REPORTS FROM THE D.L.S. BRANCHES
INLAND BRANCHES
1. SPECIAL OCCASIONS
(i) Foundation Day Celebrations
Ambala (Haryana): The Branch held a special Satsanga on 25th March, 2007, on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of inauguration of Swami Sivananda Sabharwal Satsanga Bhavan.
Badakuanl (Orissa): H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj inaugurated Swami Sivananda Satsanga Ashram on 4th January on his arrival. He and Revered Sri Swami Sivachida- nandaji were received with full honours and taken ceremoniously in a Nagar Sankirtan procession. Both the Swamijis participated in Paduka Puja and gave discourses on the next day. A 12-hour Akhanda Sankirtan and a special Satsanga were arranged. A very large number of devotees took part in all these programmes.
Bhanjanagar (Orissa): The Branch which was established on 25th January, 1950 celebrated its Foundation Day with various spiritual programmes, and 300 devotees attended the function with their families.
Khatiguda (Orissa): The Branch organised various programmes on 27-28th January to celebrate its Annual Day. Sri Swami Narayana- padanandaji attended the programmes like special Satsanga, early morning prayer meditation, Mahamantra Sankirtan, Prabhat Pheri, Paduka Puja, Prize-distribution, spiritual talks and Narayana Seva.
Langthabal (Manipur): The Branch conducted a special Satsanga on 20 March, its Annual Day.
Nandini Nagar (Chhattisgarh): It had Lord Vishwanath Pranapratishtha Mahotsav at Swami Sivananda Bhajan Mandir on 7th February in the presence of a local Mahatma and 200 devotees. Pranapratishtha of Ma Durga Devi was performed by Revered Sri Swami Sivananda- Gurusarananandaji on 7th March, during the Navaratri. A Havan was held on this auspicious occasion.
Nimapara (Orissa): H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji, Sri Swami Sivaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Tyagaswarupanandaji, Sri Swami Gurupremanandaji and Sri Swami Sadasivanandaji graced the Annual Day function of the Branch on 30th January by their inspiring presence. The day-long programmes also included Srimad Bhagavad Gita Parayana, Nagar Sankirtan, Narayana Seva and a public programme in the town hall.
Rourkela, Fertilizer Township (Orissa): On the occasion of its Annual Day on 26th February, the Branch arranged a 10 day Jnana-Satra on Srimad Bhagavad Gita. On the concluding day on 7th March, poor feeding was also done.
Sunabeda Ladies Branch (Orissa): As the Branch was completing on 15th February, its ten years of intense spiritual activities, it organised a carefully planned 3-day function from 14 to 16th February with various spiritual activities. It also released a leaflet on all the three days and distributed them free. A large number of persons including local dignitaries attended the programmes. H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji's talks were arranged in the Aeronautic College, NALCO Engineering College and local schools. Revered Sri Swami Sivananda Gurusevanandaji also graced all the programmes.
(ii) Maha Sivaratri
We have received reports of various programmes on Sri Maha Sivaratri from many Branches. Gumargunda (Chattisgarh) Branch organised all-the-day Akhanda Kirtan for 15 days, Prabhat Pheri, Pancha Kundiya Yajna, night-long 4-Prahara Puja, Bhandara, etc. Bhubaneswar Branch (Orissa) conducted a 24-hour Akhanda Japa and night Puja. A 12 hour Akhanda Japa during day and 4-Prahar night Puja were done in Kuakonda (Chattisgarh), Badhiausta (300 participants) and Bellaguntha, Rourkela, Salipur, Sunabeda, and Sunabeda (Ladies) Branches of Orissa. Night vigil and Puja were the programmes of Ahiwara (Chhattisgarh), Ghatpadamur, Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) and Nimapara (Orissa). Rudra-Abhisheka, special Puja, special Satsanga and other spiritual programmes were reported by Ahmedabad, Usmanpura (Gujarat), Bangalore (Karnataka), Barbil (Orissa), Bikaner (Rajasthan), Burla (Orissa), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Khatiguda (Orissa), Nandini Nagar (Chhattisgarh), New Delhi, Lajpat Nagar, Nuagaon (Orissa), Sunabeda (Orissa) and Vikrampur (Orissa) Branches.
