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Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 1
SEMINAR
MATRUPUJA
DIAS
YOGA FOR FOREIGNERS
SAFAL YUVA PROGRAMMES IN
SCHOOLS
V K JAYANTHI CELEBRATION
SURYAKIRAN
REPUBLIC DAY
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
IN THIS ISSUE
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 2
One of the most wonderful things about our
Motherland is how she has withstood the shock of
centuries’ of military and cultural invasions and
has still maintained her spiritual wisdom and
cultural unity. She has held together in a federal
form, scores of religions, cults, philosophies and
cultural traits, leave alone languages, dress hab-
its and living customs. Despite all these she has
projected herself as one entity; we may add one
without a second.
This unity is not superimposed militarily or
forcibly. It is a very very natural phenomenon.
Just as a huge banyan tree spreading itself with
its big and small branches, branchlets up to the
tiniest buds maintain its unity, so has Bharat
remained as one. This is made possible because
throughout the whole huge tree of Bharat the sap
that rejuvenates, nourishes and maintains its
unity is one and one only. Our great seers from
Vedic times onwards understood the great secret
behind the universe, as One in the many and
made realizing that One the goal of human exist-
ence, the sum and substance of it. The result is
our “Bharat Mahan” for the whole world to see
and emulate if need be.
That sap, the One without a second is the
power Eternal Truth, the Truth which the great
seers divined deep within themselves when they
learnt to shut the five sense organs to the world
of sense objects. This capacity of introversion,
enabling one to climb the citadels of Truth came
as natural gift to those who turned their atten-
tion from the world outside to the within.
Wonder of wonders is their discovery that this
capacity for Self-actualization is inherent in eve-
ry human being. One has only to strive for it.
It is this concept of truth, its Oneness that
has held this nation together as one entity
irrespective of her multiplicity of cultural traits
and bewildering complexity of regional character-
istics. When money and lust became the twin
deities of the world culture, sad to say, India also
followed suit. Despite a strong foundation built
on Satya and Dharma. Presently it looks almost
impossible to turn the cloth back, yet it is the
sacred duty of every Indian to help our Mother-
land gain back her spiritual wisdom and culture.
Attempts we must. India’s cohesion and strength
lie in the unbreakable spiritual - cultural thread
passing through all paths of the country despite
its striking differences in languages, customs,
dress and habits.
Let us not forget that it is this inner bond
that enabled us to gain freedom from the alien
rule. Spirituality alone can instill undaunted
cultural patriotism surpassing the divisions of
the cast, community and religion. We have to
help the people to regain this vision of Oneness
and for that we need a cultural and spiritual
reinforcement in the country. “Satyam param
dheemahi” must become the battle cry of the
new generation.
EditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial
M. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi Kumari
3
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5
On 20th December, a one day seminar on yoga
was held at Anandadham. 42 participants registered.
Didi welcomed the guest speakers and spoke on the
yearlong celebrations of Mananeeya Eknathji’s Shat-
abdi. Srimad Swami Brahmaswaroopanandaji inau-
gurated the seminar with the lighting of the lamp
and delivered the inaugural address. The topic of the
first session presented by the Swamiji, was ‘Yoga
Chitta Vritti Nirodhaha’ a sutra from Rishi Patan-
jali’s Yoga Sutras. This was followed by usual ques-
tion answer session.
The next session was by Acharya Harilalji, the
Director of Arsha Yoga centre, Thalikulam. He spoke
on ‘Food, health and Yoga’.
There were two sessions after lunch. Srimad
Swami Nityananda Sarawati from Palakkad gave his
blessings and Dr Natesan from Sri Sankara College,
Kaladi spoke on ‘Yoga In Daily Life’.
At the end Sri Sudhakarji gave the vote of thanks.
The programme concluded with Shanti Mantra.
4 DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5
“Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava, Atithi
devo Bhava”. The traditional Matru puja is based on the verse of
the Taittiriya Upanishad, which says that “Let you be the one who
worships mother, father, teachers and guests as god”.
