About touching the feet of a Master

An Excerpt from a Talk of Swami Vishwananda: 

'In Hinduism, the feet are a great symbol. When you go to any temple, what do you do? When you go to a Master, what do you do? The first thing that you do, you bow down to the feet. 

You touch the feet because in the feet there is everything. This ancient tradition, of course, Christ also knew about it. Jesus knew that the feet symbolise the wholeness. That’s why when you go to the Master you touch the feet. 

But before touching the feet you ask permission if you can touch the feet of the Master or not. If you just touch like that nothing happens, but when the Master gives you the blessing that you can touch the feet of the Master, it releases the energy; it lets the energy from him to you. 

That’s why you can’t just touch the feet of a Master just like that.'

Sri Swami Vishwananda  (Excerpt 'Just Love 3')

Tombola Winner

Jai Gurudev 

Dear Tombola Friends

We thank all the participants of the Navaratri Tombola 2012 and congratulate all the winners. 

Thank you for supporting Shree Peetha Nilaya, Guruji’s home and international centre.

The winners who have not yet received their prices are kindly asked to contact us under tombolabm@googlemail.com 

Please let us know, if you will come personally to the centre to collect your price or if you nominate a person to whom we can give the price. Sorry, but we can not send your price per post.

Much Love and Blessings,

The Tombola Team

In behalf of the whole community Shree Peetha Nilaya

Tusti & Anjushri

Navaratri 2012 Tombola drawing

drawn on 23^rd/24^th October by 

Swamini Lakshmi, Swamini Mohini and Swamini Karuna

1^st price Stay at Shree Peetha Nilaya for 2 people 1 week:  Nr 78  Carmen/CH

2^nd price Bhakti Marga Art painting of own choice:   Nr 35   Uma/Germany

3^rd price Bhakti Shop voucher for 250€:  Nr 69  Jeevan/Croatia

4^th price  3 private Singing lessons with Mira:  Nr 2  Danvanti/Russia

5^th price  3 private Percussion lessons with Nikhilananda:  Nr 61  Swarupini/Czech

6^th  & 7^th  price Sari from Bhakti shop:  Nr 58  Meghna/CH;  Nr 36 Kaski/Latvia

8^th -  10^th   price: Tulsi Mala from Bhakti Shop:   Nr 17  Sumangali/CH; Nr 55  Parvati/Italy;  Nr 59  Meghna/CH

11^th  - 15th price special Aarti lamp from Bhakti shop:  Nr 92  Swamini Lakshmi/USA;  Nr 43  Namarathi/Germany;  Nr 62  Shree/Czech;   Nr 74  Carmen/CH; Nr 11  Uschi/Germany

16^th -18th price Book Blossoming of the Heart:  Nr 20  Vinata/Germany; Nr 52   Anna /Latvia; Nr   1  Ursula&Klaus/Germany

19^th & 20th price Prasad book: Nr 72  Paola/Italy; Nr 42  Anna/Österreich

21^st -30th price CD 'Awakening' by Sri Swami Vishwananda: Nr 24   Anja/Germany; Nr 83  Carmen/CH; Nr 45   Ewa/ Poland; Nr 38   Dorothea/Germany; Nr 95  Gokuladasananda/Russia; Nr 94  Manudj/Russia; Nr 66  Nisha/Poland; Nr 26  Carla/Germany; Nr 15   Enzo&Laura/Italy;  Nr 96   Renuka/Russia

31^st - 40th price Bhakti Saints book:  Nr 93   Kadambari/Poland; Nr 67   Vankanteshwari/Poland; Nr 25    Hildegard/Germany; Nr 88   Mangalapriya/Russia; Nr  5    Meelan/Germany; Nr 33   Niranjani/Italy; Nr 14    Uschi/Germany; Nr  8     Lidiya/Ukraine; Nr  7     Birgit/Germany; Nr 79    Carmen/CH

41^st - 50th price CD 'Songs to our Beloved Krishna' by Bhakti Sounds:   Nr 44  Katia/Italy; Nr 16  Vittaladas/Italy; Nr  6   Annette/Germany; Nr 13  Uschi/Germany ; Nr 39  Ilona/Latvia; Nr 47   Venkatarawana/Latvia; Nr 29   Larissa/Germany; Nr 30   Ninupama/Germany; Nr 21   Barbara/Poland; Nr 27    Florence/France

Shree Siddhidatri Devi

Shree Siddhidatri Devi

Grants wisdom, power and success

The ninth form of Durga is Siddhidatri, which is also an aspect of Mahalakshmi. She is seen sometimes sitting on a lotus or sometimes mounted on a lion. She is four armed. 

