New Website Launch & Guru Purnima Celebrations
Guru Purnima Morning, Tuesday 7 July 2009
On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, Baba Shri Shivarudra Balayogi launched the new website dedicated to the Lotus Feet of His Beloved Guru Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj in London at 8am on Tuesday 7 July 2009.
A group of devotees who had worked to build the website gathered around Babaji in silent anticipation. Viewing the ceremonial webpage (click to view) designed for the occasion, Babaji clicked the launch button, and the new Mission website went live.
Devotees marked the event with a simple puja and Aarati to Swamiji and Babaji. After placing flowers at the Feet of Swamiji and Babaji, a coconut was broken and shared as prasadam to symbolize how the destruction of the ego leads from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Supreme Knowledge. Devotees then listened to Babaji melodiously chanting Mantras in honour of Guru, who is the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance.
After a light breakfast, Babaji delighted the small gathering by playing a classical Indian bhajan (devotional song) on the guitar. Babaji advised devotees to adopt proper technical methods of sadhana so that they can achieve the Ultimate Truth for themselves. In a poignant moment, Babaji emphasized the need to deal with all difficulties in this world with a smile, by speaking politely and never being afraid to admit mistakes and say ‘sorry.' He taught that by adopting proper external conduct, one's internal character can be enhanced. He advised that even if one needs to say ‘no,' one should do so with a smile.
Guru Purnima Evening Program, Tuesday 7 July 2009
Many devotees gathered south of London in anticipation of the auspicious event, the first year Shri Babaji has celebrated Guru Purnima in the UK. Heavy rains meant that the homa (fire ceremony) was relocated from the outside lawn to the main hall of the hosts' home, which began to take on the feel of an ashram. The homam kund (fire pit) was placed in the middle of the room, with the ingredients for worship and offering arranged around the pit.
Shri Babaji entered the room in perfect Silence, prostrating to the photos of His Beloved Guru Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj and offering flowers to the photos as a simple puja (worship). Babaji then commenced the homam (fire ceremony). The fire rose and ancient fragrances filled the room, as the ingredients were placed into the agni (fire) one by one. A thunderous sequence of mantras were recited by Babaji. Devotees sat in awe at the power of the experience. Some felt their minds becoming peaceful and concentrated, and slipped into meditation.
Devotees were asked to take some samagri (ingredients) in hand and offer it to the fire. Babaji explained that this act of worship symbolized placing the ego into the fire of the Self, and that we are to consider the fire as the mouth of the Divine swallowing our egos and imaginations and leading us to the Ultimate Truth. As devotees approached the fire, they prayed that their minds may be purified by the fire of Self-knowledge and sadhana embodied by their beloved Guru Shri Babaji. The poornahuthi (final offering) which symbolizes the offering of the final sattvic ego of the mind to the Divine was then made.
Many of those present expressed a singular sense of Peace and Security. Usually, the homam is performed by priests, with the Yogi invited to perform the final offering. On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, all those who gathered experienced a Perfected Yogi, their Guru Shri Babaji, perform the entire ceremony with a unique spiritual power.
After aarati (salute with lights) was performed to Shri Swamiji, the singing of bhajans (devotional songs) energized the crowd with devotion. The evening ended with every devotee performing aarati to Shri Babaji and sharing a blessed meal. Many came to realize that evening why the Guru is known as the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance.
