vishwabhanu- december - january 2014

VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 1 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014

EDITORIAL

IN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUE

♦ Gita Jayanthi

♦ Vivekananda Study Circle

♦ Matri Puja

♦ Vivekananda Jayanthi

♦ Surya Kiran

♦ Regular programmes

♦ 26th January

A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER

AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.

One fact that emerged out as clear as sunlight

over the last two years was that our people would re-

spond posi�vely and enthusias�cally once they are

touched in the right place, namely their hearts. Using

Swami Vivekananda as a stethoscope, Ramakrishna Mis-

sion, Vivekananda Kendra, and various other organiza-

�ons (surprisingly even the Govt of India) measured the

heartbeats of our countrymen – men, women and chil-

dren, and found them absolutely normal. They were

ready to accept and put into prac�ce Swamijis Man mak-

ing and Na�on Building ideals – his love for truth, his ado-

ra�on of his Motherland and Her heritage, his ideas on

educa�on, service and a host of other problems and his

prac�cal Vedanta which has the poten�al to be used as a

Viveka Sopana – a ladder for man to discover the divinity

within and manifest the same in his day to day life. Swa-

mijis pictures adorned even the remotest village was as

well as the wall of ultra modern ci�es like Mumbai, a re-

minder to the youth of what real youthfulness means and

how it should find fulfillment in the service of her na�on

and her people.

If the patrio�c enthusiasm of our people of coun-

try could be sustained and properly channelized, Bravo,

world will once again realize that India is truly INCREDI-

BLE.

Lakshmi KumariLakshmi KumariLakshmi KumariLakshmi Kumari


GITA JAYANTHI CELEBRATION

On the evening of 13th December, Gita

Jayanthi was celebrated in Ananda dham by coin-

ciding it with inauguration of the Vivekananda

Study Circle in the campus by Didi. Aim of the

study circle is to guide interested seekers in the

chanting and also acquaint them with the meaning

of the slokas of Sreemad Bhagavat Gita. On the

first Sunday evening of each month this class will

be held for an hour. Didi will be monitoring the

class. About fifty seekers attended the class on

Gita Jayanthi Day.

FAITH, SYMPATHY-FIERY FAITH FIERY SYMPATHY! LIFE IS NOTHING, DEATH IS NOTHING, HUNGER NOTHING,

COLD NOTHING. GLORY UNTO THE LORD—MARCH ON, THE LORD IS OUR GENERAL. DO NOT LOOK BACK TO

SEE WHO FALLS --FORWARD —ONWARD! THUS AND THUS WE SHALL GO ON, BRETHREN.

Swami Vivekananda


MATRIUPUJA

On the auspicious day of the Holy Mother’s tithi Puja on 24th Decem-

ber, grand mother’s or ammammas from the neighborhood as well as the

mothers of our Sishu vihar students were invited for ‘Matru puja’ celebration.

Thirty five of them were present for the puja. To imbibe the samskara

‘Matru devo bhava’ or to see the mother as God is what our scriptures teach.

Thus this day every year is the day for worshipping their mothers by the lit-

tle children. Puja was started by the oldest granny. After puja all the mothers

and children enjoyed the prasada.

The ideal woman in India is the mother,

the mother first, and the mother last.


INTERSCHOOL GROUP SONG COMPETITION

Come January and all the branch and project

centres of Kendra bear a festive mood. It is

the month in which Swamiji was born. On the

9th of January there was patriotic and folk

song competitions. 9 schools took part in patri-

otic group song and 12 schools in folk group

song competitions.

In the forenoon we had patriotic song competi-

tion and in the afternoon there was folk song

competition.

It was a real sight to watch the spirit of the

children. Four judges one from Kodungallur and

three from Paravur were there to judge the

children's’ performance on stage .

The Folk songs were soul stirring. Students

dressed in colorful attires playing folk instru-

ments and rhythmically dancing to the tune of

their songs kept the audience including the

judges spellbound.

