The days of commemoration of our line of Gurus are considered special occasions to receive their blessings on the spiritual path, where devotees come together to meditate in satsanga. On the anniversary of the Airbhav of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji on May 10, 2018, special programmes were held at YSS Noida Ashram, Delhi Kendra and Gurugram Kendra.

YSS Noida Ashram

The Avirbhav Divas of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji was celebrated at YSS Noida Ashram on the evening of May 10, 2018.

Swami Lalitanandaji started the programme with prayer and chanting followed by meditation. Thereafter, Swami Vishwanandaji conducted satsanga.

In his satsanga, Swami Vishwanandaji quoted from Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s best-selling spiritual classic – the Autobiography of a Yogi – referring to the description of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji. He also shared some of the similarities between the Ashram lives of Gurudeva Paramahansa Yoganandaji and Paramguru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji. For example, a printing press was established by Swamiji at Serampore for publication of a magazine. Similarly, Guruji also established a printing press at the Mother Centre and started publication of a magazine. Swami Sri Yukteswarji encouraged devotees to collect money in piggy bank-style and after the same is full, give it to the Guru. Guruji also started the same tradition in America. Swami Sri Yukeswarji wrote a commentary on the Gita in Bengali up to chapter nine. Guruji wrote a commentary on the Gita titled ‘God Talks with Arjuna.’ Also, the Energization Exercises started by Guruji were based on the teachings of his Guru. In this way, Swami Vishwanandaji drew the attention of the devotees to the similarities between the lives of our Paramguru and Gurudeva, reflecting the former’s influence on the life of the latter.

The satsanga was attended by nearly 400 devotees who listened keenly to the anecdotes shared by Swami Visghwanandaji.

Following the aarati, devotees offered pushpanjali at the altar and received prasad from Swamis Vishwanandaji and Lalitanandaji at the gate of the pandal. Guru Langar was served to all present on this special occasion.

YSS Delhi Kendra

The commemoration of the Avirbhav Divas of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji was attended by nearly 150 devotees at YSS Delhi Kendra on the evening of May 10, 2017.

Brahmachari Sheelanandaji conducted meditation and satsanga in the Dhyana Mandir, which could also be viewed by the devotees seated at other locations within the Kendra via a video link.

In his satsanga, Brahmachariji shared anecdotes from the life of Yukteswarji and his interactions with Guruji, highlighting the pure and divine love exhibited in subtle ways by the Gyanavatar who exhibited the nature of a strict disciplinarian. He seldom expressed his love, shared Brahmachariji, “Only when Gurudeva had coaxed him that he had not expressed his divine love for him for a long time, he told Guruji that he loved him as his spiritual son. Tears came to his eyes. His love was profound but reserved without need for verbal expression.” 

Sheelanandaji spoke of the strict discipline imparted to Guruji by Sri Yukteswarji during his training. Guruji has metaphorically mentioned that he removed all “diseased teeth in his jaw,” which was the removal of all the traces of ego – preparing him to teach Yoga Science to western devotees who had to be handled in a very gentle and loving manner as per their culture. Neither dejected nor frustrated, even when Guruji exhibited disobedience and refused to go back home for studying when he first met Swami Sri Yukteswar ji in Varanasi, he told Guruji he was only interested in his development and did not expect anything from him. He also exhibited divine love for all creatures – he could calm a cobra by clapping and showing his love.

After the satsanga, the programme was concluded with aarati and pushpanjali.

YSS Gurugram Kendra

To commemorate Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji's Avirbhav Divas, Swami Sadanandaji conducted satsanga and pushpanjali on the morning of May 13, 2018 (Sunday) at YSS Gurugram Kendra. This was followed by Guru Langar and Narayan Seva. More than 160 devotees and 16 children from Children Sunday Satsanga were present on this occasion. Food packets were distributed to the poor people near the Kendra premises.

On the evening of May 10, devotee meditation leaders conducted satsanga and pushpanjali at YSS Gurugram Kendra. More than 60 people were present.