Shravani Parva

Guru Poornima to Shravani Parva: A specially auspicious period for Sadhana

Generally the one-month period between Guru (Vyas) Poornima and Shravani (Raksha Bandhan) Poornima is considered particularly propitious in our tradition for undertaking intensive sadhana towards inner cleansing and soul upliftment. This year (Samvat 2061) it is doubly auspicious as this period extends over two months as, instead of the normal one, there are two Shravan's months (Adhik maas) due to periodic adjustment of our Lunar Calendar with a view to bring it in adjustment with the Solar Calendar. Guru Poornima falls on 2nd July and Shravani Poornima on 30th August (a period of 60 days). While Guru Poornima is the Parva for renewal of the disciple's pledge of rededication and conscious consecration to the Divine Teacher's guidance; Shravani Parva reminds the seeker that the real purpose and aim of human life is Self Realization. Shravani Poornima is also observed as Raksha Bandhan; when brothers and sisters solemnly renew the bond of their pure relationship of unconditional love and reminds us of the sacredness of selfless relationship.

For Gayatri Pariwar Parijans this year's Vyas and Shravani Parvas are of very special significance, as we are starting one-year worldwide Silver Jubilee celebrations of Brahmavarchas Shodh Sansthan, which was formally inaugurated 25 years back by the then Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Sri G.D. Tapase on June 5, 1979 in the august presence of Gurudev and Vandaniya Mataji. While speaking on the occasion, Gurudev had prophesied that this unique center of research for the integration of science and spirituality will be the nursery for preparing spiritually surcharged leaders of the coming Golden Era of the 21st Century - when humanity will be knit together by life-affirming spirituality - manifesting universal Love, Peace, Understanding and Goodwill.

We have selected 60 cities / towns in India for intensive dissemination of the Mission's message through specially selected teams of Senior Sadhaks of Gayatri Teerth, Shantikunj - accompanied by groups of students of our Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. We are also organizing similar programs abroad in USA, Canada, Britain, Russia, Australia, South Africa, etc., targeting the NRIs in these countries - especially the youth and intellectual elites. Today Indian youth is more and more becoming a global citizen. It is of utmost importance to inspire and imbue them with the Mission's life transforming vision of universal brotherhood of awakened souls- through living demonstration of integration of material science and spirituality. It is the youth who are the Hope of India and the World. It is they who will make the decisive contribution towards bringing about a revolutionary transformation of consciousness in humanity. The salutary impact of the Indian spiritual insights are already visible through the increasing interest being evinced by the world at large in Yoga, Dhyan, Holistic Healing, Ayurveda, integration of body-mind-soul energies for leading fulfilling lives. That is why Gayatri Mission will concentrate on reclaiming and awakening the souls of the youth in India and abroad. They will be the real torchbearers of the integrative vision of India inside the country and abroad.

Here at Shantikunj we have prepared two sets of moral and ethical education curricula for children of age groups 8-13 and 13-18, which will be formally released for circulation in India and abroad in July 2004. We fervently hope that parents / guardians / teachers will adopt these publications for inculcating ennobling values of conduct and character in their wards by regular impartation - if not daily at least on two week-end days. Sri Aurobindo has said - All Life Is Yoga. Ours is only a small halting step towards this supreme aim. It is only a wake up call for those who have ears to hear.

On the Guru Poornima Parva, let us (the Gayatri Parijans) whole heartedly rededicate ourselves to relentlessly endeavor towards the fulfillment of the ideals and vision of our Gurusatta and take up intensive Gayatri Sadhana during the coming auspicious period of 60 days between Vyas Poornima (2nd July) and Shravani Poornima (30th August) - culminating in collective Poornahuti through Yagya / Deepyagya on 30th August at all centers / branches of the Mission.

We convey our prayer-filled wishes for all Parijans on the twin sacred Parvas of GuruPoornima -Shravani. Our very special wishes and greetings to the subscribers and readers of Akhand Jyoti (English Edition), which has competed 18 months of its babyhood with the May-June 2004 issue. It will be our conscious endeavor to make it a more and more effective and powerful medium for dissemination of Gurusattas' universal message of Light, Love, and Life-Eternal.