Aum Gam Ganapataye Namah
this mantra should be chanted calmly.
from Lok Kalyan Setu (Aug'2006)

This year Ganesh-Chaturthi falls on the 27th of August, 2006. It is extremely harmful to look at the Moon on Ganesh-Chaturthi. Therefore be very careful not to look at the moon on that night.
If one happens to look at the Moon on the night of Ganesh-Chaturthi, then no matter how innocent one is, one will definitely be defamed.

Usage and valuable information about 108 beads in JAAP MALA

One of the students at IIT Kanpur, did some research on significance of the no. 108. I think its a usefull piece of information for all:

• How many beads to you have in a maala?
• Why do saints (sadhus) prefix 108 before their name like Shri Shri 108..?
• And why is 108 given so much importance in religion in particular ?

This is a common question that I am often faced with when people come to take my guidance. So I decided to search the answer in numerology and spiritualism.
In numerology, number 1 is ruled by Sun, 0 by the power of Almighty and 8 by Saturn. Sun symbolizes the spiritual aspect of life. Saturn symbolizes the worldly and material aspect of life and almighty denotes perfection and salvation.

Now a question arises why the number is 108 and not 801 or 180 or 810?

The ancient Indians were excellent mathematicians and 108 may be the product of a precise mathematical operation (e.g. 1 power 1 x 2 power 2 x 3 power 3 = 1 x 4 x 27 = 108) which was thought to have special numerological significance.There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.The chakras, in human body, are the intersections of energy lines, and there are a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future. There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or > chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. In a horoscope, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

There were said to be 108 gopis of Lord Krishna.In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.It is believed that Atman, the human soul goes through 108 stages on the journey.

There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.There are 108 Upanishads as per the list contained in the Muktikopanishad.My search continued and soon I got the answer. According to Vedas, the universe was created by five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. From these elements came the three attributes:Raj (birth), Sat (protection) and Tam (destruction or death). Â Perfection or salvation can be attained if there is a perfect balance between the three. Similarly, if analyzed, the number 108 contains 1, which stands for the birth, 0 stands for protection and completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for destruction or death.108 is actually the numerical value of the Almighty's power of perfection. It signifies Radha and Krishna, Sita and Ram.

 I concluded this when I came across the phonetic values given by the great Mathematician Aryabhatta. Substituting his numerical values of the alphabets in Radheshyam or Sitaram we get a total of 108.108 symbolises a perfect combination of the social and the spiritual world. The sum of 108 is 9, which is the number of completion. In numerology I have observed that number 9 is a universal number and signifies completion and salvation. It is really strange but most of the human activities revolve round number 9 " a child normally takes 9 months in the mothers' womb, we breath 72 times in a minute and so on.All the multiples of number 9 add up to 9 when each digit is separately added. This shows yet another characteristic of Number 9. Number 9 is the number that has the potential to absorb everything. All vices and good deeds are absorbed in it.Thus, I conclude that 108 is actually a number of ultimate happiness, perfect compatibility and everything in its perfect form.Writing or reciting a mantra 108 times makes it a complete series and helps the devotee in getting closer to God : the ultimate truth
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For more and other information about the cause of 108 beads in Jaap Mala, please vist : >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_108

*** Guru Vachan ***

We waste a lot of energ by indulging in our senses by being extrovert, indecisive, over imaginative, sensual, etc. Energy and vitality are highly essential to be successful in every walk of life. This vital force develops by imposting self-control over speech, wavering mind and the senses. This is not difficult for a keen and enthusiastic spiritual aspirant. Subdue the wavering mind by the repeated japa of Pranava mantra & practise total celibacy by acquiring techniques prescribed in the concerned books.

Source [ From ' Sadhana Mein Safalta ' ]

**** NEVER FORGET YOUR PARENTS ****

[ To avail this poem in Hindi : ask any ashram shop

"Maa-Baap ko bhulna nahi" (Calender) ]

Lest you forget everything, never forget your parents.
Never forget that their obligations are innumerable.
Worshipped many deities on earth they have, to beget you,
So never hurt their pious hearts with your harshness.
Remaining hungry they themselves, fed you and raised you,
Do not spit poison, on those who have given you nectar.
They have fulfilled all your desires, and loved you deeply,
Fulfill all their wishes, never forget to do this.
Even if you earn millions and your parents are not made happy,
Never forget that without serving them millions are like ashes.
You want your children to serve you, become a child and serve,
What you do is what you get, never forget this justice.
They slept in the wet, but let you sleep in the dry,
Never forget the mother’s loving eyes, and let not tears come to them.
Lovingly flowers they have strewn, along your path,
Never become a thorn in the path of those who guided you.
You can buy anything with wealth,
but you won’t be able to buy parents.
At all times their feet so pure, never forget to love them.

