YL June 2021

Om Ganapathaye ! FIFTY TWO YEARS IN THE PROPAGATION OF CLASSICAL RISHICULTURE ASHTANGA YOGA Come June 21, and the entire world gets together INTERNATIONAL to celebrate the International Day of Yoga! We are proud MONTHLY to showcase our illustrious team of International Mentors of Gitananda Yoga on this month's cover page as a small Vol.52 No. 06, JUNE 2021 token of our heartfelt gratitude for their loving assistance in guiding the phenomenal members of Team 52 through CONTENTS their online journey for the past year. This is surely a Yogic Team of whom Swamiji and Ammaji are immensely CELEBRATING IDY 2021: - 02 proud. UNITING THE WORLD YOGA FAMILY IN VIRTUAL MODE The back cover highlights the SBV IDY 2021 ETERNAL NATURE OF GAYATRI MANTRA - 04 online celebrations being organized by the CYTER of Sri - 06 Balaji Vidyapeeth who has held amazing events every LIVING A DIVINE LIFE - 07 year since 2015. We are privileged to have the most - 11 spellbinding speakers join us for this online event. SBV is PURITY: A PATH TO DIVINITY - 15 indeed one of the shining examples of the wholesome integration of Yoga Therapy within the Modern Medical LISTENING TO OURSELVES - 18 Healthcare System. SLOW DOWN – RELAX – UNWIND ! - 24 The front inner cover depicts some of the popular “Scintillating Saturdays” sessions conducted from 7.15 SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS - 28 AM (Indian Time) every Saturday by Dr Ananda. These ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL can be accessed live on his www. facebook.com - 31 /YogacharyaABB Facebook page every week or reviewed MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES later on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com THROUGH DHANURASANA /user/yognat2001 . THOUGHTS ABOUT PRANAYAMA The back inner cover pays a heartfelt tribute to IN THE GITANANDA YOGA TRADITION three great souls who have recently left this world. This includes Ammaji's mother and Dr Ananda's grandmother SALUTING THE AMAZING LIVES Genevieve Tomscha, the world famous Yogasanarathna OF THREE GREAT SOULS Dr. Asana Andiappan and one India's top medical doctors Padmashree Dr KK Aggarwal who was an ardent supporter of Yoga and traditional healing. All of them have left an indelible mark in the hearts of humanity and we pray the almighty to bless them with the highest state of Sadgati. The official publication of Yoga Jivana Satsangha (International); Vishwa Yoga Samaj (Worldwide Yoga Congress); Sri Kambaliswamy Madam (Samadhi Site); SPARC (The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Rishi Culture); ICYER (International Centre for Yoga Education and Research) at Ananda Ashram, Tamil Nadu. Published from Ananda Ashram City Centre at Yoganjali Natyalayam, 25, II Cross, lyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry-605 013, India. Note: All subscribers will be sent e-copies of Yoga Life every month from January 2021 onwards and hence are requested to register their preferred e-mail at [email protected] to ensure uninterrupted receipt of the journal. Editor and Publisher : Ammaji Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, Editor: (I/C) Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Phone: +91-0413-2241561. E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.rishiculture.in Printers : Sarguru Printographs, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Subscription Rate: Indian Rs. 500/year; International 50 Euros/ year.

CELEBRATING IDY 2021: UNITING THE WORLD YOGA FAMILY IN VIRTUAL MODE Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI Ashram Acharya and Chairman ICYER at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry. On behalf of the Vishwa Yoga Parivaar - World Yoga Family and myself, I offer everyone special heartfelt greetings on the upcoming celebration of International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2021. The Government of India as well as all major Yoga organizations are proactive in celebrating IDY every year for the past six years and held many events all over the globe. Due to the dire circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic all events this year have gone online. We see many opportunities in this for the World Yoga family to come together in virtual mode and strengthen the chain of humanity. This is very apt as Yoga, the cultural heritage of India, is one of the best gifts India has shared with the entire world in the spirit of Vasudaiva Kudumbhakam. One World - One Family. The idea of an INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA was first proposed by our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji during his historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly, on 27th September 2014. He said: Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. Every year since 2015, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated on 21 June as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. Every year our Hon'ble Prime Minister participates in the event and leads hundreds of thousands in practicing the Common Yoga Protocol. This was developed by the Ministry of AYUSH in consultation with a team of eminent Yoga experts drawn from all major Yoga traditions of India. It is based on the recognition that Yoga provides a \"holistic approach to health and well-being” and that wider dissemination of information about benefits of practicing Yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world population. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 02

EDITORIAL The entire world is caught in the vice-like grip of the COVID-19 pandemic with all countries reporting casualties in second and third waves which alarmingly increase moment-by-moment. Within a period of just over a year, every human being on our planet has been affected directly or indirectly by this virus that has brought out the worst fears in each and every one of us. COVID-19 has brought on another pandemic in its wake, that of 'fear psychosis'. Everyone everywhere is scared to death and this is further aggravated and worsened by an unrelenting onslaught of negative news from the media. Social media has shown how it can really worsen such apprehensions and turn them into mass fear psychosis. In recent times, a branch of modern medical science has developed and is known as Psycho-Neuro-Immunology. It deals with the phenomenon of how our thoughts and emotions can affect our immune system. Stress, fear and negative emotions are known to weaken our immune system while Yoga, including meditation, mindfulness, positive emotions, and relaxation strengthen it. The limbic system plays a major role in triggering emotional upheaval that weakens immune function. When the immune function is weakened every microbe gets a chance to attack us as all our defenses are wrecked. Fear, especially of the magnitude presently experienced and expressed by us all, compromises our ability to fight this deadly enemy. It is to be emphasized that yoga is very effective for prevention as well as management of all-pervading stress and stress-related disorders. Many studies and systematic reviews have provided strong scientific evidence of its health promoting abilities and therapeutic potential in various psychosomatic conditions. At this point of time we need to refocus on our own salutogenesis, Swastha, our own inherent capacity and ability to be responsible for our health and happiness. We must move from pathogenesis, the focus on disease that worsens fear, towards salutogenesis, the focus on health that strengthens all our systems. Yoga practices, especially those done mindfully will strengthen our immune system by inducing a sense of empowerment and confidence from within. Slow mindful Asana practice, Pranayama and Dhyanam are very useful in this regard. While wishing IDY 2021 celebrations all over the world a hearty success, I also pray that all of us as members of the World Yoga family unite in spirit to promote health and wellness for all living beings with love, grace, compassion, dignity and respect. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 03

ETERNAL NATURE OF GAYATRI MANTRA KRISHNA ACHARYA BHATNAGAR www.speakingtree.in A human being's most important and sacred duty is to remember God by singing his glory for all the bounties he has bestowed on humankind. For the Hindus, Vedic prayers are very sacred. Hymns of the Vedas and are known as mantras. Some of the mantras are prayer-mantras. One such hymn in the Yajur Veda is the Gayatri Mantra. It is a Beej Mantra or seed syllable, derived from ancient primeval sounds. The origin of the text of the Gayatri Mantra has been elaborated in the Manu Smriti: ''Brahma milked out, as it were, from the three Vedas — Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda, the letter 'A', the letter 'U' and the letter 'M' and formed by their coalition three monosyllables, together with three mysterious words — Bhur, Bhuvah and Svah or Earth, Sky and Heaven''. Thus, the text of the Gayatri Mantra was composed as: Om Bhur Bhuvah, Suvah, Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi DhiyoYo Nah Prachodayat. The mantra is conceived as the worship of Lord Hari, of Aditya or the Sun and also as pure nirguna worship of Brahma. Japa or chanting of this mantra with concentration and understanding, ushers in inexplicable mental peace, calm and solace. According to Agni Purana, the syllable 'Ja' destroys the birth and death cycle and the syllable 'Pa' destroys all the sins. Thus, japa of this mantra has the potential to unite the soul with the Supreme Being. It has miraculous powers which can infuse us with courage and confidence. On the battle-field of Kurukshetra, in the Mahabharata, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira to recite the 'spiritually powerful' Gayatri Mantra. It is said that a wonderful miracle was witnessed when the late Dr Swami Gitananda Giri performed Guru Puja in Ananda Ashram at Pondicherry. ''The flower plates shook with powerful vibrations of the chanted mantras, and glasses of water shivered, bubbled and frothed''. In this mantra there is latent spiritual power which by regular japa and meditation can transform the mind into 'prajna' or wisdom. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, ''Amongst the Mantras I am Gayatri.” The Goddess Gayatri Devi is the incarnation and manifestation of Brahma who resides in all living beings. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 04

