We meditate to beautify our outer self, purify and balance our inner self and know Self. As Yoga is a method of communion of joining two things together, meditation is the technique and science to behold the consciousness, tranquilize the entire personality and develop the awareness with absolute consciousness.

The aim of Meditation is to explore the different regions of the mind and eventually transcend the mind completely. Meditation can be experienced through various techniques which are simplified in Satyananda/Bihar Yoga and as we go deep, we experience and become aware of all multi dimensions of our own personality.

Today is Saraswati Pooja.
It is one of the most important annual events of India going back centuries – a wonderful festival of art, learning & education that can awaken the higher consciousness and creativity within us.
Maa Saraswati is the goddess of Art, Knowledge, Music, Wisdom and Learning. The Goddess is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white, often seated on a white lotus, which symbolizes light, knowledge and truth. She not only embodies knowledge but also the experience of the highest reality. Her iconography is typically in white themes from dress to flowers to swan- the colour of Sattwa Guna or purity, discrimination for true knowledge, insight & wisdom.
Goddess Saraswati’s four hands hold items with symbolic meaning –
• A Pustaka (book or script)
• A mala (Rosary or garland)
• A water Pot
• A musical instrument (Veena)
☆ The book she holds symbolizes the VEDAS representing the Universal Divine, Eternal and True Knowledge as well as all forms of learning.
☆A Mala of Crystal represents the Power of Meditation, Inner reflection and Spirituality.
☆ A pot of water represents the purifying power to separate right from wrong, the clean from unclean, and the essence from the inessential. Also the pot of water symbolizes Soma, Amrut, Nectar- the drink that liberates and leads to knowledge.
☆ The most famous feature of Maa is a musical instrument called Veena which represents all creative arts, and Sciences, and her holding it symbolizes expressing knowledge that creates harmony.
☆ Maa Saraswati is also associated with true expression of feelings and emotions in Speech or Music.
☆ Saraswati is also referred to as HAMSAVAHINI whoch means “She who has a Swan as her vehicle”. The Swan is also a symbol for spiritual perfection, transendence and Moksha.

A Peacock is shown besides her which symbolizes colourful splendor, celebration of dance and – as the devourer of snakes – the alchemical ability to transmute the serpent poison of self into the radiant plumage of enlightenment.
She is usually depicted near a flowing river, which is a reference to her as a river goddess – The Saraswati River.

Today is Basant Panchami too, which falls on the fifth day of Spring. This is the celebration of Harvest, Kites and the yellow Mustard Fields. People wear shades of yellow today and prepare sweet yellow rice as prasad.
Happy Saraswati Pooja & Basant Panchami to all of you.

Thanks

Ruchira Pandey

Anahat.net is an integral approach of life.

Anahat is our emotional centre. Here, all kinds of emotions flow, can be experienced and thus, Anahat is the most sensitive space in the human body, also containing the precious HEART in it.

In Ananhat.net, we bring an approach of healthy life as told by our sages, seers and enlightened Gurus.

The Approach:

We come across many people who seem to be unaware of various body parts, different organs and their placement in the body. So first we become aware of systems and functions of physical body, explore mental realm, get acquainted to the emotional and psychological aspects and finally the real meaning of spiritualism unfold.

For this, we integrate three ancient sciences:

• YOGA
• ASTROLOGY
• AYURVEDA

Satyananda Yoga provides way for everyone. The beauty of Yoga is that it is nothing but contemplation and worship of human life. After exploring our nature and personality, and enhancing the faculties and qualities inherent within, we are ready to appreciate the beauty that life holds for us.

Ayurveda being one of the ancient therapies, helps an individual to know their inherent Prakriti & Vikriti (constitution), the Doshas (flaws) and their remedies through Yoga, Meditation & Medicine.

Science of Astrology starts out with an examination of our physical health concerns, but then extends to all the main factors of our well-being – career, relationship, creativity and spirituality. Sometimes, we do come to a point in life where the next moment seems dark. Deep within, we know, we have to move forward but it seems so dark that it becomes difficult to place our step further. Astrology comes in here with the help to accept the past & present, unveil & enter the future with confidence.

