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 CHAITRA NAVRATRI!

Dear Ones,

It is with great love and respect that I wish you all a Happy Chaitra Navratri!

This year we celebrate Spring Navratri from March 21 - March 28.

Above, is a photograph of my lovely Goddess Durga pendant from Gurudev Siddha Peeth, my beloved Guru's ashram in Ganespuri, India (thank you Savatri!).


Have a wonderful holiday filled with much kirtan, meditation, and great joy!

Kali Durge, Namo Namah!


Love,
Bhakti






Photo © 2015 Brophy
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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
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Just Read & Listening To...

How I Became Stupid

This is a very quick and quarky read; a bit contrived, albeit humorous. The book follows Antoine, a 25 year old intellectual Parisian, in his search for infinite bliss through attempts at dumbing down his brain. In the beginning of the book, I laughed aloud at some of his feeble attempts to stupify. By the middle of the book, How I Became Stupid turns into a brutal social commentary on the definition of happiness, and how people go about achieving that goal. I would not say this is the funniest thing I have read, nor would I call it a masterpiece (it has the potential of Confederacy of Dunces , yet falls way short of the mark), yet I did find some sort of comic relief. I'm just not quite sure at whose expense I was laughing. People who like Catcher In The Rye (which I do consider a classic) will most likely be amused.

BHAJANANANDI

Bhajananandi is one of my favorite new musical finds. The vocals, provided by Arjun of Arjun and Guardians (see below), are as haunting as they are beautiful and sincere. Bhajananandi's music is devotional chanting at it's very bare-bones/grass roots best, with vocals, harmonium, tablas, and the occasional acoustic guitar producing a mix of heavenly melodic bhajans. I would recommend Bhajananandi's Vol 2&3 CD to anyone who loves music, devotional or otherwise. People who like Krishna Das and Jai Uttal will appreciate Bhajananandi.

Arjun and Guardians

(Click on the above link for a terrific bio on Arjun and Guardians.)

tags: jaibhakti, bhajananandi, entertainment, Arjun and Guardians, How I Became Stupid