ETERNAL NATURE OF GAYATRI MANTRA The Gayatri Mantra is also known as Savitri or the 'Sun Mantra'. It is addressed to the Divine Power in the Sun. The Svetasvatara Upanishad says: The one affluent divinity is hidden in all beings. He is all-pervading and is the Inner-Self of all creatures. He presides over all actions and all beings reside in him. He is the inner-witness. He endows all with consciousness and he is nirguna or free from the three Gunas. Similar exposition of this mantra has been given in Isa Upanishad. However, the Rig Veda has defined this mantra from a different angle. The illumined sages like Surayah constantly see that infinite all-pervading supreme reality Vishnu without any obstruction as though their vast intuitive eye or vision was spread over the spiritual sky. All Vedic prayers have emerged from Om, which is synonymous with Brahma, and have 'Om' as a prefix. Om is a primeval sound. Exhaustive exposition of this mystic word has been given in the Mandukya Upanishad. The gist of which is: ''Om is that which was in the past, in the present and all that would be in future. It also represents all which is beyond all of this also.'' Om represents all physical and astral bodies, both manifested and unmanifested, from the external-most physical, to the internal-most spiritual, on four cosmic planes. Before recitation of the Gayatri Mantra, pranayama is immensely beneficial both for the mind and body as it helps in concentration. There is a very simple mechanism for this breathing exercise. Plug the right nostril by right hand thumb and then breathe deeply by the left nostril as long as possible. Then exhale slowly through the right nostril. This exercise may be repeated as many times as possible. Recitation of the Gayatri Mantra can be vachik or chanting loudly, so that it is audible to listeners; upansu or reciting in a very low voice; and mansik or mental chanting. The last one is most effective. Gayatri is a spiritual weapon which protects one who chants it and blesses him with brilliant light of the highest spiritual illumination. Japa of the Gayatri Mantra is a specially designed, efficient spiritual ritual for the realisation of the divinity of the self. It is Nitya Karma, one that is to be done at all times. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 05

LIVING A DIVINE LIFE Parampujya Swami SIVANANDA SARASWATI, Founder, Divine Life Society To sublimate the human in man into the divine, to express this sublimation in his daily, hourly life in thought, word and deed — that is truly divine life. To speak the truth at all costs, to speak sweetly with love, to practise nonviolence, to behold the Lord in all forms is divine life. To be ever in communion with the Lord by annihilating 'mineness' and egoism through faith, devotion and self-surrender is divine life. Repetition of the Lord's Names will purify the mind. But along with these, you must also practise vichara. Real beauty, real joy can be had only in God who eternally lives in your own heart. Every attempt to cultivate divine virtues, selflessness, straightforwardness, courage, serenity, generosity, mercy and self-restraint, in reality, is divine life or life in God. Keep up a balanced mind in success and failure, censure and praise, honour and dishonour, gain and loss, heat and cold. Man's knowledge should embrace the whole universe. There is nothing in the universe that man cannot know. It is the love of knowledge for its own sake, not because it brings us food, not because it enables us to practise a profession, but love of truth for its own sake. That is the destiny and glory of man. Man's life must not be confined to the limits of his family but should take in the entire village or town, nay, the whole state, the whole country, the whole earth and the whole universe. Therefore, when he loves knowledge for its own sake and his love is universal and boundless, then God is pleased because man attains the summit of his glory. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Yoga Life has moved completely online from January 2021 and hence all subscribers and members of Yoga Jivana Satsangha are requested to send us their preferred e-mail to update the database at the earliest. The whole world has moved online, and it is only fitting that Yoga Life also follows suit in these times of virtual reality Please send your email to [email protected] Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 06

PURITY: A PATH TO DIVINITY NEERU PARASHAR SHARMA, Member Team 52 of ICYER According to the Indian school of thought, the supreme goal of human life is to realize our innate reality and the inherent divinity in all creation. Purity is a prerequisite to progress on the path to experience this divinity and everlasting bliss. Every philosophy and religion across the world have emphasized the importance of Shaucham. Shaucha means purity, both external and internal. We tend to give more importance to external cleanliness, thinking that the mind is invisible, and no one can see what we are thinking or feeling. But our actions are the mirror of inner impulses and they reflect our inner being. The gross body goes through six modifications and is liable to decay and disintegration, whereas the subtle body carries memories and impressions that are a result of our actions. Yoga lays a lot of emphasis on Saucham, and Maharishi Patanjali gave it a special place in the five Niyamas. While propounding the path of Ashtanga Yoga, he has mentioned the importance of Yogaangas (8 limbs) to remove impurities (ashuddhi-kshaye) and bring vivekakhyati, the unbroken discriminative knowledge: Yogaangaanushthaanaadashuddhikshayejnanadeeptiraavivekakhyaateh. External Purity External purity at a gross level means purity of physical body, purity of surroundings and diet, and is a means to reach the subtle aspects of our being. Vedic teachings say: \"Shareeramaadyamkhaludharmasaadhanam\". It is only when the body is healthy, and channels are clean one can progress on the path of spirituality. Yoga and Ayurveda, the two sister sciences, have given various practices and guidelines to lead a healthy life. Hatha yogis gave a lot of importance to the Shuddhikriyas, or cleansing practices like Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Kapalbhati, and Trakata, to remove the imbalances of the Doshas and purify the gross channels of the body. After taking care of the gross channels, a sadhaka, practitioner, can progress towards cleansing of the energy channels, nadi shuddhi, and make it conducive for the pranic energy to flow easily towards the desired path. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 07

PURITY: A PATH TO DIVINITY Purity of surroundings isn't just limited to our external space, but it also includes living in harmony with the people around us and thereby filling the entire space with good and positive vibrations. Food becomes another important component which not only builds seven tissues -- Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Mmedha, Asthi, Majja and Shukra of the body, according to Ayurveda, but the subtlest component of it goes to make the mind. It is often said that one should eat Sattvik food in the right quantity, with the right attitude and it should come from the right means. Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says that the three Gunas depend on the intake of food and determine your personality. The partaking of food has always been treated like a Yajna (fire ceremony) by the ancients and is offered as an oblation to the digestive fire, the vaishvanara. When the food is offered and consumed with this attitude, it becomes pure and sanctified: Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina (Bhagavad Gita: 4:24). Eating with this attitude enables one to let go of the sense of doership and enhances the understanding of one principle within and around us. Food consumed by the mouth is not the only food we intake, but the sense organs also feed and indulge in objects. Even though a person is eating sattvik food, if all his senses are polluted, then it is of no use. Therefore, external cleanliness should be undertaken along with the purity of inner instruments. Purity of Inner Instruments -- Antahkarana All our sense organs are externally visible, but the Manas - mind; Buddhi - intellect, Antahkarana, ego; and Citta, will; are the inner instruments and form the subtle body. Any spiritual exercise or any sacred act in the external world would be futile if there is no purity in the mind and heart. If the food is cooked in a dirty vessel, it can spoil the fresh ingredients. A drop of poison can make the entire water undrinkable. Similarly, a drop of bad thought can spread and pollute the whole body. If a heart is filled with ill feelings and is a slave to the six enemies; namely lust, anger, greed, infatuation, ego, and jealousy; no amount of external practice is going to bring success. It becomes crucial that awareness is developed at this stage. Between every unconscious and conscious thought, there lies a power of discernment or choice where one can choose whether to express emotion and, if so, how to express it at the conscious level. The practice of Yamas, social observances; and Niyamas, personal Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 08

