Nirvani Haranandinatha Becomes a Yogi

For lay brothers who have proven their dedication, completed twelve years as a postulant and attained a sufficient level of maturity, Saiva Siddhanta Church offers the role of the old sadhaka with additional opportunities for mature service and responsibility. The old sadhaka, are also known as nirvana sadhaka. Should the nirvana sadhaka desire to receive sannyas diksha after the age of 72, he would complete the Yogi Tapasvin Application and sign "The Holy Covenant of the Yogi Tapasvin" following his 70th birthday. Nirvani Haranandi has chosen that path.

Here are some words from that covenant.

Gurudeva says of the yogi's focus on Lord Murugan and the depths of meditation, "To attain even the permission to perform yoga one must have the grace of Lord Ganesha and the grace of Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan is the God of the kundalini, of the advanced yogic practices. Unfoldment all happens within the kundalini and the chakras within our subtle bodies. Once a profound relationship is developed with Lord Murugan, then with the guru's permission and guidance, true yoga may commence. Otherwise, no matter how long one sits in meditation, no matter how hard one tries, it is just sitting, it is just trying. There is no fire there, no shakti, no power, no change. It is the Gods who control the fire and at this stage help the devotee immensely, bringing him closer and closer to the supreme God, Siva. Quite often the yogi in his deep internalized state may see in vision the feet or form of God Siva before he begins to blend into the mind of God Siva, called Satchidananda. It is God and Gods in form that help us to find the formless God."

O yogi, without forethought, dive into me.
Without forethought, I accept you,
For you are the other part of me--
Parasivam, Satchidananda and all forms
I flow through, contemplate or meditate.
Kadavul Nataraja
via Gurudeva
The heart of the holy trembles not in fear;
All passions stilled, it enjoys calm unruffled.
Neither is there death nor pain,
Nor night nor day,
Nor fruits of karma to be experienced.
That, truly, is the state
Of the desire-renounced.
Tirumantiram, verse 1624

The following are nine attitudes and daily disciplines for the yogi in addition to those outlined in his Sacred Vows.

1. To practice ashtanga yoga daily (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi) as prescribed for him by his guru, striving to know and love God Siva, and to spend his free time in the temples, in the cave, in his guha, walking on San Marga and in other holy spots, alone and unto himself in his yoga, and carrying his danda whenever dressed in his robes as a reminder of his tapas.
2. To fulfill the shastric injunction of striving to be a model monastic, turned inward, performing japa, singing bhajans and devarams, reading and memorizing scripture, studying Shum and practicing mauna. Mauna is extremely important for the yogi, for excessive talk will inhibit his inner progress.
3. To emulate the renunciate attitudes and ideals of the Saiva swami as outlined in the Holy Orders of Sannyas and to assist the swamis and old sadhakas in every possible way to implement the mission of the Church.
4. To hold the attitude of being the six-year-old Bala Murugan, cooperative, humble, respectful to all.
5. To perform a two-year retreat from family and former friends upon the signing of this holy covenant.** This consists of four discreet six-month retreats, as described on pages nine to thirteen.
6. To work with other yogi tapasvins whenever possible, to sit together at monastery functions and gatherings, walk together, worship together, perform guru puja together and so on.
7. To take every opportunity to perform ashram sadhana, with the knowledge that through his cleaning he is purifying himself.
8. To refrain from watching television except by invitation, and from reading newspapers, magazines and the general daily mail not specifically given to him to read, as well as not browsing the web for news and other sites not directly related to his kulam work and approved projects.
9. deepen his appreciation of the Church's spirit and to study and obey the Saiva Dharma Shastras as his guide to understanding the Church's mission. This is in addition to his daily reading of the Holy Orders of Sannyas, The Master Course daily lessons and "The Self God."

Nirvani Haranandinatha at age 70, has opted for for the path of Sannyas and begins a two-year retreat period as Yogi.

Monks attending the vow taking.

He reads from the Covenant

All our books are signed by the candidate.

And the Satguru

He is given the yellow robes of the tapasvin

A new yogi which makes all stronger in out sadhana!

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