Report of Activities 2009

Basant Panchami
On 31st January, Basant Panchami was celebrated in Rikhiapeeth. This day is
very special for the kanyas and batuks of Rikhia as it is a day dedicated to
Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and learning. The kanyas and batuks come
every day to the ashram for English and computer classes, to learn the
Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and chanting of sacred mantras and kirtans, so on
this day they pray to always receive the blessings and love of Ma Saraswati.
During the morning, Saraswati pooja was conducted in Tapowan and sixtyeight newly enrolled kanyas and batuks received Prasad of their new school
uniform, three sets of new clothes and stationery. They also received a gold
Saraswati yantra from Swami Satyasangananda, so that the grace of Devi

may help them with their studies.

The widows of Rikhia
panchayat received generous kits of new clothes, warm blankets and food
rations that were packed in an aluminium trunk. In addition, 500 villagers of
surrounding panchayats received Prasad. During the pooja, the kanyas
chanted Sri Saraswati Ashtottara Shata Namavalih, the 108 names of
Saraswati.
Evening satsang of havan, kirtans and prayers, dedicated to Goddess
Saraswati, was conducted in Yajnashala and the kanyas led all the chanting
including Saraswati Gayatri Mantra and Sri Saraswati Stotram. The kanyas
also performed a modern dance which displayed the wide variety of talents
that these children are developing in the ashram.

February Sivaratri
The fourteenth night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight of the month
Phalgun is Shivas favourite day. It is called Sivaratri or The Night of Shiva.
Sivaratri is a celebration of the union or marriage of Shiva and Parvati, which
represents the union of individual and universal soul.
Sivaratri Yoga Sadhana Shivir was conducted in Rikhiapeeth from the 21st to

23rd of February. Hundreds of participants

joined this
shivir which enabled participants to prepare for the auspicious day of Sivaratri
through swadhyaya, satsang and seva. The shivir was a full-day schedule
which included morning class of chanting led by kanyas, followed by asana
and pranayama class, mid-morning class of antar mouna and ajapa japa and
afternoon class in which the kanyas led the chanting of Ramayana followed by
meditation led by Swami Tyagraj. Daily evening satsangs were also attended
by kanyas and batuks in large numbers and featured havans, prayers and
kirtans which were dedicated to the worship of Shiva.
Worship of Shiva is very special in Rikhiapeeth because it is the tapobhoomi
of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati and is located in Baba Baidyanath Dham
which is an awakened shrine of Shiva, where his sacred Jyotirlingam is
venerated.
On the morning of Sivaratri, 23rd February, Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati
blessed all with his darshan in Tapowan. Sri Swamiji blessed the anushthana
and his presence made this Sivaratri an event to remember and cherish. The

kanyas conducted the program by chanting an

extensive
range of prayers and kirtans dedicated to Lord Shiva. On the 23rd February

initiation into mantra, jignasu and karma sannyasa and sannyasa was given to
hundreds of aspirants by Swami Niranjanananda and Swami
Satyasangananda.
On Sivaratri, as day turned to night, the Shiva Sahasra Namavalih havan was
conducted on the Tapowan vedi with several thousands in attendance
including residents, guests, kanyas and batuks, and many local villagers who
had been invited to come and offer their worship to Shiva, the Adi guru. The
kanyas led many prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the batuks worshipped
the Shivalingam with Rudrabhisheka as the kanyas chanted the ancient vedic
Rudri hymns.
The very first Rudrabhisheka of the Shivalingam was conducted by Sri Swami
Satyananda Saraswati himself. His sparsh or touch, and drishti or gaze, filled
the
Shivalingam
with
divine
prana,
which
turned
the

stone
all.

into a divya lingam which has the power to bless us

Throughout 2009, the kanyas and batuks performed the sacred

Rudrabhisheka in the ashram every Monday. The batuks continued their
training in worship, havans and pooja and daily came to the ashram to
perform the morning worship of the Shivalingam which is placed within the
panchagni pooja area.
Go to
page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
[16]

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