Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda has told us, “Sri Krishna’s message in the Bhagavad Gita is the perfect answer for the modern age, and any age: Yoga of dutiful action, of nonattachment, and of meditation for God-realization.”

The birth of Lord Krishna – the Yogavatar – was celebrated with enthusiasm by devotees across YSS NCR. Special eight-hour-long meditations were conducted along with commemorative Janmashtami programmes at YSS Noida Ashram, Delhi Kendra and Gurgaon Kendra.

YSS NOIDA ASHRAM

Satsanga

Celebrations of Janmashtami at YSS Noida Ashram saw participation of a large number of devotees this year. The main programme with meditation and Satsanga was held on the evening of August 14, 2017. The Janmashtami Satsanga was conducted by Brahmachari Dhairyanandaji in the pandal. The programme included prayer, chanting and meditation.

Brahmachariji read out to devotees, excerpts from the letter of beloved Sri Mrinalini Mataji addressed to them on Janmashtami. He explained the import of her words to the audience.

At the close of the programme, devotees offered pushpanjali as lady devotees sang bhajans serenading Lord Krishna and Gurudeva, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji. Guru Langar was served to the devotees, and also to the participants of Children Satsanga – who had been attending their own Janmashtami celebration programme simultaneously in the basement Dhyana Mandir.

Long Meditation

Brahmacharis Sheelanandaji and Vinayanandaji conducted the special eight-hour-long meditation in two sessions to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, at YSS Noida Ashram on August 20, 2017. The much-awaited eight-hour meditation drew many participants who benefited from the day-long sadhana in a group.

YSS DELHI KENDRA

Long Meditation

The celebrations of the birth of Lord Krishna as awakening of Krishna consciousness in the devotee on the spiritual path began early at YSS Delhi Kendra – with a special eight-hour-long meditation on August 6, 2017 – a week ahead of Janmashtami.

Satsanga

An inspiring satsanga by Brahmachari Sheelanandaji comprised the celebrations of the Janmashtami programme on August 20, 2017.

The programme included prayer, chanting and a period of meditation. Brahmachariji shared how Janmashtami is beautifully celebrated with folk songs on Sri Krishna in small towns and villages, and gave a discourse beginning with a letter written by Sri Sri Mrinalini Mataji to the disciples of Gurudeva, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji, on the significance of celebrating Janmashtami. Expounding on it in a lucid manner, he made his discourse thought-provoking and enjoyable.

The Satsanga was followed by aarati and pushpanjali.

YSS GURGAON KENDRA

Janmashtami celebrations at YSS Gurgaon Kendra began with an eight-hour-long meditation conducted by Brahmachari Vinayanandaji on August 6, 2017, while the main programme included a commemorative Satsanga by Swami Lalitanandaji on the day of Janmashtami - August 14, 2017.

Long Meditation

On August 6, 2017, the special eight-hour-long Janmashtami meditation was conducted by Brahmachari Vinayanandaji at YSS Gurgaon Kendra.

Satsanga

The main Janmashtami programme consisted of a period of chanting and meditation, following which, Swamiji gave a discourse on Lord Krishna. He went through the various stages of the great avatar’s life, from His birth in a prison to His ascension. He brought out the extraordinary life of Sri Krishna by mentioning the various miracles that he performed from his very childhood throughout his life. He showed how Krishna accomplished the main purpose of His incarnation, which was to eradicate adharma and establish dharma, as well as to vanquish evil-doers and protect the virtuous. And in the process how one of the greatest scriptures of the world was born, the Bhagavad Gita. Swamiji elucidated how the Gita is as relevant today, as it was when it was narrated five thousand years ago, and how its fundamental principles will remain valid for all the ages to come.

The Satsanga was followed by arati, pushpanjali and bhajans. The programme was well-attended and devotees enjoyed the Satsanga.

The essence of the discourse on the special occasion can be summarised with a quote from Sri Mrinalini Mataji’s letter to her devotees: “God conveyed to Arjuna: ‘He who perceives Me everywhere and beholds everything in Me never loses sight of Me, nor do I ever lose sight of him.’”