December - January 2012

Volume 1 Issue 5

VISHWA BHANU
A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH OF DECEMBER2011

Geetha Jayanthi, Celebration. Srividya puja Surya Kiran, Swadhyaya class, Yoga for NSS, Camp Participants, Matru puja, Mandala Puja

From the Directors pen

The various activities in the month of December and January was indeed a curtain raiser for the celebrations to come in 2013. Fortunately Kerala seem to be falling line with the rest of the country in celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swamiji. Our programmes at Ernakulam, Trissur provided ideas of what we could do and what we could not. We hope with the ours and help from various sources we should be able to move forward with firm and sure steps.

Our short report will provide you also some ideas about how we are moving forward.

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GITA JAYANTHI CELEBRATION

Geetha Jayanthi was celebrated on 4th of December. Dr N. Gopalakrishnan of Indian Scientific Heritage from Thiruvanathapuram was invited to talk on Bhagavad Geetha. The programme started with invocation by Abhay and Aditya of Sishuvihar. 200 people were present to listen to the talk on Geetha. On 5th December there was chanting of the entire Geetha by the inmates of Kendra along with well-wishers.

Brni. Prarthana Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission visited. She had a talk with all the inmates of Ananda Dham. She is working on a documentary on Swami Chinmayanandaji for which purpose she visited Anandadham to collect information on Poojya Swamiji from Lakshmi Didi.

The Gita is like a bouquet composed of the beautiful flowers of spiritual truths Collected from the Upanishads Swami Vivekananda

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SRI VIDYA TANTRIKA UPASAKA SAMAGAMAM AND SRI CHAKRA PUJA

BY SRI VIDYA PRATISTHANAM IN COLABORATION WITH VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION

On the first day the programme started with Ganapathy Homam, followed by formal inauguration of the Sangamam by Brahmachari Udit Chatanyaji. This was followed by a series of lectures by eminent sadhakas. After lunch there was Raja Matangi puja by Thiru Vikramanji. Simultaneously, Flute recital, Veena vadan by local artists and an Odissi dance recital by Dr Mrs. Chandana Raul were also arranged to keep the devotional mood of the audience. About 500 people attended. Second day of Sri Vidya Upasana programme started with Samoohika Lalitha Sahasranama archana at 6.30 a.m. After breakfast there was a series of lectures by Acharya L. Girish Kumar, Mataji Sree Vidyamba Saraswathi of Lalitha Mahila Samajam, Thiru Engoi Malai, Trichy., Man. Lakshmi Didi, and Sri H.S Tyagarajan of Mysore. Sree Chakra Pooja started at 5 p.m. and continued till 9 p.m. The entire auditorium of Anandadham was packed with people from in and around Kodungallur town.

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Activities of the month

SWADHYAYA CLASS Retired Professor Uma Devi from Thiruvanathapuram, the 18th December 2011 Devi visited Anandadham, Kodungallur centre on the 18th of December. A 3 day Swadhyaya class on Vedanta was conducted by Respected Uma Dwvi.10 people attended. SURYA KIRAN Surya Kiran class was conducted on 10th December. Seven children from Sai Vidya Bhavan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Phoenix P.S. attended. DEEPA PUJA 17th December Man Didi accompanied by Su Bindu went to the Azhikode temple to conduct a Deepa puja for women. Fifteen ladies attended the puja. YOGA FOR NSS CAMP STUDENTS From 25th to 31st December11, morning Yoga Classes were conducted at Thiruvallur for 50 NSS students of XI class of GGHS School, Kodungallur. A similar class was conducted for the NSS students of Malyankara Engineering College. 40 students participated.

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Matru Puja and Mandala Puja

On the 26th of December Sandeepani Sishuvihar students celebrated Holy Mothers Birthday with Matrupuja. where children worshipped their mothers. Later Chief Guest Professor Ajitha, addressed the mothers. All the present students and some of the ex students attended. On 28th December, in the evening, there was Puja of Ayappa Swami in Anandadham, commemorating the conclusion of 41 days of Mandala Puja of Ayappa Swami. This was conducted by a priest from the nearby temple. Side by side there was the group folkbhajan on Ayappa Swami. Many people from the neighboring houses attended the puja.

The finer the organism the higher the culture

Swami Vivekananda

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY - 2012

(Preparation for Shard Sati Samaroha) 12-15th January, Vivekananda Jayanthi Celebration at EKM 26th - 28th January, Vivekananda Jayanthi at Thrissur. 12th,14th & 26th January, VK Jayanthi at Kodungallur Dharmajyoti Award for Man. Lakshmi Didi.

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Swami Vivekananda 150th Jayanthi Aghosa Committee, kerala

Swami Vivekananda 150 Samaroha Aghosa Samity of Kerala headed by Sri Eswaranji, called a meeting on the 1st of January. 2012. 50workers belonging to RSS,VHP,VKA,BVKand Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation workers were present. Man P.Parameswaranji, Sri Hareendran master, Man Lakshmi Didi and Sri Eswaranji were the main speakers who provided the guidelines. Didi briefed one and all about the programmes chalked out by VKVVF in Ernakulam, Trissur and Kodungallur. Each district head spoke on their own plans for the year.

