MAHASIVARATRI

The Mahasivaratri programme started at 6:30pm at our Acharya nilayam (the residence of Pujya Gurudev Sri Prem Siddharthji). All the devotees invoked the blessings of Mahaganapathi by chanting hymns and Ganapathi Atharvasirshopanisad. Then Pujya Gurudev inaugurated the Vedanta Adhyayana Mandali regular classes for this year. In these classes the committed sincere seekers will be taught the important vedantic texts. Pujya Gurudev announced the topic “Vedanta Parichayam” for the first session of classes. These classes are scheduled to be on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday of every week.

Sri Prem Siddharth gave a talk on Vedanta Darshanam, wherein he said that Atma Vidya - the Self Knowledge alone can liberate us from the bondage of Samsara. He narrated the Narada – Sanatkumara samvada from Chandogya Upanisad and explained about the statement “Tarati Shokam Atmavith”.

Nama Sankeertanam began at 9pm. Sri N. Srinivasji sung many Siva bhajans. Sri Gurudev at 10:30pm told the story of Sivaratri from Arunachala Mahatmyam and sang so many bhajans in between that suit every instance being narrated and enriched the story. Sri Srinivas ji joined Gurudev in singing and also supported the entire bhajan session by playing Kanjeera and Dholak.

Just before the commencement of the Abhisekam to Parameswara, Gurudev has explained about the idea that is behind the abhisekam to Lord Siva. Exactly at midnight devotees started the chanting of Sri Rudram, Suktams, Stotras…while the Ekadasa Rudrabhisekam and an elaborate Puja was performed to the holy Sivalingam. The programme concluded early in the morning of the following day with mangala harathi and prasadam.