vishwabhanu dec-jan 2015

Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 1

SEMINAR

MATRUPUJA

DIAS

YOGA FOR FOREIGNERS

SAFAL YUVA PROGRAMMES IN

SCHOOLS

V K JAYANTHI CELEBRATION

SURYAKIRAN

REPUBLIC DAY

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

IN THIS ISSUE



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 2

One of the most wonderful things about our

Motherland is how she has withstood the shock of

centuries’ of military and cultural invasions and

has still maintained her spiritual wisdom and

cultural unity. She has held together in a federal

form, scores of religions, cults, philosophies and

cultural traits, leave alone languages, dress hab-

its and living customs. Despite all these she has

projected herself as one entity; we may add one

without a second.

This unity is not superimposed militarily or

forcibly. It is a very very natural phenomenon.

Just as a huge banyan tree spreading itself with

its big and small branches, branchlets up to the

tiniest buds maintain its unity, so has Bharat

remained as one. This is made possible because

throughout the whole huge tree of Bharat the sap

that rejuvenates, nourishes and maintains its

unity is one and one only. Our great seers from

Vedic times onwards understood the great secret

behind the universe, as One in the many and

made realizing that One the goal of human exist-

ence, the sum and substance of it. The result is

our “Bharat Mahan” for the whole world to see

and emulate if need be.

That sap, the One without a second is the

power Eternal Truth, the Truth which the great

seers divined deep within themselves when they

learnt to shut the five sense organs to the world

of sense objects. This capacity of introversion,

enabling one to climb the citadels of Truth came

as natural gift to those who turned their atten-

tion from the world outside to the within.

Wonder of wonders is their discovery that this

capacity for Self-actualization is inherent in eve-

ry human being. One has only to strive for it.

It is this concept of truth, its Oneness that

has held this nation together as one entity

irrespective of her multiplicity of cultural traits

and bewildering complexity of regional character-

istics. When money and lust became the twin

deities of the world culture, sad to say, India also

followed suit. Despite a strong foundation built

on Satya and Dharma. Presently it looks almost

impossible to turn the cloth back, yet it is the

sacred duty of every Indian to help our Mother-

land gain back her spiritual wisdom and culture.

Attempts we must. India’s cohesion and strength

lie in the unbreakable spiritual - cultural thread

passing through all paths of the country despite

its striking differences in languages, customs,

dress and habits.

Let us not forget that it is this inner bond

that enabled us to gain freedom from the alien

rule. Spirituality alone can instill undaunted

cultural patriotism surpassing the divisions of

the cast, community and religion. We have to

help the people to regain this vision of Oneness

and for that we need a cultural and spiritual

reinforcement in the country. “Satyam param

dheemahi” must become the battle cry of the

new generation.

EditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial

M. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi Kumari

3

DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5

On 20th December, a one day seminar on yoga

was held at Anandadham. 42 participants registered.

Didi welcomed the guest speakers and spoke on the

yearlong celebrations of Mananeeya Eknathji’s Shat-

abdi. Srimad Swami Brahmaswaroopanandaji inau-

gurated the seminar with the lighting of the lamp

and delivered the inaugural address. The topic of the

first session presented by the Swamiji, was ‘Yoga

Chitta Vritti Nirodhaha’ a sutra from Rishi Patan-

jali’s Yoga Sutras. This was followed by usual ques-

tion answer session.

The next session was by Acharya Harilalji, the

Director of Arsha Yoga centre, Thalikulam. He spoke

on ‘Food, health and Yoga’.

There were two sessions after lunch. Srimad

Swami Nityananda Sarawati from Palakkad gave his

blessings and Dr Natesan from Sri Sankara College,

Kaladi spoke on ‘Yoga In Daily Life’.

At the end Sri Sudhakarji gave the vote of thanks.

The programme concluded with Shanti Mantra.

4 DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5

“Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava, Atithi

devo Bhava”. The traditional Matru puja is based on the verse of

the Taittiriya Upanishad, which says that “Let you be the one who

worships mother, father, teachers and guests as god”.

