Jahnava Academy-Inaugural Edition July 7, 2024

A Welcome Message: Embarking on a Journey of Inner Wisdom

We are humbled to announce the launch of our first newsletter, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Sri Jagannath Yatra today. Jahnava Academy, founded on the equally auspicious day of Vijaya Dashami, 24th October 2023, is the realization of a dream I've nurtured since childhood.

In this issue:

• My Journey: The Beginning
• Harisha Gurukul: A Home-Schooling Journey Towards Alternate Education
• The Interconnectedness Of All Existence: A Reflection On Ratha Yatra
• Jahnava Academy: Your Path To Fulfilment
• Glimpse Into Our Mission And Learning Programs: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Application
• The Fourfold Fulfilment Compass: Our Learning Approach
• A Look Ahead: Unfolding New Horizons
• An Invitation: Join The Jahnava Academy Family

My Journey: The Beginning

Born into Sri Madhwacharya tradition family, brought up in SriRangam amongst Sri Ramanujacharya tradition mentors, I grew up in a world illuminated by the profound wisdom of Sanatana Dharma. Ancient Indian philosophies have been a guiding light throughout my life. I apply knowledge from sacred texts like Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimad Ramayana, Srimad Mahabharata along with other Puranic Scriptures steeped in the modes of goodness. This wisdom equipped me to navigate challenges with resilience, fostering inner potential that unleashed my true self and unlocked my true capabilities. This rich tapestry of knowledge has played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today.

Harisha Gurukul: A Home-Schooling Journey Towards Alternate Education

Motherhood brought a new depth to my understanding of Sanatana Dharma. Witnessing my son's unique spiritual needs and his struggle to find a learning environment that nurtured his curiosity and individuality within the mainstream system, I embarked on a transformative journey. That marked the beginning of our homeschooling journey almost 2 decades ago, creating Harisha Gurukul, a space where we delved deeper into ancient wisdom together.

This introspection, a journey inwards to understand our true selves, shed light on the complexities, intricacies and nuances of our outer as well as inner world. We began to see the world further deeper through the lens of Sanatana Dharma, its principles fostering a deep understanding and application in our lives.

Harisha Gurukul's curriculum focuses on exploring the fascinating connections between the world's physical characteristics and the pursuit of absolute truth (Satya). Through personalized content, self-paced learning, and research, we nurtured a love for this "summum bonum" (highest good) for two decades and still continuing. As we explored these connections, we discovered the remarkable parallels between ancient wisdom, stories, and physical characteristics found across diverse cultures worldwide. This understanding solidified the truth of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" - the world is one family.

The Interconnectedness Of All Existence: A Reflection On Ratha Yatra

The world truly is one family - this interconnectedness is beautifully reflected in the very day we launch our newsletter. Today, we celebrate the vibrant Ratha Yatra, the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Puri, India. Interestingly, there are remarkable parallels between this festival and the ancient Egyptian Opet festival. Both involve the procession of deities – Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in chariots in Puri, and Amun, Mut, and Khonsu in sacred boats during the ancient Egypt's Opet festival, respectively. These processions symbolize not just the divine journey, but also the interconnectedness of all existence. As the chariots and boats travel, they bridge the gap between the divine realm and the human world, reminding us that we are all part of a grand cosmic dance.

Furthermore, the establishment of the Silk Route around the 2nd century BCE, hints at the ancient ties between East and West. The Silk Route, a network of trade routes, linked Egypt and India, facilitating the exchange of not just goods, but also cultural and religious ideas. This exchange may have influenced the development of festivals such as Ratha Yatra, Boat Festival and Opet Festival, highlighting the flow of traditions and beliefs along these ancient trade routes. When I connect the dots, I believe that the world is indeed one family and this inspires me to express, share and contribute the knowledge and wisdom I learnt, as the daughter of my mother land Bharat, to one and all in the whole world.

Jahnava Academy: Your Path To Fulfilment

Insights from our homeschooling journey, transformative wisdom of Sanatana Dharma and global tapestry of narratives as well as facing personal adversities, inspired us to seek more. I was fortunate to find a community that supported my seeking and eventually was blessed with a Guru. Many people ask about my name. My poorva ashrama name (name given at birth by my parents) and my official name, Prabha Sathyanarayanan, now feels like a past life, as I have been given the spiritual name Devi Jahnava Sundari Dasi by my American-born Spiritual Guru.

