Thursday, October 21, 2010
17 Oct 2010 eN News - The Celebration
Here's some video clips of the celebration. I happened to read the news. Actually I was feeling sleepy while reading this news.....seriously. I just had a day full of activities.
Initiated into probationary sanyas (Yellow Kavi)
Around 7:30pm on Oct. 17th, 2010 (the last day of Navaratri celebration) received sanyas initiation from Paramahamsa Nithyananda.
The whole event became extra fun and special with Swamiji's spontaneity. Before the initiation, at Vaidhya Sarovar, Prana Maharaj and Bhakta Swami reminded me "after this, you will receive initiation". (I wasn't exactly sure what initiation Swami's going to give me). I guessed could be sanyas because that's one thing I expressed to Him in the year of 2007, when He gave first sanyas initiation in Duarte ashram for other LA ashramites.
You know....with Swami, we can't really predict. When we are very sure, He will flip it to something else. Anyway, so from Vaidhya Sarovar, I left early got ready and went to chit sabha on time. Just before the ceremony, Bhakta Swami came and called Gnanamaya (aka Barathi in LA) and myself to go to the stage from the back end. In the front the stage curtain was still closed..
On the stage, there were only 3 of us to be initiated. I was actually very surprise. It was Gnanamaya, myself, and another Indian male ashramite. So the curtain was opened, with the 3 of us on the stage. It was announced "Probation sanyas will be given to 3 ashramites". My name was called first. Any I was sitting very close to Swami's feet. First Swami gave the Gayatri Initiation and put the sacred thread for me, then He gave me energy darshan with blessings. Finally I bow down and took the Yellow kavi from His feet. After initiated the other 2 ashramites, He went into this 'givers' mood. He asked Prana Maharaj bring out more kavis. Then He was simply calling people's name and gave them upgraded sanyas. From yellow to orange. Also from orange to full kavi. Then He opened to the devotees. Who wants sanyas? Not all from the devotees list who wanted got sanyas, but many did. I could just go on and on, talk about the event.
It was Too Much FUN!
In the Living Enlightenment book, there's a topic Swami talks about Sanyas, for those who are curious about the significance of Sanyas initiation.
The whole event became extra fun and special with Swamiji's spontaneity. Before the initiation, at Vaidhya Sarovar, Prana Maharaj and Bhakta Swami reminded me "after this, you will receive initiation". (I wasn't exactly sure what initiation Swami's going to give me). I guessed could be sanyas because that's one thing I expressed to Him in the year of 2007, when He gave first sanyas initiation in Duarte ashram for other LA ashramites.
You know....with Swami, we can't really predict. When we are very sure, He will flip it to something else. Anyway, so from Vaidhya Sarovar, I left early got ready and went to chit sabha on time. Just before the ceremony, Bhakta Swami came and called Gnanamaya (aka Barathi in LA) and myself to go to the stage from the back end. In the front the stage curtain was still closed..
In the above video link at minute 11:35 - You can see me on the stage, waiting to get the initiation.
On the stage, there were only 3 of us to be initiated. I was actually very surprise. It was Gnanamaya, myself, and another Indian male ashramite. So the curtain was opened, with the 3 of us on the stage. It was announced "Probation sanyas will be given to 3 ashramites". My name was called first. Any I was sitting very close to Swami's feet. First Swami gave the Gayatri Initiation and put the sacred thread for me, then He gave me energy darshan with blessings. Finally I bow down and took the Yellow kavi from His feet. After initiated the other 2 ashramites, He went into this 'givers' mood. He asked Prana Maharaj bring out more kavis. Then He was simply calling people's name and gave them upgraded sanyas. From yellow to orange. Also from orange to full kavi. Then He opened to the devotees. Who wants sanyas? Not all from the devotees list who wanted got sanyas, but many did. I could just go on and on, talk about the event.
It was Too Much FUN!
In the Living Enlightenment book, there's a topic Swami talks about Sanyas, for those who are curious about the significance of Sanyas initiation.
Celebrations part 2 :)
Oct. 20, 2010 (Bidadi)
God....I forgot that I need to update this blog. Anyway, by now you must have heard what happened on the 17th.