PURITY: A PATH TO DIVINITY observances; Maitri Bhava, attitude of friendliness; and Pratipaksha Bhavana, adopting the contrary view; are some of the practical tools given by Patanjali to cultivate noble ideas and feelings. The Maitri Bhavas: friendliness, compassion, joy, indifference towards others, and Pratipaksha Bhavana, cultivate positive thought based on Ahimsa: non-violence, the first Yama given in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It means loving all beings and looking at them as a manifestation of the same principle, and not entertaining bad thoughts, even at a mental level. The purpose of various Vedic rituals like yajna is to let go of the false identification with limited \"I\" and surrender ego in the fire as an oblation. Mantra Japa and prayers also aim to bring 'antahkarana chitta shuddhi' so that one is ready for grace. Purity of Speech Bhagavad Gita (17:15) says: Anudvega-karamvakyamsatyampriya-hitam ca yatsvadhyayabhyasanamcaiva van-mayam tapa ucyate, meaning every word we utter should be satyam and priyam, free from agitation or excitement. Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial and not agitating to others. It is also used in reciting Vedic literature. It is said that there are four factors for the pollution of the tongue: falsehood, excessive talking, carrying tales, and abuse or criticism of others. Satyam is the second Yama in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Ahimsa, at speech level, needs to be exercised as well. Manusmiriti says: Satyambruyatpriyambruyat, nabruyatsatyamapriyam, priyamcananrutambruyat, eshadharmahsanatanah, which means “speak the truth, but speak pleasantly; do not unpleasantly speak the truth, even if pleasant; do not speak untruth to please others”. This is the path of eternal righteousness. The rishis or seers practised Mauna, meaning silence of speech, by talking in moderation as per the need. This enhances the power of speech:Vak Shuddhi, and reduces the chatter of mind. When these two are achieved, the intellect becomes more powerful and, through Yogic practices, one can see and hear the inner sound. Purity of Action Generally, we think actions are just performed through the body, but the gross body is just an instrument in the hands of the subtle body. Karma/action manifests at three levels – Kayika, through the body; Vachika, speech; and Manasika, mind. According to Bhagavad Gita (18.23), \"Everyday actions, when done without any desire for its results, as well as without any attachment and antipathy, are Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 09

PURITY: A PATH TO DIVINITY known as Sattvik Karma. Niyatamsanga-rahitamaraga-dvesatahkrtamaphala- prepsuna karma yat tat sattvikamucyate. When the actions are performed with the attitude of non-doership and surrender, Isvara Pranidhana, they stop binding us. One must perform all the actions with the purity of thought. It is said that to enjoy things, bhoga, without sharing with others is a disease, roga. The Vedas have declared that immortality can be attained only through sacrifice and not by any other means. This sacrifice is not made physically, but mentally. The great masters teach us to keep our hands in the society and head in the forest. When there is purity in thought, word, and deed, the buddhi becomes sattvika. As a result, one attains cheerfulness, one-pointedness and sense control, due to which there is harmony within oneself, and in that stillness the Self reveals itself:“Sattvashuddhihsaumanasyaikagryaindriyajayaatmadarshanayogyatvaa nica” (Yoga Sutra, II:4). Swami Gitananda Giri explains the concept of Navavidha Shuddhi from gross to subtle body in the following categories: “Mala Shuddhi, Deha Shuddhi, Nadi Shuddhi, Prana Shuddhi, Indriya Shuddhi, Manah Shuddhi, Jivan Shuddhi, Bhavana Shuddhi and Atman Shuddhi.” Atman Shuddhi does not mean purification of Atman, but to be established in one's true nature which is already Shuddhas Sattva, pure, and is indeed Sat-Chit-Ananda. Reference Sathyasai speaks Vol. 31 (10) April 1998, www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume31/sss31-10.pdf Sathyasai speaks Vol 26 (29) Aug 1993, www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume26/sss26-29.pdf “Yoga Asanas are somato-psychic-simulation techniques. You are using the soma, the gross body to influence the psyche, the subtle mind and above.” -Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 10

LISTENING TO OURSELVES Ammaji Yogacharini Smt. MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI, Ashram Acharya and Director ICYER at Ananda Ashram,Pondicherry,India. Editor's note: This most insightful article of our beloved Ammaji first appeared in the March 1973 issue of Yoga Life. We are reprinting it here as nothing seems to have changed in five decades. Have you ever noticed that Human beings – although they have ears specifically designed for the purpose - do not listen? Not only do they fail to listen to the birds, the wind, the animals, the leaves, the stars and the flowers - or, even to other human beings. I have found - they don't even listen to themselves - or to their own thoughts. If they did - if they really listened, how enlightened they would be. For, ironic as it may seem, the language pattern and structure are often wiser and more enlightened than the being that makes use of it. And our thoughts are often just a less audible sound than the words we speak. If we listen carefully to the thick twine of our spoken words, we may be able to 'pull in' to our field of awareness the more nebulous thread of our thoughts. Isn't the 'baby' step towards the 'inner life' an understanding of our own thinking mechanism, the twist, the turns, the ins and outs? Without further ado, let us examine some landmarks which point to this conclusion. Words which have now become religious cliches - and raped of all meaning once sprung from real experience. It is no coincidence that 'holy' and 'whole-ly' are so similar both in sound and spelling. What could be closer to Truth than a 'whole' (holy) or integrated man, one whose mind, body, emotions and spirit are working harmoniously together as one. Yoga equals union or wholeness. Even those who proclaim the existence of nothing beyond the senses would have to agree that 'inspiration' comes from within... 'In-spiration' or 'spirited from within'. 'In-tuition' is teaching or tuition from within. Even the word 'insight' is verbal evidence of the existence of 'inner vision' or sight which springs from within – the Yogic 'third eye'. The collective unconscious in its formulation of language is wiser than the materialistic man who thinks there is nothing beyond that which can be seen, heard, felt, touched or tasted. The phenomenon must exist before the word rises to proclaim it... so in one sense, the word is proof of the phenomenon. What has happened, however, particularly in this age of mass media and mass communication, is that people have learned to use words which they have not Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 11

LISTENING TO OURSELVES experienced. This gives rise to many who literally 'do not know what they're talking about'. It is the difference in experience between reading a map and actually visiting the country. The Yogis teach that the mind must be stilled if inner realisation is to occur. They teach that all real spiritual experience is beyond thinking. Even though the Western mind is shocked to find a philosophy which does not deify reason or the workings of the mind, the pattern of the English language cautions against the unreliability of the thinking process. For example, how common (and therefore, how commonly 'thought') is the expression “I think so, but I don't know”. The structure of the language realises the difference between 'thinking a thing to be so' and the 'actuality' of the thing. The difference between 'thinking and knowing' is implicit in the phrase itself. Some of the stock phases used so frequently in the life pattern can also tell us much about our culture and hence, about ourselves. One frequent query is “what do you want out of life?” Rarely does one hear “What can you give to life?” The 'taking' or 'taker's' attitude seems to prevail on all levels. Our language pattern supports the truth of Nietzsche's observation that 'most men are devourers'. The idea of giving something to life is quite foreign to the whole cultural pattern. Modern advertising has destroyed the English language. Words which once had profound depth and beauty are now used flippantly and with banality, in television commercials, billboards, magazine advertisements, newspaper ads, all forms of commercials. A few more notable examples include the statement, “I use brand X – religiously.” The word 'religion' which in its original sense meant 'to lead back' or 'to lead back into the essence of life' has degenerated first, to mean the rites and ritual of organised religions and now, courtesy of Madison Avenue, is associated with daily use of a particular 'Brand X'. What association will the young child who is watching the trash on television have with the world religion in his later years? Little more than dedicated use of a particular brand! And we wonder why the youth of the world have turned against old values! Their associations with the sacred words of mankind – the words which 'house' these old values – have been perverted. All of the old four-letter words like work and love have been destroyed. “You'll love our hamburgers, popcorn, cereal, detergent”, ad nauseum. Love cannot be very profound nor lasting, can it after all, if it describes the feeling one has for a particular candy bar? Modern advertising has brought down all the beautiful words which once inspired man to great action, which once connoted deep abstract feelings, into a Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 12

