NITHYANANDA DHYANAPEETAM CELEBRATES GURU POORNIMA

Tiruvannamalai, 03 July 2012: Bouncing back in style after last month’s attack on the organization by certain anti-spiritual elements, Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam held its traditional Guru Poornima celebrations today in its ashram in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil  Nadu. The celebrations began with devotees welcoming Paramahamsa Nithyananda with traditional poorna kumbha and other honors.

After paying his respects at the ashram’s temple dedicated to Nithyanandeshwara and Nithyanandeshwari (Shiva and Devi), Paramahamsa Nithyananda hoisted the Guru Poornima flag at the temple. This was followed by pada pooja by devotees and the Guru Poornima satsang. Speaking on the occasion, Paramahamsa Nithyananda reminded his ashramites and devotees that persecution is a spiritual challenge which almost all revolutionary masters and their followers will inevitably need to face. He reiterated that the strength of a spiritual group lies in its ability to live and radiate enlightenment, not in its wealth or its properties. Paramahamsa Nithyananda said that wherever an enlightened spiritual master chooses to sit down, followers will gather around to receive his wisdom and his grace, and a new spiritual community will sprout at that very spot, irrespective of the place.

34 youth take sannyas: The highlight of the morning satsang was the sannyas initiation by Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Notwithstanding the recent controversies in the media, 34 young people, both men and women, took sannyas initiation on this auspicious day. ‘Sannyas is the only true wealth I have, which I am now offering to these dedicated individuals,’ declared Paramahamsa Nithyananda on the occasion.

Satsang was followed by darshan and individual blessings from Paramahamsa Nithyananda for all the devotees present. Devotees also offered ‘bhiksha’, various offerings made to the guru on this occasion. This year, participants from over 40 countries participated in the online satsang and offered bhiksha online from around the world.

21-day Jeevanmukti Vrata: Every year, hundreds of devotees worldwide undertake this 21-day vrata (spiritual vow) prior to Guru Poornima, which is a period of powerful inner and outer cleansing through various spiritual disciplines like  worship, mantra chanting, meditation, contemplation and sattvic vegetarian diet. On the eve of Guru Poornima, these devotees undertake a pilgrimage to the ashram, often walking part of the way (padayatra), to offer their karmas at the temple and receive the grace of both God and guru. During the darshan today, the devotees who had undertaken the vrata offered gurumudi (offerings of coconut, rice and other items) at the guru’s feet and received blessings.

The evening’s program is expected to include satsang by Paramahamsa Nithyananda, darshan and blessings. Annadaanam (free food) is available from sunrise till late night for devotees, visitors ad pilgrims.

Tiruvannamalai - home of enlightened masters: Tiruvannamalai is an ancient temple town and pilgrimage center at the foothills of the mystical mountain Arunachala. A spiritual destination famous for its ancient Shiva temple, as well as for the lineage of enlightened masters like Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi who have graced this land, Tiruvannamalai is also the birthplace of Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Every full-moon day, at least half a million pilgrims visit Tiruvannamalai to circumambulate the holy mountain Arunachala.

1008-shivalinga kshetram: The Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam ashram, located on the mountain path, has a 1008-shivalinga kshetram and a shrine dedicated to Shiva & Devi. The ashram is actively involved in supporting the local community, including serving free food (annadaanam) to over 1500 pilgrims and visitors every day and conducting free weekly medical camps and meditation programs.