Important: some dos and donts for lunar eclipse (To my students I will send you more detailed personalized ritual details)
Dos and Don’ts for Lunar Eclipse: Following the Ancient Rituals and Purifying the Self
During a lunar or solar eclipse, certain regions of the world are affected, and to honor this event, we must follow the prescribed rituals as laid out in the scriptures. Our esteemed gurus advocate for embracing the sanctity of the occasion and abiding by the following practices:
The Shikshãpatri, a revered text, commands us to stop all activities at the time of the eclipse and chant the name of God in a purified state. After the eclipse, householders must bathe with their clothes on and then donate according to their means. The Purãnas tells the story of how the eclipse came into existence, narrating how during the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, the nectar of immortality was produced, and a demon named Rãhu, disguising himself as a god, drank it. Thus, when God beheaded Rãhu, he became a planet, and during certain times of the year, he holds the sun and moon by his mouth (Grahan), causing solar and lunar eclipses.
The rules to follow before, during, and after an eclipse are as follows: Before the eclipse, one must not eat for 12 hours before the solar eclipse begins and for 9 hours before the lunar eclipse begins. During this period, one must not offer meals to God, but one can perform arti, pray, and sing devotional songs. If the solar eclipse occurs before sunrise, one may see the eclipse only after the sun has risen, and in this case, one must not eat after sunset the previous night.
During the eclipse, one must sit in one place, chant the name of God, and sing devotional songs. One must also observe a waterless fast while the eclipse is in progress.
After the eclipse, one must bathe immediately with clothes on and preferably with cold water. The Satsangijivan recommends offering donations according to one’s income, as this expresses one’s joy at the release of the Sun and/or Moon god from Rãhu’s grasp. Sadhus rejoice by performing puja.
To remain pure during the eclipse, one must get rid of extra cooked food, and not touch anything such as clothes, food, personal items, etc. After the eclipse, one must not touch anyone, and if one has touched anything by mistake, it must be purified by washing or by sprinkling water over it.
It is crucial to take a bath after an eclipse as darkness during the eclipse symbolizes impurity. Once the eclipse is over, light returns to the earth, and to rejoice, one must cleanse the impurity that darkness brought, worship God, and offer donations to express happiness.
We must also remember that we are all engulfed by an eclipse in the form of mãy, and purifying ourselves on this occasion will enable us to transcend this illusory world and reach the ultimate goal of yoga. Let us embrace the sacredness of the lunar eclipse and follow these ancient rituals to purify ourselves and connect with the divine.
The Maha Mantra Om Namah Shivay, also known as “The Maha Panchakshari Mantra,” holds profound significance in Vedic spirituality, serving as a pathway to enlightenment and liberation from worldly entanglements.
Unlocking Spiritual Awakening
Many attribute divine qualities to this five-letter mantra, believing in its potency to transcend negative karma and offer salvation from worldly sufferings, including the depths of hell. It serves as a beacon of light guiding seekers towards spiritual awakening and moksha.
Harnessing Cosmic Energy
Chanting Om Namah Shivay generates powerful energy waves that elevate human intelligence to its zenith. Through meditation, the rhythmic recitation of this mantra instills harmony, concentration, and inner strength, facilitating a profound connection with the divine.
Embracing the Divine Essence
According to Rig Veda, Bhagwan Shiv ji embodies the essence of Maharudra, the supreme being who consoles and uplifts souls from despair. Yogis, through sincere devotion to Sachidanand, experience a transcendental journey, traversing through higher dimensions of reality and attaining profound spiritual insights.
The Essence of the Mantra
The mantra “ॐ नमः शिवाय” translates to “Adoration to Bhagwan Shiv ji,” encapsulating reverence towards the divine. It underscores Bhagwan Shiv ji’s role as the god of yogis, time, and bestower of moksha. The repetition of this mantra signifies a journey from the end to a new beginning, leading practitioners towards Shiva-consciousness.
Deciphering the Mantra’s Components
Om Namah Shivay comprises the Panchakshari mantra, excluding Omkar, the primary cosmic vibration. Each syllable – NA, MA, SHI, VA, YA – represents one of the five essential elements of the materialistic world, symbolizing a holistic connection with the universe.
