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Ashram Mission Statement
We aspire to live the Teachings of Haidakhan Baba, to share the Love of Babaji
and the Divine Mother with others, to hold this Ashram as Their Home,
to serve humanity, and to be stewards and caretakers of the land.
February, 2009
Dear Friends of the Ashram,
I did decide to write a newsletter for February to keep everyone aware of events coming up. Thanks to the internet, it possible to do things any where in the world. I am noticing that it would be very helpful to have a Macintosh laptop computer. If any one has one they would like to donate to the Ashram, we would be very appreciative.
Our big event this month is Maha Shivaratri which is on February 23. We then have Bal Gokulam (our children's program) on Saturday, February 28. There are some great fund-raisers in Denver and Colorado Springs the first weekend in March. A few weeks later, we being Spring Navratri which runs from March 26 through April 3. Running concurrently with Navratri is our huge on-line auction to pay down the kirtan hall. Read below for more information about these events. There are also several stories from fellowtravelers to Haidakhan worth reading.
Evening aarati at the temple is at 6pm and morning aarati is at 7am. Lunch is served around 12:30 and we love you to visit. The full-moon fire ceremony is on Monday, February 9 and the new-moon fire ceremony is on Tuesday, February 24. All fire ceremonies begin at 10:08am and are followed by a meal. If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire, we would like to send you a blessed item from the ceremony. They are:
- $27 sponsorship - Copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet
$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Rosewood, Sandalwood, or Tulsi Mala
$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha or Crystal Mala
You can make the donation online by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131. We are continually grateful for all of your support.
In truth and love, Ramloti
The Spring Navratri Online Auction
Ready Now for Viewing and Donations!
We have an incredible auction catalog that is ready for viewing at babajiashram.cmarket.com. Check out our first 30 items - Healing and Coaching sessions, Books, Baked Goods, Art, Devotional Items, Hot Springs passes, River Rafting and Music Tickets! We still need more items to fill our catalog - our goals is 108 donations. Will you be our next donor? What talent, skill, item or service can you offer to support the Ashram and be a part of the fun?
Participating in the auction can benefit everyone as it supports the Kirtan Hall, provides fun and useful services to our devotees and creates exposure for our businesses and services. The actual bidding period of the auction will run through Navratri, beginning on the auspicious New Moon, at 10:08 am, on March 26, 2009. It will end on the Full Moon, Hanuman's birthday, April 9, 2009 at 10:08 am. The money raised will go toward paying off our Mother's home, the Kirtan Hall. Our goal is to raise $10,008 through bidding on items and auction sponsors. Sponsors will be listed with their logo and link on our action home page and in auction emails. We already have several in each category: Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Durga. Will you be our next sponsor? Our goal is eighteen sponsors and the limited spots are filling fast!
Visit the website babajiashram.cmarket.com or email us at babajiashram@cmarket.org for more information on donations and sponsorship. Share with your friends! Also watch for future emails with auction updates coming from our babajiashram@cmarket.org address - there will be a link at the top to unsubscribe if you choose, but do come along and enjoy the fun!
Jai Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai! Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
And love from your Auction Hosts, Cindy and Ramloti
Shivaratri - Monday, February 23
We have already heard from several people from Denver and Colorado Springs who wish to join us for this special night of Lord Shiva. We are happy to announce that V.K. Sharma will be with us again this year. He will say the mantras and conduct the puja to the Shiva Lingam throughout the night.
Join us for a magical, inspiring, and energetic evening of all-night chanting on Shivaratri. The night that Lord Shiva is said to be most present on the earth, is a special time to sing His praises and do special pujas throughout the night. We begin with the first puja following evening aarti at 7pm. We then take a break and regather at 10pm for the next puja and chanting until 4am.
The next morning we will have a fire ceremony at 10am followed by a feast in Lord Shiva's honor. Please join us if you are able for this special celebration.
Bal Gokulam - Saturday, February 28
Our monthly children's program continues to be very popular with our families. Our next Bal Gokulam will be on Saturday, February 28, from 10am until noon followed by a potluck lunch. Each month there is a different focus on a particular deity or aspect of the Divine.
The program includes stories, yoga, chanting, coloring, sharing, and puja. We have many children and parents that look forward to coming every time and there are always new participants as well. Please call Cindy at 719-256-5007 or Shila at 719-256-4477 for more information.
