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Mourning Elisabeth Glorianne

rice ceilingI’m still wheeling over the sudden and tragic death of this young woman, my almost daughter-in-law. We expected wedding bells to ring this spring and to officially welcome her into our tribe. Instead, I am looking for a vessel for my grief and tonight I found one in an ancient Vedic mantra.

Since there was no service held while I was in Houston, and I needed to return home to prepare for the upcoming semester, I held my own service by lighting incense, chanting the Gayatri mantra and visualizing peaceful rest for her.

Earlier on the blog I posted Deva Premal singing the gayatri mantra to some teenage girls. That seems oddly appropriate now, none the less I wanted to branch out. Here is a version by Lenise, with South American artwork. The style is not so dissimilar from Deva Premal. 108 repetitions is the classic number to repeat to complete a mala.

Elisabeth, I pray you are finally enjoying the peace that was so elusive during your days among us. May we use your death as a catalyst to nourish and bring peace to all we meet.

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This entry was posted by carolyn aka LaughingYogini on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 10:56 pm and is filed under Life, chanting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Comments

5 Responses to “Mourning Elisabeth Glorianne”

  1. YogaforCynics says:
    August 17, 2009 at 12:43 am

    So sorry for your loss.

    Coming up with one’s own service, I find, can be more meaningful than taking part in planned ones, which can be alienating. Yours sounds quite powerful.

    Namaste,

    Jay
    YogaforCynics´s last blog ..The Body Electric My ComLuv Profile

  2. Svasti says:
    August 17, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Oh Caroline, I’m so very sorry. You and your son must be so confused and sad right now.

    Gayatri mantra is beautiful and this version is lovely, full of feeling.

    The other mantra/prayer I love is Shanti Path:

    Asato maa sadgamaya
    Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
    Mrityur maa amritam gamaya

    (From the unreal lead me to the real
    From darkness lead me to light
    From death lead me to immortality)

    Sarvesham svasti bhavau
    Sarvesham shantir bhavau
    Sarvesham purnam bhavau
    Sarvesham maangalam bhavau

    (May all beings dwell in happiness
    May all beings dwell in peace
    May all beings attain oneness
    May all beings attain auspiciousness
    May happiness be unto the whole world)

    Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhaavantu

    (We worship the three-eyed one (Siva) who is fragrant and nourishes all beings)

    Om tryambakam yajamaahe
    Sugandhim pushtivaardhananm
    Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan
    Mritormukshiya mamtritat

    (May he liberate us from death for the sake of immortality, even as the cucumber is severed from the vine.)

    Aum
    Shantih Shantih Shantih

    May you and yours find peace and acceptance at this pivotal time xo
    Svasti´s last blog ..The art of non-conversation My ComLuv Profile

  3. Brooks Hall says:
    August 18, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    I’m sorry to hear about your tragic loss. And I, too have done my own ceremony to honor a death.
    Brooks Hall´s last blog ..Colorful Embrace My ComLuv Profile

  4. The Laughing Yogini says:
    August 18, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Jay & Brooks,
    Thank you for your kind words. Knowing of your ceremonies helps mine feel more real.

    Svasti,
    What a beautiful prayer! I remember chanting the final verse in my Panterra teacher training – it was one of my favorites. Thanks for recalling it. I’m going to go a-surfing now to see if I can find an online version of Shanti Path sung.

  5. Lydia says:
    September 8, 2009 at 5:32 am

    Your memorial service and the way it extended into this beautiful post gave me a sense of the young woman you have lost. Even in my awareness of the tragedy I find such deep love and caring here that I can’t help but believe she used your expressions as stepping stones away from you.

    Peace to your heart, and to your son’s heart also.
    Lydia´s last blog ..Fair thee well, summer . . . Part 3 of 3 My ComLuv Profile

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