Gayathri Peedam

2011-09-19T09:17:00.007+02:00

2011-07-10T12:56:00.051+02:00

2011-07-10T12:56:00.030+02:00

The Gayathri Peedam Crafts project invites devotees and students to hand make products to sell at the temple and to family and friends in order to raise funds for the purchase of specific items for the temple. The most recent purchase funded by Gayathri Crafts was a new stove for the ashram kitchen. Please contact us if you would like to participate in this ongoing fundraising initiative.

2011-07-10T12:56:00.028+02:00

All funds generated from sales of goods in our Prayershop are used towards the upkeep of the temple. Swami Shankarananda selects most shop products personally when He visits India and Sri Lanka.
This month we focus on Navagraha Products.

To view more products available in our prayershop, please visit the Gayathri Peedam Facebook page.

2011-07-10T12:56:00.019+02:00

Experience an India tour with Swami Shankarananda Maharajji (Shankarananda Mogandasa Moodley) as your personal guide.Visit the holy places of Varanasi, Dharmsala, Katmandu, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Bangalore in North India and the whole of South India.

Email sivabalayogi@mweb.co.za for more information.

2011-07-10T12:56:00.005+02:00

2011-07-10T12:55:00.004+02:00

Swami Shankarananda
sivabalayogi@mweb.co.za

President
Deanadayalan Petzer
dean@creativeprintworld.co.za

Chairperson
Shabhana Bhagwandeen
shabhana@webmail.co.za

Treasurer
Surendran Pillay
SPillay2@sars.gov.za

Secretary
Deepak Folly
Deepak.Folly@uec.co.za

For general inquiries
Jo Petzer (PA)
jo.petzer@mweb.co.za

2011-07-10T12:55:00.003+02:00

The Great Science and Power of Gayathri
by Swami Murugesu Maharishi

Navagraha Pooja, Prayer for the Nine Planets
Info booklet by the Gayathri Peedam

A Millionnaire Consciousness
Free booklet on wealth sharing on the spiritual journey

Free Magazines

2011-07-10T12:54:00.003+02:00

Craft Initiative

2011-07-10T12:54:00.001+02:00

2011-07-10T12:53:00.003+02:00

The Peedam Prayershop was established during 2006. It is the perfect intimate outlet to purchase a wide range of spiritual items and prayer goods from books to incense, yantras, merus, clothing, incense, CDs, crystals and mala beads. Most of the shop articles are brought back by me from my travels to India and are resold to raise funds towards the upkeep of the temple. Goods made by the Peedam Craft group are also sold in the temple shop to raise funds for ashram items.

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2011-07-10T12:50:00.005+02:00

The last stop on our tour of the Gayathri Peedam is the Yogiar Meditation Garden. It was designed by me as a personal dedication to Yogiar Ramaiah, and was consecrated on the 6th of February 2011. It is a meditation and healing haven and contains a water feature with a Shiva Murthi and a mercury lingam for healing. When viewed from the front, the fountain in the back section of the water feature creates the illusion of water pouring onto the head of the Shiva Murthi. Devotees and students are invited to meditate in the garden at any time.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of our beautiful temple. We would love you to visit and enjoy it in person.

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2011-07-10T12:49:00.014+02:00

Construction of the upstairs yoga hall was completed in 2003, along with the completion of the main temple. Yoga classes began on the front lawn during the first visit by Yogiar Ramaiah to the ashram in January 2000. Classes continue today and are given by teachers who I train myself. The yoga hall is also used for youth classes, scriptural studies, discourses and workshops. During Kriya Initiation retreats, it is used as a temporary residence for female initiates.

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This Shrine was installed during September 2009, in memory of my guru, Swami Murugesu Maharishi, who attained Mahasamadhi (conscious exit from the physical body) on September 24, 2007. The purpose of the shrine is to protect and keep safe the remains and personal belongings of Swami Murugesu so his energy can continue to permeate the environment.

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The Mother Mary Tea Terrace is used by devotees and yoga students to relax and socialise. The statue of Mother Mary is a main feature of the terrace and serves as a reminder of unity in diversity - that the Gayathri Peedam is welcome to everyone of all denominations. It is also to remind us to be selfless, express a motherly love to all we meet and refrain from gossip during social time.

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2011-07-10T12:49:00.008+02:00

The puthu (snake pit) was discovered in April 1999. No one even knew it was here. Asodyaya Ma got up one morning in a trance and walked here from her home. She guided Swamiji and Jagadambal to the puthu. It is unique as only some devotees can feel the energy.

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2011-07-10T12:48:00.016+02:00

This unique shrine was installed during a special pooja from the 17th to the 19th December 2008. Paying reverence to the sapta rishis (seven rishis) allows us to be guided by the masters in whatever we do. The dhyana lingam is used for meditation and, being crystal, it emits a greater energy than most other lingams. Worship is conducted on a regular basis.

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2011-07-10T12:48:00.015+02:00

The main structure of the Gayathri Peedam was started in March 2000 and completed by December 2000, with 2003 seeing the final completion of the ashram. The Gayathri Murthi was installed in July 2006. The foundation was divided into 8 pads of 3 metres by 3 metres each. During the temple consecration, both the Om sign and the Babaji Yantra appeared in the concrete. The Gayathri Murthi is perfectly aligned with the setting of the sun which illuminates it daily at 15h00 during winter.

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The Babaji Hawankund was installed at the same time as the shrine to generate the energy of Babaji which permeates the area during hawan and reciting of the Kriya Babaji Mantra (Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum). It is believed that the energy radiated from this homam extends for a distance of 15 kilometres into the surrounding community. A Babaji Hawan is conducted after every abishekam that is performed for the Babaji Murthi.

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2011-07-10T12:47:00.031+02:00

The Navagraha Shrine at the Gayathri Peedam was installed by Swami Murugesu on the 5th of April 1998. It is used during the Navagraha and Mahanavagraha Poojas. Their purpose is to counteract possible negative astrological effects caused by any of the nine planets. A Navagraha Pooja is conducted every Saturday morning. Devotees are required to bring with them milk, maas, 9 bananas, 10 flower buds per person, 9 betel leaf, a new towel, bucket with lid and offering tray with milk and fruit. During the Pooja devotees walk around the temple 108 times, perform Navagraha abishegam and take part in a hawan. A Mahanavagraha Pooja is conducted every three months.

