Archive - Mar 2007

Date

New Class on Satya Narayan Vrat

~~OM~~

Swamiji is offering a series of classes on the Satya Narayan Vrat beginning April 3. The classes will be conducted at the Mandir at 6.30 PM PST, after the evening vespers (Arati). You can view this class via our webcam at

http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

The Thousand Names of Vishnu and Satya Narayan Vrat text will be used in the class and can be found at our online bookstore.

If you would like to participate and ask questions to Swamiji during the classes, please download yahoo messenger on your computer, add MandirClass@yahoo.com to your yahoo buddy list, and login to messenger at 6.30 pm PST. You will be invited into a conference where you can ask your questions.

Alternatively, you can view the webcam, and send an email to Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions, if you have any problems with Yahoo Messenger.

You can download or stream to view the video classes archived on our website at:

http://www.shreemaa.org/onlineclasses

More questions? Please email MandirClass@yahoo.com

Submitted by webdev on Fri, 2007-03-30 12:20.

...and more blessings from Shree Maa, Swamiji and Kumari Maa!


Photo of the week - Apr 1 - Apr 7 2007
(Picture taken March 2007 at Devi Mandir, Napa, CA)


Check out our weekly blogs.

Submitted by webdev on Fri, 2007-03-30 12:19.

Satsang on Guru Gita


~~OM~~


Guru Gita: Satsang with Shree Maa and Swamiji

In the following profound and elevating conversation, Shree Maa and Swamiji translate and discuss a Bengali commentary on the Guru Gita.

Mother is translating from a book by Nirmalananda, who is a disciple of Swami Pranavanandaji from Bharat Seva Ashram.

Who is the Respected Guru and what kind of behavior does the Guru exemplify? What is the Guru's intrinsic nature and what is the principle of the Guru?

Who is able to take refuge in the Guru and what is the effect of taking refuge in Guru?

What is seva to the Guru, what is an offering to the Guru, what is the song of the Guru, and what is the discipline of a disciple?

What is the highest fruit of devotion to Guru?

The answers to all these questions are found in the scripture called Guru Gita.

Commentaries on Sri Guru Gita come from the Vishvasaara Tantra. These are expansions of the Guru Gita. Also people speak of Rudrayamal Tantra. All Tantras speak of the highest principle of the Guru.

In both the Vedas and Vedanta, the position of the Guru is held in very high regard. But in the Tantra scriptures, they speak of the Guru's position as being the very highest. In the path of Tantra, the principle of Guru is the highest principle of all.

Guru is both the Supreme Divinity with form and without form.

The Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar. The Respected Guru is both the motivation for the highest truth and the attainment and realization of the highest truth. These are illuminated in all of the verses contained in the Guru Gita.

The foremost principle and discussion of the highest importance has been given by Sada Shiva. His first student was Parvati.

Guru Gita informs us by which sadhana, by what means, can someone who wears a body attain success.

Without a doubt, Shiva has illuminated these questions in this scripture. The path of the Guru is the king of all dharmas (king of all ideals of perfection - the Supreme). In order to attain prasad (consecrated offering) from the Guru, your birth, your past, your karma (what kind of activities you perform) are not required subjects. The ignorant, the lazy and those steeped in darkness (tamas) will not proceed in this path. They are not capable of achieving the understanding of the wisdom of the principles. They don't have wisdom or desire knowledge of liberation.

It is incumbent upon all those who take refuge in the Guru to do so with their body, mind and speech.

Seva (selfless service as an expression of love) to the Guru, Puja, aaradhana is a disciple's sadhana. Giving pleasure to the Guru is your sadhana, your worship.

Whoever is able to do atma samarpan (surrender of his or her own soul in equilibrium) to the Sri Guru's Feet - giving up all their attachment - this is samadhi and siddhi (attainment of perfection). This is the path of the Guru.

The Guru is not a human being. The Guru is the Supreme Divinity made manifest. Because of this, we cannot look at our Guru as just a human being. This Guru principle is united with all pure qualities, beautiful attributes, the greatness of all purity. This is the authority that comes through the Guru.

If you can perceive these qualities in your Guru, you will not think of your Guru as a mere human being. The Guru is Bhagavan (Supreme Divinity).

All the qualities and all the attitudes, all the energies and all that is Infinite or eternal, all the wisdom that is inculcated - all these qualities are only reflected in God. That Godliness is reflected in the Guru. So we should not think of the Guru as a human being. We would think of the Guru as the emblem or representative of Supreme Divinity.

