Baba Rampuri

What is so special about this Maha Shivaratri retreat?

For the last 40 odd years, every year I observe the 14th dark lunar fortnight in month of Phalguna, usually the dark moon in February, as the Night of Shiva or Maha Shivaratri. According to tradition, it’s the one night of the year that Shiva, Himself, declared to Parvati (Shakti), his consort, that not only was it his favorite, but also the most propitious night for anyone seeking self knowledge. And since my tradition for the last 45 years, the Naga Babas of of the ancient order of yogis, Juna Akhara, observes this moment with great enthusiasm and detail, this was my training for many years while my gurus were alive. Now I perform the rites and teach the sadhana, the practices. As a yogi, my goal on this night is not to better myself, but rather to do my little bit to bring some balance into the world, taking advantage of the auspicious moment for higher consciousness. It a moment we specifically relate to as a collective.

According to the traditional yogis of India, this is the single best moment for performing meditation, yoga, worship, or any sadhana especially related to raising consciousness. Next year (2015) falls on Tuesday, February 17. Something very magical about that day, Shiva gives His blessings, and one becomes liberated from ignorance. In our Maha Shivaratri retreat, I will share with you my experience and knowledge of the tradition of yogis and we will explore and experience that consciousness.

Join me in India for Shivaratri

I invite you for a one week retreat in Goa, India, at which we will explore the tradition of Shivaratri and how it relates to self knowledge. I will teach the invocation of Shiva, traditional meditation, and initiate you into Mahamrityunjaya mantra and its practice for healing – to be ready for our all-night Shivaratri Puja, as done everywhere in India. We will make havan, fire sacrifice, daily bhajans and singing, and of course, storytelling from the Oral Tradition – all at my dhuni, the sacred fire.

Just added —

Special Guests

Peter Pannke

Druvinka Puri

Peter Pannke, Master of Dhrupad Classical Indian Vocal and Fakir will give morning breathing meditations and chanting, as well as further teachings (individual and group) in singing. Druvinka Puri, my favorite Visionary Painter (of mythological dreamscapes), Nagrani, and sadhvi will make pujas and give teachings.

The Union of Shiva and Shakti

Shivaratri is great observance of the union of Shiva and Shakti. They do marry on this day, the 14th dark lunar fortnight in month of Phalguna, according to North Indian calendar, which is the month of Magha in the South. Both North Indians and South Indians celebrate Shivaratri on same day.

Significance of Maha Shivaratri in Indian Tradition

Besides marrying Parvati, at this cosmic moment

• Shiva manifests Himself as the Shivalinga,
• performs His tandava dance, creating, maintaining, and destroying the universe in a second,
• manifests the syllables of Speech, known as the Shiva Sutras or Maheshwar Sutras
• During the Churning of the Milky Way for the Nectar of Immortality, drinks the Halahal, the cosmic poison, to save the world
• Reveals the Mahamrityunjaya mantra

Fasting

Starting from the day before Shivaratri (Monday), we will have the option of eating phalahari food (pre-agriculture foods, including fruits and roots, water chestnuts, lotus root and seeds, sago, and milk products) until Wednesday morning.

Phalahar Food

Puja

We will perform Shiva Puja during night and we will break our fast next day after taking bath. We will break the fast between sunrise and before the end of the Chaturdashi (14th dark lunar fortnight) to get maximum benefit of the observances.

We will perform Shivaratri puja four times during the night.

Mahashivaratri Retreat & Puja
February 14-20, 2015
Goa, India

Seven days includes all meals, activities, lodging, private meetings with Baba.

$2301 (double occupancy).

Register Now

During the Maha Shivaratri Retreat you will receive:

• Complete and traditional performance of the rites of Shivaratri
• Instruction in puja and kriya; how to invoke deities
• Instruction in mantras and yantras and their application
• Instruction in Mahamrityunjaya Mantra & its kriyas, for healing
• Storytelling about Shiva from the oral tradition
• Traditional bhajans and kirtan

You will take home:

• Vibhuti (Sacred Ashes) from our rituals and havans for healing, protection, & ritual
• Holy Water (from Ganga) with the shakti of invoked deities
• A blessed rudraksha mala (from our Shivaratri Puja)
• A mahamritunjaya yantra that you will make
• The blessings of Lord Shiva

Photos of Diwali 2014 Retreat

Teachings

Besides his storytelling, Baba Rampuri will give teachings in the following arts:

• Mantra Shakti
• Yantra
• Tantra
• Meditation
• Puja
• Bhajan
• Initiation

Initiations into practices will be individual.

Hari Karam Singh
London, U.K.

“Baba Rampuri is a one-of-kind individual. He has the analytical intelligence and library of a top western academic. He’s also maintained the discipline for over 40 years as a Naga Baba, a mystical group whose traditions and ancient knowledge are still very much guarded and closed to the outside world.

