Saturday, August 30, 2008

Miracles of Guru Raghavendra

There are numerous of miralces done by Guru Raghavendra. For the sake of brevity. He restored the life of a young boy (the son of the village chieftain) who died after falling into a vessel in which PanchAmruta was stored.

By his grace Venkanna, a total illiterate, was able to read a message given to the Nawab of Adoni, eventually rise to the position of Diwan.

He threw the pearl necklace gifted by the king of Tanjore into the fire (for purification) and restored it back intact.

The Nawab of Adoni offered meat in a plate covered by a cloth, as Naivedya to the Lord. Raghavendra Swamy knew what was going on and quietly converted the meat into different types of fruits.

The Nawab was scared that his effrontery would be punished, so he begged the forgiveness of Swamy, which was readily accorded. In return, Swamy asked him to gift the village of Mantralaya.

On Shravana Bahula Bidige (the second day in the dark fortnight of the moon, in the month of Shravana) in 1671, he entered the Brindavana alive. Only one person had done it before - Sri Vadiraja tiirtha.

Appanacharya, his favorite disciple, lived in a village across the river, very close to Mantralaya. When Appanacharya heard the news that his guru was about to enter the brindavana, he immediately rushed towards Mantralaya. He was so overcome by devotion and sorrow that he did not notice that the river was in spate. His heart full of devotion for his beloved guru, he composed a stotra in his honor. This is the famous stotra which starts "Sri Poornabodha..". By guruji's grace he was able to walk across the river in full spate, but could not make it in time. Just as he entered the location, the final stone was lowered over the Brindavana. He was overcome with emotion and broke down, unable to complete the stotra. Then, from the Brindavana, Raghavendra Swamy uttered the words "Sakshi Haya stotraHi" and completed the stotra composed by Appancharya. This stotra is recited by devotees everyday. Its recitation brings about various beneficial effects.

Life history of Guru Raghavendra

There is nobody who would not have known about Guru Raghavendra. He is believed to be the reincarnation of Prahlada, Bahleeka and Vyasaraya. Venkanna (Later Raghavendra Swami) was born around 1595 at Bhuvanagiri, a small town near Kanchipuram in South India (now Tamil Nadu). His fore-fathers were all renowned musicians and he too became a good player of the veena.

He married a gentle, good-natured woman called Saraswathi and had a son called Lakshminarayan. He spent his life in utter and dire poverty, but kept his mind focused on the Lord. Later, circumstances forced him to seek refuge with Sri Sudheendra tiirtha, the pontiff of what was then called as the Vijayeendra muTa (now known as Raghavendra swamy muTa). When Sudheendra tiirtha wanted him to become the next pontiff he refused because his wife was young and his son's upanayana had not yet been performed. Later, when the goddess of learning appeared in a dream and urged him to take up the responsibility, he agreed. When his ascension to the pontificate was being celebrated his wife accidentally fell into a well and died, becoming a ghost. His first act after becoming the pontiff was to provide salvation to his wife.

About Guru Raghavendra


Guru Raghavendra is one of the great Indian saint. His followers number in the millions. The saint, an exponent of the Dwaita School, is particularly revered by the Madhwa sect of Brahmins. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami or Tiirtha of Mantralayam (in Andra Pradesh) is undoubtedly the most well known amongst all Madhwa saints. He has been called the "Moon in the ocean of Madhwa religion", because of his universal appeal. He is respected and worshipped by people of different castes, regions and religions. There are millions who have benefited from his merciful nature and rely on him for succor.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda was born as Kuppuswamy on 8th September 1887, in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, South India. His boyhood name was Kuppuswami. His saintly father, Vengu Iyer, was a devotee of Lord Siva and a descendant of the 16th century saint and scholar, Appayya Dikshitar. His mother was Parvatiammal.

The spirit of giving freely, of sharing without any restraint, was ingrained in the Master from his very childhood. A boyhood friend of the Master, Swami Shuddhananda Bharati, recalled how Kuppuswami as a little lad one day ran out with his plate of food when he heard a beggar's cry outside.

The intelligent lad had the gift of divine vision even at that age. If his father sent him to purchase fruit for his daily worship, the boy would often not hesitate to distribute the fruit to the poor and needy, returning home to inform his father that he had already worshipped God in the poor. What grand vision!