Where there is atma samarpan, the disciple becomes a mirror and there is union between Guru and disciple in a great radiant light. When there is a transfer of energy from Guru to disciple and surrender, there is a light that is incomparable to anything you can see with worldly eyes.

Trailinga Swami once locked himself in His room for three days. His disciple was very worried and wanted to see Swamiji. He went to the door and banged and banged and banged. Trailinga Swamiji said 'Who are you?"

The disciple was full of his own ego self, and replied, "I am so and so". He felt he was a real disciple, but he was not at that moment. There was no response from within. On the second day, the disciple went again and banged on the door and received the same question. Again he answered, "I am so and so". Nothing happened. On third day, the disciple thought deeply and cried, "Why is the Guru doing this to me?"

Again he knocked on the door with reverence. Trailinga Swami asked, "Who are you?" The disciple replied, "You." Trailinga Swamji opened the door.

The Guru-disciple relationship is very subtle. Atma samarpan has become a big market nowadays. The relationship between Guru and Disciple is truth. A truthful relationship means surrender. You will get everything with surrender.

Where is the individual form of God? Ishwara, God, the Supreme Soul, is everywhere, in every place. He is in the gross body, the subtle body, the modifications of the mind and unmanifest as well. How can the individual wearing a body grasp Supreme Divinity, find Him, touch Him with sensory knowledge? With our current perception, this is a very difficult issue.

There is a solution to this issue in Hindu Dharma. Scriptures say that He who understands Supreme Divinity, becomes Supreme Divinity. Who has refined the discipline of sadhana, becomes united with all the tendencies of sadhana, he understands the nature of the Supreme Divinity. That individual becomes a representative of Supreme Divinity.

A great example of that is Swamiji!!! This moment Swamiji does not need sadhana. He can go to the Himalayas and be by Himself. But to show the world, He is doing sadhana.

We are born, we learn how to walk, first we learn from our parents - how to walk, how to eat - step by step, our whole life is sadhana. In childhood we are learning how to be human. Now we are learning how to be with the soul. Without sadhana, we will never know.

The Supreme Divinity, the teacher, and the yogi who has attained divinity are all one.

The Yogi is actually a murti - the perceivable form of Supreme Divinity. All the true qualities of a Yogi are illuminated in reality.

We believe that according to the needs of the age, God Himself comes in an embodied form. That Supreme Divinity which is Infinite beyond conception takes a human form and takes birth in the mortal world.

He is undefeatable and that is the Supreme Divinity manifested amongst all the elements of existence.

When we do surrender our soul in equilibrium (atma samarpana), we receive Diksha. The first chapter of this experience is to receive a mantra in the ear, but that is only the first chapter. Om

Submitted by webdev on Thu, 2007-03-29 21:33.

Take blessings from our Kumari Puja


Photo of the week - Mar 25 - Apr 1 2007
(Picture taken March 2007 at Devi Mandir, Napa, CA)


Check out our weekly blogs.

Submitted by webdev on Mon, 2007-03-26 16:54.

Chandi Path- Shree Maa



Chandi Text can be obtained here.

Chants included in Chandi Playlist

  • atha sapta sloki durga- p. 32
  • sri durgastottara satanama stotram- p. 37
  • atha devyah kavacam- p. 56
  • athargala stotram- p. 75
  • atha kilakam- p. 84
  • atha vedoktam ratri suktam- p. 90
  • atha navarna vidhih- p. 112
  • Chapter 1- p. 125
  • Chapter 2- p. 153
  • Chapter 3- p. 175
  • Chapter 4- p. 189
  • Chapter 5- p. 207
  • Chapter 6- p. 233
  • Chapter 7- p. 240
  • Chapter 8- p. 249
  • Chapter 9- p. 268
  • Chapter 10- p. 281
  • Chapter 11- p. 291
  • Chapter 12- p. 310
  • Chapter 13- p. 322
  • bhagavatistutih- p. 420
  • rgvedoktam devi suktam- p. 345
  • siddha kunjika stotram- p. 404
  • chandi ma ki arati- p. 413

Submitted by site-editor on Sun, 2007-03-25 15:28.

Shree Maa: Bajarang Ban - End



Submitted by webdev on Sat, 2007-03-24 07:15.

Week of Mar 25 - Mar 31 2007

 Please Note : Information given in descending order of date. Please scroll down to see the earlier dates.