‘MATRU DEVO BHAVA’ is chanted regularly by the Sandeepani

Sishuvihar children. As a practical part of this sloka, every year on Sri

Sarada Ma’s birthday, the children worship their mothers and grandmoth-

ers here at Anandadham. Total 35 Mothers were present for the Matrupu-

ja on 25th of December. As part of the ceremony, the children washed

the feet of their mothers, after washing the feet, the students applied

haldi, chandan and kum kum. After this, the children garlanded their

mothers' and worshiped them as images of goddess Durga. At the end of

the elaborate ceremony, the children were given sweets by their moth-

ers. Mananeeya Didi conducted the puja. After puja all had prasadam to-

gether. The Holy Mother’s presence was felt when the children chanted

the mantras while worshipping their mothers.



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 5

20 children from Kannur,

Thrissur, Ernakulam and Anapuzha and

14 children from three different schools

of Kodungallur attended the DIAS

Training Residential Camp. This camp

was organized by Brilliant Tutorials,

Chertalai in collaboration with Viveka-

nanda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation,

Kodungallur. Resource person was

Dr T.P. Sashikumar. The children were

from Classes VIII, IX and X. The chil-

dren from Kannur, Anapuzha and

Ernakulam were already members of

DIAS. Dias is for grooming such chil-

dren who are aspiring for the Indian

Civil Service Commission Examination.

Main aim of this is to bring out the hid-

den potential of children, boost their

confidence, increase their concentra-

tion, memory power and so forth.

Apart from this, children were also in-

troduced to Swami Vivekananda’s life

and teachings, Mananeeya Eknathji’s

life and mission, breathing techniques

and the power point programme of

Safal Yuva—Yuva Bharat, by Sri

Sudhakarji and Didi .


In the month of December

and January a one week yoga course

for foreigners mostly from France

and Spain, was conducted in the Big

Banana Retreat centre, by Sri

Sudhakarji. The basic aim of yoga,

meaning of Astanga Yoga, etc were

clarified. They also visited Anandad-

ham to understand the activities of

Vivekananda Kendra.

This time the Safal Yuva Yuva Bharat

PowerPoint presentation was conduct-

ed in three schools namely, Bharatiya

Vidya Bhavan, Irinjalakuda on 19th

January, Amrita Vidyalayam, on 22nd

January and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,

Kodungallur, on 27th January, for the

high school section children. More than

600 children attended . Though they

were quite young enough , they were

keen to know about Mananeeya

Eknathji and had many queries. Sri

Sudhakarji conducted the classes .


A month long programme was fixed for

celebrating Swamiji’s Jayanthi

12th January was celebrated by the

tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar. Almost

all were dressed as Swami Vivekananda,

Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Ma a

third as Sister Nivedita. Little Ritupoorna

was dressed as Chicago Swamiji and light-

ed the lamp and gave away the Chicago

address. The other little Vivekanandas too

gave short speeches. Thakur and Mother’s

Sodashi puja was enacted and Sister

Nivedita too spoke about Her master. It

was a short but sweet programme.



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 8

On 21st January Patriotic Group Song

Competition in the morning and Folk Group

Song Competition in the afternoon were held in

Anandadham. 11 schools participated in the

former competition and 10 schools participated

in the latter. Didi inaugurated the programme.

Prizes were declared after each competition

S.N.Vidya Bhavan and Bharatiya Vidya

Bhavan, Irinjalakuda were declared first in Pat-

riotic Song, Amrita Vidyalayam got the second

position and Govt Boys Higer Secondary

School, Kodungallur, got the third position.

Seventh class students of Govt U.P.School,

Konathukunnu were declared winners of Folk

song, Azhikode Seedhi Saheb Memorial H.S.S

was adjusted for second position and Sri Sai

Vidya Bhavan for the third position

In the early morning hour at 7.30 a.m.

on 25th January, 13 schools gathered to par-

ticipate in the Surya Kiran programme. About

700 children were present. It was held in the

Gurushree Public School ground. Sri Murli Mas-

ter of the Hindi Prachar Sabha was the Chief

Guest. After 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar

demonstration, there was a yoga pyramid

demonstration by Phoenix Public School. The

chief guest while addressing the children,



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 9

teachers and parents, stressed on the

need for awareness of Indian techniques

for culturing the mind and body. Break-

fast sponsored by the local well-wishers,

was served after the programme.

