Roshan Becomes a Shishya

During our recent weekly homa, Roshan Sivayogam took his Vratasishya vows, becoming an official shishya of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Saiva Siddhanta Church. Roshan is currently at Kauai Aadheenam on taskforce for the next few weeks.

In taking this step, he pledges himself to up hold two vratas: The Nandinatha Sutra Vrata and the Saiva Sraddhadharana Vrata. He read aloud:

"I believe in You, the one Supreme God, Lord Siva, and the Gods of our Saivite faith, and in the Saiva Dharma. In love and trust I recognize Your goodness in providing for my every material and spiritual need. I understand that the 365 Nandinatha Sutras, created by Gurudeva, summarize our monistic Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, our articles of faith and conduct, and other Hindu codes of culture, ethics and right living. I affirm that I understand and agree, one hundred and one percent, with each sutra, having read and reread and related it to my personal life. I now pledge to uphold and pass on to the next generation the wisdom contained within each of these quatrains. I hereby reaffirm the four vratas that I took as an arulsishya--noninjury, spiritual lineage, vegetarianism, tithing--and blend them into this 365 sutra vrata, as a collective vow that I will uphold and defend throughout my lifetime.

"I believe in You, the one Supreme God, Lord Siva, and the Gods of our Saivite faith, and in the Saiva Dharma. In love and trust I recognize Your goodness in providing for my every material and spiritual need. I affirm that the twelve beliefs of our Saivite Creed, and our Affirmation of Faith, fully and unequivocally express my own beliefs, and I wholeheartedly vow to uphold and preach them as an authoritative, distilled formulation of our venerable faith. I understand the importance of beliefs, which have the power to create our attitudes, which shape our actions and reactions throughout life. I appreciate that our Saivite Creed serves to maintain the continuity and purity of the Vedas and Agamas and give strength and guidelines to individuals seeking to understand life and religion.

"In humility and gratitude, having received the blessings of Lord Siva through these spiritual vows, I promise, now and for my entire life, to be an ardent, dynamic, responsive, loving, grateful, loyal vratasishya of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, serving as a member of his global Saiva Siddhanta Church among my kulapati's extended family."

Bodhinatha then blessed him in his new life as a Vratasishya.
Aum Namah Sivaya

Roshan offers grains to the fire

He reads his vows aloud

Roshan signs each vrata

Bodhinatha then signs his vowbook

Bodhinatha blesses him with vibhuti

and flowers

Bodhinatha then gave an inspiring talk, which will be available online soon

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