I am new to the Siddha Yoga path, and the Mahashivaratri satsang was my first time seeing Gurumayi.

When Gurumayi first appeared in the satsang, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and peace within me. I could feel Gurumayi’s presence in my living room, even though she was far away in the Catskill Mountains.

There were so many beautiful moments during the satsang. I loved the musical instruments and the story Gurumayi told of writing a letter to a Siddha Yogi. Then, when Gurumayi started chanting the Om Namah Shivaya mantra, changing the pace over time, I slowly found myself feeling connected with the people in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall.

As the chanting went on, I began feeling warm and started to take my jacket off. It was a cold night, and I remember thinking, “Why am I suddenly feeling so warm?” The warm feeling was very nurturing. I truly felt moved in that moment and could feel Gurumayi’s energy as she kept chanting.

This was my first experience of Gurumayi, and what a beautiful experience of darshan with Gurumayi on such an auspicious night, even though I was far away in Tennessee!

Tennessee, United States

The Mahashivaratri satsang was a magnificent gift! Here in Perth, Australia, the start time was eight in the morning—prime time for getting the children and myself ready for school and work.

On this particular morning, I had surrendered to the reality of participating in the satsang for only short periods of time. This practice of surrender was in itself a loving embrace of trusting that I would receive from God exactly what I need.

Both my children received Gurumayi’s darshan before going to school that day. What a tremendous blessing!

At work, when I could, I used earphones on my laptop to participate in the satsang. When Gurumayi started to whisper, “Shiva, Shiva, Shiva” and “Shambho, Shambho,” it was as if she were next to me, whispering into my ears the direct experience of the mantra.

This was truly divine; a great—a maha—gift for me! I have been experiencing deep moments of comfort and joy stemming from this ever since.

Perth, Australia

Listening to Gurumayi sing Bilvashakam was a very powerful experience for me. Since childhood, I have loved the devotional hymns and bhajans that Gurumayi sings. I feel like I am hearing the “unstruck sound,” the primordial Om itself.

As I listened to Gurumayi sing the Bilvashtakam hymn in this satsang, I felt as though I were with Gurumayi in Baba Muktananda’s Samadhi Shrine at Gurudev Siddha Peeth, as she was singing before her Guru. Meditating on the sound, I felt drawn deeply inward. 

Thane West, India

Before participating in the Mahashivaratri satsang, I prepared myself by reading and contemplating the magnificent Bilvashtakam. During the satsang, when Gurumayi sang the verses from this sacred text, which is so charged with shakti, I felt transported to the depths of my heart. This powerful moment from the satsang continues to transform me to this day.

A few days ago, after studying the Bilvashtakam, I entered into meditation and felt a gentle, fluid energy rising within me, traveling throughout my body, and seeping into my bones. I soon realized that this energy represented a bilva tree growing within me. My legs were its roots, my upper body its trunk, and my head and arms its branches and crown. I experienced the tree’s life force pulsing within me. I felt deeply anchored to the ground. A radiant sun offered its warmth and light to me while a gentle breeze caressed me. I felt enveloped by love as I experienced the incredible feeling of being a bilva tree supported by the sun and the wind.

Quebec, Canada

I visited friends during the weekend that the sacred Mahashivaratri satsang took place. Two more friends arrived the night of the satsang, one of whom was ninety-one years old. I was concerned we wouldn’t be able to help him get up the steep stairs to the room where we were going to participate in the satsang. Not only did he get up the stairs, but he got down on the floor, bowed to the puja, then popped his head up, saying gleefully, “Happy Mahashivaratri, Gurumayi!”

This youthful energy carried us through the satsang, and when Gurumayi had us whisper Om Namah Shivaya together, I believed, as I did when I was a child, that love can spread in this world.

Kingston, Canada

The night before the satsang I was feeling so much peace inside and I felt guided from within to buy white flowers. I bought them and placed them on my puja altar. I experienced auspiciousness and peace when I saw all the white flowers surrounding Bade Baba in the Temple.