The Master said that he was very mischievous as a lad. But it was not the kind of mischief we see in children these days. For instance, to astound and frighten his family, he would daringly jump into a dry well!

Foundations set up by Swami Sivananda
  • Divine Life Society (1936)
  • Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy (1945)
  • All-world Religions Federation (1945)
  • All-world Sadhus Federation (1947)
  • Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948)

Sivananda Yoga is a type of Hatha Yoga, which lays stress on asanas (postures), savasana (relaxation), pranayama (proper breathing), diet (vegetarian) and Vedanta and dhyana (positive thinking and meditation).


"The life of the great Rishi, Swami Sivananda, serves as a perfect example of selfless activity. He blesses India and the world by his presence".

The 18 Siddhas


The Siddhas number about 18 and were concentrated in many part of India, still influencing the entire universe. They attained a state of perfection called as "Soruba Samadhi". The state of perfection, which the Siddha Yogis or the Yoga Siddhas have attained, is due to their penance, magnanimous in selfless contributions and their unique life style.


Shiva Purana describes the way Lord Shiva meditates on Mount Kailash since time immemorial. Shiva is worshipped by the Yogis as Lord, and by all the Gods as the supreme Lord. Lord Shiva initiated Parvathi Devi into Kriya Kundalini pranayama, the scientific art of mastering the breath, in a huge cave at Amarnath in the Kashmir Himalayas (Ramaiah, 1968, p. 108). Siddhas are those who concentrate and hold their breath in the mooladhara, navel, heart, middle of stomach, neck, hairs and raise the Kundalini power. Later Yogi Shiva initiated others, including the Siddhas Agastya, Nandi Devar and Thirumoolar on Mount Kailash. Subsequently Agastya initiated Babaji into Kriya Kundalini pranayama.

The ancient Siddhas had realized that the divine would also descend further into lower planes of consciousness viz., the intellectual, mental, vital, and physical bodies. They become the virtual embodiment of the ultimate Divinity. Such a state is very difficult to be conceptualized by our limited intellect.

The Siddhas discovered that through a complete surrender of their being, their ego, and their very lives, the Divinity would in some exceptional cases descend and completely transform them down to their very cells. This transformation was speed up by the intensive practice of various Kriyas, including hatha yoga asanas, meditation, mantras and bhakti yogas, but above all the Kriya Kundalini Pranayama.

According to the traditions and in particular, there are eighteen Siddhas who attained perfection, which included their spiritual, intellectual, mental, vital and physical bodies. The names of these eighteen Siddhas vary according to different sources. This could be due to the fact that each is given the name of the place where they have attained the state of perfection and also it was customary to call them in several names as was in practice since several centuries.

Apart from these eighteen Siddhas, popularly known as "Pathinettu Siddhargal", there are many others like Konkeyar, Punnakeesar, Pulastiyar, Poonaikannar, Pulipanni, Kalangi, Aluganni, Agapaiyer, Theraiyar, Roma Rishi, and Avvai.

A state of being one with the universe and bringing back the universe within themselves is an act only possible for elevated souls. Siddha means an adept or one who attained perfection or "Siddhi". The 18 Siddhas attained perfection, which included their spiritual, intellectual, mental, vital and physical bodies.

Just as a salt doll dissolves and merges into the oceans, the Siddhas have thrown their personality into the ocean of God or the ultimate reality within, and experienced a progressive transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and physical sheaths. Thus a divine transformation of their entire human nature takes place after attaining such a unique realization.



The 18 Siddhas
1. Sri Patanjali Siddhar
2. Sri Agathiyar
3. Sri Kamalamuni
4. Sri Tirumoolar
5. Sri Kudumbai
6. Sri Goraknath
7. Sri Danvanthari
8. Sri Sundaranundar
9. Sri Konkanavar
10. Sri Sattamuni
11. Sri Valmiki
12. Sri Rama Devar
13. Sri Nandi Devar
14. Sri Idai Kadar
15. Sri Machamuni
16. Sri Karuvoorar
17. Sri Boganathar
18. Sri Paambati


Paramahansa Yogananda life

"The ideal of love for God and service to humanity found full expression in the life of Paramahansa Yogananda....Though the major part of his life was spent outside India, still he takes his place among our great saints. His work continues to grow and shine ever more brightly, drawing people everywhere on the path of the pilgrimage of the Spirit."