"Condemn NONE; if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you

cannot, fold your hands, bless your brother, and let them go their own

way." - Swami Vivekananda



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 10

Like all years this year too,

the Sandeepani Sishuvihar students and the

older students along with their parents were

present for the flag hoisting on the Republic

day. Didi hoisted the flag. After this there

were a number of indoor and outdoor games

specially meant for the mothers and fathers.

Children were the spectators that day. After

games Sushri Geetha spoke to the parents

on Narayana Guru’s teachings. This was

followed by lunch. It was a Kutumba Sam-

melan. Everyone had brought some home-

made dishes and all members shared the

dishes. The day was more special because ii

was Little Durga’s Birthday, so the feast end-

ed with payasam.



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 11

Every second Sunday from 3pm to 5.30 pm has been kept for

Yoga Sangamam or Yoga Varga. On 11th January 17 memebers attend-

ed the sangamam. Didi spoke on ‘Why Yoga’. After question answer ses-

sion, yoga practice followed. Sri Sudhakaranji, local Varistha karyakarta,

conducted the Varga.

SAMSKAR VARGA

Apart from the usual practices in Sam-

skarvarga during Saturdays, there was

a sports meet for all of them on 24th

January . Lemon race, Obstacle race

and various awareness and alertness

games were conducted for them . Last

of all the elders too joined them in Tug

Of War.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 12

On the 24th of January Sri Girish-

kumarji’s class on Sri Lalitha Sa-

hasranamam, successfully conclud-

ed . He has agreed to take up the

study of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, on

the request of all the students, from

the month of March.

On the occasion of Pournami puja

on December 6th, we were lucky to

have Mananeeya Bhanudasji in our

midst for the Ganapathi homam and

Srichakra puja. January 5th was

the next Pournami puja.

For the monthly Yoga satras there

were ten gent and 6 lady partici-

pants. Regular yoga varga continued

with 4 ladies and 12 gents .

REGULAR ACTIVITIES



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 13

LAKSHMI DIDI’S PROGRAMMES

DECEMBER 2014

2ND SEMINAR AT ASMABHI COLLEGE ON EDUCATION AND SWAMIJI

7TH NARI PUJA AT BALA BHADRA TEMPLE, NYARKAL

13TH HOLY MOTHERS JAYANTHI AT SRI SARADA MATH, ERNAKULAM

14TH ANNIVERSARY OF VIVEKANANDA MEDICAL MISSION, PALAKAD

NARAYANEEYAM DAY AT NARAYANANEEYA ASHRAM, KONGAD

19TH BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, VATTAPARAMBIL

20TH SEMINAR ON YOGA AT ANANDA DHAM, KODUNGALLUR

21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE HINDU DHARMA SAMITHI TEACHERS,

BALARAMAPURAM

25TH MATRU PUJA AT ANANDA DHAM, KODUNGALLUR

27TH NSS ANNUAL MEET, IRINJALAKUDA

29TH BHUVANESWARI TEMPLE, ARIPALLEM

JANUARY 2015

4TH SAPTAHAM AT ERNAKULAM AND

DAIVA DASAKAM CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS TRISSUR

7TH NAGARAJA TEMPLE, ATHANI

11TH VIVEKANANDA SOCIETY, ERNAKULAM

19TH KUTTIKATT BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, KODUNGALLUR

28TH MADATHAYYAL DEVI TEMPLE. KODUNGALLUR



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 14

To remember Eknathji is

to remember the Vivekananda

Rock Memorial. To think of the

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is to

recall all that Swami Vivekananda

stood for, the beauty and the

strength of his life, the dyna-

mism, universality and the per-

petual relevance of his message,

his patriotism, his intense hu-

manism and his irrevocable place

in Indian History as a Nation

builder par excellence.

To think of the Rock

Memorial is to be reminded of

man’s fight against the oddities

and impossibilities that confront

us in our struggle for achieve-

ment and excellence. It also reit-

erates how qualities of courage,

will-power, dedication and surren-

der can blow these adversities in-

to smithereens and convert them

into opportunities to take one to

the pinnacles of one’s fulfillment

as Eknathji amply demonstrated

in his life.