‘MATRU DEVO BHAVA’ is chanted regularly by the Sandeepani
Sishuvihar children. As a practical part of this sloka, every year on Sri
Sarada Ma’s birthday, the children worship their mothers and grandmoth-
ers here at Anandadham. Total 35 Mothers were present for the Matrupu-
ja on 25th of December. As part of the ceremony, the children washed
the feet of their mothers, after washing the feet, the students applied
haldi, chandan and kum kum. After this, the children garlanded their
mothers' and worshiped them as images of goddess Durga. At the end of
the elaborate ceremony, the children were given sweets by their moth-
ers. Mananeeya Didi conducted the puja. After puja all had prasadam to-
gether. The Holy Mother’s presence was felt when the children chanted
the mantras while worshipping their mothers.
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 5
20 children from Kannur,
Thrissur, Ernakulam and Anapuzha and
14 children from three different schools
of Kodungallur attended the DIAS
Training Residential Camp. This camp
was organized by Brilliant Tutorials,
Chertalai in collaboration with Viveka-
nanda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation,
Kodungallur. Resource person was
Dr T.P. Sashikumar. The children were
from Classes VIII, IX and X. The chil-
dren from Kannur, Anapuzha and
Ernakulam were already members of
DIAS. Dias is for grooming such chil-
dren who are aspiring for the Indian
Civil Service Commission Examination.
Main aim of this is to bring out the hid-
den potential of children, boost their
confidence, increase their concentra-
tion, memory power and so forth.
Apart from this, children were also in-
troduced to Swami Vivekananda’s life
and teachings, Mananeeya Eknathji’s
life and mission, breathing techniques
and the power point programme of
Safal Yuva—Yuva Bharat, by Sri
Sudhakarji and Didi .
6 DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5
In the month of December
and January a one week yoga course
for foreigners mostly from France
and Spain, was conducted in the Big
Banana Retreat centre, by Sri
Sudhakarji. The basic aim of yoga,
meaning of Astanga Yoga, etc were
clarified. They also visited Anandad-
ham to understand the activities of
Vivekananda Kendra.
This time the Safal Yuva Yuva Bharat
PowerPoint presentation was conduct-
ed in three schools namely, Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan, Irinjalakuda on 19th
January, Amrita Vidyalayam, on 22nd
January and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
Kodungallur, on 27th January, for the
high school section children. More than
600 children attended . Though they
were quite young enough , they were
keen to know about Mananeeya
Eknathji and had many queries. Sri
Sudhakarji conducted the classes .
7 DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5
A month long programme was fixed for
celebrating Swamiji’s Jayanthi
12th January was celebrated by the
tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar. Almost
all were dressed as Swami Vivekananda,
Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Ma a
third as Sister Nivedita. Little Ritupoorna
was dressed as Chicago Swamiji and light-
ed the lamp and gave away the Chicago
address. The other little Vivekanandas too
gave short speeches. Thakur and Mother’s
Sodashi puja was enacted and Sister
Nivedita too spoke about Her master. It
was a short but sweet programme.
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 8
On 21st January Patriotic Group Song
Competition in the morning and Folk Group
Song Competition in the afternoon were held in
Anandadham. 11 schools participated in the
former competition and 10 schools participated
in the latter. Didi inaugurated the programme.
Prizes were declared after each competition
S.N.Vidya Bhavan and Bharatiya Vidya
Bhavan, Irinjalakuda were declared first in Pat-
riotic Song, Amrita Vidyalayam got the second
position and Govt Boys Higer Secondary
School, Kodungallur, got the third position.
Seventh class students of Govt U.P.School,
Konathukunnu were declared winners of Folk
song, Azhikode Seedhi Saheb Memorial H.S.S
was adjusted for second position and Sri Sai
Vidya Bhavan for the third position
In the early morning hour at 7.30 a.m.
on 25th January, 13 schools gathered to par-
ticipate in the Surya Kiran programme. About
700 children were present. It was held in the
Gurushree Public School ground. Sri Murli Mas-
ter of the Hindi Prachar Sabha was the Chief
Guest. After 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar
demonstration, there was a yoga pyramid
demonstration by Phoenix Public School. The
chief guest while addressing the children,
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 9
teachers and parents, stressed on the
need for awareness of Indian techniques
for culturing the mind and body. Break-
fast sponsored by the local well-wishers,
was served after the programme.