LISTENING TO OURSELVES mundane, material, sensual plane, and hence has destroyed the essence, or the spirit of the word. Since much of our thinking is merely non-vocalisedverbalization we must watch our minds and thinking processes carefully to guard against the havoc wreaked by 'the rape of the word'. An awareness of this influence can free us from it. In fact, in the awareness of how modern language has been shaped by its life, it is possible to come to the depth of the word to its reality. Another cause of “verbal delusion” comes from the fact that many expressions come into being before certain discoveries, scientific or otherwise, have been made. Yet the expression holds even though it is technically false. For example, when a newspaper reports that 'the sun rose today at 6.45 am' it is actually reporting a lie. The sun does not rise, though at one time it was thought that the sun revolved around the earth and hence, rose each morning. In fact, the earth has turned during the night. Yet the old expression still holds. Each word creates an echo in the mind-stuff, and if one listens closely, one can follow the echo into the heart of wisdom itself. Some may claim these are mere word tricks, but steady meditation on the meaning will reveal that these discoveries are much more than mere tricks. For example, we all know consciously or unconsciously that the activities of the self are enclosing and confining. The self or ego is actually our prison. Is it not interesting to note that 'cell-f' and 'self' are so close in sound? Or to take another example the modern world is finally coming to realise that food can be your medicine. The word 'diet' is mostly 'die (t)' and appropriate enough in an age when most die years before their time because of faulty diet. Ironically enough the word 'treatment' is mostly 'eat' (tr..eat..ment) upholding semantically the old axiom: “Let food be your medicine”. It is only in recent times that doctors have discovered that most illnesses are caused by tension of some sort or another. Modern psychosomatics at least will admit that tension makes one more susceptible to disease. If doctors had listened to their own language, they would have saved years of testing and experimentation – for what is disease but dis-ease or a lack of ease, tension. Let us carry our semantic knives into the age-old search for man's meaning in life. What is man? Let us follow the word back to its Sanskrit source, 'manas'' which means mind. The philosophical answer to our question then becomes simple. Man is the first creature who has evolved or moved into the mind vibration. Then what is man's purpose? Many say freedom. But freedom from what? Again, the answer lies in our very language. Emancipation is another word for freedom. “E” means to 'go out from'. To go out from what? E – 'man' - cipate – or to go out from man (or manas). In other words, the last and final freedom or emancipation would be to rise above the mind or go out from the mind. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 13

LISTENING TO OURSELVES Christ said, “I have come to fulfill the word”. Perhaps we all, in our own ways, like Christ, are born to fulfill the word. But which words are we to fulfill? The term 'human being' seems to be a goal, rather than a fact. How many of us today are being human? How many of us know how to be? I would say that a more apt description of mankind as it is today is'human doing'. The world appears to be engaged in frantic activity. Talking, killing, eating, committing suicide, driving frantically down super speedways, violent dancing and so on, etc. People are bustling here, bustling there. Few know how to just live and be. Hence, I contend that human being is the goal of the race and human doing is the fact of the status quo. In this day and age there is great emphasis, particularly in the West, on the individual. But who and what is an individual? Again, let us dissect the world for our answer. An 'In-dividual' or one who cannot be divided within himself, or as we discussed earlier, our 'whole-ly man'. Another interesting relationship is the possessive pronoun 'MY'. And the Sanskrit word 'Maya' pronounced similarly in sound between the 'my-a'. The Yogis teach that one cannot possess anything, and that the idea of possession is an illusion. In fact, Maya means illusion. So perhaps our language is pointing out slyly to us that each time we say 'my' we are perpetuating the illusion or Maya, of possession. The Cosmic keeper of the Word must be a Joker! Modern scientists have discovered the atom to be the basis of life. The Hindus of old eons ago called this vital force, believed to be the pervading spirit of life, the Atman. It is thought-provoking to find the words so similar. Another word trick which rises above and beyond a trick is performed with the words 'evil' and 'live'. Evil is live spelled backwards. When we live backwards, devolving, going back instead of evolving going forward, we probably commit the only real evil in life. Likewise, the word devil is lived spelled backwards. Perhaps the only real devil in our lives is the charge of our living backwards. One could go on and on spelling words backwards, tracing out similarities of sound, studying the clichés of culture dissecting words but the above should provide a sufficient sample to prove the point – which is merely: language can be an excellent tool to the evolving mind, a tool which can aid the seeking of understanding which delves into the inner – as well as the outer – Uni-verse (one in many). Hari Om Tat Sat! Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 14

SLOW DOWN – RELAX – UNWIND ! Yogamaharishi Dr. SWAMI GITANANDA GIRI GURU MAHARAJ, Founder of ICYER at Ananda Ashram. www.icyer.com Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Yoga: Step-by-Step, the 52-week Correspondence Course codified by Pujya Swamiji in the early 1970-s that is now being offered online by Dr Ananda, aided by an International team of Senior Gitananda Yoga Mentors. We felt this article would be useful to our readers and hence are republishing it here for you to contemplate the need and depth of real Yoga relaxation. “Stop the world, I want to get off!” is the way the vast majority of modern people feel about the way they live. I don't think the world is spinning any faster on its axis or time is encapsulated as many modern philosophers feel. We have simply gotten ourselves “wound up” and now have to find out how to unwind. We are not likely to do it with any of the modern methods suggested by society. Witness the popular method of relaxing. Go out and abuse yourself for the evening or the weekend or work fifty weeks out of the year so that you can take two weeks off for a well-deserved holiday – a 'holiday' that by modern observance requires that you go back to work again for fifty weeks to get over the abuse and damage of the two weeks on so-called 'holiday.' Coast to coast and back again is a common North American diversion, six thousand miles in two weeks without seeing anything anywhere. What should be a 'holy-day', even if extended to a week, two weeks or more, is difficult to equate with the modern 'holi-day'. The second method of relaxing with a smoke, a cup of coffee, a drink or on barbiturates is fraught with folly. We have created a world of drug addicts. How many parents with a medicine cabinet stuffed with drugs are wondering why their children are drug addicts? When the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch. Tranquilizers have become a modern monster, ruining individual lives, marriages and other interpersonal relationships, causing loss of work time and creating accidents, some of them fatal, particularly traffic accidents. Modern men(and women want to run away from the simplest of stresses, so have launched into the unreal world of patented and scheduled drugs. Many who seek the advice of a doctor are simply told that they are 'tense'. Already knowing this, they pay a handsome fee for what they already know. If they ask what to do about the tension, the doctor will say that they should 'relax'. In near Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 15

SLOW DOWN – RELAX – UNWIND ! panic, the doctor hopes the patients will not ask 'how', for he doesn't know. He is 'tense' himself. The very word 'relax' has the wrong or a negative connotation for many people. They resist the idea, feeling that people will think them 'strange' unless 'wound up'. While in South America, I ran into a unique situation. Whenever I used the world 'relax' with a patient or student, he or she would immediately stiffen like a board. This perturbed me, oftentimes to the point of tension. One day I asked an elderly African American patient to 'relax' while lying on the examination table. Immediately, he stiffened corpse-like. Exasperated, I sat on the edge of the table and said, “Good Daddy, how do I get you to relax?” “Relax”, he said, “What's that?” I explained to him what I expected and with a big smile he announced that I should say “slack off man.” Sometimes you have to know the language and relaxation does have its own language, particularly, the Yoga version of relaxation. Yoga relaxation differs from ordinary relaxation in that it is to be used by the hype-tense and those who are normally relaxed as well. It is not just a physical means of relaxation, but an actual mind control of the nerves and glandular system controlling the human body. Even those who inherit hypersensitivity can be aided by the Yoga method because the relaxation kriyas help uproot the originating physiological cause. For those who are tense from psychological factors, the relaxation offers one of the few methods which will work. To define tension is difficult, but it is safe to say that it is an exaggerated response to external or internal environments. Some tension is natural as in the natural body tonus, necessary for the muscles even when we are relaxed. Blood could not be pumped from the heart and through the blood vessels unless some natural tension was there. But say we try to relax but continue to tense. The answer can be that the tension is arising from physiological or psychological stress and sometimes a combination of both. The centre of negative feelings is the hypothalamus in the brain. A glandular- like fluid, a neurotransmitter (ACTH) is produced in this hypothalamus which excites the adrenal glands situated atop the kidneys into activity. These two glands are known as the 3 F glands to the psychologist and the 3 S glands to the physiologist. The 3 F's are fright, flight and fight while the 3 S's are stress, sex and salt. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 16

