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The ashram of Rikhia (India), named Rikhiapeeth, is the " tapobhumi " of Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati. He has been living here for 20 years following tapasya or asceticism. During this period, he gave to all the people coming to meet Him the impulse of a real spiritual quest, devoid of selfishness and inspired by an universal and timeless vision.
Swami Satyananda has lived His Maha Samadhi in Rikhiapeeth on the 5 th of December 2009 at midnight.
This place is now a well-known ashram all over the world and it is following Swami Sivananda's motto :
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To serve - To love - To give. |
The necessity of ashram |
To go for some periods in an ashram aims to enhance the understanding of the basic principles underlying karma yoga, the yoga of action. This path allows us to give shape to the benefits of yoga in our lives and to slowly break the mental shell which confines our inner being.
Karma yoga is advised by all the yoga scriptures but it is generally misunderstood or ignored to the profit of hatha yoga, raja yoga or kundalini yoga. These sets of yoga practices are invaluable tools but they need to be complemented by karma yoga in order to change the attitude in daily life.
" Actually, karma yoga can be practiced anywhere at any time. It is not necessary to live in an ashram to practice it. But few understand the basic principle behind it and the necessity of it being performed with the correct attitude. In the ashram you learn how to practice karma yoga and this is very important. Otherwise, you may spend your whole life working for yourself and increasing your suffering, rather than working for others and ending your suffering along with theirs. " (Sree Swami Satyananda) |
Organisation of Rikhiapeeth ashram |
The ashram Sivanandashram is located in Rikhia, near Deoghar in the State of Jharkhand. The access is easy by train from Calcutta (around 4 hours) or from Delhi (around 16 heures).
This ashram is not a place to learn yoga or meditation, rather it offers an opportunity to "live yoga". The organisation emphasizes seva or selfless service, which is the outcome or accomplishment of karma yoga. The life in Rikhia is also the occasion, all over the year, to participate in intense bhakti yoga celebrations, an association of poojas and hawan (fire ceremony), with repetition of sounds (mantras, bhajans and kirtans) and offerings or bhet (distribution of prasad, gifts). By this means, everyone can imbibe at a very deep level the powerful vibrations of the place and the real presence of Sree Swami Satyananda, the invisible guide of daily life. |
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Swami Satyasangananda, inspiratrice de Rikhia Peeth
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Although the resident sannyasins are now in charge of the details of management, Swami Satyasangananda (Swami Satsangi) inspires ceaselessly the course of events and life. She has been appointed as Pithadhiswari of Rikhia Peeth. Her presence acts as a medium of Sree Swami Satyananda, she ensures the continuity of this wonderful spiritual place and guides the ashram life. |
After experiencing a series of inner awakenings, Swami Satsangi met her Guru, Sree Swami Satyananda. She has been staying in a very closed connection with Him, in Munger as well as during his numerous travels abroad. Next she settled near Him in Rikhia where she established Sivananda Math mission for the deprived population living around. She is an expert in scriptures and applications of Yoga and Tantra. Her personality and life are examples of realisation of the yogic principles. She has written books on different topics and her satsangs are reflecting the deep insight she has developped about yogic and spiritual subjects. Sree Swami Satyananda has asked Swami Satsangi to travel all over the world in order to spread the spiritual science, instead of Swami Niranjanananda who is now based permanently in Munger. She is now sharing her time between the life in Rikhiapeeth and trips in India and all over the world. She is always looking after kanyas and bhatuks the children of Rikhia and nearby villages (see the description below), and guides the huge ceremonies taking place in Rikhia. |
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Kanyas and Bhatuks, children of Rikhiapeeth
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How to describe what is happening to the children living around Rikhia... we have to witness this miracle to be able to really believe it ! These children are coming from a very deprived background and they normally do not have the possibility of education, comfort, spirituality... Sree Swami Satyananda has totally changed their destiny. Though He is no more alive, He is the light of their life. They are inspired by Him and they become very quickly perfect channels of their protector's energy. These girls (kanyas) and these boys (bhatuks) learn English and computer in the ashram. Their role in the ceremonies like Maha Chandi Yagna and Yoga Poornima is amazing, they are everywhere and adults obey them for everything ! They sing mantras, bhajans and kirtans (spiritual songs) during hours and hours without being tired, they are able to learn Indian classical danse with only a very short training. These children give food or prasad (gifts) with natural grace and inspiration, they perfectly assume the task of a bodyguard as well as of pandit, performing the complex procedures of poojas and hawan. |
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