Ram Navami Blessings

April 9, 2006

My dearest family,

I am writing to share some things with you that have happened during

this last week. The first was I was blessed to meet my beloved Shree

Maa in person on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Ram Navami celebration

at Devi Mandir. I have always believed that when the time was right, I

would have the opportunity to receive her darshan, and it just so

happened that it was on April Fool's Day! I had arrived a few minutes

early and there was already a good number of people chanting the

Navarna Mantra. My wife was with me so I taught her the mantra so she

could join in. The powerful energy (bhav) was beyond words, and

Swamiji and Shree Maa weren't even in the room yet!

I had been chanting the mantra with eyes closed for some time when I

knew I had to open them. There was no different sound, but the energy

seemed to change from excited anticipation to a more reverent

excitement. Sure enough, as I opened my eyes they were looking

directly into the lovely face of Shree Maa. All thoughts left my mind

in that instant. I couldn't chant, I couldn't move, I could only

observe the mother I have loved for so long standing directly in front

of me. It was a moment that is forever etched in my consciousness.

Throughout the remainder of the program I couldn't stop looking at

her. Everything about her delighted my heart and on at least two

occasions our eyes met and she smiled a knowing smile. There she was,

the holy mother in a yellow sari smiling at me! After the Ram Navami

program was aarti, and each person had the opportunity to perform this

lovely light ceremony while Swamiji and the musicians played the most

wonderful music. As I took my turn, in my mind I was looking at each

deity on the altar and saying in my mind, "You are Shree Maa, and you

are Shree Maa." It was the most fun I have ever had doing aarti any where.

After aarti it was time to receive Maa's darshan. Everyone lined up

for this, and I just happened to be standing near where the line

started, about 5 or 6 from the front. I was so excited because now I

was to meet her face to face. I wondered what I would say, but

decided quickly that I would know what to say when I was with her. As

I knelt before her she looked into my eyes and smiled. Her first words

to me were, "What is you name?" I replied, "Mother, my name is Rick."

She laughed and said, "Ah, you are Rick Veda! You know, like the Rig

Veda." I said, "Yes Mother, I know Rig Veda but no one has ever called

me that before." At that moment, Swamiji (who had been overhearing

this) said, "Yes Maa, he is Rick Veda!" and we all giggled with delight.

Later in the evening I was able to meet Nanda, Parvati, Srini and

several other devotees that have been so good to me over the years.

Then we had a feast of food that was prepared by Shree Maa herself,

and it was the most awesome meal, as you would expect. It was after

11:00 when we left to make the 2 hour drive home, and I was wide awake

all the way, despite being up far past my usual bed time.

Last night, we were privileged to attend the Sundar Kanda celebration.

It was quite different from the Kirtan the previous week, but with

every bit of the bhav of the previous week. Last night when it became

time for Maa's darshan, I knelt before her and she said, "My Rick

Veda," and she placed the bindi on my forehead. My heart melted in

that moment. In that instant she acknowledged what I have felt for a

long time. In that instant the eternal truth of who I am was spoken in

the realm of human forms. In that moment she claimed me as her own.

Once again I was moved to tears of joy.

You will note that I have changed my email address. It is no longer

rikzinger. Starting today it is rikveda, and

my new user name is myrikveda. To those who have not met her I would

offer that when the time is right it will occur. I have waited 5 years

and I would have waited as long as necessary. But in her love and

grace she sent for me to come because it was time for this next step

in my journey. And what an amazing and powerful experience it is.

Yours in Her love always,

Rick Veda

April 9, 2006

Dearest Rick Veda,

I was tearing up at the end of your post! That was so sweet! I was

at the Mandir, too, but didn't get to meet you.....hope to next

time...Jai Maa

Gauri

, "myrikveda" <myrikveda

wrote:

>

> My dearest family,

>

> I am writing to share some things with you that have happened

during

> this last week. The first was I was blessed to meet my beloved

Shree

> Maa in person on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Ram Navami

celebration

> at Devi Mandir. I have always believed that when the time was

right, I

> would have the opportunity to receive her darshan, and it just so

> happened that it was on April Fool's Day! I had arrived a few

minutes

> early and there was already a good number of people chanting the

> Navarna Mantra. My wife was with me so I taught her the mantra so

she

> could join in. The powerful energy (bhav) was beyond words, and

> Swamiji and Shree Maa weren't even in the room yet!

