Sivananda Yoga FAQ
Q 1: Can prayers cure diseases when doctors fail? Is it true that more things are wrought by prayers than the world could dream of?
A: Doctors and medicines are only instruments in the hands of God. Unless God wills, none can cure, or get cured. Man should do his best, with initiative, enterprise and perseverance, but depend on God’s grace for everything. To bear with suffering and accept it as a blessing of God in disguise is great wisdom. Prayer invokes the inner potentialities of the individual, which flow only from God, and they can certainly work miracles.
Q 2: “Atman is our real Self and we are, in reality, universal and absolute”.” The personal relative self involves the idea of individuality, but the Absolute does not” The question arises — are there two selves? One involving individuality and the other, without individuality, but universal?
A: There is really one Self which is the Absolute. The relative self is not something different from the Absolute Self, but it is only the Absolute Self experiencing, through the instrument of the mind. An object has an independent nature of its own, but when it is seen through a distorted coloured glass, it also appears distorted and coloured. It does not however mean from this that the object is both perfect and distorted at the same time. The difference is only in the means of perception and knowledge. This is the case also with the experience of the Absolute Self with the help of the finite mind, acting as the instrument of knowledge. The difference is in the medium of perception. The Reality is one.
Q 3: I am very anxious to take Sannyasa. Will you kindly suggest a method to quench my thirst?
A: There are beautiful Ashrams throughout India where Nishkamya Seva is carried out. They are always in need of sincere and energetic workers. You can remain in any one of the Ashrams and help in the Ashram’s activities. They will take care of your material wants. Do not be changing from one Ashram to another. Select the best that suits you and stick to it.
Science is not the enemy of religion, but a preparation for it. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
OCTOBER 2015
08 Ekadasi
12 New Moon
13 Navarathri Starts
23 Vijaya Dasami
24 Ekadasi
27 Full Moon
NOVEMBER 2015
07 Ekadasi
09 Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi
11 New Moon
11 Swamiji’s Jalasamadhi
22 Ekadasi
25 Full Moon
Glossary
VIJAYA DASAMI – “10th Day” – is celebrated on the tenth day, which follows nine days of Durga Puja. Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first day and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in commemoration of the victory of Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. In Bengal her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the “tenth day”). Processions with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities.
The mother of Durga (that is, the wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit her beloved mother only for nine days in the year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when Goddess Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kailas. This is the view of some devotees.
Sri Rama worshipped Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to invoke Her aid in the war. This was on the days preceding the Vijaya Dasami day. He fought and won through Her Grace.
In days of yore, kings used to undertake ambitious expeditions on the day of the Vijaya Dasami. Those kings who did not go on such expeditions used to go out hunting in the deep forests. Even up to this date India people arrange mock attacks on a fort on Vijaya Dasami in Rajputana.
The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumphant ovation of the soul at having attained liberation while living in this world, through the descent of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswathi. The soul rests in its own Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman. This day celebrates the victory, the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies aloft. Lo! I am He! I am He!
On the Vijaya Dasami day, all aspirants are given initiation into various Mantras according to their tutelary Deities. Deserving aspirants are initiated into the holy order of Sannyas. Initiation in the study of the alphabets is given to young children. New students commence their lessons in music, etc. During the morning Satsang the books which were worshipped on the ninth day are worshipped again. A chapter from each of the principal scriptures like the Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Ramayana, and Srimad Bhagavatam is recited.
Renunciation is the bestower of peace and immortality. – Sri Swami Sivananda