Sri Suryanarayana Swmi Temple

About Sun

	HEAVENLY LIGHT Search for Light and Truth has been the guiding principle of Vedic Seers of hoary antiquity in their earnest endeavors to solve the eternal problems of creation. “Jyotiranveshayamaha” - ‘Let us search for Light, heavenly Light’ was their motto. It is interesting to note that the Royal Astronomical Society of Britain has the same motto, “quick quid nitil notundum” - means, “whatever shines must be observed”. A Russian sentence goes on, “Rays of light are the emissaries of their master, the source of light, the Sun. Devotees of every age testify to the appearance of God as light. And throughout the world, Light is considered the symbol for all splendor and glory of the Spirit. It stands for Truth, Order, Reality, Goodness, Beauty, Intelligence, Wisdom, Bliss and Immortality or “Amritattwa”. Therefore, the Sun is Light and Life, Love and Law. “Let there be Light! And there was Light”, the Bible saith. The soul of the universe or “Hiranya Garbha” sustains and upholds the entire universe; all animate and inanimate beings live through the Sun
The Supreme Cosmic Consciousness manifesting through the Divine Showered of light and life has been fully realized by the ancient bards and savants of the East and the West. They propounded the theory of the Sun worship in many ways, among all to be within everybody’s reach. Thus, the worship of the Sun in daily life came into Life and Existence ages ago but became part and parcel of our being even today. May Surya showers Life Force on one and all-from Eskimo to Negro! May the humanity see Him everyday!

About Temple

Slokam : " Harshavilli purivasam , Chayosha Padminiyutham Suryanarayanam Devam Nowmi Sarvartha Dayakam "

The famous Sun God Temple situated in Arasavalli Village which is at a distance of about 1 K.M. east of Srikakulam Town in Andhra Pradesh head quarters of the coastal district in Andhra Pradesh . It is one of the ancient and all among two sun God temples in our Country. According to Padmapuranam , Sage Kasyapa installed the Idol of Surya at Arasavalli for the Welfare of mankind . Therefore , the Surya is of Kasyapasa Gotra . He is also termed as planetary King . The ' Sthalapuranam ' of the temple narrates that lord Devendra had founded this temple and installed the existing idol of the sun God commonly known as Lord suryanarayana Swamy Varu under the following circumstances . Once Lord Devendra , Ignoring the words of Dwarapalaka Nandi , attempted to force his entry for Darshan of Sri Rudrakoteswara Swamy varu at an untimely hour when Lord siva was along with his consort . The Dwarapalaka Nandi in the discharge of his duties kicked the intruder . Thus kicked and injured by the Devine attendent Indra fell down senceless . And in his unconscious state Indra dreamt that he would be relieved of his pain of injury in his chest caused by Nandi if he built a temple and installed an Idol of the Sun God . After regaining his consciousness , he remembered what he dreamt .

Following his dream he pickedup handfulls of earth three times at a place where he lay ,and there he found this beautiful idol of sun God with his three consorts Usha , Chaya and Padmini . At the base of the idols are the figures of Mathara and Pingala the Dwarapalakas and high up are the two divine saints , sanaka and sanadana holding 'Chatrams'(An Umbrella ). The Sun God is depicted as riding over a chariot drawn by Anura, the Radhasaradhy . All these figures are exquisitely carved out of a single black finely polished grenite stone.

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DwarakaTirumala

About the Temple:

“Dwaraka Tirumala” is an ancient holy place and a popular pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh of South India. Dwaraka Tirumala is nearer to 'Eluru', the head quarters of West Godavari District, which is 42 KM away from Eluru. Dwaraka Tirumala is situated at 15KM distance from Bhimadole Junction, which is in between Vijayawada and Rajahmundry State Highway and Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam main Railway line.

Sthala Puranam :


This pilgrimage centre is called "Dwaraka Tirumala" after the great saint, "Dwaraka" who located the self manifested idol of Lord "Sri Venkateswara" after severe penance in a ‘Valmikam’ (ant hill). The devotees call Sri Venkateswara as Kaliyuga Vaikunta Vasa. This place is also called “Chinna Tirupati”.

As per Sastras North Indian rivers like Ganges and Yamuna are considered to be more and more holy as they go up to the origin and south Indian rivers like Krishna and Godavary are more and more holy as they go down the river to its mouth to the Sea. It is why there are numerous shrines and holy bathing ghats, at close intervals, on both sides of the great grand rivers Krishna and Godavary in their lower regions.

The region covered by our Dwaraka Tirumala is commanding the top most conspicuous position in India, being garlanded by these two great Indian rivers Krishna and Godavary, as pointed out by Brahma Purana.

The devotees who wish to go and offer their donations, or tonsures or any other offerings to Lord Venkateswara, Lord of Tirumala Tirupati, called as “Pedda Tirupati”, due to some reason, if they are unable to go there, they can offer their donations, prayers and worship in Dwaraka Tirumala temple.

Dwaraka Tirumala is a famous temple from the ancient times. According to some Puranas, the temple is popular even in Kruta yuga and is still attracting the devotees. According to Brahma Purana, Aja Maharaja, the Grand father of Lord Sri Rama also worshiped Lord Venkateswara for his marriage. On his way to the ‘Swayamvaram’ of Indumati, he passed by the temple. He did not offer prayers in the temple. The bride Indumati garlanded him, but he had to face a battle with the kings who came to the Swayamvaram. He realized that the battle was thrust on him for ignoring the temple on the way. After realizing this, Aja Maharaja prayed to the Lord Venkateswara. Suddenly the kings stopped the battle.

It is a great wonder to see two main idols under one Vimana Sikharam. One idol is a full and complete statue. The other is a half statue of the upper portion of the form of the Lord. The upper potion of the form is a self-manifested idol located by Sage "Dwaraka". The saints of the yore felt the prayers to the Lord are not complete without worshipping His holy feet. So, the saints joined together and installed a full statue behind the self-manifested idol, to worship the feet of the Lord according to Vaikhanasa Agamam.

