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& Notes - May 2010 |
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Programmes at CIRD - North America: Poojya Swamiji, accompanied by Nutan Swamiji
and Ma will leave for USA on May 19. Nutan Swamiji’s earlier travel plan, which was to leave on April 10 from Delhi, has
changed; now all will travel together. Brni. Namrata Swaroopa will also travel along with them. They are expected to return
to the Ashram by June 23.
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Programmes in CIRD: Poojya Swamiji arrived at the Centre for Inner Resources Development (CIRD),
Vasundhara (near Delhi) along with Nutan Swamiji and Ma, on March 21, for the annual March-April Programme.
Guru-archana was conducted on March 23. Pada pooja was performed by Smt. Radha and Sri E Sreedharan on behalf of all devotees.
Poojya Swamiji’s classes on Vivekacudamani (from March 24 to 29) focused on the subject of ‘Harnessing Inner Resources for
Interactional Excellence’. Ma’s classes based on Shreemad Bhagavatam (March 30 to April 2) presented to the devotees some
practical tips on joyful living. Nutan Swamiji’s classes on ‘Bhagavadgeeta – A Revolutionary Message for Transforming Life’
were from April 7 to 16.
On April 3 & 4, between 7:30 & 8:45 AM, Poojya Swamiji spoke in Hindi on “Dharmik Jivan me Jñan ki Mahatta”, at CIRD.
Evening Satsangs were specially dedicated to question and answer sessions.
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Prakash Mehrotra Memorial Lecture: Poojya Swamiji was invited by Sri Ravi Mehrotra, founder of Prakash Mehrotra Memorial Trust, to deliver the first “Prakash Mehrotra Memorial Lecture” at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium at Lodhi Road (New Delhi) on March 28. The topic was: “Spirituality – Key to Enlightened Decision Making”. Hon’ble Justice AK Patnaik (Judge, Supreme Court of India) presided over the function. Dr E Sreedharan introduced Poojya Swamiji to the august audience, which included many luminaries from the Judicial and Administrative Services.
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Anna Vastra Dana Satram: For the first time, Anna Vastra Dana Satram was held at CIRD, Vasundhara, on April 04. Poojya Swamiji distributed rice, clothing, sugar and sweets to 1500 needy families from Vasundhara. The volunteers had earlier visited various slum areas and distributed tokens to the deserving families. Many devotees from Delhi and Vasundhara participated in organizing the programme, which was conducted in a very sublime manner
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Visit to Kumbha Mela: On April 05, Poojya Swamiji accompanied by Nutan Swamiji, Ma, and some devotees from Delhi, visited Haridwar to see the arrangements of Maha Kumbha Mela. Poojya Swamiji and others were hosted at the guest-house of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. Established by “Shanti Kunj”, a reputed spiritual institution, the University is a very special school of learning dedicated to our national heritage. Swamiji and the devotees were conducted around in the University, Shanti Kunj Ashram, and the Kumbha Mela site by Sri Ram Mahesh Mishra (Jt Director, PR Extension & Placement dept of the University). Apart from visiting some of the camps set up at the Kumbha Mela by various spiritual organizations, they witnessed the fascinating holy event of arati on the banks of Ganges (Har ki Pauri).
Before returning from Haridwar, Poojya Swamiji had a hearty meeting with Dr Pranav Pandya, the Chancellor of the University & Head of All-world Gayatri Parivar. All the arrangements for hosting Poojya Swamiji were made by Dr SP Mishra (Vice-chancellor of the University) as per the request of Swamiji’s disciple, Sri Rakesh Mittal (Retd IAS Officer).
* * *
Shreemad Bhagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram (SBTSS): Poojya Swamiji held discussions with different people about SBTSS to be held in the Capital City between November 14 & 21, this year. Inspiring devotees to come forward to volunteer this noble cause, Poojya Swamiji told during satsangs: “The values exposed in Shreemad Bhagavatam are ever relevant to the world at large. They fortify and elevate our life in any environment.” In the Satram, about 18 distinguished exponents – Sannyasins and Scholars – will expose the listeners to the invaluable inner treasure. Thousands of devotees are expected to listen to the discourses everyday. With anna-dana for all, on all the days, this event is expected to be singular in its scope, magnitude and holiness.
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Poojya Swamiji accompanied by Ma returned to the Ashram at Thrissur on
April 08. Nutan Swamiji returned on April 18.
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The second 5-day Satsanga-Shibiram (in Malayalam), was conducted at Vedavyasa Bhavan (Paralikad), from April 19 to 23. It was organized jointly by Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Vyasa Tapovanam and Jnana Ashram. More than 100 devotees participated, some of them coming from outside Kerala. About 85 outstation devotees were accommodated in Vyasa Tapovanam and Jnana Ashram. In the early morning, participants learnt chanting of Vishnusahasranama and Bhagavadgeeta. It was followed by arati at the sacred Dakshinamurty Temple.
Poojya Swamiji explained Mundakopanishad in the morning and Bhagavadgeeta in the afternoon classes. The response from the participants was vibrant, especially during the question-answer sessions. Some of them expressed that having seen Poojya Swamiji in the Asianet telecast, they did not want to miss the opportunity to have close interaction with him. They asked pertinent, in-depth questions about Ashram life, and in the end, they returned with a resolve to retain the austere fervour they experienced during the Shibiram.
On the inaugural day, Mataji Shivapriya spoke about the aims & objectives of the Shibiram. And on April 20, she spoke about ‘Significant aspects of Spiritual Seeking – My Experience’. The same day Ma Gurupriyaji (from Narayanashrama Tapovanam) addressed the audience on ‘The need and role of Guru’ in a seeker’s life.
Evening sessions included interaction with Poojya Swamiji and bhajans at Dakshinamurty Temple. Participants had post-dinner satsang with Mataji Shivapriya and Sadhu Padmanabhan.
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Radio-interview: On April 18, Poojya Swamiji gave a telephonic-interview to the FM Radio Station of Dallas (USA). The interview covered Swamiji’s views on relevance of spirituality for the coming generation. During the programme,
Swamiji was asked to speak about ‘Performancial Excellence’, ‘Harnessing Inner Resources’ and ‘How to make the outgoing mind look inward for solutions of problems in daily life’. The interview lasted for nearly 30 minutes. It was understood that the FM Radio Station of Dallas was planning to broadcast the programme several times, so as to introduce Swamiji to the Dallas population,
ahead of the forth-coming USA visit.
* * *
April 09: On the occasion of the inaugural lighting of ‘deepa-stambhams’, newly installed in front of Bhagavati and Ayyappa at Tachchanathukavu Temple, Paralikad, Thrissur, Poojya Swamiji addressed the assembly of devotees on
devotion and temple worship.
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April 11: Poojya Swamiji held a tele-satsang with devotees of SIRD-Malaysia.
* * *
April 22: Poojya Swamiji attended the annual Consecration Day (Pratishtha Divasam) of the Aykunnu Pandavagiri Devi Temple. During the midday, devotees were given a feast with payasam (sweet dish). In the evening, there was the ‘pooram’ festival with 7 elephants, accompanied by panca-vadyam (5 types of percussion instruments). Afterwards there were fireworks and a cultural programme.
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As announced earlier, Poojya Swamiji will conduct a 3-day discourse (in English) from May 03 to 05, on “Personal Fulfillment & Professional Excellence” at the Neeranjali Hall of Chinmaya Mission, Thrissur.
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