For more information on the Navagraha Pooja, please download our free Navagraha Pooja booklet HERE.

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A separate Sani (Saturn) shrine was installed at the Gayathri Peedam in 2005. This was done for the convenience of devotees who were unable to fast without salt but able to fast without meat for nine consecutive days. After a nine week fast, devotees conduct a prayer specifically for Sani to remove obstacles on their path ahead. This prayer is done as part of the Navagraha Pooja every Saturday morning between 4am and 6am.

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The Gayathri Peedam Shiva Mandir was established on the 29th of March 2003 to balance the Shakti energy of the Mother so that the temple resonates in both Shakti and Prakrti (Shiva). Every Friday a mrytimjaya pooja is performed with 108 repetitions of the Tryambakam mantra. Linga abishegam is performed during auspicious prayers. This entails washing of the Shiva Lingam with milk, maas, honey, banana, manjal, sugar and other ingredients. Every Thursday at 05h00 linga abishegam is performed by students of the Jadatharaya Yoga Institute.

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A Hanuman Shrine was first installed at the Gayathri Peedam during 1997 but has recently been replaced by a new shrine during a special consecration pooja on the 9th April 2011. I began worship to Hanuman during 1989 after I experienced Him sitting right next to me in my car one day. It is for this reason that the great devotee of Ram has a personal shrine at the Gayathri Peedam. Dedication to Hanuman is performed on Tuesdays at the Stanger branch of the Gayathri Peedam, during which the Hanuman Chalisa is recited, followed by service.

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Construction of the Babaji Shrine was personally directed and consecrated by Sri SAA Yogiar Ramaiah on the 18th of January 2000, in the pouring rain, during his first visit to the Peedam. Agasthiar and Boganathar were Babaji’s gurus and Yogiar is a direct disciple of Babaji. Mahavatar Kriya Babaji Nagaraj is known as the ‘deathless saint’ and is said to be over 2000 years old and still living physically near Badrinath in the Himalayas. In honour of Kriya Babaji, Babaji Abishekam is conducted every Thursday afternoon and by the Kriya Yoga students at 5am on the first Saturday morning of every month.

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This shrine was the original Gayathri Temple where services were held before the large temple hall was built. The first service was held here on 27th September 1996, even though the building was not yet complete. It took more than a year to build and was finally finished during 1997. The murthi of Mother Gayathri was consecrated by Swami Murugesu on 5th April 1988 after the consecration of Mother Duruga which was held on the 16th November 1996. Other murthis housed in this temple are: Ganesha, Duruga and Mahavishnu. The precise positioning of this temple displays a rare and unique occurrence every winter when the rays of the sun illuminate the Mother both at sunrise (07h00) and at sunset (15h00). Today this temple is used every Saturday morning for Navagraha Pooja and every Thursday for Gayathri abishegam.

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Temple Tour

2011-07-10T10:26:00.006+02:00

Start tour.

2010-05-26T05:16:00.016+02:00

God as Divine Mother

However we perceive God to be, that is how we will experience the presence of the Infinite. There are many paths to God and ways of relating to God. The Gayathri Peedam* teaches that, of all the relationships in the world, that of mother and child is the purest. We can picture God as an old man with a long white beard sitting on a throne in the skies above, or, we can see God as a mother and yourself as a her child, sitting on her Infinite lap, playing with her hand and drinking of her spiritual elixir.

Gayathri is one of the most powerful names of the Mother, and the Gayathri mantra, similarly is one of the most powerful mantras to recite, holding within its phrases the 24 universal manifestations. The image of Mother Gayathri is deeply symbolic, each article She holds being a reminder to us of the different aspects of the spiritual journey.

The Gayathri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuva Swah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahee

Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayath

* 'Peedam' means 'seat'. The Gayathri Peedam is regarded as the 'seat of the mother'.

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click image to download
NAVAGRAHA POOJA
Prayer for the Nine Planets
(1.14mb PDF)

2010-05-26T05:15:00.014+02:00

A Millionaire Consciousness

A Selection of articles on the significance of wealth sharing on the spiritual journey.

Click the image to download, read and share with friends and family.

2010-05-26T05:15:00.012+02:00

The Great Science and Power of Gayathri
Divine Universal Mother
by Swami Dr. RK Murugesu Maharishi

has just been relaunched in English.
This new edition consists of 144 pages including a comprehensive glossary of terms.

CLICK HERE
to download the first four chapters for free.
(PDF file)

CLICK HERE
to purchase a printed copy of the book online.

2008-03-07T12:37:00.009+02:00

ARTICLES

The Science of Hinduism
The Purpose of Hawan
The Science of Mantra
Navarathri Pooja
Understanding Navagraha

2008-01-08T09:41:00.003+02:00

PHOTO SLIDESHOWS

Navarathri Chariot Procession 2009

2008
Sapta Rishi Temple Consecration
Navarathri Chariot Procession
Mahanavagraha (nine-planet ceremony)
Kavadi
Shivarathri

2007
Gayathri Maha Yajna

Navarathri Chariot Procession 2009

2007-11-24T07:34:00.003+02:00

2007-08-16T07:51:00.008+02:00

The Gayathri Peedam of South Africa, abode of Divine Mother, was established in September 1996 and operated from a small temple building on the residential property of Swami Shankarananda. The Gayathri Peedam was consecrated by Swami Murugesu Maharishi at its official opening in 1998 and has also been visited by numerous spiritual teachers including Pundit Munilal, Sri Haridas Acharya, Yogiar Ramaiah and Shibendu Lahiri. The Gayathri Peedam provides a spiritual haven where multi-denominational members of the community can congregate to worship, study the scriptures and practice yoga.

Gayathri Mantra

2007-07-15T18:49:00.000+02:00

Click here to find out more.

