A Divine Shower on Devotees of Aurangabad
Guidance to Study Circle
(9th April 2022, Morning)
It was our weekly Study circle meeting, but this meeting was different and very special. We were blessed to have Mata ji with us!
Mata had come to Aurangabad after a very long time – more than 3 years! We were all very excited and truth be told, a little nervous. At 9.30 a.m Mata arrived – we began with the Purna Kumbh, then did the arati and after offering prostrations at the Altar and to Maa, we all settled down in our places.
At the start, Mata guided us on how the session would be best conducted going forward, in terms of pre-study and discussions when we got together. Mata then asked us if we had any questions from what we had read so far – we have been studying the text ‘Aatm Bodh’. A whole lot of questions ensued, some related to the text under study and some general ones. A few of these were:
- In Aatm Bodh, Sree Adi Shankaracharya ji reinforces the thought again and again through different tangible examples. How should we change our thought process, so as to align with the text and understand Its deeper import?
- The purport behind certain customary duties, cultural activities, religious practices from the scriptural point of view. There were many more that followed…
Mata lovingly and patiently addressed all our queries, our follow up questions and helped us clear a lot of our doubts. She drew on shlokas from Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, real life situations and examples of things around us to make us understand them better. The overall mood was so blissful, we could have gone on for much longer. We were reminded that the scheduled time was over and we needed to conclude with the Shanti Paath.
Having Mata with us, and the interactive element to the discussions made for a very invigorating session. We were fortunate to listen to Mata and make the most of this wonderful opportunity.
We hope and pray that our study circle continues in the spirit and manner as prescribed by SISS and we are blessed with Mata’s presence again very soon.
Hari Aum
Anant Kandoi
Birthday Celebrations & Sree Ram Navami Puja
(10th April 2022, Morning)
Hari Aum!
My prostration at the Holy Feet of Sree Guru parampara and Her Holiness Maa Purnanandaji. Blessed are those who are under the shelter of their Guru, and I feel, I am one of those blessed ones.
On 10th April, on the auspicious day of Sree Ram Navami, we were fortunate to have Her Holiness GuruMaa with us. Fortunately, this day happened to be my birthday as well and I got the opportunity to celebrate this day with my family, extended family and close friends, with Maa gracing all of us by Her benign presence.
We celebrated this auspicious day at our residence. Mata was welcomed with Purnakumbh. Puja was performed with shodashopchaar under the guidance of Her Holiness. We were all blessed to be in the divine shower of the Vedic Mantras being chanted by Mata during the Puja. The entire environment was reverberating with hymns and prayers. In Rajopachaar, we sang bhajans and stutis. After the Puja, Maa initiated the chanting of Sree Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 11 times. This powerful moment reminded me of the goal I had chosen to sincerely pursue, having gained a second life. Bhiksha was offered to Mata. We chanted the prayer and all of us enjoyed the prasad meal.
The birthday song written by Mata was played while the cake was being cut. It isn’t just a song, but a precious blessing. At that time, I sincerely prayed from the bottom of my heart, that may I work hard and dedicate myself to be worthy of every word! The program ended by chanting the Mantra for seeking forgiveness from Lord. Maa's presence on this day was the most precious gift I've ever received, and was over overwhelmed to have this blessed opportunity in my life! I pray to God to give me such kind of birthdays in future, with the blessings of my revered Guru.
Hari Aum!
Sudha Bazaz
Satsang at Samarpan
(10th April 2022, Evening)
Hari Aum!
Sree Ram Navami this year on 10th April’22, was one of the most blessed day for all of us at Samarpan.
Sree Ram Navami celebrations had that added charm, because of the divine presence of my Guru, GuruMaa, H H Maa Purnanandaji!
After years of sabbatical, we, the Aurangabad devotees, had this blessed opportunity of hosting GuruMaa, during this Chaitra Navratri.
Me and my family, we were feeling most elated when Maa agreed to be with us at Samarpan, and bless us all with Her divine satsang.
Mata’s holy presence during the evening celebrations gave each and every soul present there, a chance to bask in Maa’s guided ‘Bhajan sandhya’. The Divine renderings tuned our minds with the Higher, as they contained Lord’s glorious names; some even had such profound depths!
The melodious bhajans of Sree Ram and Sree Hanuman, were all preceded by a guiding preface of beautiful explanations about the significances indicated in the words of the bhajans.
Even the Desh-bhakti bhajan was so elating and inspiring, that invoked a spirit of reverence towards our glorious country!
Whosoever had this golden chance of being present for this evening, were all drenched and soaked completely into Sree Ram Bhakti-Bhav!
The mesmerising evening was concluded by prasad vitaran and blessings by GuruMaa.