Pune, India

It was such a joy to be in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall with Gurumayi and the global Siddha Yoga sangham on Mahashivaratri. For me, the vibrational rhythm of chanting Om Namah Shivaya together felt like the rise and fall of waves on the ocean of bliss.

New York, United States

I felt like Gurumayi spoke directly to me during the Mahashivaratri satsang. For a few days leading up to it, even though I made efforts to study Gurumayi’s teachings and prepare for the satsang, I was not experiencing peace. As the satsang proceeded, I became partially calm. Inside, I was praying to Gurumayi to bless me with the experience of peace, to rejuvenate my sadhana, to break the shackles of my mind, and to enter my heart.

I felt blessed when Gurumayi spoke in Hindi about peacefulness. As soon as she spoke about this, while looking directly into my eyes through the camera, I understood that this was for me!

I am excited to rejuvenate my sadhana with renewed commitment.

Gandhinagar, India

I was working while the Mahashivaratri satsang was taking place. My intention was to still connect subtly to the satsang and I found that I could! I could feel my body actually connect—my heart space felt deeper and like it was plugged into a supercharged power source. I was able to continue to work with focus and clarity and be connected.

I am so very grateful to be able to experience that connection and to read the shares of people who participated.

Melbourne, Australia

As Gurumayi repeated the mantra Om Namah Shivaya and had us repeat it, I heard Gurumayi’s voice in my heart as if it were my own voice! I have never felt more connected to Gurumayi than in that divine moment. When she then moved on to repeat “Shiva, Shiva” and “Shambho, Shambho,” I experienced that Shiva is indeed easy to please.

Since then, I repeat “Shiva, Shiva” whenever I notice that my mind is restless or my emotions are out of balance. And then my mind immediately knows to be still, and my emotions calm down.

It is clear to me that Gurumayi takes every opportunity and makes all possible efforts to ease her students’ spiritual path. For me, this is one of the many precious blessings that comes from being graced with a living Guru.

Konolfingen, Switzerland

I am very grateful to Gurumayi for the Mahashivaratri satsang, which from start to finish felt like a prayer. And at the heart of that prayer—the crest jewel of the entire celebration for me—was Gurumayi’s singing of the Bilvashtakam. Gurumayi’s amazing, love-filled prayer to Lord Shiva was so powerful, so exquisite—Shiva worshipping Shiva on that most sacred and auspicious night. Just thinking about it fills my eyes with tears of gratitude.

Since we’ve just entered the year of the fire horse in the Chinese calendar, I have been contemplating the fire element and what it means. Fire can be a force for harm, or it can be the beneficial fire of yoga that burns away anything that makes us feel separate from God. I believe that through her singing of the Bilvashtakam, Gurumayi blessed the fire to take its most benevolent form. What a profound gift for the entire world!

Connecticut, United States

Since participating in this satsang with Gurumayi, I feel as if I am starting anew. My energy has turned within, and it has become easier for me to repeat the mantra Om Namah Shivaya. I am experiencing love and happiness, both within me and around me. It’s a new beginning, thanks to Gurumayi’s grace.

Castillonnes, France

When I heard Gurumayi sing Bilvashtakam during the live video stream, I felt a wonderful sense of excitement and transcendental joy. After that, when we chanted the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in the Bhupali raga with Gurumayi, I went into a very deep meditative state where complete peace prevailed. As I was in this state, every word and vibration of Om Namah Shivaya spread through each pore and cell of my body, and I had an experience of my own divinity.

Ahmedabad, India

I feel so fortunate to have received abundant blessings from Gurumayi in the Mahashivaratri satsang. I truly feel a deep peace. As Gurumayi was chanting with us, when she lifted her arms, I felt her offering the chant to all and to Shiva. Several times she lightly touched her fingertips together and turned her hand and fingertips toward her own heart; I sensed she was directing me to remember that Shiva dwells in my heart, and that my chanting comes from that deep cave of the heart.