The relentless pursuit of continuous learning and unwavering dedication to personal growth, guided by a thirst for knowledge and wisdom, breathed life into my childhood aspiration. Planted in my heart as a young girl, nurtured by the teachings of the esteemed 15th century Guru Sri Purandara Dasa (believed to be the reincarnation of Sage Narada) and his well-known words, this journey culminated in the founding of Jahnava Academy.

Inspired by the legacy of Jahnava Mata aka Jahnava Thakurani, a revered female figure in the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu movement, Jahnava Academy carries her name. Known for her spiritual wisdom, organizational talent, leadership skills and unwavering dedication to spreading Bhakti Yoga, Jahnava Devi's contributions and leadership after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's passing was particularly groundbreaking, making her a prominent, sole and senior most female leader in the Gaudiya Bhakti movement in the 16th century.

Jahnava Academy is a platform where my core value of contributing to a positive global impact can truly flourish. I believe deep introspection, encouraged by sacred texts from the ancient wisdom, not only fosters personal growth but also translates to the professional sphere as well.

Glimpse Into Our Mission And Learning Programs: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Application

Jahnava Academy's mission is to inspire individuals, organizations, families, educational institutions, and communities to unleash their inner essence, cultivate inner strength, find peace within, and forge a path toward profound fulfillment.

We weave wisdom by combining timeless teachings mainly from ancient Indian scriptures, alongside insights inspired from remarkable places and the global tapestry of narratives and culture, including captivating fictional stories. We integrate these with practical applications, helping individuals and groups achieve personal and professional success.

Our guided learning programs offer customized experiences for individuals and groups. We offer a variety of engaging options, including:

? Workshops: Equipping learners with practical tools and techniques

? Professional Coaching: Partnership with clients in a thought provoking and creative process

? Mentoring: Personalized guidance on the application of spiritual principles

? Training: Design and delivery of curriculum on specific topics based on client needs

? Stories, Meditations, and Sanskrit Mantras: Explore growth in a captivating way

? Webinars, Discourses, and Keynotes: Deepening understanding through holistic sessions

The Fourfold Fulfilment Compass: Our Learning Approach

Our whole person (both life and work) learning approach is based on the four Purusharthas, the wisdom guiding humanity towards a meaningful life and work. Purushartha literally means the objectives of humans, a concept that refers to the four proper goals of human life. Based on this, my framework that I passionately call as “The Fourfold Fulfillment Compass” ensures our programs empower people to pursue not just success, but also achieve balance and fulfilment in both personal and professional endeavors. These principles, reimagined for the modern world, form the foundation of the curriculum I design at Jahnava Academy.

A Look Ahead: Unfolding New Horizons

As the chariot in Ratha Yatra symbolizes the human body, in the context of soul mastery, the senses, mind and intellect can be seen as the charioteer, responsible for navigating the body (chariot) through the world. But for true fulfilment, the charioteer needs to be guided by the wisdom of the soul residing within.

Just like a skilled charioteer steers the chariot through obstacles; the body, senses, mind and intellect informed by the soul's purpose, can navigate life's challenges. When all the four: body, senses, mind and intellect are aligned with the soul's purpose, the journey becomes one of fulfilling your deepest potential, mirroring the triumphant procession of the Ratha Yatra.

Jahnava Academy empowers you to cultivate this inner connection. Here, you'll find the tools and guidance to awaken your soul's wisdom and navigate your unique path towards fulfilment in work and life - ASCEND, WHERE SOULS TAKE FLIGHT.

An Invitation: Join The Jahnava Academy Family

We conclude with a warm invitation to join the Jahnava Academy family (our page on LinkedIn) and a glimpse into the exciting future of our learning services and solutions as well as wisdom and insights in the realms of connecting ancient wisdom to modern growth, success and fulfillment.

We look forward to sharing more information in our upcoming newsletter next month, where we'll unveil exciting developments as we expand our growth potential and learning services to empower you ON YOUR ASCENT.

Humbly Yours,

Jahnava Devi

Founder and Principal Wisdom Weaver, Jahnava Academy