Paramahansa Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur, India, into a devout and well-to-do Bengali family. Guru Paramahansa Yogananda was one of the distinguished yogis of India.

He graduated from Calcutta University in 1915, he took formal vows as a monk of India's venerable monastic Swami Order, at which time he received the name Yogananda (signifying bliss, ananda, through divine union, yoga). His ardent desire to consecrate his life to the love and service of God thus found fulfillment.

Paramhansa visited USA in 1920 as an Indian delegate, to attend the International Congress of Religious Liberals, being held in Boston. In the same year, he established Self-Realization Fellowship, a vehicle for preaching Yoga and meditation worldwide. He spent the next few years abroad, teaching Yoga and its philosophy. In 1925, he set up the headquarters of the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles. In 1935, he came to India and established Yogoda Satsanga of India. He also visited Mahatma Gandhi and a number of famous personalities during that time. He went back to USA the next year and it was there that he completed his journey in this world, in the year 1952.

Yoganandaji’s class instructions were published in the form of lessons and mailed to students all over the world. In India the same teachings were spread by the Yogoda Satsanga Society, with its headquarters at Dakshineswar.

The Self-Realization Fellowship today has hundreds of centres throughout the world. There are seven large centres in California, where renunciates stay to serve and practise Yoga. A number of trained monks tour all over the world, giving discourses and Kriya Yoga initiation to students.

Besides giving instructions on Yoga and balanced living, SRF also conducts many social services, especially in India.

Yoganandaji attained Mahasamadhi on March 7, 1952. The great Master showed his power over death, for his body did not decay for many weeks.




Rajneesh Osho

Rajneesh Chandra Mohan Jain (December 11, 1931 - January 19, 1990), Osho was one of the most renowned as well as most controversial spiritual leaders of his times. During the 1970s and 1980s, He was the founder of Osho movement, a controversial spiritual and philosophical movement.

He received enlightenment in the year 1953, at the age of 21. Thereafter, he finished his graduation and post graduation in Philosophy from D. N. Jain College, Saugar University. During that time, he traveled throughout the country, giving lectures on socialism and Gandhi. The first meditation camp was organized by Osho in 1964. In 1966, he quit his job as a professor and then onwards, started his journey as one of the greatest spiritual leaders of India.

Osho established a foundation in his name, in the year 1969. The headquarters of the foundation was set up on the ground floor of a building in Mumbai. Later, due to space constraints and the bad weather of Mumbai, the headquarters were shifted to the Koregaon Park, Pune. The ashram is today known as Osho International Meditation Resort.






Mother Teresa - Greatest Mother

"The title of 'Mother' is the biggest honor I have ever received".

-Mother Teresa


Mother Teresa real name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Mother Teresa was born in Albania. she attended the religious order-'Our Lady of Loreto' in Ireland. It was in 1931, that the Mother took the name of Teresa from the French nun Thérèse Martin, who was canonized in 1927 with the title St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1937.

Mother Teresa took her vows. She taught in Saint Mary's High School, Kolkata for almost 20 years. It was the turning point of her carrier.

The mother was moved by utter poverty, suffering and misery of a large number of people in India; she decided to dedicate her whole life for the welfare of the poor and took Indian citizenship. Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity- which was to be the centre of all her activities with its branches spread in many parts of the country.

Mother Teresa began her work by teaching street children. She started care centre for the patients of leprosy. It was in the year 1965 that the Pope Paul VI brought the Missionaries of Charity under his fold and gave Mother Teresa permission to expand her Order in other countries as well.

Mother Teresa's efforts and her dedication were recognized all over the world and she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. The cruel hands of destiny snatched the angel of love from us in the year 1997. Although Mother Teresa is not amongst us, her sacrifice and dedication has set a great example for others to follow.




Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Philosophy

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar teaches people to replace hatred and suffering with love and wisdom. He spreads the message of universal love, peace and brotherhood throughout the world.

He aims at promoting spirituality amongst people and making them realize that there is goodness in every individual. His teachings include respecting each other and understanding their values.

