Arsha Vidya Pitham, Saylorsburg, PA

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Daily Abhisheka and Aarati to Lord Dakshinamurti

DAILY In-Person and Online:

5:40 – 7:00 am ET Abhisheka
5:40 – 6:15 pm ET Arati

More Temple info HERE

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2024 Thanksgiving Weekend Vedanta Course

Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2024

In-Person and Online

• Contemplation with Swami Muktatmananda
• Bhakti – Discovering Love with Swami Sachidananda

More info HERE

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1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, December 1, 2024

In-Person and Online

Class 1
10:00-11:00 am ET 
Bhakti – Discovering Love (part 4 of 4) with Swami Sachidananda

Class 2
11:30am-12:30pm
Bhagavad Gita Ch. 9
with Swami Muktatmananda

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

Ongoing Classes

Arsha Vidya Balagurukulam's Parents Vedic Chanting Class with Sri Suddhatma ONLINE

Every Sunday
9:00-10:00 am ET (UTC-4)

Zoom Meeting Link

Mandukya Upanishad with Swami Muktatmananda ONLINE STUDY

Weekly Monday/Wednesday/Friday

10:30-11:30 am ET

Online Only

Text Links:

Mandukya Upanishad – Swami Nikhilananda

Mandukya Upanishad – Anandagiri Tika


Donations Appreciated

Zoom Meeting Link

Shrimad Bhagavatam Study Classes with Brhm. Pratyagaatma Chaitanya ONLINE ONLY

Every Wednesday, 8:00 pm ET (UTC-4)

Bhagavatam is a Mahapurana written by Sage Veda Vyasa. In these classes, the text is studied verse by verse based on Shridhari tikka.

Zoom Meeting Link

Meditation Workshop with Swamini Agamananda ONLINE

1st and 3rd Saturday every month 11:00am-12:00pm ET (UTC-4)

Teacher: Swamini Agamananda

Meditation plays an integral part in a seeker’s spiritual journey, in that it steers the wavering mind into a state of quietude, wherein the tumult of distracting desires loosen their grip. With practice, the mind will be ushered to a deeper realm of stillness. Such a mind gains the capability for a lofty vision and cannot be influenced by anything. As the practice of meditation deepens, one can resolutely face the problems in life and gradually become a yukta, one who abides in one’s real nature.

Nirvana Shatkam Text

Nirvana Shatkam Classes with Pujya Swami Dayananda

PRAYERS

Zoom Meeting Link

Recent Events

1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, November 17, 2024

In-Person and Online

Bhagavad Gita 9.14
with Swami Muktatmananda

10:00-11:00 am ET  Class 1

11:30am-12:30pm ET  Class 2

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, November 3, 2024

In-Person and Online

Bhagavad Gita 9.13
with Swami Tattvavidananda

10:00-11:00 am ET  Class 1

11:30am-12:30pm ET  Class 2

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

2024 Deepavali Celebration and Talk

Friday, November 1, 2024

6:15-6:45 pm ET Daily Evening Arati
6:45-7:00 pm Lakshmi & Kubera Puja
7:00 pm Talk on Devi Stutihi
by Swami Tattvavidananda
7:45 – 9:00 pm Dinner

May the festival of lights fill your life with the glow of happiness and the sparkle of joy. ✨

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2024 Five-Week Vedanta Course with Swami Tattvavidananda

Sept 24- Oct 27, 2024

In-Person and Online

• Aitareya Upaniṣad
• Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma: Epitome of Vedanta

More info HERE

1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, October 20, 2024

In-Person and Online

9:00-10:00 am ET Bhagavad Gita 9.12
with Swami Tattvavidananda

11:25am-12:25pm ET Aitareya Upanishad
with Swami Tattvavidananda

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, October 6, 2024

In-Person and Online

9:00-10:00 am ET Bhagavad Gita 9.12
with Swami Tattvavidananda

11:25am-12:25pm ET Aitareya Upanishad 1
with Swami Tattvavidananda

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

2024 Two-Week Vedanta Course with Swami Tattvavidananda

September 6-20, 2024

In-Person and Online

• Aparokṣānubhūti
• Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma: Epitome of Vedanta
• Rāmāyaṇa

More info HERE

1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, September 15, 2024

In-Person and Online

9:00-10:00 am ET Bhagavad Gita 9.11
with Swami Tattvavidananda

11:25am-12:25pm ET Aparokshanubhuti
with Swami Tattvavidananda

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

2024 Patron's Vedanta Course 2

In-Person only for Patron Donors
Live-streaming for all on YouTube

Friday, August 30 at 8:00 pm ET
to
Monday, September 2 at 12:00 pm ET

TOPICS and TEACHERS:
– Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka
with Swami Tattvavidananda
– Bhagavad Gita 3.3
with Swami Muktatmananda

