A Homa, Vratas and Rainbows

As the title suggests, Sun One was a pretty special day at the Aadheenam. We started with our first Homa in about a month, following Sadhu Paksha. During the homa Aarti and Mayuresh Visswanathan took their brahmacharya vratas and vidyasishya pledges, and Saroja Manickam took hers shortly after in ceremony in the guru peedam. Throughout the morning the monastery witnessed countless rainbows as periodic showers passed overhead.

The vrata includes chastity until marriage, and the in their pledges the youth agree to follow the yamas and niyamas as best they can, while also maintaining a 10-minute spiritual practice on weekdays.

"The first stage of life, brahmacharya ashrama, or studentship stage, corresponds roughly to ages 12 through 24, based on a foundation of training in culture and religion from the time of birth. It is the time for the acquisition of skills and knowledge that will serve in later life. It is a time to learn respect and obedience to teacher and family, loyalty to family and friends, service to humanity, proper manners, good habits, philosophy and culture. It is a time to learn the control of desires and to make a part of one's life our basic religious principles: the yamas and niyamas, the pancha nitya karmas and more. While still pliable, youth are molded by parents and all members of the community to a life of purpose, contribution and duty through a sound system of education. It is also the time of awakening creative faculties, enlivening spiritual aspiration and developing religious attitudes."

-Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

Mayuresh and Aarti read from their pledge booklets

Their mother Sheela

They then sign their brahmacharya vrata booklet

Bodhinatha gives each of them a brahmacharya cord that had been blessed in the temple

They then read and sign their vidyasishya pledges

Their father, Ravi

Each of them presents Bodhinatha with a gift before he blesses them with Vibhuti and flowers.

Aum Namah Sivaya

A proud mother

As \"Aum Ham Haum Sivaya Namah\" is chanted 108 times, the two offer grains of rice along with Bodhinatha

A final offering of ghee and fruits and flowers

Following the final arati, Bodhinatha gave a short talk about the essential foundations of meditation, and the need to approach it as one would a fine art

Saroja later took her vrata and pledge in the Guru Peedam

Bodhinatha gives her her brahmacharya cord

big, bright rainbows formed throughout the morning

}
];

transitionSpeed:150});