The Science of Mantra

2007-07-15T18:37:00.000+02:00

by Swami Murugesu

When one shouts out a word, it is heard by those around him up to a certain distance. How is it that they are able to hear this? The sound travelled from the person who shouted to the person who heard the sound. Sound travels through space and soundwaves spread in all directions but powerful soundwaves travel further while weaker ones travel only a limited distance. These are facts that are known to all.

By filming a burning candle while repeating certain sounds, the flame of the candle will be seen to burn differently as each different sound is uttered. If colour film is used, it will be seen that the colour of the candle flame will change also with the different sounds. This is because each sound emits a different vibration, which in turn effects the energy of the flame, causing it to change shape and colour. Sound therefore has speed, shape and colour and there are many scientific instruments that can be used to prove this.

In a cinema, sound waves are converted to light waves and then back to their original state, resulting in the light and sound that is visible to us on the cinema screen. A chain of continuous sound is capable of producing shape and power to act. If a room is filled with smoke and a specific musical note is played on a particular musical instrument, there will be a movement in the smoke and the image of Jesus will form. If a door is set to open to a particular sound vibration, it will do so when the correct sound is produced. There are many similar situations present in our modern electronic world.

If an electronic device is fitted to a car with a remote control, the car can be made to turn left or right, or proceed ahead, complying with the commands of impulses. This has been seen by many and it is also a known fact that plants grow better while music is played to them. Certain music can cause people to sleep, other music can cause hypnosis, while still other music can result in increased physical energy. Even a sick person can be healed by listening to certain music.
Certain sounds can affect our circulation and nervous system. For example, by repeating ‘Ram, Ram, Ram’ 1008 times, a person’s body heat can be increased. If ‘Sam, Sam, Sam’, is similarly chanted, it will create cold. Whatever change such vibrations cause, extends to the mind of a person and also to the surrounding atmosphere, causing warmth or coolness. All this can be known by study and shown by practise.

All activities of the body and mind are externally influenced. If there were no Sun, there would be no pranic energy in the body. Without the moon, brain-fluid would not exist. Whatever is in Pinda comes from Anda.

Mantras are capable of channeling particular energies and, when a specific number of repetitions of a mantra (Japa Mantra) are chanted, a person’s body and mind resonates with the frequency of the mantra which permeates the surrounding atmosphere, attracting more of the same energy frequency. Great sages have given us specific mantras to help us attract Divine beings, sometimes allowing the practitioner to even see the subtle form of such being with his physical eyes. The frequency of Japas that are repeated in order to accomplish a specific goal, will spread into the surrounding atmosphere, attracting the energy specific to the required situation and helping the practitioner to achieve his required goal.

The Purpose of Havan

2007-07-15T18:14:00.001+02:00

A Havan is a sacred fire-pit used to create a fire into which offerings to God are placed, so that they can be converted to energy and dissipated into the surrounding ether to the Lord.

The Havan plays an important part at all Hindu religious ceremonies. Ghee and havan samagree are offered as oblations when a haven is performed. The samagree is made up of sandalwood, other vegetable matter, medicinal herbs and roots, and food (prasadh). The act of putting the ghee and samagree into the fire is called ahuti (oblation), and every ahuti is made with the chanting of the word swaha.

Agni is another name for God and, therefore, the Havan is not a worship to the visible fire. Agni means all-pervading, adorable, light-producing, illuminating and it produces radiance and heat. The ghee lamp that is lit at the Havan is a symbolic representation of the victory of light over darkness, of knowledge over ignorance and pros-perity over poverty. While performing the Havan we pray to God and sing praises of Him. The Mantras urge us to perform good deeds and become noble. Parents pray to have all the beneficial things in life including good and righteous children, while their children wish to acquire beneficial knowledge for the improvement of their quality of life.

The Havan also gives us benefits in that it purifies the air and the germ-destroying, health-promoting and sweet-smelling ingredients in the ahuti also purify the surrounding atmosphere. The Havan takes a spiritual form when it disciplines the mind and kindles the inner spiritual light. It burns up evil desires such as anger, jealousy, greed and pride, and removes sorrow and pain with the fire of knowledge. When the Havan is performed its radiation is felt by all the devotees. When chanting the man-thras, we say together, idamagnaye idanna mama. This means that all the wealth, material belongings and power with possessions are not ours. We have acquired them with grace of the Almighty God. They are considered to belong to God and we use them for the benefit of everybody. The spirit of the Havan is worship, benevolence, renunciation, sacrifice and unity.

The Science of Yantra

2007-07-15T18:06:00.000+02:00

by Swami Murugesu

Yantra is described by Roy Eugene Davis as a "geometrical portrayal of cosmic forces and their actions that may be used for meditative contemplation".

Hold your fingers spread before a lamp. Look at the edges of your fingers. What do you notice? You observe a smoke-like phenomenon. Similarly, hold a bit of paper in front of the lamp. You will notice the same thing around it as you saw around your fingers. Hold a leaf before a lamp and you will see a similar sight. In all the things, a similar observation will be seen. What is this?

In the universe, starting from an atom to the Sun, nothing is still. All are getting worn out and atoms are being replenished. Around an object, worn out atoms make an exit and new atoms are replenished. What you saw in front of the lamp was a radio active sphere. To the ordinary eye, it looks like smoke but, if you with the subtle eye, you will see electrons moving up and down. The magnet that attracts iron has a gravitational sphere around it which attracts iron filings. Similarly, around an electric wire you can see such a sphere. The transformers in a radio work on this principle.

The radiating energy from an object, leave the object in certain patterns. From the sphere of gravitation we can tell what kind of object it is. Some are triangular and some are square. Sri C.V. Raman opined that, by observing light rays, we can determine the nature of an object. To make electrons exit and enter an object, some energy is required. The energy must be in the object itself. Today’s science has proved that materialisation of things is due to compression of energy. Therefore, the functioning of energy in objects vary. Some are very fast and others are slow. Some activate the energy in a triangular shape and some in a square shape. The shape of an object also varies due to the arrangement of atoms in the object.

