A Chance to Awaken
Shikha Tulshan
Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
November’19
Hari Aum!
Prostrations at the Lotus feet of Guru Maa.
8th November’19 was a day filled with enthusiasm because soon I was going to be air borne to reach the land of Holy saints and Mahatmas - SISS at Noida. It was that time of the year when the resplendent full Moon of Kartik Purnima announces the annual offering of Sree Ishwara Maha Abhishekam; this time adorned with a Spiritual Retreat on ‘Sree Dakshinamurty Stotram’.
A glorious rendering in the form of verses strung together, Sree Dakshinamurty Stotram is a prayer to be meditated upon by the seeker on the path of Spirituality. With the mystical silence of Sree Adi Shankaracharyaji, His highly evolved disciples who were none other than our revered saints and sages, adorned the Unmanifest Brahman with a form incarnate - Sree Dakshinamurty. This glorious rendering could certainly not be comprehended by us with the present limitations and incapacities of the mind-intellect equipment. But the prayers seemed to be soon answered and the mind started to get prepared.
The Preparations...
- At SISS, With Sree Ishwara watching us all, the duties assigned to each one of us taught us the right attitude of performing while uniting with the Lord.
- The Holy feet of Sree Gurudev at Sadguru Sharanam reminded the virtues they stood upon and the need to cultivate them in our hearts.
- With all the senses having Divinity - a common aspect to dwell upon, the worldly dissipations were held at bay.
- The 6.00 am to 8.00 pm schedule provided a disciplined and a purposeful way to spend each day of our lives.
- The prasad meals at Annakshetra invigorated not only the body, but also the mind and intellect.
- The recapitulation of Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta verses assigned to us provided a mandate to integrate through Karm Yog, Bhakti Yog and Gyaan Yog saadhnas.
With all this having a purifying effect on the minds, the loving call of Gurumaa could now be heard, to listen to the higher Discourse like the cow herds flocking to listen to the flute of Sree Krishna.
The Discourse...
Mataji profounded the text step by step, bringing out the deeper imports unfolding the secret path leading one from the present world of darkness to eternal light.
- What does the Divine Form signify?
- Where does the present world of experiences stem from?
- Are we responsible for our endless transmigrations lives after lives?
- What is Vidya Maya and Avidya Maya?
- How can i get into the boat that can sail me across the ocean of sansaar?
Explaining the significance of the Form Divine - Sree Dakshinamurty, Maa guided us on the importance to contemplate upon It, preceded by daily practice of introspection and concentration.
Through series of scientific analysis, negations and assertions, the Discourse concluded, with prayers in our hearts to let the Knowledge of Reality dawn on us.
The Maha Abhishekam...
The Retreat finally concluded with the auspicious offering of Sree Ishwara Maha Abhishekam at the Ishwara Darshan Temple. With the most purifying morning Puja & Havan, we all got a chance to enter the Garbgriha and offer Abhishekam. The alankaar arati when Sree Ishwara was bejeweled by humble offering by a devotee was a like capturing the sight of the Lord of the Universe being adorned with beauties of His creation!
With such beautiful memories in heart, valuables teachings and an uplifted mind, we returned back motivated to live the correct way in our present set up.
Looking forward to be blessed again.
Hari Aum!