Meditation and Chanting in Denver Saturday, March 7 from 10am - 1pm
This will be the first fundraiser in Denver for the New Year. What better way to start the New Year than with Babaji's Meditation and chanting. This will be led by Babaji's devotees from the Ashram in Crestone. It will be followed by a Yogic Indian vegetarian lunch. All donation will go to the Ashram. The time is 10am to 1pm on Saturday, March 7. The location is at the home of Shashi and Bipin Agarwal in Englewood. Please call to let them know you are coming as it is a gated community. Their number is 303-523-8627. We hope you can join us.
Kirtan in Colorado Springs - March 8
On Sunday morning, March 8, Prashant and Vandana Sharma will host a kirtan and satsang followed by a potluck at their home. The event will begin at 11am and the location is 1211 Lawn Lake Tr., Colorado Springs, CO 80921.
Ramloti will be traveling there from the Ashram to lead the kirtan. All donations will go to help pay down the kirtan hall. For more information and to RSVP, please call 719-302-3887.
It will be wonderful to be together singing kirtan, please join us.
Navratri - March 26 - April 3
Spring is on its way and with that comes the wonderful celebration of the Divine Mother Festival, Spring Navratri.
The celebration this year will begin on Thursday, March 26 and complete on Friday, April 3. Each day, a different aspect of the Divine Mother will be honored. There will be daily fire ceremonies, pujas, chanting, readings, discourses, and aarati.
This is always a very busy time at the Ashram and the dormitory, particularly on the weekend, fills up quickly. So call us at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajashram.org when you know your plans. It is such a special time to pray and sing together honoring our Mother.
Kirtan Hall Update
We are so grateful for the beautiful, spacious, and warm kirtan hall which you all built through your generosity. Before it was built with its radiant solar heat in the floor, the temple on snowy days was so cold you could see your breath. Now it is our refuge after a cold fire ceremony, such as our last one. We can all sit warmly and chant together.
We have some fund-raisers coming up in Denver and Colorado Springs at the beginning of March. We wish to thank those who are organizing them as well as all of you that attend. Every donation makes a difference. If you would like to organize something in your area, please call the Ashram at 719-256-4108.
We are pleased to let you know that through your donations, matching pledges, monthly tithes, and all of your shop purchases, our kirtan hall loan now has been paid down to $27,000.
We would like to encourage you to make a monthly pledge to pay down the kirtan hall loan. Either send a check to the Ashram at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131, go to our website and create a automatic monthly tithe with a PayPal subscription in the amount of $108, $54, $27, or $10.08. If you prefer not to use PayPal, call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 with your credit card number and ask us to charge a set amount every month. We want to thank you for all of your continued support in this meaningful project.
Recent Events
A Very Special Time in Florida
Our gathering in Florida was wonderful as usual. The evening of chanting in Jupiter at Jim and Sari Terusa's center on Saturday night was very inspiring and energetic. Lots of wonderful dancing and singing. Over 35 people attended.
The next day we were at Sal and Sarena Morello's in Del Rey Beach for chandan, chanting, fire ceremony, aarati, and satsang. All was followed by a delicious potluck and a birthday cake for Nirmal Sharma.
Besides all of the wonderful east-coast Floridians in attendance, we were also joined by Nirmal and India Sharma from Boston area; Melinda Staley from Columbia, MO; and Jeffrey and Sharda Collard from Tampa Bay area.
These times together really reinforce our love for Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother.
Experiences of the India Trip
Here are some great stories from
four of the group that went to Haidakhan
From Prakash - India? Where to begin....We were thrown into the Indian madness right from the start. Traveling in a small tribe with their luggage was not the easiest feat but after a day two or three it was almost not a topic any more. Plenty of carriers and helpful Indians everywhere trying to make a couple of rupees, made it almost effortless to travel around with the group and our 50,000 bags.
First stop Haldwani to see Muniraj, somewhat my father since he gave me my name some ten years ago. It was so sweet to see him again. I don't know if he just mirrored my feeling but it seemed that the joy of seeing each other was mutual. Everyone in our group must have felt that he was glad to see us. Such love and sincere concern, just incredible….
After a serious case of motion sickness of one of our fearless seekers, we finally made it to Chilianaula. Most incredible for me was the Kirtan hall with Baba's Asan. Countless pictures I had seen over the years taken while Baba sat in this temple giving darshan and conducting satsang. To me it felt like He had just gone for a walk right before I arrived there...I could feel His presence so clearly. It was amazing.
