Guest guest Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Day 6 - 12/11/2008 As per the schedule there was to be a sathsang at Devi Mandir in the evening. We were late for that. But when we trooped in, we were surprised and happy to see Swamiji giving a slide show on Tattva Gnana. Swamiji explained the basics of Sanatana Dharma. We were encouraged to ask questions and clarify our doubts. Oh yes. We did ask questions. So many. Swamiji explained everything in detail. The questions even came down to our bugbear (sitting still for hours while chanting). Swamiji demonstrated the various asanas used for sitting and explained the benefits. Swamiji also demonstrated and made us repeat the Navarna Mantra with Pranayama. Time passed by so quickly. We were ready for a longer session and sort of disappointed when the session ended. This session helped us clear many of our doubts and will make it easier to continue with our Sadhanaa. Guru Kripa. Then the climax of the evening - Singing Bhavasagara .... ( My favorite). I must have been shouting at the top of my voice since I am no singer. I will live and relive these moments. Guru Deva daya kara dinajane || You can find the song here in the google preview of Swamiji's book. http://books.google.com/books?id=RvEERjuzRIsC & pg=PA40 & lpg=PA40 & dq=Bhava+Sagara & s\ ource=bl & ots=pEWeKpXW-d & sig=xYeHXLnLL_d738NTu74YKDXWjBI & hl= en & sa=X & oi=book_result & resnum=8 & ct=result Day 7 - 13/11/2008 Chandi Yagna at Devi Mandir in the morning. In the evening we went on a boat cruise of the Ganga. A good description of the boat ride has been given in the web log. But somehow I got a feeling that that the whole performance was choreographed for attracting tourists and the Bhakthi Bhava was not felt. This was the final programme of our retreat at Banares. Though I have tried to give a detailed description, it is still incomplete. Many of us did our own Sadhana whenever time permitted. There was a beautiful Kali temple near the restaurant where we had our food. One fine morning we saw that it was open. Went in and had Dharshan of Maa. Then we discovered that there is a small Shiva temple behind. The Pujari was doing puja there. Some of us sat and meditated there. Then some of the group took time to go across the Ganga and have a bath. I think this was followed by meditation at Manikarnika ghat. It is great to meditate on the banks of Ganga. The following sites give some more information and photographs of Banares. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi http://www.vaisnava.cz/clanek_en.php3?no=194 Some of you were asking about the songs on Sree Maa composed by Trilochan Tiwari. You can find out about him here. There is a song available. But unfortunately it is not the song on Sree Maa. http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/shree_maa_trip_to_india_trilochans_music There is a video about the earlier trip to Banares where Swamiji talks about the trip. http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/1582 Swamiji talks about Trilochan Tiwari also. Photographs of the March tour. http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/1579 We met the strange character seen in the photographs this time also almost at the same spot. My concluding message ( the next one) will be about our retreat in Kolkata. Jai MAA !!! Sankar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 What a joyious time!--- On Tue, 11/25/08, Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku wrote:Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku[www.ShreeMaa.org] Spiritual Retreat in Banares - 4 Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 1:52 AM Day 6 - 12/11/2008 As per the schedule there was to be a sathsang at Devi Mandir in the evening. We were late for that. But when we trooped in, we were surprised and happy to see Swamiji giving a slide show on Tattva Gnana. Swamiji explained the basics of Sanatana Dharma. We were encouraged to ask questions and clarify our doubts. Oh yes. We did ask questions. So many. Swamiji explained everything in detail. The questions even came down to our bugbear (sitting still for hours while chanting). Swamiji demonstrated the various asanas used for sitting and explained the benefits. Swamiji also demonstrated and made us repeat the Navarna Mantra with Pranayama. Time passed by so quickly. We were ready for a longer session and sort of disappointed when the session ended. This session helped us clear many of our doubts and will make it easier to continue with our Sadhanaa. Guru Kripa. Then the climax of the evening - Singing Bhavasagara .... ( My favorite). I must have been shouting at the top of my voice since I am no singer. I will live and relive these moments. Guru Deva daya kara dinajane || You can find the song here in the google preview of Swamiji's book. http://books. google.com/ books?id= RvEERjuzRIsC & pg=PA40 & lpg= PA40 & dq=Bhava+ Sagara & source= bl & ots=pEWeKpXW- d & sig=xYeHXLnLL_ d738NTu74YKDXWjB I & hl= en & sa=X & oi=book_ result & resnum= 8 & ct=result Day 7 - 13/11/2008 Chandi Yagna at Devi Mandir in the morning. In the evening we went on a boat cruise of the Ganga. A good description of the boat ride has been given in the web log. But somehow I got a feeling that that the whole performance was choreographed for attracting tourists and the Bhakthi Bhava was not felt. This was the final programme of our retreat at Banares. Though I have tried to give a detailed description, it is still incomplete. Many of us did our own Sadhana whenever time permitted. There was a beautiful Kali temple near the restaurant where we had our food. One fine morning we saw that it was open. Went in and had Dharshan of Maa. Then we discovered that there is a small Shiva temple behind. The Pujari was doing puja there. Some of us sat and meditated there. Then some of the group took time to go across the Ganga and have a bath. I think this was followed by meditation at Manikarnika ghat. It is great to meditate on the banks of Ganga. The following sites give some more information and photographs of Banares. http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Varanasi http://www.vaisnava .cz/clanek_ en.php3?no= 194 Some of you were asking about the songs on Sree Maa composed by Trilochan Tiwari. You can find out about him here. There is a song available. But unfortunately it is not the song on Sree Maa. http://www.shreemaa .org/drupal/ shree_maa_ trip_to_india_ trilochans_ music There is a video about the earlier trip to Banares where Swamiji talks about the trip. http://www.shreemaa .org/drupal/ node/1582 Swamiji talks about Trilochan Tiwari also. Photographs of the March tour. http://www.shreemaa .org/drupal/ node/1579 We met the strange character seen in the photographs this time also almost at the same spot. My concluding message ( the next one) will be about our retreat in Kolkata. Jai MAA !!! Sankar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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