Dear All,

Hari Om !

A friend of ours recently forwarded a petition named “Save Bhagirathi Ganga”. Dr GD Agrawal, who is India’s pre-eminent environmental scientist, faculty of IIT Kanpur, and many other notable institutions is “fasting unto death” for the conservation of the sacred and holy River Ganga (also called as Bhagirathi) above Uttarakashi.

Dr Agrawal is challenging some of the initiatives that the Government is planning to take up which pose potential threats to Ganga and also in general the natural resources.

About Dr GD Agrawal:
In this connection, we went to a website Tapasya and found some wonderful and amazing information on this exquisite personality called Dr GD Agrawal. He is considered a Scientist as well as a Yogi and a Rishi. He was born in Kandhla in Uttarpradesh, graduated in Civil Engineering from IIT Roorkee, obtained his PhD from University of California, Berkeley. He is the most sought-after minds regarding environmental and pollution engineering issues. He is a legendary personality -dynamically active in grass-root initiatives and inspiring many students, teachers and people alike.

Dr GD Agrawal is 76 years old now. He resides in Chitrakut in a small two roomed cottage, cleans his own dishes, washes his own clothes, travels by bicycle, wears a simple home-spun cloth, and has very few posessions and is very humble despite being an accomplished and distinguished scientist.

He started fast-unto-death for saving mother Ganga on June 13, 2008. Please see this petition, and sign it to save our sacred, holy mother Ganga.

SAVE Bhagirathi-Ganga: SIGN Petition here

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari

We were listening to one of Swami Tattvavidananda ji’s discourses and were so captivated by one example that he gave which highlights the difference between a Jnani (a realized one) and all the others.

The example is this:

There is a Giant wheel. It has axle in the horizontal plane and it rotates 360 degrees in the vertical plane. It is in the mela setting and as we ordinary people do, everyone is enjoying the mela. This Giant wheel is rotating so fast, going to the top and then coming to the bottom, with high speed.

A monkey came and jumped to the edge of a seat. Now it is on the top, and in the next moment, it was at the bottom. Again the giant wheel took it to top, and then to the bottom. Thus it is rotating without break and the poor monkey is clinging to its life sitting on the giant wheel.

Now, A pigeon came and sat on the axle of the wheel. The axle does not rotate, it is the wheel that rotates. While the giant wheel is moving up and down, this pigeon is not perturbed like the monkey, but is seated on a firm axle and just witnessing.

This Giant wheel is Samsara or the World. We ordinary people get on the wheel of the world and always are subjected to ups and downs. Whereas a Jnani, a realized person is not in the Samsara. He is detached and just witnesses !

What a wonderful example !

yours, In Service of Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari

Dear All,

Hari Om !

We are glad to bring out the second issue of Divine Ambosia for the month of May.

Please follow this link to view it and download it.

Divine Ambrosia, Issue-2, May 2008

If you would like it to be in more fancy layout, here it is, which is published in “ISSUU”

If you would like to contribute articles for publishing in this magazine, please send them to
DivineAmbrosia.ezine@gmail.com

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Thank you,

Yours In Service,
Aparna & Hari

Dear All,

Hari Om !

We got out the first issue of the Spiritual Monthly E-Magazine “Divine Ambrosia”. We hope to keep it as a monthly issue.

You can read it online here on Issuu, which provides good reading and zooming layout of the PDFs:

Or you can view on Saranaagathi website:
DIVINE AMBROSIA E-Magazine - April 2008.

Happy Ugadi to All of you !

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Hari & Aparna

Dear All,

Hari Om !

We have finally completed the project of creating a PDF book of Vishnu Sahasra Namavali along with their English meanings.

Vishnu Sahasra Nama is the most commonly recited Stotram in India. These One Thousand Divine Names of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu or the Sahasra Namavali appear as part of conversation between the Grandsire Bhishma and King Yudhistira. While working on this project, we have learnt a lot about the Divine Names of Lord Vishnu which till now during recitation, we did not much know about. For the English meanings, we have referred to several sources, and then penned down what we thought was more close to the correct description of the meaning.

Please download this Vishnu Sahasra Namavali PDF book here or alternately, you can go to the DOWNLOADS section and download it.

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari.

Dear All,

Hari Om !

Jai Kailasavasa Sankara Bhagavan ki !

Download Rudrashtakam Audio here ! (In the Voice of Param Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, President of Chinmaya Mission).
Dowload Rudrashtakam Text here ! (Author: Goswami Tulasidas in RamacharitManas)

Today is the holy occasion of Maha Sivaratri. Some people celebrated yesterday, March 5th and some people are celebrating today, March 6th, depending on calendar specifics.

Sivaratri is an auspicious occasion to please Lord Siva. He will be very pleased with Japa, Dhyana and Abhisheka today. Generally Upavas (fast) and Jaagaran (Night Vigil) are carried on today by devotees. Japa of Panchakshari mantra will benefit immensely. Those who are devotees of Lord Rama, should especially use this occasion to carry out Puja and Worship of Lord Siva and doing the Panchakshari Japa, as Rama is immensely pleased with this.

In Ramacharitmanas, Lord Rama tells the secret of having his devotion and darshan to the people of Ayodhya. “Those who want to develop devotion to me and have my darshan should worship Siva and do his service as there is no one who is dearer to me than Siva.” Also, our Gurudev Swami Sivananda ji Maharaj has specified that, any devotee of Rama, should engage himself in the worship of Lord Siva atleast for three months before engaging in worship of Rama. The worship of Lord Siva will remove all impurities and make our mind and hearts pure and clean.

