Arudhra Darshan or Arudara Darshan is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). It is essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. Arudhra signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs in the form this red-flamed light. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva. It takes place on the full moon night in the month of Margazhi and this is also the longest night in a year. The festival is mainly observed in the Tamil speaking world. The most important Arudhra Darshan festival takes place at the Chidambaram Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is enacted on the day. Most of the temples around the world with Lord Nataraja as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan.
Swami Radha invites us to explore some difficult questions, to clarify our lifes purpose. As an aspirant, these are questions we have to constantly explore for ourselves, and which lay the foundation for further spiritual … Swami Sivananda Radha Yasodhara Ashram Yoga Satsang Study Retreat Course Kundalini Lightwaves British Columbia
Kailash provides a rationale for taking up devotional chanting as a self-help method. Presented at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Paradise Island, Bahamas, on December 14, 2009. Please visit Kailash’s website at: OmKailash.com
Indian Children from Chilianolya [The Anand Puri Babaji Ashram in Ranikhet] perform their Christmas program in Haidakhan singing a local Indian song on Christmas eve 24 December 2007. Each year the Birth of Christ is observed in Haidakhan for the many hundreds of guests that come to celebrate with us. … Haidakhan Christmas babaji ashram [...]
An introduction to the ashram, located in Grass Valley, California
Ananda Ashram / Yoga Society of New York Promotional Video
Yoga,Sanskrit,Music,Dance and Special Events
Significance Of Christmas The Significance of Christmas is known to men, all over the world. Though it is true that Christmas is celebrated as the day of the Birth of Christ into this world, yet it also symbolizes a very deeply significant truth of the spiritual life. Jesus Christ is the very personification of Divinity. He was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land. Purity was forgotten and morality was neglected. In the midst of these conditions, Christ was born and He worked a transformation in the lives of people. He gave a new and a spiritual turn to the lives of man. There came a change upon the land. People started upon a new way of life. Thus a new era dawned for the world. In that period the seeker has no thought of God or higher spiritual life. He lives a life of lust, anger, greed, deluded attachment, pride and jealousy. If the seeker must enter into a new life of spiritual aspiration, purity and devotion, then the Christ-spirit must take its birth within his heart. That is the real Christmas when the Divine element begins to express itself in the heart of the man. From then onward, light begins to shine where darkness was before. A very small, but very beautiful, point of deep significance is attached to Christmas. It is the time and the manner of the birth of the Lord upon the holy Christmas day. Jesus Christ was not born in a grand palace. He was not born to very wealthy or learned parents. Jesus Christ was born in a simple lowly place, a corner of a stable. He was born to humble and poor parents, who had nothing to boast about, except their own spotless character and holiness. The above point of deep significance tells that the spiritual awakening comes to the seeker, who is perfectly humble and “meek” and “poor in spirit.” The quality of true humility is one of the indispensable fundamentals. Then we find simplicity, holiness and the renunciation of all desire for worldly wealth and pride of learning. Thirdly, even as Christ was born unknown to the world and in the obscurity of darkness, even so, the advent of the Christ-spirit takes place in the inwardness of man when there is total self-effacement self-abnegation.
The traditional Hallelujah Finale of the Haidakhan Christmas Play from 2008.
Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam Meaning : “ We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his palms folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down his eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung “ . Sri Hanuman is worshipped all over India-either alone or together with Sri Rama. Pancha Mukha Anjaneyar at Gowrivakkam, Chennai Every temple of Sri Rama has the murti or idol of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar, Bajrangabali and Mahavira . Hanuman Jayanthi, marks a symbolic acceptance of the human race’s peaceful co-existence with nature and the worship of an animal as a divine creature. It is celebrated during Chaitra (April) to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god widely venerated throughout India. In Tamil Nadu, it is observed in the Tamil month Margazhi, which is one of the most auspicious months in Tamil In 2009, Hanuman Jayanthi, in Tamil Month Margazhi is on December 16. Hanuman or Anjaneya was born on Moola Nakshatra, on the new moon day (amavasya) in the month of Margazhi. Hanuman possessed devotion, knowledge, spirit of selfless service, power of celibacy, and desirelessness. He never boasted of his bravery and intelligence. The world has not yet seen and will not see in future also a mighty hero like Sri Hanuman. During his life he worked wonders and exhibited superhuman feats of strength and valour. He has left behind him a name which, as long as the world lasts, will continue wielding a great influence over the minds of millions of people. It is believed that he who meditates on him and repeats his name attains power, strength, glory, prosperity and success in life. He is worshipped in all parts of India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra. The Margazhi month also has another importance which is also marked as a “Classical kutcheri’s season”. It is well known in tamilnadu. All the sabhas would be full fledged with people who has interest in music. This would be held as a great event. Indians from abroad throng the sabhas especially during this season. There are also many famous temples for Hanuman . To name a few, 32 feet Anjaneyar at Nanganallur, Chennai 32-feet Anjaneyar temple at Nanganallur, Chennai Anjaneyar temple at Namakkal without roof. The temple had recently it’s kumbabishekam also. Panchamukha Anjaneyar temple at Panchavati on way to Pondy. Jai Ho Bajrangbali ki….
