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DATTATREYA YOGA CENTER To achieve that yogam in the presence of divine Dattatreya. THE SHIKARA The human body is considered a temple and energy flows in this temple through the 16,000 nerves. Above the head is the energy center where the divinity resides and through which the divine energy enters the body. The temple design is of a similar nature with the shikara or crown of each shrine being the focal point of the flow of energy which is directed into the different forms. Thus, direct benefits can be felt by sitting and meditating at the various shrines. DATTATREYA & ANAGHA DEVI Dattatreya represents the trinity: Brahma - the creator Vishnu – the sustainer and Shiva – the power of dissolution Anagha Devi emanated from the meditative energy of Lord Dattatreya and represents the female power within the universe Lord Datta In His Hands The sankha (conch) produces the Omkara sound which pervades the entire universe DATTATREYA ANAGHA DEVI The heart beating is the melodoous sound of His auspicious bell awakening the devotees The sound of His drum destroys anger and brings control of the mind and senses The wave sound in His water pot reminds one of His existence, removes perversion and leads one on the path of righteousness His sharp edged disc will destroy one’s ego The trident establishes He is beyond the trigunas (passion, delusion and purity) Accompanying Dattatreya are four dogs representing the 4 Vedas (Holy Scriptures) and the Kaamadenu and Kalpavrksa (wish yeilding cow and tree) Dattatreya represents the trinity: Brahma - the creator Vishnu – the sustainer and Shiva – the power of dissolution Hinduism can be broadly divided into three main groups: the Shaivites, the Shaktas and the Vaishnavites who worship Shiva, the Shakti (Goddess) and Vishnu respectively. Another important hindu deity is Brahma. Ccreation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe is a perpetual cycle and is controlled by the three aspects of the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma the creator is referred to as Hiryanyagarbha, the ball of fire from which the universe proceeded. Brahma was born out of the golden egg produced in the casual water. Saraswati emanated from Him and from their union all creatures were born. The great sages were their mind born children and Manu or Adam of the Aryan race is his great grandson. Brahma represents the vedas (knowledge) and Saraswati the meaning hence, all spiritual and secular knowledge proceeded from them. Vishnu When the lotus of wisdom blossoms, good and noble qualities develop and Lakshmi’s blessings abound. Anagha Devi emanated from the meditative energy of Lord Dattatreya and represents the female power within the universe GANESH Gajanana: The elephant’s symbolic of intelligence. head is Lambodhara: The fire energy is found in the big belly and initiates physical and mental activities. The big belly signifies the exhalation of that energy. Ekadanta: Single tusk. The loss of a tusk represent the removal of duality and experience of non-duality. Only a pure intellect can experience non-duality. The broken tusk is the destruction of the ego. The feeling of doership is removed. The remaining tusk signifies the strength of divinity. The mouse is Ganapati’s vehicle. The mouse signifies Maya or Delusion, having a mouse as a vehicle signifies absolute control over delusion. Ganapati is known as a brahmachari (a realised soul). To a realised soul Siddhi (accomplishment by strength of will) and Buddhi (accomplishment through the Supreme will) will automatically come. Ganapati has as His companions Siddhi and Buddhi. SRI RAJARAJESWARI Shereveals the countenance of Devi Para Shakti (the Supreme Energy) in all its beauty. The Mother is Absolute Existence, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss. She has created galaxies, the universe and the cosmos. She is indivisible and absolutely One. She is pervasive inside and outside everything. She is the silent witness to all actions that is being done by every being. Mother Rajarajeswari is Swamiji’s personal deity. Daily, Swamiji worships Her through Sri Chakra puja. In order to understand the significance of the Mighty Mother’s workings we should not identify ourselves with the body but realise ourselves as the soul, then Divine Wisdom will dawn. SHIVA LINGAM He is the formless energy in the universe. In order to understand this He appeared as a pillar of light without a beginning or end. The Hindu Scriptures say you must worship Shiva in the Lingakara (Linga) form. For the welfare of the community a Shiva temple must be present. In Trinidad and India you will find Shiva Lingas established in all Hindu communities. Shiva is ever ready to protect His devotees. He is very compassionate thus He is called Bhola Shankara. NAVAGRAHAS During a person’s life he performs many actions. The actions may be good, mixed or bad. The Navagrahas are nine stars or celestial bodies. They are responsible for dispensing to each person the results of those actions. In addition, Hindus believe that at birth we also bring with us impressions of past actions and these must be accounted for in the present and future births. The Navagrahas are like teachers to men. When the social and material life leads man away from righteousness they will present situations (even problems) to bring him onto the spiritual path and help his growth and development. NAVAGRAHA & THE INDIVIDUAL At the particular point and time of birth the planets, stars and other celestial bodies are in an exact alignment for that period. The