>

> I had been chanting the mantra with eyes closed for some time when

I

> knew I had to open them. There was no different sound, but the

energy

> seemed to change from excited anticipation to a more reverent

> excitement. Sure enough, as I opened my eyes they were looking

> directly into the lovely face of Shree Maa. All thoughts left my

mind

> in that instant. I couldn't chant, I couldn't move, I could only

> observe the mother I have loved for so long standing directly in

front

> of me. It was a moment that is forever etched in my consciousness.

>

> Throughout the remainder of the program I couldn't stop looking at

> her. Everything about her delighted my heart and on at least two

> occasions our eyes met and she smiled a knowing smile. There she

was,

> the holy mother in a yellow sari smiling at me! After the Ram

Navami

> program was aarti, and each person had the opportunity to perform

this

> lovely light ceremony while Swamiji and the musicians played the

most

> wonderful music. As I took my turn, in my mind I was looking at

each

> deity on the altar and saying in my mind, "You are Shree Maa, and

you

> are Shree Maa." It was the most fun I have ever had doing aarti

any where.

>

> After aarti it was time to receive Maa's darshan. Everyone lined up

> for this, and I just happened to be standing near where the line

> started, about 5 or 6 from the front. I was so excited because now

I

> was to meet her face to face. I wondered what I would say, but

> decided quickly that I would know what to say when I was with her.

As

> I knelt before her she looked into my eyes and smiled. Her first

words

> to me were, "What is you name?" I replied, "Mother, my name is

Rick."

> She laughed and said, "Ah, you are Rick Veda! You know, like the

Rig

> Veda." I said, "Yes Mother, I know Rig Veda but no one has ever

called

> me that before." At that moment, Swamiji (who had been overhearing

> this) said, "Yes Maa, he is Rick Veda!" and we all giggled with

delight.

>

> Later in the evening I was able to meet Nanda, Parvati, Srini and

> several other devotees that have been so good to me over the years.

> Then we had a feast of food that was prepared by Shree Maa herself,

> and it was the most awesome meal, as you would expect. It was after

> 11:00 when we left to make the 2 hour drive home, and I was wide

awake

> all the way, despite being up far past my usual bed time.

>

> Last night, we were privileged to attend the Sundar Kanda

celebration.

> It was quite different from the Kirtan the previous week, but with

> every bit of the bhav of the previous week. Last night when it

became

> time for Maa's darshan, I knelt before her and she said, "My Rick

> Veda," and she placed the bindi on my forehead. My heart melted in

> that moment. In that instant she acknowledged what I have felt for

a

> long time. In that instant the eternal truth of who I am was

spoken in

> the realm of human forms. In that moment she claimed me as her own.

> Once again I was moved to tears of joy.

>

> You will note that I have changed my email address. It is no longer

> rikzinger Starting today it is rikveda, and

> my new user name is myrikveda. To those who have not met her I

would

> offer that when the time is right it will occur. I have waited 5

years

> and I would have waited as long as necessary. But in her love and

> grace she sent for me to come because it was time for this next

step

> in my journey. And what an amazing and powerful experience it is.

>

> Yours in Her love always,

>

> Rick Veda

>

April 10, 2006

Very, very beautiful! So beautiful! I can relive the Bhav of that

first night through your email. It was so wonderful. I'll be

writing a post of my experiences at the incredible Mandir of Devi

soon. It is just off the chart!

Jai Maa! Jai Siya Ram! Jai Hanuman!