SLOW DOWN – RELAX – UNWIND ! When in a tension situation, anxiety builds up until the glandular system secretes its hormonal messages. As adrenaline squirts into the bloodstream, fear is the first to be felt. Full fear is fright. Then we want to run, to escape, to flee from the danger, real or imagined. Psychological fugue – the “4th F” in modern terms is freeze – is a natural outcome. T.V., the cinema, the local bar, card playing, the races are all common examples of people escaping anxiety. If real fright occurs to the point that flight results, it may alter into a confrontation with the sources of the fear. To fight is the result, even a small mouse when cornered will take on a pursuing tomcat and it is all a matter of adrenalin. It is said that heroes are made, not born, and it is true. The only difference between a hero and a coward is half a teaspoon of adrenaline, the one gets a medal, the other a firing squad. In Yoga, the relaxation techniques have a distinct effect upon the adrenalin-producing mechanism of the brain and the adrenal glands – now referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis (HPA Axis) – as well as the whole psycho-mental function in which the stress may originate. At the physiological level, the terms 'stress' covers all of the psychological factors expressed by the 3 F's but added to these are two new factors which I have categorized under the terms 3 S's. Sex and salt are also controlled by the adrenals and both of these are controlled or disturbed by mental anxiety, stress or tension. Notice how one sweats when frightened. The palms of the hands become wet, the toes sweat. When sexual passions are aroused, the adrenal glands are also thrown into action. Once may be upset by 'puppy love' as a teenager, 'moonstruck' as a youth, sexually indulgent as an adult, all of these are a strain on the human mechanism, destroying tissue, burning up energy and shortening one's life. This is why a controlled sex drive is advocated in Yoga. Whatever the source of tension, body problems, uncontrolled emotions or undisciplined mind, take control…relax…live! “The little control that we have is over our attitude towards learning from life”. - Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 17

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL Yogacharini Dr. SANGEETA LAURA BIAGI, Gitananda Yoga Mentor, Italy. Editor’ Note: Sangeeta is one of the senior International Mentors assisting Dr Ananda in the conduct of the ongoing online sessions for Team 52. In this article she reflects on the most amazing teachings of Swamiji drawn from lesson 20 of Yoga Step-by-Step. In this she brings together her vast training and experience in not only Gitananda Yoga and music therapy but also Hermetic Astrology, a tradition that began with the Sumerian civilization and evolved through the cultural enrichment of Egyptian, Muslim, Judaic, and Greco-Roman astronomy, astrology, mathematics, geometry and mythology. In Lesson 20, Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj instructs us on the difference between Karma and Free Will. Swamiji teaches us that while we may not be able to change what we perceive as 'the past' we can “improve our attitude to experiences as they fructify in our lives, knowing that they had had their beginnings within the framework of our own thinking or action” (p. 77). How do we improve our attitude? First, by becoming aware that we can and that, living “Yoga as a way of life” is our way towards “becoming a Master of your fate”. Swamiji has dedicated several prior lessons to the importance of Yoga Dhristhi, or a Yoga view of inner and outer life. NOW is the time to apply these teachings by cultivating the courage to choose a positive attitude and taking response-ability for our lives. HERE is where we start, moment by moment as it will be easy to fall back into a fatalistic attitude and want to give up. “Turbulent thinking” (p. 78) and a fear-based negative attitude imprison us between the “what if ?” of past memories and “if only” of future projections. Quieting the cittavritti and remaining present in the here and now is how we cultivate a life lived in Yoga, Union with the Universal Laws. This is challenging and we all need support. Turbulent thoughts and negative attitudes result in, and are the result of, shallow breathing, lack of movement, poor diet, and so on. In this Lesson, Swamiji generously shares with us some practices that can help us to cultivate moment to moment awareness, a series of asana, kriya and mudra that help us release toxins and acidity from our bodies, emotions and thinking patterns. First, Swamiji (p. 79) elucidates the specific qualities of asana, kriya and mudra and defines them as: Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 18

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL – Asana is a firm position. Literally, Asana means a 'firm seat' and, originally, meant only sitting postures, but in time came to be associated with any posture being held for a required period of time. [...] – Kriya means activity or movement. In Hatha Yoga it means any posture where there is an increase of circulation of the blood, lymph, or nerve energy, accomplished by a particular action or movement, while in a firm Asana. [...] – Mudra in the physical postures is a neuromuscular gesture forcing activity of the involuntary musculature of the body which in turn triggers off a glandular response from one or more of the endocrine glands. [...] Then, he introduces Shava/Shanti Asana, the Peaceful Pose; Uttana Asana, the Yoga Sit Up; Nava Asana, the Boat Posture (pp.78-80); and Nava Kriya, the Boat Action. Then, Navaka Kriya, the Oar-lock Action; Vajroli Mudra I and Vajroli Mudra II, Thunderbolt reflex feedback mudra (pp. A77-79). He adds the beneficial instruction of Mukha Bhastrika, a bellows-like breath that forces air out of our lungs – low, mid, and high sections. This series builds up the quality and quantity of prana, as well as blood, lymph and other bodily fluids, in: – The area of the lower limbs and the Kanda, the “earth brain” at the bottom of the spine/sacral area: Uttana Asana and Nava Asana. – The area of the stomach cavity, muscles around the spine and full torso and the “solar brain” in the area of the solar plexus: Nava Kriya and Navaka Kriya. – The full body, including the “lunar brain” in the area of the physical brain: Vajroli I and Vajroli II). – Full body integration: Shava Asana. All of the above are accompanied by rhythmic breathing, and the careful combination of movement, inhales, retention of inbreath, exhales and retention of outbreaths. Swamiji warns us that students should learn these practices with a qualified Acharya as they are very powerful. Here, I would like to share some reflections on the quality of number and form in this sequence, particularly in light of my professional work as an astrologer. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 19

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL While studying and practicing these Asana, Kriya and Mudra, I came to the realization that the sequence, when it comes to the geometrical shapes that the body is conditioned into, is ruled by the number 9. In all of the practices listed above, we consistently sit or balance on the sacrum, the Kanda, our Earth Brain. Therefore, if we consider this center as the 0 point of angular calculations between the top of the head and the bottom of the feet, we observe that we move from 180 to 90 to 0 degrees, therefore working with the Yantric energies of 9 (1+8+0=9 and 4+5=9) in its sublimation into 0. (see illustrations below) In astrology, angular aspects, like opposition and square, that are ruled by the quantity and quality of 9, are often described as difficult. Difficult does not imply a problem, rather, an opportunity for change. It's like a dissonance in music, which is a necessary stretch for microtones to resolve in harmony. Dissonance, like difficulty in life, is what pushes us to refine ourselves in search for inner calm. Number 9 is considered a spiritual number and a master number because it is the ONLY number that is both invisible – any single digit number added to 9 gives the original single digit number, i.e. 7+9=16 and 1+6=7 – and omnipresent, as any single digit number multiplied by 9 gives 9, i.e. 5x9= 45 and 4+5=9. In Yantra, the science of Number, Name and Form that we study in our Paramapari, number 9 marks the completion of a cycle. It is both the most mundane and deeply spiritual of the numbers whose emotional nature makes it prone to mood oscillations which finally stabilize into the held-in/held-out breath balance, number 0, to give way to a new cycle re-commencing with the number 1. 0 and 9 are equivalent in Yantra, meaning that their values and valour, from the Latin 'valent', are resonant. Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, during his Yantra courses at the Ashram and online, taught us that, depending on how we observe the spirals of Manifestation and Involution, number 9 qualifies manifestation and/or sublimation. On the Manifestation Spiral that starts with 1 as Purusha, number 9 is Prithvi, the Earth, and us on it as physical bodies in space and time; conversely, on the Involution Spiral, “our human journey back hOMe”, 1 is Prithvi, corresponding to the Muladhara Chakra, and 9 is Purusha. It may not be a coincidence that this sequence is a full body, emotions, and thought cleanser, providing a pathway for the sublimation of the erotic/life force energy from lower sexual impulses, ojas, to refined spiritual creativity, tejas. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 20

