1. Bhaava Darshan

Ekam nithyam vimalam achalam Sarvadhee-saakshi-bhootam Bhaavaateetam triguna-raihatam Sadgurum tam namaami An Avatar has neither form nor qualities. He is pure Existential energy, the Formless in Form Yet, overwhelmed with deep compassion, eager to fulfil the longing of devotees, an incarnation allows all the cosmic energies to manifest through His body, and assume various divine forms dear to human hearts. This miracle of compassion is bhaava darshan. Enlightened masters down the ages have expressed bhaava darshan to guide seekers towards devotion and enlightenment. Now, this miracle repeats itself through the body of Paramahamsa Nithyananda, who graces us with bhaava darshan in the divine forms of Shiva, Krishna, Kalabhairava, Devi, Murugan, Buddha and Adi Shankara, among others. Blessed, indeed, are those chosen ones who behold the Divine with human eyes!

Everything is energy and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics." - Albert Einstein Visionary scientist Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was also one of the great mystics that the modern world has seen. His famous words, 'Everything is energy' echo the wisdom of the ancient Vedic scriptures of India (Isha vaasyam idam sarvam - Isha Vasyo Upanishad). They also reflect the Vedic concept of drshti-shrshti, where each of us creates our own world and chooses the kind of reality that we are most tuned to. Einstein's contemporary, philosopher and yogi Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950), was another spiritual visionary, who envisaged the evolution of man into the 'supramental being', a divine being in human form.

In Vedic religions, the devatas or demigods are divine energies present in the cosmos. Innumerable enlightened beings are also available on the subtle plane to bless and guide humanity. Bhaava darshan signifies the manifesting of these auspicious divine energies through the body of an enlightened being. The word bhaava has no translation in English. The closest one can come to a translation of bhaava is experiencing the formless in form. An avatar is the embodiment of the Cosmos. All Cosmic energies flow into him as rivers flow into the ocean. In his embodied form, the Avatar is the reservoir of ananta kalyana guna, unlimited auspicious qualities. By his Cosmic will, an avatar can manifest any of the divine cosmic energies through his body.

Incarnation the ultimate Possibility Each devata is an independent cosmic intelligence, and an incarnation is the stage through which these personified intelligences can dance and express themselves. An incarnation is the possibility to express this extraordinary cosmic intelligence in form. Each of the divine energies can awaken certain latent desirable qualities in us (kalyana guna). When they express through the body of an avatar, these energies become empowered to lift us effortlessly to higher states of consciousness.

Connect to your favorite Divine form! Each of us flows towards the Divine in different ways. Being ourselves embodied beings, it is easier for us to connect with the Divine in form than the formless Existence. Vedic tradition encourages the concept of the ishtadevata or 'personalized Divine' - connecting with the Divine through a chosen form. Connecting to one's ishtadevata deepens our devotion and feeling-connection to the Divine. Depending on the individual's temperament, he or she may connect to the compassion of the Divine Mother, the love and joy of Krishna, the enlightenment of Shiva, the protection of Murugan or the silent peace of Buddha. I saw him as Mahadeva Shiva! When he hugged me, it felt like it was coming from the entire universe. It hit a place so deep that I started crying, it was all love.

• John Villalobos, Teacher & Musician, LA, USA Nothing existed except me and Krishna! The beautiful energy of love was overwhelming. There was only complete bliss, complete connection, expansive Love. I fell in love..!
• Ma Nithya Atma, Yoga Teacher, CA, USA

Miracle of Compassion To fulfil the longing of the devotees, an incarnation allows all these divine energies to manifest through his body. Various enlightened masters like Sri Chaitanya, (the 15th century enlightened mystic), Sri Ramakrishna and Anandamoyee Ma have expressed bhaava darshan to bless ardent seekers and guide them towards enlightenment. Sri Ramakrishna graced devotees with bhaava darshan in the form of the cosmic mother Kali, Radha (beloved of Krishna), Sri Rama and Chaitanya. Now, these manifestations repeat themselves through the body ofParamahamsa Nithyananda, who graces us with bhaava darshan in the form of Shiva, Krishna, Devi, Kalabhairava, Murugan, Buddha and the great saint Shankara, among others. I was blessed with the darshan of the most graceful, feminine Divine beauty in the form of Devi, and the most rugged, handsome Divine form of Shiva as Ardhanaarishwara - both in one form! - Dr. Srilekha, Paediatrician, India Seeing the Master gracefully dancing as Krishna was an experience beyond words... Even though the Divine dance may have ended that night in Bidadi, it has never stopped in my heart. - Brahmanaya Ananda, Student, CA, USA

