Festivals 2009

Guru Purnima
Jaya Guru!

In India, the full moon of the month of Ashada (July-August) is honored as the most auspicious and important time of the entire year, known as Guru Purnima. This moon's luminous brilliance and perfect form are seen as expressions of the Guru's gift of grace and the attainment of Self-realization.

Come celebrate this year's Guru Purnima on Monday, July 6th, with a day of ritual, practice, and merriment in the Soma studio at Yoga Mandala.

Stop by for any part of the day if you can, Soma will be open all day for continuous self-guided practice: prostrations, meditation, contemplation, silent mantra recitation, and study. Don't miss the evening fire ceremony and community feast!!

Schedule of Events, Monday, July 6th:

6:00am Sunrise Puja

7:00am Group Prostrations at the Guru Altar

10:00am Chanting: Learn & practice the Long Guru Stotram

12:00noon Mid-day Puja

2:00pm Chanting: Learn & practice the Vedic Long Life Chant

6:00-7:30pm Full Moon Fire Ceremony followed by Arati (offering lights & songs) at the Guru Altar

7:30pm Community Feast (vegetarian)

*We'll have the fire ceremony outdoors in front of Soma, so dress accordingly for a Berkeley evening and bring and extra cushion to sit on if possible.

Guru Daksina:
Guru Daksina is a traditional offering of appropriate value based on the economic capacity of the giver, made to one's main spiritual teacher as a sign of respect, gratitude, and confirmation of the value of the teachings. If you are planning on giving Guru Daksina you may bring cash or check which will be collected and given directly to Dharmanidhi.

Please contact Sruti if you'd like to volunteer or sponsor the event.
sruti.1008@yahoo.com
510-384-9298

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Eight Laksmi Pujas

Laksmi, or Kamala, personifies the ultimate Tantrik experience. She is the goddess of prosperity, fecundity, bliss, and compassion. Her beauty expresses the beauty of the fully emerged and enlightened being. Obsession with wealth, comfort and pleasure is transformed by Laksmi into the Tantrik truth that all of life is beauty and divinity and contained within. She is the embodiment of feminine grace and power. Of the Ten Wisdom Goddesses (Dasa Mahavidyas) Kamala holds the tenth position and contains the wisdom of all the preceding ten within her.

Trika Institute will be hosting 8 Laksmi pujas over the next 8 months. The schedule is as follows:

• Wed., June 24 at 2:30pm
• Sun., July 19 7:30am
• Tues, Aug. 18 7:30am
• The September pujas will coincide with the 3 days of Navaratri reserved for Laksmi
  (date TBA)
• Fri., October 9 12:30pm
• Fri., November 13 12:30pm
• Fri., December 4 4:00pm
• Fri., January 29 4:00pm

You are more than welcome to join us on whatever date or dates you can! Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes before start time.

If you would be interested in helping sponsor these pujas (your sponsorship will go towards flower, food, and ornament offerings) please contact Jagadamba at thereisnodoer@yahoo.com or you may call at 510-239-8704. Sponsorships start at $54 and up. Please indicate which date or dates you wish to sponsor.

There are also volunteer opportunities to help with pre-ritual preparations, again contact Jagadamba at thereisnodoer@yahoo.com to inquire.

Donations towards the Lasmi ritual events and all other Trika Institute ritual events can be made on the day of as well.

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