He’s one of the most fascinating people with whom you could ever have a conversation and his conversation of choice, Speech in all it’s functions, philosophies and fallacies, is probably the single most important one to be having right now. Babaji gives you a glimpse onto another world and clearly draws the ties to the modern story.

Nothing short of mind-blowing.

And his chelas are amazing cooks."

“The Diwali 2014  retreat with Baba Rampuri turned out to be one of the most fascinating, inspiring and valuable experiences of my life.

I have never come across anyone who could explain and articulate such a complex subject matter and make it so understandable, interesting, enjoyable and available to a regular person. 

His storytelling abilities are extraordinary and his knowledge of subjects ranging from history to geography, politics, literature, movies & art is exceptional. Viewing these subjects through Babaji’s knowledge tradition is extremely interesting. I thank him for being such an important part of my life.

I feel that the experience gave me more than the past 10 years of quite intense study of various spiritual subjects. Whenever I think back I am filled with joy and feeling of gratitude for the blessings I feel that I received.

Among the benefits I received from the retreat, I learned and realized that an essential part of increasing my Self Knowledge is getting a deeper understanding of my own culture and background.  What is it really to be Norwegian and what does it do to me.   I got more handles on the concepts of Sacred Speech & I am continuing my studies and inquiry by practicing what we learned.   

I highly recommend doing a Retreat and Pilgrimage with Baba Rampuri.  I feel that anyone interested in learning more about themselves & about life will receive tremendous benefits from the experience.

Jan Baggerud Larson
Oslo, Norway

DAY 1, Saturday, 14.2.2015, 10th day of dark moon (dashami)Arrival at Airport. You will be picked up and brought to Hotel Bougainvillea.
5 PM : Baba Rampuri’s welcome satsang on Shivaratri
7 PM : Welcome Feast with Baba Rampuri

DAY 2, Sunday, 15.2.2015, 11th day of dark moon (ekadasi)VIJAYA EKADASI VRAT

6:15 AM: Sunrise meditation at the dhuni
7:00 AM: Morning Arati/Puja – Ladies will offer raw milk to Shivaling
7:45 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: The Story of Ekadasi Vrat – Mantras and Sacred Speech
12 NOON: Break
1:00 PM: Lunch
2:30 PM: Introduction into Mahamritunjaya Mantra and its use
5:30 PM: Break
6:00 PM: Sunset Arati/Puja
7:00 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM: End of daily activities

DAY 3, Monday, 16.2.2015, 12th day of dark moon (dvadasi)SOMVAR VRAT – Shiva’s day of the week

6:15 AM : Sunrise meditation at the dhuni
7:00 AM : Morning Arati/Puja
7:45 AM : Breakfast
9:00 AM : Mahamritunjaya
12 NOON: Break
1:00 PM : Lunch
2:30 PM : Yantras – we will all make Mahamritunjaya Yantras
4:00 PM : Market trip for Shivaratri Puja items
6:00 PM : Sunset Arati/Puja
7:00 PM : Dinner
8:00 PM : End of daily activities

DAY 4, Tuesday, 17.2.2015, 13th day of dark moon (trayodasi)MAHASHIVARATRI

6:15 AM : Sunrise meditation at the dhuni
7:00 AM : Morning Puja/ Arati
7:45 AM : Breakfast for those who are not fasting
9.00 AM : Havan – fire sacrifice
12:36 PM: The chaturdasi commences – Shivaratri begins
1:00 PM : Puja
4:00 PM : Every participant will receive his/her Mantra
7:00 PM : Sunset Arati/Puja
9:00 PM : Beginning of Shivaratri Puja/ Shivalingam Puja – the Puja is going ALL night, guests may leave as desired and will be escorted to the guest house
Midnight: Main Sivaratri puja begins

DAY 5, Wednesday, 18.2.2015, 14th day of dark moon (chaturdasi)7:00 AM: Break Fast after sunrise – completion of Shivaratri Vow
8:00 AM : Rest/Leisure/relax
1:00 PM : Bhandara – Mahashivaratri traditional feat – Invitation of Brahmins
3:30 PM : Mahamritunjaya – Mantras and Ritual- workshop
6:00 PM : Sunset Arati/Puja
7:00 PM : Dinner
8:30 PM : Satsang

DAY 6, Thursday, 19.2.2015, New Moon (pratipada)6:15 AM : Sunrise meditation at the dhuni
7:00 AM Morning Arati/Puja 7:45 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Mahamritunjaya – application and healing
12 NOON Break
1:00 PM Lunch
2:30 PM Personal meetings/consultations with Baba
5:30 PM Break
6:00 PM Evening Arati/Puja
7:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Music performance

DAY 7, Friday, 20.2.2015, 2nd day of bright moon (dwitiya)8:00-11:00 AM : Farewell Brunch

Questions about the retreat?

Error: Contact form not found.

Lodging & Prices

Full Schedule

Register

Media