Ashram Yoga : India's Spiritual Tradition » shiva

Amma Taye

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:43:27 +0000

Kailash leads devotional chanting of the sound form of Amma Taye, She Who is All Form at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Paradise Island, Bahamas, on December 17, 2009. Please visit Kailash’s website at: omkailash.com

Maha Shivaratri

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:39:00 +0000

M ahashivaratri Festival Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February – March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva. Legends of Mahashivratri There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri – the grand night of Shiva. Traditions and Customs of Shivaratri Various traditions and customs related to Shivaratri Festival are dutifully followed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe strict fast in honor of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death. Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. While married women pray for the well being of their husbands unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal husband. To mark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in river Ganga. After wearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the nearest Shiva temple to give ritual bath to the Shiva Lingum with milk, honey, water etc. On Shivaratri, worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the day and night. Every three hours priests perform ritual pooja of Shivalingam by bathing it with milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water amidst the chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya’ and ringing of temple bells. Nightlong vigil or jaagran is also observed in Shiva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva. It is only on the following morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.

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Maha Shivaratri

Kirtan : Ullamaya Ma / Nataraja / New Year Blue Moon Kirtan

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:39:41 +0000

Ullamaya Ma New Year Blue Moon Kirtan at the Blue Sky Center of Ananda Ashram / Yoga Society of New York. Tripp Dudley, tabla. The Cosmic Dancer, Nataraja, Lord Shiva, King of Yogis, is dancing his dance of transformation within a ring of fire, on the demon of ignorance. Are you ready to be transformed? Words, translations & more at www.ullamayama.com ©2010 Amalam Devotional Arts, New York

Arudra Darshanam Significance

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:30:00 +0000

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.

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Arudra Darshanam Significance

Daily Prayer

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:19:53 +0000

Swami G reads from a passage from one of her books – This is a Guiding reminder of how to navigate ones spiritual path. A good affirmation and mindset to carry through. Please comment on clip. This Guru may be contacted through the new Yahoo group Swami-G … Kundalini Meditation Guru Enlightenment hindu shakti shaktipat satsang ashram yoga pranayama shiva swami Hatha

Swami Guru Shivashankara Mahatma Krishananda in Himalayas

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:50:55 +0000

Paramahamsa Swami Ashananda always try to preserve, the Tradition and Acient Vedic Rite. Here are few impresions around Rishikesh, Sivananda Ashram in Sivananda Nagar, Trascendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Omkarananda Ashram, Yoga Niketan and anothers importants Ashrams asociates, in Himalayas, India. Song: Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambho, from the album: Bhajans for Eternal Bliss, by Sri Guru Dileep Ji and Sri Nanditaji Devi, from Yogabhavan New York, International …

Deepawali And Kali Pooja

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:24:00 +0000

Kali Puja “My child, you need not know much in order to please Me. Only Love Me dearly. Speak to me, as you would talk to your mother, if she had taken you in her arms.” Maa Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. She assumed the form of a powerful goddess and became popular with the composition of the Devi Mahatmya , a text of the 5th – 6th century AD. Here she is depicted as having born from the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with the evil forces. As the legend goes, in the battle, Kali was so much involved in the killing spree that she got carried away and began destroying everything in sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her homicidal rampage. Hence the common image of Kali shows her in her mêlée mood, standing with one foot on Shiva’s chest, with her enormous tongue stuck out. Kali Puja is done to diminish the ego and all negative tendencies that hinder spiritual progress and material prosperity. Performed on the night of Kartik Amavasya , which falls in October/November, Kali Puja is an intense invocation to the fearsome goddess. The main purpose of the puja is to seek the help of the goddess in destroying evil – both in the outside world and within us. The legend goes that long ago the demons, Shambhu and Nishambhu, disturbed the peace of Indra, the king of gods, and his empire (heaven). After extensive and endless battles, the gods lost all hope and the demons became stronger. The gods took refuge in the Himalayas, the holy mountains, the home of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The shaken gods sought protection from Mahamaya Durga , the goddess of Shakti. Kali was born from Durga’s forehead as Kal Bhoi Nashini , created to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. Along with Dakini and Jogini , her two escorts, she set on her way to end the war and kill the devils. There was chaos all around. After slaughtering the demons, Kali made a garland of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control and started killing anyone who came her way. The gods started running for their lives. The only source of protection seemed Lord Shiva, Durga’s consort. Seeing the endless slaughter, Shiva devised a plan to save the world. He lay down in the path of the rampaging Kali. When the goddess unknowingly stepped on him, she regained her senses. The well-known picture of Ma Kali, with her tongue hanging out, actually depicts the moment when she steps on the Lord and repents. That momentous day is celebrated ever since. Kali, also called Shyama Kali , is the first of the 10 avatars (incarnations) of Durga. Kali Puja is performed essentially to seek protection against drought and war, for general happiness, health, wealth, and peace. It is a tantrik puja and performed only at midnight on Amavasya (new moon night) in November. Best Wishes For A Happy Deepawali to All the Readers.May GOD bless us with Prosperity All Around.

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Deepawali And Kali Pooja

Hindu Marriage/Wedding Around The Fire Haidakhan BABAji Ashram India w OM NAMAH SHIVA Chant [4]

admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:40:14 +0000

The last day of Navaratri is traditionally known as “The Wedding Day” This was filmed on 15 April 2008 it was the celebration of the Spiritual Marriage of Two Western devotees Anita & Lambodhar. Here they take the walk around the HOLY fire, while the Haidakhandi’s chant OM NAMAH SHIVAY!