Arati in Honor of Makara Sankranti
Siddha Yogis Share Their Experiences
This morning, I read some of the shares from those who participated in the live stream. They brought back memories of the gloriously shimmering, golden-yellow robe of Bade Baba and the luminosity he emanated. I remembered how I had taken that feeling of radiance into my heart.
Later, I took a walk by a nearby river and up a grassy hill. At first, I thought that I’d missed the sunset. But, as I walked home, I saw a glow reflected on the inside of my glasses frame and I turned to see a luminous, bright yellow sun just setting. It seemed to be the exact color of Bade Baba’s robes with the same resplendence.
I was transfixed with its beauty. I stood there in the middle of this grassy space and began singing verses from the Arati. Birds flew in front of the sun far away and a sole palm was silhouetted on the horizon. My heart felt full of peace and gratitude for my life and my Siddha Yoga sadhana.
Sydney, Australia
I also realized that in the summer, around the month of Birthday Bliss, the sun will have inched its way daily north through the whole mountain range until it ends past the north end of the range. It made me cherish my sadhana, and the ways that the Siddha Guru tunes our inner and outer world to these infinitely varied vibrations arising from the One.
Washington, United States
sometimes it feels like the earth is standing still
and it’s me that is spinning round and round
day and night
night and day
and this continual procession
of thought emotion and sensation
some arising that I don’t want
some falling away that I wish would never end
the world saying yes
the world saying no
the Sun saying
I will return come morning
as I always have and will
the Sun saying
and in the mystery that is ours to share
seen or unseen
I am also
with you
and within you
always
this Love is real
Nanaimo, Canada
At the time of this live broadcast, it was a midwinter night here. I participated on my computer. As I watched the arati lamp being waved to Bhagavan Nityananda, something green flew with great force toward the golden image of Bade Baba on the computer screen. At first, I couldn’t understand what had happened, but then I realized that it had been a beautiful insect drawn toward the image. It was an insect that normally doesn’t exist in the winter, which had felt the presence of the sun, just as I had.
It is amazing that I was able to spend a winter evening with the sun shining.
Ooita, Japan
“Arati in Honor of Makara Sankranti” was glorious for me. The words of the host touched my heart, and I felt transported to Gurudev Siddha Peeth, where I used to sing this Arati. I also remembered when I learned this Arati by heart. I used to sing it silently to myself while I was traveling or performing my daily duties. Then and now, almost every time that I sing it, I feel ecstasy and a sense of rising above samsara and being in the company of beloved Bade Baba.
On Makara Sankranti, while the pujari was waving the lamp with its many beautiful flames to Bade Baba, I experienced that I became one of the flames, ready to merge with the omnipresent light represented by Bade Baba. Meditating before the photo of the blazing sun, with the guidance of the beautiful meditation instructions, drew me deep within. There I was able to experience the light of the glorious sun as my own Self. Afterward, I felt serene and calm.
Udaipur, India
I am now in my eighth decade, and often I awake feeling somewhat weak and wobbly. However, when I woke up early to participate in the “Arati in Honor of Makara Sankranti,” I felt clear and present. When it came time to sing, I stood upright and steady. As I began singing, I was transported to Bhagavan Nityananda’s Temple in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, where for years I’d taken part in the morning Arati. Although I’d not repeated these verses for some time, I now felt each syllable rise up in me like a dear friend, like nectar. I felt touched and reassured to know how deeply the Siddha Yoga practices I’ve loved still live on in me.
That afternoon, I connected by video with some of my dear friends. I felt kind words come spontaneously into my mind to share with them. I experienced my inner light shining forth as naturally as daylight. With devotion and practice, through Shri Guru’s effulgent grace, I pray that my lamp shines more brightly every day.
California, United States
As the Arati began, I felt I was being showered with waves of bliss and gratitude. It was so unexpected. I felt electrified. For me, the radiance of Bade Baba’s beauty was so strong that it seemed as if golden light was pouring out of my monitor. I experienced that my room was filled with this light, and my heart expanded far beyond place and time. I felt so much love and deep gratitude for the Guru, for the Siddha Yoga path, and for my Self. It was as though, in this satsang, Bade Baba was pointing straight to my heart and telling me that everything exists there. I was so amazed. After the Arati, I meditated on the Surya Gayatri mantra in order to deepen this precious experience.
Duisburg, Germany
I realized that this feeling always reminds me of Bade Baba, and that by singing the Arati, I had invoked his blessings and received his darshan.