The following can be done today according to the feasibility of the devotee:

1. Fast
2. Abhishek of Siva, with pure water, milk, honey, Ghee, Banana - Panchamruta Snanam
3. Decorate with flowers, Sandal paste and if available Bael leaves (Bilva or Maredu)
4. Offer Naivedyam and Arati
5. Recite Ligashtakam, Rudram, Purushasuktam, Rudrashtakam, Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantram
6. Engage in Kirtan of Lord Siva
7. Do Japa of Panchakshari or Mrutyunjaya Mantra
8. Perform Japa throughout night and do Japa with Dhyana of Lord Siva
9. Try praying only for Spiritual Upliftment, and not any material gains.
10. Offer all your worship and prayers unto Lord Siva.

Download Gurudev Swami Sivananda ji Maharaj’s article on Siva Yoga Sadhana .

Also, please hear the Audio of Siva Dhunis and simple kirtans by Gurudev Swami Chidananda ji Maharaj here.

Jai Bholenath Sankar Bhagavan ki !
Jai Viswanath Bhagavan ki !

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari

Dear All,

Hari Om.

I have uploaded an article entitled “Guru” by Swami Sivananda. This is actually a small chapter taken from his book, “Bliss Divine”.

This article talks about Guru. Guru is glorified from times immemorial, who, having experienced God-realization himself, connects several ardent beings with the Immortal.

“Ajnana Timiraandhasya Jnaanaanjana Salaakaya |
Chakshurunmiilitam yena tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha ||”

“I bow to Guru, who dispels the darkness of ignorance, by Knowledge, and who opens our eyes to the Infinite Lord indwelling all.”

We all have gross ego and subtle ego. We all have pride of learning, prejudices, and also a Fixed Baggage (which we have accumulated over many years) of ideas, concepts, intelligent discussions, arguments etc. To Know the Lord, Saints have proclaimed that we need to “unlearn” these various things that we have accumulated in the mind.

Once a person asked Swami Chinmayananda, “what all you say are there in the books and scriptures, then what is the use of a Guru ?” Swamiji replied humorously, “Why are you asking me that question ? Ask your book-guru only ! ” Books and knowledge are good Swadhyaya, but that is not all. Service to a Guru, devotion to his feet, and surrender to His feet, will lead us to the Lord.

Guru does Ego-dectomy on us. He performs the spiritual-life-saving surgery on us by removing ego in us.

There is also a wonderful article on “Sure ways for Guru Kripa” by Swami Chidananda ji Maharaj. I like this article very much, and sometimes think that I should carry it with me in my purse wherever I go, so it will be a constant reminder to me.

Please read through these articles and derive immense benefit.

You can download them here:

Guru by Swami Sivananda
Sure Ways to Guru Kripa by Swami Chidananda

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari.

Dear All,

Hari Om !

The Sivananda Daily Reading today is very inspiring and wonderful. Many times Gurudev have responded and answered our questions through the Daily Readings.

THE THREE THINGS by Swami Sivananda

Eat three things; wear three things; practise three things: Ahimsa, Satyam and Brahmacharya. Remember three things: death, afflictions of the world and God. Renounce three things: egoism, desire and attachment. Cultivate three things: humility, fearlessness and love. Eradicate three things: lust, anger and greed.

Friends! Here are some triads for your daily spiritual practices. Three things to love: desire for liberation, company of the wise and selfless service; three things to despise: miserliness, cruelty and petty-mindedness; three things to admire: generosity, courage and nobility; three things to respect: Guru, renunciation and discrimination. Three things to control: tongue, temper and tossing of mind.

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari

Dear All,

Hari Om !

Vairagya (dispassion) is very important in Spiritual path. Gurudev often said that sadhana without the element of vairagya is like a cracked pot which slowly leaks away the effects of sadhana. Personally, I encounter this difficulty, as it is not easy to get concrete Vairagya towards many things, many habits which formed grooves in our mind.

The Four Spiritual Gems, that are outlined by Swamiji will really motivate us in developing both vairagya and devotion to Lord.

Four Spiritual Gems:

1. Remember the pains of Samsara
2. Remember Death
3. Remember the Saints
4. Remember God

(1) and (2) will produce Vairagya.
(3) will bring inspiration.
(4) will cause attainment of God-Consciousness.

Let us all benefit by remembering these four points.

Yours, In Service of the Lord and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari

Dear All,

Hari Om !

This year in February, we already had one Annual Solar Eclipse on Feb 07, 2008 approximately lasting for an hour. Another Eclipse, Total Lunar Eclipse is going to occur on Feb 20, 2008 in US and Feb 21, 2008 in India.

Eclipse is an auspicious time for spiritual seekers. It is not just auspicious, but it is exceedingly rewarding. Gurudev Swami Sivananda ji Maharaj has specified in his “Japa Yoga” book, that few malas of Japa done during Eclipse time with concentration, devotion and faith (or any sadhana for that matter), will be more than hundred times powerful. For Spiritual upliftment, overcoming the inner enemies of various negative tendencies that are obstructing our progress, this is God-given opportunity for us to appease Him more. If He is appeased, then the whole word is !!

If One Eclipse is not used, we have missed one golden opportunity in our spiritual life. Let us keep this in mind, and with all renewed enthusiasm plunge into whatever sadhana we are doing with more vigor on this eclipse day.

Few Points:
1. In Central Standard Time, Eclipse begins at 7:43 pm and ends at 11:09 pm on Feb 20, 2008. Refer to the map here:

2. For all other times in USA, refer to here:

Generally, it is not that the effect of sadhana during eclipse is possible only when it is visible to us. I don’t have any arguments to say no, but I personally think that we should look ourselves as tiny points and this earth as a small ball. Then there is no question of being visible or not. We will Definitely be influenced by the Eclipse even if it is not visible to us.

Yours, In Service of the Lord, and Gurudev,
Aparna Hari