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL We start the sequence from Shava/Shanti Asana and we end it in Shava/Shanti Asana. This is a polarity asana meaning that while we lay down, we can fully surrender while staying active in our awareness, and direct the Shava Asana (180 degrees - Opposition) pranic flows as instructed. Shava Asana creates a 180 degrees between the Lunar Brain, head, and the Earth Brain, sacrum and lower limbs, with the Solar Brain at the center. Opposition, 180 degrees: An opposition, in astrology, defines a push-pull of magnetic attraction and repulsion between two planets, as in Sun and Moon, for example. This angular aspect is transformative in the sense that it stimulates balance between opposites. Balance is the focus here. This balance is only attainable when we become aware of the specific qualities of the opposites and the relationship between the two. Mindfulness on the inhale and exhale is necessary. Division of the circle by 2. In Uttana Asana, we lift the torso with a straight vertebral column and sit up. We now create a 90 degree angle between the torso and the legs that will be maintained through the sequence of Nava Asana and Uttana Asana (90 degrees Square) Nava Kriya. The upper limbs are now engaged to increase balance as well as adding dynamism to the movement of the Kriya. Square, 90 degrees: A square in astrology intensifies the transformative quality of the two points creating a 90 degree angle; the focus here is at the 0 point receiving the square from both extremities. Intensification of transformation is the focus here. Division of the circle by 4. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 21

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL In Nava Asana, on a held-in breath, we lift the legs and balance on our sacrum, thus moving the 90 degree angle to fully point it towards the earth. Swamiji writes that “A massive supply of blood is sent down into the pelvic area by the tension of holding this Nava Asana (90 degrees Square) image posture”. As one can see from the image, the pranic flows, as well as blood, lymph and other fluids in the body, converge into the Kanda. Square, 90 degrees: A square in astrology intensifies the transformative quality of the two points creating a 90 degree angle; the focus here is at the 0 point receiving the square from both extremities. Intensification of transformation is the focus here. Division of the circle by 4. In Vajroli Mudra I and II, while blasting the air out of our lungs, we lift our legs as straight as possible to bring our head as close as possible to knees or shins, depending on individual anatomy/physiology. Earth, Solar and Lunar brains align Vajroli Mudra I and II (0 degrees - Conjunction) to create, through the upper and lower limbs' conjunction, a closed-circuit lock for stimulation, distribution and sublimation of glandular secretion. Conjunction, 0 degrees: In Astrology, a conjunction is a resolution, integration, union of opposing forces. Conjunct comes from the Latin, con- 'with' and junct - 'joined' from the same Sanskrit etymology of Yoga, 'yuj'. A conjunction facilitates the process of absorption. A conjunction whose energetic flow is oriented towards the top of the head, as in Vajroli Mudra I and II, will stimulate the full circle circuit. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 22

SWAMIJI'S TEACHINGS ARE WHOLISTIC AND UNIVERSAL Swamiji writes that these mudras “fall into a separate category because of the extreme pressure created by the body position, activating involuntary muscles which in turn activate a reflexogenic feedback of deeply buried nerve receptors, associated with endocrine gland control. [...] Vajroli Mudra Part I and Part II are gonadal stimulators. Indeed, other glands of the endocrine system are also involved, especially the adrenal glands anÇ the thyroid/parathyroid glands. Ordinarily, these glands are under the direct control of a master gland in the brain, the pituitary gland, but when Vajroli Mudra is done, this control is taken over by the mind that 'wills' the posture” (pp. A-78/79). Raja Yoga teaches us how to “will” difficult asana, pranayama and dharana to become a Master of our fate. We must learn to control our thoughts in order to control our actions and, thus, our life. JOIN THE YOGA: STEP-BY-STEP TRAINING ONLINE Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj's Yoga: Step-by-Step correspondence course is now offered through online recorded sessions. The 52 lessons are well illustrated and contain a practical, systematic step-by-step instruction in Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga. The course has now been converted into an ONLINE RECORDED OFFERING led by Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani and assisted by a team of 25 International Mentors of the Gitananda Tradition. The course is being run as 4 modules as originally devised by Swamiji and students register for each module separately Module I - Introductory Practices of Gitananda Yoga Module II - Intermediate Practices of Gitananda Yoga Module III - Advanced Practices of Gitananda Yoga Module IV - Senior Practices of Gitananda Yoga Students will receive soft copies of the study materials for each module and additional audio and video links will be circulated for each lesson. Those who complete all four modules and submit a thesis will be eligible for final certification (Certificate of Proficiency in Rishiculture Gitananda Yoga) approved as an Advanced Certificate in Yoga by the Indian Yoga Association. For registrations contact [email protected] Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 23

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH DHANURASANA KIRAN BHAGWANDAS, Member team 52 of ICYER All of us do Dhanurasana and experience it differently. My experience with Dhanurasana on 6th April 2021 at 6 am was an experience of 'being a real bow'. Then a prayer automatically happened from inside – “Hey Shree Krishna, let this experience of real Bow become that Bow (Dhanur) which Shree Rama holds.” I felt Dhanurasana, the Bow posture, destroying my impurities and manifesting purity with an experience of calmness, peace, joy, bliss and complete silence. In this silence I heard a voice. It said to me, “feel my presence”. It was a divine experience, precious and very close to my heart making me feel blessed, but lasted for a very short duration. I did nothing, it was all the grace of Shree Krishna and teachers. In Bhagwat Gita (10.7) Shree Krishna says that “those who become situated in the knowledge of my glories and divine powers naturally become united with me through unwavering Bhakti.” Commentary of Holy Gita by Chinmayananda (10.7) says that there is a direct relationship between knowledge and love. Let us understand this with an example. A friend gives me a black pebble. I have no knowledge of its importance, hence no love for it. Then he says that a saint gave it to him, and it is called Shaligram worshipped as Shree Vishnu. It is very ancient and was worshipped by Swami Ramananda. Each information adds on to my reverence and love for that stone. Similarly proper knowledge of Divine enhances love for Him. It is this love which unites us to unwavering Bhakti. Shree Krishna (BG, Chapter 10) on the request of Arjuna lists out his vibhutis. The word Vibhuti refers to the great Shaktis, the power of Divine manifesting in the universe. I had heard about them long back in Satsanga. Shree Krishna (BG, 10:31) says “Ramah shastra bhritaamaham. Among wielders of weapons I am Shree Rama”. Both Shree Krishna and Shree Rama were an avatar of Shree Vishnu. After the above experience of Dhanurasana each time while doing it, I pray and chant “Ramah shastra bhritaamaham” to be that Bow, Dhanur, which Shree Rama holds. I pray and surrender to Divinity trying my best to manifest purity in me for the experience of Shree Krishna's evident presence again and again in this body as a bow. Later, I tried to extend this experience to Shree Krishna's evident presence in other Vibhuti through different Asanas. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 24

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH DHANURASANA Jyotishaamraviranshumaan – I am the sun among the luminous objects (BG,10:21) Among the luminous objects like moon, stars, nakshatra, lightning and fire, it is only by the sun the darkness is dispelled. Doing Surya Namaskar, I pray and chant, “Jyotishaamraviranshumaan”. This is to be like the sun and help myself and others, to remove darkness of ignorance and be luminous for Shree Krishna's Vibhuti to manifest. Meruh Shikarinamaham – I am Meru among mountains (BG,10:23) The Meru mountain in the celestial abode is believed to be the centre of stars and repository of rich natural resources. While doing Parvat Asana I pray and chant “Meruh Shikarinamaham'' to be that Meru and be the repository of the Divine power of Shree Krishna. Ashvatthahsarvavrukshaananm – Among trees I am Ashwatha (BG,10:26) Ashvattha is the peepal tree, a sacred fig tree, which is very sowmya, gentle. This tree can be planted on any type of surface, like mountain, building wall, terrace and any type of tree can be planted under it. It has an important significance in worship. Ayurveda says peepal tree has lot of properties to destroy many types of diseases. Buddha got enlightened under the peepal tree. While doing Vrikshasana I pray and chant “Ashvatthahsarvavrukshaananm” to be that peepal tree which can destroy disease of impurities to feel the presence of Divine. Aayudhaanaamaham Vajra – Among weapons I am the Vajra. (BG, 10:28) Indra, the king of heaven, had lost his kingdom to a Demon named Vritrasura who had a boon that he would not be killed by any weapon present at that time. Shree Vishnu told Indra that thunderbolt made out of bones of sage Dadhichi, is the only weapon which will kill the demon. Sage Dadhichi sacrificed his life and the demon was killed with the weapon Vajra. Doing Vajrasana I pray and chant “Aayudhaanaamaham Vajra” to become that Vajra and win over demonic qualities inside me which are obstacles to experience the Divine and also to help others in their yoga journey. Dhenunamasmi Kamadhuk – Among cows I am the Kaamadhenu. (BG10:28) Kaamadhenu who emerged from churning of the ocean is a miraculous cow of plenty and is an endless giver of resources and nourishments to the Devas and human beings. The spiritual significance of the cow is in the usage of milk and ghee in Vedic rituals. Every part of her body has a spiritual significance. Its four legs Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 25