After having performed the worship to the other forms, the devotee then starts the worship to Her. She is One with the forces of sustenance and salvation of Mahavishnu and so She is the One who delivers all forms of success. “Siddhi” means power. For “siddhi” to become “riddhi” (prosperity) one needs “buddhi”, i.e. intelligence. 

 So Mother Siddhidatri gives also wisdom. Once we have our mind surrendering to the Divine, She blesses us with ultimate success. 

Shree Mahagauri Devi

Shree Mahagauri Devi

helps obtaining a pure heart

The Mother's eighth form is known as Mahagauri. Her complexion is totally white. Her garments are also white. White symbolises the purity of the true Self which is without any stain or impurity. She is mounted on an ox and has four arms. 

Parvati had turned dark after doing intense penance for obtaining Lord Shiva as her husband. Shiva then bathed Her in the Holy Ganges, She turned fair and became known as Mahagauri. 

Due to the Mother’s Grace the devotee crosses the barrier of limitation and attains supernatural salvation. He is relieved from all his pains, fatigue and previous sins. The devotee wins pure virtue and becomes ever free.

Shree Kalaratri Devi

Shree Kalaratri Devi

absorbs and destroys all 

evil and negativity

Mother Durga’s seventh form is Kalaratri. Her complexion is as dark as the night, symbolizing infinity. Her cascading hair is let loose and she is seen wearing a garland that radiates light as bright as lightning. She is mounted on an ass. She has four arms. 

Although she has a menacing appearance, her devotees need not fear her. In this form Devi is always ready to give anything you ask. 

She accepts everything from the devotee, not only the good, but all the bad, negative qualities. She just absorbs them, so that we can be free, free from the little demons that we create in our mind and who are all jumping left and right.

Shree Katyayani Devi

Shree Katyayani Devi

compassionately destroys fear 

Goddess Katyayani is the sixth form of Durga and her name stems from being the daughter of sage Katyayan. Her complexion is as bright as gold. She has four arms. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage and another hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. She is mounted on a lion.
As a war Goddess She is associated with the fierce form of Shakti which also includes Bhadrakali and Chandi. 

Ma Katyayani is the destroyer of diseases, sorrow and fear and worshipping Her helps one to free oneself from the sins one may have committed over the cycles of births and rebirths.

Shree Skanda Mata Devi

holds you in her lap and provides

The fifth form of Durga is known as Skandamata. As Devi Durga is the mother of Ganesha and Skanda (more known as Muruga or Kartikeya), She is referred to as ‘Skandamata’. She is fair, has four arms, holds her son Skanda in her lap and is mounted on a lion. 

Skandamata is the Mother who gives the power to vanquish all negativity. By holding Muruga, She is not only holding Him, She is holding all of us. 

If we sincerely – like a child - ask Her to let us sit in Her lap, She will also hold us and do everything for us.

Shree Kushmanda Devi

Shree Kushmanda Devi

exterminates sorrow and diseases

Kushmanda Devi is the fourth form of Durga and appeared smilingly at the moment of the creation of the Universe. The Goddess has eight arms and rides on a lion. Amongst the sacrificial vegetables that are offered in Her worship, pumpkin (Kushmandam’ in Sanskrit) is the one with which Devi Kushmanda is most pleased. 

Worship of this form of the Devi exterminates sorrow and diseases and augments life, fame and strength. She is appeased with the slightest of devotion and if any one whole-heartedly worships Her, he will certainly gain her favour so to find true happiness and true joy.

Shree Chandraghanta Devi

Shree Chandraghanta Devi establishes Justice 

Chandraghanta Devi’s is the third form of Durga. Her Name is connected to a bell shaped crescent moon on her forehead. The colour of her body is golden. She has ten arms which brandish different weapons and is mounted on a lion. 

Chandraghanta Devi establishes justice. It is believed that a devotee who manages to earn Her blessings can set himself free from his sins and hazards that he has committed or may face in his life. 

