REPORTS FROM THE D.L.S. BRANCHES
INLAND BRANCHES
Agra (U.P.): During the month of December 2007, the Branch conducted daily Kirtan, weekly Satsanga on Sundays, and Havan and a spiritual talk on Tuesdays. On 16th November, clothings and Prasad were distributed to the poor women.
Ahiwara (Chhattisgarh): The Branch holds daily Satsanga and special Puja and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa on Ekadasi. On Sri Bhagavad Gita Jayanti a special Satsanga was also arranged.
Badakuanl (Orissa): In addition to the daily activities of 2-time Puja, morning session of prayer and recitation and evening Satsanga with Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotram and Srimad Bhagavat Svadhyaya, the Branch conducted Paduka Puja on Thursdays and Sivananda Day, weekly Satsanga on Thursdays, and Akhanda Sankirtan on Chidananda Day. The monthly Bhagavad Gita Parayana was on 9th December and there was also a special Parayana on the occasion of Sri Gita Jayanti. It also arranged 4 special Paduka Pujas and 3 mobile Satsangas.
Barbil (Orissa): The Branch held weekly Satsanga at the Branch on Thursdays and mobile Satsanga at the residence of devotees on Mondays. 475 patients were given free treatment through Sivananda Charitable Homoeopathy Dispensary during December.
Baripada (Orissa): The Branch conducted Paduka Puja on Thursdays and on Sri Gita Jayanti, and the monthly Sadhana Day on 2nd December. It distributed medicines to the inhabitants of a leprosy colony and food on December 3, 12 and 30.
Bhanjanagar (Orissa): Regular activities: Satsanga with Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Parayana; Sankranti Satsanga with recitation of Sri Sundarakanda. Special activities: (1) Sri Gita Jayanti: Paduka Puja, Sri Krishan Puja in the morning and Bhagavad Gita Parayana by 50 devotees, Havan and a discourse in the evening. (2) Kartika Month: Daily mobile Satsanga from October 26 to November 17 and study class on “Viveka-chudamani” in the evening and Sri Kapil Gita (Srimad Bhagavata Book III) in the morning from November 18 to 24. (3) Navaratri: study class on “Viveka-chudamani” in the morning and discourses on “Devi Bhagavata” in the evening by a saint from Haridwar.
Bhilai (Chhattisgarh): The monthly Satsanga on the 9th and the special Satsanga on 30th December included Paduka Puja, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra collective Japa, Bhoga, etc. Matri-satasanga included Sri Hanuman Chalisa Path on Tuesdays, Parayana of Sri Lalita-sahasranama on Fridays and of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama and Bhagvad Gita on Ekadasis.
Bikaner (Rajasthan): Regular activities: Twice a day Puja, daily Satsanga with Svadhyaya of Bhagavad Gita, Matri-satsanga on December 4 and 29, Paduka Puja and Bhajan-Kirtan on Sivananda Day, Havan with oblations with Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and Gayatri Mantra on Chidananda Day, daily Yogasana class, Sivananda Library and scholarships to needy students.
Special activities: (1) Mahamantra Kirtan on 3rd December. (2) Om Namah Sivaya Kirtan on the Pratishtha Mahotsava of Sri Viswanatha Mandir. (3) Sri Gita Jayanti: Bhagavad Gita Parayana, and also daily one chapter recitation for 18 days. (4) 9-day Parayana of Sri Ramayana from December 23 to 31. (5) Special Puja on Sri Dattatreya Jayanti. (6) Food distribution to the students of a school for the disabled and blind.
Chatrapur (Orissa): In addition to the daily Satsanga, the Branch conducted the weekly Satsanga on Thursdays, 8 mobile Satsangas, Paduka Puja on Sivananda Day, and Chidananda Day and Sri Sundarakanda Parayana on the Sankranti. Month-long Parayana of Sri Ramayana was from October 24 to November 24. Revered Swami Sivananda-Gurusevanandaji graced the weekly Satsanga of 22nd November, Revered Swami Arpananandaji attended the mobile Satsanga on 19th and along with Revered Swami Ramakripanandaji the concluding ceremony of Ramayana Parayana.
Chikiti (Orissa): The Branch held daily satsanga and on Thursdays Paduka Puja in the morning and Satsanga in the evening in Chidananda Ashram. The children of Sri Sri Gopal Krishna Sevashram of Khajuria Branch had also joined Bhagavad Gita Parayana held on Sri Gita Jayanti.