For example: charcoal, coal, graphite and lead all have the same basic material, but their shapes change because of the arrangement of atoms in them. All objects have energy rays and when they come close to one another, there is a direct clash of energies. At this juncture, the one with greater energy will make the weaker one inactive. Not only this, it will induct some of its energy into the weaker object. This is called exchange of energies, or occupying the weaker object. (In Tamil it is called Prabhavital) You may have heard about ‘Rasa Vada’. By this method copper can be made into gold. The principle behind this is that explained above. copper and gold have electrons of a particular shape. If the electrons of mercury and other objects are induced in copper, it will turn into gold. Similarly, if electrons are inducted in gold, we can change gold into some other object. Our ancients have kept it as a secret. Today’s science is able to prove this point.

All objects are a compression of energies. The basis of several things combine with several electrons. As already stated, all things are radiating. The stronger radiating object, will absorb the weaker one and will change its character. Mental energy is the strongest of all the energies in the world. It is in great measure in man but it is functioning according to the impulses of his five sensory organs. If this mental energy can be controlled and made to act according to our wishes, we will be able to change all the energies in the world. This is the secret of yoga.

Yanthra can store a lot of electrons and is capable of releasing them slowly. If one can store his mental energy in gold, silver, cloth, water, fruits, vibhuthi and vermillion, it will stay in these articles for a long time and keep on radiating for many days. This radiation enters the aura of people who associate with one and make their minds act as per his wish, and they become great. With the mental energy, create such radiation that will enter the mind of humans; and charge them on a metal plate (an alloy of copper, gold, silver, lead and bronze) which have words of manthras and various geometric figures engraved on it. Such geometrical figures and manthras have power implanted in them capable of changing the mind of a person who comes near it.

Understanding Navarathri

2007-07-15T18:02:00.002+02:00

Navarathiri Puja is a Hindu prayer that takes place over ten days and nine nights. Navarathri means ‘nine nights’ and is dedicated to the Female aspect of God, or the Universal Mother. The nine-day puja is separated into three parts, each carried out over three days. The first three days is set aside for Durga Devi, the next three days for Lakshmi, and the final three days for Saraswathi. Sometimes an extra day is added for the worship of all three deities.

The power behind creation is Shakthi (universal energy) in its three aspects: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. This power, we are assured by the Rishis (great sages), resides in each one of us. We have to invoke this Shakthi to assist us in reaching our ultimate goal which is realization of Oneness with the Divine Self in us.

Navaratri aptly starts on the first day after Amavasya, the New Moon day. The moon was steadily waning and reached its last stage of losing all the luster from the bright Sun. In Hindu mythology, the unsteady mind with its varying moods and modes is represented by the waxing and waning moon. In the ideal state, the mind must be always illumined by Divine Knowledge, represented by the Sun but, due to ignorance, we manage to cast upon it the dark shadow of our selfish ego which is bent upon fulfilling its worldly selfish desires. As a result, we progressively descend into the depths of spiritual darkness comparable to the full moon steadily declining over the fortnight into Amavasya or New-moon. Hope still exists because the Sun of knowledge continues to shine in the deep recesses of our hearts. We have only to know this, make a determination and reach it with great effort, overcoming the obstacles in the way caused by our misdirected ego.

This determination and effort is indicated by the commencement of the Navaratri celebration starting with the worship of Durga, invoking her Shakthi for the removal of the obstacles in our spiritual path; these obstacles were responsible for our decline into the lack-lustre new-moon mind-set. Mythology tells us that Durga is the One who destroyed the powerful demon Mahishasura (Mahisha = Bull; asura = demon, our undisciplined self). The Bull is characterized by great inertia and also great rage – a very apt model for our own ego. (Remember the bull in the china shop?) All our spiritual practices are hindered by inertia; we start, but soon stop, like the immobile bull on the street blocking all traffic. No wonder we make very little progress. We are also swayed by extreme passions like the enraged bull which then charges wildly. The slaying of this demon by Durga symbolizes the taming of this ego-bull and putting it to productive use in the service of God. Observe how the same bull under the total control of its master Shiva becomes Nandi who is worshipped – Nandi always faces the Lord and is eternally in His service. The Durga Shakthi, if invoked through prayer, will help us to yoke our ego and plow the spiritual field for us.

The next three days are devoted to the worship of Lakshmi. The yoked ego is now ready for Karma Yoga which ensures a dynamic life filled with selfless activity. This helps to cleanse the mind of selfish desires. Any action needs resources and Lakshmi is the provider of every resource needed by us. When you need courage, Dhairya Lakshmi provides it for you; Valor by Virya Lakshmi; material resources by Dhaanya Lakshmi and Dhana Lakshmi and so on: that is why Lakshmi in eight forms (known as Ashta Lakshmi) is worshipped. Whereas all the resources needed for Karma are provided by Lakshmi, we need Vidya (knowledge) and Viveka (power of discrimination) to use these resources in the right manner.

To make an intelligent choice, we need a well-informed mind: the education needed for this is given by Saraswathi whose Shakthi we invoke in the final three days of Navaratri. You may have seen in paintings of Saraswathi, a peacock rapturously listening to the music played on the Veena by the Goddess. When we pray to Saraswathi, she plucks our heartstrings from which divine music issues forth. Our ego, tamed and trained by the power of Durga and Lakshmi then starts listening to the dictates of the pure Intellect and the divine music of OM. The bull has been transformed into Nandi, ready to serve our spiritual purpose. Nothing then prevents us from proceeding further in the path of Self-Realization and reaching the ultimate goal of Sat Chit Ananda. (Reality-Consciousness-Bliss)

We are aware of the power of the untamed ego and how it can take us along the wrong path. Who would not therefore, celebrate ultimate victory in this battle and taming it for spiritual use? At the conclusion of nine days of prayer and meditation, we celebrate our spiritual victory on Vijayadasami day. (Vijaya = Victory; dasami = tenth day). On this day, students rededicate themselves to their study through formal recitations from their books and paying their respects to their Guru; professionals rededicate themselves to their work symbolically by worshipping the tools of their trade. Mentally, every devotee renews the determination to work towards the spiritual goal of Sat Chit Ananda.