To look at the Rock Me-

morial is to be remember the im-

mortal message of the Gita that

‘Yoga is dexterity in action’. How

beauty and majesty can be

moulded through skilful action,

how harmony is created when de-

votion is combined with effort;

how magnificence is achieved

through selflessness and surren-

der. As one becomes absorbent in

the spirit of the Rock Memorial, it

is Eknathji’s life and the work that

comes before one’s mind.

All these and more are

enshrined in the Vivekananda

Rock Memorial brought into exist-

ence through the indomitable will

- power and the inspiring organiz-

ing and harmonizing capacities of

one great man, Ma. Eknathji

Ranade. The Vivekananda Rock

Memorial thus captures in it also

the total dedication, self-

effacement, team spirit and tire-

less energy of Eknathji and his

team of workers who were ready

Dr. M. LAKSHMIKUMARI



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 15

LIFE EVERLASTING

to sacrifice everything for the ide-

als of Swami Vivekananda and for

the man who was instrumental in

working them out.

To stand before the

Rock Memorial is to remember

Swamji’s immortal message,

"Each soul is potentially Divine".

Like the course granite stones

polished to the perfection of mar-

ble and fitted on in the Rock Me-

morial, it was Eknathji's plan to

collect the youth of India, to

polish them to the perfection of

Karma yogis by infusing them

with the ideals of Renunciation

and Service and to use them with

the ideals Renunciation and Ser-

vice and to use them for national

re-construction. Thus greater

than the Vivekananda Rock Me-

morial in conception and grander

in execution was the establish-

ment of the Service Mission. This

majestic idea took the shape of

the Service Order of laymen and

women, the Vivekananda Kendra,

in September 1972 and has since

then made its mark in selfless

service in the different parts of

India especially in the difficult ter-

rains of north-eastern Arunachal

Pradesh. He was proud of his

"children" though like a true Mas-

ter, rarely expressed it in words.

When he sent them away to work

in the far-flung areas, he visited

the place first to make sure that

the minimum necessities of life

would be available. To the young

girls who responded to his clarion

call to renounce their homes and

join him serving the Motherland,

his concern and attitude were like

that of a mother and father com-

bined.

Vivekananda Kendra is

a unique experiment in social ser-

vice, bringing for the first time

men and women together, under

one roof, teaching them to work

side by side as lay missionaries.

By and large, he was able to build

up a cadre of really dedicated

selfless JEEVANA VRATIS who

with their total identification to

Swamji's cause and ideals have

now been able to shoulder the



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 16

burden of the immense work en-

trusted to them.

When we study the life of

Ma. Eknathji, it looks as though

the Divine Will was preparing him

for this ultimate task which was to

be the crowning glory of not only

his life, but was also to enshrine

within it, the hopes and aspirations

and the Shraddha and Bhakti

which millions had cherished for

the Great Swami Vivekananda.

There is no monument in modern

India which glorifies the spirit it

enshrines and the builder as well.

Like the Song Celestial which puri-

fies the listener and the speaker,

so has the Rock Memorial glorified

the ideal and the idealist.

"Only the land which moth-

ered the Gita, could have brought

forth such a Karma Yogi' only in

the land of Himavan, Vindhya and

Sindhu can you meet such a lion

who practices self-restrain. Only in

the country where flows the Gan-

ges can you find such a Kalpavrik-

sha which has for its fruit, auspi-

LIFE EVERLASTING



VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 17

ciousness alone................"

A life which began humbly in

the village of Timatala in Amaravati

District, Maharashtra, by sheer pur-

suit of excellence, by indomitable will,

courage and total dedication to the

cause and ideals he cherished rose to

the pinnacle of glory and in the pro-

cess of carving out of rock, a magnifi-

cent monument to one of the great-

est sons of this Motherland, turned

his own life into LIFE EVERLASTING.

His life and work come as an answer

to the vague cries of men, about the

lack of opportunities, even for ser-

vice. Opportunities knock at every-

one's door. To one who is ready to

transform oneself first, those very

same opportunities become the vehi-

cles to change one's life into LIFE EV-

ERLASTING.

M. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi Kumari

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA

VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION

ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR,

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

2812780

Email ID : [email protected]

vishwabhanu dec-jan 2015

Documents

cultural unity

cultural invasions

undaunted cultural patriotism

spiritual wisdom

world culture

vision of oneness

spiritual reinforcement

citadels of truth