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Inspirers
Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati continued...
In 1998, Sri Swamiji also inspired Sivananda Math to undertake an education
project. Thus scholarships were given to deserving students of Rikhia
panchayat with special emphasis on the education of girls. English classes
were also started at the ashram. By 2001, nearly all eligible children
aged between  6-12
years of Rikhia Panchayat had been adopted into the ever-expanding family
of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati. In 2003, computer training was started.
The girls, called kanyas, were also taught chanting of Sanskrit stotras.
The boys, batuks, were simultaneously introduced to Gayatri mantra, Bhagavad
Gita, surya namaskara, and rituals of havan and worship.
Today these little children confidently conduct all the ceremonies and
rituals at Rikhiapeeth before thousands of devotees who come to participate
in these events. In 2004, Sivananda Ashram was formed with the main thrust
of looking after the elderly and infirm, including widows. It has also
undertaken a project to provide one wholesome meal a day to the children
and elderly of Rikhia panchayat.
Thus, in a short span of time, a silent revolution has taken place in
Rikhia. It was all made possible by a sannyasin who came to this place
to live in solitude. Sri Swamiji says, "After coming to Rikhia my
cataracted vision was corrected. I have lived a spiritual life for more
than sixty years. I have practised every form of yoga, but ultimately
I found that when I began to think about others, God began to think about
me. On my guru's instructions, I lit the flame of yoga in Munger and the
light of seva in Rikhia. This is the requirement of humanity today."
In 2007, Sri Swamiji announced the formation of Rikhiapeeth. He said,
"The Rikhia ashram  will
now be known as Rikhiapeeth. Peeth means 'seat', an apt term for Rikhia
as the instructions given to me by Sri Swami Sivananda have culminated
and fructified here. Rikhia is an ashram in the original sense of the
word because here a lifestyle is lived. Swami Satyasangananda is the Peethadhishwari
of Rikhiapeeth and has been given the sankalpa that the three cardinal
teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda, serve, love and give, will be practised
and lived here. This is the future vision of Rikhiapeeth."
In 2009, after participating in and giving darshan during Sat Chandi
Mahayajna and Yoga Poornima where Sri Swamiji inspired everyone to lead
the righteous life and bid final farewell to the thousands who had gathered
to participate in these events, he entered into Mahasamadhi on the midnight
of 5th December and merged into Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati, our Sadguru.
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