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Saraswati Publications Newsletter
(sanskritmantra.com)
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 | | Satyabhama |
Namaste, Divine Brothers and Sisters,
If you are interested in going to India in May 2016, please email me at satyabhama@sanskritmantra.com. I would like your input as to what you would like to see, whether you are interested in going to several Devi temples or another plan. The trip will be 17 days in May, because the 25%off-season discount starts May 1.
We will be doing a SatyaNarayana Puja at the Full Moon, March 5th at 2 pm, MST. If you would like to attend in absentia, please click here 
My blog is on sanskritmantra.com. You will find it to the right on the second blue Menu bar. You can also find it and follow at
Prem & Shanti,
Satyabhama
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Rama Navami
[March 28 in India; March 29 in the US] Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla (waxing moon}) Paksha of Chaitra month. Each year this day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama. He was born during Madhyana period which is the middle of Hindu day. Madhyana 11 am to 2 pm (approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes) is the most auspicious time to perform Rama Navami Puja rituals. The mid-point of Madhyana marks the moment when Shri Rama was born, and temples celebrate this moment as the birth moment of Lord Rama. The chanting of Shri Rama and celebration reaches its peak during this time.
Ayodhya is birthplace of Lord Rama and Rama Navami celebrations in Ayodhya are remarkable. Devotees come to Ayodhya from far-flung places. After taking holy dip into river Saryu, devotees visit Rama temple to participate in birthday celebrations.
Fasting is suggested during Rama Navami, which means devotes should observe the fast from sunrise to sunrise. Rama Navami Vrat can be observed in three different ways, casual (नैमित्तिक) -which can be observed without any cause, continual (नित्य) - which can be observed throughout life without any desire, and desirable (काम्य) - which can be observed to fulfill any desire.
Rama, the Eighth Avatar of Vishnu
Rama was born about 12,000 years ago, which was in the descending years of Dwapara Yuga, which is over 1 million years. As people were devolving, we needed avatars and gurus to keep us going towards dharma, not away from it. We could no longer keep all the millions of verses of the holy books in our minds, so they were being written down in condensed form. We were falling so far down in behavior, that we needed an avatar to rescue us from demons, inner and outer. Vishnu sent his energy to preserve us in the form of the Court of Rama, which is Rama and his 3 brothers and Sita. Each one of them came as the perfect role model to follow, as son, father, ruler, spouse, etc. The energy of any avatar is many times greater than any satguru we know of, though they are enlightened beings come to help and teach us.
Rama is also revered as the avatar whose very name heals and liberates us from the rounds of rebirth. Ra and Ma are bija mantras which will balance the Ida and Pingala (solar and lunar currents in our bodies, flowing from the left and right, up through the subtle spinal cord.) This is shown so well for us in the (correctly drawn) Caduceus, which has those currents going up, crossing at the chakras, to the Ajna/Third Eye Chakra, with 2 wings instead of petals.
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Mantras of the month:
Om Sri Rama Jai Rama Jaya Jaya Rama
Rama's Liberation Mantra
Om Ram Rama'ya* Swaha
A great healing mantra, which is particularly good at reducing pain.
Om Ap'adamapa Hartaram Dataram Sarva Sam'padam Lokaa Bhi Ramam Sri Ramam Bhu'yo Bhu'yo Namam'yaham
One of the greatest mantras for healing, which is particularly good for brain and nervous system issues, but is good for all systemic disorders.
*Not pronounced 'aya.'
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Mantras for Healing the Earth
These mantras are to aid with the earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, storms, tornadoes, droughts, and the radiation from Fukushima:
All of these mantras are powerful Ganesha Mantras.
Om Vighna Nashana'ya Namaha
To relieve energy blockages especially for the Devas that work with the energies of the various species: wind, water, plant, bird, mammal, fish and human.
Om Uch'chista Ganapata'yae Namaha
To destroy negativity
Om Vakratunda'ya Hum
To correct something that is not working properly; to end corruption.
Om Dumra Ketuvae Namaha
To bring difficult circumstances under an umbrella of peace.
Om Gana Dhyaksha'ya Namaha
To bring healing to a group. In this case, the people harmed by the earthquakes and tsunami.
Om Kshipra Prasada'ya Namaha
For immediate assistance, blessing.
Note: Unlike English, the emphasis in a word is on the first syllable in Sanskrit. The ye/yae ending is a shakti-activating syllable. The ya ending brings the energy of the mantra to the heart. Sanskrit is not pronounced as 'aya' at the end of a mantra ending in 'a' before the ye/ya at the end.
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We offer a number of pujas and fire ceremonies which may be done on your behalf for various purposes. You will find a list of them here: Pujas in Absentia
If you wish to have a puja performed for you, purchase it online, and one of the priests selected by Satyabhama will contact you to make arrangements with you as to which puja or fire ceremony/yajna you want and when.
Priests and Pujaris certified by Sanatana Dharma Satsang are available for pujas in absentia. Please click here for further details: Pujas in absentia.
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The works of Thomas Ashley-Farrand (Namadeva Acharya) (1940-2010) give unprecedented, detailed instruction in how to
empower yourself using the techniques of the ancient sages and rishis. He and Satyabhama have been given the mission by their Gurus, Sadguru Sant Keshavadas (d. 1997) and Satguru Rama Mata to bring these teachings to everyone, particularly in the West.
To that end, Namadeva Acharya wrote and recorded a number of works. He also traveled to North America and the UK to teach workshops, which Satyabhama is now continuing, including writing and recording workshops.
We have lead Pilgrimage Tours of India's Holy Places, visiting with the Shankaracharayas at Kanchi Math, Vishwa Shanti Ashram (our gurus ashram), and Kanchi, among the highlights of the trip. The next trip will be May 2016.
We founded a religious organization, Sanatana Dharma Satsang, (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) which has opened a Gayatri Temple in Beaverton, Oregon. Sanatana Dharma Satsang is the organization certifying Priests, Mantra Teachers and Pujaris. The link to it is in the right column.
Bhakti Yoga House & Studio in Albuquerque, NM, is the location of some workshops and pujas, particularly the Annual Summer 5-day program. We hope to expand to the East Coast and other locations, as soon as we can.
These works are offered in a spirit of service. We sincerely hope that they will further you on your path.
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Prem & Shanti,
Satyabhama (Margalo Ashley-Farrand)
Saraswati Publications, LLC
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