When Gurumayi gently reached for the bilva leaf, bathed it in the bowl of water next to her, placed it in the palm of her hand, and then turned her hand to show it to us, I felt waves of shakti move within me like a fine-tuned laser light, illuminating every cell in my being.

And as Gurumayi guided us into meditation, I experienced soft, gentle waves of energy arising from the base of my spine to the crown of my head and beyond. I am still feeling the calm, loving confidence of “entering the abode of Shiva.”

New York, United States

I am intrigued by the story Gurumayi told about the letter she wrote to a Siddha Yogi, but did not send. I wonder how many times the Guru’s love has manifested in subtle, secret, and mysterious ways in my life when I have not noticed, have not been aware of her love for me.

At one moment during the chanting of Om Namah Shivaya, I noticed that Gurumayi was holding her hands close to her heart, opening her palms and closing her palms very gently. I feel that to experience the Guru’s love in my life, I can go to my heart at any time. There I can rest and allow my being to open.

Warrnambool, Australia

Since the beginning of this year, I have been drawn to the images shared in the nature gallery on the Siddha Yoga path website. Many images have evoked “Aha!” moments for me. The scintillating snow particles, the soft blue shadows across the snow, and the golden light of the sun resting upon the snow seem to be mirroring Consciousness reflecting through countless forms.

While watching these images before the Mahashivaratri satsang began, I felt the palpable presence of Shiva. I visualized his footsteps in the snow. As I continued watching, I heard a resounding inner sound: “I am Shiva.” In meditation, I experienced Shiva as the blissful witness observing everything in every particle of existence. Throughout the satsang, I felt nature revealing and “magnifying” the “auspicious” presence of Lord Shiva.

Sydney, Australia

I’ve been dealing with a difficult situation at work. We don’t know if our program will continue to be funded, and last week I felt a lot of fear about the uncertainty.

When Gurumayi said in the Mahashivaratri satsang that the Lord is easily pleased and likes to hear his name, and that we are Shiva, it really stayed with me. I kept reflecting on that. I realized that I’m not just this role or this job—I am Shiva! Remembering that helped me loosen my grip on the worry.

Texas, United States

After many years of following the Siddha Yoga path, this year, for the first time, I had powerful experiences during this sacred night dedicated to Shiva. During the chanting of Om Namah Shivaya, as Gurumayi sang, I saw a bilva leaf emerge from my heart. Then, when we sang Jyota se Jyota Jagao, I saw a flame light up in my heart.

After the satsang ended in the middle of the night in France, the mantra Om Namah Shivaya began to repeat itself within me. This continued for a long time, and then the sound Om took its place for a short while.

I am filled with gratitude.

Nantes, France

We chanted and meditated before the live stream satsang with Gurumayi. What we received was rejuvenation. We are grateful for Om Namah Shivaya always, and the Guru’s voice is a balm of pure relief.

Modi’in, Israel

This poem emerged after the Mahashivaratri satsang:

A Night of Cosmic Bliss

As we gather in satsang‘s sacred space,

“Magnify Auspiciousness,” let love’s light embrace

Celebrating Mahashivaratri, a night divine

Om Namah Shivaya, echoes intertwine

With Gurumayi’s presence, this day is sublime

Satsang with the Guru, an auspicious, blessed time

Lord Shiva, the cosmic dancer, Adi Guru supreme

Destroyer of darkness, guiding us to our true dream

In this sacred merge, let’s dissolve our fears

May Shiva’s cosmic dance fill us with joy through the years.

a sixteen-year-old from Ratlan, India

This Mahashivaratri was profoundly auspicious for me. The sacred day began at dawn with the maha-abhishek at Bhagavan Nityananda’s Samadhi Mandir in Ganeshpuri. For the first time, I received the blessing of pouring milk over Bade Baba’s murti. In that sacred moment, my heart entered a state of deep stillness—silent, peaceful, and filled with grace.