(iii) Sri Ram Navami
Some of the main programmes were as follows:
Ambala: Sri Sundarakanda Parayana.
Bangalore: Discourse on Sri Ramayana for nine days.
Baripada: special Puja.
Bhubaneswar: 6-hours Akhanda Kirtan.
Bikaner: Parayana of Sri Ramayana and Sri Durga Saptasati, special Puja, etc.
Dhunkapada: 9-day Parayana of Sri Ramayana, 3-hour Akhanda Kirtan, special Puja, Havan, etc.
Ghatpadamur, Jagadalpur: 9-day Parayana of Sri Ramayana, 3-hour Akhand Kirtan, special Puja, Havan, etc.
Gumergunda: Parayana of Sri Ramayana and Sri Durga Saptasati, 12-hour Akhanda Kirtan, special Puja, Havan, etc.
Raigarh: Special Satsanga, Puja.
Salipur: 24-hour-long spiritual programmes including Svadhyaya of "Manache Sloka".
Sunabeda Ladies Branch: 9-day Parayana of Sri Ramayana.
(iv) Jayantis, Punyatithi
Many Branches have reported Paduka Puja, 12 hour Akhanda Japa, special Satsanga, and other spiritual programmes every month on Sivananda Day and Chidananda Day. New Delhi, (Lajpat Nagar) and Jaipur Branches held special programmes of Sri Sundarakanda Parayana, Maha Yajna, etc., on the Punyatithi Anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami Premanandaji Maharaj on February 4, and on the Punyatithi Anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami Devanandaji Maharaj. Bhubaneswar Branch organised various programmes in the presence of H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj.
(v) Other occasions and activities
Bikaner and Langthabal Branches arranged special programmes on Sri Mahavir Jayanti. New Year's Day special Satsangas were organised by Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chatrapur Branches and in a nearby village by Nimapara Branch. Many Branches have reported special Satsanga, Japa Yajna, Bhagavad Gita and Sri Vishnu- sahasranama Parayana on Sankranti, Purnima, Amavasya and Ekadasis as well as on the special occasions of Holi, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu Jayanti. Many Branches are regularly holding 12-hour Akhanda Japa, and Visakhapatnam Branch held a 24-hour Akhanda Japa of Mahamantra during February 13-14.
2. JNANA SATRA
Srimad Bhagavat Saptaha-Parayana and Katha were organised by Bhimkand Branch from February 3 to 10, and by Nimapara Branch from January 23 to 29. Bhubaneswar Branch held discourses on Srimad Bhagavatam from January 2 to 5, and Gita Jnana Yajna from January 1 to 3. Jaipur Branch organised discourses on Bhagvad Gita from January 7 to 22 and on Sri Ramayana from February 11 to 17. Nuagaon Branch conducted Akhanda Parayana of Sri Ramayana for 29 hours continuously during February 16-17. New Delhi (Lajpat Nagar) Branch has arranged daily discourses from March 25 onwards. Many Branches had done 9-day Parayana of Sri Ramayana during the Vasanta Navaratri. Bangalore Branch arranged discourses on Ramayana from March 19 to 28. Badakuanl Branch conducted Sri Ramayana Parayana during March 24-26.
3. SADHANA SHIBIRS
Many Branches are holding monthly Sadhana Day regularly. After spiritual programmes, food is distributed to the poor, and devotees partake of the lunch together as Prasad. The enthusiasm of the devotees can be gauged from the fact that in the Spiritual Retreat held on February 18, jointly, by the two Rourkela Branches, there were 250 participants.
4. VISITS OF SAINTS
When some senior monk visits a Branch, it is a big occasion. The Branch would organise special programmes and devotees turn up in a very large number. We have already reported some such visits. Here are some more reports. Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji visited Sri Sivananda Ashram, Bhadrachalam (A.P.) on January 19. H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji visited Bhimkand Branch on February 6, Bhubaneswar Branch during January 6-7, and along with Revered Sri Swami Sivananda Gurusevanandaji, Jeypore (Orissa) Branch during February 18-19. The programmes included welcome procession, morning meditation, special Satsanga (attendance 300) public lecture etc. He and Revered Sri Swami Sivachidanandaji conducted a Sadhana Shibir of Vikrampur Branch (participants 500). Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) Branch invited Revered Sri Swami Sivananda Gurusevanandaji during March 23-24 and organised public lectures and other programmes.
