Highlights: (Click on link to go directly to that section) Pujya Swamiji at World Dharma Day Pujya Swamiji at World Youth Day Pujya Swamiji at Pravasi Bharati function Divine Wedding in Rishikesh Free Medical Eye Surgery Camp at Parmarth Niketan Pujya Swamiji at Opening of IT college for Tribals Divine Wedding in Rishikesh Divine Message by Pujya Swamiji -  The Importance of Struggle Pujya Swamiji's upcoming itinerary Links to Previous Newsletters  and Divine Messages

January 2  -- Delhi
Pujya Swamiji was one of the Chief Guests at World Dharma Day, an annual day organized for peace, unity and righteousness. It was organized by MCorp Limited, the company founded by Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi to bring spiritual leaders of different faiths together in the name of peace, and unity and to spread the universal message of "The World is One Family."  The function was graced by the presence of numerous revered leaders from Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity. Further, Honorable Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, Dr. L.M. Singhvi and Shri Ashok Singhal graced the occasion with their presence.  

	Pujya Swamiji with Hon. Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji and other revered saints

After the main function, the revered leaders put the soil which had been collected in over 50 cities on 4 continents across the globe into a sacred tulsi plant.  On the Vishwa Dharma Prasaar Yatras of 2001 and 2003 (see  for more details), in each of the cities, a sample of the soil had been put into a sacred kalash. 

	Then, this kalash was emptied into a tulsi tree which will grow as a symbol of the unity and interconnectedness of peoples all across the world.
	Prayers over the kalash and tulsi plant

January 3  -- Delhi

On the day after World Dharma Day, Dr. Modiji organized World Youth Day - a day dedicated to inspiring and educating the youth about the gifts of their own culture and heritage and showing them the path of how they can use these gifts to guide India to its rightful place as a world Spiritual leader. 

January 8  -- Delhi

The Government of India organized a special function for Non Resident Indians called Pravasi Bharati (the Indian Diaspora). On this occasion, a special dinner and function was sponsored by the Pravasi Bharati Leader's Forum, led by Shri Mohanlal Mittal and Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi. 

On this occasion, Pujya Swami Dayanandji was awarded the Dharma Ratna award, and Pujya Swamiji was one of the Chief Guests along with Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji Swami Divayand Teerthji, Shri Venkataramanji, the former President of India, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, Dr. L.M. Singhvi and others. 

	clockwise from top: Pujya Swamiji sitting on stage with (left to right) Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Shri R. Venkataraman and H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji; Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Dayanandji, Pujya Swamiji speaking at the function

January 11  -- Rishikesh

Tapan Kant of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and Anita Khurana of Trivendrum, India wed on the holy banks of Mother Ganga.  Tapan had vowed, from the age of a child, that when he got married he would only get married in Rishikesh, on the banks of Ganga, at the holy feet of his Guru, Pujya Swamiji.  

	Tapan's janeo sanskar is performed on the day of his marriage and Pujya Swamiji whispers the sacred mantra

Like a match made in Heaven, Tapan and Anita met on the 31 December, sought Pujya Swamiji's blessings on the 1 January, and came to Rishikesh for the wedding on the 10 January. The ceremony was filled with devotion, piety and joy.  Tapan's parents, Dr. Naval and Dr. Nila Kant have been committed devotees of Pujya Swamiji's for several decades and are pillars of strength in the foundation of the Hindu Jain Temple which Pujya Swamiji built, as well as being founding members and staunch trustees of India Heritage Research Foundation and the Encyclopedia of Hinduism project. 

	The wedding took place in the Garden of Parmarth Niketan before they proceeded to the banks of Mother Ganga for havan and aarti.

	The wedding; Pujya Swamiji honors Dr. Naval and Dr. Nila Kant, Tapan's parents

January   -- Rishikesh

There was a special oath taking ceremony for the students in Rishikesh, and the Chief Minister was the Chief Guest. Pujya Swamiji was one of the main speakers and encouraged the students to become great, divine leaders. He said "You have the waters of Mother Ganga in your blood. You have the Himalayas in every cell of your being. Go forth and share these gifts with the world." 

	Pujya Swamiji with the Chief Minister of Uttranchal and other guests

January 28  -- Dehradun

To inaugurate the opening of the ITITI Information Technology school for tribal children in Dehradun, Shri Tarun Vijay the dedicated founder and organizer for the school, invited the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as the honorable Chief Minister of Uttranchal, Shri N.D. Tiwari. The Honorable Prime Minister arrived via helicopter from Delhi and graced the function with his presence and words. 

Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Dr. Pranav Pandyaji of the Gayati Parivar and Shantikunj were the two Spiritual Leaders invited to grace the function and bless the school. 

February 29  -- Rishikesh

Nishit Kotecha of London, UK and Sonal  of Sweden performed their sacred marriage vows here on the holy banks of Mother Ganga, at the holy feet of Pujya Swamiji. It was a divine site to have the entire Kotecha family here from London and Sonal's family from Sweden and Nadiad.

Pujya Swamiji blessed them with health, long life, joy, bliss and prosperity. 

	clockwise from top: procession to the banks of Mother Ganga; sacred yagna fire

On the day following their wedding, International Yoga Festival started at Parmarth (coming in the March updates) and they were doing seva by helping to serve the meals. All of the participants from abroad were astounded that on the day after their wedding, rather than lounging by a pool or beachfront somewhere on a honeymoon, that they were serving meals at the ashram. "What about your honeymoon?" everyone asked them. "This is our honeymoon," they replied. "Service is our life and we can think of no better way to celebrate our marriage than to perform seva at Pujya Swamiji's ashram." 

	The wedding on the banks of Mother Ganga; Pujya Swamiji blesses the couple by showering rose petals over them

Further, on the day just before their wedding, eager not to let any moment slip by unused, they organized an eye testing camp for the Rishikumars. Nishit and Yoksam are both eye doctors and everyone else in the family are eager assistants, so in a few short hours they screened the 100 rishikumars living at the ashram and gave prescriptions for the few boys who require glasses. 

NEW LINKS ON OUR HOME PAGE

Please note that we have added a new link to our home page - Sanskaras. Click here to see the 4 major sanskaras (divine, sacred rites of passage ceremonies) which are performed with great piety, beauty and divinity at Parmarth Niketan on the banks of Mother Ganga. The four are mundan ceremony, sacred thread ceremony, marriage and ash immersion. Read each page for details of the sanskar itself as well as how it is performed here in this sacred environment. 

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