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South African School of Yoga
An Invitation to all Students of the South African School of Yoga to India 2009
Sita Kalyanam
The Sat Chandi Maha Yajna - Rikhiapeeth
Program Details:
Sat Chandi Mahajayna
Date: Still to be confirmed
Program: Still to be confirmed
Yoga Poornima
Date: Still to be confirmed
Program: Still to be confirmed
Kriya Yoga Sadhana Course
Date: Still to be confirmed
Time for Expansion and Transformation through Sat Chandi Maha Yajna receiving Divine grace in your life. You are all welcome in the School to accompany Swami Kamalavidya on this very auspicious occasion.
Swami Kamalavidya has been attending the Rajasooya Yajna at Paramahamsa's Alakh Bara at Rikhiapeeth, Deoghar, India for the past 8 years and although the Rajasooya Yajna is over, the Sat Chandi Mahayajna will continue. Students of the School have all been contributing through their fees for the whole year that goes towards the Sivananda Math which Swami Kamalavidya will personally donate on behalf of us all at the School. Those intending to travel to India will be leaving Saturday 22nd November 2008, to return Monday 15th December 2008 back to South Africa.
Swami Satyananda says ‘the fire' (quoted in his invitation to Sat Chandi Maha Yajna 2004) 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 esoteric act can become an uplifting esoteric experience.
Swami Satyananda says the yajna being held at Rikhiapeeth was 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''.
Thousands of devotees assemble together every year distributing Prasad such as bicycles, sewing machines and recently in the past 2 years, 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 people in South Africa, in troubled times - it is an esoteric act.
Paramahamsaji, Niranjananandaji and Satsangiji are our perfect hosts during this auspicious event, showering us generously with their presence and blessings of darshan before and during the festival. 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 presence of Swami Satyananda and Swami Niranjanananda 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 Rishi’s, Munis and our enlightened Swami’s such as Paramahamsaji and Niranjananandaji. Their very presence together with Satsangiji 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.
At Sat Chandi Maha Yajna, Swami Satyananda shares a brief “social science” with us. He says that “two thirds of the human population is impoverished”. He mentions Africa, South East Asia and other countries too. We South Africans know in depth the hardships of South Africa, let alone the rest of Africa! Swami Satyananda says, 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! That is why the South African School of Yoga is providing support to the feeding schemes locally and overseas in India. I represent our School each year by participating in the celebrations at the festival.
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 firts yogi and Adi Guru, Lord Siva, who as Mrityunjaya, 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 the two celebrations we have the blessings of both the cosmic mother and father.
You are most welcome to join me, Swami Kamalavidya, on her annual trip to participate in this most auspicious program, at the Akara (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"
Swami Satyananda Saraswati
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