When the science of Yoga, Ayurveda & Astrology combines in our life, then we get the clarity to see the right path for us and gather the strength to follow and move on it.  By integrating these three sciences, we come to know about our strengths and weaknesses. We work on strengthening our strengths and overcome the weaknesses, which result in bringing the equilibrium and harmony in life and brings an amazing balance in one’s life, as one leads to other, rather one merges into the other by various techniques of daily practice programs.

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika the first things we see is that Swatmarama, one outstanding personality who compiled the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, does not worry at all about self-control and self-discipline in the form of Yama and Niyama. The order here is very different. He begins by saying that you should first purify the whole body- the stomach, intestines, nervous system and other system. There, shatkarma (six cleansing techniques) comes first, i.e. Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Kapalbhati, Trataka, and Nauli. Hatha Yoga begins with these practices.

However, shatkarma alone does not constitute the whole of Hatha Yoga. After shatkarma you should practice Asana and Pranayama. Self-control and self-discipline should start with the body. This is much easier. Asana is discipline; Pranayama is discipline; Kumbhaka (retention of breath) is self-control. Sit in Padmasana (lotus pose) for fifteen minutes. That is self-discipline. Why do you fight with the mind first? You have no power to wrestle with the mind, yet you wrestle with it, thereby creating a pattern of animosity towards yourself.

There are not two minds, there is one mind trying to split itself into two. One mind wants to break the discipline and the other mind wants to maintain the discipline. You can find this split in everybody. When this split becomes greater, we call it schizophrenia.

This danger was clearly realized by the authorities and masters of Hatha Yoga. Therefore, they said, first discipline the body. They explained what they meant by body. The subtle elements (tattwas), the energy channels (nadis), within the body should be purified. The behavior of the vital force (prana), the entire nervous system and the various secretions in the body should be properly maintained and harmonized.

After this one should go on to practice Mudras like Vajroli, Sahajoli, Khechari, Shambhavi, Vipareetkarani and others. In this way it will be possible to develop deep meditation. These practices will induce Pratyahara and lead into Dharana, Dhayana and Samadhi.

Sw. Satyananda Saraswati

“Thus being established in Asana and having control, taking a balanced diet; Pranayama should be practiced according to the instruction of the Guru.”

Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:1)

Prana + Ayama. Prana means vital force or vital energy. It is the force which exists in all things, whether animate or inanimate. Ayama is defined as extension or expansion. Thus the word Pranayama means ‘extension or expansion of the dimension of Prana’. Therefore pranayama should not be considered as mere breathing exercises aimed at introducing extra oxygen into the lungs. Pranayama utilises breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis or energy channels of the ‘Pranayama Kosha’ or energy body.

The technique of Pranayama provide the method whereby the life force can be activated and regulated in order to go beyond one’s normal boundaries or limitations and attain a higher state of vibratory energy.

By Sw. Satyananda Saraswati (APMB)

•  Mucus and pollution:- Removes mucus and pollution from the nasal passages and sinuses, allowing air to flow without obstruction.
•  Respiratory tract diseases:-It helps prevent and manage respiratory tract diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.
•  ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) Specialist:-To relieve allergies, colds and sinusitis, tonsillitis together with various disorders of the ears, nose and throat.
•  Muscular tension:-Relieves muscular tension of the face.
•  Brain:-Cooling and soothing influence on the brain and is beneficial in the treatment of epilepsy and migraine.
•  Psychological aspects:-Alleviates anxiety, anger and depression, removes drowsiness.
•  Freshness:-Makes the head feel light and fresh.
•  Balance in hemisphere:-A balance is brought about between the right and left nostrils and the corresponding left and right hemisphere, inducing a state of harmony and balance throughout the body and the systems governing circulation and digestion.
•  Perception:-Perception improves, allowing for a better relationship with the world and with ourselves.
•  Hormonal balance: – A positive impact on pituitary gland, which is called the master gland, thus, helpful practice in bringing balance in the hormonal system.
•  Ajna Chakra:-According to Yogi Swatmarama, perfection of neti leads to divya drishti. Neti is said to stimulate Ajna Chakra, the center of wisdom.