Surya

-

myrikveda

Sunday, April 09, 2006 10:32 AM

Ram Navami Blessings

My dearest family,I am writing to share some things with you that have

happened duringthis last week. The first was I was blessed to meet my

beloved ShreeMaa in person on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Ram

Navami celebrationat Devi Mandir. I have always believed that when

the time was right, Iwould have the opportunity to receive her

darshan, and it just sohappened that it was on April Fool's Day! I

had arrived a few minutesearly and there was already a good number of

people chanting theNavarna Mantra. My wife was with me so I taught her

the mantra so shecould join in. The powerful energy (bhav) was beyond

words, andSwamiji and Shree Maa weren't even in the room yet!I had

been chanting the mantra with eyes closed for some time when Iknew I

had to open them. There was no different sound, but the energyseemed

to change from excited anticipation to a more reverentexcitement.

Sure enough, as I opened my eyes they were lookingdirectly into the

lovely face of Shree Maa. All thoughts left my mindin that instant. I

couldn't chant, I couldn't move, I could onlyobserve the mother I have

loved for so long standing directly in frontof me. It was a moment

that is forever etched in my consciousness. Throughout the remainder

of the program I couldn't stop looking ather. Everything about her

delighted my heart and on at least twooccasions our eyes met and she

smiled a knowing smile. There she was,the holy mother in a yellow

sari smiling at me! After the Ram Navamiprogram was aarti, and each

person had the opportunity to perform thislovely light ceremony while

Swamiji and the musicians played the mostwonderful music. As I took my

turn, in my mind I was looking at eachdeity on the altar and saying in

my mind, "You are Shree Maa, and youare Shree Maa." It was the most

fun I have ever had doing aarti any where.After aarti it was time to

receive Maa's darshan. Everyone lined upfor this, and I just happened

to be standing near where the linestarted, about 5 or 6 from the

front. I was so excited because now Iwas to meet her face to face. I

wondered what I would say, butdecided quickly that I would know what

to say when I was with her. AsI knelt before her she looked into my

eyes and smiled. Her first wordsto me were, "What is you name?" I

replied, "Mother, my name is Rick."She laughed and said, "Ah, you are

Rick Veda! You know, like the RigVeda." I said, "Yes Mother, I know

Rig Veda but no one has ever calledme that before." At that moment,

Swamiji (who had been overhearingthis) said, "Yes Maa, he is Rick

Veda!" and we all giggled with delight. Later in the evening I was

able to meet Nanda, Parvati, Srini andseveral other devotees that

have been so good to me over the years.Then we had a feast of food

that was prepared by Shree Maa herself,and it was the most awesome

meal, as you would expect. It was after11:00 when we left to make the

2 hour drive home, and I was wide awakeall the way, despite being up

far past my usual bed time.Last night, we were privileged to attend

the Sundar Kanda celebration.It was quite different from the Kirtan

the previous week, but withevery bit of the bhav of the previous

week. Last night when it becametime for Maa's darshan, I knelt before

her and she said, "My RickVeda," and she placed the bindi on my

forehead. My heart melted inthat moment. In that instant she

acknowledged what I have felt for along time. In that instant the

eternal truth of who I am was spoken inthe realm of human forms. In

that moment she claimed me as her own.Once again I was moved to tears

of joy.You will note that I have changed my email address. It is no

longerrikzinger (AT) comcast (DOT) net. Starting today it is

rikveda (AT) comcast (DOT) net, andmy new user name is myrikveda. To those who

have not met her I wouldoffer that when the time is right it will

occur. I have waited 5 yearsand I would have waited as long as

necessary. But in her love andgrace she sent for me to come because

it was time for this next stepin my journey. And what an amazing and

powerful experience it is. Yours in Her love always,Rick Veda

April 10, 2006

Dear Rick,

thank you very much for generously sharing your very precious

experience. You have caught the beauty and truth of what happened to

you so poignantly that it brought me to tears. It was sweet and

painful to read at the same time, since one day I hope to be in your

position. Thank you for your message of encouragement,patience, and

love,

JAI MAA!

henny

, "myrikveda" <myrikveda

wrote:

>

> My dearest family,

>

> I am writing to share some things with you that have happened during

> this last week. The first was I was blessed to meet my beloved Shree

> Maa in person on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Ram Navami

celebration

> at Devi Mandir. I have always believed that when the time was right,

I

> would have the opportunity to receive her darshan, and it just so

> happened that it was on April Fool's Day! I had arrived a few

minutes

> early and there was already a good number of people chanting the

> Navarna Mantra. My wife was with me so I taught her the mantra so

she

> could join in. The powerful energy (bhav) was beyond words, and

> Swamiji and Shree Maa weren't even in the room yet!

