REPORTS FROM THE D.L.S. BRANCHES
INLAND BRANCHES
Ahiwara (Chhattisgarh): The Branch conducted daily Satsanga, and special Puja and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa on Ekadasis.
Ambala (Haryana): During the month of February 2008, the Branch had daily Satsanga which was supplemented by Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa for 30 minutes on Sundays, Lord Siva Mantra Japa on Mondays, Sri Hanuman hymns on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Guru Bhajans on Thursdays, and Sri Devi hymns on Fridays. It held a special Satsanga and Prasad on the Punyatithi of H.H. Sri Swami Premanandaji Maharaj. It also conducted 1½ hours Mantra Japa on Amavasya and Purnima. Earlier, it organised a special programme on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Akhanda Mahamantra Sankirtan Yajna at the Headquarters, 2-hours Kirtan of ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ Mantra on Sri Visvanatha Mandir Pratishtha Mahotsava Day, and special programmes on the New Year's Day and Makar Sankranti (Lohrie).
Badakuanl (Orissa): The Branch conducted daily session of prayer-recitation in the morning, and evening Satsanga with Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotra Parayana and Srimad Bhagavata Svadhyaya. Paduka Puja and the weekly Satsanga took place on Thursdays. Sivananda Day programme included Paduka Puja. Bhagavad Gita Parayana is done on the second Sunday every month. On the occasion of the Foundation Day of the Branch on 23rd January, a 3-day special programme including Brahmamuhurta prayer-Japa-meditation, Prabhat Pheri, Paduka Puja, Bhagavad Gita Parayana, Special evening Satsanga with discourses by Revered Sri Swami Anandaswarupanandaji, Bhojan (free meals as Prasad), etc. were organised. Also, a free medical camp was organised on 24th January, and free medicines were supplied to 600 patients. 25th January being the Pratishtha Mahotsav Anniversary of the village temple, there were daylong programmes of recitation of Sri Bhagavad Gita, Sri Gopalsahasranama, Sri Vishnu-sahasranama, Puja-Archana with the 1000 names, etc.
Barbil (Orissa): The Branch holds Satsanga at the Ashram on Mondays and at the residence of devotees on Thursdays. A 3-day Zonal Sadhana Shibir was organised on January 31, and February 1, 2. H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj, Revered Sri Swami Jnanaswarupanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Dharmaprakashanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Sivaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Devabhaktanandaji and five other Swamijis graced the Shibir by their august presence and discourses. There were 250 delegates. Sivananda Homoeopathic Dispensary treated 958 patients in two months.
Bhawanipatna (Orissa): The Branch conducted biweekly Satsanga on Thursdays and Sundays, and Paduka Puja on Sivananda Day. It also held Matri-satsanga on Thursdays and Sundays, and daily Srimad Bhagavata Parayana on the remaining days. 30 tribal students stay in Chidananda Nidam and are also provided food, clothings, medical help, education and all their requirements free. On the Republic Day it distributed sarees to poor women and sweets to children.
Bhilai (Chhattisgarh): In the monthly Satsanga of the Branch on 27th January, besides the regular routine of Paduka Puja, Bhajan-kirtan, Arati, Bhog, etc., the Branch President and Secretary gave a detailed account of Chhattisgarh Divine life Conference. In the Matri-Satsanga, recitation of Sri Hanuman hymns was done on Tuesdays, of Sri Lalita-sahasranama Stotram on Fridays, of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotram and Bhagavad Gita on Ekadasis. It organised a public programme on the visit of H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj, accompanied by Sri Swami Devabhaktanandaji and Revered Sri Swami Shivadasanandaji on 17th January. All the three Swamijis gave talks. A booklet Divya Yoga Shastra was released and distributed free.
Bhimkand (Orissa): The Branch conducted daily Paduka Puja in the morning, and the weekly evening Satsanga on Sundays.
Bhongir (A.P.): It held a special Satsanga and Puja on the Punyatithi of H.H. Sri Swami Devanandaji Maharaj on 7th January. A Jnana Prasad was released and distributed.
Bhubaneswar, Khandagiri (Orissa): In the 2-hour daily evening Satsanga, Svadhyaya of Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Ramcharit Manas is done. It also holds weekly Satsanga on Sundays, Paduka Puja on Thursdays, monthly Sadhana Day on second Sunday every month and 12-hour Akhanda Kirtan of ‘Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Ram’ Mantra on Chidananda Day.
