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The Spiritual
Hub
Samadhi Mandir is the central place of spiritual activities
of Sivananda Ashram. The two main activities - early morning meditation,
and the evening Satsanga - are held here. This place is the source of
spiritual vibrations and inspirations for all the seekers. Even when no
programme is going on, devotees prefer to sit under this holy atmosphere
and do japa, prayer and meditation. Let us also peep into it.
The Samadhi Shrine is at the end of a long big hall.
Above the Samadhi is Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj's Murti is in the lotus
posture seated in a beautiful lotus. The imposing sight leaves you captivated
and spellbound. You forget to enter into the Hall and are stuck up on
the steps only. Thank God that you are stuck up. Now you are able to notice
the beautiful carvings on the main door. The eight outer squares on the
doors depict symbols of various religions and faiths. The inner eight
squares depict eight significant words, as if they were the quintessence
of all religious teachings or the fundamental universal principles of
all religions and faiths. The eight words are Serve Love Give Purify Meditate
Realise Be Good Do Good. The meaning and significance of these words have
been explained in "Swami Sivananda - Philosophy and Teachings".
It is sufficient to note here that this Shrine is of a saint who respected
all religions and accepted all that is good from all the sources.
The first thing you notice after entering the Hall is
oil paintings with appropriate short write-ups on both the sidewalls.
This place is source of inspiration for innumerable devotees. One Mr.
Allen from Britain, on his for his personal satisfaction, went on creating
oil paintings show the various episodes from the life of Swami Sivananda.
And when he showed these painting to the President Swamiji Maharaj, the
latter immediately arranged to put them in the Samadhi Mandir. As a first
time visitor, you are engrossed in them. And you also notice below the
paintings some very appealing thoughts from the writings of Swami Sivananda.
When the visitor is little tired he looks up for some
change, and finds a big volume of Vedas very carefully preserved in a
glass case, and a charming Murti of Lord Vishnu. This volume is treated
as the living presence of Veda Bhagavan and is a special worship is offered
fortnightly. Chanting of the mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya" and
recitation of Sri Vishnu-sahasrsa-nama Stotram is done here regularly.
On the right side there is a huge picture of Swami Sivananda, presented
by devotees from Argentina.
The innermost part is the sanctum sanctorum, the Samadhi
of this great saint. You observe devotees coming with deep faith, overwhelmed
with emotions approaching the Shrine, before entering it, they touch the
feet of Ganesh seated over the entrance door. They bow down very reverentially,
and then do circumambulation of the Shrine, bow down again and after coming
out apply holy ashes.
In the evening, you come again to the Samadhi Mandir
to attend Satsanga, the main programme of the Ashram. Satsanga starts
with prayers of all deities, and is followed by recitations of various
Stotras (hymns). Then there is a spiritual discourse. It is followed by
bhajans (devotional song), prayers for all those who are suffering, prayers
for peace, and for the welfare of the entire mankind. After the concluding
prayers, there is Arati and prasad distribution. A senior Swamiji takes
up his seat one again and many devotees are also seated. Swamiji calls
the devotees who had given their names in advance. The devotees come one
after other, ask spiritual or even personal questions. Then, Swamiji takes
a look around, inquires about the stay and comforts of the newly arrived
visitors. The intimacy shown by the senior Swamiji is unique. You feel
it is a sort of family gathering. Swamiji calls you also, and shows such
intimacy that you feel that you are meeting your own father and you feel
you are a part of the Sivananda family. Now you decide never to miss the
Satsanga.
It is a pleasant surprise for you that on most of the days the discourses
are in English, and even when a discourse is in Hindi, its gist is given
in English.
The morning meditation session is from 5 to 6. But you
come a little early and see many devotees already sitting in meditation.
After brief prayer, the group meditation begins, at the end of it there
is a little kirtan. Then, Revered Swami Atmananda from Canada gives a
sparkling short talk. Sometimes some senior Swamiji is also gives a brief
talk. The atmosphere is so much charged that everyone is inward drawn,
no one speaks with anyone else, and no one looks here and there. Some
devotees go to the Visvanatha Temple and join the kirtan there. It may
be noted that most worshipful Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj gives the highest
priority to this morning programme and he is invariably attending it when
he is in the Ashram. His morning talks are so inspiring that they are
complied and published in many books.
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