Ashram Newsletter - November, 2021
November 1, 2021 | by Ramloti
Dear Friends,
I am an ardent reciter of the Haidahandi Sapta Sati by Vishnu Datta Misra, better known as
Shastriji, it is often on my lips, particularly as I dress our Divine Mother in the morning. I
know it in English because I never learned it at Haidakhan and Shastriji told me that Mother,
whom he said was standing next to him the whole time he wrote the Sapta Sati understands all
languages. I also wanted to know the meaning of each of the beautiful words. You can hear it
in English on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/0V7Nft-cvcw.
When I first read the words in the beginning of the Sapta Sati, “Oh Shri Mahendra, you hum
like a heavenly bee about the lotus of your beloved Sadguru’s Feet.” And “The way a honeybee
would hum around a flower, you play around the lotus Feet of the Supreme Master”, I was so
happy. You see my grandfather, who we called “Baba”, and as far as I know named only me of 10
children in my family, insisted my name should be Deborah. When we were researching the
meaning of names and others were coming up with names of great saints, prophets, beautiful
gems and flowers and I was a “bee”, I was a little disappointed to say the least. But when I
read about Shri Mahendra, I realized, most of my life I had been like a “bee” searching for my
Guru’s feet and then once I found Shri Babaji, hovering around His feet almost like the
village children did. I was quite happy with my given name once I understood this.
You can imagine how elated I was last night as I was preparing for my discourse on the Srimad
Devi Bhagavatam and read a story about a demon, Aruna and the Divine Mother in Her form of the
Devi Bhramari, the Bee Goddess. The demon, after having done severe tapasya for thousands of
years, received a boon that he could not be killed by any 2-legged or 4-legged creatures.
Bursting with pride, Aruna and his army took over heaven, patala, and the earth. The devas
fleeing in terror all went to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma for protection. When they were
unable to figure out how to destroy the demon, they heard a celestial voice telling them to
pray to the Great Goddess for help. After doing so, the Devi appeared to them dazzling and
resplendent like ten million suns. Her hands were clenched into fists, and from them issued
the strangest droning, such as bees make. The garlands She wore around Her neck buzzed with
swarms of bees. The droning of the bees was the Hrimkara mantra, the first sacred vibration in
creation.
The Bee Goddess in a sweet voice asked what boon they wanted from Her. Indra told Her about
Aruna and how the demons were now ruling the three worlds, which were now plunged into
darkness and evil with no yagnas being performed and no Vedas being chanted for fear of the
demons. Furthermore they said, Aruna has the boon that no 2-legged or 4-legged being can kill
him.
The Bee Goddess smiled and softly said, “Look, I have brought the killers of Aruna and his
demons with me. They are neither two or four legged.” She opened Her hands and from them and
all parts of Her body swarms of bees flew out making a deafening sound and covering the
heavens and earth. The bees flew at the demons and killed Aruna and his forces and She became
known as Bhramari Devi. The devas thanked the Devi for saving their lives and sang ‘victory to
the Devi’. The various musical instruments, mridangas, murajas, and bells all sounded in the
three worlds and the devas sang Her glory. The Bee Goddess became glad and gave them separate
boons when they went to Her lotus feet. When the devas asked for unshakeable devotion to Her
lotus feet, She granted that also and disappeared before them.
I love these stories because they are all deeply symbolic and instructive. It is said that
Bhramari Devi resides inside the heart chakra and emits the buzzing sound of Bees, called
‘Bhramaran’. Likewise, the sound of a Bee humming was emulated in Vedic chants and the humming
of Bees represented the essential sound of the universe. This is another reminder that when
the demon of our mind and ego attacks our peacefulness, invoking the Divine Mother for help
and repeating Her mantra is capable of eradicating the demon.
The queen bee is to her hive as the Goddess is to Her children in all the three worlds. Bees
serve as images of the miraculous interconnectedness of life. Bees secrete the golden essence
of life while living in an intricate cellular structure. The busy bee, following the impulsion
of nature, while pollinating flowers gather their nectar to be transformed into madhu – honey.
This is similar to continued activity by humans who gather crops and transform them into food.
The queen bee, who all others serve during their brief life is symbolic of the Goddess.
Throughout the ages bees and honey have inspired vedic writers and poets; hence the term
sacred bees.
Sending love to all,
Ramloti for the Ashram
Diwali
This Thursday, November 4, we will celebrate Diwali the “festival of lights”. This festival
celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, and bestows the blessings of victory, freedom,
and enlightenment. It is about welcoming new beginnings and inviting Lord Ganesh, the remover
of obstacles, and Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into the home. It's associated with
Lord Ram's return to his kingdom in Ayodhya after exile and rescuing his wife from demon king
Ravana. In some parts of India, it is the observed as the day that Maha Lakshmi was churned
from the ocean, the day several demons were killed, the beginning of a new year, and the time
to open new accounts.
We know that for many this past year and a half has been an unsettling and difficult time. So
as we consider new beginnings on Diwali, perhaps if we all light a candle either here in the
temple or in your home, we can be part of bringing more light and healing to ourselves, to
this world, and to Mother Earth.
Diwali is always a special festival at the Ashram and around the world for that matter. It is
full of deep symbolism and we take it to our hearts. This year we will begin the festivities
at 11am MDT with an ancestor puja (Tarpanam), followed by the new-moon Fire Ceremony, and then
we will process into the Temple with Shri Babaji and His padukas. We will then begin again in
a few minutes for a candle lighting ceremony and chanting. Since we are already booked to the
maximum amount of people at the fire ceremony (18), you can follow it all on
Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Facebook Page
and the ceremonies will also be posted later on YouTube at the Ramloti Wood Channel.