5. YOGASANA TRAINING AND CAMPS
Daily Yogasana-Pranayama-meditation class or session is conducted by Gandhinagar and by Ahmedabad, Usmanpura, Bhubaneswar, Bikaner, Ghatpadmur, Jagdalpur, Gumergunda, Khurja (U.P), Jaipur, New Delhi-Lajpat Nagar and Salipur Branches. Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji conducted Yoga Camps from February 10-16 (140 trainees) in Gandhinagar and December 14-22 and March 22-28 in Ladwa-Kurukshetra (Haryana). Other Yoga camps were from January 1-10 in Bhubaneswar, for college faculty and students in Salipur on February 24, and for school children (400 trainees) by Vijaywada (A.P) Branch.
6. SOCIAL SERVICE
(i) Medical Help to the Poor
Ahmedabad-Usmanpura Branch arranged for monetary and other help to 40 patients for undergoing cataract surgery. Baripada Branch distributes free medicines to all the inhabitants of a leprosy colony. Chandigarh Branch holds free medical check-up camps on 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month. It also held a medical camp in a destitute Children's Home in Panchakula (Haryana) on 26th January. Sri Swami Dharmanishthanandaji also visited the camp. New Delhi (Lajpat Nagar) Branch provides medical examination and treatment on all Sundays in Sivananda Satsanga Bhavan. Sivananda Charitable Medical Clinic, Sivananda Ashram Rourakela provides for blood test, check-up, medicines, etc. South Balanda Branch (Orissa) holds regularly medical camps twice a month in the extremely poor localities. About 400 patients (200 children, 160 women and 40 men) are benefitted every month. Sunday medical Seva at Sivananda Ashram, Sunabeda treats about 200 patients every month.
Many Branches run charitable homeopathic clinics. Dr. O.P. Sharma, President of Ambala Branch offers Seva daily in two clinics. In the last two months, in Barbil Branch 847 patients, Jaipur Branch 1696 patients and in Salipur Branch 583 patients were treated.
(ii) Narayana Seva
Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj's zeal for serving the poor, destitutes and all those who are suffering is imbibed by the Headquarters as well as most of the Branches and devotees on all special occasions-annual day, monthly Sivananda Day, Chidananda Day, Sadhana Day, Sankranti, eclipse, etc. The Branches arrange poor feeding. Some Branches take up the welfare of the poor as their regular activities. Baripada Branch distributed food in a leprosy colony. In Chandigarh Branch, Bhandara for the poor is held twice a month regularly. Khurja Branch (U.P) extends all the help to the poor on 1st of every month. Bhadrachalam Branch (A.P.) arranged its 100th Narayana Seva on February 4, distributing food to 152 poor persons and clothing to 92 poor persons. Jaipur Branch arranges daily feeding to 250-300 destitutes, and provides dry rations (about 90kg) requirements of a leprosy colony. It also extends monetary help to poor students and widows regularly. Lajpat Nagar (New Delhi) Branch distributes nutritive food and milk to 150 students every month on 5th. Rourkela Branch shoulders the welfare of blind students by arranging medical check-up, distribution of medicines and conducts the monthly Satsanga.
7. REGULAR SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES
In addition to the above mentioned Branches, Nabha (Punjab), Nalgonda (A.P), Vasant Vihar (New Delhi), Srikakulam (A.P) and Varanasi (U.P) Branches have also reported regular spiritual activities.
OVERSEAS BARANCHES
Hong Kong (China): The monthly Satsanga of the Branch on the second Saturday every month includes 1-hour chanting of Maha-mrityunjaya Mantra and Svadhyaya of Gurudev's writings. On remaining Saturdays, about 100 devotees join the 1-hour Mahamantra Sankirtan. The Branch conducted 25 classes of Yogasana-Pranayama-meditation during March '07, with 387 new participants. It has also started another Yoga centre. In a course on "Theory and Practice of Synthesis Yoga" (16-12-2006 to 31-03-2007) as a part of Yoga teacher training course, there were 46 participants, and in "Study and Practice of Yoga Asana" class 12 Yoga teachers participated.
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