NEWS AND REPORTS
NEWS FROM THE HEADQUARTERS
SEVA THROUGH SIVANANDA HOME
“When asked about their problems, most homeless people list abuse, even by the police—beatings, extortions and evictions—as their biggest problem. Within the vulnerable group of homeless people, women, children, and the disabled are doubly cursed.”
(Times of India, Jan. 2008).
The Divine Life Society Headquarters humbly tries to provide a Home for this most defenceless and assailable group of people, who even face severe problems in getting access to fundamental amenities such as drinking water and sanitation, what to speak of security, protection, medical aid and the basic human need for social interaction and communication. Exposed to weather extremities, stripped off from one’s family ties and identity, homeless and nameless. A nobody. Just BARE.
Frankly speaking, this is to an understatement: observing the case of a youngster, admitted last month, who was thrown out of the Holy Mother Ganga’s lap at the very last minute, totally drenched. Confused and worried: “Where am I? Where do I belong? What is left of me?” This gentleman seemed to have lost everything, even his very last straw of hope, but the Almighty brought him back, washing him ashore and directing him to the Home. The healing touch of the continuous spiritual Bhajans, the daily routine of a big household, caring, relating oneself to others with a brotherly affection, playing, reading, singing and lo! One can see a spark of liveliness coming back.
More patients were admitted this month: an old aged Babaji, suffering from leprosy, multiple-handicapped, who walks with great difficulty, talks with a blurred speech and can hardly see or hear. One day in early morning, this patient was just lying down near the main gate of Sivananda Home.
From the Ashram Headquarters, too, new patients were brought to the Home for admission and treatment. For example, the Home was informed about a patient, lying down in a semi-conscious state, bleeding from the ear and having seizures. A kindhearted and compassionate Sadhu personally arranged for the admission of this patient. By God’s Grace, after an entire check-up for external and internal head injuries, investigation and medical treatment, the patient recuperated quickly, could recollect the name of his village and soon the son arrived to take his father back home.
Jai Gurudev! Jai Sivananda!
“Oh God will make a way. Where there seems
to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see. He will
make a way for me.
He will be my guide. Hold me closely to
His side.
With love and strength for each new day.
He will make a way.” (D. Moen)
SRI RAMANAVAMI CELEBRATIONS
Sri Ramanavami, the birthday of Lord Sri Rama was celebrated at the Headquarters Ashram on Monday April 14, 2008. A week in advance the inmates, guests and visitors of the Ashram began the chanting of Taraka Mantra “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”. There was also the “Mula Parayana” of Sri Valmiki Ramayana from 22nd March to 10th April.
The day’s programme commenced at 5.00 a.m., with prayer and meditation. At 6.00 a.m., a grand Prabhatpheri was taken out starting right from Gurudev’s Samadhi, which went round Sri Viswanath Mandir, all the way down to Sri Gurudev Kutir, Muni-Ki-Reti and returned to Ashram and terminated at Sri Viswanath Mandir after Arati.
At 8.00 a.m., there were Bhajan and Kirtan, in chorus, in the premises of the Sri Viswanath Mandir, where the Murtis of Lord Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman were gorgeously decorated and worshipped. Abhisheka was performed with chanting of sacred hymns. At 11.45 a.m., the portion of the descent of the Lord was read from “Srimad Valmiki Ramayana” and Tulsidas Ramayana “Sri Ram Charita Manas”. At 12 noon there was Arati after which all the devotees individually offered flowers to the Lord. The forenoon function concluded with the distribution of the sacred Prasad.
In the Satsanga at night there were Bhajans and Kirtans on Lord Rama and a discourse by a senior inmate of the Ashram on the “Life of Sri Rama”, and the day’s programme concluded with prayers for the world peace and distribution of Prasad.
CULTURAL TOUR OF H.H. SRI SWAMI NIRLIPTANANDAJI MAHARAJ
H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, The Divine Life Society Headquarters, continued his cultural tour in the month of February, 2008.
After Sadhana Shibir at Barbil (Orissa), Swamiji visited Jajpur Road in Orissa. Maa Mangalaa Trust of Umapada, Jajpur Road, at the initiative of Sri Gagan Naik, had constructed the Temple of Devi Maa Mangalaa at Umapada. On 4th February Swamiji participated in the Havan and in the installation ceremony. There was a grand procession of the Goddess in Jajpur Road town in which Swamiji took part. In the evening Swamiji gave a discourse on the glories of the Divine Mother in the public Satsanga organised on the occasion. Swamiji also joined the functions of the Temple in this connection held on 5th February. The event was a grand success and it brought about cultural and spiritual revival in the area. The Temple is unique in that together with the normal features of a temple for catering to devotional needs of the people, it is also designed on some Vaastu principles in order to give some curative benefits to the devotees in cases of some psycho-somatic difficulties.
