Worship as Spiritual Dicipline

Excellent (free) podacst explaining the essentials of vedanta 'puja' or ritual worship, that we can all do, and gain real spiritual power. Clears up any confusion. Second in the series. Grab the others if you like this, including the introduction. The teacher, Swami Tyagananda has a soothing, unassuming voice, but behind this is an experienced, learned and realised man. Definitely not one of the jet-set swamis.

Includes discussion of arti, and agni, (lights and fire), the material elements, and much more.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=18075045&id=160835381

Swami Tyagananda is a Hindu monk of the Ramakrishna Order and presently head of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in Boston. Ramakrishna Vedanta Society is a branch of the Ramakrishna Order founded by Swami Vivekananda, with its headquarters at Belur Math, near Calcutta, in India

Etymology of the Name

Swami Tyagananda explains the meaning of his name:

"The word Swami is the epithet used for Hindu monks and the word means master. It points to the ideal of being a master of oneself or being in control of oneself. The second part of my name is my actual name, given to me when I received my final monastic vows. Tyagananda is a combination of two words, tyâga and ânanda: tyâga means detachment or letting go; ânanda means joy. Taken together, the word means 'the joy of detachment.' It points to the ideal of letting go of all the nonessentials in order to focus on and hold on to the essentials. My name, thus, serves me as a reminder of two ideals, self-mastery and letting go."

Swami Tyagananda was the editor of the English language journal Vedanta Kesari based in Chennai, India. for eleven years.