Art of Living

In 1982, the year he received Enlightenment, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar established the Art of Living Foundation. Thorough this foundation, he promoted the Sudarshan Kriya. Today, his foundation is considered to be one of the largest volunteer-based educational and humanitarian organizations in the world. In 1997, he founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), along with Dalai Lama and a number of other people.

About Receiving Enlightenment Of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It is believed that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received Enlightenment in the year 1982. He had retreated into silence and on the tenth day of his silence, he became Enlightened. Enlightenment also bestowed Ravi Shankar with the technique of Sudarshan Kriya, a rhythmic breathing exercise.

About The Life Of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravishankar was born in 1956 in the southern part of India. It is said that at the tender age of four, he could recite parts of the scared Bhagwad Gita. By time he was 17 years old, he had already attained an advanced degree in Modern Physics. Some time later, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Kuvempu University of India. Other than that, there is very little information on the childhood and the early life of Sri Sri Ravishankar.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


About Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a great spiritual leader. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation. His aim in life is to teach people cope up with the stresses of everyday life and be at peace with themselves. International Association for Human Values is also founded by him.

About Shirdi

Shirdi is located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in Western India. Shirdi extends latitude 19°45 N and longitude 74°25 E. This remote hamlet has gained a massive popularity across the globe for its association with the charismatic saint Shri Saibaba.

Shirdi is among most sacred pilgrim spots in India. Easily accessible from all the major cities of Maharashtra by road, Shirdi is equally approachable from across the country through rail and air network. However Shirdi does not appear on either rail or air, still a good road network ensures that the tourists have an easy and no-hassle travel to Shirdi by road.

Shirdi is quite close to the holy city of Nashik with just 90kms away. It takes about 6hrs to reach Saibaba of Shirdi from Mumbai. Pune is about 206kms from Shirdi.

Miracles of Shirdi Sai Baba

This is among the earliest evidences of Saibaba's miracles. Baba was fond of lighting earthenware lamps in his masjid and other temples. For this he needed oil, which he got from the grocers of Shirdi, as small donations. But there came a time when the grocers got tired of giving him oil for free. And so they refused him any oil saying they had no fresh stocks. Baba didn't say a word and returned to his masjid. But the masjid was not to remain in dark, as Sai Baba lit his earthenware lamps pouring water instead, which burnt deep into the midnight. Such was the miraculous power of Saibaba who lit fire out of water! When grocers came to know about it they rushed to him with apologies. Sai Baba pardoned them, but he warned them never to lie again. "You could have refused to give me the oil, but did you have to say that you didn't have fresh stocks?" he admonished them. But he had made his point.

Once, harvesting in Shirdi had been completed and the foodgrains of the entire village had been stored in a yard. Blistering summer was ferocious. One afternoon Saibaba summoned Kondaji Sutar and asked him to better rush to his field as it was on fire. Fear struck Kondaji ran to his field but there was not a trace of smoke. He got back and said so to Saibaba. Unfazed Baba asked him to look again and as the luck would have it, a part of corn was indeed afire and smoke was beginning to billow from it. With strong wind fanning the fire, Kondaji became jittery and asked Saibaba to do something. At this Baba walked to the yard and sprinkled some water and the fire immediately got extinguished.

There goes a story that one Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Pradhan s wife had come for Sai Baba's darshan. As the couple was about to leave, it began to rain heavily with thunder and lightening. Seeing the Pradhan couple in trouble, Saibaba invoked the God and asked the rain to calm down, which surely did and the Pradhan were able to reach their destination safely.

When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi it had of no basic facilities. There was a well put only in name, with no natural spring water. Villagers had tough time fetching water from a distance. When the villagers were to celebrate Baba's birthday on Ramnavami, there was obviously crisis of water in the region. But Saibaba with his miracles had solution for this problem as well. He showered some leaves into the well and lo and behold the level of water rose fulfilling the dire wish of the villagers.

Once a 3-year-old daughter of a poor man named Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into a well and got drowned. When the villagers rushed to the well, they found to their utter disbelief that the child was suspended in midair as if some invisible hand was holding her. This again was one of the many miracles of Saibaba that saved people from distress.