Bikaner (Rajasthan): In addition to daily 2-time Puja and 2-hour evening Satsanga with Svadhyaya, the Branch conducted Paduka Puja on Sivananda Day, and Havan with Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and Gayatri Mantra, special Satsanga, etc. on Chidananda Day. The Matri-satsanga, with recitation of Sri Sundarakanda and Sri Hanuman Chalisa and reading of Sikh scriptures, was on February 12 and 23. Special Satsanga was arranged on Sri Vasanta Panchami and Makara Sankranti. It distributed fruits, sweets, food and clothings to the students of a school for the blind, and of a school for dumb and deaf, to the children of an orphanage, and to the poor residing in slums on 17th February and 15th January. It also continued social service of scholarships to students and Sivananda Library.
Chennai, Ilango Nagar (Tamil Nadu): The Branch organised special programmes on the New Year’s Day with prayer and a discourse, and on the Pongal Day with prayer, Suryanamaskar, Asanas, Mudras and a talk. It conducted, from 26th November, 4 Yogasana classes for ladies every week and from 9th December 3 classes every week for men.
Chennai, Washermenpet (Tamil Nadu): The Branch arranged a special Gita Jayanti function. After Guru Puja, a Jnana Prasad leaflet was released, and a talk on “Essence of Gita”, recitation of a few chapters, Arati and Mahaprasad followed.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat): Regular Activities: Thrice a week Satsanga-svadhyaya, daily morning session of Yogasana, Yogasana class for women in the evening, Narayana Seva on Sivananda Day, Bal Narayana Seva on Chidananda Day, financial support to a leprosy colony and poor patients, fortnightly homoeopathic clinic, Swami Sivananda Library.
Special Activities: (1) Discourses by H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji on February 27th and 28th. (2) Yogasana Shibir by Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji from January 1 to 9: 200 participants in the morning batch, and also another class in Indian Technical Institute in the afternoon. (3) Narayana Seva. (4) Special Satsanga: Special Satsanga and Bhajan-kirtan for 3 days with a visiting monk.
Gangtok (Sikkim): The Branch organised jointly a Yoga Shivir from February 5 to 12. There were 48 participants.
Ghatpadmur, Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): The routine activities in Sri Sivananda Ashram are daily prayer-meditation, Yogasana, recitation in the morning, in the evening half an hour group chanting followed by Satsanga, weekly schedule of Paduka Puja on Thursdays, recitation of Sri Sundarakanda on Saturdays and of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotram on Sundays. Pratishtha Mahotsava of Lord Visvanath was done on 31st December, bringing sanctity to the Ashram.
Gumergunda (Chhattisgarh): The regular activities in Sri Sivananda Ashram here are 3-time Puja-Arati in Sri Visvanath Mandir and Samadhi Mandir, early morning prayer-meditation, Yogasana session, daily 2-hour evening Satsanga, Paduka Puja on Thursdays and recitation of Lord Siva hymns on Mondays, Sri Devi hymns on Fridays and Sri Sundarakanda on Saturdays.
Jeypore (Orissa): Regular Activities: Daily 2-time Puja, weekly Satsanga on Sundays, mobile Satsanga on Thursdays; Puja, Havan and special Satsanga on Sivananda Day; monthly Sadhana Day (60 participants in February) on Chidananda Day.
Special Activities: (1) A special Satsanga and a discourse by H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj on 17th February. (2) Punyatithi of H.H. Sri Swami Devanandaji Maharaj on 7th January. (3) Gita Yajna: oblation to the collective chanting of each Sloka of Bhagavad Gita and Samputa of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ Mantra on 20th January (4) A similar Gita Yajna on Sri Gita Jayanti, 20th December––80 participants. (5) Gita Parayana on 11th December––80 participants.
