4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Timber Frame at the Commons
This will be an outdoor ceremony, led by Tejomaya, in the Hindu Tradition. Dress warm Note that parking is at the West Entrance
Fire plays a spiritual role in many of the world’s faith traditions. In the Hindu tradition, fire is seen as the transformative and purifying aspect of Divine Consciousness; it is referred to as Agni. As an aspect of Divinity itself- Agni Devi – fire is used in most Hindu ceremonies and rituals. The first verse of the Rigveda, which is perhaps the oldest written spiritual text, is an homage to fire: “I venerate Agni, the Priest, divine ministrant of the sacrifice, bestower of treasure, par excellence.”
The fire ceremony, or havan, is performed throughout India for many purposes. When it is used for personal prayer, the havan is a powerful external practice for internal transformation, internal purification. Just as gold requires the purifying kiss of fire before its radiance can be known, so we must burn away all that blocks us from our own Divine essence. This is the practice of havan.
Gabriola’s own Hindu priest, Pandit Tejomaya, will lead us in this most ancient fire ceremony.
