***** MahaShivratri ki hardik badhaai *****

Source : Ashram's official website and hariomgroup.org

***** Maha-Shivratri *****

Puranas contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. According to one, during the samudra manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world, and they ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from its evil effects, Shiva drank the deathly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This made his throat turn blue, and he was given the name Neelakantha, the blue-throated one. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world.

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated throughout the country; it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha Shivratri falls on the I3th (or I4th) day of the dark half of 'Phalgun' (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati.
On this festival people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandav'.

>> Thousands get ‘diksha’ from Asaram Bapu <<
HT Live CorrespondentAllahabad, February 1 [ Lucknow Edition ]

web link :
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1917495,0015002500010000.htm

IT WAS a moment which once again reflected the faith of thousands of devotees towards their revered guru 'Bapuji' and his teachings to propagate Hindu culture.

Amidst chanting of Vedic mantras, about 25,000 devotees, including a large number of youths, took 'diksha' from Sant Shree Asaram Bapu 'Bapuji' at his Satsang Shivir in Ardh Kumbh Mela area on Thursday. This was the second occasion during the last nine days when such a large number of devotees gathered at the Satsang Shivir, from at least six states, to attend Bapu's three-day 'Shaktipat Camp' and take diksha from their guru.
The diksha programme started at 6.30 am in the morning. But Bapuji's disciples, including a large number of women and youth, started gathering at his Satsang Shivir at around 3 am. A large number of devotees stayed overnight at the camp to avoid any delay in getting diksha. After taking diksha, they remained at the camp till 12 noon and listened to the teachings of Bapuji in the most disciplined and dedicated manner.

Sant Shree Asarama Bapu gave some useful tips to maintain good health by practicing yoga and taking only Ayurvedic medicines. He said: "The pain killers destroy life cells in the body, due to which a person remains unhealthy all through his life. Imbalance of 'vaat', 'pitta' and 'kaf' leads to 132 types of health disorders in the body. This further creates hundreds of other complications. But by following simple steps like having powder of basil (tulsi) leaf in morning one can stay healthy all through his life. The basil seeds also stop aging." Bapuji said he found that people in Allahabad were addicted to tobacco and its products like pan masala. He said due to consumption of these products the people were suffering from skin diseases, gastric disorders and even cancer. "These people should consume butter milk and practice 'pranayam' to get rid of tobacco addiction," he suggested.

Bapuji said few Vedic mantras were very effective in the treatment of heart diseases, high BP, headache and stomach disorders. "Regular chanting of some mantras also gives relief to jaundice patients," he said.

**********Jai Jai Sai Asaram**********

The Grace of GOD is totally spontaneous.

**The words spoken by a lady saint in Western Culture and She is the First western disciple of Bapuji **

Source : mail on hariomgroup from Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram , Saturday,

December 30, 2006 10:07 AM

Web page: http://www.enlightenmentashram.com/enlightenment.htm

Shri Swami Asaramji Maharaj, my former Advaita Monism practical Vedanta Guru from Gujarat, India, now known as Param Pujya Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu gave me a Blessing to teach practical Vedanta.

Guruji founded a new lineage, the Direct Enlightenment Tradition, and also carries the lineages of Swami Sri Master Ram, Saint Sri Asaramji Bapu, Yogeshwar Muni, and Jesus Christ. She teaches from the Center of Her Compassionate Conscious Being. Many find Her spontaneous well of inspiration and sharing from the lives and teachings of other contemplatives, who have come through Advaita Monism Vedanta, Zen, Ch'an, Sufi, and Christian traditions, useful and transforming.

Narayan Narayan

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1909711,0015002500030001.htm
Over 30,000 take ‘diksha’
Smriti Malaviya,

Allahabad, January 23

THE LAST ‘shahi snan’ of Basant Panchami witnessed another congregation of devotees on the banks of the Sangam during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela, on Tuesday.
With beads in their hand and chanting ‘mantras’, over 30,000 devotees from different parts of the country took Vedic ‘diksha’ from Asaram Bapu.

Seated under one roof, the devotees from West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and different parts of Uttar Pradesh took the Vedic ‘diksha’ from Bapu in a blissful ambience.