celestial body closest to the earth will have a dominating effect on the person at birth and thus becomes the main graha (teacher) of that individual. As time progresses and according to ones past and present actions the main graha may approach with one or more grahas. If all these grahas are friends the time will be auspicious for the individual. If they are enemies it will be inauspicious. Pundits (priests) are consulted to determine auspicious dates for undertaking important ventures. In order to reduce the effects of the past actions pujas (prayers) are performed. They serve two purposes: •The removal of the effects of the bad actions •Assist persons to develop as devotees Swamiji on the consecration of the Navagraha temple gave instructions to these Navagrahas to “Discipline the indisciplined.” NAVAGRAHAS CHANDRA: Herbal plants get charged with medicinal qualities by Chandra. On full moon night these herbbs become especially potent. SURYA: Surya is the leader of the Navagrahas (Graha Adipa). He is responsible for Good Health BRHASPATI: Brhaspati is the Guru or spiritual teacher of the Gods (devatas). KUJA/ANGAARAKAA/ MANGALAKAR: He is a devotee of Lord Shiva. When he comes close to the earth he creates problems. Praying to Lord Shiva will help alleviate these problems. BUDDHA: Buddha literally means a great scholar. He is the son of the Moon God, Chandra and is very difficult to please. SHUKRA: Shukra is the Guru of the demons or raakshasas. Both Brhaspati and Shukra impart the same teachings. However, the Gods use the lessons learnt for the welfare of the world s but the demons use it to acquire power and domination over others. RAHU & KETU: During the churning of the ocean the nectar of immortality emerged. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a beautiful maiden to prevent the demons from drinking the nectar and becoming immortal. One of the demons recognised the trick played by Lord Vishnu and joined the God’s line where the nectar was distributed. The nectar had reached his throat when Lord Vishnu recognised the mistake. He cut the demon’s head. However, the demon was given the positions of grahas known as Rahu and Ketu. Rahu represents the lower body from the throat region and Ketu the head of the severed demon. The entrance of these grahas portends trouble for a person. NAVAGRAHAS SHANEESHWARA: This name is derived from Shanihi meaning slow and charana meaning movement. When Shani enters he stays for 11 to 12 years causing problems. Prayers to Lord Shiva should be performed. YANTRA God is formless still we worship that formless god with form. The forms are there to help us develop concentration, focus our thought on God, develop devotion and learn to respect God. The worship with form is an easy path to God remembrance. Each form has a special day dedicated to worship so everyday of the week, 365 days of the year is dedicated to worship. The devotee will be constantly engaged in remembrance and perfoming good service. Associated with each form are geometrical designs called yantras. These yantras are like electrical circuit diagrams in which the conscious energy flows in a particular pattern. This movement is equivalent to a map which shows the path to God. Some of the yantras closely resemble the structure of an atom. Such a formless worship of energy is a more difficult path to follow. During the consecration of the murti the yantra is placed at the base of the form and energy flows through the murti thus indirectly the energy reaches the devotees. Beejas or seed sounds are associated with each yantra. These beejas help raise ones consciousness when they are listened to or chanted. AUDUMBARA TREE Lord Dattatreya resides in the audumbara tree. If one goes around this tree daily he will be protected by Lord Datta. In the lineage of Guru (Guru parampara) one can undertake audumbara deeksha (penance) in order to control the indriyas (senses) and to obtain spiritual knowledge. The leaves of the audumbara tree are used for medicinal purposes and the smoke of its branches when burnt during homa/havan energizes the atmosphere. A chip of wood from the audumbara tree is tied in a strip of cloth and given as raksa (protection) afer puja. UNIVERSAL PRAYER HALL The Universal Prayer Hall is a place of prayer for people of all walks of life. It is there for meditation. It allows people to come and worship in any manner with which they are familiar. Hindus, muslims, christians, sikhs, jains, buddhist and all others are welcomed here. In Mysore the pillars of the Universal Prayer Hall are decorated with the representations of the major religions. SWAMIJI’S HOME IN TRINIDAD •This COW’S SHELTER •Significance of the cow •Gift of the cow (Gow Dhaan in local parlance) ANNA POORNA MANDIRAM •Giving the gift of food LIBRARY FACILITIES •Library facilities with all the sacred scriptures. ASHRAM’S POLICIES PUJA & HOMA FEES •Pujas are performed at the temple on a daily basis. •Fees have been fixed for the performance of pujas. This system was designed to facilitate mass participation in pujas on a regular basis. The average puja at a devotee’s home is expensive. Small fees were established to cater for devotees who cannot afford pujas at such high costs. Even those who have no money will get similar benefits by just attending the pujas. •Fees are used for purchasing puja materials and paying the ashram’s bills (lights, water and general maintenance). •When pujas are performed devotees are requested to bring fruits and flowers only. All other puja materials are provided by the Ashram – including the services of the pundit.