Sat,

Mar 31 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Chaturdashi

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

5.00 PM PT - Hanuman Puja.

Tune into http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts and watch our weekly puja to Hanumanji. Please keep a copy of "Hanuman Puja" text handy. The book is available at our bookstore

6.00 PM PT - Saturdays with Shree Maa.

Shree Maa will lead devotees in singing bhajans . For permission to visit/participate at this event at the Mandir, please write to info@shreemaa.org. Tune into our broadcasts page and watch the evening proceedings. The book is available at our bookstore

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Prayer Club.



Chant the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra atleast 21 times a day. Write to devi_mandir_prayer_club@yahoo.com for details. Click here for the words and to listen to the mantra.

2) Recite Navagraha mantra for Saturn today.

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

 

Fri,

Mar 30 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Trayodasi

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - ?????

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The ??????? book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our ?????

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Mantra for Venus

Learn the mantra for the planet here

2) Chant the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

It is beneficial to pray to Lakshmi especially on Fridays. Hear Shree Maa sing this text - here The words are available in the Lakshmi Puja book from the bookstore.

3)Chant the Shiva Chalisa

It says in the Shiva Chalisa (available in both Beginner Shiva Puja book/Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna books) that it is particularly auspicious to chant these verses on the 13th day of the Lunar fortnight.

 

 

Thurs,

Mar 29 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Dwadashi

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - ???????

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The ???? book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our?????

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Guru Gita

Thursdays are wonderful days to honor one's Gurus. The Guru Gita text is available at our bookstore.

See our compendium of Guru worship and questions here

2) Chant the Mantra for Jupiter

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

 

Wed,

Mar 28 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Ekadashi

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - ?????

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The Sundar Kand book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Worship of Vishnu/Ram/Krishna

Chant the Ram Nam - this is regularly chanted on Ekadashi at the Mandir-

2) Chant the Vishnu Sahasranam.

The Vishnu Sahasranam book can be obtained at our bookstore .

3) Chant the Mantra for Mercury

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

Tue,

Mar 27 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Dasami

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - ?????

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The ??? book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Mantra for Mars

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

 

Mon,

Mar 26 2007

Tithi -Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Navami.

Spring Navaratri begins.

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - ????

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The ???? book can be obtained at our bookstore .

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Mantra for the Moon

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

Sun,

Mar 25 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Ashtami

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

9.30 AM PT - Chant the Chandi Path with Swamiji at the Mandir.

For permission to visit/participate at this event, please write to info@shreemaa.org. To participate online, go to the broadcasts page. You can get the Chandi Path book with Sanskrit/ English translation/ transliteration at our bookstore.
The audio/mp3 CD of this recitation is available at our music store

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Chandi with Swamiji

See above for details on participation

2) Chant the Mantra for the Sun

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by webdev on Fri, 2007-03-23 07:16.

If you have problems receiving the broadcasts..

If You Have Problems:

Check your Quicktime installation here http://www.apple.com/quicktime/troubleshooting

If you can't see the QT logo, then try reinstalling QuickTime. On a PC, the best approach is to first uninstall the older version using Start>Settings>Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs.
Then reboot, and download and reinstall QuickTime.

If you are behind a firewall, and can't receive the stream,
try changing your transport settings:
On a PC, go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>QuickTime.
Set Streaming Transport to use HTTP, Port 80.

On a Mac (System 10) go to Apple>System Preferences>QuickTime>Connection.
Set Transport Setup to use HTTP, Port 80.

Normally, the best setting for Streaming Transport is Automatic, on PCs and Macs

Receiving the Broadcasts with iTunes
If you have iTunes 4.9 or better on a Mac or PC, and an internet connection, you can receive the broadcasts without a web browser.

In iTunes, Advanced Menu, select Open Stream.
Enter http://65.98.35.106:554/webcam.sdp
Enter http://65.98.35.106:554/webcam2.sdp
Enter http://65.98.35.106:554/audioinG-4.sdp

Receiving the Broadcasts with QuickTime Player
In QT Player, go to File>Open URL.
Enter rtsp://65.98.35.106:554/webcam.sdp
Enter rtsp://65.98.35.106:554/webcam2.sdp
Enter rtsp://65.98.35.106:554/audioinG-4.sdp
You can then go to Window>Favorites>Add Movies as Favorites.

Submitted by site-editor on Thu, 2007-03-22 18:58.

Shree Maa: Rama Stuti and Hanuman Chalisa



Submitted by webdev on Thu, 2007-03-22 14:28.