Kakching (Manipur): The daily routine at the Manav Seva Ashram of the Branch includes twice-a-day Puja, meditation, Yogasana in the morning, and evening Satsanga. It organised a 30-day residential Yoga Training Camp from 15th December 2007 to 13th January 2008. There were discourses on Bhagavad Gita, Maharshi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and life and teachings of Gurudev. The emphasis was on cultivating good thoughts and manners and inspiring the fifteen participants for noble living and the supreme Goal of life. Prof. P. Kunjo Singh, the Secretary of the Branch launched, on 10th August 2007, an ambitious project of visiting all 804 schools and colleges of Manipur State and addressing the students. In less than four months, he has already visited 35 schools and addressed 200 to 1500 students in each school. As the Ashram premises cover 8 acres of fertile land, plantain plantation is done carefully every year. The Branch also helped in organising the monthly District D.L.S. Satsangas on 16th December and 27th January.
Kantabanji (Orissa): The Branch held the weekly Satsanga on Sundays with Svadhyaya of Bhagvad Gita.
Khatiguda (Orissa): The Branch conducted the weekly Satsanga on Thursdays, Satsanga with Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotra Parayana on Ekadasis, and the monthly Sadhana Day with 12-hour Akhanda Mahamantra Kirtan and Narayana Seva on the first Sunday of every month. It organised a mobile Satsanga on 12th January and a special public Satsanga at Sri Jagannath Temple on the visit of Sri Swami Vaikunthanandaji and Sri Swami Narayanapadanandaji on 23rd January.
Nabha (Punjab): The Branch holds the weekly Satsanga with Svadhyaya on Sundays, regularly without a single exception.
Nalgonda (A.P.): The Satsanga of the Branch includes chanting of 108 names of Sri Lakshmi, Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotram Parayana, Svadhyaya of Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat and Bhagavad Gita, and on Fridays recitation of Sri Lakshmi-sahasranama Stotram. It organised special Satsangas on Punyatithi of H.H. Sri Swami Devanandaji Maharaj, on Sri Gita Jayanti and on the conclusion of 1000 days of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Parayana on 14th December. It also held two mobile Satsangas in December, and one mobile Satsanga on 28th January in an old age home in a nearby village.
Nandini Nagar (Chhattisgarh): Regular Activities: Daily early morning prayer-meditation, recitation of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama and other stotras; weekly mobile Satsanga on Thursdays; Matri-satsanga on Saturdays with Sri Sundarakanda Parayana and on Ekadasis with Bhagavad Gita and Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Parayana; 6-hour Akhanda Mahamantra Kirtan on 3rd every month.
Special Activities: (1) A special Satsanga on the visit of H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji and party on 17th January in Swami Sivananda Bhajan Mandir. 300 devotees attended the discourse. (2) Yoga Training Camp in a school from January 30 to February 2.
New Delhi, Vasant Vihar: In the weekly Satsanga on Sundays, Sri Sundarakanda Parayana on the first Sunday draws a large number of devotees from distant places. The second Sunday is for meditation––practical hints and actual practice. Gurudev’s teachings are explained on the third Sunday, and on the fourth Sunday a talk by a local saint is arranged.
Nimapara (Orissa): In addition to the daily Satsanga with one hour Mahamantra Kirtan followed by Srimad Bhagavatam Svadhyaya, the Branch conducts, on Thursdays, Paduka Puja in the morning and the weekly Satsanga in the evening. It also arranged special Satsanga in nearby villages on 1st December 2007 and 15th January 2008.
It organised Bhagavata Saptaha from January 23 to 29, and along with it Yogasana class in the morning and evening conducted by Revered Sri Swami Sadasivanandaji and Revered Sri Swami Rameswaranandaji. It also held daylong spiritual programmes and Prasad Sevan on the New Year’s Day. On the foundation Day of the Branch on 30th January, the programmes were early morning prayer-meditation, Paduka Puja, Nagar Sankirtan, Bhajan-kirtan, Daridra Narayana Seva, and a public Satsanga in the evening with a discourse by Revered Sri Swami Sivananda- Gurusevanandaji. The daylong programmes on Gita Jayanti included early morning Japa-meditation, Yogasana-Pranayama, Paduka Puja, Gita Yajna, Prasad Sevan, etc. It held a Sadhana Day on 30th December 2007.
Panchkula (Haryana): The Branch held daily Svadhyaya of Bhagavad Gita, weekly mobile Satsanga on Sundays and the weekly collective chanting of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on Saturdays.
Raigarh (Chhattisgarh): The weekly Satsanga of the Branch is on Mondays. The Branch arranged Akhanda Path of Sri Ramcharit Manas from 8.00 a.m. on 24th December to 10-00 a.m. on the next day. It was followed by a big concluding programme. On 7th January, Rajyabhisheka (coronation) of the Lord during Sri Ramayana Katha was celebrated in a grand manner.