>

> I had been chanting the mantra with eyes closed for some time when I

> knew I had to open them. There was no different sound, but the

energy

> seemed to change from excited anticipation to a more reverent

> excitement. Sure enough, as I opened my eyes they were looking

> directly into the lovely face of Shree Maa. All thoughts left my

mind

> in that instant. I couldn't chant, I couldn't move, I could only

> observe the mother I have loved for so long standing directly in

front

> of me. It was a moment that is forever etched in my consciousness.

>

> Throughout the remainder of the program I couldn't stop looking at

> her. Everything about her delighted my heart and on at least two

> occasions our eyes met and she smiled a knowing smile. There she

was,

> the holy mother in a yellow sari smiling at me! After the Ram Navami

> program was aarti, and each person had the opportunity to perform

this

> lovely light ceremony while Swamiji and the musicians played the

most

> wonderful music. As I took my turn, in my mind I was looking at each

> deity on the altar and saying in my mind, "You are Shree Maa, and

you

> are Shree Maa." It was the most fun I have ever had doing aarti any

where.

>

> After aarti it was time to receive Maa's darshan. Everyone lined up

> for this, and I just happened to be standing near where the line

> started, about 5 or 6 from the front. I was so excited because now I

> was to meet her face to face. I wondered what I would say, but

> decided quickly that I would know what to say when I was with her.

As

> I knelt before her she looked into my eyes and smiled. Her first

words

> to me were, "What is you name?" I replied, "Mother, my name is Rick.

"

> She laughed and said, "Ah, you are Rick Veda! You know, like the Rig

> Veda." I said, "Yes Mother, I know Rig Veda but no one has ever

called

> me that before." At that moment, Swamiji (who had been overhearing

> this) said, "Yes Maa, he is Rick Veda!" and we all giggled with

delight.

>

> Later in the evening I was able to meet Nanda, Parvati, Srini and

> several other devotees that have been so good to me over the years.

> Then we had a feast of food that was prepared by Shree Maa herself,

> and it was the most awesome meal, as you would expect. It was after

> 11:00 when we left to make the 2 hour drive home, and I was wide

awake

> all the way, despite being up far past my usual bed time.

>

> Last night, we were privileged to attend the Sundar Kanda

celebration.

> It was quite different from the Kirtan the previous week, but with

> every bit of the bhav of the previous week. Last night when it

became

> time for Maa's darshan, I knelt before her and she said, "My Rick

> Veda," and she placed the bindi on my forehead. My heart melted in

> that moment. In that instant she acknowledged what I have felt for a

> long time. In that instant the eternal truth of who I am was spoken

in

> the realm of human forms. In that moment she claimed me as her own.

> Once again I was moved to tears of joy.

>

> You will note that I have changed my email address. It is no longer

> rikzinger Starting today it is rikveda, and

> my new user name is myrikveda. To those who have not met her I would

> offer that when the time is right it will occur. I have waited 5

years

> and I would have waited as long as necessary. But in her love and

> grace she sent for me to come because it was time for this next step

> in my journey. And what an amazing and powerful experience it is.

>

> Yours in Her love always,

>

> Rick Veda

>

April 10, 2006

Dear Rick Veda,

Thank you, this is so beautiful. You have taken me right there and I

really do not want to leave. Reading you mail brings special bliss,

and hearing Maa refer to you as "My Rig Veda" takes the mind right

back to the Beloved text – the Guru Gita. Vs 65 of that text tells

us one of the four ways to remember the light of the Guru's soul is

through the Vedas or scriptures (Rig Veda, etc.) vs 68 also says

that the chief jewels all scriptures (Vedas) reside at the lotus feet

of the Guru.