It is believed that the prayers to the smaller statue of the Lord will lead to Moksha, and the big form stands for Dharma, Artha and Kama. The Tiru kalyanotsavam is celebrated twice a year. One for the self manifested idol in the month of “Vaisakha” and the other for the installed idol in the month of “Aswayuja”.

MAGNIFICIENCE OF THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM:

On entering the sanctum sanctorum, one feels a most inspiring and enchanting experience. The presiding mythological deity Lord Venkateswara is visible upto the Bust size and the lower portion is imagined to be in the earth. The holy feet are said to be offered to Bali Chakravarthi in “Patala” for his daily worship. The full size idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara standing at the back of the main idol is said to have been installed by the great social reformer Srimad Ramanuja of the 11 th century. The idols of Padmavathi and Nanchari are installed in the Arthamandapa facing east. This is a full equipped shrine to be a Divyasthala.

COMBINATION OF SIVA AND VISHNU ON ADISESHA:

The most peculiar aspect here is that the hill appearing to be a serpant in form, even to the naked eye, confirms the mythological version that Anantha, the serpant king has taken up this terrestial form of serpant hill and is carrying God Mallikarjuna on the hood and Lord Venkateswara on the tail, thus creating a happy and harmonious compromise of Vaishnavism and Saivism at a single place.

RENOVATION AND ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT STRUCTURE:

The magnificent monuments like, Vimana, Mantapa, Gopura, Prakara etc., stand to the credit of Dharma Appa Raoa recent ruler (1762 – 1827) and the golden ornaments and silver vahanas stand to the credit of the generous queen Rani Chinnamma Rao of Mylavaram, Krishna Dist. (1877 – 1902). These things immortalize the glory of the shrine.

The main temple is a masterpiece of South Indian Architecture with its five-storied main Rajagopuram facing the south and three other gopurams on the other three sides. The Vimana is in the Nagara style and old Mukhamantapa is extended to a great extent to suit the present day needs. There are several temples of Alwars attached to the Prakara on all sides. The whole spacious compound has been paved with stone and flower trees are grown in an order as if to feast the eye of the pilgrims.

Temple Tour (Holy places in the Temple):
	Sri Swamyvari Temple Anjaneya Swamyvari and Sri Garuda Swamivari Temples Sage ‘Dwaraka’ Statue Alwar Temples Deeparadhana Temple Four corner Mandapams Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya Statue

Temple Activities for the day: Daily worships begin with “SUPRABHATAM” at 4-00 AM and end with the ringing of bells at 9-00 PM according to “VAIKHANASA AGAMA SASTRA”.

4-00 AM to 5-00 AM “SUPRABHATAM” 5-00 AM to 6-00 AM Brining of holy water daily worships, Balabhogam and distribution of Prasadam (“TEERDHAPU BINDE”) 6-00 AM to 8-00 AM Snapana (Only on Fridays) 6-00 AM to 1-00 PM Special and early “Darsanam” of “Swamy” to the devotees. 9-00 AM to 12-00 Noon Worships by the devotees (Arjita Poojas) 8-00 AM to 12-00 Noon Vedaparayanam 9-30 AM to 12-00 Noon Daily “Arjita Kalyanam” 12-00 Noon to 12-15 PM “Mahanaivedyam” and distribution of “Prasadam” 1-00 PM Close of the Temple 3-00 PM to 5-00 PM Free Darsanam (Sarva Darsan) 3-30 PM Prabhutvotsavam 6-00 PM to 7-00 PM Evening worships (Sayamkalarchana) 8-30 PM to 9-00 PM Sevakalam, Pavalimpu Seva 9-00 PM Close of the temple

Darsanam: Darsanam (On Payment): Darsanam is provided to devotees every day. Darsanam timings are Morning 6AM to 1 PM, 5 PM to 5.30 PM and 6.30 PM to 9 PM The ticket rate for Darsanam is Rs.2/- per head Seeghra Darsanam: This is a Special type of Darsan. People can use this type of Darsan having shorter period of time. Darsanam timings are Morning 6AM to 1 PM, 3 PM to 5.30 PM and 6.30 PM to 9 PM. The ticket rate for this type of Darsan is Rs.15/- per head.

Nitya Arjita Kalyanam: Nitya Arjitha Kalyanam is performed every day to Lord Sri Venkateswara. The devotees can also participate in the Celebration of Kalyanam by paying certain amount. Arjitha Kalyanam Rs. 750/-: On payment of Rs.750/- the Devasthanam will present one Sari, Jacket, Dhovati, and Kanduva to the couple. 10 Laddus, 1 Pulihora and 1 Sarakara Pongal packet are presented. 6 persons will be allowed for Darsanam including Kalyanam performing couple and also for Anna Prasadam. Arjita Kalyanam will not be celebrated on the following Days: Makara Sankranti Swamy vari Vysakhamasa Kalyanotsavams (From Vaisakha Suddha Dasami to Bahula Vidiya) Swamy vari Aswayujamasa Kalyanotsavams (From Aswayuja Suddha Dasami to Bahula Vidiya) Solar Eclipses Krishnastami Pavithrotsavams (From Sravana Suddha Trayodasi to Bahula Padyami)

temple vew:

Route Map:

Dwaraka Tirumala pilgrimage center is situated at distance of 17 KM from Bhimadole Railway Station, which is on the main Railway line between Vijayawada and Vizag. It is at a distance of 15 KM from Bhimadole Road Junction on the Highway between Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. This is at a distance of 42 KM from Eluru, 50 KM from Tadepalligudem. There are No.of Buses through Bhimadole Junction from Eluru, Vijayawada, Gannavaram, T.P. Gudem, Bhimavaram, Narasapuram, Tanuku, Kovvur, Nuzvid, Vuyyuru R.T.C. depots and also from Jangareddy gudem, Aswarao Pet, Sattupalli, Tiruvur and Bhadrachalam depots.