As recounted by Das Ganu, one of the disciples of Shri Saibaba, once he sought permission from Baba to visit a place called Singba on the banks of Godavari to have a holy bath. Saibaba refused and said what was the use of going that distance when Godavari was right under his feet. Das was puzzled. Realizing the doubt in Das's mind Saibaba asked him to come closer and hold the hollow of his palms at Baba's feet. As soon as he did so water flowed freely out of the toes of the master's feet and filled the hollow of Das Ganu's palms in no time. His joy knew no limits. He sprinkled the water on his head and his body and distributed some more among the assembled devotees as tirtha (holy water).

Shirdi Sai Baba

Shri Saibaba of Shirdi lived between 1838 and 1918, whose real name, birthplace and date of birth are not known. An Indian spiritual guru and a fakir that transcended the barriers of religions, Saibaba of Shirdi was regarded with great reverence by both Hindu and Muslim followers. He lived in a mosque and after death his body was cremated in a temple.

Life Of Sai baba His philosophy ingrained 'Shraddha' meaning faith and 'Saburi' meaning compassion. According to him Shraddha and Saburi were the supreme attributes to reach the state of godliness.

It is believed that at a tender age of 16 yrs Shri Saibaba arrived at the village of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and remained their till his death. He found shelter in Khandoba temple, where a villager Mahalsapathi in the temple addressed him as Sai or Saint.

Saibaba of Shirdi lived an extremely simple and austere life, sleeping on the floor of temple and later taking a ruined mosque as his shelter. With his arrival to Shirdi, in no time he began exhibiting a hypnotic attraction among people as they began flocking to him. He is attributed many miracles doing things that were beyond a mortal's power. He never discouraged these attributes and soon his fame spread like wild fire. Many pilgrims came seeking his blessings. Such was his hypnotism that even the mundane of his activities attracted large crowds.

Popular among both Hindus and Muslims, Shri Saibaba became a great building force between the two disparate communities. He regularly recited Hindu and Muslim prayers. His Hindu followers considered him to be an avatar or reincarnation of Shiva and Dattatreya. Sai Baba did not leave any written works. All his teachings were oral and catchy. His sayings were short, crisp and in layman language with which the common mass could easily associate.

Saibaba encouraged charity and said, "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect."

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi was unique in the sense that he lived his message through the essence of his being. He lived among the common people adorning a torn kafni (long robe), sleeping over a mat while using brick as his headrest and got his food by begging. Such was his smile that radiated a mystical charisma and deep seated inward look that hypnotized the people who visited him.

His most concise message for one and all alike was "Why fear when I am here".
Saibaba said that he was a slave in the service of those who loved him. He was ever living to help those who turn to him and that he has to take care of his children day and night.

Saibaba's mission was to restore belief in god and according to him, "I give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them (knowledge of the Ultimate)." He then taught values of total surrender to the Almighty Master (ALLAH MALIK EK- The only ONE) and experiences his grace.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Daily Practice Pranayama ensures perfect health of the mind and body.

Pranayama practices are ranked right in the focus. This is not just a coincidence. Breath is said to link the mind with the universal force. The most visible link connecting the mind and the body, a yogi controls his mind by learning to control his breath.

Yogic Practices tended to make the practitioner over-involved with the body, or egotistic, encouraged pranayama as a great tool in mind-control.

Practicse Method:
Sit up with spine erect, in any meditative pose. Close eyes. Place hands in the mudra of your choice, ideally chin or jnana mudra, with tips of thumb and index finger touching. Remember, even the pressure on the index finger may have opposite/varying impact. The index finger is related to the element of air or vayu. Touching the index finger tip gently increases the air element. Pressing it down controls or decreases it. Therefore, the pressure or lack of it may be decided as per your personality or even the current flow of vata element in the body. When yoga is practiced without understanding such intricacies, people tend to aggravate existing problems.Inhale gently and with control through the nostrils, but exert a soft pressure at the throat so a sibilant sound arises, like a gentle snore. Exhale with the same sound. This is one round. There must be no pressure on the face. The sound must be soft and smooth. Any jerky exertion must be avoided. You may do up to nine rounds comfortably. Once you get the hang of this breath, it may be practiced anywhere. Just remember that though it is an extremely tranquillizing breath, it is also a heating practice.It is also an ideal breath to be practiced as you do your yoga asanas, or during surya namaskar.

Pranayama is one of the perfect tool in your mind-control.