News & Notes - December 2004

     Poojya Swamiji, Ma and Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji will return to Trichur on December 01, after the 31st Annual Jnaana Yajna programme in Delhi.

     Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram in Naimishaaranyam, Parlikkad, Trichur is growing as an yearly event. The third Satram will be held from 22nd December 2004 to 2nd January 2005 in the sacred precincts of Paralikad Tacchanatthukavu Devi Temple, which is associated legendarily with a Yogeendra who discovered the holy spot many centuries ago.

Thousands of devotees from villages and cities are expected to assemble in Naimishaaranyam during the great holy Satram to listen to the 12-day Sreemad Bhaagavata exposition, which seeks to flood the listeners with its unique knowledge and devotional elixir. While the ecstatic vibrations generated in the earlier years are still reverberating, a number of villages and towns are eagerly waiting to bathe in the confluence again. 

Sreemad Bhaagavatam declares that Knowledge of the Supreme Truth is the sole panacea for the human mind afflicted by the world. The Tattva Sameeksha Satram aims at instilling the profound thoughts and values the Author has revealed throughout the narration. The verses bestow wisdom, expanse and inner strength, kindling Divinity, Bliss and Immortality at every stage.

Over 50 distinguished exponents – Sannyaasins and Scholars – have consented to come to Naimishaaranyam to deliver talks exposing the invaluable spiritual inner treasure. It is our earnest desire that thousands of people get enlightened and enriched, making Sreemad Bhaagavata values ‘the warp and woof of their daily life’.

With a view to generate public awareness and a timely compulsion for gaining right knowledge of our Dharma and heritage, Sri Krishna Yatra from Guruvayur, Dharma Dhvaja Yatra from Tiruvilvamalai and Sreemad Bhaagavata Grantha Yatra from Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginissery, have been planned. Welcomed en route by votaries of Dharma with bhojana-dravya-samarpanam (offering of materials for annadaana), these Yatras serve to announce effectively the 12-day holy event to countless number of people. In addition is the special Dharma Ratha Yatra in and around Parlikkad Naimishaaranyam. Earnest requests from people, far and near, to let the Yatra pass through their areas reveal how intense is the public interest.

The inauguration will be marked by a “Heritage procession” of Sreemad Bhaagavata Ratham, accompanied by Sannyaasins and devotees, together with percussion instruments and an accoutered elephant. Starting from the Devi Temple, the procession will reach the Satrashaala where Sannyaasins will be received with Poorna Kumbham.

After the hoisting of Dharma-dhvaja, they will be led to their seats with the traditional taalappoli. Before the inaugural session, a collective paada pooja will be done in all sublimity for the spiritual heads.

The concluding day will be marked by a greatly benedictory Vishnu-sahasranaama Saarvajanik Mahaayajna on 2nd January 2005, wherein over 1,000 people led by Sannyaasins will be collectively performing archana and havan. Maatr-pooja, another grand sublime event to inspire healthy family relationship, will be conducted on 26th December, in which about 1000 mothers will be worshipped by their respective children.

More than 3500 people from far and near are expected to assemble in Naimishaaranyam everyday.

     The 10th Annual Geeta Tattva Sameeksha Satram in Thrissur will be held between 16th and 23rd January 2005 at the Vatakkunathan Temple Sreemoolasthanam. Poojya Swamiji will speak (in Malayalam) on the 10th chapter of Bhagavadgeeta.

     Under the self-employment scheme of the Annual Daanasatra, 30 Sewing Machines were distributed from the Ashram on 05 November 2004. Out of numerous applicants, the most deserving indigent women were selected after verifying their bona-fides and economic status.

     Notes from CIRD: On 8th afternoon, as Poojya Swamiji, along with Ma and Nutan Swamiji, entered CIRD, the winter chill and the not-so-green lawn of CIRD offered an austere welcome. With the solar pump going out of order and lack of enthusiasm on the part of the gardener, the devotees had a hard time maintaining the greatest material asset of CIRD. With the 3-acre greenbelt under our charge we have now to look after about five acres of greenery. However, with Poojya Swamiji’s inspiring presence, things started smiling.

Paadapooja on 9th evening was performed by Smt Sudarsh & Sri Manoharlal Sardana on behalf of all the devotees. Inspite of pre-Diwali engagements and road traffic, about 100 devotees and inmates participated in the programme. Food was served to all including about ten homeless families in the locality.

On 11th evening, Poojya Swamiji was invited to address the staff members of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on “Performantial Excellence through Karmayoga”. The talk was held at the Satya Sai International Auditorium, New Delhi. The hall was packed with about 600 listeners. Sri E Sreedharan, the Managing Director of the Corporation garlanded and introduced Poojya Swamiji to the audience before the lecture. The talk was concluded with a brief but interesting interactive session. The session must have enlightened and inspired the staff of the Corporation well known for its strive for excellence.

On 12th, the Deepavali day, the 24 children attending the Sunday class were invited and given a prasaada packet each. The packet contained a fruit drink carton, a packet of cream biscuit, a chocolate bar, a packet of salted mixture, some dry fruits and some fire crackers. Smt Madhusri Sengupta, who had earlier given some shirts with a “Coca cola” bottle printed at the back says that, some of them used to “satiate their thirst” by pretending to drink from the bottle printed on the friend’s back! That touching sight prompted her to include a fruit drink in their prasaada packet.

Before receiving prasaada from Swamiji’s hands, they recited some Hindi poems and Sanskrit verses. It was heartening to see how much the children have improved during the past six months – since we saw them in April. Those days, if they were asked to sit in meditation and look within, many of them would peep inside their own upper garment!

Of course, in the mean time most of them have been admitted to the regular school.

When Poojya Swamiji asked them whether they liked to go to the school, they responded with an enthusiastic ‘yes’. Two tiny girls sitting with a subdued sad countenance said that they were not allowed to go to the school because they had to cook and look after the younger siblings at ‘home’.

In the evening, those who were at CIRD, had perhaps the most delightful Deepavali of their life seeing the deprived children enjoy the fireworks. Adding to the feast was the curious and fearful – nevertheless joyful – running about of ‘Moti’ along with his tiny master lighting the ‘anaars’! His vigorously wagging tail confirmed his mirth, inspite of the frightful encounters. (Seeing his admirable behaviour Nutan Swamiji advocated that he be admitted to the Sunday class.)

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