Trains Stop at Bhimadole Railway Station:

1. Rayagada Passenger:

From Vijayawada to Rayagada - 22.23 PM – 22.25 PM

From Rayagada to Vijayawada - 7.01 AM – 7.03 PM

2. Kakinada – Vijayawada Passenger:

From Vijayawda to Kakinada -

From kakinada to Vijayawada -

3. Simhadri Express:

From Guntur to Vizag -

From Vizag to Guntur -

4. Kakinada – Tirupathi Passenger:

From Kakinada to Tirupathi -

From Tirupathi to Kakinda -

5. Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam Passenger:

From Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam -

From Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada -

6. Tirumala Express:

From Vizag to Tirupathi -

From Tirupathi to Vizag -

7. Eluru – Rajahmundry Passenger:

From Eluru to Rajahmundry -

From Rajahmundry to Eluru -

Sri Sailam

Significance: This is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in India and it constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva. The presiding deities here are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi).

This is an ancient temple with fort like walls, towers and a rich endowment of sculptural work. This huge temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagar architecture.

The Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it and the Saivite Tamil Saints have sung its glory. The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagar kings (esp Krishnadevaraya) have made several endowments here. This temple is of immense religious, historical and architectural significance.

Antiquity The origins of this temple are buried in antiquity. The Skanda Purana has a chapter dedicated to it. The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here. Praise of this temple has been sung by the Tamil Saint poets of the past millennium.

The shrine dedicated to Bhramaramba is considered to be of great significance. Legend has it that Durga is said to have assumed the shape of a bee and worshipped Shiva here, and chose this place as her abode.

Tirumala Tirupati Temple History

There is ample literary and epigraphic testimony to the antiquity of the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple.

After the decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty, nobles and chieftains from all parts of the country continued to pay their homage and offer gifts to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle, visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald which is still preserved in a box named after the General. Among the later rulers who have endowed large amounts are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.

After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and then the Britishers took over, and many of the temples came under their supervisory and protective control.

In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions. The administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates were then entrusted to Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple remained under the administration of the Mahants for nearly a century, till 1933 AD.

In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras.

In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer was appointed by the Government .

The provisions of the Act of 1951 were retained by Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966.

Sri Varahaswami Temple

Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala is to the north of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini. According to legend, Tirumala was originally Adi Varaha Kshetra (the home of Sri Adi Varaha Swami), and it was with his permission that Lord Sri Venkateswara took up residence here. According to the Brahma Purana, pilgrims should first offer naivedyam to Sri Adi Varaha Swami, before visiting the Sri Venkateswara Temple. According to Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), the Varaha avatara is worshipped in three forms: Adi Varaha Pralaya Varaha Yajna Varaha The idol of Sri Varahaswami in Tirumala is that of Adi Varaha, as it resembles the description of the Adi Varaha murti in Vaikhanasa Agama texts.

Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple

Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple is located on Sannidhi Street, opposite the main temple. (In the Vaishnavite tradition, it is customary to have either Garuda or Anjaneya opposite the main temple.) The idol of Sri Anjaneya is shown with its hands folded in supplication (the Anjali pose). Sri Anjenaya is a devotee of Sri Rama, just as Garuda is of Sri Maha Vishnu. Abhishekam is performed every Sunday and special offerings are made on Hanuman Jayanti.

Sri Anjaneyaswami Temple

Sri Anjaneyaswami Temple is located opposite the Sri Varahaswami temple on the north-eastern banks of the Swami Pushkarini. It was constructed during the Mahant's period . The idol's hands are joined in supplication (in the Anjali pose).

Sri Anjaneyaswami is believed to be a bestower of boons and a protector from all evil. At the temple, Abhishekam is conducted every Sunday.

Teerthams in Tirumala

Swami Pushkarini Akasaganga Teertham Papavinasanam Teertham Pandava Teertham Kumaradhara Teertham Tumbhuru Teertham Ramakrishna Teertham

Chakra Teertham Vaikuntha Teertham Sesha Teertham Sitamma Teertham Pasupu Teertham Japali Teertham Sanaka Sanandana Teertham

Swami Pushkarini

Swami Pushkarini was originally in Vaikuntam and belonged to Sri Maha Vishnu. It was set on Earth by Garuda, for the sport of Sri Venkateswara. It is adjacent to the Sri Venkateswara temple.

Pilgrims bathe here before entering the main temple.

The mukkoti of Swami Pushkarini (the merging of over three crore teerthams in Swami Pushkarini) occurs on Mukkoti Dwadasi (the twelfth day of the fortnight of Dhanur Masa). Therefore, it is believed that bathing in the Swami Pushkarini on this day, is equivalent to bathing in the holy river, Ganges.

On the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini is the Sri Varahaswami temple, while on its southern bank is the Sri Venkateswara temple.

The wooden-float festival of Lord Sri Venkateswara in the month of February/March and Avabhrudhasnanam or Chakrasnanam during Brahmotsavam takes place in the Swami Pushkarini.

