The Akhanda Kirtan for May 2011 at Satyananda Yoga Mangrove was spectacular.
Most things are here at Satyananda Yoga Mangrove.
The kirtan started at 7:30pm on Friday evening with a beautiful introduction by the very special sannyasin Krivyavidyananda. She was the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed people from all over the world and from all different traditions. Satyananda Yoga has always embraced people from every colour, creed, sex, religion and school of yoga.
We celebrated the upcoming Bhakti Age. It is universally known that the Golden Age is dawning, we are leaving the Kali Yuga - the Puranas describe Kali yuga as a time of darkness when people are governed by lower impulses. Satyananda predicts that, "Love will become prominent, not as a belief but as a science." It is an Age of Bhakti and kirtan is the tool we will use for human evolution.
The Mahamantra is chanted. Akhanda means continuously.
This mantra has been continuously sung in Swami Sivananda's ashram in Rishikesh, India since 1937. It is still being chanted to this day. If ever you are feeling low, remember this mantra being chanted. It is for the positive upliftment of society. It means love.
Guests included 120 people, special guests were, Camella Baynie, Sri Prahlada and the Bhakti Band, Jo from Edo and Jo. Most of the time there was 8 people playing instruments, one person leading and three back up singers. The mood throughout the 27 hours was blissful, beautiful, serene, sublime and for a good part of Saturday evening totally 'going off!'
Our children danced, sung, laughed and had such a wonderful experience. I could see that they were very open to this experience through their total acceptance of 'this is what we do when we come to the ashram', they were friendly towards everyone and they had what looked like to me, true joy beaming from their little faces.
At one point in the Saturday evening with 120+ people dancing, jumping, smiling and laughing, special effects twirling and spinning, drums, flutes, guitars and singers singing their hearts out, a very dear sannyasin brother, Poornaseva turned to me and said smiling, "Mangrove is very unique." It is true. This place is so enriched, full of love, shakti, real life experience and acceptance of all. It is a place where life is celebrated.
When I wasn't in the sadhana hall I was out with the children, drawing, drinking chai, eating cake, chatting, face painting and knitting.
We finished on Saturday evening at 11:30pm with a havan. The fire from the havan is symbolic of the fire within all of us. The havan is a time to solidify the positive within. The mantra chanted was to guru - whoever that guru be. We were given prasad and gently ushered out the door to bed.
For more information about Akhanda Kirtan please read Swami Shraddhamurti's piece here.
Mahamantra
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
