Recitation of Bhagavad Gita Eighteenth chapter in Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh www.dlshq.org Recording by Sukadev from Yoga Vidya Germany during his visit in Rishikesh in February 2011. Bhagavad Gita chapter 18 http
Recitation of Bhagavad Gita second chapter in Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh www.dlshq.org Recording by Sukadev from Yoga Vidya Germany during his visit in Rishikesh in February 2011. http
Recitation of Bhagavad Gita sixteenth chapter in Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh www.dlshq.org Recording by Sukadev from Yoga Vidya Germany during his visit in Rishikesh in February 2011. Bhagavad Gita chapter 6. http
Recitation of Bhagavad Gita 17th chapter in Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh www.dlshq.org Recording by Sukadev from Yoga Vidya Germany during his visit in Rishikesh in February 2011. Bhagavad Gita chapter 17. http
The statements of the Upanishads were pronounced millions of years ago; but these statements are relevant even today. Yet there is a perennial doubt about knowing one’s Self (Atma) or the Supreme Brahman because scriptures state that it has no qualities or attributes, and that it cannot be known by the sense organs; moreover, it is also stated that it is not an object to be known. So one may ask whether such a quest to know the Self is worth all the effort. Lord Krishna allays these doubts in the Bhagavad Gita, asserting that this knowledge can be gained by approaching a Guru who is knowledgeable in the scriptures and is a knower of the Truth (Tatva Darshina). The Bhagavad Gita may be a political and administrative gospel where Krishna represents the country’s culture and thought process in its climax, while it unfolds the ideal of excellence that every individual would aspire for, pointed out Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha in a lecture. This excellence is made possible only with the individual’s will power and strength. Purity of mind is important for excellence in performance. Every individual is a psycho-physical complex being where the two aspects are seamlessly melded. Speaking, walking, or sleeping involve the coordination of the physical and the mental powers. But it is the subtle Self (Atma) pervading the entire individual’s personality that is responsible for activating these physical and mental faculties. The crucial message is that the mind is the crux of one’s personality and it can be moulded. It is the inner instrument that can look and assimilate the external world on the one hand and also help us to look inwards to realise our inner Self. All the excellences based on thoughts and feelings pertain to the mind. It is capable of building the inner personality and giving the impetus for excellence. God’s power of Sankalpa is tremendous. While this manifested universe of matter and energy depends on God, He remains a supra-material presence and is the essence of consciousness, bliss and eternal existence. This same consciousness is also within us.
The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers have trained more than 28000 Yoga teachers since 1969. The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch in the Catskill Mountains in Woodbourne, New York, is a prime location for this training. This video gives a taste of the course – the location, the students and the teachers.
By Swami Gautmananda How does one practise Bhakti to the Supreme Brahman whose infinite glory is hailed by the scriptures as beyond description? They state that He is formless and that He is the very essence of Eternal Truth, Consciousness and Bliss. How does a simple Jivatma establish contact with such a great personality? Sri Ramakrishna used to answer this legitimate doubt in the hearts of many of his devotees by advocating the practice of meditating on any one of the forms of the Lord, say Rama, Krishna or Siva. Is there any need for a thirsty person to know the extent of water available in a lake or a pond when a cup of water is enough to slake his thirst? Though the Lord’s greatness is limitless, any form of God is enough for us to cultivate Bhakti. When a picture of the Lord or the stories of His Avatars can help one to meditate on Him, there is no need to take the trouble of trying to comprehend His infinite greatness. The Bhagavad Gita extols the quality of Bhakti as a sure path to salvation and Lord Krishna holds the Bhakta in great esteem. What the Lord expects from the Bhakta is sincerity, faith and true devotion. The Lord accepts whatever a devotee offers — a fruit, leaf, flower or a drop of water — looking only for his love and devotion to Him. The path of Jnana is difficult and it is easy for even the Jnani to succumb to the pulls of worldly attractions. All our sorrows are gone if we identify ourselves with the Atma rather than the body. This feeling liberates us from the limiting forces of worldly life. In Kali Yuga, doing one’s duties in an unattached matter can lead to Bhakti. This attitude to one’s day-to-day activities gradually leads our mind and thoughts to God. When we remember that all our actions, thoughts and words are on behalf of God and we just act as an instrument of God, there is no sense of ego with regard to the action. We also understand that the result of all our acts also is for the sake of God and not for any personal gain. The ultimate aim of every Jivatma is to get liberated from the cycle of birth. This is attainable through devotion.