Gurgaon (Haryana): The Branch had the weekly Satsanga on Sundays, Matri-Sankirtan on Mondays and Sri Sundarakanda Parayana on Tuesdays. Katha and Havan on Ekadasis, Sri Satyanarayana Katha and Bhajan-kirtan on Purnima, and distribution of food on the last Sunday every month were the other regular activities. Divya Jivan Sivananda Charitable Health Centre treated 316 patients in 2 months and organised an Eye camp in which eye specialists from AIIMS examined 300 patients and operated upon 30 patients. A special Satsanga was organized on the visit of Revered Swami Vaikunthanandaji and Revered Swami Devabhaktanandaji on 30th November. Special Dipavali celebration and Govardhan Puja and distribution of Annakut Prasad on the following day, 9-day Ramayana Katha from October 2 to 10, and a Yajna on Sri Durga Ashtami were the other special programmes.
Jaipur, Malaviya Nagar (Rajasthan): Matri-Satsanga is on Fridays, Narayan Seva on Tuesdays, Paduka Puja on Sivananda Day and Havan on Chidananda Day. Swami Sivananda Charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary treated 800 patients during the month. The Branch organised a discourse by Revered Swami Ramarajyam on 25th November. After the special Dipavali Satsanga, Annakut Prasad was served to 500 participants.
Jajpur (Orissa): Regular activities: Daily Paduka Puja, weekly Satsanga on Thursdays, Narayana Seva on Sivananda Day, and Sadhana Day on the fourth Sunday. Special activities: (1) Bhagavat Saptaha Parayana––November 18 to 24. (2) Gita Jayanti programme.
Jeypore (Orissa): The Branch conducted daily 2-time Puja, weekly Satsanga on Sundays and mobile Satsangas on Thursdays. Sivananda Day programme was Paduka Puja, Havan and Prasad Sevan in the morning and Satsanga in the evening. A special Satsanga was arranged on the visit of Revered Swami Sivachidanandaji on 29th November. On the Punya Tithi of H.H. Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj, programmes included Prabhat Pheri, early morning prayer session, Paduka Puja, Svadhyaya, and in the evening a special Satsanga. On 18th November, Gita Yajna was performed. Oblations were offered after chanting of each sloka of Bhagavad Gita followed by the Samputa of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ Mantra––70 devotees participated.
Kakching (Manipur): It conducted 2-time Viswanath Puja, early morning 1½hour prayer-meditation and evening Satsanga. Revered Swami Pavitranandaji stayed in its Manav Seva Ashram during October 26 and November 2. On his arrival, he was taken in a Nagar Sankirtan procession and a Satsanga followed. It also organised a special Puja and Bhajan-kirtan on 11th October, Sri Durga Puja on Sri Durga Ashtami and special Puja on Dipavali.
Kantabanji (Orissa): The Branch held the weekly Satsanga on Sundays with Svadhyaya of Bhagavad Gita. On Sri Gita Jayanti, it organised Puja, Svadhyaya, recitation of Sri Vishnu- sahasranama Stotram and Bhagavad Gita, discourse, etc. during the 8½hour programme in two sessions.
Langthabal (Manipur): The monthly Satsanga was on Gandhi Jayanti, the International Day of Non-violence. The talks on non-violence gave much-needed solace and inspiration to this region affected by terrorism.
Nalgonda (A.P.): The Branch conducted daily Satsanga with Srimad Bhagavata Svadhyaya and recitation of Sri Vishnu- sahasranama and on Fridays of Sri Lalita- sahasranama. It also held 4 mobile Satsangas with participants numbering upto 39.
Nandini Nagar (Chhattisgarh): In addition to the daily 2-hour early morning session of prayer and recitations, the Branch conducted Matri-satsanga on Saturdays with Sri Sundara- kanda Parayana, and on Ekadasis with recitation of Sri Vishnu-sahasranama Stotram and Bhagavad Gita. On Akhanda Mahamantra Sankirtan Day, 6-hour Akhanda Kirtan was done and on the eve of the New Year, 3-hour Akhanda Kirtan till midnight so as to enter the New Year in an elevated spirit.
New Delhi, Vasant Vihar: The Branch held its Sunday Satsanga with Sri Sundarakanda Parayana on 2nd December, Sankirtan and meditation hints and practice on the 9th, Svadhyaya of Gurudev’s teachings on the 16th, a discourse by a Mahatma on the 23rd, and Bhajan-kirtan on 30th December. It also organised a special Satsanga week from December 30 to January 6, with 5-hour session of Hari Katha. The daily attendance was around 500.
Panchkula (Haryana): In the daily Satsanga, Svadhyaya of Bhagavad Gita with reading of the commentaries of Jagadguru Sankaracharya and Swami Ramsukhadasji is done. The weekly Satsanga on Sundays includes Svadhyaya of Divine Life literature. Collective Japa of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is done on Saturdays.