More Details HERE

View Online

2024 Patron's Vedanta Course 1

In-Person only for Patron Donors
Live-streaming for all on YouTube

Thursday, August 22 at 8:00 pm ET
to
Sunday, August 25 at 12:30 pm ET

TOPICS and TEACHERS:
Tyāga with Swami Viditatmananda
Freedom from Anger with Swami Muktatmananda

More Details HERE

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2024 Kṛṣṇa-janmāṣṭamī Celebration

In-Person and Online

Monday, August 26
6:15-8:00 pm ET

Shodasha Upachar Puja
Abhisheka to Lord Krishna’s murti
Krishna Ashttotara
Vishnusahasranaama Paaraayanam
Deepaaraadhanam Prasad viniyog

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38th Anniversary Celebration of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

In-Person and Online

Sunday, August 18
9:30am – 4:00pm ET

More Details HERE

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2024 Family Vedanta Course 3

In-Person and Online

Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 pm ET
to
Friday, August 16 at 12:30 pm ET

TOPICS and TEACHERS:
Ātma-anātma-viveka with Swami Viditatmananda
Aparokṣānubhūti 111-125 with Swami Muktatmananda

More Details HERE

View Online

2024 Family Vedanta Course 2

In-Person and Online

Saturday, August 3 at 8:00 pm ET
to
Friday, August 9 at 12:30 pm ET

TOPICS and TEACHERS:
Ātma-anātma-viveka with Swami Viditatmananda
Aparokṣānubhūti 96-110 with Swami Muktatmananda

 

 

More Details HERE

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1st and 3rd Sunday Classes

Sunday, August 4, 2024

In-Person and Online

9:00-10:00 am ET Aparokshanubhuti
with Swami Muktatmananda

11:30am-12:30pm ET Bhagavad Gita Ch. 9
with Swami Viditatmananda

More details HERE

View Class 1 on YouTube
View Class 2 on YouTube

2024 Family Vedanta Course 1

In-Person and Online

Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 pm ET
to
Friday, August 2 at 12:30 pm ET

TOPICS and TEACHERS:
Upadeśa-Sāram with Swami Viditatmananda
Aparokshanubhuti 75-95 with Swami Muktatmananda

More Details HERE

View Online

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© Copyright: 2021 Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

Lord Daksinamurti

In the vision of the Veda, this creation is a manifestation of the Lord. Being the cause, he is all knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge. We have a name for that Lord Daksinamurti.

The Lord presented in this form as Dakṣiṇāmūrti is the one who has eight aspects. The first five aspects are thefive elements. In the Veda the world is presented in the form of five elements—ākāśa, space,which includes time; vāyu, air; agni, fire; āpa, water; and pṛthivī, earth.

In this Vedic model of the universe, the five elements are non-separate from the Lord. In fact, these five elements constitute the Lord’s form, which is this universe.

The next two aspects are represented by the sun and the moon.

When, as an individual, I look at this world, what stands out in the sky are the sun and moon.

The moon represents all planets other than earth, and the sun represents allluminous bodies.

The eighth aspect is me, the jīva—the one who is looking at the world.

These eight aspects are to be understood as one whole. This is the Lord.

When we look at the form of Dakṣiṇāmūrti, we can see representations of the five elements. Space, ākāśa, is represented by a ḍamaru, a drum, in his right hand. In order to show space in a sculpture, it needs to be enclosed.

Empty space is enclosed in the ḍamaru, enabling it to issue sound, or śabda.

Next, vāyu, air, is represented by Dakṣiṇāmūrti’s hair with the bandana, the band, holding his hair in place against the wind. Bandana is a Sanskrit word which comes from the root band, to bind.

In his left hand, you will see a torch, which represents agni, fire.

Āpa, water, is shown by the Gaṅga, in the form of a Goddess, which you can see on Dakṣiṇāmūrti’s head.

Pṛthivī, the earth, is represented by the whole idol.

Then there are people, the jīvas, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana and Sanatsujāta, who are the disciples of Dakṣiṇāmūrti, sitting at the base of sculpture.

The sun and moon are also shown in this form of the Lord.

On the left side of Dakṣiṇāmūrti you will find a crescent moon, and on his right side there is a circle, representing the sun—a whole circle.