Whatever our age, we are all students trying to learn Truth Reality in various ways. The Navaratri celebrations every year help us to invoke the divine power which resides in everyone of us and through the Grace of Shakthi, to proceed further on the path of self-realization with faith and renewed vigour to the ultimate goal of Sat Chit Ananda.

Bibliography http://home.comcast.net/~surfings/navarathri.htm

Understanding Navaghara

2007-07-15T17:58:00.001+02:00

What is it?
Nava means 'nine' and ghara means planetary ‘energy’, ‘force’ or ‘controller’ so Navagraha Pooja is a prayer ritual performed to energise an individual or family according to the nine planetary forces. According to modern astronomy, only five of these nine influences are actually planets. Kuja (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus) and Sani (Saturn), Surya (the Sun) is a Star. Chandra (the Moon) is a natural satellite, Rahu (north node of the moon) and Ketu (south node of the moon) are not celestial bodies, but polar energies.

Why do it?
The purpose of the Navagraha prayer is to counter-effect any negative astrological effects of the nine planets. The nine navagraha murthis (effigies) of the Gayathri Peedam Navagraha Shrine have been energised by specific mantras and prayers to promote the beneficial astrological effects of each planet, and help to counteract or reduce the potential negative effects in the life of an individual.

Who can do it?
The Navagraha Pooja can be done by anyone, but should be performed especially by business owners, those who are ill, devotees going through a negative or challenging time and anyone wanting to reduce possible future astrological influences. The prayer is best performed by all members of an immediate family together, or singularly by an individual sadhak (aspirant) whose immediate family are not involved in the temple.

How does it work?
Each Graha is associated with a specific colour and substance, according to the frequency of each. When performing the Navagraha Pooja, it adds to the efficacy of the prayer to wear the colour pertaining to your planet and if possible a navagraha ring, mala or pendant (these can be purchased from the Gayathri Peedam shop). The temple usually provides devotees with the samaghri (seeds and herbs) associated with each planet which will further add to the success of the prayer.

How do I know my planetary number and colour?
Use the following formula to calculate your planetary number:
birth day + birth month + birth year = planetary number. eg. 15 July 1953 will be calculated as follows: 1 + 5 + 7 + 1 + 9 + 5 + 3 = 31, then 3 + 1 = 4 In this case, 4 is the planetary number of this person.

The planetary colour and substance associations are as follows:
Surya (Sun) - Number 1, Colour Red, Stone Ruby, Day Sunday, Related to Soul, Wheat Chandran (Moon) - Number 2, Colour White, Stone Moonstone or Pearl, Day Monday, Related to Mind, Paddy (Rice) Kujan (Mars) - Number 3, Colour Red, Stone Red Coral, Day Tuesday, Related to Ego, Red Bean Budhan (Mercury) - Number 4, Colour Green, Stone Emerald, Day Wednesday, Related to Communication, Green Bean Guru (Jupiter) - Number 5, Colour Yellow, Stone Yellow Sapphire, Day Thursday, Related to Wisdom, Gram Sukran (Venus) - Numer 6, Colour White, Stone Diamond, Day Friday, Related to Wealth, Field Bean Saani (Saturn) - Number 7, Colour Black, Stone Blue Sapphire, Day Saturday, Related to Career and Longevity, Black Thil Seed Rahu (N. Node) - Number 8, Colour Dark Blue, Stone Garnet, Related to Chaos, Black Gram Ketu (S. Node) - Number 9, Colour Light Blue, Stone Cat’s Eye, Related to Supernatural influences, Linseed

What are the mantras for the nine planets?
There are many mantras recited during the Navagraha Prayer and even more during the MahaNavagraha. The Mantras are written in the oldest language of (Sanskrit) of which each letter has a specific frequency to affect an action when recited properly and with the correct intent.

Below are the offering mantras for each planet:
Om Guru Suryan Namaha Om Guru Chandran Namaha
Om Guru Kuman Namaha Om Guru Buddhan Namaha
Om Guru Guru Namaha
Om Guru Sukran Namaha
Om Guru Sani Namaha
Om Guru Rahu Namaha
Om Guru Ketu Namaha

Following is the English meaning of the song of praise to the planets.
Salutations to the navagrahaas, the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. I pray to the Sun, the day-maker, destroyer of all sins, the enemy of darkness, of great brilliance, the descendent of Kaashyapa, the one who shines like the japaa flower. I pray to the Moon who shines cooly like curds or a white shell, who arose from the ocean of milk, who has a hare on him, Soma, who is the ornament of Shiva’s hair. I pray to Mars, born of Earth, who shines with the same brilliance as lightning, the young man who carries a spear. I pray to Mercury, dark like the bud of millet, of unequalled beauty, gentle and agreeable. I pray to Jupiter, the teacher of gods and rishis, intellect incarnate, lord of the three worlds. I pray to Venus, the ultimate preceptor of demons, promulgator of all learning, he who shines like the fibre of snow-white jasmine. I pray to Saturn, the slow moving, born of shade and sun, the elder brother of Yama, the offspring of Sun, he who has the appearance of black collyrium. I pray to Rahu, having half a body, of great bravery, the eclipser of the Moon and the Sun, born of Simhikaa. I Pray to Ketu, who has the appearance of Palaasha flower, the head of stars and planets, fierce and terrifying. Those who read the song sung by VyAsa will be joyous, sovereign and powerful, and will succeed in appeasing obstacles, occuring by day or by night. Bad dreams of men, women and kings alike will be destroyed and they will be endowed with unparalleled riches, good health and enhancing nourishment. All the pain, devastation caused by fire, planets and stars will be of the past, so spoke VyAsa emphatically. Thus ends the song of praise of the nine planets composed by VyAsa.

Below is the translation of Sri Vaadiraaya Tiirtha Navagraha-strota
May the Sun illuminate the tenets to me, and may the Moon cause joy’ may Mars give the auspicious and may Mercury direct me to wisdom. May Jupiter give me weight (stature/pull), and Venus give me wisdom; and may Saturn cause the receipt of the good, and Ketu give victory. May Rahu remove my illnesses, and the heavenly bodies be gift-givers’ may all nine of them give me nine kinds of new gifts from the Lord. O Saturn, child of the Sun, you who are the bearer of many jewel-like good qualities! Remove my undesirables, and do me the desirable; do not cause me distress. In order to obtain the grace of Hari, and for the destruction of one’s enemies; the graha-strotra of Sri Vaadiraaja should be read always.