After the ‘diksha’, they pledged to regularly perform ‘jap’ with mind engrossed in the supreme meaning of the ‘mantra’, observe fast once in a fortnight, eat only ‘satvik’ food and follow the golden principle of ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

Attracted by the huge number of devotees at the ‘Satsang Shivir’, about 500 foreigners also attended Bapu’s discourse on Monday evening. Sewadar and Bapu devotee from America, Deepal Patel said over one lakh Bapu’s disciples had arrived in the Mela area to attend the three-day ‘Satsang Shivir’.

After delivering the ‘diksha’, Bapu said ‘Sadguru’ enlightens a disciple with the essence of his true self, which transcends time and space and the disciple gets liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

The ‘diksha’ aspirants had travelled hundreds of miles and collected at the designated camp at 3.30 am. At least 10,000 of them stayed overnight in the camp and braved the chilly winter winds to avoid the traffic bottlenecks.

*-------------------------------------------*

Sadho.. Sadho..

Source: http://www.ashram.
Pujya Bapuji's Satsang Schedule, Last Updated on 10th January 2007

12th Jan'07 to 14th Jan'07
Uttarayan Dhyan Yog Shivir
at
Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram AHMEDABAD

Ph. (079)27505010 - 11

15th (evening) to 23rd Jan'2007
Tulsi Marg, Sector 4 (Near Bridge No.11),
Mela Kshetra, ALLAHABAD (U.P).

Ph. (0532)2468736, 9335153432, 9236164176

Note : First 4 days' Satsang by Shri Sureshanandji. Poonam Darshan possibility here 90%.

HariomGroup TRUTH TO THINK
__
ISN'T IT STRANGE?Isn't it strange how Rs 20/= seems like such a large amount when you donate it to temple, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at place of worship, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Gita / Bible / Quran / but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in a holy place?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for temple 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other eventsin the last minutes?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible and other holy books?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away,but when we are going to send messages about God, we thing about it twice before we share it with others?

IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?Now that you've read this message, forward it to anybody that you consider a friend.

"We are each of us angels with only one wing.And we can only fly while embracing each other."Sharing and Caring endures human life.

KYA YAH SAB PADANE KE BAD BHI HAM NAHI SOCHENGE KI HAMARE JIWAN KA KYA AIM HAI, KAYA KAR RAHE HAI HAM, KAHA TIME DE RAHE HAI HAM , KYA HAMARA KARTVAY NAHI BANATA KI HAM SAMARTH SATGURU KE MARG PE CHALANE KI KOSHISH KARE JO RASTA UNHONE BATAYA HAI APNE JIWAN ME USE IMPLIMENT KARE AAPKO NAHI LAGATA HARIOM GROUP KE ITENE SARE MEMBER HONE KE BAD BHI EK ANUSTHAN AUR JAP KE LIYE KITANE LOG TAIYAR HOTE HAI . KYA YAHI HAM SAB LOG CHAHATE HAI SABKA MANGAL, SABAKA BHALA GURU CHAHANA EASI HAI

Note : These very valuable thoughts has been send by one of our Gurubhai ”NARESH MOTWANI” to Hariomgroup.

Diwali Greetings

"Sada diwali Sant ki, Aathon pahar anand"

Diwali has many legends and religious accounts to it. Lights and diyas are lit to signifying the driving away of darkness and ignorance, as well as the awakening of the light within ourselves. Diwali is a time for family gatherings, food, celebration and pooja. The goddess Laxmi plays a major role in this festival, as do Ram and Sita. This autumn festival is celebrated for five continuous days, of which each one has its own significance.Houses and Business places are renovated and decorated, entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder (kumkum) all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. The house is kept clean and rangoli is drawn at the doorstep to welcome Goddess Laxmi. For the best time for puja, a pandit is consulted. The general things needed for a diwali puja are silver and gold coins, suparis, uncooked Rice, paan leaves, kumkum for applying tilak, mithaai (Indian sweets), camphor, agarbattis (incense sticks), dry fruit (almonds, cashews), flower petals and Lakshmi-Ganesh icon. Deepavali Pooja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans are sung in praise of the goddess and sweets are offered to her. Deepavali Puja consists of a combined pooja of five deities: Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighnaharta; Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms Mahalakshmi,the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati, the goddess of books and learning and Mahakali. Kuber, the treasurer of the gods is also worshipped.