Continuing from where I left. So the morning session ended with a beautiful energy darshan.When it was my turn for darshan, I received the darshan first then I bow down to touch swami's feet. By then someone else already getting darshan on His right side. After namaskar, I got-up and started walking away, just like two steps away, Swami called "Hey!" I turned and looked at Him, He said "I will give you initiation today". I just smiled and walked away. Swami had a big smile too.
Then around 3:00pm, there was Holli celebration in the temple (at the entrance of the temple). Swami took orange powder and put some color on Bhakta Swami's face. Then gave the whole tray to him. There goes colorful party. Interesting to witness, nobody got upset. Even though some giving instruction not to put color on them, of course everyone was in a playful mood. So no instruction was obeyed. The interesting part is nobody got upset. Nice to see....the whole crowd participated, laughing and running.
The interesting thing is many of them are living on 'aprigraha' or simplicity. With only two sets of sarees and maybe one or two set of salwar Kameez, seeing all this color on their saree.....made my to be a little concern. With that in mind, and especially for me, I was wearing a brand new ashram saree.....no way I got close to the 'holli crowd'. I stayed in the temple and watched the fun from there. Once in a while when someone run into the temple, I manage to hide myself in the store room :) Uuuhh! manage safe to my saree from the holli colorful powder.
Then from the temple, took all the Navratri deities in a procession to Vaidhya Sarovar (Energized large pond), Immersed the deities in a smaller pond, next to Vaidhya Saravor. Then went to Vaidhya Sarovor and Swami sat on a very beautifully decorated float. The rest when in the pond. Again since I just had my bath and wearing a new saree, I stayed dry and watched the crowd so blissfully singing and dancing in the pond. Nice, fun and loud music was playing. Everybody was having so much fun. It was amazing to witness this. Really, I remember thinking, god.....how blessed are these people, very happy!
Ha! now Swami saw me standing.......from the pond sitting on the float, He waved at me, to come in and take a dip in the pond. OK, now I have to join. Here you go.....went and joined the blissful crowd.
So much fun!
God....I forgot that I need to update this blog. Anyway, by now you must have heard what happened on the 17th.
Continuing from where I left. So the morning session ended with a beautiful energy darshan.When it was my turn for darshan, I received the darshan first then I bow down to touch swami's feet. By then someone else already getting darshan on His right side. After namaskar, I got-up and started walking away, just like two steps away, Swami called "Hey!" I turned and looked at Him, He said "I will give you initiation today". I just smiled and walked away. Swami had a big smile too.
Then around 3:00pm, there was Holli celebration in the temple (at the entrance of the temple). Swami took orange powder and put some color on Bhakta Swami's face. Then gave the whole tray to him. There goes colorful party. Interesting to witness, nobody got upset. Even though some giving instruction not to put color on them, of course everyone was in a playful mood. So no instruction was obeyed. The interesting part is nobody got upset. Nice to see....the whole crowd participated, laughing and running.
The interesting thing is many of them are living on 'aprigraha' or simplicity. With only two sets of sarees and maybe one or two set of salwar Kameez, seeing all this color on their saree.....made my to be a little concern. With that in mind, and especially for me, I was wearing a brand new ashram saree.....no way I got close to the 'holli crowd'. I stayed in the temple and watched the fun from there. Once in a while when someone run into the temple, I manage to hide myself in the store room :) Uuuhh! manage safe to my saree from the holli colorful powder.
Then from the temple, took all the Navratri deities in a procession to Vaidhya Sarovar (Energized large pond), Immersed the deities in a smaller pond, next to Vaidhya Saravor. Then went to Vaidhya Sarovor and Swami sat on a very beautifully decorated float. The rest when in the pond. Again since I just had my bath and wearing a new saree, I stayed dry and watched the crowd so blissfully singing and dancing in the pond. Nice, fun and loud music was playing. Everybody was having so much fun. It was amazing to witness this. Really, I remember thinking, god.....how blessed are these people, very happy!
Ha! now Swami saw me standing.......from the pond sitting on the float, He waved at me, to come in and take a dip in the pond. OK, now I have to join. Here you go.....went and joined the blissful crowd.
So much fun!
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