Raipur (Chhattisgarh): Regular Activities: Weekly Satsanga on Sundays; one hour ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ Mantra Sankirtan followed by Bhajans, etc. on Mondays; special Puja and Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Parayana on Ekadasis.
Special Activities: (1) Gita Jayanti: Prabhat Pheri, morning meditation, Gita Parayana and in the evening Ekadasi programme. (2) New Year Eve: a special Satsanga from 10-30 p.m. on 31st December till 0.30 a.m. on 1st January. (3) Special Satsanga: on the visit of H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji and party on 17th January.
Rourkela, Fertilizer Township (Orissa): The Branch continued its regular activities as follows: weekly Satsanga on Sundays; Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotra Parayana and collective Japa of ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ Mantra for one hour on Thursdays; recitation of Sri Hanuman hymns and Svadhyaya of Gurudev’s literature; and Bhagavad Gita Parayana on the first Sunday.
Salipur (Orissa): The schedule at the Branch was, 2-time Puja, morning meditation, one hour Kirtan, one hour Japa, recitation of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama and other Stotras in the morning, and one hour study class and Satsanga in the evening. The monthly mobile Satsanga was on 10th February and weekly Satsanga at the Branch on other Sundays. The monthly activities included recitation of Sri Sundarakanda on the first Saturday, of Bhagavad Gita on the first Sunday, Yogasana class on the second, and Sadhana Day on the third and 6-hour Akhanda Japa of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on the fourth Sunday. On Sivananda Day, it conducted Paduka Puja and one hour Japa of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya’ Mantra in the morning and a special Satsanga in the evening.
Special Activities: (1) Yoga Camps in a local college: 113 participants on 28th January and 118 on 18th February. (2) Sivananda Charitable Hospital treated 500 patients in two months.
South Balanda (Orissa): Regular Activities: Weekly Satsanga on Fridays; Paduka Puja in the morning and Satsanga in the evening on Sivananda Day and Chidananda Day; Paduka Puja, special Puja and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa for three hours on the Sankranti day; and the monthly 3-hour Akhanda Kirtan of Mahamantra on 26th January and 28th February.
Special Activity: D.L.S. Conference: As a part of the Silver Jubilee special programmes, it held the conference on January 2-3. More than 2000 devotees from all the Branches of the District participated. 1500 devotees joined 7-km long Nagar Sankirtan. H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj gave discourses and guidance and distributed blankets and sweets in a leprosy colony.
Sunabeda (Orissa): Regular Activities: Daily evening Satsanga with Svadhyaya; biweekly Satsanga on Thursdays and Sundays with Paduka Puja and Gita Svadhyaya; free medical unit on Sundays.
Special Activities: (1) Sadhana Day on 24th February with Paduka Puja, Havan, etc. in Sri Jagannath Temple 30 km. away. (2) A Sadhana Day with daylong programmes in January.
Sunabeda, Ladies Branch (Orissa): In addition to the daily Puja, Srimad Bhagavata Patha, Mantra Japa in the morning, and evening Satsanga with 1-hour Mahamantra Kirtan, the Branch held Matri-satsanga on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the weekly Shishu Vikas Satsanga on Sundays, and Paduka Puja and Sri Vishnu- sahasranama Stotra Parayana on Ekadasis. 12-hour Akhanda Japa of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on Chidananda Day and poor feeding on Tuesdays were the other regular activities.
Special Activities: (1) Sadhana Day on the Annual Day of the Branch on 19th December––many devotees from other D.L.S. Branches and spiritual institutions also participated. (2) Sri Gita Jayanti: Bhagavad Gita Parayana and a special Satsanga. (3) New Year’s Day: Special Satsanga.
Vadodara (Gujarat): The Branch held Bhajan Satsanga on 3 Thursdays and study class on Sundays. It organised discourses on Upadesha Saram from December 6 to 9. A Yogasana Camp was from December 2 to 8. It continued social service through homeopathic, Ayurvedic and acupressure treatment.