Announcement of the results was tough for the

judges, hence we had more than one group for

the second and consolation prizes in both pat-

riotic and folk songs.

The prize for patriotic was won by S.N.Vidya

Bhavan, Chentrapinni and for folk song was

bagged by Seedhi Sahib Memorial High School,

Azhikode.


On the 10th of January a Thiruvathira group dance competition was kept for students

of classes XI and XII. Only two schools participated viz– Panangad H.S.School, Panan-

gad and Bharat Vidya Mandir, Valapad. Three judges were present to judge. Both the

schools performed excellently ,hence both were declared first prize winners. Smt

Padmaja, one of the judges explained the significance of this traditional dance .

Thiruvathira group dance compe00on


SEMINAR

A half day Seminar on ‘Swamiji and Edu-

cation’, especially for the B.Ed students

and school teachers was arranged on 11th

January . Registration started from 9a.m.

165 delegates mainly from Dr Palpu B.Ed

College and HPK B.Ed College and

S.N.M.Maliankara College, registered.

Programme started by 10 a.m. Dr Geetha

Ex-Principal of Muthakunnam College was

the Chief Speaker who gave the Inaugural

talk . Other speakers were scientist Dr.

T.P.Sashikumar and Vice President of

Bharatiya Vidya Niketan-South zone,

Dr Madhavan.

Question answer session was dealt

by Dr T.P. Sashikumar, which almost all

the delegates enjoyed and actively took

part so much so that an open session was

kept even after lunch upto 3p.m.


PUSHPARCHANA

&

VIVEKANANDA JAYANTHI CELBRATION

Pushparchana, at the feet of Swa-

miji was kept for people throughout the

day since the prize distribution ceremony

and public function of Swamiji’s Jayanthi

were kept on 12th January. All the yoga

satra and yoga varga participants, Sam-

skarvarga children and all those who at-

tended the function perform puspar-

chana. More than two hundred people

were there.

The programme started at 10.30

am. Sri Chandrasekharan an educationist

residing in Perinjanam, was the Chief

Guest. The first prize winner groups of

patriotic and folk songs performed on

tne stage. Apart from prize distribution,

five needy and meritorious students of

the XIth class of G.G.H.S.S. Kodungallur

were awarded scholarships by Didi. In

the end there was a beautiful Thiruvadi-

ra dance by Smt Padmaja and troup. The

song of this dance was the most popular

Sanskrit song on Swamiji- ’ Bhuvana Man-

dale’.

Programme ended by 12.30. All the

members had the prasada of Swamiji.


SURYAKIRANSURYAKIRANSURYAKIRANSURYAKIRAN On 19 th January , 15 different schools

participated in the ’Surya Kiran’ Samuhika

Surya Namaskar programme held at the

Gurushree Public ground, Pullut. 600 students

participated in the programme which started

by 7.30 and ended by 9 a.m. Didi welcomed all.

This time student groups were arranged in

circles and the formations at each step of

Suryanamaskar were very attractive. Students

performed in groups of twenty to twenty five.

each group had a name on their placard. Group

from Amrita Vidyalayam, Phoenix Public

School and Gurushree Public School were

judged as best performers and received the

award on the spot.

Gurushree Public school was also award-

ed for the largest participation with 6 groups

totalling to 150 students. Chief guest for the

programme was Sri K.G Sivanandan, MD of Ko-

dungallur Cooperative Bank. Sri Sai Vidya Bha-

van performed yoga Pyramid on the stage af-

ter Samuhika Surya Namaskar( 12rounds) was

over. All the children, teachers and parents

were provided sumptuous breakfast after the

programme.


REPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELAN

After flag hoisting by Didi Tushar Ghosh Dada our guest from Switzerland inau-

gurated the Kutumba Sammelan. Samskarvarga children, Sandeepani children and their

parents, yoga Varga pstudents and their family members took part in this jolly get

together. There were games for all age groups followed by a samuha bhojanam – shar-

ing of the varieties of delicacies brought by each family.