Festivals at Teerthams

Teertham Day on which the Festival is Held Every Year

• Kumaradhara Magha Pournami

• Ramakrishna Pushya Pournam
• 
  
• Tumbhuru Phalguna Pournam
• 
  
• Chakra Karthika Masa - Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi

Other Places in Tirumala
	Silathoranam TTD Gardens Asthana Mandapam SV Dhyana Vignan Mandiram Silathoranam Silathoranam is a natural rock formation in the form of an arch, near the Chakra Tirtham. Geologists have identified the rocks on the hill as pre-Cambrian, and this arch formation suggests an antiquity of several million years to the Tirumala hill. It is said that there are only two other natural rock arches of such great antiquity in the world. TTD Gardens The TTD Gardens - ornamental, landscape and flower gardens - occupy an area of 460 acres in Tirupati and Tirumala. There are four nurseries at Tirumala with mist chambers - in the Travellers Bungalow area, Gogarbham Dam area, Sri Padmavathi Guest House area and Divyaramam area wherein ten lakh plants are propagated annually. Hybrid varieties of crotons, hibiscus,bougainvilleas have been released through hybridisation and mutation and named after great personalities - Croton Ramanuja, Tirumalanambi, Neelam, Dr.N.T.Rama Rao and bougainvillea varieties like Sharada Mukherjee and Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. There are about 200 varieties of plants in the gardens. The Department of Gardens has released a number of books and publications like Plant Wealth of Tirumala, Angiospermic Wealth of Tirumala,The Ornamental Designs, Inti Thotalu, Thota Panulu. The Garden Department has a large germplasm collection of various ornamental varieties collected from various places in India and abroad. The great Vaishnava acharya Sri Ramanuja and his disciple, Sri Anandalwar are believed to have been responsible for starting these gardens in the fourteenth century. Legend has it that the Tirumala flower gardens were cultivated by Sattada Sri Vaishnavas under the name of Dasa Nambis who made flower garlands for use in temples in Tirumala-Tirupati. Inscriptions in the temple refer to numerous flower gardens during the latter period of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. In Tirumala many places are named after Nandanavanams - Andalwar Garden, Tharigonda Venkamamba Garden, Hathiramjee Garden and Tallapaka Garden. To add to the glory of the gardens, there are many tanks and ponds such as Alwar Tank Mangalabhavi and Ananthapalligunta which are useful not only as perennial water sources for the temple gardens but also for growing red lotus flowers and supplying fresh water to the pilgrims and natives. The main flowers used for Srivari Kainkaryam (puja) are the scented ones like roses, lotuses, chrysanthemums, davana, tulasi, Nerium, Tabornamontana, Kanakambaram (Tagetes) and Exora. The Gardens Department of TTD meets the demand for flowers of all the temples in Tirumala.The Department supplies nearly 500 kg of flowers every day to all temples in Tirumala and Tiripati. It supplies garlands for adorning the deities and for decorating the mandapam, pandals and vahanas on festive occasions.The Department also accepts flowers in the form of donations from the devotees wherein flowers can be supplied under the name 'Sri Vari Pushpa Kainkaryam'. The APSTC-run buses provide for free transport of flowers in Tirumala. The Department organises Pushpa Yagam and horticultural flower shows every year during Brahmotsavam. Asthana Mandapam The Asthana Mandapam or Sadas Hall is an auditorium near the main temple complex, where cultural events are held. Sri Venkateswara Dhyana Vignan Mandiram The Sri Venkateswara Museum was established in 1980. Stone and wooden carvings, articles used for puja, and traditional art and architecture are displayed here. Now, a new building, called the Sri Venkateswara Dhyana Vignana Mandiram has been constructed for the purpose. The building also has meditation halls for pilgrims.

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• Autoship product.
  Having autoshipped product isn't mandatory, but it's absolutely essential to your business success. Why? First off, to have the passion required to convince others, you must have a personal connection with our revolutionary product. That requires first-hand experience on how it makes your mind and body feel and perform better. Secondly, product is by far the best sales tool you can use, since it allows your customers to know exactly how it feels to achieve better health through Agel's revolutionary Suspension Gel Technology.
  
  How many boxes should you autoship? Four boxes is a good place to start, depending on your business goals, your health requirements, and the size of your family. However, it's only a start. Most successful team members autoship substantially more than four boxes. So if your goals are big, be sure you have enough product available to hand out as samples to support that kind of success.


• Autoship support materials.
  We offer a wide range of marketing materials to support your business and sales. At the very minimum, you should autoship a 50-pack of our magazine, which will help you communicate key messages to prospective team members. If the magazine isn't available in your language yet, autoship our corporate brochure.


• Activate and manage your autoship online.
  Agel is a technology-based company, so it should be no surprise that you can activate and manage your autoship quickly, easily, and conveniently on the Internet. Need to up your orders of UMI? No problem. Ready to have FIT help you lose weight? Just a swift click and you'll have a box delivered right to you.

5. Start Building Your Team

Now that you've set up shop, it's time to get your business going. This requires you to build a team and get the word out about all the benefits of joining Agel. Here's how:

• Build your initial list.
  The first step is to make an initial list of potential team members. This list needs to be extensive in order to be effective, so you should aim to have at least a hundred people on it.
• Look to those closest to you first.
  When building your list, it might be tempting to "not bother" your family or friends. But, in reality, you're not bothering them, you're just introducing them to something you are excited about—the same way you tell them about the movies and books or vacations you have enjoyed. Do you have friends who'd benefit from good nutrition? How about family members who aren't happy with their work? If so, put them at the top of your list—because you care about them and want to provide them with opportunity.
• Revive relationships and build new ones.
  Former work colleagues, old school friends, extended family who you've lost regular contact with—these are all potential members of your team. Once again, you're not bothering them. You're reviving important but neglected relationships to share an exciting opportunity with them. At the same time, you're offering real value to people you care about.
• Reach out to those who share your interests and goals.
  What do you enjoy? Sports? Photography? Hiking? No matter what your favorite activities are, there's a community built around it—on the Internet or in your neighborhood. You share a common connection with these people, so they make great potential team members. Also keep your eye out for others who, like you, are eager to improve their lives and reach their goals. This type of person has the potential to be perfect for your team.
• Make connections with people who can benefit from Agel.
  Have you met people who are living unhealthy lives? Have you been introduced to neighbors who are looking for extra income? Once again, these are potential members of your team. After all, they're looking for exactly what you have to offer.
• Add to your list daily.
  Your initial list is a starting point, not the final destination. Being successful requires continued effort. So every working day, put your mind to the task of finding more team members. If you focus on this task, you'll be surprised at the number of potential team members you'll uncover.
• Don't get frustrated.
  Most of the people on your list will probably not want to join your team. For whatever reason, they're not interested. That's their choice, and that shouldn't affect your relationship with them in any way. Sure, hearing "no" can get frustrating, but remember that there are plenty of opportunities to hear "yes." When someone says "no," thank them for listening and move on.
• Don't give up.
  When you face rejection or have a hard day, it may be tempting to throw in the towel. But reaching your goals will require perseverance. You have to bounce back from those hard days and negative responses. Find things that inspire you. Reconnect to your "why." Get a good night's sleep and start fresh in the morning.
• Keep a positive attitude.
  Nothing will diminish your effectiveness in team building more than a bad attitude. So even on those bad days, have a positive outlook and project the kind of success that others want. There is perhaps no more effective tool for building a team than a positive attitude.
• Set a goal to personally enroll 40 people.
  This goal will give you something to strive for, and it will provide a good benchmark for your success. Once again, don't get frustrated if you don't reach this goal right away. Instead, consider it something to keep you motivated.
• Offer preferred customer status to those not interested in business.
  Those who aren't looking for a new business opportunity might still be interested in improving their health with our innovative gels. Preferred Customer status allows these people to receive product at discounted rate and can be reliable source of income for you.