So we see five elements, two planets and the jīva constituting the aṣṭa-mūrti-bhṛt, the Lord of these eight factors that are the whole.

You can worship Dakṣiṇāmūrti as the Lord, the one who is aṣṭa-mūrti-bhṛt, or you can invoke him as a teacher, because he also is in the form of a teacher.

His very sitting posture, āsana, is the teacher’s āsana. What does he teach? Look at his hand gesture. That shows wha the teaches. His index finger, the one we use to point at others, represents the ahaṅkāra, the ego.

The other three fingers represent your body, deha, mind, antaḥkaraņa and sense organs, prāņa.

They also may be seen as the three bodies, śarīras, the gross, subtle, and causal. This is what the jīva mistakes himself to be. The aṅguṣṭha, the thumb, represents the Lord, the puruṣa. It is away from the rest of the fingers of the hand, yet at the same time, the fingers have no strength without it.

In this gesture, mūdra, in Dakṣiṇāmūrti’s right hand, the thumb joins the other fingers to form a circle, teaching that the jīva, who takes himself to be the body, mind and senses, is the whole. The circular hand gesture visually states the entire upadeśa, teaching: tat tvam asi, “You are That.” Just as a circle has no beginning or end, you are the whole. That is the final word about you. Nobody can improve upon that vision; no culture can improve upon it.

Even in heaven, it cannot be improved upon, for the whole includes heaven. Therefore, you have the final word here, because you are everything. It is better that you know it. That teaching is contained in the Veda, represented by the palm leaves in the left hand of Dakṣiṇāmūrti. And to understand this, you require a mind that has assimilated certain values and attitudes and has developed a capacity to think in a proper and sustained way.

This can be acquired by various spiritual disciplines represented here by a japa-māla, The fact that the Lord himself is a teacher, a guru, means that any teacher is looked upon as a source of knowledge. And the teacher himself should look upon Īśvara, the Lord, as the source of knowledge. Since the Lord himself is a teacher, the first guru, there is a tradition of teaching, so there is no individual ego involved in teaching.

Dakṣiṇāmūrti is seated upon a bull, which stands for tamas, the quality of māyā that accounts for ignorance. This is the entire creative power of the world and Dakṣiṇāmūrti controls this māyā; Then, there are bound to be obstacles in your pursuit of this knowledge. Dakṣiṇāmūrti controls all possible obstacles.

Underneath his foot, under his control, is a fellow called Apasmara—the one who throws obstacles in your life. This tells us that although there will be obstacles, with the grace of the Lord, you can keep them under check and not allow them to overpower you. There is no obstacle-free life, but obstacles need not really throw you off course; you keep them under control.

Thus, the whole form of Dakṣiṇāmūrti invokes the Lord who is the source of all knowledge, the source of everything, the one who is the whole, and who teaches you that you are the whole. He is Dakṣiṇāmūrti, the one who is in the form of a teacher, guru-mūrti.

We invoke his blessing so that all of you discover that source in yourself. If this self-discovery is your pursuit, your whole life becomes worthwhile. This project of self-discovery should be the project of everyone. That is the Vedic vision of human destiny

Arsha Vidya Gurukulam was founded in 1986 by Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati. In Swamiji’s own words,

“When I accepted the request of many people I know to start a gurukulam, I had a vision of how it should be. I visualized the gurukulam as a place where spiritual seekers can reside and learn through Vedanta courses. . . And I wanted the gurukulam to offer educational programs for children in values, attitudes, and forms of prayer and worship. When I look back now, I see all these aspects of my vision taking shape or already accomplished. With the facility now fully functional, . . . I envision its further unfoldment to serve more and more people.”

Ārṣa (arsha) means belonging to the ṛṣis or seers; vidyā means knowledge. Guru means teacher and kulam is a family.  In traditional Indian studies, even today, a student resides in the home of this teacher for the period of study. Thus, gurukulam has come to mean a place of learning. Arsha Vidya Gurukulam is a place of learning the knowledge of the ṛṣis.

The traditional study of Vedanta and auxiliary disciplines are offered at the Gurukulam. Vedanta mean end (anta) of the Veda, the sourcebook for spiritual knowledge.  Though preserved in the Veda, this wisdom is relevant to people in all cultures, at all times. The vision that Vedanta unfolds is that the reality of the self, the world, and God is one non-dual consciousness that both transcends and is the essence of everything. Knowing this, one is free from all struggle based on a sense of inadequacy.

The vision and method of its unfoldment has been carefully preserved through the ages, so that what is taught today at the Gurukulam is identical to what was revealed by the ṛṣis in the Vedas.