WHEN THE LIFE-BLOOD IS STRONG AND PURE, NO DISEASE GERM CAN LIVE IN THAT BODY. OUR LIFE- BLOOD IS SPIRIT-

UALITY. IF IT FLOWS CLEAR, IF IT FLOWS STRONG AND PURE AND VIGOROUS, EVERYTHING IS RIGHT; POLITI-

CAL,SOCIAL, ANY OTHER MATERIAL DEFECTS, EVEN THE POVERTY OF THE LAND, WILL ALL BE CURED IF THAT BLOOD

IS PURE.

Swami Vivekananda


DIDI”S

PROGRAMMES

DURING THE

MONTH OF

DECEMBER

AND

JANUARY 2014

1st December Mahila Sangamam, Thiruvananthapuram

2nd December Upanishad Yagna, Konathukonnu

5th December Satsanga at Lakshmi Nilayam, Thrissur

7th December Kattukkasserry Temple,Airtathur

13th December Geetha Study Class,Anandadham

15th December Vishnu Temple, Kaipamangalam.

16th December Shree Rama Temple, Thelisherry

18thh December Matru Sangamam Edavilangu

22nd December R.M.S. Matrusammelan, Tripunithura.

24th December Matrupuja, Anandadham,Kodungallur.

26th –29th December Kanyakumari

2nd January Mahadeva Temple, Koluthoor

3rd January Viveksmriti Kutumbayogam,Munamban

5thJanuary Geetha Study Class,Anandadham

13thJanuary S.D.College,Alappuzha

16thJanuary Vivekodayam School, Thrissur & Kasturi Kovil kdr

18th January Hindu Dharma Parishad, Thrithala

23rd January S.V.Jayanthi , R.K.Math, Vittila

25th January Aravindo EducationSociety, Pallikathodu

28thJanuary Pannangad H.S.S, Pannangad.

30th January Sri Rama Temple, Chiramangalam, TCR

31st January Govt College, Manimalakunnu, Kottayam.


Samskar varga went on well at two places

with 6 to 12 children attending the Sunday

morning classes at Anandadham and with

15 children at Vinyakapuram, near Karur

madam every month.

10-15 children were present for the week-

ly yoga class on Saturdays. 5ladies and 11

gents were present for yoga satras . 6

lady participants and 7 gents attended

Yoga varga. 7 ladies attended the regular

pranayama class.

Regular study classes on Sri Lalitha

Sahasra Namam by Sri Girishji were

conducted on 28th and 29th

December and 18th and 19th January.

Didi’s friends Tushar Ghosh and

Katherine, both devotees of Ramakrishna

Math from Switzerland, visited Ananda

dham. Tushar Ghosh stayed for a week

from 21st January and Katherine

stayed for five days from 31st January.

Both took part in the various activities of

Kendra and attended the

Yoga classes too.


SWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LAND Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’ Whenever Swami Vivekananda’s admirers asked him in what way they can serve him,

he simply told them ‘Love India’. Loving India assured, in Swamiji’s mind, a sure transfor-

mation of the personality of such a person. The best gift we can give to Swamiji on his 150th

Birthday is learning to ‘Love India’ and through the process transform ourselves into better

human beings and thus fulfill the destiny of our great Motherland.

“I too believe that India will awake again, if anyone could love with all his heart the

people of the country-bereft of the grace of affluence, of blasted fortune, their discretion total-

ly lost, down-trodden, ever-starved, quarrelsome, and envious. Then only will India awake,

when hundreds of large-hearted men and women, giving

up all desires of enjoying the luxuries of life, will long and

exert themselves to their utmost for the well-being of the

millions of their countrymen who are gradually sinking low-

er and lower in the vortex of destitution and ignorance.