SivaOm – NAMAH SHIVAY
Na: Earth Element (Prithvi Tattva)
Representing the essence of stability and grounding, Na symbolizes the earth element (Prithvi Tattva) within the Om Namah Shivay mantra. This element forms the foundational basis of existence, providing a sense of rootedness and strength.
Ma: Water Element (Jal Tattva)
Ma embodies the fluidity and adaptability of the water element (Jal Tattva) within the mantra. Just as water flows and shapes itself according to its surroundings, Ma symbolizes the essence of emotional fluidity and purification.
Si: Fire Element (Agni Tattva)
Si ignites the transformative and purifying qualities of the fire element (Agni Tattva) within the mantra. Like flames that cleanse and purify, Si represents the inner fire that fuels spiritual growth and purification of the soul.
Va: Air Element (Vayu Tattva)
Va encompasses the dynamic and expansive nature of the air element (Vayu Tattva) within the mantra. Reflecting the qualities of movement and freedom, Va signifies the breath of life and the expansive nature of consciousness.
Ya: Space Element (Akasha Tattva)
Ya encompasses the vastness and boundlessness of the space element (Akasha Tattva) within the mantra. Just as space accommodates all phenomena, Ya symbolizes the infinite potential and expansiveness of the universe.
Embracing the Transcendental Changes
Chanting the Om Namah Shivay mantra initiates transcendent alterations within the practitioner’s body, leading to profound spiritual evolution. Yogis worldwide immerse themselves in the auspicious vibrations of this mantra, elevating their abilities to unprecedented levels.
Connecting with the Divine Essence
The Om Namah Shivay mantra serves as a conduit for aligning with the primary nature of existence, known as Prakriti or sublime energy flow. Through sincere chanting, practitioners establish a profound connection with Goddess Shakti, ultimately leading them to Bhagwan Shiv ji himself.
Unveiling the Supreme God of Gods
Bhagwan Shiv ji, known as Yogeshwara Shiv and Mahadev, stands as the epitome of divinity, devoid of any beginning or end. As the immortal and unconquerable deity, Shiv embodies infinite transformation and supreme knowledge, guiding devotees towards eternal bliss.
Delving into the Benefits
Attainment of Moksha and Thought Stabilization
Chanting Om Namah Shivay not only grants liberation but also stabilizes thoughts and enhances neural connectivity, fostering inner harmony and mental clarity.
Lightness of Being and Sense Control
The mantra instills a sense of lightness and inner peace, enabling practitioners to control their senses and transcend sensory pleasures, leading to emotional balance and inner tranquility.
Calming the Mind and Elevating Happiness
By invoking Lord Shiva’s presence, the mantra cools the mind and increases the production of the happiness chemical, fostering a sense of serenity, joy, and contentment.
Transformation and Metabolic Enhancement
Om Namah Shivay induces positive energy, reducing aggression and fostering physiological and psychological changes, including enhanced metabolism and reduced toxicity.
Health Benefits and Spiritual Purity
Enhanced Blood Circulation and Emotional Healing
The mantra improves blood circulation, stabilizes heartbeat, and purifies the rationalizing process, leading to physical and emotional healing and resilience.
Spreading Positivity and Invoking Spiritual Growth
By establishing the presence of Shiva and Shakti within the home, chanting Om Namah Shivay spreads positivity, fosters moral values, and invokes the law of attraction.
Liberation from Sins and Connection with the Supreme Consciousness
The mantra serves as a vehicle for liberation from past sins and connects practitioners with the simplicity and guiltless nature of Lord Shiva, facilitating a profound connection with the supreme consciousness. ॐ नमः शिवाय mantra chanting brings transcendental changes to the body of the chanter. Yogis all around the world are busy in chanting the auspicious mantra through which they have increased their abilities to infinite levels.
It means that those particular yogis have connected themselves with the primary nature of their existence which is Prakriti or sublime energy flow. Goddess Shakti resides in that energy flow and takes you to the Shiva. It is a remarkable ancient science of Yogis based on logistic realities. If chanted correctly, mantra helps the chanter to get connected with Bhagwan shiv ji. Connecting to Shiva means going to self-healing mode. It is the ultimate state of the eternal blissfulness.
Yogeshwara Shiv is Mahadev, in simple terms supreme god of gods. The one who doesn’t have any start and end. Everything emerges from him and in the end, gets dissolve in him. Therefore, Shiva is unique; there is no one like Shiv, the immortal one, Unconquerable, the greatest Aghor, infinite, omniscient, greatest transformer, Adi Purusha.
The benefits of chanting Om Namah Shivay
The Mantra is Moksha Giver and stabilizes your thoughts – The Chanting of Om Namah Shivay is not just moksha giving mantra; It also enlightens, our inner thoughts process and improves blood circulation on the neurons. In medical term, this concept is called neuroplasticity .
Mantra makes you feel Light – Lord Shiva is highly auspicious, When someone chants Om Namah Shivay, At that moment he becomes AGHORI. Ghor means extreme and, AGhor (Not Ghor) means the one who is not extreme. That’s how Shiva makes you feel light inside your heart. A significant vibration originates in the subconsciousness part of the mind which gives the feeling of internal ecstasy. Om Namah Shivay mantra benefits that the Continuous repetition of the divine mantra is the way toward perennial joy.
Om Namah Shivay helps in controlling Senses and anxieties Neelkantham is Vairagya founder (Means founder of Dispassion). Shiva Kaam Bhasmam (Destroyer of eroticism ) makes you qualify to control your senses and nerves. The deity of eroticism (Kaam Dev) will not influence you.
Om Namah Shivay gives calmness to your mind Shiva holds moon crescent on his head. It impacts chanter body When somebody starts Om Namah Shivaay chanting. It cools his/her mind and helps them to get peace of mind, persistence, and calmness especially when everything is going against you.
Om Namah Shivay increases the happiness chemical which is known as GABA chemical. Lack of Gaba chemical reduces the natural sleep within humans. People who lack such chemical always feel exhausts. The frontal area of the human brain is in the Orbito prefrontal cortex which is responsible for making decisions, problem-solving and awakening the consciousness gets charged.
Students get the immense benefit of improving memory power after the Om Namah Shivaya chanting. Therefore if your kid is suffering from low memory power, advice them to chant the mantra for 15 mins every day. Chanting Om Namah Shivay mantra gives you eternal joy and the great Bhagwan shiv ji becomes your protector, Every kind of panic, stress, depression, insanity starts fading slowly, when you begin Om Namah Shivay chanting. Himself becomes the protector of the chanter.
Om Namah Shivay mantra makes you free from your animal passion and rude behavior. It grows positive energy in you which improves your body metabolism and reduces the toxicity of the body. You will start feeling the reduction in your aggression and anger. These changes will require 25-30 days. You require to practice mantra with high reverence on Shiv at least two times daily. Slowly – Slowly Internal and external Changes start appearing It activates the inactive neurons of the brain cell. Your body and skin start getting glow and shine by tightening up your pores automatically in a natural way. Om Namah Shivaya is a powerful maha-mantra.
The Continuous 108-time repetition is more beneficial to get Siddhis and It is helpful in awakening Kundalini Yoga Shakti.
Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivay •improves your blood circulation and stabilizes heartbeat. •Mantra can even enhance your blood purification system. •Chanting the mantra also purifies your rationalizing process which improves your physiological as well as intellectual well-being. •It also heals your sorrows, emotional pain and takes you out of the darkness and show the positivity of life. •It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
It spreads positivity in your house Worshipping Shiva in the home brings happiness into the family. Shiva & Shakti both get established in that house. You start understanding others problem and becomes ever ready to give helping hand to others. Moreover that, Moral values will start growing in the kids. Positive vibes will get emitting from that house and from the people living in that house. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya makes the law of attraction works better in your favor.
The Power of Om Namah Shivaya is that it can free you from your past sins. The Mantra helps you to invoke [ AtmyaGyan – Atman ] What most of the people don’t know is that almighty Shiva is known for his simplicity and guiltless nature. This mantra helps you to get connected with supreme consciousness. Every substance including deities is the manifestation of Shiva’s energy. Chanting Om Namah Shivay is like worshipping the primary elements of nature means invoking your inner Shiva.
Meditation, it’s not sitting in a posture, it is actually trying to concentrate on a particular thing. It could be your guru who you love a lot. Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, for the mind to acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content.
The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way ; for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training.
Meditation has many benefits as it affects you physiologically, psychologically and also spiritually. It means a person who meditates, not only has a good sharp mind, with a great will power but the person is also physiologically sound with all the bodily functions working in harmony. By quoting spiritually, a person develops a knack of forgiving anyone for the mistakes, a person become enlightened. This level of enlightenment can only be achieved if a person meditates.
A person can do Breath awareness meditation, Mantra meditation. When you inhale breath, try to feel it, and then try to feel the way it exhales from the body. In the whole process of inhaling and exhaling, thoughts will come in the mind. Just acknowledge the thoughts and smile on it and then try to focus again on the breath. It will improve one’s concentration and patience.
Another simple technique is to close your eyes and try to see the image of guru or god. The whole purpose is to concentrate on the image. Random thoughts will definitely bother you but just smile on it. Meditation is something which can be done anytime and anywhere. It is not about closing eyes and sitting. It can be done by opening your eyes. But by closing eyes it becomes easier for the person to concentrate while cutting all the distractions. A relaxed peaceful mind can do wonders and this can only be achieved if we meditate!
Things are the most important factors to know for anyone before taking up any yoga course…
sivaom yoga teacher training certificate
– How authentic is the teacher?
indian embassy letter of appreciation to sivaom
This can be seen by reading his/her history, asking about their family/guru lineage, the traditions they follow and then doing your own conclusive research about what’s been shared with you…
– What subject is being taught?
guru giving gyan yoga
There are various subjects which have such important relevance. So much so, that without their knowledge you can’t even be considered to be practicing yoga, but there is lack of awareness about them in the west due to the limited knowledge even today. This doesn’t let a person fully grow in yoga, as they aren’t aware of these subjects. These subjects can add depth to your existing yoga and might be very important for not just your own growth but might have a direct impact on the evolution of your students Incase you’re an existing teacher…
– Can this subject be found in the original transcriptions and scripts of yoga or is it a filtered or toned down or a deviated subject given to you? Authenticity of text is important as these are time and character tested methodology. They are accepted as universal truths because they can be applied to anyone, from any region, at any time!
Adding to that, I would also say it’s important that whose commentary is being taught. Try to avoid as less change of wording in the manual as possible, the more hands it has passed the more away from Subject of yoga it became! All texts existed predominantly in Sanskrit, then were translated to Hindi or other local language, then to English, then to your local language and then someone added their own colour to it, in the end it ended up being just the shadow of what existed.
I would like to say the “best teacher and course” is a subjective matter and indeed in this aspect there can’t be a single best! However having said that, we are talking about yoga and when we talk of yoga guiding a person or giving guidelines to person so that they can have access to the best quality of teachings is the most fundamental aspect and we have to be responsible and truthful about!
Even though today it does act as a parameter of quality of a teaching but the past graduates testimonials also doesn’t speak much. For example if I have zero knowledge of yoga and only 1% of authentic knowledge was provided to me, I will consider that as wholesome 100% and write very nicely about the school and the teacher. This is totally misleading and I can vouch that some leading names have do not teach authentically.
Yoga Training Certificate given by the ambassador of india to greece on the Graduation Ceremony of SivaOm Students
Now the question about whether the question of if the teacher is from India, this is directly relevant to the question of which course to take, even today there are many families in India who have been following and practicing yoga for over 1000 generations and this can not be replaced even with a lifetime of studies as many things in yoga come from real life situation experience after applying the wisdom of the books applied generation after generation. However I would also say that many Indians have compromised for the sake of money, this is why it becomes important to check their guru/family lineage.
Let me at this point also talk of moral and ethical issues, as an indian you would never go for yoga alliance for the reason that no American association can verify and certify an indian cultural practice and those who’ve done the certification of the alliances are simply in it for the money, as a matter of fact there is no body which can measure if you have achieved yoga, so measuring or certifying it becomes impossible. Adding to that there is literally only one certification body in the world recognised by any government and that is authorised by the ministry of yoga in India and is not yoga alliance America or even the Indian chapter of yoga alliance…
The chakras are beyond the physical body or the sthula sharira. They are part of the linga sharira. The energy field or emf encompassing the body. The linga sharira is a consequence of our absorption of light energy . We are nothing but energy. Some of it light energy ! Without the sun rays we are nothing. We can be bioluminescent as well. This is sensed not only by our eyes but the EMF emitted by our own brains! As we absorb the energy and transform it to suit different frequencies in the body we transform how we feel. Humans are very visual. We can see 3D in color naturally. Elephants, on the other hand, have better ears than eyes. They can hear us 3 KM away and smell us 10 km away. Due to the quantum nature of energy.
The mula is red in color. The R in VIBGYOR or the visible light spectrum or the Sa in the 7 notes in nada yoga. The ancients discovered how we are impacted by light and sound of different frequencies. The mula is red in color red has more energy than other colors and frequencies of vibrating photons. Red represents shakti or energy residing at the Muladhara. The note Sa is a vibrational energy that works on the Muladhara. The svadisthana chakra present below the navel is represented by Orange the color the O in VIBGYOR and is representative of the self. It is where the energy flows from. Thought may occur in the mind , it is talking to yourself. It can be tuned for neuro-linguistic programming! Anahata.! But the voice energy or ahata starts flowing from the svadisthana. Not from the brain. Something modern science is still discovering. With music, a focused mind, and controlled breath, the individual can, according to Nāda yoga, “listen in on” their own Anahata, their own “inner sound”, OM is pronounced as Aauuummmmm as ahata. But Om the Anahata version is the vibration of the universe. The primal energy! Something we feel 24/7. Without this vibrational energy, there would no be cell replication or reproduction or life as we know it! To concentrate on this inner sound as a support for meditation is very helpful to tame the mind, and when it has been clearly recognized, used for self-centeredness in outer life as well.
So the 7 chakras in the linga sharira corespond to lights of different color and sounds of diferent notes and frequencies representing the EMF or energy fields we create close to nerve plexus or ganglions or centers in the body where neurons from diferent areas of body converge around the meru dhandha or spinal chord. Charkras are not from the sthula sharira or gross body that we can see and feel , they are from the subtle or linga sharira , the temple of shiva, They can only be sensed by the energy waves or emf created by our brain which is an antena that receives energy and a transponder that radiates this energy. It is transcedant. Beyond the physical sense. Beyond our sense organs. It takes practice to develop this ability. We are so blinded by noise of the outside world and so immeresed in it we cannot sense the energy in selves. The ancients discovered that by focusing on certain colors and tunes we can transform the energy in the body. Like our guru shiva or neelakantha the blue throated one, blue standing for the color of the vishudda chakra. The color of truth, of creativity ,dance and art. Like shiva our guru of natya yoga, nada yoga, hatha yoga, mantra yoga and ayurveda. It is our shiva nature. formles and shapeless that can be impacted by the frequency and amplitude of the energy we can generate. IT IS THE SECRET.
CHAKRA
NAME
STONE
1st Root
Muladhara
Garnet
2nd Navel
svadhistana
Carnelian
3rd Solar Plexus
Manipur
Acitrine
4th Heart
Anahata
Green Onyx
5th Throat
Vishuddha
Lapis Lazuli
6th Third Eye
Ajna
Amethyst
7th crown
Sahasrara
hyaline quartz
Glory to our ancestors who discovered these aphorisms of nature based on observation and experience. They did not use sthetoscopes or microscopes . They established this knowledge of tantra based on experience. Jai guru mahadeva. Shiva is our guru of tantra. The chakras are spirutal aids in the sadhana. It is the science of energy transformation. Kundalini ! Practice hatha yoga or mantra yoga. Discover the world within. The world of Parashakti , or radiant inner energy !