6. Begin your Private Business Review (PBR) Program

After you've made contact with people, it's time to really talk to them. And you don't do that over the phone. A PBR in the comfort of your own home is the right tool for making meaningful connections with potential team members. It's no surprise that the PBR is where you'll have the most success turning potential team members into dedicated, enrolled members of you team.

How do you hold an effective PBR? Here are some tips:

• Invite at least 10 people.
  People have busy schedules. Hopefully everyone you invite will come, but to be sure you have a good group, you should invite at least 10 people to your initial PBR. They can be your closest friends and family. They don't need to be already committed to the product. If you're excited enough about the Agel opportunity, they need to know about it. Don't be shy.
• Hold your PBR somewhere comfortable.
  The most successful PBRs are held in places where everyone involved feels comfortable—the invited guests, as well as the host. Most of the time, the most comfortable place available to you is your own home.
• Be a gracious host.
  Just like a great dinner party, a great PBR requires a gracious host. That means you should be warm, accommodating, and supportive to your guests. Invite them in with a smile, provide them comfortable seats, and provide some beverages. If you're less than gracious, you'll most likely fail at building connections.
• Prepare an introductory talk and outline the agenda.
  Unless you're a born speaker or have years of experience talking in front of people, presenting to even a small group can be unnerving. If you're uncomfortable talking to groups, think ahead about what you're going to say. Prepare remarks to introduce yourself and highlight what's best about Agel. Have a written agenda so you don't get lost during the meeting.
• Invite your sponsor for support.
  If you feel like leading a PBR isn't a possibility for you yet, invite your sponsor to take charge of your first few PBRs. He or she will have the experience and know-how to do an effective PBR. When your own skills improve, you can take more of the spotlight. In fact, it won't be long before you'll be invited by the people you sponsor to come help them get started.
• Have plenty of product available.
  Remember, our gels are what we're all about, and merely talking about them isn't enough. Let your guests try a number of sample gels while they're at the PBR. Then send some home with them, so that they can get a more complete picture of their benefits. Nothing will boost your PBR more than this. This is a fact you'll want to consider when you set up your autoship order.
• Use DVD presentations for support.
  Even the most experienced and effective speakers use DVDs to support their presentations. DVD presentations are a highly effective way to make both emotional and rational connections with your audience and can make even dry subjects entertaining. They also provide a welcome break for the host. Ask your sponsor which DVD presentations you should use.
• Ask for a commitment at the end of the meeting.
  Don't let your hard work come to nothing. The most likely time for people to commit to your team is right after you've presented so many compelling reasons why they should join. Don't be afraid to ask for a commitment. Otherwise, great opportunities might slip away. Be sure to have an internet enabled computer already pointed to your backoffice account at the company website. At the very least, have a sign-up sheet where people can put their names, phone numbers, and email addresses so you can follow-up with them individually after the meeting.
• Schedule follow-up three-way calls.
  Be sure to follow up every PBR with a three-way phone call with you, the potential team member, and your sponsor or mentor. This call will help ensure that the people you invite will feel invaluable. And it's also the best way to turn those who may have been interested but unwilling to sign up at the PBR into active members of your business.
• Hold at least one PBR a week.
  A consistent schedule of at least one PBR a week, regardless of attendance, can help ensure that you're continually building and improving your team. As your team grows, let them take the lead on weekly PBRs

7. Plug into an Agel Business Brief (ABB) Network

The ABB is the next step up from a PBR. ABBs are usually held in a public location such as a hotel ballroom or conference hall with an experienced team leader conducting. ABBs enable Agel team members in a community to come together, learn, and get inspired. Here are a few other reasons why you should make a habit of attending all local ABB meetings:

• Make connections with other Agel team members.
  The most invaluable mentors you can have are those who have experience with Agel in your own community. They can tell you what works and what doesn't. They can provide you with hints, leads, and warnings. And the ABB is by far the easiest place to meet these potential mentors.
• Make a big impression.
  Do you have someone who'd be a great team member but is reluctant to enroll? An ABB can be the perfect place to share the power of the Agel community. Feeling the momentum and support of your ABB community firsthand could help soften hearts and change minds.
• Receive training.
  The person conducting the ABB will have invaluable insight on possibilities in your area, important company and product information, relevant nutritional discoveries, and any other updates that are essential to your continued success.
• Commit to creating an ABB if there isn't one your area.
  If you're developing a team in an area without an ABB, you're in luck. This means that you can fill the ABB void and become the pioneering leader in your area. Be aware, however, that ABBs must be presented in a very particular way...
• Find a location that accommodates your audience.
  This isn't the kind of event to hold in an average home. It requires space for dozens, maybe even hundreds. Be sure to arrange a meeting room that will comfortably accommodate the number of attendees you expect.
• Have a professional setup.
  To make your ABB as professional as possible, have a good sound system and a screen for showing video and/or PowerPoint presentations.
• Ask for assistance.
  If in doubt, don't do an ABB by yourself. There are corporate resources available to assist you, and don't be shy about using them. Contact your sponsor or Regional Sales Manager for help

8. Participate in Weekly Leadership Calls

There are weekly leadership calls both at the local level and for top-tier team members. As you start your business, be sure to engage with your team leadership. Then as you advance, take advantage of the insight provided by our most outstanding team members. Here are some ways to take full advantage of the weekly leadership calls:

• Engage with your team leadership.
  Weekly leadership calls will put you in regular contact with your team—which can be a great way to increase your knowledge and improve your own success.
• Talk to your sponsor about when and where.
  Not sure what calls you can participate in or when they're held? Talk to your sponsor. He or she should know these details and forward them on to you.
• Discover how to duplicate successful strategies.
  Your leaders have been on the path you're on now. They provide outstanding examples of how to achieve amazing things with Agel. So it's no surprise that the more area leadership calls you participate in, the more you'll learn about how to succeed.
• Find out the tactics of the top names in the industry.
  As your level of performance increases, so does your access to leadership calls held by some of the absolute best names in network marketing. Although it may take some time to reach the level necessary to participate in these calls, it's something to look forward to.

9. Book Attendance at All Major Agel Events

Attending a large Agel event can transform your personal approach to your business and help solidify your Agel team. In fact, it could change your life. It's your chance to meet people just like you—who just happen to be from all over the world. It's also the place to hear about new products, be introduced to top performers, and learn the latest techniques for creating an incredibly effective team.

• Go to AgelWorld.
  AgelWorld is the biggest event in the world of Agel. People everywhere, from Asia to Australia and from London to Rio de Janeiro, attend this monstrous event held annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you really want to stand out as an Agel team builder, attendance at this event is an absolute must.
• Attend regional events.
  If attendance at AgelWorld isn't possible—or if you want to make even more connections that matter—watch for large regional events to be held in your part of the world. These regional events will feature top corporate and team leaders just like AgelWorld does.
• Qualify for the annual leadership retreat.
  The Annual Leadership Retreat is held every year at an exotic location. It takes hard work to qualify, but those who attend get to know their senior leaders and corporate management in an intimate, fun-filled setting.

10. Commit to 30 Minutes a Day of Self-Development

For long-term success, it's essential to keep sight of your goals, regularly reconnect with your vision, review progress, and plan your day in advance. So we recommend that every morning that you spend at least 30 minutes preparing yourself, meditating, and writing down thoughts on your success, your plans, and your progress towards your wellness and business goals. Here are just a few things that you can during this time:

• Visualize.
  It's proven that the more you can visualize yourself as you will be, the faster you'll get there. This isn't a one-time exercise. It's a regular part of a successful living.
• Read, Watch, and Listen.
  You can find an incredible amount of information relevant to your team from podcasts, DVDs, and printed support materials—from how to close a sale to the latest in nutritional advice. Go to the Agel company website to find the latest tools.
• Plan.
  If you write out who you're going to call, what you're going to do to improve your strategies, and other daily tasks, you're much more likely to achieve them.

Our Route to Success is easy to follow.

This isn't brain surgery or rocket science, and it doesn't require an MBA. Ours is a straightforward approach to creating your very own successful business. We provide a groundbreaking product that contributes to better health, business acumen and leadership skills to help you expand your business, and a community that provides the support necessary to make your business a success.

But you have to provide the desire and hard work. That's because we're the networking company everyone is looking for. Every 10 years or so, a network marketing company comes along that is destined to be an industry icon. These rarities have an innovation that isn't a copy of another company's ideas and that breaks new ground. They also have an incredible management team that knows how to handle growth, a Comp Plan that the field can count on being profitable, and financial stability and successful field leadership from day one. You do your part and we'll do ours.

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The Benefits of Meditation

Reduced Stress

Meditation helps to reduce stress by teaching us to switch off from the worries that can plague us through the day. Meditation is an opportunity to spend time by ourselves, without feeling at the beck and call of others. Spending 15 minutes in quietening the mind and focusing on the present moment, makes us more relaxed and effective decision makers.
Health Benefits

Numerous studies have shown that meditation has health benefits. Many of these benefits are related to the decrease in stress that occurs through meditation. For example, with lower levels of stress and anxiety, the probability of heart disease diminishes significantly.

This is not to say meditation guarantees you good health. But, there is a growing awareness of the link between our state of mind and physical health. Quite often physical ailments are symptoms of inner turmoil. Meditation can give us peace of mind, and this can be a helpful step in avoiding many stress related ailments. Meditation has also been shown to relieve the pain associated with certain illnesses.
Control Your Own Thoughts

Man has conquered space, Mount Everest and numerous other challenges; but, are we able to conquer our own mind? How often do you find yourself victim to your own negative thoughts? Some people are even of the opinion that it is impossible to control your thoughts. However, the art of meditation teaches that, not only is it possible to control our thoughts, but, we can learn to stop them completely. Through meditation we can bring our unruly mind under control. This creates peace of mind and enables us to achieve what we want to.
Detachment

When we live in the mind it is easy to get distracted by small irritations. For example, maybe we find it intolerable to be kept waiting in a line, or we get upset by a small misdemeanour of another person. The solution is not to avoid these minor problems, because they will keep appearing no matter how hard we may try.

The only effective solution is to develop detachment and keep things in perspective. A powerful benefit of meditation is that we are able to detach ourselves from these insignificant, yet irritating thoughts. This detachment is not indifference, it is just that we are able to maintain equanimity in the midst of life’s inevitable turbulence.
Happiness and Peace of Mind

Is there anybody who does not, in some way, seek after happiness? Meditation takes us to the source of happiness, which is to be found in our own peace of mind. If we have no peace of mind and are constantly attacked by negative thoughts, happiness will remain elusive, no matter how successful we are on an outer plane. It is perhaps hard to imagine that happiness can occur from the simple act of being. However, if we can meditate with a still mind, we will discover an unexpected source of happiness within our own self. Meditation shows us that happiness is not dependent on outer circumstances, but on our inner attitude.
Concentration

Be it work, sport or music, concentration is essential to fulfill our potential. In one pointed concentration there is great power; our energy and focus do not get dissipated. When we have concentration we can do more in less time. Through meditation we gradually improve our powers of concentration; this focus can be used for both meditation, and also other activities we engage in.
Spontaneity and Creativity

When we live in the thinking mind, we are usually preoccupied with the past or future. When we spend our energy on the past and present we cover up our natural spontaneity and creativity. We may feel we have neither creativity or spontaneity, but, if we can learn to silence the mind, we realise that we have far more potential than we currently believe. To access this source of inspiration we just need to quieten the mind. Some of the great thinkers and scientists were able to make important discoveries when they could absorb themselves in their work, to the exclusion of all else. Meditation helps us to live in the current moment, and thus can help us to unlock our creative potential.
Discovering the Purpose of Life.

If you are satisfied with your current life. If you feel perfect contentment and happiness then, at the moment, meditation is not necessary. However, if you feel empty inside; if you aspire to know more about the nature of existence and life, then meditation can be of great help. Usually we look for meaning in life through external events and other people. Meditation, however, shows us that we can gain a greater understanding of life through knowing who we are. In meditation we gain a new perspective of life, uncoloured by our own egoistic perspective. For those who wish it, meditation can become a lifelong process of answering the eternal question: “Who am I?”

The benefits of meditation are real, but, it also requires perseverance. It is mistake to expect all these benefits in the first few attempts; the mind takes time to tame. Also, it is difficult to explain all the benefits of meditation, because it involves a state of consciousness that cannot be expressed by words. To appreciate the benefits of meditation it is essential to meditate yourself. Alas, it is not sufficient to just read about it. Start meditating today!

By Tejvan Pettinger. Tejvan meditates twice a day and offers meditation classes on behalf of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, in his home town of Oxford. Tejvan writes a blog on Meditation and self improvement, called Sri Chinmoy Inspiration. Recent posts include: How to Control your thoughts.

Meditation The Ultimate Freedom

by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
Profile

‘‘I want you to know the power, the liberation of another kind of science, the inner science,
People try to create an outwardly perfect life, but the quality of life is based on the inward. With a balanced mind and balanced emotions you can create conducive atmosphere for yourself. But you cannot create joy, you cannot create love out of it. You can create a pleasant atmosphere for yourself, if you are smart, you know how to handle situations, external situations, and you will manage to create a conducive atmosphere. But you cannot create joy for yourself, you cannot create ecstasy for yourself. You will not know bliss in your life. You will only know analysis.

Many people in the world have proper or conducive social, family and financial situations. But still they are not complete people. They are empty people, still hankering. So meditation or Dhyana is something which takes you beyond the limitations of this limited mind. Meditation or Dhyana means to go beyond the limitations of the physical body and the mind. Only when you transcend the limited perspective of the body and the mind, you have a complete dimension of life within you.

When you are identified as the body, your whole thing is only survival. Your whole perspective of life will be simply survival. When you are identified as the mind your whole perspective is enslaved to the social perspective, to the religious perspective, to the family perspective. You can’t look beyond that. Only when you become free from the modifications of your own mind, only then will you know another dimension beyond.

You will always see, especially in India, that most of the sages and saints you hear about in the past—they were all kings who became sages and saints. King means peak of prosperity, peak of pleasure, peak of power. That is what a king is, isn’t it? But they renounced the world and they took a begging bowl and went. Any number of them in history, isn’t it? So king is an example to show you that these things will not complete your life. These things are needed but that is not the end of life. Or today everybody is a king. Especially if you see the Western society, everything that you are dreaming of, every average citizen has. But do you think they are fulfilled, they are blissful? Definitely not. Not at all! Nowhere near bliss.

So Dhyana is to transcend the limitations of body and mind. And you begin to experience yourself in a much deeper situation. I will not name this inner situation because the moment you say, you have to say Atma, Paramatma—all these words are badly corrupted. I don’t want to say all these words because the moment you say Atma and Paramatma, everybody has their own imagination of what it is. Things that they have not experienced, they are so certain. So I am not naming what that is. But, definitely beyond body and mind you still exist, isn’t it?

Do you want to go through this life without even experiencing what is the true quality of who you are? Is it worthwhile? Is it worthwhile living through this world and life without even experiencing what is the quality of who you are?

Yoga and Dhyana are scientific tools which help you to transcend the limitations of your body and mind and experience the true quality of who you are. Without experiencing this, just eating, sleeping, reproducing and dying, your life will not be fulfilled with these. For eating, sleeping, reproducing and dying you don’t need this kind of body, you don’t need this kind of intelligence. Every worm, every insect, every bird and every animal fulfils this, isn’t it—eating, sleeping, reproducing and dying. You can’t even do that to their extent with this body.

Now food—there are some worms which eat 1,000 times their body weight in 24 hours. If that is so, you now weigh 50 kg and you should be able to eat 50 tonnes of food in a day. That is food, isn’t it? Food means it should be like that, isn’t it? But you have the kind of body now that if you even eat little bit more than what your body can take, it is either to the doctor or to the toilet. Your body is like that now, isn’t it? Which means you cannot compete with them in eating. In eating department there can be no competition between you and any other living being. They will keep on eating all the 24 hours. You know what will happen to you if you eat for 24 hours.