( C.w.V.125-26)

Swamiji was enchanted more by the spiritual power

that was hidden in India than in her soul-absorbing physi-

cal attributes. The latter was a manifestation and exempli-

fication of the inner spirit of oneness and universality that

the ‘Mother’ has harboured from time immemorial. It is this

Inner Spirit that had to be rejuvenated and revitalized for

the regeneration of the present. That rejuvenation of spirit

can be achieved only in one way-that is, through her own children, destined to be born in this

Punya bhumi, imbibing those values and reliving them in their own lives. What the world

needs are manifestations of ‘Be and Make’, of Satya and Dharma, not just prattle about val-

ues. Indian society is truly the only gymnasium where this exercise can be undertaken.

That it is possible to transform Truth into life principles (Dharma) which can help man

in his self unfoldment has been demonstrated by countless sages and saints from all parts of

the country from time immemorial. To press upon the people this great idea of the magnifi-

cence of human life and its possibilities was the crux of the message of Swamiji.

Thus, Loving India for him was to imbibe her philosophy which was as deep as the

ocean as high as the Himalayas and as vast as the Indian planes. Karma - Bhakti - Jnana

Yogas illustrate the wide scope and opportunities available to man to experiment with his

own life. This understanding made Swamiji carefully scrutinize and practice the four yogas

and update them, so as to explain them in modern times, to the modern man, in modern lan-

guage and idioms. That is what made Swami Vivekananda’s teachings so very unique, prac-

tical and universal.


When the world civilizations were in their infancy, just learning to take their first steps

through the corridors of history, out Motherland was also very much a part of them. She was,

however, endowed fortunately with a rare insight, far sight and foresight. She was ever ready

to give her helping hands to all the sister cultures in this steep ascent to the pinnacle of ever-

lasting life. But unfortunately, almost all of them let go her grip and at some point or other fal-

tered and fell down to be crushed under the mighty wheels of time.

All along the steep pathway to this pinnacle of glory our ancient seers had kept sign-

posts and guidelines so that those who came behind would not suffer from lack of clear vi-

sion. It is such clarion calls to the entire human race that lie scattered in the most ancient of

world literature, the Vedas and Upanishads.

‘Uttishtata jagrata, prapyavaraan nibhodhata’, Kshurasya dhara nisitha niratyaa….

Isavasyamidam sarvam…..Tena tyaktena bhunjeetha,Tameva viditwa ati mruthumeti,

Nanya pantha vidyate ayanaya…..

so on and so forth. Each one of them is a call to the erring humanity to rectify their

mistakes. Each is an exhortation to turn away from pursuing the self-destroying path of

Preyas (purely materialistic pursuits) and to turn to Sreyas (the path of enlightenment). Unfor-

tunately, addicted as their people were to material pleasures they did not heed the words of

this wise old mother. And the result, almost all of them have disappeared from the world map

of modern civilization.

Our Dharma sastras, after thoroughly analyzing the human possibilities came to the

conclusion that every human being is endowed with three instruments for the manifestation of

Divinity in one’s life. They are body, mind and intellect and through them flow actions,

thoughts and knowledge. Knowledge in the intellect manifests in the mind as thoughts and as

actions in the body. Action, thought and knowledge of a wise person will ever be illumined

with wisdom and that of an ignorant person will always be under the shadow of ignorance.

Sruti provides three means of enriching and fine tuning these three instruments with

knowledge. They are Karma, Upasana and Jnana or in other words Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yo-

ga and Jnana Yoga. Sruti adds that a person can attain perfect gnosis when he is able to

practice simultaneously Karma Yoga at his body level, Bhakti Yoga in his mind and Jnana

Yoga in his intellect. It is this philosophical Truth that our sages discovered through their own

magnificent super human, cognitive powers. This has been endorsed by Swami Vivekananda

in all his teachings. Therefore, in tune with the teachings of our great sages who brought out

this Eternal Wisdom to the notice of the suffering humanity through their immortal words

“Srinwanthu vishwe amritasya putrah”, so did Swamiji, through his immortal messages bring

this Eternal Wisdom to eradicate the sufferings of the modern man. Swamiji scrutinized each

and every statement of the great rishis, contemplated upon it and made them part of his life’s

experience before sharing it with humanity at large. That is why his words fell like sparks of

fire destroying the ignorance of the listeners and igniting in them the thirst for knowledge.

