Swami Veda Bharati’s 75th  Birthday Celebrations

Its with great joy that we write about Swami Veda's  birthday on Monday, 24^th of March 2008. 

We at the Rishikesh Ashram will try to make the day memorable for him by organizing some of his favorite items.  Among the many things planned, we are having a special dance performance by Jyoti Shrivastav (whose art Swami Ji has mentioned an appreciation for), and acclaimed singing by Shruti Puskarna.  In addition, there will be a reading of the Sukhmani Sahib hymn, in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib in the Meditation Hall, on the day before.

On a more personal level, the Gurukulam students at the Ashram and some of the guests have committed to pay homage to Swami Ji by means of mantra-japa and havans.  They are doing one mala (a 108 bead rosary) of the Maha Mrityumjaya Mantra and the Guru Prayer mantra (Akhanda Mandalakaram) along with the havan ceremony every day.  This gesture of respect and prayer for Swami Ji's health is being done every evening from 6 to 7 pm (Indian time), at the Yajna Shala opposite the Meditation Hall. 

This loving build up for Swami Ji's birthday was started on the 19^th of March and will continue everyday until Sunday, the 23^rd of March 2008. 

 We would like to invite all members of family to join in this offering of love and health to Swami Ji by joining us in the mantra japa on Sunday, the 23^rd of March 2008.  Everyone is welcome to do as much as they feel comfortable with, either at the same time as those in Rishikesh, or at any time they can spare during the day.

 The format of the mantra-japa being done is as follows:

      1.       Maha Mrityumjaya mantra (108 japas)

             bakam)Om Trayam yajāmahe 
           sugan)dhim pus)t)ivardhanam
           urvā‑ru)kameva bandhanāt
           mr)tyor-muks)iya māamr)itāt)

We worship the source of the three streams of shakti (ida, pinggala and sushumna), the Lord
Shiva, who nourishes all beings.  May he liberate us from the fear of death, so that we may naturally go into immortality, like a cucumber which naturally severs its ties with its vine and falls to the ground when it is ripe.

       2.      Guru Prayer (108 japas)

          Akhan)d)a-man)d)alākāram
        vyāptam yena carācaram,
        tat-padam darśitam yena
        tasmai śri-gurave namaha

(Which) pervades the entire unbroken form of the circle (of creation),
moving and unmoving.  To that beautiful and benevolent Guru through
whom that state was revealed (to me), salutations.

      3.      Prayer of completion (only once to conclude)

           Om pūrnam adaha pūrnam idam
         pūrnāt pūrnam udacyate,
         pūrnasya pūrnam ādāya
         pūrnam evāva-śisyate.

               Om śantih śāntih śāntih

Om.  That is full/complete/perfect.  This is full/complete/perfect.
Perfection arises from the Perfect.  Taking the Perfect of the perfect,
It remains as the Perfect alone. 
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.