Sleep—we have created all kinds of beds and mattresses for our sleep. We have made all kinds of beds so that we are comfortable. In spite of creating all these beds, if we have to remain for, let us say, 6 hours more than the amount we normally sleep, that bed will become hell for us, isn’t it? But there are a few worms, insects and birds which can sleep for 3 months to 6 months. If they sleep today they will probably wake up after 6 months. Even in this, sleeping department, you cannot compete.

Reproduction—to deliver one baby what fuss, it just cannot be told, that much fuss you do for delivering one child. They deliver 1000s of babies. They bring forth thousands of babies. So you are no competition even in the act of reproduction.

Dying—you have to die one day. But even there you make such a lot of fuss. You won’t die simply. Even that, they do more gracefully, they die without much fuss.

So for eating, sleeping, reproducing and dying, there is no competition between you and them. They have come with the right kind of body for this work. But you have not come with that kind of body. All those things are needed in our lives too—this eating, sleeping and reproducing, all these are needed in our lives too. But our life is not complete because of these. Even if you fulfil all these fully, your life is not complete yet. Isn’t it? This is because the quality of a human being has crossed a certain boundary of awareness. Now it is not going to be satisfied by physically fulfilling it. Physical fulfillment is needed but it is not going to be fulfilled with that. It has to seek something more; otherwise it will never be satisfied. It has to become unlimited, till then it will not be satisfied.

So Dhyana is a way of moving into the unlimited dimension of who you are – it is the ultimate freedom.

Questions from Devotees

Questioner: What is yoga?

Sadhguru: I think it is better I tell you what is not yoga. So much misinterpretation has happened that speaking about what is not yoga is more relevant. Standing on your head is not yoga; holding your breath is not yoga; twisting your body is not yoga. Yes, these are various yogic practices, but when we say yoga, we are referring to a certain state—a certain way of being. The word yoga means union. Union means that you begin to experience the universality of who you are. For example, today, modern science proves to you beyond any doubt that the whole existence is just one energy manifesting itself in various forms. If this scientific fact becomes a living reality for you, that you begin to experience everything as one, then you are in yoga.

Once you experience yourself as everything, or everything as yourself, after that, nobody has to tell you how to be in this world. If you experience all the people here as part of yourself, does anybody have to teach you morals as to how to be? Does anybody have to tell you, don’t harm this person; don’t kill this person; don’t rob this person—would it be needed for you? So when you are in yoga, you experience everything as a part of yourself, and that’s liberation; that’s mukthi; that’s ultimate freedom.

Questioner: Is yoga a religion?

Sadhguru: Yoga is a science. As there are physical sciences to create external well-being, yoga is the science for inner well-being. It is just that, because yoga—as a science—evolved and was developed in this culture, this land of Indus, this civilisation which grew on the banks of the river Indus—it was identified as Hindu. Slowly, people have started identifying yoga as Hindu. Yoga has nothing to do with any particular religion; it’s a science for inner well-being. If you call yoga Hindu, it is just like saying the theory of relativity is Jewish. So, from whatever culture or religious background a certain scientist came, you will not identify that aspect of science with that religion. Similarly, yoga need not be and should not be identified with any religion. It’s the science for inner well-being.

The sacred land of India has been witness to the lives of countless siddhas, seers and enlightened beings. The Dhyanalinga Temple situated at the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, is very much a part of this glorious tradition.

Created exclusively for the purpose of meditation, Dhyanalinga has always been the dream of many enlightened beings, but the complexities involved in its creation are such that it rarely materialised. No other Dhyanalinga is known to exist in the world. The closest attempt to consecrate one, in the recent past, took place almost one thousand years ago. The process, though grand, had failed in the final stages. Though it always existed in the yogic lore, except for an obscure mention, there is no reference to the Dhyanalinga in the scriptures.

The Dome Divine

At the heart of the temple, in the Sannidhi or sanctum sanctorum, the seeker finally stands before the immense and awe-inspiring Dhyanalinga. Vibrating with the power of the primordial, casting its spell on all those who enter its enigmatic presence, the Dhyanalinga towers up to a height of 13 feet, 9 inches. It rises out of the seven-coiled receptacle, the Avudaiyar, which has been designed in such a way that every part of the Avudaiyar is 3 feet 3 inches in length and the total length of the Avudaiyar is 13 feet 9 inches, the same as the height of the Linga.

Surrounding the Linga is the Jalaseema, a water body that has a cooling effect on the Linga and gives the impression that the Dhyanalinga is floating on water.

How to be inside the Temple

To experience and benefit from the Dhyanalinga, one does not need any belief system, or believe in anything. One need not pray, worship or make any effort to concentrate on anything. Just being willing to sit there, one can experience this. Dhyanalinga has been created as a very powerful presence of energy so that the deeper core of a person is transformed in the process of being there. The spiritual body of a person is touched when he just sits in the sphere of the Dhyanalinga.

Prayer and worship are not necessary in the Dhyanalinga Temple. To get the best of the temple is to be there as an offering—to make an offering of oneself.

Qualities of the Dhyanalinga

The basic thrust of the energies of the Dhyanalinga is to foster spiritual growth and evolution of a person. However, the Dhyanalinga will radiate seven different qualities of life on the seven days of the week by which one may derive various benefits.

The Care of a Temple

The care of a temple and the deity, has with very few exceptions, always been entrusted to the male priests. At the Dhyanalinga Temple, however, this privilege is bestowed equally upon men and women. The Dhyanalinga is cared for by a Bhramhacharini from the Amavasya to the Pournami of every month and a Bhramhachari takes care of the Dhyanalinga for the other half of the month.

A large number of volunteers work incessantly to keep the premises clean, provide assistance to the visitors at the Temple, in the preparation and distribution of prasadam and participate in the Linga snana (bathing of the Dhyanalinga). People who wish to avail of this unique opportunity to serve may contact the Centre.