"Condemn NONE; if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you
cannot, fold your hands, bless your brother, and let them go their own
way." - Swami Vivekananda
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 10
Like all years this year too,
the Sandeepani Sishuvihar students and the
older students along with their parents were
present for the flag hoisting on the Republic
day. Didi hoisted the flag. After this there
were a number of indoor and outdoor games
specially meant for the mothers and fathers.
Children were the spectators that day. After
games Sushri Geetha spoke to the parents
on Narayana Guru’s teachings. This was
followed by lunch. It was a Kutumba Sam-
melan. Everyone had brought some home-
made dishes and all members shared the
dishes. The day was more special because ii
was Little Durga’s Birthday, so the feast end-
ed with payasam.
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 11
Every second Sunday from 3pm to 5.30 pm has been kept for
Yoga Sangamam or Yoga Varga. On 11th January 17 memebers attend-
ed the sangamam. Didi spoke on ‘Why Yoga’. After question answer ses-
sion, yoga practice followed. Sri Sudhakaranji, local Varistha karyakarta,
conducted the Varga.
SAMSKAR VARGA
Apart from the usual practices in Sam-
skarvarga during Saturdays, there was
a sports meet for all of them on 24th
January . Lemon race, Obstacle race
and various awareness and alertness
games were conducted for them . Last
of all the elders too joined them in Tug
Of War.
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 12
On the 24th of January Sri Girish-
kumarji’s class on Sri Lalitha Sa-
hasranamam, successfully conclud-
ed . He has agreed to take up the
study of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, on
the request of all the students, from
the month of March.
On the occasion of Pournami puja
on December 6th, we were lucky to
have Mananeeya Bhanudasji in our
midst for the Ganapathi homam and
Srichakra puja. January 5th was
the next Pournami puja.
For the monthly Yoga satras there
were ten gent and 6 lady partici-
pants. Regular yoga varga continued
with 4 ladies and 12 gents .
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 13
LAKSHMI DIDI’S PROGRAMMES
DECEMBER 2014
2ND SEMINAR AT ASMABHI COLLEGE ON EDUCATION AND SWAMIJI
7TH NARI PUJA AT BALA BHADRA TEMPLE, NYARKAL
13TH HOLY MOTHERS JAYANTHI AT SRI SARADA MATH, ERNAKULAM
14TH ANNIVERSARY OF VIVEKANANDA MEDICAL MISSION, PALAKAD
NARAYANEEYAM DAY AT NARAYANANEEYA ASHRAM, KONGAD
19TH BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, VATTAPARAMBIL
20TH SEMINAR ON YOGA AT ANANDA DHAM, KODUNGALLUR
21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE HINDU DHARMA SAMITHI TEACHERS,
BALARAMAPURAM
25TH MATRU PUJA AT ANANDA DHAM, KODUNGALLUR
27TH NSS ANNUAL MEET, IRINJALAKUDA
29TH BHUVANESWARI TEMPLE, ARIPALLEM
JANUARY 2015
4TH SAPTAHAM AT ERNAKULAM AND
DAIVA DASAKAM CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS TRISSUR
7TH NAGARAJA TEMPLE, ATHANI
11TH VIVEKANANDA SOCIETY, ERNAKULAM
19TH KUTTIKATT BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE, KODUNGALLUR
28TH MADATHAYYAL DEVI TEMPLE. KODUNGALLUR
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 14
To remember Eknathji is
to remember the Vivekananda
Rock Memorial. To think of the
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is to
recall all that Swami Vivekananda
stood for, the beauty and the
strength of his life, the dyna-
mism, universality and the per-
petual relevance of his message,
his patriotism, his intense hu-
manism and his irrevocable place
in Indian History as a Nation
builder par excellence.
To think of the Rock
Memorial is to be reminded of
man’s fight against the oddities
and impossibilities that confront
us in our struggle for achieve-
ment and excellence. It also reit-
erates how qualities of courage,
will-power, dedication and surren-
der can blow these adversities in-
to smithereens and convert them
into opportunities to take one to
the pinnacles of one’s fulfillment
as Eknathji amply demonstrated
in his life.
