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November 3: -- Rishikesh
| One
of the largest schools in the YES project is being
sponsored in memory of a divine child, Sheena
Singhal. Thus, on this day of her birthday, we
went to her school and had a special tree
plantation program. This school currently has
approximately 2000 students attending � children
in the morning and Women�s Vocational Training,
Arts & Crafts, Music, Dance, Yoga and Adult
Education in the afternoons and evenings. |
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Children at the school in
Rishikesh sponsored in memory of Sheena Singhal |
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| Trees are planted in
Sheena's memory |
22 young girls from
the ashram are fed in her memory |
November 9-13: -- Africa
Africa
Leg of the Vishwa Dharma Prasaar Yatra: With
the goal of spreading peace, love, tolerance and
harmony, the Vishwa Dharma Yatra
began its world journey in the Caribbean on July 16,
2001. Scheduled to cover fifty cities in forty
countries, this World Pilgrimage is carrying forth the
wisdom, insight and universal truths of Sanatan Dharma
for the benefit of all of humanity.
Select Dharma Gurus (spiritual leaders) are traveling
the globe, not preaching Hinduism, but rather reaching
people through Hinduism, teaching people through
Hinduism and touching people through Hinduism.
The
Yatra was in USA in August, in Europe and Russia in
September and in Africa in November. The Pacific Leg
will take place in early 2002.
The
entire yatra was organized by World Council of Hinduism
and Hindu Leaders' Forum and local organizations in
every city, and sponsored by Dr.
B.K. Modi, and Shri
M.L. Mittal, and with the help of devotees and
organizations across the globe.. Smt.
Anjleeben Pandya (or Energyben as Pujya Swamiji
calls her) was the coordinator for the entire Vishwa
Dharma Prasaar Yatra.
(See
usayatra2001 update for
full report of Caribbean and USA yatra
and September
2001 update for a full report of the European
Leg.
The
African leg of the Yatra was led by
Pujya Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji
(Pujya
Muniji),
Pujya Sadhvi
Ritambhara Deviji, and
Pujya Swami Santalinga
Ramaswamyji.
November 7-8: -- Nairobi,
Kenya:
November
9-10: -- Durban,
South Africa
On
November 9, a beautiful lecture program and
Question-Answer was held at the Ekta Mandir and Gujarati
Samaj Kendra. Although the Mandir and community center
had been inaugurated only 6 short months previously, it
was clear how much the community was benefiting and how
much the Kendra itself was blossoming and
flourishing.
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| H.H.
Pujya Swami Santalinga Ramaswamyji, H.H. Pujya
Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Pujya Muniji), and
H.H. Sadhvi Ritambhara Deviji in Durban |
(left
to right) H.H. Pujya Swami Santalinga Ramaswamyji,
Dr. B.K. Modi, H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand
Saraswatiji (Pujya Muniji), H.H. Pujya Swami
Sahajanandaji Maharaj |
On
the morning of November 10, Pujya Muniji Maharaj and
Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji went to the Divine Life
Society in Reservoir Hills where they had the darshan of
the divine, humble, enlightening saint His Holiness
Pujya Swami Sahajanandaji Maharaj. Pujya Swami
Sahajanandaji Maharaj is the Spiritual Head and
President of the Divine Life Society, South Africa and
is the Divine Guruji to thousands of people, teaching
them how to live in Africa and be good Africans while
still remaining true to the teachings of Sanatan Dharma.
Yet, he is not only committed to those of Indian blood
or those of Hindu faith. Rather, he is truly committed
to serving all of humanity and reaches out to the entire
African community � providing both living necessities
(food, clothing, etc.) as well as universal, spiritual
inspiration for their souls. He serves as a great link
between the Indian peoples and the African peoples. All
love him, all revere him, all bow down in worship of
him.
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When
the saints went for his darshan, he showed them
the printing press of the Divine Life Society,
South Africa. From there � under Pujya
Swamiji�s divine guidance � the Society
publishes and prints beautiful, compelling books
for adults and children based on the teachings of
His Holiness Pujya Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. |
| H.H. Pujya Swami Sahajananadaji
shows the beautiful books of H.H. Pujya Swami
Sivanandaji's teachings. |
|
While
there, they also had darshan and performed Aarti at the
beautiful Ganga Rani pool � a pool filled with water
from the holy waters of Mother Ganga in India.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji
(Pujya Muniji) gives pravachan at the Divine Life
Society, Durban,
in front of the divine Duratran display
On
the evening of November 10, there was the main program
at City Hall in Durban.
The program included pravachan by the Revered
Saints, a speech detailing the universal need for such a
yatra as well as giving the history of the yatra by Dr.
B.K. Modi, and a speech on
the Ekal Vidyalaya Project by Sadhvi Bhagwati.
November
11-12: -- Mauritius
Then,
on the morning of November 11, the Yatra team left
Africa for Mauritius, arriving into the lush, green land
mid afternoon of the 11th.
