The Yoga of No-Moon-Night

“Round them the afternoon to evening changed;
Light slipped down to the brightly sleeping verge,
And the birds came back winging to their nests,
And day and night leaned to each other’s arms.”

During 2019, 03 June is the Amavasya or No-Moon-Night. 04 June is the New Moon when the new month starts. The year is 2076 Vikram Samvat.

Yoginis and Yogis, on a No-Moon-Night, can do a special meditation – Jyoti Tratak Sadhna. Although having origins in Tantric path, that has similarities with occult traditions like Kabbalah, Tratak is widely accepted as a Kriya in mainstream Yoga practice.

Tratak is as unique as the Sri Yantra. Amongst the ten Yantras corresponding to the Ten Great Knowledge (Das Maha Vidya Temple, Haridwar), it is only Sri Yantra that spontaneously brings good-luck when installed, after due rituals, at the entrance in a house. One doesn’t need to conduct daily prayers, however desirable that is.

Most meditation techniques work through prana and breath. Tratak is predominantly based on visual aspects — systematic focussing on single flame / light in a dark place.

No-Moon-Night is the darkest night of a month. Diwali, the most observed festival of India is also celebrated on a specific No-Moon-Night. During 2019, Diwali is on 27 October and the dates for 2020 and 2021 are 14 November and 04 November respectively.

Savitri-Vrat is another festival celebrated on 03 June 2019. Savitri was able to bring Satyavan, her husband, back from death. Sri Aurobindo wrote “Savitri: a Legend and a Symbol” a book, entirely in poetry, using the story of Savitri and Satyavan covering deeper thoughts. Two of the Cantos are entitled –

The Yoga of the King: The Yoga of the Soul’s Release

The Yoga of the King: The Yoga of the Spirit’s Freedom and Greatness

Aghni, spiritual name of a native Italian painter, is deeply inspired with Sri Aurobindo. He has made a series of paintings on the theme. The painting shown above, and for below, Oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm, are by him.

Mrityunjaya (Death victory) Mantra is a powerful mantra and its chanting leads to good health and prolonging life. This temple is believed to be the most sanctified amongst all Mrityunjaya temples anywhere. More information on the mantra is here.

During October 2018, on his birthday, Will Smith (Aladdin, Men in Black, etc.), a popular Hollywood actor came to Haridwar to pray at the Mrityunjay Temple, the place where Lord Shiva stayed during the betrothal to Parvati. A video of the occasion can be seen below.

Praying for the souls of the deceased is done at another temple. During October 2015, the family of Sylvestor Stallone visited Haridwar to conduct special prayers for a departed family-member. The Narayani Shila Temple at Haridwar is the special temple where people come to pray for the departeds, especially during Shraadh, the fortnight of the deceased. Following is a video on that visit.

William Sullivan Brown, who has also acted in American films stayed and trained at AZIMVTH Ashram during 2017. More information is here.

Emily Kuchenbecker, a glass artist from the US, stayed and trained at AZIMVTH Ashram during 2017/2018. She has been practicing Yoga for a number of years. Mysticism of the Moon inspired her to embark on a project, at AZIMVTH, to draw one Moon for each of the night she has been alive for. The drawings are astronomically accurate and astrologically blessed. Following is a picture of the Moon Book she has made. More information is here.

At AZIMVTH Ashram in Haridwar, Yoginis and Yogis take deep-dives in the foundation-aspects of Yoga and spirituality. “My Yoga Intensive: Unanswered Questions of Yogi (ni) s” is the programme that is meant for this. Not more than three participants are accepted in each cohort. More information is here.

Instead of a lamp/candle light, one may also use the sight of setting Sun. Following image shows Surya Namaskar – Sun sliding into Ganges for a holy dip — a Yoga, the union, of fire and water. At the twilight hour of God, couple of days ago, about 3 km downstream AZIMVTH Ashram, at Haridwar, India. (Images with no filters or editing)

AZIMVTH Tratak Meditation is an innovative extension of the mystic Jyoti Tratak Sadhana.