Retreats & Visits to India
South African School of Yoga
Time for Expansion and Transformation through Sat Chandi Maha Yajna and Yoga Poornima receiving Divine grace in your life. You are all welcome to accompany Swami Kamalavidya on this very auspicious occasion.
The Sat Chandi Maha Yajna/Sita Kalyanam- Rikhiapeeth 2012
Programme Details:
Sat Chandi Mahajayna/Sita Kalyanam Date: 14 - 17 December 2012
Yoga Poornima Date: 24th - 28th December 2012
Christmas Eve Date: 24th December 2012
New Year: 31st December 2012 - 1st January 2013
Swami Kamalavidya has been attending the Rajasooya Yajna at Paramahamsa’s Alakh Bara at Rikhiapeeth, Jarkhand, India for the past 15 years. Although the Rajasooya Yajna is over, the Sat Chandi Mahayajna and Yoga Poornima will continue. Students of the School have all been contributing through a percentage of their fees that goes towards the Sivananda Math (charitable organisation) which Swami Kamalavidya personally donates on behalf of us all at the School.
Swami Satyananda says ‘the fire’ (quoted in his invitation to Sat Chandi Maha Yajna 2004) “What Moses saw was no ordinary fire, the Cosmic light born out of the divine vibration, an experience which Tantra developed through the ritual of yajna, highlighting how an exoteric act can become an uplifting esoteric experience. The yajna being held at Rikhiapeeth is a celebration of man’s first awakening. lf that had not happened we may still be living in the dark ages in caves and treetops like savages.”
” Yajna is the cure, the remedy, which all lovers of the environment have been searching for. Yajna purifies the akashic atmosphere. All those who believe that the environment must be purified of greenhouse gases and toxic emissions muct practice yajna, not only on the scale that we practice it at the Sat Chandi Mahayajna, but also on an individual scale, sitting at home, wherever one lives. It will work wonders.” - Swami Satyananda Saraswati, 2000
Thousands of devotees assemble together every year distributing Prasad such as bicycles, sewing machines and implements for farmers, grain, rice etc etc. This is distributed to well over 100 villages in Sri Swamiji’s neighbourhood.
Highlights are the Kanyas (young girls) that Swami calls balsundaris – beautiful children that run the Festival with their uplifting voices singing kirtan for the full duration of 5 days! It is a time of giving, contributing and uplifting the lives of others. Swami Kamalavidya feels inspired each time she visits so that we can spread this light through to our local abused ‘childline’ children in South Africa in troubled times – it is an esoteric act.
Paramahamsaji ( in spirit), Niranjananandaji and Satsangiji are our perfect hosts during this auspicious event, showering us generously with their presence and blessings of darshan. Come and experience and receive grace from Guru and Devi Ma. Namo Narayan
About Sat Chandi Maha Yajna
The Sat Chandi Maha Yajna festivities attract thousands of people from all parts of the world. The multitudes of people, the profundity of the sacred rituals, the participation of people from so many different nationalities, religions, diverse classes, colours and creeds, the enrapturing melodies and mantras all blend perfectly with each other, with a common interest to serve, give and receive. The spiritual presence of Sri Swami Satyananda and physical precence Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satsangananda add the final touch to this event by giving it a spiritual vibrancy. Apart from attracting thousands of people the Yajna (fire ceremony) also attracts the Divine forces to grace the occasion. Yajna’s deal with that hidden part of you that you do not know. It is a pure experience beyond words – transformation takes place. Fire ceremonies are performed by Pandits from Varanasi and our enlightened Swami’s such as Niranjananandaji and Satsangiji. Their very presence together pours life into the yajna which makes it very powerful! This yajna is an act of pure devotion, universal love and compassion to remind us of the Divine who gave us life, a chance to live, and give back to nature. That is why the ingredients offered in the fire ceremony are all pure ingredients from mother nature herself.
Swami Satyananda said “Two thirds of the human population is impoverished”. He mentioned Africa, South East Asia and other countries too.” He also said, it is important that the “other third of humanity shares the responsibility. If not, two thirds will increase, and will become insecure and the other third will be in danger. Therefore, the “two thirds of humanity must know that they have their well-wishers among us, that there are some people that think about them. Millions of families in this world whose children do not have two square meals a day —— these are children not adults! ”
“We South Africans know in depth the hardships of South Africa, let alone the rest of Africa! South African School of Yoga is providing support in feeding and teaching the Yoga Capsule Program to the abused ‘childline’ children locally.I personally represent our School each year by participating in the celebrations at the festival.” —– Swami Kamalavidya
About Yoga Poornima
Yoga Poornima is the celebration of yoga. It is a tribute to Swami Satyananda Saraswati whose birth fell on this moon at midnight during the month of Marga Sheersha in the year 1923 at Almora. Swami Satyananda has spread yoga from shore to shore as per the mandate of his Guru Swami Sivananda Saraswati. This 5 day celebration culminating on the full moon night of his birth 85 years ago is a dedication to Swami Satyananda who has inspired countless lives through the path of yoga. To commemorate this event pundits from Varanasi in honour of the first Yogi and Adi Guru, Lord Siva, who as Mrityunjaya, and is the Ishta Devata of Swami Satyananda. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is hailed as the heart of the Vedas. This powerful mantra is the remover of all ills and wards off difficulties of every kind.
With these two celebrations Sat Chandi Maha Yajna and Yoga Poornima we have the blessings of both the cosmic mother and father!!!!
You are most welcome to join Swami Kamalavidya( Director of The South African School of yoga), on her annual trip to participate in these most auspicious programs, at the Akara (Sri Swamiji’s home), where nobody leaves empty – on all levels.
“The philosophy is very simple. It is not a social philosophy, but a Vedantic Philosophy.You have to see yourself in everyone, and you have to see everyone within your own self.”
Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati