Yogi Ashokananda is an expert and pioneer as a practising master of yoga and meditation and a speaker on humanity and spiritual philosophy. Raised in India, he has been practising yoga since early childhood when his Grandfather was his first teacher. He is also a Reiki Master. Over many years Yogi Ashokananda has been fortunate to develop his teaching, experience and education of yoga under some of the great, remote, Indian masters and siddhas. He has taught the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga, the Sivananda Ashram, hatha yoga and meditation at the Shri Ved Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and the Yogamaya Ashram in Vrindavan. Now he teaches a number of his own profound disciplines and insights which have their roots in ancient, sacred Indian tradition.

A puja is a fire ceremony with the focus on a specific intention, in this case the celebration of the Rising Lotus CommUnity. The fire is prepared with specific items to support the intention, participants will be guided by pujari, Yogi Ashokananda through the vedic rituals, including mantra chanting and offerings engaging each of the senses and elements. Participants are invited to receive a blessing, represented by a specially prepared powder as a symbol of loyalty, devotion and commitment. Yogi will invoke the blessing with mark on the forehead (at the ajna chakra), to recognise your own intellect. Respecting of your intellect ensures that thoughts, speech, actions, habits and ultimately your character becomes pure. The ajna chakra involves balancing the higher and lower selves and trusting inner guidance. Its inner aspect relates to visual consciousness and clarity on an intuitive level. The mark placed at this position is said to retain and enhance this energy, strengthening your concentration.