Hilo Inter-Tribe Pow Wow, Hawaii, May 2008

This year I had the great fortune to watch this inter-festival, where many American Native and Hawaiian Tribes get together to celebrate it through dance and typical music. I was very impressed by their costumes and dance. I did not try the food, but I am sure for those who love native food; it was a real feast!

Below are some pictures from the event:

The Super Science of Gayatri Mantra

This morning, after practicing my meditations, I turn on the computer and browsed the word Kleem Mantra, and for my surprise I found this wonderful online book, with a well elaborated explanation about the scientific aspects of the Gayatri Mantra. At the same time it gives an interesting Vedic version of Gayatri, where it explains that Gayatri is the original source of the Vedas, so it is called Vedamata and Kleen, Sreem and Hreem (Kali, Lakshmi and Sarasvati) are emanations of it known as Adiya-Shakti-Gayatri.

Here is the e-book:

Super science of Gayatri - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: Super science of Gayatri

Pahoa Bhajans

Here are some good folks organizing the Yoga-Shala room for the Saturday's evening Bhajans, in Pahoa, Hawaii.

It is a great place to go and relax, while the local Krishna-Bhakatas lead the sweet bhajans for Radha-Krishna. As usual, here the bhajan session is followed by a lecture -maybe 30min- and delicious vegetarian preps are served free. The program starts from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

Below is Johnny Cat, worshiping Tulasi Devi, who is considered by the Vaishnavas (followers of the Hindu God; Vishnu) a holy tree, from which is believed that the worshiper derives strength and devotion to the almighty God Vishnu.

 

 

 

 

Prem Baba/Hawaii

Here are some friends, who came from Brazil to visit and share their culture in Big Island, Hawaii. Click here, to read more about Prem Baba's teachings.

Happy Makar Sankranti

Today Jan 15th, the Makara Sankranti is commemorated all over India, but no many people are aware of the astronomic and astrological importance of this date. As a matter of fact, Makara Sankranti, like no other commemoration in India, is ruled by the Sun calendar, so the dates are fixed, which is the opposite for commemorations that follows the Moon calendar, where dates are always mutable. Moreover, for those emancipated yogis, who are ready for a transition to higher sphere of consciousness, this auspicious moment is highly venerated, for it is believed that this actual time is when the gates for the stairway to heaven are broad opened for the few successful transcendentalists.

"Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara raasi ), signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam. A day of celebration all over the country, it day begins with people taking holy dips in the water and worshipping the Sun. Customarily, this period is considered as an auspicious time - Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjun, with the boon to choose the time of his death; he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world during this period. It is believed that those who die in this period have no rebirth."

Read More.

"The Virgin of the Sun God"

If you ever wonder how Celestial beings like Gandharvas or Apsaras would sing, you will now have the opportunity to know it. Born in Cajamarca, Peru, Yma Sumac’s voice, will take you to a closer encounter with that sublime realm... In the clip below is a fascinate presentation by "The great Peruvian soprano/mezzo/alto/tenor, as she appeared in "Secret of the Incas," a 1954 film set largely at Macchu Picchu in Peru. She may be lip-syncing, but she recorded the original track and her voice is incredible. She's singing the first cut from her first album, "Voice of the Xtabay"

Here, Yma Sumac singing Inty" (Virgin of the Sun God):




This is another version in B & W:




In the clip below, is yet another fascinating presentation by Yma Sumac "at the second cut on her first album "Voice of the Xtabay" near Macchu Picchu at the conclusion of the 1954 movie "Secret of the Incas." Notice Charleton Heston's brief appearance; his wardrobe was the inspiration for Indiana Jones forty years later! This film has never been released on VHS or DVD":

Yma Sumac sings "Ataypura" (High Andes:





Yma Sumac’s Biography

Happy Bahulastami

Today is the appearance day of Radha-Kunda, the sacred lake of Srimat Radhika, Who is the dearest cowgirl of Vrindavana, eternal lover of Krishna... This holy Kunda is located at the tip of Govardhan Hill. The glories of Radha-kunda is described in Nectar of Instruction by Srila Rupa Goswami.

"The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna's rasalila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Goverdhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of his various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha Kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha Kunda, which is situated at the foot of Goverdhana Hill?"