JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG: Yesterday and Today

I'm thinking perhaps April Fool's day came a day early yesterday, what with the hour long snow storm and all:

Today, the snow thas melted and the sun is shining brightly.
Jay Hanuman! Sri Surya (the Sun) is shining his light upon us all!

A beautiful day of rebirth. This is spring.

May your renewal in all things great and good give you a profound sense of peace and rejuvenation in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!

Happy Easter!

Love and Blessings, my friends.

Namo Namah,
Bhakti

JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG Happy Ram Navami!

Dear Friends and Fellow Bhaktas--

HAPPY RAM NAVAMI!

Jaya!

I recall the first time my eyes fell upon the Hanuman murti at my Beloved's ashram. I fell to my knees at his feet and wept the most profound tears of joy.

And so began my love affair with the greatest bhakta in the pantheon of Hindu deities. He is akin to John in relation to Jesus.

To have been given the name "Bhakti" by my Guruji is an honor I don't take lightly. It's a beautiful female name, and certainly sums up my life, my heart, and my sadhana. Swamiji Durgananda (Sally Kempton) once said to me, "You ARE Bhakti!" What a boon. For others to see this--especially during my intensive three years of internal work when insecurities abound--was indeed a gift. So much Grace! As we become ripe, we experience this as a universal truth.

RAM NAVAMI is the last day of Chait Navratri--the spring festival honoring Goddess Durga, one of the ten Mahavidyas in Hindu mythology.
Ram is an avatar of Lord Vishnu--one of the last avatars of Sri Vishnu to take human form. My beloved Hanuman is the greatest devotee of Ram. And so perhaps you understand why today is such a special celebration to me. There's so much LOVE and DEVOTION!

In addition to my regular (meditation) practice, I will honor Ram Navami by reading my favorite excerpts from the RAMAYANA, the epic tale of Sita, Ram, and Hanuman (I highly recommend Michael Buck's translation); I will chant my favorite Ram and Hanuman bhajans; perhaps read my favorite lines from Sri Rudram; and I will end the day meditating on my Heart Center, where the energy of all of these glorious deities reside.

This sadhana is so rich. Imagine being stuck in a body riddled with severe pain from spinal cord diseases...and yet still being able to quiet the mind, transmute anxieties, etc., and bring yourself back to the source. This IS grace. This is the reason for these spiritual celebrations: renewal.

This is the work of the physical Guru, and the Inner Guru. And you are That!

Wishing you all a blessed evening.

As always, from my heart to yours,
Namo Namah!

Bhakti

JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG WISHES YOU A HAPPY HANUMAN JAYANTI!

MY BELOVED HANUMAN MURTI

Image ©2014 DL Bhakti Brophy

April 14

Today,

 we celebrate the birthday

of the greatest devotee of God

To ever have walked the Earth:

The son of the wind.

The most beloved bhakta.

He who mistook the Sun

for an orange,

  and played with Surya Das

 as a beloved toy.

He who jumped the ocean

To save Sita from the demon King;

 He who dove to the bottom of the sea

To retrieve Sita's wedding ring.

He who defeated Ravana--

The most fierce,

 ten-headed Rakshasha.

I bow to

Baba 

Hanuman,

  the monkey God

Who returned Sita

To Ram.

Who crushed the rubies

Ram gave him

In his palm.

I bow to

Baba Hanuman,

Who represents

Ananda (bliss)

 and

Caitanya (Pure Consciousness).

I bow to He

who ripped open his chest

to reveal that upon His Heart

an image of Sita and Ram

was etched.

I bow to The Self within

In the form of Baba 

Hanuman.

Jai Sita!

Jai Ram!

Jai! Jai! Jai!

Baba Hanuman!

Stotra and photograph

©2014 DL Bhakti Brophy

Thank you for asking permission

before reposting.  

Jai Bhakti™: Bhakti's Sri Hanuman Murti

This is my beloved Hanuman murti.

While studying with him back in 2004, Jai Uttal blessed this murti by having the entire workshop of 30 people sing the Hanuman Chaleesa in his honor. What a fun, glorious memory that is.

The first time I laid eyes on the larger than life murti of Hanuman at my Guru's ashram, I fell at his feet crying tears of devotion. He had such a profound effect on me, yet I didn't know who he was-- I had to ask a Swami, "Who IS that monkey guy?!"

In 2005 I became 100% physically disabled, yet there is nothing I cannot achieve knowing that Hanuman is alive, in essence and spirit, within and without. He is a great part of the fortitude and devotion that sustains my life.

Jai Jai Sita Ram!
Jai Baba Hanuman!

Om Shánti,
Bhakti







Text & Image ©2014 DL Bhakti Brophy
All Rights reserved.


Thank you for asking permission before reposting.