Divine Life Society, Bargarh Branch, had newly built its prayer building with the name ‘Swami Sivananda Ashram’. Swamiji inaugurated the building on 11th February. The Branch had also organised spiritual programmes for three days from 9th to 11th, inviting delegates from nearby Branches of districts of Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Bolangir. There was also a Bhagavata Saptah from 4th to 10th February. Swamiji attended the programmes from 9th to 11th and gave discourses in different sessions. Revered Sri Swami Sivananda Guru- sevanandaji and some other saints had also participated. The programmes were very helpful in reviving the activities of the Divine Life Society.
On 10th February Swamiji also visited D.L.S. Dunguripalli Branch in Balangir District and attended the special Satsanga arranged on the occasion. Swamiji addressed the devotees present in the Satsanga.
A three-day Spiritual Conference was organised by Divine Life Society, Malkangiri Branch, from 14th to 16th February. This is the third such Conference held by the Branch which was started in 1972. Many devotees from Branches nearby attended the Conference. The Conference was presided over by Swamiji and some other Swamijis also took part in it. Swamiji attended all the sessions and gave talks on various subjects. The Conference served a very useful purpose and provided great inspiration to the devotees of the area. It also revived the activities of the Branch.
Swamiji visited D.L.S. Jeypore Branch in Koraput District on 17th February. There was a special Satsanga arranged on the occasion with a large number of enthusiastic devotees. Swamiji gave a discourse in the Satsanga.
On 18th February Swamiji visited D.L.S. Chingudighai Branch in Ganjam District. The Branch had newly constructed its prayer Building which Swamiji inaugurated. Swamiji also addressed the devotees in the Satsanga arranged for the purpose. In the afternoon Swamiji attended the Satsanga of D.L.S. Kodala Branch and spoke on the occasion.
Swamiji stayed at Baliguali Chidananda Hermitage Shanti Ashram from 18th to 22nd February. On the 19th Swamiji attended the Purnahuti function of the 9-day Ramayana Katha programme organised by Ramayana Parayana Samiti of Baliguali village. He gave a discourse addressing the villagers gathered.
Neelachala Saraswata Sangha of Puri had organised the Utkal Pradeshik Bhakta Sammilani of devotees of Thakur Sri Sri Nigamananda Saraswati at Nimapara. Swamiji attended its concluding session on 22nd February and spoke on “Speciality of Sanatana Dharma”. The devotees had participated in the conference in thousands.
Then Swamiji proceeded to Gujarat State. Gurjar Divya Jivan Sangh Samiti had conducted a three-day Sadhana Shibir-cum-Divine Life Conference at Dakor from 23rd to 25th February. A large number of devotees from the different D.L.S. Branches of Gujarat state had participated in the Sadhana Shibir. Swamiji attended the Sadhana Shibir and D.L. Conference and gave discourses in different sessions. Swamiji also took part in the spiritual programmes arranged at Dakor in connection with Shasthyabda Purti (Diamond Jubilee Birth Day) of Revered Sri Swami Tyagavairagyanandaji Maharaj of Bhav- nagar. All the functions and programmes were very inspiring and nicely organised. They were attended with great joy and enthusiasm by the devotees and went a long way for reviving the activities of the Divine Life Society in the State of Gujarat.
Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, had organised a lecture under the auspices of “Shri Mota Education Thinking Extension Chair”, in Senate Hall of the University on 26th February and invited Swamiji for the purpose. Dr. B.G. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of the University presided over the function. Swamiji attended the function and gave a talk on the subject “Inter-relationship Between Education and Spirituality.” Revered Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj who also attended also spoke on the occasion.
D.L.S. Gandhinagar Branch had arranged spiritual programmes on 27th and 28th February and extended invitation to Swamiji. Swamiji visited the Branch and met the devotees. Swamiji also attended the public Satsanga organised at the Gujarat Sindhi Samaj Hall both morning and evening, on both the days and gave discourses on the subjects, “The Path of Sadhana indicated by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj”, “The Essential Principles of Dharma in the Context of the Present Times”, “Dhyana Sadhana” and “Message of Srimad Bhagavad Gita to Mankind”. The programmes were well attended and the talks were well appreciated.
There was a public Satsanga at Ahmedabad on 29th February in the local well-known Siva Temple arranged by D.L.S. Ahmedabad Branch. Swamiji attended it and gave a discourse on “The Teachings of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj”. There was a good gathering of devotees on the occasion.
At Delhi Swamiji attended the meeting of the Trust Board of Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute, East Punjabi Bag on 1st March.
After that Swamiji returned to Headquarters Ashram.
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