Swamiji loved India because She was the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of the

realization of the Ultimate Truth and it was from here that the light of omniscience, omnipres-

ence, omnipotency of Truth radiated to other parts of the world.


Swamiji loved India because She was Dharmabhumi. It was here that Truth lent itself

to be translated into human thoughts, words and interactions establishing the interconnected-

ness, interrelatedness and interdependence of the whole Universe.

Swamiji loved India because She was Karmabhumi, where man’s work has been so

intensively analysed leading to the discovery that work could indeed be a means to manifest

the Divinity within man.

Swamiji loved India because She was Yanjabhumi. It was here that the immense po-

tential of the spiritual energy hidden in the Nishkama Karma was discovered and brought out

for the common good of the people.

Swamiji loved India because here was a Tapobhumi where the rishis formulated the

superfine technique of stopping the wastage of spiritual energy through controlling the sens-

es from their outgoing habit and directing it towards realization of the Truth.

The future expansion of India certainly lies in continuing our efforts in the glorification

of human life pursuing the path of Satya and Dharma. Even a little knowledge of this, as Sri

Krishna puts in Gita can save us from great calamities in life. In fact it is these values, which

have preserved India throughout her incomparably long existence. These values, more than

ever need perpetuation today, not through books, dogmas, rituals, temples or constitutional

amendments, but through throbbing vibrant human lives so that they stand renewed and re-

vived, simultaneously, rejuvenating our great Mother land and enriching our world civilization.

To restore our Mother back to her vigour, health and glory we have also to make use

of the most modern scientific knowledge blending it with our ancient wisdom. This tonic has

to be mixed with a portion of our hearts’ aspirations. It also needs curing in the fumes of our

self-sacrifice. Definitely it is a better way of living than wasting our precious lives through ad-

diction to drugs, alcohol or other varieties of self-destroying influences.

Swamiji firmly believed that “On our work depends the coming of the India of the fu-

ture. She is there ready waiting. She is only sleeping.

Therefore to make a great future India, the whole se-

cret lies in organization, accumulation of power, co-

ordination of wills. Already before my mind rises one

of the marvelous verses of the Rig-Veda Samhita

which says, “Be thou all of one mind, be thou all of

one thought”……. Being of one mind is the secret of

society…. That is the secret-accumulation of will-

power, co-ordination, bringing them all, as it were, into

one focus. (C. w. III. 299-300)

Our Youth should strive for Eternal Life through

their selfless surrender to the ideals our nation has al-

ways upheld. This is the challenge, which the Indian

youth faces today. If we cling on to the old without al-

lowing it to become our own lives’ experience we

would become “kupamandukas” (frogs in the well)


VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION

ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR,

PIN 680664. KERALA Ph. No : 0480-2803349, 2805780, 2812780

Email ID : [email protected]

which sooner or later would lead to our cultural and spiritual death. That would also mean

closing our doors on expansion, growth and freedom. Those who adore Swamiji have to see

that these universal values in life are restored and not lost forever. Otherwise it would also

mean the death of the most unifying and Universal Spiritual Tradition in the world. Such a

thing can never be…..

May Swamiji’s inspiring words kindle in all of us, a bright new flame of love for our

Motherland and inspire us to re-dedicate ourselves for the service of our nation and our

countrymen.

GLIMPSES FROM THE NORTH EAST BY OUR WELL WISHER

vishwabhanu- december - january 2014

Documents

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auspicious day

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