*** Sadhako ke liye Guruvar ka Jagrti Sandesh ***

Bhoot Pret Jaisi vyadhiya door karne ka mantra

('tam' - beej mantra given by Pujya Shree)

‘tam’ is a beej mantra, representing chandradeva, the presiding deity of the Moon. The japa of this mantra is just enough to do away with the sudden impediment inflicting your life.

Write ‘tam’ on a piece of ‘Bhojpatra and insert it into an amulet. Then put this amulet on your right hand. This will remove all sorts of obstacles out of your way.

Just wear an amulet having in it the mantra, ‘tam’ written eleven times on a piece of paper. This helps in cases of deficiency of calcium, poor lactation among women and also comes in handy in soothing a fretting child.

source : Pujya Shri's Satsang Program and hariomgroup.org

Pujya Shri's Rare Glimphs
====================
(Collected from sadhaks)

Sri Vigrah designed by me in my home system

Antar bhaav

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"Chavi aisi nirakh nirakh man mangal aaye!

aathon yaam tratak karu, to bhi man na bhar paye !!"

Self Written Saakhiyan....(Continues)

"Ban Jao Chahe Surma, Bano Ya Malamal !
Sadguru Bhakti Nahi Dil Mein, To Sabse Bade Kangaal !!"

Rakshabandhan par Prarthna

Hey Pyare Gurudev,
Raksha Bandhan ke pavitra divas par bahi bahen ki raksha hetu sankalp leta hai aur bahen ka adhikaar hota ahi ki bahi se khoob pyar aur ashirwad mange. Isi prakar pujya Bapu ji hamein bhi apse khoob pyar aur ashirwad milta rahe. Kyoki jab aap pyar lutane ke liye Pitah,Bandhu, Sakha ban sakte ho to hum bhi bahen ban kar aapse pyar mangte hai.
"Twamev mata ch pitah twamev, Twamev bandhu ch sakah Twamev, Twamev vidhya ch dravinam twamev, Twamev sarvam mam deve dev "
Sahak ka bhaav..Sabhi Shishya raksha pate hai, kyoki Bapu Ji hum shishyo se rakhi bandhvate hai.
Narayan Hari..

Rishi Prasad Patrika-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Source of Spiritual knowledge

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India has always been the spiritual guru of the world. Today, again, as the world looks up towards this spiritual guru for guidance, directions, and many answers, we as Indians feel proud to have spiritual leaders like Shri Asaramji Bapu who selflessly indulges in the spiritual elevation of all those who come in contact with Him.

By the medium of Rishi Prasad, Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu Ashram wishes to share the religious discussions and discourses of Bapu ji with you. By subscribing to Rishi Prasad, you also can become a part of the spiritual revolution which is urging people to question the relevance of their futile existence without a divine faith.

Rishi Prasad is a monthly spiritual magazine, which publishes the excerpts from the satsangs of Shri Asaramji Bapu. The objective of the magazine is to reach out to the people who like reading good literature, and have a thirst for knowledge. Rishi Prasad is published in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Sindhi and Marathi by Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu Ashram, Ahmedabad, India.

From time immemorial, the land of India has been sanctified by the holy dust of the feet of incarnations of God, Sans, Rishis and Sages. In one epoch this land saw the incarnation of Lord Rama, the epitome of righteousness, and in another it s aw the incarnation of Lord Krishna, Guru of the world. The birth place of Maharishi Vedvyasji, who compiled the knowledge of scriptures to illuminate the entire world with spiritual knowledge, was also India. Lord Buddha who spread the message of truth & nonviolence across the world also took incarnation in this land. Surdas, Tulsidas, Raidas, Meera, Eknath, Namdev, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Guru Govind Singh, Ramtirth, Ramkrihna Paramhansa, Vivekanand, Ramana Maharishi, Anandmayi Maa, Udiya Baba, His Holiness Shri Lilashshji Maharaj and numerous other known and unknown Sants have chosen the land of India to enact their known play. It is from India the the message of love, universal brotherhood, friendship humanitarianism, peace and spirituality has swept through the entire world like a cool fragrant breeze.

Today, we have amongst us yet another eminent Sant : His Divine Holiness Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu - a great yogi, a divine personality, a self-realized sant well versed in the knowledge of scriptures and ever absorbed in the bliss of his true self. He has immersed not only India, but the entire world.