The 125th Birth Anniversary of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, the renowned Yogi who united East and West under the common banner of Yoga meditation; was celebrated all over the country and the world on

January 5th, 2019.

The Bangalore Centre of Yogoda Satsanga Society celebrated the Birth Anniversary of their Guru Yoganandaji, with deep devotion. Over 700 people gathered throughout the day, at the Domlur Centre to pay their respects and to practice together the ancient Kriya Yoga teachings of this world Master.

First session:

The disciples started the day, with a Palanquin procession of the Jagadguru across various streets around the Yogoda Centre accompanied by chanting. Following this, they gathered for group meditation. The meditation started with the Hymn to Brahma, followed by chanting interspersed with meditation and inspirational audio. The chants sung for the morning session were:

Brahmanandam, Jai Guru (cosmic chant), Guru Is Dhyan Karo, Pranami -Aum Guru Jai Jai

Before meditation, the inspirational reading was : “The Guru’s promise”, a letter written by Guruji to Ananda Mata, encouraging the devotee to persevere through difficulties, with a promise of divine help. As the meditation began, an aura of peace and serenity could be tangibly felt permeating the entire atmosphere. Post the meditation, an audio CD : “The Great light of God” was played; Guruji urged people of all walks of life to learn to love God. He said that the true purpose of all human life is to seek God. Man constantly beguiles himself by searching for various other joys, which in the end, will only result in dissatisfaction. Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that “something else” that will give him complete and unending Joy…And “God” is that “something else”, that we all are seeking. Man will never be content until he has attained this ‘true Joy’. Simply because it is also the original nature of all men!.”

The morning session ended with Pushpanjali - where all the gathered disciples, reverentially offered flowers and their respects before the Guru and received blessings.

Lunch:

Food was served in the afternoon to all the gathering devotees, newcomers, children all partook of prasad.

Help desk:

Volunteers guided the new devotees to register for the world renowned ‘Lessons on Spiritual Living’ by Paramahansa Yogananda; which also includes some of the most powerful set of instructions on ancient meditation practices and also assisted devotees with transportation and their other needs.

Second session:

In the afternoon, the devotees gathered to watch a movie on the great work that the Master carried out in the West about a 100 years ago; in taking India’s ancient Sanatana Dharma to the World. The Movie: “The Life of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda - The Early Years in America : 1920 - 1928” was engaging, and showed the travails and challenges that an ochre-robed sannyasi had to face as he went about teaching Yoga to a world that had hardly heard about a country called India!! The movie also conveyed The Master’s universal Love that covered all the nations and its peoples. Paramahansaji’s message to the World: to unite under the one true Science of Religion through “ Personal direct Communion with God” -- was conveyed. What was also expressed in the movie was, the Master’s deep regard for Spiritual India.

Open-mic Chanting Session:

This was followed by devotees singing Chants, for more than an Hour to the divine beloved.

The chants sung were:

• Brahmanandam
• Deliver Us from delusion
• Guru Yogananda Sharanam
• Jai Guru Jai Guru
• Madhur Madhur Nam
• Aiya Guru Maharaja
• Om Guru Om Guru Sachidananda
• Aum Shanti
• Hare Krishna Hare Ram
• Kali Maheshwari
• I am Aum
• Namo Namo

Tea was served at 4 ‘o'clock in the evening; After tea, the evening meditation and reading services were conducted. The atmosphere was charged with a deep peace as the sun set on the silently meditating devotees. The reading services included an introduction to Paramahansa Yogananda’s life and teachings across the world. It covered his birth and growing up years in India, followed by his move to the West; at the behest at his great Gurus. The writing of the ‘Autobiography of A Yogi’ which is now a perennial best-seller across the World; and his mission to introduce Kriya meditation to the World.

The evening service ended with Pushpanjali accompanied by chanting. With the prasad distribution, the beautiful ceremony came to a close; all the gathered disciples departed with special blessings and newfound serenity from the celebration.