Vivekananda Jayanthi celebrations 2012

As a curtain raiser to next years Sardhasathi Samaroha Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation organised several attractive programmes at Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kodungallur, including three seminars exclusively based on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. First in the series the Vivekananda Jayanthi celebrations VIVEKA BHARATAM held at Kochi under the auspices of V.K. Vedic Vision Foundation, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Bharat Vikas Parishad, Kochi from 12th January to 15th January 2012 On 12th January, Swamijis birthday as per English calendar, a special ceremony was arranged at the Vivekananda statue near boat jetty. A good number of citizens headed by 97 year old Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, Shri Hybi Eadan (MLA), Shri P L Sheik Pareeth (District Collector), Sri Swami Sunil Das, Sri PEB Menon, Smt B Bhadra Sateesh (Deputy Mayor), Justice T.L.Vishwanath Iyer and several well wishers offered floral tributes at the feet of Swamijis statue.

The Guru is the bright mask which God wears in order to come to us
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Swami Vivekananda

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About 1500 Children from various schools also offered flowers and played Chenda Melam and Band in front of Swamiji adding to the vibrancy of the occasion. Teams of singers from Bangla, Rajasthan and Karnataka Cultural Societies brought their chorus groups and rendered patriotic songs. Justice Krishna Iyer, Swami Sunil Das, Shree Hybi Eadan, Smt Bhadra Suresh and Dr Lakshmi Kumari addressed the gathering. On 13th there was a seminar on Work Excellence in Media in which 200 students from Media colleges participated. Shri S. Gurumoorthi, the noted columnist from Chennai inaugurated the seminar and delivered the keynote address. Several other Media Personal delivered talks on the same subject giving a new dimension of thinking to the budding journalists. On 14th Saturday, from 10 a.m. onwards various competitions were conducted for all the prize winning students at the school level and college level. On 15th Sunday there was a one day seminar on Practical Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda Padma Vibhushan Dr G. Madhavan Nair, former Chairman ISRO inaugurated and delivered the keynote address. Special time was allotted for students speakers interactions which was compeered by Dr P N Venkitaraman of T.V. fame.

The Vedantic idea is the infinite principle of God embodied in everyone of us

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Swami Vivekananda

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Post lunch session had Shri N Krishna- 9 murthy and Prof Jayasree Sukumaran to elaborate the various aspects of Practical Vedanta with special reference to day to day life. The valedictory address was delivered by Shri P.Parameswaranji, Vivekananda Kendras president and he gave away the prizes to all the winners of the competition.
The programme concluded with Shanti mantra.

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REPORT

ON

THE

VIVEKA

BHARATAM

CELEBRATIONS HELD AT THRISSUR. At Thrissur on 26th and 27th January an exhibition was arranged depicting Swamijis life and message. This gave an opportunity to many local people to get acquainted with Swamijis contributions. On 28th a one day seminar was arranged at Sahitya Bhushan Academy Prof. Hall in which Padma N.S Ramaswami,

Dr.P.V.Krishnan Nair, Prof. K. Subramaniam and Dr. M.Lakshmi Kumari were the main speakers in the forenoon session. Post lunch session had an interesting programme Quizzotica focusing on Swamijis life and message and also on Indias great heritage, Mgr Dr.Francis Alapat delivered the benedictory address, Valedictory address was by Pravrajika Ajaya Prana Dr. Lakshmi Shankar was the chief speaker in this session.About 250 people attended.

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REPORT ON THE VK JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS HELD AT KODUNGALLUR At Kodungallur the first programme was a patriotic and folk song competition for school students on 12th January in which 150 students from 12 schools took part. On 14th there was a Samoohika Surya Namaskar Programme, Suryakiran in which nearly 600 students from 8 schools participated. On 29th there was a one day seminar Samvardhini specially intended to throw light on Practical Vedanta in the day to day life specially of women.

Pravrajika Tapa Prana Mataji from Sarada Math, Kozhikode, Prof. Lakshmi Kutty, and Dr. M.Lakshmi
Kumari spoke emphasizing the importance of understanding the Practical Vedanta to enlighten day to day life of women in particular and families in general. Then followed a very attractive Yoga Demonstration by students from 4 schools, with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan topping the list. The winners of the earlier competitions Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (patriotic song) and Sai Vidya Niketan (folk song) collected their trophies. As in previous years 10 poor girls students from Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School were given scholarships of 500 rupees each. There was a grand feast sponsored by Mr & Mrs. Murali (Vasanth Caterers) from Irinjalakuda.

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Dharmajyoti award for Man. Lakshmi Didi

Instituted by the Santana Dharma Parishad, Kozhikode, this years Dharmajyoti award was given to Mananiya Lakshmi Didi. She was selected for the award by a panel of four eminent personalities namely, Man. P.Parameswaranji, Dr T.S. Vijayan Karumatra, Dr K Madhavan Kutty and Sri. Pattayil Prabhakaran. The award was given away on 19th January 2012, amidst a huge gathering, in the Muthalakulam Maidan, by Swami Divyananda, the Mahamandaleswar of Kailas Ashram, Rishikesh. The award consists of a citation, a memento and an amount of Rs.25000/- which was graciously set apart for Vivekananda Jayanthi celebrations. All the representative members of the Sanantana Dharma Parishad were present on stage on that day.

