Yoga Poornima Celebrations

Yoga Poornima, a celebration of yoga, will be held at Rikhiapeeth as a tribute to Swami Satyananda Saraswati whose birth fell on this full moon, at midnight, during the month of Marga Sheersha, in the year 1923, at Almora. On that day a new star appeared on the horizon to herald the birth of a yogi, who as per the mandate of his Guru, Swami Sivananda Saraswati, hoisted the flag of yoga in every nook and comer of the world. The seeds he planted then have not only taken root, they have begun to blossom and flower.

For today yoga has moved out of the caves of hermits and ascetics into the mainstream of society. This five-day celebration culminating on the full moon night of his birth 85 years ago, is a dedication to Swami Satyananda whose insight, vision and tremendous compassion have touched and inspired countless lives through the path of yoga.

To commemorate this event, Maha Mrityunjaya homa will be conducted by learned pandits from Varanasi in honour of the first yogi and Adi Guru, Lord Siva, who as Mrityunjaya, is the ishta devata of Swami Satyananda. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra hailed as the heart of the Vedas, forms a part of the famous Rudri chants of the Krishna Yajur Veda, which are sung daily during abhisheka of Siva lingam, in praise of Siva, the three-eyed one.

This powerful mantra is the remover of all ills and wards off difficulties of every kind. It bestows good health, long life, everlasting peace and prosperity, granting a kavacha or protective armour to the worshipper, to guard him from all dangers.

In this way, through the worship of Shakti during Sat Chandi Mahayajna and Siva during the Maha Mrityunjaya homa, we shall gain the grace and blessings of both the cosmic mother and father.

Tvameva mata cha pita tvameva;
tvameva bandhuscha sakha tvameva;
Tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva;
Tvameva sarvam mama devadeva.
You are mother and you are father;

You are friend and companion, too; You are knowledge and you are wealth; You are everything, my Lord.

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