OVERSEAS BRANCHES
Hong Kong (China): The monthly Satsanga of the Branch was on the second Saturday (8th December 2007). It began with one hour Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa, followed by a talk on Gurudev’s teachings. The Satsanga concluded with Arati and Prasad. There were 43 participants. On the remaining Saturdays, Mahamantra chanting is done for one hour.
It conducted 34 new Regular Yogasana Classes with 475 participants during November and December 2007. Revered Sri Hari Cheng conducted a 2-session course on “The History of Yoga” and “The Life of Swami Sivananda” (39 participants). There were 25 participants in the course on “The Diet Concept of Yoga”.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
1. New Sivananda Ashram at Bargarh
The Branch organised special programmes in connection with the inauguration ceremony of Sivananda Ashram as follows: (1) Srimad Bhagavad Parayana and discourses by Revered Sri Swami Sivananda- Gurusevanandaji and Revered Sri Swami Amritanandaji from February 4 to 10. (2) Poornahuti Programme Havan on February 10th. (3) Opening ceremony: H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj performed the Pratishtha Puja on the 9th. (4) On the auspicious day of Sri Vasanta Panchami, Swamiji unveiled the portraits of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and H.H. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, performed Paduka Puja and released the souvenir. (5) 3-day Sadhana Camp: On February 9, 10, 11 daylong programmes included Nagar Sankirtan, discourses by the above mentioned three Swamijis, as well as by Revered Sri Swami Jignasanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Gurupremanandaji, and others, distribution of food and clothings to the poor, etc. Many devotees from all over Orissa participated.
2. Sadhana Shibir at Lonavla.
D.L.S. Mumbai Circle organised a 3-day spiritual Retreat at Lonavla from February 1 to 3. H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj gave discourses on Japa Yoga, Revered Sri Swami Ramrajyamji Maharaj on Sadhana, another Swamiji on Bhakti Yoga, and Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji on Hatha Yoga and meditation (Raja Yoga). All the 150 delegates were given Jnana Prasad and Sadhana Kit.
3. The 34th Andhra Pradesh D.L.S. Confernce, at Tirumala
Andhra Pradesh Divine Life Society Branches organised the 34th Andhra Pradesh D.L.S. Conference at the well-known holy place Tirumala Hills at the lotus feet of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) from January 29 to 31. Revered Sri B. Karunakara Reddy, Chairman, T.T. Devasthanams, inaugurated the Conference and delivered the opening discourse. H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj, Revered Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji, as well as other Sannyasis and eminent scholars gave discourses. 4000 delegates and devotees attended the discourses with rapt attention.
4. Chhattisgarh D.L.S. Conference
The D.L.S. Gumergunda Branch organised the 4-day conference from January 11 to 14, in connection with he Punyatithi of Revered Sri Swami Sadapremanandaji. Sri Swami Devabhaktanandaji conducted the Morning Prayer, Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji the Yogasana session, and Sri Swami Bhakti- bhavanandaji and Br. Atmanishtha Chaitanyaji Bhajan-kirtan. H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj gave discourses on Yoga of Synthesis, Sadhana and on life and teachings of Gurudev. Sri Swami Vaikunthanandaji conducted the Mantra Diksha through the cassette to 150 devotees. The Conference concluded on 14th January, the Punyatithi Day, in the presence of 7000 devotees. In addition to the above-mentioned Swamijis Revered Sri Swami Vishuddha- nandaji, Revered Sri Swami Shivadasanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Brahmanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Shyamanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Vijnananandaji, Sri Swami Narayana- padanandaji, Revered Sri Swami Amrita- nandaji, Revered Sri Swami Guruprema- nandaji, Revered Sri Swami Anandaswarupa- nandaji, Revered Sri Swami Durganandaji, Revered Sri Swami Vidyanandaji and many dignitaries of the region addressed the gathering.
5. Punyatithi Programme at Ghatpadmur
In continuation of the above programme, Ghatpadmur (Jagadalpur) Branch held various spiritual programmes on 15th January to pay tribute to the late Swamiji. 24-hour Akhanda Patha of Sri Ramcharit Manas concluded with Havan, followed by a grand Satsanga with all the above-mentioned Swamijis. About 1000 devotees attended the programme.
6. Yogasana Shibir at Jamnagar
Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji conducted a Yogasana Shibir at Jamnagar from December 18 to 26, and gave practical training in Yogasana, Pranayama, Mudra and meditation. There were 60 participants including doctors and advocates.
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