After nine months of a break due to the Covid pandemic, transitions in the regular activities at the Ashram were smooth. All the precautions, wearing masks, social distancing, and restriction of a small group of devotees at one time and like were maintained to the full effects.   

Highlights of Events in the Month of February 2021:  Gita Jnana Yajana (Feb 2, 2021, to Feb 6, 2021) by Pujya Sri Swami VishnuTeerthji Maharaj of renowned Brahma Vidaypeeth Kailash Ashram at Rishikesh was organized at Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad. Reiki Seminar for First & Second degrees and Regular Yoga classes in small batches went well as well. Devotees felt blessed to join Homatmak Laghurudra  performed at Lord Vishwanath Temple of the Ashram.  And needless to say that Monthly Narayan Seva - food distribution to underprivileged families was carried out diligently by Ashram's Karma Yoga Team, as always.  

Pujya Sri Swamiji Maharaj's enlightening discourses on "Patanjali Yoga Darshan" text of Maharshi Sri Patanjali and " Gitamrutam" on Bhagavad Gita every Sunday is a blessing to all. Chapter one, "Samadhi Pad" has been completed with the very amazing text of Sri Patanjali. You can watch them anytime through Sivananda Ashram Face Book page and Youtube also.

Philosophy of Symbolism
Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of Brahman. That portion of Brahman that is enveloped by Tamo-Guna-Pradhana Maya is Lord Siva who is the all-pervading Isvara and who also dwells in Mount Kailas. He is the Bhandara or store-house for wisdom. Siva minus Parvati or Kali or Durga is Nirguna Brahman Himself. With Maya-Parvati He becomes the Saguna Brahman for the purpose of pious devotion of His devotees. Devotees of Rama must worship Lord Siva for 3 or 6 months before they take to worship of Rama. Rama Himself worshiped Lord Siva at the famous Ramesvaram. Lord Siva is the Lord of Ascetics and Lord of Yogins, robed in space (Digambara).

His Trisul (trident) that is held in His right hand represents the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of Sovereignty. He wields the world through these three Gunas. The Damaru in His left hand represents the Sabda Brahman. It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is He who formed the Sanskrit language out of the Damaru.

The crescent moon indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly. The flow of the Ganga represents the nectar of Immortality. Elephant represents symbolically pride. His wearing the skin of the elephant denotes that He has controlled pride. Tiger represents lust; His sitting on tiger’s skin indicates that He has conquered lust. His holding a deer on one hand indicates that He has removed the Chanchalata (tossing) of the mind. Deer jumps from one place to another swiftly. His wearing of serpents denotes wisdom and eternity. Serpents live for a large number of years. He is Trilochana, the three-eyed One, in the centre of whose forehead is the third eye, the eye of wisdom.

‘Hoam’ is the Bija Akshara of Lord Siva.

He is Sivam (auspicious, Subham), Sundaram (beautiful), Kantam (effulgent). “Santam Sivam Advaitam” (Mandukya Upanishad).

I bow with folded hands crores of times at the lotus-feet of that Lord Siva who is non-dual, who is the Adhishthana, or support for the world and all minds, who is Sat-Chit-Ananda, who is the Ruler, the Antaryamin, the Sakshi (silent witness) for everything, who is self-effulgent, self-existent and self-contained (Pari-purna), who is the remover of the primitive Avidya and who is the Adi-Guru or Parama-Guru or Jagad-Guru.

That Lord Siva I am in essence. Sivoham, Sivoham, Sivoham - Swami Sivananda  << Read complete >>