When is Navagraha performedat the Gayathri Peedam?
The basic prayer is performed at the Gayathri Peedam in Verulam every Saturday morning from 4am onwards. The entire prayer takes 90 to 270 minutes, depending on how many families are participating, as each family performs each ritual consecutively, in turn. A Mahanavagraha version (Greater prayer) is performed by Swami Shankarananda every 2 months or as indicated on the Peedam Calendar and usually takes about 6 - 8 hours to complete as many families attend.

How do I participate?
Contact Stephen (071 880 9680), Ashok (032 9444 373) or Kailashadeva (083 533 9001) or just attend our 7pm Friday evening service and ask. The cost is R250 per family and the requirements per family are as follows: 9 bananas, 1 or 2 litres of Clover milk (depending on the size of your family), 1 or 2 litres of Clover maas (Clover milk/maas is rennet free), ten flower heads (e.g. marigolds, roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums), 9 betel leaf, a new towel, container with a lid (for collecting prayer milk) a separate tray of fruit and a small container of milk for offering in the temple at the end of the prayer. No meat, alcohol or social drugs should be taken for one week before the prayer. This is to purify the body in order to increase the efficacy of the prayer.

What is the process?
The process of the basic Navagraha prayer is itemised below, with the purpose for each action. Note that the Mahanavagraha is a longer prayer and each Mahanavagraha prayer is different and changes according to instructions given to Swami.

1. Pradhakshinam (circumambulation of the temple)
On arriving, at 4.00am devotees walk around the temple 108 times, clockwise, keeping count with a set of 108 mala beads. The prayer is performed early in the morning to enable more devotees to participate as many have to work later in the morning. Early in the morning, before sunrise, is also one of the preferred times of the day for meditation and spiritual practices as the earth's energy is still quiet and calm. The purpose of walking around the temple is to focus on God as the central point in our lives. Some devotees chant mantras or pray silently during this practice. This usually takes 30 to 40 minutes.

2. Abishekam A(washing the murthis with water)
The navagraha murthis are washed with water to cleanse them and remove any negative energy.

3. Abishekam B (washing the murthis with milk and maas)
By washing the murthis (using both hands), the energy with which they are impregnated, is transferred via the hands to the body and energy field. The milk and maas are regarded as an offering to God and are also pure substances which are effectively energised by the murthis. During washing Swami or one of His assistants will recite the respective mantra for each murthi and indicate the correct order in which they should be washed.

4. Rinsing
After washing with milk and maas, the residue is rinsed from the murthis with water to cleanse and prepare them for the next family.

5. Abishekam liquid
During the washing and rinsing, your container will be filled with the milk/maas/water mixture which should be taken home and used to bath in on the same day to further absorb the beneficial energy of the murthis and mantras.

6. Drying
The murthis are then dried with a new towel, which is donated to the temple for cleaning of the ashram. Washing, rinsing and drying of the murthis takes about 10-15 minutes.

7. Hawan (sacred fire ceremony)
Each family then participates in the Navagraha Hawan during which seeds and herbs (samaghri) are offered to the fire while specific mantras are recited by Swami or a temple assistant. There is a specific seed for each planet, pertaining to the colour and energy of each. The seeds are mixed together and offered to the fire every time the word 'namaha' is uttered. By the influence and inhalation of the smoke created by the burning of the samaghri, devotees are further energised and cleansed. After the last hawan mantra is recited, devotees then prostrate in front of the fire to show submission to God and express thanks. The hawan takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete.

8. Offering to the Navagraha murthis
Fruit, betel leaf and flowers are then offered to each planetary murthi in the order indicated, and usually by the family head, while the other family members touch him (or her) with their right hands in order that all can be connected in performing this act.

9. Prayer to the Mother
A prayer of thanks is then recited to Gayathridevi while the devotee/s face the Mother's temple in front of the Navagraha Shrine before prostrating.

10. Offering to the Mother
The family or sadhak prostrate and then circumambulate the temple three times, clockwise, with their tray of fruit, milk and donation before placing it at the feet of the Mother. These offerings are given to the temple for functions or to underprivileged organisations.

11. Aarthi
In conclusion aarthi is performed by lighting the temple clay lamp and turning it three times each in front of the Gayathri murthi and the other murthis in the temple while an assistant recites the related mantras. The purpose of this is to acknowledge the light of God. Finally, each devotee is blessed on the forehead with kum-kum (a powder usually made from red tumeric) for the purpose of reinforcing retention of the energy absorbed during the prayer.

For photos of each step of the prayer, please see the Basic Navagraha Album on our Gayathri Peedam Facebook page.

Understanding Guru Pournami

2007-07-15T17:47:00.001+02:00

Swami Muktananda said: “When God was distributing the full moon, He gave the most perfect one to the Guru”.

Hindus attach paramount impor-tance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link be-tween the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus.

The full-moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August) is the extremely auspicious and holy day of Guru Poornima. This day is dedicated to the memory of the great sage, Bhagavan Sri Vyasa who edited the four Vedas, wrote the eighteen Puranas, the Ma-habharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. In honour of Him, all spiritual aspirants and devotees perform Vyasa Puja on this day, and disciples worship their spiritual preceptor. Saints, monks and men of God are honoured and enter-tained with sincere acts of charity by all the householders. The period Chatur-mas (the "four months") begins from this day, when Sannyasins stay at one place during the ensuing four rainy months, engaging in the study of the Brahma Sutras and the practice of meditation.On this day, generate fresh waves of spirituality. Allow all that you have read, heard, seen and learnt to transform you, through Sadhana, and express a continuous outpouring of universal love, ceaseless loving service, and continuous prayer and worship of the Lord seated in all beings. Devotees should take only milk and fruit on this day, study the Brahma Sutras, meditate and practise rigorous Japa of their Guru Mantra during the four months following the Guru Poornima.