High speed devotees that we were, we found ourselves in Haidakhan it seems only minutes later. Never mind windy roads, ferocious drivers on motorcycles and being loaded in cars packed to the hilt. The only vehicle we didn't see on the Indian roads was an airplane, everything that has wheels and is able to move will fight for its rightful place in these already tiny roads....
The highlight for me in Haidakhan was undoubtedly Gaurhari, pujari of the nine temples on the gufa side. Never tired, always smiling, funny and just a picture of health and radiance. "Prakash, why do you sleep during the day? It is dark when you are asleep....!" Gaurhari's comment on my naptime one afternoon, it did seem this man never sleeps. Either he is preparing for puja, just did a puja or thinks about puja...oh of course meditation here and there, mantras, cleaning, serving food and being extra lovely to all the visitors that might show up at any given time.... I am getting exhausted just writing about him, but he does it rain or shine all with one of the most heartwarming smiles you will ever see.
Another of the real highlights was visiting Baba's cave. I have had numerous dreams about sitting in this cave with Baba, and here I was apparently awake crawling on all fours right into it. What a blessing!!!
The rest of the trip is just one long day filled with three days of paduka puja, shopping, eating, more shopping, more eating.... My deepest gratitude goes out to all the beautiful people that we met along the way, that made us feel welcome, treated us really like family and tried to literary stuff us with their delicious food. I have not met people that were more hospitable. Wonderful!
From Pramod - Ever since I built the temple in Etawah, UP with Babaji's murti there, every single day I prayed to be able to go to Haidakhan. And finally when I was there, my heart was pumping so fast and I felt I had known this place for such a long time, like my soul belongs there. As soon as I went into the sacred cave, I forgot everything. I could feel Baba's presence everywhere. Listening to all the stories of Baba from the pujari, Gaurhari, I felt like a child and wanted to hear more and more stories.
One night when I was with pujari, Prakash and Jonas, there was a crescent moon and two stars on Mt. Kailash. They seemed so close I felt Lord Shiva Himself is showing His presence through the closeness of stars.
One night when I was sleeping in my room where one of Baba's pictures hangs, at around 1:45 AM I woke up and bright light was coming from the picture. And then suddenly somebody is teaching me how to clean your kundalini. This whole session went on until 4am. I then woke and went for a bath in the river and chandan and aarati. I felt like I was in divine presence.
When it was time to leave Haidakhan I cried like a baby. I felt like I was leaving my soul there. I had wonderful thrilled feeling all the way traveling next to the Pakuka Puja in Ludhiyana. Muniraji gave me a special place to sit at the havan. I asked him if I could also have a Paduka Puja in our poor village where we have built the temple to Shri Babaji. I had such a great feeling when Muniraji gave his approval.
I had great gratitude and respect for Ramloti. She showed all of us truly how to follow Baba's teaching and was a role model for us. Thank you also to my sister Shashi who planned this trip for me. If you would like to visit Babaji's temple outside of Etawah, UP please call me, Pramod Gupta, at: 011919411992457
From Prema - Traveling to India this past month was a wonderful, whirlwind adventure. Experiencing India is truly eye opening. It is such a place of paradox. There is incredible beauty amidst the extreme pollution and garbage. There are places of luxury fit for the Maharaja just next door to the most abject poverty – starving pregnant women and withered, crippled men banging on the car window begging for money and food in order to survive. Holy cows roam the streets, too entitled to move out of the way of cars, as they eat the plastic bags and toxic trash that cover the ground. There is no line between the sacred and the profane – God is everything and everywhere in India.
I feel so blessed to have made a trip to Haidakhan, no matter how short. We arrived in the dark, and I was foolish enough to offer to carry one of Ramloti’s gigantic bags over to the Gufa side. We awoke to see the incredible beauty of the place in the morning light. I have heard so many stories about Haidakhan, but no words can convey the truly divine energy that is so present there. The air is clean and fresh, the river is cool and clear, there is a pure joy and lightness of being that pervades the whole ashram and surrounding area.
Jonas, my mother Rebecca, Kalivati and I had the incredible opportunity to climb Mt. Kailash, led by a friendly villager and the wonderfully lively and entertaining, eight-year-old Anand. It is a challenging and steep hike, but well worth the effort. The view from the top is gorgeous. We brought up fruit, water from the Gautama Ganga, and incense to do a small puja at the temple on the summit. The day was clear and beautiful with a refreshing breeze. We stood in incredible peace. The gratitude felt in every one’s heart was palpable. The pujari who lives on the top of the mountain invited us into his home and made us chai. We were all hungry from our hike and we had a very jovial time stuffing our faces with biscuits and fruit and enjoying his hospitality.
All too soon it was time to leave Haidakhan and for our group to split. My mother and I went off for a week together to soak up some Indian culture, visiting palaces, gardens and museums in Rajasthan. Sharing India with my mother was very special and bonding. I feel so blessed to have been given a second opportunity to visit India already again in my short life. I am so grateful to have been able to tag along with Ramloti and learn from all of her wisdom that she has gained from her many trips to India.
From Jagadev - The opportunity to travel to India with Ramloti came up early in 2008 and events unfolded gracefully thereafter to allow me to make this long anticipated trip. The three highlights for me were spending time in Haidakhan, climbing Mt. Kailash and attending the Paduka Puja in Ludhiyana.
Visiting Haidakhan allowed me to experience the physical power of a place transformed by the service and love that has been focused there by Babaji and everyone else that has visited over the years. I appreciated the essence of the Gautama Ganga River, the gufa side temples, the Hanuman tree and rock, the chai shops, the caves, the monkeys and all the people who interact in their own special and dynamic way there daily.
I was pulled up Mt. Kailash at dizzying speed by Anand, an eight-year-old in flip flops who seemed to need only mantra and water to propel him. I enjoyed a special moment at the open temple on the top where Babaji was first photographed meditating. Our climbing team then enjoyed chai and a small meal of snacks with the sadhu caretaker before starting our return. On the way down we caught a glimpse of the Himalayas in the distance along with the plentiful green garden terraces that were chiselled into the mountains below us.
In Ludhiyana at the Paduka Puja I enjoyed daily fire ceremonies with Muniraji and singing bhajans and kirtans. I was blessed with a short little meeting with Muniraji as we enjoyed chai in the hosts' garden at sunset. I received the name Jagadev from him at this time.
I feel very fortunate to have travelled to India with those I travelled with and appreciate all the kind and loving people who embraced us wherever we went with their numerous blessings. Om Namah Shivaya!
Ghanshyam B. Trivedi Obituary
The father of our good friend, Chandresh Trivedi passed away on January 21. Ghanshyam B. Trivedi was 88 years old and was living with his son and his family in Aneheim, CA. Ghanshyam was a long time Babaji devotee and first met Baba in 1972. The photo of him and Babaji is from those early days. Ghanshyam was an extremely kind, gentle, and happy man and his presence will be missed. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
Calendar for 2009
February 9 - Full-moon fire ceremony at 10am followed by a meal.
February 14 - Shri Babaji's Mahasamadhi. Paduka Puja at 5:45pm and aarati at 6pm.
February 23 - Maha Shivaratri with all-night chanting and fire ceremony the following morning at 10:08am followed by a feast.
March 26 - April 9 - Huge on-line auction for the Ashram at babajiashram.cmarket.com
February 28 - Bal Gokulam children's program from 10am until noon followed by potluck.
March 26 - April 3 - Spring Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.
July 7 - Guru Purnima Day with Paduka Puja at 9:30am, fire ceremony at 10:08am, followed by feast.
July 19 - 25 - Annual Family Week and Concurrent Workshop at the Ashram.
September 18 - 26 Fall Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.
October 17 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Maha Lakshmi Shop has some great new Ganesh murtis not even on the website yet. The first one shows Ganesh reading on a lounge chair. It is $81 and is nearly eight inches long. The next one is Him playing a flute. He is five inches tall and costs $45.
We also have a new edition of the aarati book which sells for $7. It now has this beautiful photo of Mother in Gold on the cover. Don't forget, it comes free with the purchase of the aarati CD recorded by Ramloti and Premanand in the temple. The cost is $18 for both.
You can see all of our items on our our newly updated shop website at shop.babajiashram.org and buy on-line through PayPal or eMail us at shop@babajiashram.org.
You can also always call us on our toll-free number at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram. We are open daily from 9am until 5pm. We take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa.
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