Velukkudi Krishnan shares his experience, Bliss, to be specific, through upanyasam. People’s taste may vary when it comes to small screen entertainment in the evening, with soaps and cinema topping the list. But mornings, 6-7, are generally dominated by one voice. Gruff and soothing at once, the Tamil is both chaste and familiar. The style is lucid, diction clear and the content rich. All of these makes the audience, drawing room or public halls, listen to Velukkudi Krishnan in rapt attention. His lineage “My grandfather wanted at least one of his five sons to be brought up the traditional way, acquiring knowledge in Vedanta and Sastra and spreading Dharma,” Krishnan traces his lineage when this writer meets him at his residence on Bheema Sena Garden Road, Royapettah, Chennai. After completing Class V, Vidwan Velukkudi Varadachariar Swamigal was trained at the patasala on Narayana Mudali Street, in George Town. He then shifted to Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, for higher education. Karapangadu Venkatacharya Swami, Tirupati Jeeyar Swami Sadhu Ramachar and Sri Rangam Desika Varadachariar Swami were his gurus. “He was into Upanyasam when he was 32, thus fulfilling my grandfather’s most cherished dream,” says Krishnan. Bhagavad Gita and Nammazhwar’s Tiruvoimozhi were close to the Senior’s heart. He presented over 80 month-long lectures on Andal’s Tiruppavai, with different interpretations each time. Born to his parents after sixteen years of their marital life, Krishnan got the best of both forms of education. He was trained at home in the Vedas, Divya Prabhandam, Sanskrit and other related scriptures apart from regular school. Initiation into lectures began when he was eight. He was asked to speak on the last day of a series of his father’s lectures for about 10 minutes. The text prepared by his father had to be memorised. This happened throughout his school days and college days too (Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai). Krishnan went on to complete C.A. and ICWA courses before joining the top rung of an MNC. Never did he venture to make solo presentations during his father’s life time. A great devotee of Sri Ranganatha, Sri Varadachariar Swamigal breathed his last inside the Srirangam temple after having darshan of the deity one January morning in 1991. That marked the launch of Velukkudi Krishnan on the upanyasam scene. But he found it difficult to strike a balance between his job and lifestyle. Long hauls on business meetings outside Chennai were coming in the way of his nitya karma. Rushing to the Upanyasam stage from corporate meetings well after dusk added to the stress and the decision had to be taken. “I quit lucrative job to dedicate myself to Upanyasam and related activities.” Sharing thoughts Krishnan gently shakes his head when reference is made to a “change in profession.” “Please don’t call Upanyasam my profession. It is just sharing my own experience. It is neither a trade nor a job. Experiencing the Brahman is bliss and I only want to share it with everyone. Spiritualism does not need special skill or intelligence. Nor can you achieve salvation by memorising the 4,000 verses. The Lord only expects unconditional love. Throughout his life, my father was only trying to make people understand this. If you read the works of the Acharyas, Azhwars and Nayanmars you will see that love was the underlying factor of all their immortal works. How is he able to quote from scriptures in Tamil and Sanskrit with such precision? “There is no special effort besides deep involvement.” Irrespective of the subject to be dealt with, he recommends at least four hours of reading authentic texts every day. “I am lucky, for all I have to do is read my father’s extensive notes on all the subjects. These are my invaluable assets.” Response to his upanyasams? “Overwhelming. Being the son of an illustrious father, the platform was ready for me but then I had the responsibility of maintaining the standards set by him.” He is deeply worried about orators changing concepts to suit the trend while dealing with scriptures. For instance, using the Gita to explain management principles. “The scriptures should be followed to realise the Brahman,” he asserts. Krishnan’s two sons are budding technocrats and he has not tried to influence them. However, he has been teaching them Sanskrit and other subjects. Velukkudi Krishnan’s discourses have been digitally documented. These CDs and DVDs are also tools that help in http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthe development of his two sons. “My duty is to make them enlightened bhaktas and not trained orators.” “Many feel that Bhakti is for the old. On the contrary, one should attain Atma Gnanam at a very young age like Prahalada. The Bhagavad Gita is one text that should be read by everyone. Assimilating the content may be a difficult task initially, but constant reading will lead to eternal bliss. Tiruppavai too helps in fostering Gnanam.” How does Krishnan preserve his energy and voice? “I enjoy what I speak. It is Ananda for me. While in Ananda, the inflow of positive energy is infinite. This is true in respect of the devotees who also sit through such lectures,” Krishnan concludes in typical simple style.
Redefining Bhakti By Swami Omkara Nanda The greatness of the Vedas lies in the fact that they provide guidance for living for the entire range of human needs — from the most materialistic to the most detached and spiritual. Cutting across time, people and places, the authenticity, versatility and relevance of the Vedas have been acknowledged. The Bhagavad Gita redefines the Bhakti Bhava and establishes its crucial role in the Jivatma’s salvation by providing a direct link with the divine. Bhakti Bhava is a unique emotional experience and its flowering in an individual is directly proportional to the spiritual maturity that one attains gradually. This implies that the individual has faith in the message of the scriptures and in the teachings of the Lord, preceptors and the devout saints who have directly experienced God and remain devoted to Him. Lord Krishna reiterates that faith in scriptures is what differentiates a believer from a non-believer and that lack of knowledge of the Supreme Lord is the cause of all misery in this world. While it is easy to deny God, one needs faith to know Him. While the world, environment and people remain the same, there is an inner transformation bringing about an attitudinal change in us as love and devotion to Him begin to take root in our consciousness. Our outlook on things changes and our ability to deal with the problems of life is strengthened. Arjuna, who always thought of Lord Krishna to be a friend, is made to realise that He is none other than the Supreme Brahman incarnate. There is nothing further to be known than the ultimate knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. Unless one is able to cross the barriers of desire, greed and delusion, it will not be possible to know God. Among thousands of men, one maybe, struggles for perfection. Among those who thus struggle, perhaps one attains perfection. Amongst those who are perfect maybe only one may know the Lord. The Lord explains that He is manifest as the universe comprising earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and egoism. He is also the sustaining force of the entire universe.
Hi! Welcome to Ashram Yoga, the Blog. I'm Jessica Loftman, and this is an online space mostly for learning, exploring, and discovering, or at least these are my aspiring hopes. Perhaps as a vision, I hope that this website can be a place of exchange, so that together we may unmask the beauties of India, the ashram tradition, and, most importantly, the eloquent practice and history of yoga. I am both a student and teacher of yoga, and a blossoming dreamer who hopes to make life a journey through the passing waves of spirituality. While in relative perspective I am but a grain of sand within the ocean of spiritual living, I do hope that this site may inspire others to more deeply uncover their perception of yoga and its practices. Thanks for visiting!