Guest guest Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Celebrating Holi at the Devi Mandir One Saturday evening, the first spring I was at the ashram, it was time to do arati (the waving of the lights before the murtis) in the temple. But Swamiji kept on telling us to wait. He also kept on going out of the temple and then returning. He told us all to stay in the temple. He looked delighted, like he had a special treat in store for us. Finally he told us to go outside. Just outside the temple over the tops of the hills on the left, the top edge of an orange gold moon was rising. It seemed close enough to touch and yet larger and fuller than any moon I had ever seen. He had the arati lights ready and all thirty of us each took our turn offering our light back to the moon, Lord Chandra. According to Hindu teaching, Lord Chandra is the deity who gives us prema, love of the most excellent quality. We stayed in silence until the moon was fully risen. The air was filled with excitement and happiness. Suddenly we found ourselves prancing down the hill to the outdoor Shiva Temple. Swamiji was leading us in a jubilant dance around the Shiva lingam. It seemed like an Israeli dance, Hava Nagila, set to Om Namah Shivaya. Swamiji was beaming. The dance got faster and faster until we all sat or fell down. Swamiji then told us the story of Holi since this was the night of the Hindu festival of Holi. It is a wonderful story about the deep faith that a small boy named Prahlad had in Lord Vishnu. When Swamiji tells a story, you feel like you are really there. You can see the characters and understand why they are acting the way they do. Thus you feel inspired to bring those actions and qualities into your own life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Sweet Story! Thank You! - Ardis Jackson Devi Mandir Group Sunday, February 29, 2004 1:34 PM Celebrating Holi at the Devi Mandir Celebrating Holi at the Devi MandirOne Saturday evening, the first spring I was at the ashram, it was time todo arati (the waving of the lights before the murtis) in the temple. ButSwamiji kept on telling us to wait. He also kept on going out of the templeand then returning. He told us all to stay in the temple. He lookeddelighted, like he had a special treat in store for us.Finally he told us to go outside. Just outside the temple over the tops ofthe hills on the left, the top edge of an orange gold moon was rising. Itseemed close enough to touch and yet larger and fuller than any moon I hadever seen. He had the arati lights ready and all thirty of us each took ourturn offering our light back to the moon, Lord Chandra. According to Hinduteaching, Lord Chandra is the deity who gives us prema, love of the mostexcellent quality. We stayed in silence until the moon was fully risen.The air was filled with excitement and happiness. Suddenly we foundourselves prancing down the hill to the outdoor Shiva Temple. Swamiji wasleading us in a jubilant dance around the Shiva lingam. It seemed like anIsraeli dance, Hava Nagila, set to Om Namah Shivaya. Swamiji was beaming.The dance got faster and faster until we all sat or fell down.Swamiji then told us the story of Holi since this was the night of the Hindufestival of Holi. It is a wonderful story about the deep faith that a smallboy named Prahlad had in Lord Vishnu. When Swamiji tells a story, you feellike you are really there. You can see the characters and understand whythey are acting the way they do. Thus you feel inspired to bring thoseactions and qualities into your own life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Get better spam protection with Mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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