Ceremonies
“Ceremonies are a means of getting groups of people to unite their thoughts and energies.”
— Swami Kriyananda
At Ananda, we often express our inner experience of God’s presence, outwardly as well, through simple, beautiful, and uplifting ceremonies.
Purification Ceremony
This beautiful ceremony helps us open to divine grace to obtain purification from any particular trait, tendency or event that is causing an obstacle to our spiritual growth.
The ceremony involves writing that quality or habit that we are seeking purification from on a piece of paper and burning it at the altar after receiving a blessing from the presiding Acharya.
Fire Ceremony
In this ceremony, we light a fire (havan) and offer into it all our love, service and devotion, and also our desires and attachments, while chanting Gayatri Mantra and Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. This is a symbolic ceremony outwardly representing our inner fire ceremony, where in deep meditation, and through the practice of kriya yoga, we offer all seeds of past karma, tendencies and desires to be burnt in the fire of enlightenment at our spiritual eye. The Gayatri Mantra brings enlightenment, and the Mahamrityunjaya is for liberation. Ghee is used in the fire ceremony to represent the heart’s pure aspiration and devotion and rice represents the seeds of our past karma.
Festival of Light
The Festival of Light expresses the core of what we stand for in a moving and poetic way. It involves people in a way they’ll remember. When you have something that’s rhythmic, with images that are alive, people absorb the words. Weeks later, they will remember a particular phrase. These things, especially when heard repeatedly, enter the subconscious mind and affect the way people look at the whole world. During the festival we invoke God’s light to flow down to earth, and into the hearts of worshipers both present and afar, through the channels of our line of masters, and the great saints of all religions.
Marriage Ceremony
Couples may decide to be united in the spiritual presence of our Master and in the environment of spiritual love. The Ananda Mumbai center’s Temple may be available for such a ceremony upon request.
The Ananda wedding ceremony evokes and strengthens a couple’s love for each other, and of God’s loving presence in their union. In addition to vows to each other and to God, the ceremony includes devotional chanting, prayer, meditation, uplifting music and a special blessing of the couple.
Renewal of Vows
Renew the sacred vows of marriage at Ananda Mumbai’s temple in an unforgettable and sacred environment.
The Ananda wedding ceremony evokes and strengthens a couple’s love for each other, and of God’s loving presence in their union. In addition to vows to each other and to God, the ceremony includes devotional chanting, prayer, meditation, uplifting music and a special blessing of the couple.
Birthdays
Celebrate birthdays of family and loved ones with a special birthday blessing by Ananda Mumbai’s Spiritual Directors Tyagi Narayani and Shurjo.
New Born Blessings (Baptism)
We conduct a gentle baptism ceremony for newborns.
Astral Ascension
A special ceremony is conducted for those who have departed the earthly realm for a higher abode. This ceremony is conducted by our Spiritual Directors as well.