News & Notes - February 2005

     3rd Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram: Jointly sponsored by Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Hind Navotthana Pratishtan, the 3rd Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram was held in Paralikad Naimishaara∏yam (Wadakanchery, Trichur) from 22nd December 2004 to 2nd January 2005.

About fifty speakers covered a wide range of topics from Sreemad Bhaagavatam. The speakers, with an affectionate urge, tried their best to deliver the message of values and truths enunciated in the great Text. Many expressed that the event proved to be a Model Satram to be emulated by the organizers elsewhere.

The programme started daily at 4:00 am with Vedic chants, recitation of Sreemad Bhaagavatam and other sublime events. The lectures – each lasting for one and half hours – would continue from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm with a midday lunch break for one and half hours. Intervals were filled with bhajanas and keertanas. Every evening, the programme concluded with an inspiring Naama-sankeertana parikramaa led by Poojya Swamiji.

During the Satram, Poojya Swamiji gave nine talks in Malayalam, including the inaugural and the valedictory speeches. The topics were: “Son’s advice that liberated the mother”, “When Kurukshetra became Dharmakshetra”, “Who protects the devotee”, “Unjust is the pride of even charity”, “Mahabharata Krishna versus Bhaagavata Krishna”, “Song Immortal an Emperor’s heart aspires for”, “Krishna’s words that bring constant festivity to human life”.

There were two English talks delivered by Nutan Swamiji and Ma. Nutan Swamiji spoke on "Ka∂hopanishad – A Book of Saadhana”, and Ma on “Bhaagavatam in Everyday Life”.

The 12-day programme included Mat§-poojaa (a delightfully emotional programme in which more than 1000 mother & child pairs participated), a dance drama on “Prahlaada” performed by the village children who attend the cultural heritage class in Narayanashrama Tapovanam, and the Vishnusahasranaama Saarvajanika Mahaa Yajña on the concluding day in which more than one thousand participants performed arcanaa and havana.

 

     Geeta Tattva Sameeksha: Poojya Swamiji’s 10th annual exposition of Bhagavadgeeta at the Sreemoolasthanam in Thrissur started on 16th January as scheduled. The Kerala Assembly speaker Sri Therambil Ramakrishnan inaugurated the event.

 

     Support for Tsunami disaster: As an expression of solidarity with the people affected by Tsunami, the Paralam Panchayat organized a human chain that extended a distance of about eight kilometers. Young school children, College students, men and women from all walks of life stood joining their hands in a chain.

Poojya Swamiji addressed the people assembled and administered the oath, expressing commitment and solidarity to help wholeheartedly to bring relief to the victims. While complimenting the organizers for bringing people closer together to share in the distress of those affected, Swamiji stressed that Tsunami or similar events should not be construed as the wrath of Nature. Planet earth, which like an orange is hovering in the fathomless sky, may undergo many changes to maintain its balance. The forces of Nature are impersonal and inexorable. Events like this are periodic inevitable development. These point to the need for acquiring greater knowledge about the whole creation, particularly the Mother Earth who hosts all of us.

 

     Jamshedpur Jñaana Yajña: As announced in the last issue, Poojya Swamiji along with Nutan Swamiji and Maa will leave for Jamshedpur via Kolkata on 8th February. They will return to the Ashram on March 4th. They are expected to be in the Ashram till the Gurupoornima function as they will not visit Delhi during March-April.

 

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