Later, at the Shiva Temple in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, chanting Shri Guru Gita and Shri Rudram deepened my inner experience. Visiting Baba Muktananda’s Samadhi Shrine is always special for me; each visit feels unique, like witnessing a new sunrise. This time, the darshan drew me further inward. On Mahashivaratri night, while participating in the mantra saptah, I gradually lost awareness of myself and entered a space beyond words, where only shakti and profound peace remained.

The next morning’s live stream satsang with beloved Gurumayi ji was uplifting and powerful. Listening to Gurumayi ji sing the Bilvashtakam and chanting Om Namah Shivaya with her filled my heart with gratitude and strengthened my resolve to turn inward.

Goregaon, India

May I never cease to offer my gratitude to Gurumayi for her darshan, for her grace, and for her love. I feel that when we offer the mantra with her, it is for the salvation of the world. When she whispered, “Shiva Shiva,” I felt the protection flowing from her to all of us. May all the world feel the benevolent grace of the Siddha Yoga path.

Virginia, United States

The live stream satsang indeed “magnified auspiciousness”! I could feel Gurumayi’s eyes speaking to me with so much love that I felt healing taking place within my being. Her love allowed me to simply let go with tears of love and gratitude rolling down my cheeks. As I share this precious moment, my heart is sending love-filled blessings to each member of my family.

Nairobi, Kenya

What a blessed Siddha Yoga satsang on Mahashivaratri, in the company of our beloved Guru! Everything about this satsang was sublime. It felt so auspicious to hear Gurumayi singing Bilvashtakam and for all of us to be able to recite the last line with her.

Gurumayi’s whisper of Om Namah Shivaya as she led us into meditation has stayed with me when I sit to meditate or I walk in nature. At this fiery time in the world, I am forever grateful to receive Gurumayi’s teaching of the calming power of repeating this sacred mantra and to receive her blessing to find peace within—and to be that peace in the world!

Sydney, Australia

I was offering seva in the music ensemble for the live stream. As we were chanting, I had a very clear image of all of our hearts as the “Love in Action” heart, carrying the mantra around the world on pulsating, golden rays of light. I envisioned the whole world being encircled by threads of this golden light—being blanketed by the calming syllables of the mantra.

New York, United States

In this satsang I experienced what it means to “nourish your heart.” I enjoyed every moment, and what stood out for me was Gurumayi’s immense dedication in singing the Bilvashtakam.

I was glad that I had done the preparation so I could participate mentally and join in the refrain with ease. I felt Gurumayi was the pulsating heart, sending blessings, peace, compassion, love, and auspiciousness to the whole world, including to me. Now, it is the second day after the satsang, and I am still reveling in the love.

Hindelang, Germany

At the start of the Mahashivaratri satsang, I was moved to bring the computer into my mother’s room and participate from there. Mom is elderly, and I am trying to fulfil my dharma in helping her as much as possible.

While Gurumayi spoke and sang, and I repeated Om Namah Shivaya, a peace came over the room in which Mom, myself, and Lucy (our puppy) all became harmoniously one with the moment. Gurumayi’s presence in my family’s life was palpable, and my whole being relaxed in a beautiful and loving way. Mom fell asleep, and I smiled.

Everything was as it should be. Om Namah Shivaya!

Florida, United States

When Gurumayi shared the story about the letter she had once written to a Siddha Yogi and then not sent because she had misspelled the person’s name and knew the person would notice, I realized that my inner perfectionist might be holding me back from receiving the Guru’s love.

It was as though Gurumayi had heard my conversation with a friend the day before! I felt like Gurumayi was speaking directly to the challenges I’d been having with trusting others’ trust in me, and feeling some “imposter syndrome.” This was related to a seva I’d been asked to offer—a seva I have the skills and ability to offer but, nonetheless, was fearful of not doing well enough.

As Gurumayi shared this story, I felt the cage of perfectionism unlock, and my whole body softened. Tears streamed down my face several times. As I chanted and meditated with Gurumayi, I experienced myself as Shiva. I experienced how letting things flow, rather than trying to control them, brought me closer to what I didn’t even know was my heart’s desire.

Vancouver, Canada

I felt especially touched by this satsang in honor of Mahashivaratri. As I took my seat, the atmosphere and energy in the scintillating blue dome of the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall felt profoundly peaceful, exquisitely beautiful, and contagiously joyful.

As Gurumayi sang the Bilvashatakam, my heart cracked open with love and gratitude for my Shri Guru. And as Gurumayi led us into meditation by saying aloud—and then whispering—Om Namah Shivaya, I experienced the mantra as a deeply soothing force. I felt I could have been whispering the mantra to a child as they fell asleep, or to a person as they took their last breath. As we whispered Shiva’s beloved name, I felt we were wrapping a subtle cocoon of tender blessings and healing vibrations around our planet.

Surrey, United Kingdom

I’m so grateful to Gurumayi for spending time with us chanting, meditating, and teaching us—through everything she says and does. I love being in her presence and cherish this prasad dearly.

When I read Gurumayi’s teachings in “Bond with the Mantra” to prepare for the satsang, specific lines spoke directly to my current experience and circumstance; I felt Gurumayi was personally guiding me.

During the satsang, when Gurumayi spoke about offering our goodness, even if it seems like someone isn’t open to receiving it, I felt she was continuing the conversation with me that had begun in “Bond with the Mantra.” I felt I was sitting at her feet, receiving her direct personalized guidance. I experienced a deep indelible sense of connection to Gurumayi.

I also loved when Gurumayi shared the story about the seven-year-old asking her parents to “book darshan with Gurumayi” and when she waved to us at the end, saying, “See you soon!”

California, United States

I am so grateful to Gurumayi for leading us so beautifully in the understanding and experience of Mahashivaratri during the satsang.

I feel more deeply connected and committed to repetition of the mantra—and not just in my mind. I now have the experience of the mantra throughout my whole body—from the tips of my toes and fingers to the top of my head. My experience deepens as I repeat the mantra with the inherent knowledge that I am Shiva.

New South Wales, Australia

For me the satsang was full of love.

Gurumayi mentioned that there was a prediction of snow in the area, and it did in fact snow last night.

As I was brushing the snow off my car this morning, I recalled Gurumayi’s words about Lord Shiva and snow, and I repeated to myself, “Shiva loves snow, Shiva loves snow,” which made the task much sweeter.

New York, United States

As we chanted Om Namah Shivaya in the Bhupali raga with Gurumayi today, I was aware of the mantra’s far-reaching power. It felt like our chanting was touching and blessing every corner of the world and filling everyone’s heart anew.

I was particularly moved when Gurumayi led us into a period of chanting the mantra quietly and more gently. I could sense it was reaching every little wisp of cloud, every tiny creature and blade of grass, and all the soft and small parts of my own being.

Portarlington, Australia

I love Lord Shiva very much, so it was great to join the satsang in honor of Mahashivaratri with Gurumayi and the global Siddha Yoga sangham.

In winter, I rent a flat in a fishing town in Spain. During the satsang, a black cat came in from the open terrace door and jumped up on the couch. It lay like a miniature sphinx and seemed to be enjoying the satsang very much. As soon as the satsang was over, the cat ran out again.

Limhamn, Sweden

What an auspicious day! It is lunchtime here in Sydney, Australia—a sunny day—and the sky is blue with fluffy white clouds as soft as snow. Today, our almost four-month-old baby participated in her first satsang with Gurumayi. What a special day for us!

Our baby loved listening to the gentle sounds of the tabla and hearing Gurumayi saying the words of the mantra Om Namah Shivaya as we went into meditation and our baby went into her nap time.

I loved learning about the bilva tree and its nutrient-rich fruits and seeing its sacred leaves.

Participating with our baby in satsang with Gurumayi and sharing the joy of the Siddha Yoga practices with the next generation is such a gift for me!