To look at the Rock Me-
morial is to be remember the im-
mortal message of the Gita that
‘Yoga is dexterity in action’. How
beauty and majesty can be
moulded through skilful action,
how harmony is created when de-
votion is combined with effort;
how magnificence is achieved
through selflessness and surren-
der. As one becomes absorbent in
the spirit of the Rock Memorial, it
is Eknathji’s life and the work that
comes before one’s mind.
All these and more are
enshrined in the Vivekananda
Rock Memorial brought into exist-
ence through the indomitable will
- power and the inspiring organiz-
ing and harmonizing capacities of
one great man, Ma. Eknathji
Ranade. The Vivekananda Rock
Memorial thus captures in it also
the total dedication, self-
effacement, team spirit and tire-
less energy of Eknathji and his
team of workers who were ready
Dr. M. LAKSHMIKUMARI
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 15
LIFE EVERLASTING
to sacrifice everything for the ide-
als of Swami Vivekananda and for
the man who was instrumental in
working them out.
To stand before the
Rock Memorial is to remember
Swamji’s immortal message,
"Each soul is potentially Divine".
Like the course granite stones
polished to the perfection of mar-
ble and fitted on in the Rock Me-
morial, it was Eknathji's plan to
collect the youth of India, to
polish them to the perfection of
Karma yogis by infusing them
with the ideals of Renunciation
and Service and to use them with
the ideals Renunciation and Ser-
vice and to use them for national
re-construction. Thus greater
than the Vivekananda Rock Me-
morial in conception and grander
in execution was the establish-
ment of the Service Mission. This
majestic idea took the shape of
the Service Order of laymen and
women, the Vivekananda Kendra,
in September 1972 and has since
then made its mark in selfless
service in the different parts of
India especially in the difficult ter-
rains of north-eastern Arunachal
Pradesh. He was proud of his
"children" though like a true Mas-
ter, rarely expressed it in words.
When he sent them away to work
in the far-flung areas, he visited
the place first to make sure that
the minimum necessities of life
would be available. To the young
girls who responded to his clarion
call to renounce their homes and
join him serving the Motherland,
his concern and attitude were like
that of a mother and father com-
bined.
Vivekananda Kendra is
a unique experiment in social ser-
vice, bringing for the first time
men and women together, under
one roof, teaching them to work
side by side as lay missionaries.
By and large, he was able to build
up a cadre of really dedicated
selfless JEEVANA VRATIS who
with their total identification to
Swamji's cause and ideals have
now been able to shoulder the
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 16
burden of the immense work en-
trusted to them.
When we study the life of
Ma. Eknathji, it looks as though
the Divine Will was preparing him
for this ultimate task which was to
be the crowning glory of not only
his life, but was also to enshrine
within it, the hopes and aspirations
and the Shraddha and Bhakti
which millions had cherished for
the Great Swami Vivekananda.
There is no monument in modern
India which glorifies the spirit it
enshrines and the builder as well.
Like the Song Celestial which puri-
fies the listener and the speaker,
so has the Rock Memorial glorified
the ideal and the idealist.
"Only the land which moth-
ered the Gita, could have brought
forth such a Karma Yogi' only in
the land of Himavan, Vindhya and
Sindhu can you meet such a lion
who practices self-restrain. Only in
the country where flows the Gan-
ges can you find such a Kalpavrik-
sha which has for its fruit, auspi-
LIFE EVERLASTING
Vishwa Bhanu A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
DECEMBER 2014 — JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 17
ciousness alone................"
A life which began humbly in
the village of Timatala in Amaravati
District, Maharashtra, by sheer pur-
suit of excellence, by indomitable will,
courage and total dedication to the
cause and ideals he cherished rose to
the pinnacle of glory and in the pro-
cess of carving out of rock, a magnifi-
cent monument to one of the great-
est sons of this Motherland, turned
his own life into LIFE EVERLASTING.
His life and work come as an answer
to the vague cries of men, about the
lack of opportunities, even for ser-
vice. Opportunities knock at every-
one's door. To one who is ready to
transform oneself first, those very
same opportunities become the vehi-
cles to change one's life into LIFE EV-
ERLASTING.
M. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi KumariM. Lakshmi Kumari
VIVEKANANDA KENDRA
VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION
ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR,
PIN 680664. KERALA Ph. No : 0480-2803349, 2805780,
2812780
Email ID : vkvvf@vkendra.org