I love to offer dakshina on Gurupurnima as a way of expressing my love and gratitude to Shri Guru. I always make the offering on the waxing full moon on the day of Gurupurnima with the intention to increase the amount each year. It is my deepest wish that the fullness of prosperity, devotion, and gratitude for Shri Guru continually increases, always and forever—for I owe this very life to Shri Guru, who has given me everything.

New York, United States

After receiving shaktipat-diksha from Gurumayi twenty-six years ago, I became filled with the longing for union with my Guru and with the yearning to surrender myself totally at her lotus feet.

When I began offering dakshina to the Guru, I could see that this practice provided a way to merge with Shri Guru’s love and light. The way that I experience and understand guru dakshina is as a sacrificial fire in which I can offer gratitude for the fruits of my life to Shri Guru. This offering makes the inner flame of my heart blaze forth brightly. It illuminates this world, the world of my ancestors, and the world for future generations of seekers. After offering dakshina to the Guru, I often experience an all-pervasive silence. It is a feeling of swimming in the breath and light of God.

New York, United States

I had the idea to offer a small amount of dakshina each day during this Gurupurnima month of July. I do this after my morning meditation. It is such a sweet, profound time of my day. Gratitude for Gurumayi’s blessed presence in my life and all she has given me and how her grace has changed me for the better wells up inside me naturally as I offer her my simple gift. It is a daily time of intimate connection that I look forward to and treasure.

Kew, Australia

During my first Siddha Yoga Intensive, I attended a tea for newcomers. During the tea, I realized I’d been looking for this path for many lifetimes, and I experienced a flood of gratitude rising up through my being from my toes to my head. I remember wondering, “How did all this come to be?” I was thinking of the Temple, the Intensive, the entire Siddha Yoga sangham—a long list of blessings. The path seemed so abundant, full, and complete. How did it manifest on the earth?

An answer arose from deep within: “Someone made an unimaginable sacrifice—and inspired many others to sacrifice and to give. That is the only way something like this can manifest on earth.” I sensed that this “someone” was the Guru, and I knew then that this statement bore a direct relation to my destiny, to my dharma as a Siddha Yoga student.

Later, I learned about the Siddha Yoga practice of dakshina. Through this practice I have received so much, including the experience and conviction that I have a great deal to offer, and the sense of empowerment that comes from knowing that I can help to create my world.

New York, United States

I experience that giving and receiving is the core essence of the universe. Like the breath itself, giving and receiving is a natural cycle. I find that to keep life’s energy flowing, both actions must coexist. Participating in this cycle allows me to harmoniously participate in the universal rhythm.

Offering dakshina is one way I participate in this cycle. I offer dakshina whenever I go for darshan in the Temple and whenever I participate in a livestream Siddha Yoga satsang. For me, offering what I can is essential, regardless of the amount; it is a joyful expression of my deep gratitude.

For me “dakshina offered to the Guru” honors the natural flow and opens me to the blessings in my life.

Dombivli, India

Some years ago, I came into possession of a gold coin, which I decided to offer to Bhagavan Nityananda in the Temple in Shree Muktananda Ashram. As I entered the Temple to do so, I heard Shri Mahalakshmyashtakam Stotram playing over the speakers.

Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance, is often portrayed with coins flowing out of her hands. I was moved by the synchronicity of that hymn playing as I made my offering. It was as if the universe and Bhagavan Nityananda himself were acknowledging it. That experience came to symbolize for me the mysterious connection to the Guru that is created through the offering of dakshina.

New York, United States

This morning, I woke up with a strong yearning to offer dakshina. As I took my seat on my meditation asana, I contemplated why I wanted to offer dakshina, the amount I wished to give, and the attitude with which I wanted to offer this practice.

After my contemplation, I visited the Siddha Yoga path website and, to my great delight, I saw the Sanskrit words for today: guru dakshina.

I felt aligned with Shri Guru’s shakti, and I was inspired to contemplate the practice of dakshina—which I love so very much—even more deeply.

To me, offering dakshina feels in alignment with the natural and ancient law of giving and receiving. When I offer dakshina without any expectations and a heart full of gratitude for all that I have received from my Guru, I experience Gurumayi’s light filling my being from inside out. I also have noticed that through the regular practice of dakshina, I become more open to receive and embody the Guru’s teachings.

Coburg, Australia

I love offering dakshina, even though I know in my heart that I can never offer enough dakshina to truly honor all that I receive from Shri Gurumayi and the Siddha Yoga path.

Offering dakshina regularly has completely transformed my life. It has given me the energy to cultivate a sensible approach to money, based on a clear overview, mindful spending, and long-term planning.

Not only has my sense of love and gratitude become greater and more all-encompassing, but my human capital has also been enormously enhanced through the Siddha Yoga practice of dakshina. All of these are blessings for an easeful, joyful life.

Konolfingen, Switzerland

Since July 1, when the first phrase for “Veneration of Shri Guru” was “shri guru darshana,” I have eagerly awaited each new phrase and copied the beautiful Sanskrit characters into my spiritual notebook. It’s wonderful to trace the strokes several times and come to know their sacred sounds.

Today, when I heard Ami pronounce “guru dakshina,” I wanted to see how it looked in written form so I could copy it into my spiritual notebook. I love the connection I discovered between the forms for “guru” and for “dakshina.” I saw and felt that loving connection between Guru and disciple.

For me, dakshina is a direct channel, the most appropriate form, the great opportunity that the Guru compassionately offers us to be ever closer to divine grace.

Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina

Many years ago, I decided to engage in the monthly practice of dakshina and chose to offer a percentage of my monthly income. It was so convenient: it was automatic, I could see it in my bank statements, and sometimes I added extra offerings for special occasions.

Three years ago, I realized that this Siddha Yoga core practice of dakshina was missing my awareness of it, and I decided to practice awareness of my dakshina offering through darshan. So every evening, I sat in my meditation room in front of Gurumayi’s picture, with Bade Baba’s murti and padukas on her right and Baba’s picture on her left. Before going to sleep, I added my awareness of my monthly dakshina practice as I bowed to Bade Baba’s murti and Shri Guru’s padukas.

Now, as I chant Shri Mahalakshmi Stotram on the 20th of each month, acknowledging on that day that my monthly offering has been received, I relish the fruit of my daily darshan with the Guru’s transformative power, and a feeling of oneness nourishes my soul.

Plougonvelin, France

I have been offering dakshina for some time, and the intention for my dakshina has been that I wanted the Siddha Yoga teachings to prosper. It is thanks to both Swami Indirananda’s “Questions and Answers About the Siddha Yoga Practice of Dakshina” and to Ami Bansal’s exposition on “The Tradition of Dakshina” that I came to understand the deeper meaning of the offering.

Before this, I did not understand the reciprocity that occurs between the Guru and the seeker. Now, with this deeper understanding, I have a golden heart with the word dakshina marked on my calendar on the 20th of every month when SYDA Foundation receives the funds, so that I will remember my conscious intention for giving to Shri Gurumayi.

I am so grateful for this deeper understanding!

California, United States