Week of Mar 18 - Mar 24 2007

Please Note : Information given in descending order of date. Please scroll down to see the earlier dates.

 

Sat,

Mar 24 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Saptami

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

5.00 PM PT - Hanuman Puja.

Tune into http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts and watch our weekly puja to Hanumanji. Please keep a copy of "Hanuman Puja" text handy. The book is available at our bookstore

6.00 PM PT - Kumari Puja.

Watch the Mandir residents perform puja to the Goddess in the form of a young girl about 3 or 4 years old. For permission to visit/participate at this event at the Mandir, please write to info@shreemaa.org. Tune into our broadcasts page and watch the evening proceedings.

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Prayer Club.

Chant the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra atleast 21 times a day. Write to devi_mandir_prayer_club@yahoo.com for details. Click here for the words and to listen to the mantra. Shukla Saptami is generally a good tithi for praying for one's health, and so today is especially a good day for chanting this mantra.

2) Recite Navagraha mantra for Saturn today.

Learn the mantra for the planet here

3) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire

 

 

 

Fri,

Mar 23 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Shashti

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - Mandir residents offer Navarna Mantra ahutis at the Havan Kund.

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Mantra for Venus

Learn the mantra for the planet here

2) Chant the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

It is beneficial to pray to Lakshmi especially on Fridays. Hear Shree Maa sing this text - here The words are available in the Lakshmi Puja book from the bookstore.

3) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire

 

 

 

Thurs,

Mar 22 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Panchami

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - Different styles of chanting the Sundarkand with Swamiji at the Mandir.

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The Sundar Kand book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Guru Gita

Thursdays are wonderful days to honor one's Gurus. The Guru Gita text is available at our bookstore.

See our compendium of Guru worship and questions here

2) Chant the Mantra for Jupiter

Learn the mantra for the planet here

3) Worship of Saraswati.

Perform Saraswati Puja. Learn about the two different bija mantras of Saraswati in the FAQ section. Look for "Sam and Aim Bijas" in this page.

Hear the Saraswati Stotram sung by Shree Maa "In the Temple of the Heart" CD here

4) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire

 

 

Wed,

Mar 21 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Tritiyai before Sunrise/Chaturthi after Sunrise.

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - Different styles of chanting the Sundarkand with Swamiji at the Mandir.

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The Sundar Kand book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Worship of Ganesh

Perform the Ganesh puja - the text is available at our bookstore

Read about a few of the FAQ on Ganesh here

2) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire

3) Chant the Mantra for Mercury

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

Tue,

Mar 20 2007

Tithi - Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Dwitiyai

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - Different styles of chanting the Sundarkand with Swamiji at the Mandir.

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The Sundar Kand book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Mantra for Mars

Learn the mantra for the planet here

2) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire.

 

 

Mon,

Mar 19 2007

Tithi -Chaitra Maase, Shukla Pakshe, Prathipad.

Spring Navaratri begins.

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

6.30 PM PT - Different styles of chanting the Sundarkand with Swamiji at the Mandir

To participate online, go to http://www.shreemaa.org/broadcasts

To ask questions live from where ever you are located, add Mandirclass@yahoo.com to your yahoo messenger buddy list and login at 6.30 PM PT. You can also email Mandirclass@yahoo.com with your questions. The Sundar Kand book can be obtained at our bookstore . You can view the earlier classes in our archives

To watch our sadhaks chant various texts throughout the day, watch our broadcasts

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Perform your individual sankalpa for Navaratri .

At the Mandir, the residents are performing a group effort of 100,000 Navarna mantras at the fire

2) Chant the Mantra for the Moon

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

 

Sun,

Mar 11 2007

Tithi - Falgun Maase, Krishna Pakshe, Amavasya

Learn more about lunar calendar here - Presentations

At the Mandir

9.30 AM PT - Chant the Chandi Path with Swamiji at the Mandir.

For permission to visit/participate at this event, please write to info@shreemaa.org. To participate online, go to the broadcasts page. You can get the Chandi Path book with Sanskrit/ English translation/ transliteration at our bookstore.
The audio/mp3 CD of this recitation is available at our music store

Suggested Sadhana for the Day

You can do one or more of the following

1) Chant the Chandi with Swamiji

See above for details on participation

2) Chant the Mantra for the Sun

Learn the mantra for the planet here

 

Submitted by webdev on Wed, 2007-03-21 22:21.