Bronte, Australia

What a beautiful, beautiful satsang in honor of Mahashivaratri! Tears of joy and gratitude rolled down my cheeks as I recalled another time I chanted the mantra Om Namah Shivaya in the Bhupali raga with Gurumayi.

I had arrived at the Ashram very late and felt pulled to go to a chanting saptah, where I found a group of people chanting with Gurumayi. I took my seat, bowed to Gurumayi, and then began to listen to her chanting the mantra.

In that moment, I felt Gurumayi was teaching me this raga and guiding me each step of the way in how to chant it. I observed that I was chanting the mantra from deep within myself. I felt as if Gurumayi was chanting to my heart and I was chanting to her heart. This was the most profound experience of chanting the mantra Om Namah Shivaya I had ever had.

Today, in the satsang on the night of Shiva, I had the same profound experience with my beloved Gurumayi. I feel so, so blessed.

Eastbourne, United Kingdom

Shiva, Shiva, Shiva! Out of the blue, and unusual for this time of the year, lots and lots of pure white beauty fell and covered houses, bushes, and trees with snow in our city this Sunday.

Mount Kailash—and Gurumayi’s love-filled presence—in the middle of Cologne! Such grace, such deep connection, such beauty, purity, guidance, and fun.

I am in awe again and again of this holy Siddha Yoga path.

Cologne, Germany

It is the day after the “Magnify Auspiciousness, Celebrate Mahashivaratri” satsang, and I still feel the presence of Gurumayi and the chanting of so many Siddha Yogis in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall!

It feels like the warmth of all these souls—so full of the Guru’s grace—is filling my being. I will always treasure this experience! For me, it is changing a gray, rainy day into one that is brilliant with the opportunity to remember the phrase that appears at the end of each verse of the Bilvashtakam: “eka bilvam shivarpanam”—”I offer a sacred bilva leaf to Lord Shiva.”

By remembering this celebration of Mahashivaratri 2026, I know that its magnificent grace will always resonate inside me.

California, United States

On the night of Mahashivaratri, as the worldwide Siddha Yoga sangham chanted Om Namah Shivaya with Gurumayi in the Siddha Yoga Universal Hall, a prayer arose within me: May our chanting of Lord Shiva’s name reach every living being, help all who suffer, and bring peace to all people and places.

As I focused on Gurumayi, I sensed that she was emanating divine intention and unconditional love; I felt a heightened shift in my consciousness.

With immense gratitude, I experienced the powerful vibration of thousands of voices uniting in love and peace for the benefit of all life and of Mother Earth herself.

Georgia, United States

In the days approaching Mahashivaratri, I became very deliberate in my repetition of the mantra. The night before the satsang, as I was readying myself for sleep, my silent repetitions enveloped me in a vibrational bath of protection and light.

At the time I was away from home, and as I lay in bed, I became aware of all the places I had repeated the mantra in my forty years of sadhana. Many images arose of times, places, and ways I have repeated the mantra: walking in various cities; hiking along mountain paths; chanting aloud in Siddha Yoga Ashrams and meditation centers; repeating it silently during meditation; when offering prayers and blessings… year upon year, place upon place. It was a sublime way to honor the mantra’s role in my life.

As the live stream began, I flashed on all the Siddha Yogis gathered in the blue-domed Siddha Yoga Universal Hall and on all the places they have repeated the mantra—and felt the earth wrapped in the glorious name of Shiva who, as Gurumayi shared, loves hearing his name.

Massachusetts, United States

What an amazing, magnificent satsang in celebration of Mahashivaratri! Chanting filled my heart with such celebratory joy and depth of devotion, lifting so much of the turmoil of the world that has been swirling within me.

Scintillating blue light filled my meditation and led to a gushing flood of gratitude pouring out of my heart. As I gazed at Gurumayi, I felt wrapped in a blanket of love and devotion. I am so very grateful for this path and my beloved Gurumayi!

New Mexico, United States