How blessed are you.

Jai Maa

Jai Rig Veda

Jai Rick Veda

, "myrikveda" <myrikveda wrote:

>

> My dearest family,

>

> I am writing to share some things with you that have happened during

> this last week. The first was I was blessed to meet my beloved Shree

> Maa in person on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Ram Navami

celebration

> at Devi Mandir. I have always believed that when the time was

right, I

> would have the opportunity to receive her darshan, and it just so

> happened that it was on April Fool's Day! I had arrived a few

minutes

> early and there was already a good number of people chanting the

> Navarna Mantra. My wife was with me so I taught her the mantra so

she

> could join in. The powerful energy (bhav) was beyond words, and

> Swamiji and Shree Maa weren't even in the room yet!

>

> I had been chanting the mantra with eyes closed for some time when I

> knew I had to open them. There was no different sound, but the

energy

> seemed to change from excited anticipation to a more reverent

> excitement. Sure enough, as I opened my eyes they were looking

> directly into the lovely face of Shree Maa. All thoughts left my

mind

> in that instant. I couldn't chant, I couldn't move, I could only

> observe the mother I have loved for so long standing directly in

front

> of me. It was a moment that is forever etched in my consciousness.

>

> Throughout the remainder of the program I couldn't stop looking at

> her. Everything about her delighted my heart and on at least two

> occasions our eyes met and she smiled a knowing smile. There she

was,

> the holy mother in a yellow sari smiling at me! After the Ram Navami

> program was aarti, and each person had the opportunity to perform

this

> lovely light ceremony while Swamiji and the musicians played the

most

> wonderful music. As I took my turn, in my mind I was looking at each

> deity on the altar and saying in my mind, "You are Shree Maa, and

you

> are Shree Maa." It was the most fun I have ever had doing aarti any

where.

>

> After aarti it was time to receive Maa's darshan. Everyone lined up

> for this, and I just happened to be standing near where the line

> started, about 5 or 6 from the front. I was so excited because now I

> was to meet her face to face. I wondered what I would say, but

> decided quickly that I would know what to say when I was with her.

As

> I knelt before her she looked into my eyes and smiled. Her first

words

> to me were, "What is you name?" I replied, "Mother, my name is

Rick."

> She laughed and said, "Ah, you are Rick Veda! You know, like the Rig

> Veda." I said, "Yes Mother, I know Rig Veda but no one has ever

called

> me that before." At that moment, Swamiji (who had been overhearing

> this) said, "Yes Maa, he is Rick Veda!" and we all giggled with

delight.

>

> Later in the evening I was able to meet Nanda, Parvati, Srini and

> several other devotees that have been so good to me over the years.

> Then we had a feast of food that was prepared by Shree Maa herself,

> and it was the most awesome meal, as you would expect. It was after

> 11:00 when we left to make the 2 hour drive home, and I was wide

awake

> all the way, despite being up far past my usual bed time.

>

> Last night, we were privileged to attend the Sundar Kanda

celebration.

> It was quite different from the Kirtan the previous week, but with

> every bit of the bhav of the previous week. Last night when it

became

> time for Maa's darshan, I knelt before her and she said, "My Rick

> Veda," and she placed the bindi on my forehead. My heart melted in

> that moment. In that instant she acknowledged what I have felt for a

> long time. In that instant the eternal truth of who I am was spoken

in

> the realm of human forms. In that moment she claimed me as her own.

> Once again I was moved to tears of joy.

>

> You will note that I have changed my email address. It is no longer

> rikzinger Starting today it is rikveda, and

> my new user name is myrikveda. To those who have not met her I would

> offer that when the time is right it will occur. I have waited 5

years

> and I would have waited as long as necessary. But in her love and

> grace she sent for me to come because it was time for this next step

> in my journey. And what an amazing and powerful experience it is.

>

> Yours in Her love always,

>

> Rick Veda

>

April 13, 2006

myrikveda

thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story of your darshan with

beloved Mother. i was just so excited and happy to hear and feel the

bliss in your telling of this meeting.

myrikveda wrote: