43. Devotion

Anything related to the intellect can be reproduced by words. Anything related to emotion can be reproduced by music, poetry, etc. But devotion is something far beyond, far deeper than intellect or emotion.

In devotion, not only are there no rules, no regulations, even the other is not necessary. To be in love, you need two persons. To be devoted, you don't need the second person - that is the great difference.

Devotion frees. In the path of devotion, the very path is so juicy, so tasty, you won't feel like bypassing it. The very path is the goal. It is an amazing liberating experience every step of the way.

Devotion is the ultimate experience, but not the final experience. It is the ultimate experience but happening every moment - you are in the peak every moment. Every moment, new doors open in your being.

Devotion is the pure excitement which is not filtered, altered, stopped, calculated, or channeled by engrams. The pure excitement as it is, is devotion. The pure life force as it is, is devotion!

When you trust you can live your life just with that pure life force, without your socalled mind, you experience the ultimate liberation!

• Paramahamsa Nithyananda

21 feet Healing ¡nanda Li¬ga in Vaidya Sarovar The waters from the healing li¬ga made of Navap¢¾¢´a (medicinal herbs) have healed people of various ailments - chronic cases of psoriasis and skin diseases, arthritis, respiratory problems, depression, anxiety...

Abhi¾eka (pouring offerings) to the deity Devotees are blessed with the opportunity to perform their personal abhi¾eka, p¦j¢s and homa at the Nithyananda Vedic temples.

• Pranaprathishta in the sanctum sanctorum, Bengaluru ashram When a living Enlightened master energizes the deity and the temple, the deity becomes a living energy that can directly respond to you.

1008 homa in Mah¢ saptay¢ga The sacred fire rituals raise the consciousness of the individuals in the homa as well as of the whole locaity.

Dak¾in¢m¦rt¤ the Primal Guru in full alank¢r The Vedic tradition uses the powerful technique of relating with Existence through deities. Deities energized

by a living enlightened Master are arch¢vat¢ras - live energy directly responding to you.

Alank¢r (decoration) of bangles on the festival of Navar¢tr¤ Beautiful exquisite traditional decoration of the deities is a meditation technique that directly physically embeds the feeling connection with Existence in your muscle memory.

Ann¢bhi¾eka (food offering) in Tiruvannamalai ashram. On every full moon night, upto 500,000 people visit the ashram. Annad¢n (free food) is provided through the day and night.

¡rati (ceremonial waving of lamps) The traditional ¢rati in Nithyananda Vedic temples is an elaborate 21-minute ritual where various items are waved in devotion and respect to the deity.

MahesÁvara p¦j¢ Devotees have the unique opportunity to offer this traditional ritual for their departed loved ones. It is a means of connecting with Existence through the medium of sany¢s¤s since they dedicate themselves to Existence.

Bh¦m¤ p¦j¢

This is the traditional inauguration of new lands - for ashrams, centers, schools, etc.

Ca´²¤ Homa - Worship of the Cosmic Mother in Her various manifestations. Nine brahmac¢ris and brahmac¢ri´¤s sit around the sacred fire and chant the 700 verses of the powerful Dev¤ M¢h¢tmyam. 200,000 homas have been conducted in the last 2 years - spreading health, knowledge, positivity, peace, and devotion.

• Celebration of various festivals of the Vedic tradition In the Nithyananda family, it is Nityotsava - every day is a celebration!

Offering of Guru Mudi

Devotees pour their devotion and gratitude to the Master by offering the guru mudi - carrying packets of rice and coconut on their heads. The rice represents one's karmas and the coconut represents one's ego.

1008 offerings of food for the deity Grand naivedyam (food offering) is made to the deities on various occasions and festivals.

Home Darshan

The energized deities (utsava murtis) are taken in procession to the home of the devotee where puja is performed thus energizing the home with the positive cosmic vibrations.

• Flag-hoisting The Dhyanapeetam flag is hoisted to mark the start of the 4 major festivals - Mah¢ºivar¢tr¤, Guru P¦r´im¢, Navar¢tr¤ and Jayant¤ celebrations.

Guru p¢duk¢ p¦j¢, Sydney, Australia Worshipping the p¢duk¢s (holy sandals) of the Master in gratitude and reverence

Devotees of all age groups, socio-cultural and economic brackgrounds join in various celebrations.

Abhi¾eka - Offering to the deity of water, milk, fruits, honey, sacred ash, etc.

Homa (fire ritual)

We can connect to Existence through any of the five elements of Nature - earth, water, fire, air and space. Homa is a powerful means of connecting to Existence through the fire element. The chanting of the accompanying mantras helps one in directly falling in tune with Existence.

P¢duk¢ p¦j¢ Offering of milk in worship to the Master's sasndals

• Grand procession led by the Master accompanied by disciples is taken around the ashram during festivals.

Devotees performing Guru p¦j¢ (traditional worsship of the Master)

Ratha y¢tr¢ The deities Sr¤ ¡nandesÁva a and ¡nandesÁvar¤ are taken in procession across various villages, towns and cities offering darsÁan to millions of eager eyes.

Blessings from the Master

The Vedic temples have deities from different religions of the Vedic tradition.

• Grand pancha ¢rati (ceremonial display of lamps)

• "Golu" Traditional display of dolls, deities, and art forms.

• Theppotsavam The traditional float festival where the Master or the deity is taken in a grand procession in a theppam (boat) around the temple tank.

N¢ma sa¬k¤rtana

The focus for the whole of Tamilnadu in 2009 is millions of people singing and dancing to k¤rtans in houses, on the roads... eradicating all the corruption and negativity in the society.