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH DHANURASANA symbolize four Vedas and its teeth the four purusharthas, horns as triune Gods Brahma (tip), Vishnu (middle) and Shiva (base), eyes as sun and moon, shoulders as agni (fire). The cow symbolizes dharma. Stood steadily on earth on all four legs during Satyuga, the world's first age; on three legs during Tretayuga, the second age; on two legs in Dwaparayuga, the third age; and on only one leg in Kaliyuga, the current age. Doing Gomukh Asana I pray and chant “Dhenunamasmi Kamadhuk” and contemplate on all the above attributes following Dharma and be a giver thus practicing Vibhuti Yoga. Ánantahchaasminaganam – Ananta among the serpents (BG,10:29) Ananta is the divine serpent on whom Shree Vishnu rests. In every avatar of Shree Vishnu, Ananta also takes an avatar to serve him and hence Shree Krishna declares him as his Vibhuti. Doing Sarpa Asana I pray and chant “Ánantahchaasminaganam” to be with Shree Krishna always the way Ananta is and practice vibhuti yoga. Many times, while doing Dharana I prayed to be like Ananta so that Shree Vishnu could rest on me. I used to be stable as I had the bhava. If I move, Shree Vishnu would be disturbed. Mrigaanaam cha mrigaindroham - I am the Lion among animals Chapter (BG,10:30) Lion is the king of all animals. It is the strongest, the boldest and the bravest of animals and hence Shree Krishna calls him his vibhuti. While doing Simha Asana I pray and chant “Mrigaanaam cha mrigaindroham” to be the strongest, the boldest and the bravest to be on the path of Yoga, no matter what and regulating the survival instinct, thus practising Vibhuti yoga to experience Shree Krishna's evident presence within. Vainateyeshchapakshinam – Among birds I am Garuda. (BG,10:30) Garuda, son of Vinata, is the king of birds, devotee of Shree Vishnu and also his divine vehicle. When he flies, his wings make the sound of mantras from the Sama Veda. While doing Garuda Asana, I pray and chant “Vainateyeshchapakshinam” and like an eagle be Divine's instrument and not have any doership and sounds like Divine chants. Jhashanammakarashchasmi - I am the Crocodile among the water creatures. (BG,10:31) Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 26

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH DHANURASANA Among water creatures, the crocodile is the largest and the most powerful and can live both in land and water. While resting in Makarasana, I pray and chant “Jhashanammakarashchasmi” living life in a relaxed manner at any place and be powerful like a crocodile towards the obstacles of yoga. Vibhuti Yoga Sequence I start with a prayer, jattis and whooshing out what is not required. I then do the following asanas thrice each with the bhava or attitude mentioned above: 1. Vrksha Asana, 2. Garuda Asana, 3. Parvat Asana, and Surya Namaskar. 4. Vajra Asana, 5. Gomukh Asana, 6. Simha Asana, 7. Sarpa Asana, 8. Dhanurasana and finally 9. Makara Asana and a Closing Prayer Whatever I have experienced and learned is all because of Dr. Sir Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani through his teachings, blessings and unconditional love. My mentor Yogacharini Latha ji, a person with few words full of wisdom, changed my life with her sharing “importance of structure”. Yogacharini Jnanasundari ji, through her sagacious sharing of “Pratipaksha Bhavanam with topsy-turvy postures” also inspired this Dhanurasana experience. From time to time all the mentors of team 52, were subtly preparing me and all the students to evolve in our spiritual journey. I am grateful to all for their sharing and helping us grow in yoga. Will keep practising and keep dedicating everything to Shree Krishna. Thank you with Gratitude and love for Shree Krishna, Dr. Sir and all the mentors for their teachings and sharing making me feel blessed. “Shree Krishnarpanam Astu”. References : Credits to Sadhak Sanjivani by Swami Ramsukhdasji, Gita Press. Taavavivevhani by Jayadayal Goyankaji http://www.harekrsna.de/kamadhenu.htm “Learn to pull out from your attachment to suffering!” -Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 27

THOUGHTS ABOUT PRANAYAMA IN THE GITANANDA YOGA TRADITION Yogasadhaki MADELEINE SEROWY, Gitananda Yoga, Berlin Continued from last month... Adham, the inferior or Lower Abdominal Area, follows the Adham Pranayama by placing the hands in front, sides and back in the lower area and breathing deeply in and out under the hands. Abdominal breathing governs the flow of Prana below the navel, so if this form of breathing is faulty, all sorts of negative conditions appear, such as: painful, irregular, heavy or scanty menstrual flow, hemorrhoids and varicose veins of the legs, oedema or water retention in the knees and ankles, inflammation of the veins and cold feet through faulty circulation. Adham Pranayama will correct these conditions. Madhyam, the mid or intercostal Area uses Madhyam Pranayama by placing the hands onto the chest, outside mid area of the chest and back mid area and breathing deeply in and out to these areas. It is an excellent way to prevent heart disease or to alleviate this condition. Adhyam, the Superior, Clavicular Area: Adhyam Pranayama by placing the hands onto the upper chest, onto the lower sides or the hips and onto the back high area of the lungs. Breathe deeply in and out in the different areas. The Prana filling this high chest area controls all sorts of breathing difficulties as dyspnoea, asthmatic problems and allergies. There are several Prana Mudras, also called Hasta Mudras, hand gestures (it brings specific fingers together or the whole hand) which are used in Pranayama Yoga for the control of the various lobular segments of the lungs, which are controlled by the Apraakaasha Bindu, the breathing centre in our brain. Chin Mudra (bring the tips of the thumb and index finger together) controls the area of the diaphragm breathing, of Adham Pranayama. Chinmaya Mudra (bring the same fingers together plus other fingers as fist) controls Madhyam Pranayama. Adhi Mudra (thumb in the fist) controls the high chest breathing in Adhyam Pranayama. Each lobe of the lungs can be inflated and deflated independently by the use of the appropriate Mudra with one hand while the Shunya Mudra is gestured by the other hand. Brahma Mudra is used for the complete breath in all lobes, the Mahat Yoga Pranayama. It can take quite a while and needs much concentration to feel the effect of these gestures in the several areas of the body. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 28

THOUGHTS ABOUT PRANAYAMA IN THE GITANANDA YOGA TRADITION The Pranava AUM: Pranava Pranayama: An extra dimension can be added to the Pranayama by thinking of the Mantrika sound associated with the appropriate lung area. Lower breathing is governed by the sound “Aah\", middle breath by the sound \"Oooh\", high breath by the sound of \"Mmm\", while total breath, the complete union of all parts of the breathing apparatus is controlled by the sound of \"Aah...Ooh...Mmm\" - the Pranava Mantra AUM or OM, the Mantra of Mantras. AUM is the Name of God in vibration, in sound. Pranava means \"that which has eternal existence, that which exists prior to the concepts of planes, the birth of Gods beings, creatures or things.\" Prana and the Psychic Nerves The Nadis or nerves carrying the Pranic flows, the Prana Vayus into the Chakras (psychic vortexes) and Bindus. 72,000 Nadis are said to exist and the three main Nadis are the Shushumna Nadi, Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi, which are situated along the column. The body can be subdivided into ten Pranic areas, where one of the five major Pranic flows governs the head and others the chest, the abdomen, the pelvis and the extremities. These five Prana Vayus, called Pancha Prana Vayus are: Prana (heart region), Apana (anal region), Samana(navel), Udana (throat) and Vyana (pervades the entire body). Five minor Pranas are more subtly at work within specific nerve areas. The five Upa Prana Vayus are Naga (belching), Kurma(opening eyes), Krikkara(sneezing and coughing), Devadatta (yawning) and Dhananjaya (nourishes the body and is the last to leave the body). There are also two higher Pranic forces called Akasha Vayu: psycho-mental impulses, and Chitra Vayu: neuro-mental impulses. The true use of Pranayama is to control these ten flows of Prana Vayu and the Prana Vahaka nerve impulses which move in the Nadis or nerves of the Pancha Kosha, the Five Bodies of Man. In Yoga, man is seen as a multi-bodied being, which has at least five bodies, the Pancha Kosha, which are: l AnnamayaKosha (Sheath of food-cells, cellular body). l Pranamaya Kosha (Vital body). l Manomaya Kosha (Mind body, Memory and Conscious Mind). l Vijnanamaya Kosha (Super Conscious Mind). l Anandamaya Kosha (Sheath of Bliss, Cosmic Body). Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 29

