Brahmachari Initiation in the Holy City of Haridwar

Brahmachari Devananda

Born in Haridwar, India on February 21st, 2008

Once, I don’t remember when, I met you on the path to eternity. Today I find you much closer to your final destination, and I rejoice because today you have boarded the final train on your way back home.

Congratulations Devanandaji for your brahmacharya initiation! May you always roam (chara), in God (Brahma)!

Did you pause a moment to think about our extraordinary good fortune? Do you realize that the driver of this train is our beloved Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda?


Do you know that Swamiji is his divine instrument in this world? I’m sure you know all this, otherwise you would not have taken such important step in this life. I’m so happy for you!

Today, Thursday (guruvar), was a memorable and auspicious day at Tripura Yoga Ashram, in the holy city of Haridwar, where at 11:30 am you took the vows of celibacy, sense control and remembering God all the time, in every inhalation in every exhalation. You did not relinquish your religion to adopt a new one, as Yoga is not a religion; on the contrary you entered the holy stream of renunciation and purity to better serve your own and all religions. Your sacrifice is a blessing for this great vast world.

Ganga Ma took you in her arms to lovingly cleanse you, and sister moon (today is the full moon) lit your path so that you never lose your way towards wisdom and truth in the midst of the darkness of this world. You also have such a loving teacher as Swamiji, who will nurture you and protect you in every moment of your life. Your new name was chosen by our divine and beloved Rajarshi Raghabanandaji. So many blessings Brahmachariji!

Many divine souls were present at your diksha (initiation): Swami Amlanand Giri (Head of the Tripura Yogashram), Swami Sharad Puri (Director of Shivedale’s school), Swami Chetan (Founder of the Vivekananda foundation), Mahant Suddhir Giri (a great monk and sadhaka), and Pandit Chintamani, the great-souled priest who conducted the ceremony.

First there was a puja (worship). You began by worshiping the five deities symbolizing various aspects of our consciousness: Ganesha, the remover of obstacles; Ma Durga, the destroyer of selfishness; Surya, the sun-god who illuminates our mind; Lord Shiva, the destroyer of our evil qualities; and Vishnu, the preserver and protector of our spirituality. You offered them sandal paste, kumkum (vermillion), flowers, incense, Ganga water, bell sound, light (ghee lamp), and fruits.

The main focus of your puja was for Lord Shiva as he is ‘Yogeshwar”, the Lord of yogis, and your performed the sacred Rudra abhishekam or washing of the Shiva lingam with milk, curd, honey, ghee, butter, sandalwood paste, ashes, and Ganga water.

The main part of the worship was dedicated to Lord Shiva as he is known as Yogeshwara, the Lord of yogis. For this you performed the sacred Rudra Abhishekam, smearing the Shiva lingam (symbol of infinity) successively with milk, curd, honey, ghee, butter, sandalwood paste, ashes, and Ganga water. This puja ended with the waving of the lamp (arati). All these rituals symbolized your surrender, and the offering of your five senses and mind to God.

Afterwards Swamiji offered you the new clothes you ll be wearing from now, and in return you applied kumkum (vermillion) to his forehead and bowed to him.

Afterwards you went through a fire ceremony (havan), where you burned your old personality and habits; you offered to the holy fire clarified butter (ghee) and a mixture of grains, seeds and fragrant spices, as well as a coconut as the symbol of your ego.

Then you bathed in Ganga Ma to be reborn through her purifying waters, and you were covered with a white shawl by Swamiji.

The most heart-touching part was when Swamiji gave you the sacred Guru Mantra along with a pair of rudraksha malas over which he had prayed and meditated.

At the end you introduced yourself with your new name and offered food to all guests.

I am writing to you about all these details because maybe you want to have a written record of what happened on this glorious day.

Bon voyage Brahmachari Devanandaji!!!

Om namah Shivaya
Om namo Narayanaya
Om namo Bhagavate Hariharananda devaya

I pray that divine bliss be ever with you.

Love,

Rafael

The Monk and the Businessman on Time Management - Part 3

Hari om from Delhi... on our way to Haridwar and Uttarkashi. We are now a group of ten kriyavans pursuing the path of divine joy and deep meditation, from the the heavenly Banabira Kriya village in Western Orissa, to the majestic Himalayan heights in Uttarkashi.
In Haridwar we will perform the Brahmachari initiation of our sweet and loving Lionel Baba. We will also visit our newly-opened school Matri Chhaya on the outskirts of the holy city of Kankhal, and train Basanti Ma, our new headmistress who is travelling with us from the divine Banabira village to take up this position.
Our hearts are over-flowing with gratitude for the ceaseless showers of spiritual treasures that Raghabananda Baba has bestowed on us. Many new projects of working closely together are being formed... Stay tuned for more divine news soon!

Today we continue with our The Monk and the Businessman series with a third installment on time management. Differentiating between essential and non-essential things and activities, according to the world's religions. Learning from children how to remain relaxed and happy. A review of what the great sages of various world religions define as being the most important thing in life. The example of the Peace Pilgrim.
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito

The Monk and the Businessman on Time Management - Part 2

Hari om from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa!
Today we continue with our The Monk and the Businessman series with a second installment on time management. With two captivating questions: What is the true meaning of the Sabbath? And why are holidays and "time out" periods often so stressful?
Happy listening!
God bless you all.
Swamito

Visit to a Kriya Village

Banabira (Hero’s Forest)

Orissa, India
February 1st, 2008

By Gurudev Baba Hariharananda’s grace, we had the blessing to see his work in progress through the saintly guidance of Rajarshi Raghabanandaji in a remote village in the Indian state of Orissa. The village’s name denotes the godly work done here on earth by a “Divine Hero”, our beloved Raghabanandaji, Gurudev’s twin soul.

Rajarshi Raghabananda

We could observe how his seva is in perfect alignment with Gurudev’s and God’s will. A perfect expression of love, which flows in all directions, from guru to disciples and from disciples to guru.

Guru is revered as God in human form

Banabira is the only Kriya Village in the world, where Raghabanandaji has been nurturing a Kriya community since 1986. There one can breathe peace and calmness and observe the villagers living a very poor and simple life, yet immersed in an extraordinary state of consciousness and happiness. Out of 1,400 villagers, an outstanding two thirds are kriyavans! In every home there is an altar dedicated to Gurudev Baba Hariharananda…

Nurturing life and love

There is so much devotion to God, Baba and Raghabanandaji and so much faith in Kriya Yoga, that since 2002 the village kriyavans have been building out of their own meagre resources a beautiful ashram. The place is a little heaven on earth, full of flowers, fruit trees, and bird songs. Only love can be felt in all directions, inviting you to dive deep into cosmic and God consciousness. Nearby is a beautiful pond on which banks sits a peaceful little Shiva temple.

Heaven on earth...

Thank you God, Paramahansa Hariharanandaji, Rajarshi Raghabanandaji and Swami Sarveshwaranandaji for allowing us to be a useful instrument of your divine deeds.

Love, love, love…….

Rafael