Pujya Sri Swamiji in Haridwar - February 21

The Maha Shivaratri day got off to a wonderful start at 9 AM. Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived to the Ganga river and ascended the specially constructed wooden platform on the river on which the arrangements for the Sri Chakra Puja had been prepared. Thousands of devotees watched with spiritual fervor, Sri Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Puja on the sacred river Ganga. Slowly Sri Swamiji went about this daily ritual as the sounds of River Ganga's gentle flow matched the tempo of frenzied chants of Om Namah Shivaya by the devotees. It was a rare occasion to watch the river enveloping Sri Swamiji during Sri Chakra Puja.

After the Puja, Sri Swamiji addressed the gathering thus.
SHIVARATRI MESSAGE OF PARAMA PUJYA SRI SWAMIJI
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha, Sri Saraswatyai Namaha, Sri Pada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati, OM AIM HREEM SHREEM OM NAMAH SHIVAYA (11 times)
Place your right palm on your head. Chant "OM AIM HREEM SHREEM NAMAH SHIVAYA (3 times) Now remove your palm and make your thumb touch its little finger. Close your eyes. Now place your palm against the sun and make some rays escape through the slits between the fingers and let it fall on your face. Now close your eyes again. Chant again "Om Aim Hreem Shreem Namah Shivaya (2 times). Now place the palm on your forehead and slowly press against the forehead. Chant Om Aim Hreem Shreem Namah Shivaya (2 times). Remove the palm. Chant:

Oshadhi Shanti
Aakaasha Shanti
Samudra Shanti
Chandra Shanti
Nakshatra Shanti
Jeeva Shanti
Prana Shanti
Shareera Shanti
Vidya Shanti
Jnana Shanti

Remember your Guru and think of His name and the Mantra he gave you. Please pray for the peace of the world. Let peace prevail. Pray for protection and peace. Now make a determination that all the merits of our rituals and Japa today should go to those who suffered in the earth quake. Let all the energies present here go there. Let 50 percent of the merits of My Puja today go to those who suffered. Om Aim Hreem Shreem Namah Shivaaya (2 times)

We all are really fortunate today. Lucky and lot of grace. There are billions of people in the world. You are the chosen few to be here today. You have been selected by Swamiji. You all are angels. May your families have luck, health, fortune and lots of Guru Bhakti to serve their Sadguru. My special Grace and special Blessings to you all. You and your family will get special angel Loka and Shiva Saayujya. It is a special heaven . Definitely you will get that special heaven. My Blessings to you. No doubt. All sins committed till today are forgiven by me. Be careful from now on. Do as much humanity service and Sadguru service. May all your past sins get washed off in Ganga. Like they were burnt by fire in the last years, may they go to Ganga river this time.

Today the world looks to be in a great turmoil. We find variations in the solar and lunar systems . We are mere human beings in the vast creations. We are so small. We cannot bear cold or heat. We are like micro bacteria in his creation. May he give us strength. In the coming year we may have several natural calamities. But nothing to worry. We will have good crop yields. The animal live stock may suffer. Inspite of the wealth, the luck eludes us. Inspite of good rains and good crop, we are some how sustaining. A new strain of disease may start. Proper discipline in eating and food control should keep us healthy. Avoid uncooked food and take cooked food. The mineral stock's value will take a beating. This includes gold and diamond. Also the metal ores that are mined may be of inferior quality.
The political sphere will be as usual unsettled . Use only boiled water.

The share market and the economy will be good for six months from March. This seems to be a good year. For lenders the year will be 80 % okay. For those in the spiritual path, it will be a difficult year with many obstacles. Education will suffer in March and April because of faulty policies of the government. On the Mars and Venus planets, January 2002 may bring bad news.

Eye problems will be aplenty. Chant Aditya Hridaya for protection. We shall pray and worship a special Shiva Linga which has a emerald base. All these years you enjoyed Swamiji's Agni Puja during Shivaratri. But in this year Shivaratri, you can all now watch Swamiji bathing in Ganga river.

Saying so, Sri Swamiji took bath in the river and then sprinkled water and gave Ganga stone to a select few. Then Sri Swamiji arrived in the Yaga Shala, where Ati Rudra Homa was being performed since three hours. There Sri Swamiji installed a new Shiva Linga and called it as "Sahasra Linga Shiva Lingam" as the stone idol has thousands of small Shiva Lingas on its body. After the installation, Sri Swamiji gave Purnahuti to Ati Rudra Homa.

Arriving on the main stage at 11.50 AM, Sri Swamiji performed Puja to another New Shiva Lingam which was in a a unique form and is like a jam of dry fruits. It has a base made in emerald stone. Swamiji then Blessed all the Seva Kartas.

At 3.30 PM in the afternoon devotees started to perform Abhishekam to the Sahasra Linga Shiva Lingam Sri Swamiji came there at 4.30 PM and performed Pancha Amrita Abhishekam (Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Honey and Sugar) and with other materials. All the devotees watched the beautiful event with bated breath.

At 6.30 PM, Sri Swamiji arrived for Bhajans. Sri Swamiji released a five year Indian almanac (Panchanga) from Year 2001 - 2006. Its importance was introduced by Sri. Prasad. Sri Kuppa Anjaneya Shastry, the author of this almanac was honored on the occasion Then A German language book containing Speeches of Sri Swamiji, translated by Pingala was also released. Then Sri. Prasad thanked all those involved in the organisation of the festival and they were all given mementos.

This followed a discourse by Bala Swami (Harsha) on the story of Ganga river's history, the importance of Shivaratri and the sacredness of the city of Haridwar. Sri Swami Manasa Ananda (Formerly Radha Krishna or Radhanna) translated the same in to English. Over 200 foreigners who had come to the function were delighted to hear this. Sri Swamiji sang three new Bhajans (Two on Lord Shiva and one on Ganga Mata).

In the end Sri Swamiji sang a Marathi Abhang, Bhajan-Shankaram Shankaram and the Mangalam - Om Mangalam Omkara Mangalam.

Sri. Joshi. District magistrate of Haridwar proposed a vote of thanks and profusely thanked Sri Swamiji for choosing Haridwar for Shivaratri celebrations and the way it had etched in the hearts of those who attended the stupendous event. Antje Fritz of Germany Datta Yoga Center thanked on behalf of the foreign devotees.

The programmes concluded at 9.20 PM.