Joy of Darshan Bhaava darshan is one of the most deeply fulfilling experiences you can have in the master's presence. To simply behold him in these ecstatic divine moods is an experience in itself. And beyond that, to receive the darshan of a divine being is not an ordinary thing! On our own, it would take us many lifetimes of extraordinary spiritual disciplines, a perfectly tuned body and mind, and unswerving devotion, to qualify for a moment of darshan of any divine being. But by simply sitting in the boundless compassionate presence of an Avatar, we receive the darshan of all divine beings expressing through one body! Bhaava darshan is an unimaginable blessing for the seeker, raising you to the higher divine planes and fulfilling the desires of lifetimes, whether you are conscious of it or not.

Darshan of an avatar in his various divine manifestations can result in the spontaneous awakening of the Kundalini, our own highest inner potential energy. Research in neuroscience has proved that bhaava darshan floods the body and brain with Kundalini energy. When Kundalini ascends the spine through the sushumna nadi (the main channel of subtle energy), it results in a huge energy influx into the brain. As it flows from the thalamus to the cortex, Kundalini sets up a powerful energy loop within the brain which awakens the latent, non-mechanical parts that we have never used before. With increasing levels of coherence, the whole brain comes alive, turning into a super-conductor of conscious energies that heal, empower and transform our lives. Enhanced awareness levels, greater creativity and extraordinary abilities start to express through us, like levitation, teleportation and materialization. This influx of superconscious energy also visibly slows down the ageing process and improves immunity to disease. I saw him as Kalabhairava, the Lord of Time. He took me through the experience of conscious death. Everything dropped, and when I woke up, I was transformed.

• Gniger Gregory, Healer, CA, USA

Darshan and Deeksha Symbolically speaking, darshan is the moment when you 'see' the Divine, and deeksha is the moment when the Divine 'sees' you! Or rather, we can say that when deeksha happens, the Divine enters into you. Deeksha or initiation is the direct transfer of spiritual energy by an enlightened being through a touch, a word or a look. When an enlightened master initiates you, not only is the software of enlightened physiology downloaded into you, but the hardware, the brain itself, will be tuned to hold this new software by the grace of the master. If you are completely open during the touch, the software of enlightened physiology can be downloaded into you, changing your very physiology. Your body learns that it can be better than what it is now! When you have the grace of the master, both the hardware and software can be totally changed. For the perfectly prepared and completely open being, darshan itself can be the moment of deeksha. But in general, darshan is a preparation for deeksha. Darshan is like ploughing the soil, deeksha is like planting the seed. Darshan makes you liquid and receptive. It helps you connect deeply to the vibration of the master and prepare yourself to receive his energy. The longer you spend in darshan, the more finely tuned you become, so that at the moment of deeksha, you will be completely open and ready to receive.

Glimpses...

Bhaava Darshan at Inner Awakening At Inner Awakening, you will receive a total of 21 powerful darshans with deeksha, including some breathtaking bhaava darshans. Even more than the physical and mental benefits they receive from bhaava darshan, many IA participants remember these darshans for the sheer ecstasy of the experience: those incredible moments of beholding the Formless in Form. Inner Awakening Inner Awakening is a unique and life transforming 21-day yoga and meditation retreat specially designed and conducted by a rare living incarnation Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The program is centered on awakening the ultimate inner potential energy within each of us, the Kundalini energy, and making available its innumerable practical benefits in various dimensions of our life like health, wealth, relationships, education, career, and more. The awakening of Kundalini through initiation by a rare living incarnation gives you access to a whole new realm of living. The retreat works on all the basic dimensions of your life, allowing you to experience deep healing at the physical, mental and emotional levels. You gain a state of deep inner peace, coupled with tremendous productivity and creativity. Becoming constantly aware at every moment gives you the astonishing clarity to fully live the life you love!