The devotee gains the power to sense the supernatural, to see it and even smell the eternal fragrance. He is also able to distinguish the otherwise inaudible celestial sounds. (favorite Saree colour: parrot-green)

Shree Brahmacharini Devi

Shree Brahmacharini Devi strengthens discipline and sadhana

The second form of Durga is Brahmacharini. She is showing us how important our Sadhana is, as an expression of devotion to the Divine. She is holding a japa mala (chanting and remembrance of God’s name) in Her right hand and the kamandalu water pot (life-giving Shakti) in Her left hand. 

Brahmacharini is the Goddess of discipline. She gives the devotees success and willpower to come out victorious in times of utter distress.

She helps to make our faith strong and helps those who are sincerely looking for Her. (favorite Saree-colour: white)

Shree Shailaputri Devi

Shree Shailaputri Devi destroys pride

Shailaputri is the first form of Durga. ‘Shaila’ is another name for the Himalayas, ‘Putri’ means ‘the daughter’. 

Shailaputri was born as the daughter of King Himavan, the Lord of the Mountains. She holds a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left hand. She is mounted on an ox. 

She is the most powerful and glorified of all the nine forms of Durga. In the form of Shailaputri She is destroying the pride of the Gods, which is none other than our own pride. (favorite Saree-colour: red)

Navaratri Colours Announced!

... and the colours are:

First Shree Devi Shailaputri

destroys pride

(Red)

Second Shree Devi Brahmacharini

strengthens discipline and spiritual practices

(White)

Third Shree Devi Chandraghanta

establishes justice

(Parrot-green)

4th Shree Devi Kushmanda

removes sorrows and diseases

(Orange)

5th Skanda Mata Shree Devi

keeps you on her lap and provides for you

(Yellow)

6th Shree Devi Katyayani

destroys fear with compassion

(Peacock green-blue)

7th Shree Devi Kalaratri

absorbs and destroys all evil and negative

(Black / dark)

8th Shree Devi Mahagauri

helps to maintain a clean heart

(Light green-blue or light pastel colours)

9th Shree Devi Siddhidatri

gives wisdom, power and success

(Red)

Navaratri Notice from the Kitchen at Shree Peetha Nilaya

Jai Gurudev Dear Family,

We are really excited and pleased to be with all of you again for this year's Navaratri; surely it will be filled with Divine Mother's love and blessings. As in previous years, here in the centre, we will be fasting from onion, garlic and salt for the duration of the festival, 8 days and 8 nights. This means that many 'normal' foods will not be available, ie. cheese, cornflakes, etc. Saltless bread will be available at meals and for those who wish to purchase some, the shop will be selling prepared packets.

Also, we would like to inform you that due to the fact that we are preparing to reopen, the kitchen must adhere to stricter rules, meaning that access to the kitchen for personal needs is no longer permitted. This includes any private cooking and/or private food storage, including parents cooking for their children. We also ask that visitors not come downstairs to the main kitchen, unless it is for seva, as foot traffic is also not allowed. For further information please contact bhagyshri@bhaktimarga.org or the reception desk.

Much love, your kitchen

Navaratri Tombola

As every year, a raffle with many attractive prizes is taking place especially for Navaratri.

By purchasing tickets for our Tombola, you will support the ongoing construction works in the Centre.

A partial opening can probably happen very soon, (Thanks for your help so far!) But in the meantime, there are still some things to do. According to our "Treasurer", in the last few months, very few or no donations were received.

Therefore, we ask you to please continue to help and to purchase many tombola tickets!

To participate:
You can purchase tickets either by:
A: Cash payment in the Bhakti Shop at Shree Peetha Nilaya in Springen, or
B: Write an e-mail with your full name, date of birth, country, amount of tickets you would like to purchase, and then transfer 35 € - per ticket.
E-mail: tombola@bhaktimarga.org (send e-mails in English or German please!)
Note: Specify the purpose of your bank transfer as ‘Tombola Navaratri 2012’. 
As soon as the transfer is cashed, you will receive your ticket number/s via e-mail.

From Durban...

...having a moment of rest in Swami Vishwachakradharaananda's house before tonight's Darshan in Durban.

(Thanks for the picture, Kaylin!)

Swami Vishwananda Arrives in Durban

Dharmananda writes from South Africa:

Amazing welcome for Guruji in Stanger by countless devotees ❤

Later He gave a Satsang and answered some questions;

...He said that He plays the role of somebody who forgets, but He ensured to be there for everybody who thinks of Him sincerely any time and anywhere!