Salipur (Orissa): The daily schedule at the Branch was twice-a-day Puja, morning prayer- meditation, recitation, Kirtan, etc. in the morning, and prayer, Bhajan-kirtan and one-hour study class. The weekly Satsanga is on Sundays. The monthly Parayana of Sri Sundarakanda was on 1st December and of Bhagavad Gita on the 2nd. Sivananda Day programme was Paduka Puja and ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya’ Mantra Japa for one hour in the morning and a special Satsanga in the evening. The monthly Sadhana Day was on 16th December, and Yogasana and meditation on the 9th. Special Activities were (1) Mahamantra Sankirtan Anniversary––Sankirtan for 3 hours. (2) Sri Gita Jayanti: Gita Yajna with Ahutis after each sloka followed by the Samput of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevya’ Mantra and Prasad Sevan. (3) Mobile Paduka Puja and Satsanga on 23rd December. (4) A spiritual trip on 11th November. (5) H.H. Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj’s Punya Tithi: Paduka Puja, 2-hour Japa in the morning, and a special Satsanga in the evening. 543 patients were treated through Swami Sivananda Charitable Hospital in 2 months.
South Balanda (Orissa): The Branch conducted the weekly Satsanga on Fridays, special Satsanga on Sivananda Day and Chidananda Day, and 7 mobile Satsangas as part of the silver jubilee programmes. On the anniversary of Akhanda Mahamantra Sankirtan Yajna, 3-hour Sankirtan was done. On the Sankranti day, Paduka Puja was followed by Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa for 3-hours. It organized 2 free health Camps in slum areas––100 poor patients availed treatment.
Sunabeda (Orissa): In addition to the daily Satsanga with study of Srimad Bhagavatam, the Branch conducted Paduka Puja and Satsanga with study of Bhagavad Gita on Thursdays and Sundays. 24-hour Akhanda Mahamantra Sankirtan commenced on 23rd November, and on its conclusion Nagar Sankirtan Yatra was taken out on Kartika Purnima. Hundreds of devotees participated in this Sankirtan Yajna. Arrangement for Anna Prasad was made for the participants. The free medical service at the Ashram site treated more than hundred patients.
Sunabeda, Ladies Branch (Orissa): Regular activities: Daily morning Puja, Srimad Bhagavata Path, Mahamritynjaya Mantra Japa, and in the evening Puja, Mahamantra Sankirtan for 45 minutes, recitation and Mantra Japa; the biweekly Satsanga on Wednesdays and Saturdays; Shishu Vikas Satsanga on Sundays; Narayana Seva on Tuesdays; 12-hour Akhanda Japa of Mahamritynjaya Mantra on Chidananda Day.
Special activities: (1) 12-hour Akhanda Sankirtan of Mahamantra and Paduka Puja on Kartik Purnima. (2) Navaratri: daily Puja in the morning and Satsanga in the evening with Svadhyaya of “God As Mother.” (3) Maha Rasa Purnima: Paduka Puja and Havan in the morning and special Satsanga in the evening.
Surendranagar (Gujarat): The Branch organised various programmes of Revered Swami Dharmanishthanandaji during November 22-30 as follows: (1) 8-day Yogasana-Pranayama class in a school––66 trainees. (2) 5-day class in a Girls’ school––27 participants. (3) 3-day class in a Girls’ school––72 participants. (4) 3-day Meditation class for teachers in this Girls’ School––19 teachers joined it. (5) A visit to Wanker Branch and a public discourse. (6) Visit to three different villages on November 25, 29 and 30 and public lectures. (7) A meeting of the Youth at the Branch.
Vadodara (Gujarat): The Branch continued its activities of Satsanga on Thursdays, Svadhyaya on Sunday, Homoeopathy, as well as Ayurvedic Dispensaries, and acupressure treatment. Special activities were: (1) 3-day Sadhana Shibir on September 30, October 1-2 at the sacred place Karnali on Narmada bank. Revered Swami Padmanabhanandaji, Revered Swami Tyaga- vairagyanandaji and Revered Swami Dharma- nishthanandaji graced the Shibir by their august presence and discourses. (2) Discourses of the three Swamijis for school students. (3) Public discourses of the Swamijis.
Varanasi (U.P.): The Branch held the fortnightly Satsanga on the second and fourth Sundays, and mobile Satsanga on the remaining three Sundays.
OVERSEAS BRANCHES
Hong Kong (China): During October 2007, the Branch held the monthly Satsanga on the 13th, the second Saturday. It included a talk on the teachings of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. There were 59 participants. On the remaining Saturdays, it conducted Mahamantra chanting for one hour––in total 106 participants during the month. In the regular Yogasana classes 131 participants got training in 10 batches. A talk by Sri Prema Santani was arranged at the Branch. The Public lecture co-organised by the Branch was attended by 42 persons.
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