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Every great achievement is done slowly. Swami Vivekananda

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Volume 1 Issue 5 Joining hands with Rashtra Sevika Samithi we participated in the 100th Smriti Din celebration of Sister Nivedita and we could bring out a short life sketch of Sister Nivedita in Malayalam (low priced) . Similarly to bring home to the younger participants Swamijis valuable message we brought a low priced collection of sayings of Swamiji under the title Swami Vivekanandande amrita mozhigal (Malayalam). All the participants of Samoohika Suryakiran, winners of various competitions have received a copy of these books plus an attractive picture of Swamiji on Rock On the 9th of January Poornima Day there was the usual Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra Puja.. 5th Surya Kiran Class was conducted on 22nd January 2012, from 10 am to 1 p.m.4 students came for the class. On the 23rd of January 2012, Kumari Divya and Kum. Vishnupreeta vidyarthinis staying in Anandadham, received scholarships of Rs 4000/- each, for continuation of their higher studies from Vishwa Samskrita Pratisthanam. On the 24th of January 2012, from 6.30 to 7.30 am, Yoga class was conducted for the orphanage children of Cherman Mosque, Kodungallur as part of their children's camp. Republic Day was celebrated on the 26th of January 2012. All the Sishuvihar students along with their parents and the inmates of Anandadham were present for the flag hoisting at 8 am.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

India is still the first and foremost of all the nations of the world.
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SIGN POSTS FROM OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION
Atmano mokshartam jagadhitaya cha

Lakshmi Didi

2013 has to be a landmark in our countrys socio-spiritual-cultural life as this year would mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the great patriot monk who injected a new life into the veins of our glorious Motherland. There is no aspect of Indian life untouched by him no patriotic Indian who has not been inspired by his life and messages. That should mark the celebration of the year Swamijis message should once again catch the attention of the people at all levels bringing into their lives a new spirit of patriotism, renunciation and service. The lives of our brethren are getting a goal, and are getting more and more in spite of all attached glaze and glamour. The world meaning which is spreading through out our national life is dangerously destroying our national fabric. Swamijis meaningful words Shall India die.. All the hidden evil in human heart is sprouting out in various names and forms should once again reverberate throughout the length and breadth of our nation. Many a mahamantra has come out of Swamiji with deep implication carrying its own unique message. Yet the most outstanding amongst them which he himself chose for the RK mission emblem is Atmano mokshartham jagadhitaya cha. For individual unfoldment and universal well-being this is the message which should be used to revitalize our national life. Fundamentally it carries the message of ones Self Realisation leading to liberation from the clutches of worldly pursuits. After liberating oneself what is he supposed to do muktaschanyan vimochayat the liberated should help others to liberate themselves. That is the jagathita he has to practise. As Ganga flows from the very heights of Himalayas bringing fresh water and nourishments to the plains so should the Realized soul work for the welfare of the humanity making himself a good example of renunciation and service. This ideal is to be implanted in thoughts, words and deeds. One can mould oneself into such an ideal only if he has realized that the self within him is the self everywhere. If there be an error in his understanding he would turn into a selfish being, self motivated, looking for opportunities for self. Todays society is full of such people who poring themselves as great, as politician, teacher, social unveils, etc., exploit the the work we do gets linked to the goal of life is Self
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realization, then only all the other life activities mental, intellectual or physical fall in line and get integrated with the Ultimate Truth. Again, once the central core of ones awareness is the Ultimate Truth there all he does would not only carry the luster of truth but will automatically become attuned to the welfare of the society. As a result wonderful remolding of character occurs, all good qualities automatically find a place in such a being. Step by step he moves onward in his evolution from human to service. A society where such a Dharmic ideal becomes the norm of timing there will nothing else but peace, contentment and happiness. Sri Krishna emphasise this when he tells Arjuna Swadharma nidhanam Sreya. Hidden in these words is another great lesson one must start with oneself, enlightening oneself and then should be more on to others. Unfortunately everyone thinks himself or herself perfect and neglecting the first injunction waste their time in improving the society. Of course some good would come to the society even with such good actions but results will not be long lasting and without a proper living ideal follow, conditions would soon deteriorate and situation worse. The individuals do not get any enlightenment or elevation. This is the reason why present day society is stagnant or worsening. Total effect is the decay in Dharma and the loosening of the interdependence. Interdependence is what makes the society strong and sustaining contributing to the welfare of all its ingredients.

With the successful conclusion of the fifth issue of the bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation, we have tried our utmost to highlight the various activities of our project. Those who browse through this bulletin may please give their valuable suggestions so as to make the bulletin better. Your comments are always welcome!

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR, PIN 680664. KERALA Ph.No : 0480-2803349,2805780,2812780 Email ID : vkvvf@vkendra.org
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