This photo is of Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati, Rammurti S. Mishra, M.D.
The website of his ashram is at www.anandaashram.org .
The pictures below are of Swami Naranda Devi, Edith Epstein, who left her physical form a year later after Dr. Mishra in 1994.
Amritam is nectar...spiritual nectar, vibrational nectar, the nectar of knowledge. Double click on this picture and enjoy the feeling for a while...
The the bottle of Lechee Honey on the lower right is symbolic of sweetness. Gurus, spiritual teachers, holy persons show us how to know G-d, to feel and experience this idea and knowledge. Guruji often stated, "I am a cafeteria for all religions."
A Guru dispels darkness and brings light, by virtue of being closer to G-d, they take us along and give us a helping hand.
If you click on the Google Video Search link below, you can watch four nights of Dr. Mishra's programs and experience the teachings and knowledge via streaming video. The Internet is about sharing good knowledge and information. This is a good way to honor his memory and for you to learn some good technique and acquire some useful knowledge.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=sri+brahmananda+sarasvati
Dr. Mishra's Guru, Bhagavan Das stated people came to him for "Transfer of Power".
Prasad is divinely inspired food which is spiritually blessed. It may be something a simple as a piece of fruit or a delicious specially prepared dish. Prasad takes on a special meaning and vibration when it comes from the hand of the Guru.
Swami Naranda Devi, Edith Epstein, taught Hatha Yoga and Meditation for over 40 years.
No doubt about it, good food is all about love. One of her favorite quotes was "Sharing is Caring". She was also renown for her vegetarian feasts. Toward the end of her life, when Dr. Mishra came down to her Ashram in Hallandale, Florida, she stayed up three nights preparing a special vegetarian feast as I recall with over 72 dishes. She liked to be referred to as"Swami Mommy". She was a Cosmic Jewish Mother, a great mom in any faith. Her students were from the US, Canada,India, Europe, and Latin America. Her students were lavished with plenty of motherly love. Swami Naranda taught yoga but would still light Shabbat candles, challah, and wine every Friday night, and have vegetarian Seders. She would also make tofu turkey on Thanksgiving.
Her life was dedicated to her students.
You can view her favorite relaxation, "This is your moment" here accompanied by master sitarist Roop Verma :
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Swami+Naranda+Devi
You can also view her speaking in a private sitar concert with Roop Verma performing.
Naranda's Ashram was behind the old Hallandale, Fl., City Hall and Main Fire Station.She offered yoga classes, intensives and teachers training courses.Most every weekend she featured "Yoga on the Beach"classes,in a pine grove on A1A and Hallandale Beach Blvd. One could remember the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind,interspersed with moments of silence. This was just South of Golden Beach, where Broward County begins in S. Florida.
Since then the Pine Grove was torn up and exclusive high rise condominiums have been built on this site, once owned by financier Victor Posner. The grounds of her Ashram were later turned into a adjoining single homes, and all the orchards and mango trees were dug up and hauled away.The main house was preserved as part of a small historical site.These grounds were a wonderful spatial temporal nexus while they lasted.
Shortly after she passed on I wrote a poem in her memory. She often used a metronome in her hatha yoga classes to give a sense of timing, in meditation one can experience eternity.
http://poeticorthogonal.blogspot.com/2007/06/swami-naranda-rememberance.html
The grounds of her Ashram had fabulous mango trees, papayas trees, and ample room for outdoor programs and concerts. The residents living in her historic building were a cast of characters, by any one's definition. She deserves to be remembered for her many wonderful qualities. She was not all that well known or publicized, but was an exceptional teacher.
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2 comments:
I was student of Naranda's back in 1977. Thank you for the wonderful write up
I was a student of Naranda's back in 1977. I loved her! Thank you for the wonderful write up.
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