You can participate in the ancestor puja with a small bowl of water (or body of water) and a
small offering of black (white is okay too) sesame seeds, rice, and flower petals. Hold your
ancestors in your heart, names are wonderful but not necessary, while we say the 8 short
prayers, and make the offerings to the water. This is to thank, nurture, and help our
ancestors on their heavenly journey. You may also sponsor the auspicious fire ceremony by
going to our
Donate Page.
We will also place your name and intention under one or more of the candles in the temple
asking for blessings from Shri Babaji, the Divine Mother, and Lord Ganesh. You may email us at
info@babajiashram.org
with your request or call us at 719-256-4108. You may message as well on
facebook but just posting could be missed since we receive so many posts. Let us all join
together to bring more light to the world!
Zoom Satsangs
The Zoom Satsangs have been very popular and inspiring with generally an average of 500
viewers per satsang. We have two coming up this month and then we are going to take a break
for the holidays until the new-year. These will be at the 10am time here in Colorado and
promise to be great, so join us if you are able so you can ask questions.
The link will be the same as always.
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84820406020?pwd=RXRKYnJYSDFKYmhxYVMrNXBOVGo4UT09
Meeting ID: 848 2040 6020
Passcode: 474473
One tap mobile: +16699006833,,84820406020#,,,,*474473# (US)
Saturday, November 6 at 10am MDT
Gayatri Devi and Marge Devivo
Gayatri Devi and Marge Devivo who both met Shri Babaji in the early 80’s and have some remarkable stories and insights to share with us.
Saturday, November 13 at 10am MDT
“How Baba has touched our Hearts and how it spreads, Jyoti se Jyoti”
This will be a beautiful way to complete our year of being together and growing to know one
another better through these wonderful satsangs. It will be open to all as we are all
constantly touched by Baba in our lives.
This is a beautiful thought as we share together and throughout our lives:
As you go along light another’s lamp with your own and let the river of love flow as you
go.
As you light your lamp, embrace the nature of its fire that does not diminish when shared.
Ashram Holiday Online Auction Friday, November 26 – Sunday, December 5
Just in time for Holiday giving both for yourself and for your loved ones. Many sacred items
from Shri Babaji, the Divine Mother, and the Maha Lakshmi Shop can add many blessings to your
holydays while you are also helping to support the Ashram. These auctions have been a great
source of revenue over the last 13 years and we are deeply grateful to all who participate.
Whether you donate an item, refer a friend, or place a bid on an item, it all helps to create
a successful auction. You can call 719-256-4108 or email us at
info@babajiashram.org
with items you would like to donate or any questions you would like to ask. This can also be
done right on the auction site at:
biddingforgood.com/babajiashram
Please understand we have just begun to put up auction items so you may only see 125 or so at
this time but for sure there will be more like 200 in the next week or so. Here are a few
items: malas with Shri Babaji’s rudraksha beads, lovely Buddha statue, a gift basket of lovely
soaps and the Maha Lakshmi from the Navratri Pujas in Her new outfit. Oh this is such a fun
way to support Baba’s and Mother’s home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado!
About Donate Buttons
We continue to put a donate button on many of our facebook live-streams but please understand that we do not expect you to donate when you watch them. Your loving participation and comments are quite enough. However, just like we have Donation Boxes at the Ashram when you come to visit, it allows those that want to contribute financially to do so. We are always deeply grateful for all the support, love, and prayers that are directed at the Ashram. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
Navratri
From October 7 through the 15, we celebrated a lovely Navratri with many people joining in the various activities. Here are photos of Mother in Her nine days of splendor, one of the nine days of fire ceremonies, the Devi puja, honoring the Children (Kumari) Day, and Maha Lakshmi at the Creek Puja. We are always grateful for the many helping hands and loving hearts that join us during this special time of the Mother.
Karma Yoga
Because of all the photos with Navratri and visitors, we will dispense with photos here. Just know we were extremely busy with Navratri preparations, ceremonies, and clean up. We also have done many projects around as the weather is still quite fair. This includes: linseed oiling all of the wood outside, putting the garden to bed for the winter, replanting the green house for the winter, painting the kitchen, preparing for the On-line auction, and all of the usual things that go on running an Ashram!
Visitors
We continue to have many friends, new and old, come to the Ashram. There is a dear and sweet story to tell about each of them, but the newsletter would never go out if we did this. Hopefully you can see by their faces how happy they are and what a blessing it is to have them in the Temple and the Ashram (and these are only some of the visitors that we got photos of!).
The GoFundMe Campaign and Other Fundraising Tools
We continue to be supported by many of you through different fundraising modalities. Thank you to all. It is so important during this time. Here are the links below. We are aware that many do not have the funds to donate at this time and please know that we appreciate your prayers and loving support as well.
- GoFundMe Campaign
- Donate Page (this page has links to Paypal, Amazon Smile, and GoFundMe)
Calendar of Events
| Nov 4, Dec 4 | New Moon Fire Ceremony |
| Nov 19, Dec 18 | Full Moon Fire Ceremony |
| Nov 4 | Diwali |
Please go to our Calendar of Events page for all events.
Maha Lakshmi Shop
We are excited to announce the arrival of our stunning 2022 Divine Mother Calendar. It
measures 11”x11” and has beautiful quotes from Shri Shastiji’s Sapta Sati on each month. It
sales for only $10 and is available online at:
https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/products/visions-of-the-divine-mother-of-crestone-2022-calendar/
Bhole Baba Ki Jai! Jai Ma!
