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 - Steven Womeldurf,
"Jyoti"
Kashi mourns the passing of our beloved Jyoti, Steven Womeldurf.
A longtime student of Jaya Devi and more recently Ma Jaya,
Jyoti was a real pistol, adding his own flavor of panache
to his years of service as an advocate for those living with
HIV.  He
served those with AIDS and HIV right through the last year
of his life, even traveling to Cambodia in early 2006 in this
capacity. On
Saturday March 24, in a memorial service at Kashi Ashram,
Ma Jaya interred Jyoti's ashes in the ashram's Ganga pond,
along with the ashes of his uncle and nephew.
He will be sorely missed.
The following appeared in the Gainesville Sun:
Steven Craig Womeldurf died peacefully and surrounded by the
love of dearest friends, family and his beloved dog, Pooter,
on Sunday, February 4, 2007. A sign in Steven's home reads
"live for as long as you are alive." Indeed, Steven
lived with vigor unparalleled and was filled with enviable
chutzpah. Steven is survived by his long-time confidant and
companion George Michael Owens, his dear friend Sandra, Murphy-Pak,
who is like a sister to him, his esteemed friend and mentor,
Terry Klenk, and his mother, sisters, brothers, numerous nieces/nephews,
and by cherished friends from all corners of the globe.
We
were beyond thrilled to have our Guru Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
come to Atlanta. The intensive culminated many months and
hours of seva and preparation for her visit, and it was well
worth it! During the weekend, Ma took us all to a place of
emptiness and bliss.
The Atlanta satsang was also blessed to be able to host several
of Ma Jaya’s sanyassen and gurubai during the weekend
as Ma’s students from all over the country gathered
in Atlanta for the weekend retreat.
Click
here to see more images
from this event.
February
21-22, 2007:
The
Kashi Atlanta satsang hosted Swami Bhagavati Das, Ma Jaya's
sanyassin and head pujari, during his trip to Kashi Atlanta
February 21-22. Swami Bhagavati Das stayed at Agni House,
one of Kashi Atlanta's residential ashram houses during his
trip. He generously spent time with members and volunteers
both before and after his workshop on the Art of Puja (moving
prayer), and after his special darshan on the Bhagavad Gita
on February 21st.
The
following morning Swami Bhagavati Das performed a special
intimate dawn fire puja. Swami Bhagavati Das stayed long after
the puja, chatting and sharing Prasad (blessed food), and
of course, helping with the clean up. Click
here to see more images
from this event.
 January
26 - 27, 2007:
Kashi
Atlanta was blessed to host internationally renowned Kirtan
Artist Bhagavan Das during his recent trip and performance
at Kashi Atlanta on January 26-27, 2007. This was his last
performance before returning to India for the first time in
almost 40 years!
During
his trip, Bhagavan Das shared intimate stories of the time
he spent with his guru, Indian Saint Neem Karoli Baba. (Bhagavan
Das was His first American devotee). He also shared his sadhana
during that time, and numerous stories about his life while
living with our guru, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati over 30 years
ago. Click
here to see more images from this event.
 January
12 - 22, 2007:
Over
80 people joined Kashi members and residents in the January
2007 (much needed) Ten Day Yoga Detox. Kashi community members
created soups, broths, ghee (clarified butter) and tea, as
well as Detox packages, to help cleanse us physically, emotionally
and spiritually for the new year. As part of the Detox, community
members prepared, served, and helped enjoy a light, vegetarian
Lungar (traditional Sikh meal) to break the three day juice
fast. Click
here to see more images from this event.
 December
15, 2006:
This year's Christmas caroling event was as
beautiful as ever. Fifteen yogis gathered and went to two
of our annual caroling spots. Click
here to see more images from this event.
 November
23, 2006
Kashi
Atlanta members, friends, and family gathered at the ashram's
residences to celebrate Thanksgiving with many home cooked
dishes and lots of laughs.
Click here to see more images from this event.
 September
9, 2006
Kashi
members gathered on September 9th for a sacred fire ceremony
(puja) in honor of Neem Karoli Baba’s death (mahasamadhi)
in 1973. Over thirty members participated in this ancient
ritual and celebration of Baba’s yogic teachings.
Neem
Karoli Baba is the guru’s guru of the lineage of yoga
taught at Kashi Atlanta. He is most famous for the teaching
“feed everybody”, meaning not only physical food,
but direct and unconditional love. For more information on
Neem Karoli Baba, see www.kashi.org. Click
here to see more images from this event.
 August
2-3, 2006
The
Kashi Atlanta satsang hosted Swami Anjani Jaya Hanuman,
one of Ma Jaya’s female sanyassin and Community Relations
Director, of Ma's Kashi Ashram during her trip to Kashi
Atlanta on August 2-3, 2006. Swami Anjani stayed at Hanuman
House, one of Kashi Atlanta’s residential ashram houses
during her trip. She generously spent time with members
and volunteers both before and after joining us on Ma’s
Street Meals, as well as after her special darshan entitled The Bhakti Path of Service and Devotion,
on August 2, 2006.
The
following morning Swami Anjani performed a special fire
puja (ceremony) at dawn to Lord Hanuman. Swami stayed long
after the puja, chatting and sharing Prasad (blessed food),
and of course, living the teachings of Hanuman, helping
with the clean up. Click
here to see more images from this event.
 July
30, 2006
Kashi
Atlanta members Mukti and Rishi were married in a sunrise
ceremony at Grayton Beach, Florida on July 30, 2006 by Jaya
Devi Bhagavati, spiritual and executive director of Kashi
Atlanta. Their spontaneous wedding was the grand finale of
the satsang’s annual road trip to attend Jaya Devi’s
intensive, “Igniting the Bliss of the Chakras”
at Dragonfly Yoga at Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Over 20 satsang
members made the annual intensive beach trip, staying together
at Holmen’s Hangout at Grayton Beach Florida. Click
here to see more images from this event.
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