The land of Mauritius is a beautiful, tropical
land in the Indian Ocean, and is filled with great
devotion. The two-day program in Mauritius began on the
evening of November 11 when they sent each Spiritual
Leader to a different community temple.
Pujya Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji (Pujya Muniji) spoke to
at the Andhra Community Mandir.
Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji spoke to
the Sanatan
Dharma Mandir
;
Pujya Swami Santalinga Ramaswamyji
spoke to
the Tamil Community Mandir;
Sadhvi Bhagwati spoke to the Marathi
Community Mandir.
Then,
after the smaller, more intimate gatherings, everyone
gathered together for a beautiful musical program and
prasad at the Manav Seva ashram.
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| On the stage in
Mauritius |
The packed hall |
On November 12, the
day was spent in a huge program at the Manav Seva hall.
First, there were �breakout� sessions, in which
different leaders addressed different groups (e.g.
priests, youth, media, business people, etc.), then all
the saints gathered together in the enormous auditorium
(which overflowed beyond standing-room only) for a
special pravachan and music program.
After
the program, the Yatra team departed for Delhi via
Chennai.
November
19: -- Rishikesh
Shri
ML Mittalji (Ispat King) and his family came
to Parmarth Niketan where they inculcated the younger
generation with divine sanskaras. Ganga Aarti and a
special Shiv Abhishek puja were performed. Pujya Swamiji
spoke at length during the Ganga Aarti about how it is
not money which makes life, but rather it is devotion,
piety and Dharma. He explained how Shri M.L. Mittalji
exemplified this devotion and piety, and how he was
committed to preserving and disseminating Indian culture
and Dharma, through his role as President of Hindu
Leaders' Forum.
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| Shri
M.L.Mittalji and his family perform Shiv Abhishek
and Divine Ganga Aarti |
November
21: -- Delhi
Pujya
Swamiji delivered a beautiful Vedic prayer at an award
ceremony at the Prime Minister House in which
Dr. L.M.
Singhviji was awarded
a special award for Ahimsa and Satbhavana by His
Excellency Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji.
While there, Pujya Swamiji also spoke with the Honorable Prime
Minister about the program for Mansarovar/ Mt. Kailash,
and extended a special invitation to grace the
inauguration of the Ashram and hospital with his
presence.
November
28-29: -- Rishikesh
Shri
S.P. Hindujaji,
Shri P.P.
Hindujaji, Smt.
Madhu Hinduja, Smt.
Kamal Hinduja, Shri
Ram Krishan Hinduja,
and Sushri Vinoo Hinduja
came to the holy banks of Mother Ganga to celebrate the
auspicious occasion of Shri S.P. Hindujaji�s birthday.
Rather than going to a beachside resort and
celebrating with fancy parties, champagne and pop music,
they came to Rishikesh and celebrated with puja, Ganga
jal and Vedic chanting.
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| The entire family
performs purnahuti of the yagna |
Rishikumars offer
tilak to Shri SP Hindujaji |
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| The family performs
aarti together |
Pujya Swamiji offers
special blessings |
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He
had blessings by the Rishikumars, blessings by
Pujya Swamiji and the blessings of Mother
Ganga.
But, most importantly, he received the love and
blessings of his own Dharma Shakti, Smt. Madhuji |
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December
2: -- Narendra
Nagar (Himalayas)
Pujya
Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Pujya Muniji) went to the
Ananda Resort in the nearby Himalayan village of
Narendra Nagar to inaugurate the �Executives�
Portion of the Shri P.D. Hinduja Centenary
Celebration.
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To
honor the Centenary of the patriarch of this great
family, the entire extended family came together
� along with hundreds of their top CEOs and
managers � to the sacred Himalayas. The first 3
days were spent in Management sessions at the
Ananda resort and the final 3 days were spent in
Family Values sessions at Parmarth Niketan. |
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Pujya Swamiji sits on stage with
Pujya Ravi Shankarji and the Hinduja family |
December
4-7: -- Rishikesh
Shri
P.D. Hinduja Centenary Celebration
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| All
members of the Hinduja family -- youngest to
oldest -- plant sacred trees |
On
December 4, the entire family and all of the executives
came to Parmarth Niketan for the official
�Launching� of the Centenary. We began with the
hoisting of a beautiful flag and then continued to the
banks of Mother Ganga for the Inaugural Celebration.
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Over
the next 3 days, there were special sessions on Family
Values (including a very warmly received and appreciated
Question-Answer session with Pujya Swamij); there was
divine Ganga Yagna and Aarti in the evenings;
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There was
a special children�s program where the children of the
Hinduja family gathered with the youngest of the
Rishikumars and exchanged both love and knowledge. The
Rishikumars taught the children Vedic mantras, and the
Hinduja children taught the Rishikumars joy-filled
children�s poems and songs in English. It was a
beautiful bonding of East and West; now the Rishikumars
have brothers and sisters throughout India, Europe and
USA, and the Hinduja children have brothers living on
the banks of Mother Ganga.
