Festival of Togetherness, Joy, Learning and Sharing
10am IST | Pavithram - Coimbatore | In person
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Togetherness Gathering - A space of intimacy
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The Magic of a Stable mandala - Ritual
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Dance performance by Kanishkaa and her students
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Talk: The Mandala of Dance by Kanishkaa Senthilnathan
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Singing / Bajans by the group
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Lunch
6pm IST | Knowledge Sharing | Online on Zoom
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Introduction to the Mandala festival
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Yaksha Prashna - by Brahmachari Vignesh Chaithanya
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Nada Mandala - a Bhansuri performance by Sri Himanshu Nanda
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Exploring the Dream world - by Sri Prasad Naveen
Yaksha Prashna
Not out of passion/fear/avarice not even for the sake of Life one should abandon dharma - Bharathasavitri
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Rita is truth in thought, Sathya is truth in words and Dharma is truth in action.
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Mahabharat contains many Upakhyanas(sub moral stories) for various members of the society. Yaksha prashna is one in many.
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These discussions between Yaksha and Yudhishthir help us to understand dharma and it's purpose to experience Brahman.
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Yaksha Prashna is a famous episode in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata. It is a story about Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, who is tested by a Yaksha (a celestial being) before he is allowed to drink water from a sacred pond.
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The Yaksha asks Yudhishthira 33 questions about dharma (righteousness), knowledge, and life. Yudhishthira answers all of the questions correctly, impressing the Yaksha with his wisdom and virtue.
As a reward, the Yaksha allows Yudhishthira to drink from the pond and restores the lives of his four brothers, who had died earlier in the story.
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The Yaksha Prashna is considered one of the most important episodes in the Mahabharata, as it highlights the importance of dharma and the power of knowledge. It is also a beautiful story of Yudhishthira's unwavering devotion to his brothers and his ability to overcome adversity.
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Talk and discussion by:
Bhramachari Vignesh Chaithanya
https://chinmayamissioncoimbatore.com
Nada Mandala
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The bansuri, a humble bamboo flute, becomes a conduit for exploring the depths of Nada Mandala. Its versatility allows it to create a rich and nuanced soundscape that resonates with the principles of this ancient sonic tradition.
Creating the Mandala:
Breath and Tone: Sri Himanshu Nanda, through the flow of breath (prana) to brings subtle variations in tone, pitch, and rhythm. This becomes the foundation of the Nada Mandala, with each note a brushstroke in the sonic canvas.
Ragas and Rasa: By exploring different ragas (melodic frameworks) and their associated rasas (emotions), the bansuri can evoke a spectrum of feelings. A skilled musician can weave a tapestry of joy, peace, longing, and introspection, mirroring the cyclical nature of life itself.
Space and Silence: Just as important as the notes played are the spaces between them. Silence becomes an integral part of the Nada Mandala, allowing the listener to absorb and reflect on the preceding sounds. This interplay of sound and silence creates a dynamic, meditative experience.
Layering and Improvisation: The bansuri player can utilize techniques like overblowing and ornamentation to create layers of sound, mimicking the complexity and interconnectedness of the universe. Improvisation allows for spontaneous expression, reflecting the ever-changing nature of reality.
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Performance:
We get to see the intimate relationship and togetherness through a Live performance by
Sri. Himanshu Nanda and Bhansuri.
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Exploring the dream world
Dreams encompass a vast spectrum of experiences, from mundane rehearsals of daily life and processing of the day's events (day residue) to profound problem-solving, confronting fears, and even visitations from alternate spaces. They can also involve wish fulfillment, the surfacing of repressed emotions, and the replaying of decision-making processes. Furthermore, dream states can hold messages for the collective, reveal inner treasures of the mind, and offer guidance from the divine.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the nature and meaning of dreams can be instrumental in our self-development and accelerate our spiritual growth (sadhana).
Dreams often communicate through symbolic language from the subconscious or higher realms. By paying close attention to recurring themes, emotions, and symbols in our dreams, we can gain valuable insights into our spiritual journey, uncover hidden obstacles, and receive guidance. Keeping a dream journal and engaging in dream analysis are valuable tools for this process.
Cultivating awareness within the dream state, through practices like lucid dreaming and trance, can be a potent sadhana technique. This conscious exploration of the dream world allows for deeper self-exploration and spiritual practice while asleep.
Talk and discussion by:
Prasad Naveen
www.pavithram.info