The School of Life is immensely grateful to have the presence of Dr. Mahapatra Gyanendra on this most holy night. He will be performing a 4 hour puja for the sake of purification and sanctification of all participants and peace in the world.

Lord Siva is considered to be the embodiment of compassion, and the full bounty of His mercy floods the earth on this night. He is the form of God who cures our suffering by removing our ignorance which causes us to mistake illusion for reality. He is also Pure Consciousness, and is the fount of all Yogas.

Sponsors will be included in the Sankalpa, meaning the merit they receive will be equal to having performed the puja themselves. For this occasion, sponsorship costs $50, which will help defray program costs and also support Dr. Mahapatra’s work on behalf of world peace. To register, please send a donation via paypal to: shantiyoga@schooloflife.org

“ ‘Ratri’ means ‘night,’ and Maha Shivaratri is the Great Night of Lord Siva. On the holy occasion of Maha Shivaratri, millions of people around the world observe the Maha Shivaratri Vrata (Vow), in which they refrain from eating any food or sleeping throughout the entire night of Sivaratri. In the pursuit of Atma vidya—the knowledge of the supreme Self—one has to be very vigilant and alert. This is the real significance and motive behind staying awake throughout the night of Sivaratri. Only by remaining alert and aware can we guard against being taken over by the six inner enemies—wrong desire, greed, illusion, arrogance, jealousy, and anger. Holy devotional activities, especially when performed on Maha Shivaratri, will tame the senses and the mind, thereby allowing one to be immersed in the sacred lake of absolute silence and inner purity. By chanting stotras, singing bhajans, doing mantra japa or meditating, one can completely fill one’s entire mind with the divine vibrations of supreme consciousness.” Sri Karunamayi

Dr. Mahapatra is a master of the art of performing Yagyas and Pujas, for the benefit of individuals and society. He has taught meditation including advanced techniques for 50 years.