The day of worship of one’s preceptor, should be a day of pure joy to the sincere spiritual aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering his reverent homage to the beloved Guru, aspirants should await this occasion with eagerness and devotion as it is the Guru alone that breaks the binding cords of attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly existence.The Srutis say: “To that high-souled aspirant, whose devotion to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that to the Lord, the secrets explained herein become illuminated”. The Guru is Brahman, the Absolute, or God Himself who guides and inspires aspirants from the innermost core of being. He is every-where. They should transform their spiritual vision and behold the entire universe as the form of the Guru, and see the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illuminating touch of the Guru in every object of creation.Sri Swami Sivananda says, “they who will look and listen, will learn. Become a personification of receptivity. Empty yourself of your petty ego and all the treasures locked up in the bosom of Nature will become yours. You will progress and attain perfection in an amazingly short time. Become pure and unattached as the mountain breeze. As the river flows continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the ocean, so also let your life flow ceaselessly towards the supreme state of absolute Existence-Know-ledge-Bliss, by letting all your thoughts, all your words and all your actions be directed only towards the goal. The moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the sun. It is the full moon on the Poornima day that reflects in full splendour the glorious light of the sun. It glorifies the sun. Purify yourself through the fire of selfless service and Sadhana, and like the full moon, reflect the glorious light of the Self. The Supreme Self alone is real. He is the Soul of all. He is all-in-all. He is the essence of this universe. He is the unity that never admits of a duality under all the varieties and diversities of nature. Thou art this immortal, all-pervading, all-blissful Self. Thou art That! Realise this and be free.”

Remember these four important lines of the Brahma Sutras:

1. Athatho brahma jijnasaa - Now, therefore, the enquiry of Brahman.

2. Janmasya yathah - From which proceed the origin.

3. Sastra yonitwat - The scriptures are the means of right knowledge.

4. Tat tu samanvayat - For, That is the main support (of the universe).

Jaya Guru Shiva Guru Hari Guru Ram;
Jagad Guru Param Guru Sat Guru Shyam.

It is through the medium of the preceptor that the individual can raise himself to Cosmic-Consciousness. It is also through that medium that the imperfect can become perfect, the finite can become infinite and the mortal can pass into the eternal life of blessed-ness. The Guru is a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this to That and thus has a free and unhampered access to both realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality, and, bending down, he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other, lifts them up into the kingdom of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.Do you realise now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru’s role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva.

It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality.

The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, to shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his glory and his message. Remember and adore Sri Vyasa and the Gurus who are fully established in knowledge of the Self. May their blessings be upon you! May you cut asunder the knot of ignorance and shine as blessed sages shedding peace, joy and light everywhere!

The Science of Hinduism

2007-07-15T17:45:00.001+02:00

Hinduism is steeped in ritual, much of which is not understood by practising Hindus. Every step of each ritual has a scientific purpose and logical reason. All of these has one ultimate purpose: that of attaining God-consciousness, though many have forgotten this. The following article is aimed not only at those of other beliefs who are curious about Hindu rituals, but its purpose is also to renew the forgotten understanding of both practising non-practising Hindus.

Deep in an ice cave overlooking Lake Manasoravar near Kailash, a Sivayogi was meditating. Bluish gleams from the ice flashed over his lean body, unclad but for an orange loin cloth Skilled in pranayama, his psychic nadis were generating heat to keep the body warm while outside the blinding whiteness of a Himalayan snowstorm was laying a silent blanket. Inside the yogi’s mind, in the cranial cave of the sahasrara chakra, a blue-white light and a low, resonant Aum tone were expanding infinitely. He was infinity, Satchitananda, but his quest was deeper and long of years of tapas and yoga had prepared him for his timeless moment. Melting, like the ice around him, the last glimmer of awareness, the yogi achieved the ultimate samadhi, Parasivam, the timeless, formless, spaceless Absolute. The yogi returned from the Absolute, a jnani, a knower of the Self. It was the pinnacle of Hindu magic, the soul’s realisation of Absolute God. Such is the future for all Hindus, indeed, for all mankind.

Thousands of miles to the south where India sinks into the sea, the inner sanctum of Rameshvaram Temple was glowing yellow-orange from the flames of the evening arati. In the mandapam facing the Lingam in the sanctum, throngs of devotees watched expectantly, their minds whirling with prayer, mantras, phrases of scripture or lyrics of song, the charged images of karmic problems, vivid memories of thought and deed. The air was spicy with clouds of incense, the aroma of marigold flowers, coconut oil and rice prashadam. The granite walls were slightly moist from condensation. Inside the sanctum, the power of Hindu magic was building. White milk cascaded down the cosmic black face of the Lingam, followed by amber honey dripping in tiny rivulets. The pilgrims could feel a cleansing, a purifying of their nervous systems and minds, as the holy unguents were applied. The brahmin priests, wrapped in gold, red, green and blue silks, bare-chested and with crystal malas prisming the arati flames, deftly rang small handbells, setting a quick rhythm for their chanting. They are the invokers, the callers, the inviters and servants of God and His many Forms.

The Sanskrit, ricocheted back and forth from Vedic command to Agamic imploring, echoed down the chambers of the temple. The same chanting appearing in the Devaloka as beautiful geometric shapes and luminous mists of colour, penetrated to the inner cosmos of God. The magic was in full force. God, devas, the temple sanctum and the expectant worshippers were all connected, interwoven with the power of the puja. With jets of blue-orange flame dancing out of the camphor, the final arati traced mystic patterns in front of the lingam. Conch shells, bull-sized bells and the rapid burst of drums rent the air.

At the crescendo of the arati, a tremendous shakti beam is channelled from God through the lingam to the devotees, fanning out from the temple to the countryside like the electromagnetic energy of a nuclear blast. In the pure God-power of that shakti, each individual worshipper is psychically benefited. Karma is softened, answers to problems are projected into the interior of the devotee’s mind and firelike feelings of emotional upheavals are cooled and wiped away. In instances where the devotees superconscious faith is locked laserlike into God, and where the karma is conducive, a divine healing of disease or deformity may occur. For the practicing yogi among the devotees, the puja shakti, resonates at the same frequency as his own kundalini shakti, condensed at the spine’s base. The resonation awakens the kundalini, propelling the yogi into and sustaining his contemplation of the Inner Being of God.