THOUGHTS ABOUT PRANAYAMA IN THE GITANANDA YOGA TRADITION When the cosmic egg, Anandamaya Kosha, is perfectly centred with the lower bodies, then Samatvam, or equilibrium is said to exist. When the Annamaya Kosha is mal-aligned with the other four bodies, physical disassociation or disease appears, called Nara. The correction of these conditions is easily brought about by the mastery of simple Pranayamas like Vibhaga Pranayama and Mahat Yoga Pranayama, or more complicated Kriyas, such as the Anuloma Viloma or Polarity Breathing. Asanas for enhancing lung function An often- used Pranayama in the Gitananda System is the Vyaghrah Pranayama, the Tiger Breath, which is an excellent way to strengthen the diaphragm for complete breathing. Simulating the breathing action of the giant cats, this breathing routine is highly recommended to increase breath capacity and to produce stamina. From a kneeling-on-all-fours position take a deep breath and let the abdomen sag towards the floor, keeping the head up high. On the expelled breath arch the back as high as possible and lower the head between the arms and shoulders. In Sharabha Asana and Chiri Kriya, along with Vyaghrah Asana, ensure a perfect, complete breath. In these postures is a tendency to breathe into one lung more than theother, which offers excellent Yoga Therapy for those who have over- developed one lung at the expense of the other. The lungs will now operate like a pair of oxen yoked together for work. These Asanas belong also to a group of Asanas called Hathenas, forcing techniques to balance the body and pressure various nerves corresponding to the part of the lung to be enlarged, expanded, reconditioned or rejuvenated. Those Hathenas are the Ushtra Asana variations, camel postures for the lower abdominal lobes, the Matsya Asana variations, the fish postures for mid-breathing and Maha Mudra and Bala Asana for the high parts of the lungs. Also, Sapurna Shasha Asana variation, the rabbit posture variations for abdominal breathing, Purna Sahsha Asana for intercostal breathing or Pari-Purna Shasha Asana for upper breathing. To be continued next month... Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 30

SALUTING THE AMAZING LIVES OF THREE GREAT SOULS Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI Ashram Acharya and Chairman ICYER at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry. GENEVIEVE TOMSCHA (4 February 1921 - 26 April 2021) Our dearest Ammaji's mother and Dr Ananda's grandmother Genevieve Tomscha left her body on Monday, April 26, 2021. She lived an amazing life and recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Born on a small farm in Badus Township, near Lake Badus, rural Ramona, SD to Anthony “Tony” and Mary (Egger) Manthey, she was the oldest of six children. Her father organized a family dance band called the Manthey Meadowlarks in which Genevieve primarily played saxophone. While they were young, the Manthey family played weekends at a number of different dance halls in the Ramona/Madison area where the Manthey Meadowlarks became quite the well-known dance band! In 1943, she married Francis Tomscha and moved to Minneapolis, MN where they lived for two years with their oldest child, Barbara (Meenakshi Devi). They returned to Madison where Francis started a plumbing and heating business, and where they raised their 12 children. Genevieve resided here until her passing. Genevieve was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where, for decades, she played the organ at masses, funerals, weddings, and special occasions. Genevieve was a brilliant musician who could “play by ear”, and showcased this talent through the saxophone, piano, organ, and accordion. Genevieve's other talents included growing beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, knitting and crocheting; she was an artist. Genevieve was a thoughtful grandmother, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She appreciated life as she could to its fullest and celebrated greatly all of the talents and attributes of all those whom she knew and cared for. She was well known for tending to her elderly friends and family, often playing piano for them when available or just keeping them company. While she rarely traveled outside her immediate geographic area, Genevieve celebrated the many places that her children and grandchildren traveled, always happy to hear about their adventures and vicariously living their dreams with them. As a mother, she will be remembered as fair, honest, and always willing to share everything she had. She sacrificed greatly to ensure that her children had what they needed, and supported their career and life choices, wherever they took them. She loved each and every one of her children, letting them know that at the end of each phone conversation and/or home visit. As a grandchild, Ananda remembers with fondness how every birthday and Christmas was blessed with a card and gifts from his loving grandma Tomscha who lives on in his heart and those of Dhivya and Anandraj, her loving great grandchildren too. May she rest in the highest state of peace and loving divinity and bless us from there forever. YOGASANA RATHNA DR. ASANA ANDIAPPAN (7 December 1930 - 3 May 2021) Dr. Asana Andiappan, one of the pioneers of Yogasana in South India passed away on 3 May 2021 at his home in Chennai. He was highly accomplished Yogasana Master of international Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 31

SALUTING THE AMAZING LIVES OF THREE GREAT SOULS repute. He initially trained with Yogacharya S.Sundaram of Bangalore as a child, and later developed his own sequence of curative asanas based on the teachings of Sage Thirumoolar. He also trained with Swami Gitananda Giri at Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam for a short time and had an amicable relationship with the family for many decades. He was endowed with the title of “Asana” by Swami Sri Sankaracharya for his unrelenting pursuit of yogic therapy for common ailments. He established the Sundara Yoga and Natural Living Trust which is a popular yogic healing centre in Chennai that administers disease-specific therapy through a yogic discipline endorsed by leading medical practitioners. Dr. Asana Andiappan was awarded the Yogarathna (Jewel of Yoga) for his distinguished achievements. Besides editing two monthly journals, Yoga Kalai and Asana with a combined circulation of over 40,000 copies, he published 25 books in Tamil. The Gitananda Yoga family offers our heartfelt tribute to this great master and supports his work that continues through his son Yogananth Andiappan (Hong Kong) and daughter Dr Lakshmi. Dr K K AGGARWAL (5 September 1958 - 17 May 2021) “Picture abhi baaki hai. The show must go on,” Padma Shri awardee Dr K K Aggarwal said in one of his last educational videos about Covid before adding that he too was suffering from the virus. “I have Covid pneumonia which is progressive. But even then, remember Raj Kapoor's words 'the show must go on'.” On 17 May, he passed away at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences after a long battle with the virus. The 62-year-old was a cardiologist, head of the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). He received the Dr BC Roy Award in 2005 and the Padma Shri in 2010. Over the past year, Dr Aggarwal's popularity grew as he frequently posted videos on social media platforms in which he answered Covid-related queries and held talks about various aspects of the disease and its management. He was unwavering in his mission of making quality healthcare available to the masses especially the economically weaker sections. Even with the pandemic raging, he worked relentlessly to reach out to over 100 million people through his digital initiatives. His informational videos and educational programmes proved instrumental in saving a large number of lives from the viral infection. His colleague and former director of HCFI Dr Uday Kakroo recalled what Dr Aggarwal's idea was behind holding talks and posting videos on social media. “He would say that I have accomplished what I wanted to accomplish and now I want to give my knowledge back to people,” Dr Kakroo said. He added that during the pandemic, he was able to reach out to a wide audience and was holding talks even after getting infected by the virus because “he had decided that he wanted to die while working”. “He is gone, but his spirit of spreading positivity irrespective of the situation is something we all need to imbibe,” his family members said in a statement. We pray the Divine to bless this great humane doctor with the highest state of Sadgathi. Vol.52 No. 06, June 2021 www.rishiculture.in 32