The daily program in the ashram can be divided into three main parts:
- Aarti singing: these are the services in the temple in the morning and in the evening, 7 days a week.
- Karma yoga, the path of service to humanity.
- Havan, vedic fire ceremony, at the weekends, on Monday mornings and on special days.
In the early morning and in the afternoon, before Aarti, you have time to do your meditation, japa or yoga exercise.
Aarti
In the morning and evening we sing the Aarti in the temple. It involves singing together devotional chants and begins with offering of the Light to the divine, to Babaji or to the Mother. Participating in the Aarti opens the heart and develops love for the Divine and the people around.
The texts that are sung are mantras and prayers in Sanskrit and Hindi. Books are available with the texts and also the translation, so that you can read along or sing along. These Aarti services are always accessible to everyone, even if you are not staying at the ashram. There are cushions to sit on, but also chairs or low seats.
Aarti is the essence of Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion, as Babaji has shown. It keeps Babaji’s Presence in the community of the ashram alive. It brings harmony in the common goals and is the heart of spiritual exercise in the Ashram.
Karma yoga
Karma yoga is the path of service to humanity. Karma Yoga is the path of meditation in action and is the most important teaching and healing method of Babaji for our time.
Karma Yoga is selflessly acting and sacrificing our work to God. Babaji advised to continually repeat God’s Name in everything we do. Babaji advised “Om Namah Shivay” (translated as: God’s will be done or I connect with my deeper inner Self), an ancient Vedic mantra for meditation and prayer, or any other Name of God.
Karma Yoga is also Love in action, and as Babaji said:
“Serving mankind is serving God. Working together for a common goal creates unanimity, love and peace in the community ”
At the ashram karma yoga is a central part of the program and everyone who visits the ashram is expected to lend a hand. It helps you to feel at home at the ashram and to grow spiritually.
Karma yoga activities can consist of garden work, making small wood, housework, renovation work, etc. etc. At the ashram is volunteer work and everyone can participate, even people who do not participate in other program parts such as Aarti or havan.
Havan (vedic fire ceremony)
In the weekend – on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings – the day starts with a havan (Vedic fire ceremony). On special days and during a Babaji Weekend there is a more extensive fire ceremony in the morning.
According to the ancient tradition, God is very close to fire and a Vedic fire ceremony helps to make contact and nurture and purify the subtle forces in nature and in ourselves. Fire is an expression of cosmic energy, an element that transforms and helps with transformations in life.
The fire also represents the soul flame that burns in the heart.
By feeding the fire with material sacrifices, accompanied by the recitation of certain mantras, the material energy changes into fine energy. By meditating on fire we learn to focus on the Divine in the form of light. Performing the fire ceremony also brings balance in the environment.
Shri Muniraj, who opened the ashram Sada Shiva Dham and is considered Babaji’s closest student, says of the Vedic Fire Ceremony: “The havan, the fire ceremony, has no great religious significance, but rather a scientific and physical meaning. The meaning of it is to create life. The havan has the power to clean the environment of the effects of industrial pollution. But there are many types of havan’s. The havan, which Babaji has taught us, is for peace in the world. That’s why we do as many havan’s as possible to achieve our goal. “