Puja is a science of Hindu magic, combining many interacting disciplines to achieve the same result: God Shakti. One of the most mystic properties of puja is that tens of thousands of temples scattered around Earth are simultaneously invoking God. Hundreds of thousands of pujas, affecting hundreds of millions of devotees, are held every day. God’s shakti, in some divinely mysterious way, splinters out to reach all at the height of all pujas.

Spiritual Significance of Puja (prayer)

2007-07-15T17:38:00.001+02:00

For thousands of years, various Pujas have been performed in temples, matams and houses. Many have, no doubt, achieved marvellous benefits through Pujas in the past because in ancient times, poojas were being performed properly, according to Sastric Rites. But today, Pujas are not being performed on Sastric systems but are carried out on a commercial basis. It is on account of this that we dare to say that no, or very few, benefits are actually being derived from modern-day Puja services. Generally, it is the few, more disciplined devotees, that will derive benefits - more from their staunch belief, though, than from their actual performance of Puja.

Many people do not know, nor can they explain scientifically, the way in which the actual Puja works to benefit devotees. This has been explained in lectures and through some literature, resulting in even foreigners requesting the performance of Pujas for their own needs.

In order to understand the significance of Puja, one should first know some truths of spiritual science. The first and foremost among them is that emitted sound waves do not stop on reaching our eardrums, but pass on to a further distance and go on resounding for some time afterwards. An example of this is an echo. After passing the physical plane, sound waves pass on to more subtler plains and can be felt by those who have developed psychic senses.

Another truth about Pujas, is that the manthras recited are not merely sound waves, but have the capacity to influence objects through which they pass, such as water, coconut and plantain fruits, all of which which have the tendency for absorption of sound. When ‘manthra-saturated’ water is sprinkled onto a devotee and prasa-dams are used, the mantric waves that exist in them enter into the subtle body of the devotee and in turn influence, him.

Mantric sounds seem to fade away after the mantras have been recited, but their influence exists for many days afterwards, provided they have been recited enough times.

Nowadays, it is seen that Pujas are performed without even the fundamental ritual of fire-oblations (Hom-ams), causing Pujas to be ineffective. According to the Sastras, each and every Puja should be done only with fire-oblation.

From these homams, subtler and divine gases emanate, entering the devotee and creating a favourable effect on him in achieving his goal. When certain ingredients are offered to the fire, dormant subtler energies are released from them, energising devotees as well as the place where the sacrifice has been conducted.

There is a wrong notion existing among many Hindus, that Pujas are to be performed only by certain ‘qualified’ persons, which is why they have now become a commercial affair. Sastras do not subscribe to this wrong belief. The capacity to know manthras and to recite them correctly, is not sufficient to perform an effective Puja. Only one who has acquired divine power in him and who knows the proper method of carrying out Puja, is qualified to perform this rite, without consideration of his caste, creed or nationality. Even a European who has acquired Divine power and who knows the correct methods of conducting a Puja, is qualified to do so.

For many years in the past, we have been performing Sastric Pujas at various places, and for different purposes, resulting in almost all of the devotees involved achieving their desired goals. Many incurable diseases have also been cured and even death has been postponed.

The details of a few Pujas that are usually performed by our Peetham, and the benefits that can be derived therefrom are furnished below:

1. Sri Gayathri Puja: Energises the whole body, mind and other subtler sheens of men. It produces true knowledge by dispelling ignorance. Almost all benefits can be derived from performing this Pooja.

2. Ayusha Puja: Bestows Longevity and is effective in old age, particularly when death is anticipated in the near future.

3. Mrithuyanjaya Puja: Helps to heal all kinds of chronic diseases and protects from accidents.

4. Navagraha Puja: counteracts negative planetary influences.

5. Mahalakshmi Puja: Removes poverty and bestows wealth.

6. Durga Puja: Dispels enmity, obstacles and calamities.

7. Saraswathi Pooja: Bestows proficiency in arts and science.

8. Mahavisnhu Puja: Dispels karmic influences and bestows worldly pleasures.

Pujas are selected according to the object/s to be achieved. One Puja will not fulfill all requirements. If your difficulty is carefully explained, the correct Puja can be prescribed for your particular purpose. Following the Puja, it is advisable that the manthra japa or Upasana is continued by the devotee.

For regular Upasana, one should receive Dhiksha, or the transformation of energy that makes the Upasana fruitful. For regular Upasana, appropriate yantras are prepared and saturated with pranic energy (prana prathista). For maximum results, Pujas should be performed for a number of days, that is, for one mandalam.

Understanding Kavady

2007-07-04T23:29:00.003+02:00

Carrying a kavadi is regarded as the ultimate show of devotion to Murugan, a very special sacrifice. In fact, kavadi translates as ‘a sacrifice with every step’. In turn, the carriers ask a favour of Murugan, like the fulfilment of a wish or the curing of a sick family member. Others show their gratitude for a boon granted.

As with all Hindu festivals, the origin of Thaipusam is based on an ancient legend. Once upon a time, the saint Agastya was in need of some special plants to perform religious sacrifices. The plants were growing only on the mystical mountains Shaktigiri (Mountain of Goddess Shakti) and Shivagiri (Mountain of Lord Shiva). The saint asked his servant Idumban to fetch him the mountains, so that he could pick the plants himself. Idumban, trusty servant that he was, lifted both mountains and tied them to the ends of a pole. Then he shouldered the pole, carefully balancing the mountains. As he was going along, invisibly, Murugan sat down on one of the mountains, making the load too heavy for poor Idumban. Desperate to fulfil his chore, Idumban began to pray fervently to Murugan, asking him for strength to carry on. After a while, the god appeared to him. Murugan promised that from now on everybody who showed his devotion by carrying a heavy load and who sacrificed sandalwood, milk and flowers, would be blessed.

According to a rival legend, Idumban was a demon, who stole the mountains, only to be defeated in battle by Murugan.

Reference: http://www.cpamedia.com/articles/20060622_03/