on the Great Goddess Sri Lakshmi,
the consort of Sri Maha Vishnu.
May that effulgent Maha Lakshmi Devi inspire and illuminate our mind with understanding."

7 - Maha Lakshmi Chalisa ( With Substitles ) By Anup Jalota 8:48


8 - Kali Mantra 108 12:09
Om kreem kalikaye namaha

9 - kali gayatri Mantra 2:20
Om! Pishachadwajayai Vidmahay,
Shoolahasthaya Dhimahi,
Tanno Kali Prachodayat.
(We meditate on Kali, who has the banner of the goblins,
and bears the trident. May Kali inspire and illumine us.)

10 - THE SHRI MAHA KALI CHALISA (FULL VERSION). 9:56


11 - Durga Beej Mantra 9:37
Om Aaeng Hareeng Kaleeng Chamundaye Vichche.

12 - Durga Gayatri Mantra - with English lyrics 6:47
Om Girijayai Vidmahe,
Shiva Priyayai Dhimahi,
Tanno Durga Prachodaya

13 - Jai Mata Di - Sri Durga Chalisa with Subtitles (Hari Om Sharan) 9:34





Playlist url:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMc3GrCwncgg7kd9MZUCT0-r

Friday, March 28, 2014

2014 03 28 Virtual Kirtan

Virtual Kirtan 2014 03 28 features traditional Indian artists Anand Vaidya, Anuradha Paudwal, T. S. Radhakrishnaji, Suresh Wadkar, Jagit Singh, Udit Narayan, Ravi Shankar

10 videos play for 67.25 minutes


1 - Gayatri Mantra 27 Repetitions YouTube 9:13

2 - Shri Ganesh Bhajan - Indian Devotional Song - Hindi Bhakti Geet - Lambodaraya Namah sung by Anand Vaidya 6:50

3 - Devi Bhajan (Maa Tum Ho Basi)  Anuradha Paudwal 7:22

4 - Natwar Nagar Nanda (Wonderful Krishna Bhajan) 5:13

5 - SHIVAYA PARAMESHWARAYA. (Shiva chant) SINGER & MUSIC T.S.RADHAKRISHNAJI  6:57

6 - Omkar Swarupa (Suresh Wadkar) 7:24

7 - Bolo Ram Jai Jai Ram a Bhajan by Jagjit Singh.flv 5::26

8 - Tera Phir Ashiyan Basayenge By Udit Narayan {Best Kedarnath Video Song In 2013} 6:32
There was massive destruction to many temples and villages in June 2013, including severe damage to my own beloved village of Kalimath, along the Mandakini (the locals also call it tha Saraswati) River in Uttarakhand in NE India. This video includes photos of some of that destruction and the people who live and helped there. It was estimated that there will not be pilgrimages to Kedarnath for about three years from June 2013.

9 - Sarasvati Bhajan (Jai Saraswati Varde) 5:08

10 - Asatoma Ma Sadgamaya by Ravi Shankar 7:10





Playlist url
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACmwZPBGZMfB2yJ5SK3pIhvN6kGgA_J_