Leichhardt, Australia
Washington, United States
Yet as soon as the host mentioned that the live video stream would be concluding, the sky changed. The sun dipped behind the dark clouds, which had by now approached the horizon. The golden sheen on the surroundings was lifted, replaced by a soft, silvery-white light that emanated from where the sun was behind the clouds. What’s more, within about an hour of the live video stream concluding, there began to be flurries of snow outside!
For much of the rest of the morning, the sky was cloudy and silvery-blue. It’s so evident to me: the sun came out specifically for the Arati via live video stream.
a staff member in Shree Muktananda Ashram
As I’m in Brazil and it’s summer here, the sun was shining in the sky when the “Arati in Honor of Makara Sankranti” started. I even had to close the curtains to better watch the live video stream, due to so much abundant and benevolent light that the sun brought to the room where I was.
One of my most cherished sadhana practices in the Siddha Yoga Ashrams is the morning Arati. In my thirty-four years of Siddha Yoga sadhana, being present at this very special moment of the day has always been my priority when I am in the Ashram. During the Arati today my heart was filled with warmth, strength, firmness, and confidence.
I offer my gratitude, again and again, for the fullness of the Guru’s grace.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
I so appreciated the focus that the host gave us for our participation in this live video stream. He said, “Focus on Bhagavan Nityananda’s golden form and visualize Bade Baba as the embodiment of the sun.” As I did this, Bade Baba’s radiant form was installed in the center of my heart. I felt such warmth and so much love. I continue to feel this warmth and love, for which I am so grateful.
New Mexico, United States
I literally saw myself floating in the sky within, where the sun had risen and was shining brightly. Without any doubt I knew this intuitively as the light of my inner Self. As I continued to bask in that golden effulgence, the waves of joy began permeating my awareness. And I heard inside, “You are indeed that light.”
The beautiful meditation instructions again guided us to imagery of the sun, and affirmed, “You are that benevolent light.” I smiled because it was like a confirmation of my own inner experience.
Pune, India
I am grateful to Gurumayi for bringing us all together for the darshan of Bade Baba and Surya Devata.
Florida, United States
Washington, United States
This “Arati in Honor of Makara Sankranti” was magical, too. I had the feeling that the sun was shining not only outside the Temple but also from Bhagavan Nityananda and from the host, who made me smile as brightly as the sun. How magical is the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall! How blessed I am to walk this path.
Obing, Germany
I was quickly taken into a deep meditative state for much of the live video stream. When I came out of meditation, the usual blank space behind my closed eyes appeared like a kaleidoscope of a gently vibrating geometric grid. This time it was also illuminated, but more like the light from a candle.
I feel we are constantly smiled upon by the Guru’s grace.
Pennsylvania, United States
When the host talked about the qualities of Lord Surya, what caught my attention was hearing the Sun God being described as benevolent and compassionate. Living in a top-floor flat that faces south, and also having eyes that are sensitive to light, I realized that I have often thought of the sun as being something I need to try to protect myself from.
Today, however, I understood that Lord Surya is just doing his job—burning continuously all those ninety-three million miles away (!), sending light and life to Planet Earth. The word innocent arose within as I reflected on the sun god’s qualities.
Guildford, United Kingdom
I was inwardly transported to several locations. One of them was Bhagavan Nityananda’s Temple in Gurudev Siddha Peeth. Another was a vast, beautiful, green piece of land in wild nature, which will be my future home. As I was singing, I was in fact dancing as in a ritual movement to cleanse, purify, and bless this land, in preparation for it to be my home.
During the meditation instructions I could hardly keep my eyes open. When I finally closed them, I saw the sun shining in me, never to be extinguished.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Now, as I write this share several hours after the live video stream, I look out the window and see that, although it is snowing, that same sun which I had seen and worshiped earlier, and which we had meditated on within the heart, is as brilliant and warm as ever.
New York, United States
Over the years and through the grace of my Guru, I discovered the warming sun in my heart. Through each step in my sadhana, I can actually return inwardly to my true home, which is light and love.
Konolfingen, Switzerland
Kentucky, United States
Hampton Hill, United Kingdom
May I always see light.
May I always be light.
May my heart always delight in the light.
May the light in me see the light in you.
May the light in you see the light in me.
May I always remember that light is continually present—
in all places, in all forms, and at all times.
May we all live joyfully in light.
New York, United States
Nasik, India
California, United States
Gandhinagar, India