Sadguru ke Shree charno me samarpit

Name of some other blogs and websites dedicated to Pujya Shri Bapu Ji.

Before visit them, prem se bolo

Jai Jai Sai Asaram

Ashram's Official Web site : www.ashram.org

Hariomgroup Web site : www.hariomgroup.org

Photogallery / Anubhav : www.ashramlive.in

Blogs :-> Name & Author

http://harihariom.blogspot.com/ [Rohit Agarwal]

http://pujyaasharambapu.blogspot.com/ [Naresh Motwani]

( Pujya Dada Gurudev)

Yoga Siddha Brahmaleen Brahmanishtha Pujyapad Swami Shri Leelashahji Maharaj

SatGurudev of Param Pujya Brahmanishtha Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu

[ AtmaSakshatkar Divas ]
Asoj Sud Do Divas, Samvat Bees Ikkis,

Madhyahan Dhai Baje, Mila Ish se Ish

Self-Realization Day (Sakshatkar Divas): 2nd day of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, Vikram Samvat 2021, Asumal became Sant Shri Asaramji Maharaj at the young age of 23.

Bapuji met Swami Lilashahji Maharaj, by Whose grace &

guidance Bapuji's spiritual journey culminated into Self-Realization, at the young age of 23.

Neither happiness nor sorrow has taught me enough...All that I've learnt, is by surrendering myself to Sadguru...

As Every year, we all GuruBalak celebrate this date as Festival, this year the divine date is on 24th Sept. 2006 (Sunday) as per english calender.

Do celebrate this festival and pray to Bapu Ji for self realization...

"Hoga atmagyan woh din kab aayenge !

mite bhram agyan woh din kab aayenge !!"

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.

Rishi Prasad provides a moral & spiritual base in today's changing world, full of stress, anxiety, and tension. It shows one how to enrich & maintain a positive attitude.
The magazine attempts to deliver Pujya Bapuji’s message to the sadhaks around the world. It includes articles to improve the health of both the mind and the body. It contains articles on Yoga, Vedanta, health & the scriptures.

Please take membership of "Rishi Prasad" and try to ask more and more people to join this.

The given details are taken from Ashram's official website. For more details, Please visit : http://ashram.org/%7Erp/index.html

Narayan Hari

Even Water is a Medicine ( Pratah Paani Prayog)

(Pujya Bapuji's instruction)

Drink 1.25 liters of water (4 glasses), which has been kept overnight, early morning before sunrise & before brushing the teeth. Don’t eat & drink for 45 min. of course you wash & brush, after drinking. Do not exercise for 30 min. While following this treatment one can drink water only 2 hrs after meals. Even a healthy person can do this therapy to prevent illness in future. Beginners can start with 2 glasses of water & then increase it to 4 glasses.

Diseases Cured: Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Pain in the Joints, Heart Problems & fainting, meningitis, urine problem, uterus cancer, piles, stomach problems, bile, cytica, cough, old age problems like wrinkles, pimples, paralysis, bronchitis, asthma, leucorrhoea, acidity, swelling, fever, headache, anemia, obesity, tuberculosis, liver ailments, irregularity in menstrual cycle, gas problems, constipation & so on.

******

16th Sep 2006, Saturday

----------------------------

16th Sep, 2006 (Saturday) is astrologically calculated and predicted to be the most beneficial day for spiritual aspirants. The day has Maha anndra Nakshatra in the Surya Rashi. The special feature of this day will be it's splendid bestowing grace for growth in mantra siddhi or mantra accomplishment. Just the chant of Pranav mantra ( Omkar mantra (" Om")) will be crore times fruitful on this day. By the blessings of his divine holiness Sai Asaramji Bapu, all are requested to kindly take as much benefit on this day by fasting, observing maun (silence) and chanting the mantra for as long as possible throughout the day. We would also request you to kindly hand over this message by mail, phone or personally to as many as possible. Bapuji has also said that whoever remembers me and does the mantra on 15 th Sep night and sleeps, will find me in his body and house. I will come to meet him if he obeys this and those who do not follow this will make me upset.

Japaat Siddhi…Japaat Siddhi… Japaat Siddhi….Na Sanshayaa.
Chanting the Mantra will reward you attainment. There is no doubt about this.


-From the discourses and blessings of His Divine Holiness Sai Asaramji Bapu.

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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ***