The sublime teachings of Lord Krishna are enshrined in the Bhagavad Gita. In his highly acclaimed two-volume commentary on the Gita, Paramahansa Yogananda has written:
"The Bhagavad Gita is the most beloved scripture of India, a scripture of scriptures. It is the... one book that all masters depend upon as a supreme source of scriptural authority...."
“Krishna is the divine exemplar of yoga in the East; Christ was chosen by God as the exemplar of God-union for the West....The Kriya Yoga technique, taught by Krishna to Arjuna and referred to in Gita chapters IV:29 and V:27–28, is the supreme spiritual science of yoga meditation. Secreted during the materialistic ages, this indestructible yoga was revived for modern man by Mahavatar Babaji and taught by the Gurus of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship."
Sri Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with eight-hour-long meditations and commemorative programmes across YSS NCR.
YSS Noida Ashram
Janmashtami celebrations for devotees of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) go beyond the regular satsanga and group meditation on the day of commemoration of the birth of Lord Krishna. In keeping with tradition, an eight-hour-long meditation is conducted around this special day, where sadhaks come together and meditate for eight hours in a commemorative long meditation.
At YSS Noida Ashram, the Janmashtami long meditation was conducted by Brahmachari Sheelanandaji and Swami Sadanandaji on September 2, 2018, which was attended by about 150 devotees.
On the following day was Sri Krishna Janmashtami. A commemoration programme was held at the Ashram pandal. The altar was decorated with attractive floral arrangements, and a large garlanded portrait of Yogeshwar Krishna was placed on one side of the stage.
Swami Sadanandaji led the programme with group meditation and satsanga.
Opening with a prayer and chanting, he conducted a brief period of meditation.
In the satsanga that followed, Swamiji spoke about the life of Lord Krishna. He spoke about his unusual place of birth in a jail and then his miraculous safe journey to Gokul where he spent his early years of childhood. He grew up to fulfil his role as a jagat guru by transmitting the divine knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, which has become the source of succour for all the humanity for both material and spiritual progress. This knowledge, which had been lost to humanity, was brought to us by the Yogoda Gurus - who in our Guru Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s words - are the Rishis of the modern age.
Swamiji said that when Guruji was eager to acquire the knowledge of the Gita hurriedly from his Guru Swami Sri Yukteswarji, he was admonished by him. Swami Sri Yukteswarji wanted Guruji to spiritually attune with Lord Krishna, Arjuna and Rishi Vyasa to understand the essence of the Bhagavad Gita and then disseminate this divine knowledge to mankind. Guruji then understood the way to acquire the knowledge of this great scripture. By deep meditation and attunement with Lord Krishna and Arjuna, he perceived this divine message through his soul which was then reproduced in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita - God Talks With Arjuna. Guruji has said that it (God Talks with Arjuna) is not a book written by him, it belongs to Lord Krishna, Arjuna and Rishi Vyasa.
After this beautiful discourse, Swamiji told devotees to meditate for a short period on Lord Krishna. Performing the aarati and healing prayers, Swamiji closed the programme.
Nearly 350 devotees who attended this programme proceeded to offer pushpanjali. Bhajans sung by devotees during the pushpanjali were very uplifting and added to the fervour of this very holy and special day of the birth of Lord Krishna. Celebrations concluded with the Guru langar where 400 persons were served the prasad.
YSS Gurugram Kendra
On September 2, a special eight-hour-long Janmashtami meditation was held at YSS Gurugram Kendra from 10 am to 6 pm which was joined by 100 people. Brahmachari Vinyananadaji led the second half of the meditation session.
The following day, September 3, Gurugram Kendra held a special commemoration to mark Sri Krishna Janmashtami which is the birthday of Lord Krishna. Brahmachari Vinayanandaji conducted the satsanga, meditation and pushpanjali programme from 10 am to 12 noon at the Gurugram Kendra. Brahmachariji spoke about the path to God-realization as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita. Drawing an analogy from the Bhagavad Gita, he said that as in the battlefield, where Lord Krishna instructed Arjuna to fight for truth, the devotee also has to fight bad habits, ego consciousness and sense distractions to move towards divine consciousness.
Brahmachariji shared the Janmashtami message from YSS/SRF President Swami Chidananda Giri. He spoke about the importance of daily and deep meditations. Through these meditations, our beloved God and Guru will hold our hand and lead us to the path of freedom. The satsanga was followed by bhajans and pushpanjali. About 70 people attended the programme.
