Gratitude at the Holy Feet of Sree Sadguru
Sunanda
Dubai (U.A.E)
Hari Aum!
Aum Sree Sadgurave Namah!
Humble Prostrations at the Holy Altar of Revered Sree Guru Parampara.
Sree Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti is very special for me, as I was blessed to be initiated by Pujya Guru Maa on this auspicious occasion. Going to SISS on these auspicious occasions is nothing less than going on a Teerth Yatra for me. Preparing the mind to get out of its mundane worldly ways and setting it up to go inward to reach Maa’s abode!
I reached SISS in the evening; in time for Sree Ishwar Darshan Mandir aarti where after the aarti, Maa explained to us the prayerful attitude, with which one must enter the temple. I humbly bow down at the Holy Feet of Sree Ishwar to keep me prayerful and humble always.
The next day, Sumedha ji and I were blessed to get the opportunity to offer Sree Guru Paduka Puja at the Lotus Feet of revered Guru Sree Adi Shankaracharya ji and Pujya Gurudev on Their auspicious Janm Jayanti.
In the evening the Spiritual Retreat began with the Text on Sree Durga Saptashati. The chanting is so divine that it went on in my mind throughout the evening. After the evening temple aarti, we chanted Sree Ishwar Ashtakam at the Holy Altar of Sree Ishwar and the divinely lit Deep Stambh. Evening bhajans in Sree Sadguru Sharanam have deep impact on me. After dinner Prasad we partook the prasad of Sreemad Bhaagwatam, recently discoursed upon by Pujya Guru Maa in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) in the form of photos and re-lived the divine moments. Dhanyawad to Manish ji for taking time out from his tight schedule, to set up the projector and select the pictures and let us be in the divine memories.
The next day began with aarti and meditation which gave us the boost into another day filled with Pujya Maaji’s divine discourse on Sree Durga Saptashati; a Text which we all have been reading during Navratri each year. But this time’s Retreat gave a different outlook to reading and learning from it.
How should the Text be approached? Firstly, I need to question myself on the Anubandha Chatushtaya, as to whether I am Adhikari of learning this Text? The Vishay, the Sambandh and the Prayojan.
My key learnings from the Text are:
Overcoming physical attachments from Madhu Kaitabh Vadh,
Overcoming my animalistic nature from Mahishasur Vadh,
Transcending My-ness from Nishumbh Vadh and Sublimating I – ness from Shumbh Vadh.
The text can be learnt as,
- Karm Yog by contemplating on Mata Saraswati ji, accepting the Creation as God’s Glory.
- Bhakti Yog by contemplating on Mata Lakshmi ji, accepting all names and forms as God’s expression and
- Gnyaan Yog by contemplating on Maa Durga ji, invoking God through Mantrochaaran.
My perspective of looking at the Text changed after this Retreat.
Koti Koti Naman Maa at Your Lotus Feet.
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि!
Humble Prostrations. Please forgive my errors of omission and commission and my limited understanding.
Hari Aum!