Hari Aum
Sumedha
आध्यत्मिक यात्रा (श्री राम नवमी पूजा - औरंगाबाद)
(10th April)
॥ ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
॥ ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः ॥
॥हरिः ॐ॥ जय श्री राम ॥
पूज्य माँ जी के चरण कमलों मे साष्टाँग प्रणाम।
श्री राम नवमी के शुभ अवसर पर माताजी के औरंगाबाद में आने का प्रयोजन जानकर और सुमेधा जी का निमंत्रण प्राप्तकर, मैं और मेरा परिवार हर्षोलित हो उठा।
लगभग ३ वर्षों के पश्चात् माताजी के दर्शन प्राप्त हुए।
पूजा स्थल बहुत ही सुसज्जित् एवम् भव्य आयोजित किया गया था।
श्री राम जी की पूजा पूर्व माताजी ने हमारा मार्गदर्शन किया और श्री रामजी के विषय में प्रवचन दिया।
अगस्त्य मुनि जी ने आदित्यह्र्दय स्तोत्र में श्री राम जी से कहा कि हर क्षेत्र में गुरु की आवश्यक्ता होती है।
गुरु के आज्ञानुसार और मार्गदर्शन के अनुसार ही आचरण करना चाहिए। हम हिंदु हैं और यह जान सकते हैं।
हमें आरामदायक स्थिति में अपना जीवन व्यर्थ नहीं करना चाहिए।
भगवान का अवतार होता है और मनुष्यों का पुनर्जन्म होता है।
तत्पश्चात् श्री राम जी का विधिवत् पूजन् हुआ। सभी उपस्थित लोगों ने राजोपचार गाये।
फिर माता जी ने श्री राम नवमी का संदेश पढ़ा -
"The High Morals & Ethics Lived & Demonstrated by Lord Sree Ram are to be Faithfully Practiced by Every Devotee"
जो जीवनचरित्र प्रभु राम जी का रामायण मे दिखाया गया है, वह हमारे लिए उदाहरण है जिसका हमें अनुसरण करना चाहिए।
अगर मैं भक्त हूँ, तो मैं वास्तव में भक्त बनूँ। वर्ना भक्त ना कहलाऊँ।
गुरुदेव जी का संदेश पढ़ते हुए माँ जी ने बताया कि हमें अपनी स्त्रिओं को अच्छी शिक्षा देनी चाहिए।
यह भजन सदैव याद रखना चहिए - जाहि बिधी राखे राम, ताहि बिधी रहिए....
काम को त्याग कर, राम को याद कर, राम जी की ओर चलें.... हम जो श्री राम जी के भक्त हैं।
"Marching Forward Dynamically"
श्री राम जी का और माता सीता जी का आशिर्वाद लेकर सभी ने प्रसाद लिया।
संध्या में भजन कार्यक्रम के समय माता जी ने बताया -
हम स्वयम् की चेष्टा से सुधर सकते हैं। आज और अभी से सुधरना है। पढ़ना और समझना है। जप साधना, पूजा साधना, भजन साधना करनी है।
हमें परमात्मा से प्रेम होना चाहिए। भगवान के नाम जाप वाले भजन गाने चाहिए।
नवरात्रि के विषय में कहते हुए माँ जी ने बताया -
हमें देवी माँ की शरण मे जाना चाहिए। हमारे भीतर मधु और कैटभ के भावों का नाश करना है। माँ दुर्गा को जगाकर महिषासुर (मन के अंदर पशुव्र्त्ति) का वध करना हैं।
अंत में निशुंभ (मेरा - पन) और शुंभ (मैं - पन) को त्याग करने के लिये निरंतर प्रयत्न करना चाहिए। दिनचर्या की पूजा में "मैं"- पन का त्याग करना चाहिए।
९ दिन निरंतर माँ दुर्गा, माँ लक्ष्मी, माँ सरस्वती की पुजा करें, तत्पश्चात श्री राम जी का आवाहन करे।
भोजन प्रसाद ग्रहण कर एवम् माँ जी का आशीर्वाद प्राप्तकर, हम वापस पुणे की ओर प्रस्थान कर चले।
पूज्य माँ जी के चरण कमलोँ में साष्टाँग प्रणाम।
॥हरिः ॐ॥
पंकज यादव एवम् परिवार
पुणे, महाराष्ट्र, भारत
True meaning and explanation by Maa on Sree Ashtalakshmi Stotram
(as understood by me)
(11th & 12th April)
Hari Aum! My Pranaam at the Holy feet of Guru Parampara and Maa Purnanandaji. We were fortunate to hear Maa explain ‘Sree Ashtalakshmi Stotram’ on 11th & 12th April-2022. Maa’s melodious rendering of the Stotra was totally mesmerising. I felt blessed to learn to invoke Mother Goddess and worship Her in 8 glories namely – Adi-Lakshmi, Dhanya-Lakshmi, Dhairya-Lakshmi, Gaja-Lakshmi, Santaan-Lakshmi, Vijaya-Lakshmi, Vidya-Lakshmi and Dhann-Lakshmi.
The essence that I could derive out of this beautiful Stotra is as follows,
-Maa explained to us about our own ‘Swaroop’ which is Narayan, and our need to return to back to our Swaroop. This can happen only with the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi, as Mother Goddess blesses those purified souls, who are on the path towards Narayan.
-Through Spiritual practices, our mind moves towards purity. Then our prayers are received and His grace is felt. The beginning is with prayers and self-introspection, as Maa has always guided us.
-Reading and then understanding of our Scriptures with sincerity is the way to Moksha.
-Life is to be led with culture and behavior appropriate ethics, which should be the basis of our living.
-We should be content with proper understanding of our own Self. Mother Goddess blesses people who are non-possessive as She comes in the form of satisfaction to them.
-Mother Goddess, being the power in the Jap saadhna and chanting of Mantras, blesses us, when undertaken with the right technique.
-Shastras give the insight to all, who have the Shraddha and Patience to lead a life as prescribed in It.
-Maa Lakshmi relieves us of rebirth, when we dissolve our ego with the help of Real Knowledge and live dedicated to the Higher. Presently most of us are leading a life at a very superfluous level and as and when an individual decides to go back to the true Self, Goddess Mahalakshmi becomes the guiding and the holding force, so that we stay focused on the path.
-Our minds are accustomed to hear only the noise outside, so we are not able to hear the sound of Naad, which is pure ‘Shabd Brahm’. Once we get the blessings, only then can we understand the Knowledge contained in the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads etc. That is the biggest wealth of Devi Maha Lakshmi on us. Thus Maa explained to us the true meaning of “Mahalakshmi”.
Hari Aum!
Mamta Bagla