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Additionally,
a new edition of
Grace in the Home: Wisdom for all Ages
was released in loving memory of Shri P.D. Hinduja,
a man whose life represented Grace in every
area. |
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The
final evening was offered in special memory of Divine
Soul
Dharam Hinduja.
December
12: -- Dehradun
Pujya
Swamiji traveled to Dehradun where he � and the team
of Ayurvedic Specialists from Delhi and from the
Himalayas � met with the Chief Minister of Uttranchal,
with the Finance Minister and with the Additional
Secretary, Ayurveda Department.
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The
agenda included 3 main points: first, invitations
to all for the International Congress on Ayurveda
in the 21st Century taking place at
Parmarth Niketan on the 21-22 December. All three
of the top ministers agreed to grace the
Inauguration with their presence. |
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Pujya Swamiji and the team of
Ayurvedic specialists with the Chief Minister |
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The
second main item was a beautiful new project in
the Himalayas, dedicated to the restoration of the
Himalayas (including reforestation of much of the
area which has been decimated by fire and by
unchecked logging), as well as the institution of
a special Ayurvedic program in which special
healing plants will be grown, along side crops
(like nuts) which can provide income to the local
people without them having to sacrifice the
sanctity of their land. |
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Pujya Swamiji and the Chief
Minister discuss various projects |
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The
third item is the plan to establish an Ayurvedic
University. Plans for this much-needed project are
currently underway, through the blessings and
guidance of Pujya Swamiji and the dedication and
expertise of the scientists and scholars from
across India. |
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Pujya Swamiji with Shri Ramesh
Pokharialji,
Finance Minister |
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Additionally,
while Pujya Swamiji was in Dehradun, Shri Ramanand
Sagar came to meet Him at the Finance Minister�s
office. There, they had a beautiful, love-filled
meeting in which they discussed plans for a new ,
divine project in the Himalayas. |
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A Special Tribute
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On
Monday, November 12, 2001, at 11:54pm, His
Holiness Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
attained
Mahasamadhi, Great Union,
on
the island of Kauai in the presence of his
monastic order.
On
this date a beautiful saint departed from the
physical plane.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswamiji was one
of Hinduism's foremost and globally prominent
spiritual teachers, a prolific author and
publisher of Hinduism Today magazine. At the age
of 74 at his ashram home on the tropical island of
Kauai, Hawaii, USA, he reached the holy abode of
the Lord in exactly the way he had chosen, at
precisely the time he wanted.
Gurudeva discovered on October 9 that he
had advanced intestinal cancer. Gurudeva spent
several days in intense meditation and
austerities, during which time he knew that it was
time to leave the body, and thus he declared that
he would accept no medical treatment and that he
would follow the ancient Yogic practice of
Prayopavesa � abstaining from all nourishment
until the body perishes.
Gurudeva
brought the wisdom, inspiration and insights of
traditional Hinduism to the West, through his
divine monastery, through his numerous inspiring
books and through Hinduism Today magazine. While
he lived in the West, he maintained the strictest
adherence to traditional morality and ethics. He
touched and transformed thousands directly and
millions indirectly through his publications.
In his parting days, he told his monks,
"Don't be sad, soon I will be with you 24
hours a day, working with you all from the inner
planes." Although he is no longer physically
with us, we know that his divine teachings,
message, wisdom, inspiration and prolific writings
will continue to guide, touch and uplift people
forever. |
Upcoming Events
December
21-22: International Ayurvedic Conference: For
two days, hundreds of top Ayurvedic experts from India
and from abroad will gather together on the holy banks
of Mother Ganga for this special Conference. The
inauguration will take place at the hands of Chief
Minister and the Finance Minister. Additionally, H.H.
Pujya Shri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajanji will grace the
occasion with his presence. The Conference is being
sponsored by V. Sukhmani and is in Association with All
India Ayurvedic Congress.
February
25 - March 3, 2002: International Yoga Festival
Parmarth
Niketan is honored to be the host of this world-renowned
celebration of the ancient science of yoga.
Delegates, students, teachers, yogis and philosophers
will gather together to learn, to teach, to discuss and
to drink of the divine nectar of this sacred wisdom.
Yoga
means "union;" it is a union of breath to the
body, of the mind to the muscles, and most importantly
of the self to the divine. What better place to become
"united" than on the sacred banks of Mother
Ganga, in a land to which rishis and sages have flocked
for millennia?
While all
aspects of yoga will be discussed, the focus will be on
yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation. Using the body as
a medium, the breath becomes still, the mind attains
peace and the soul moves closer to liberation.
The
program will include demonstrations by international
yoga experts, classes in asanas, prayanama, and
meditation, lectures by renowned yogis and masters,
discussions, and much more.
However,
there will be even more. The entire atmosphere will be
charged with divine energy, due to so many people
participating in sacred yoga.
Additionally,
this year, there will be a special addition, as Gurmukh
-- world renowned Kundalini Yoga Teacher -- will come
and augment the Festival with a course in Kundalini
Yoga.
To
register, please CLICK
HERE:
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