| |
|
January
--
Allahabad - Prayag Raj
January - February 2007 was the
auspicious time of the Ardha Kumbha Mela (the half-Kumbha
Mela). In January - February 2001 was the Maha
Kumbha Mela at which Parmarth had put up a huge camp
for 6 weeks. See
www.parmarth.org/updates/jan2001/index.htm and
www.parmarth.org/updates/feb2001/index.htm for
details of those times.
 |
|
|
 |
| |
 |
 |
|
 |
Kumbha
Darshan - bathing at the Sangam and a camp
of sadhus |
 |
The Ardha Kumbha is a very sacred
and auspicious time to have a bath in the holy
sangam of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers at
the site of Prayag Raj (Allahabad). Pujya Swamiji
traveled to Prayag twice during the course of the
Kumbha Mela and took part in a wide variety of
divine activities, including the following:
1. Katha by Pujya Sant Shri
Rameshbhai Oza -- at the camp set up by Pujya Swami
Hans Dasji Maharaj, Pujya Bhaishri gave a beautiful
katha.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji
with Pujya Bhaishri |
|
2. Katha by Pujya Sant Shri
Morari Bapu - at the camp set up by Pujya Swami
Gurusharananandji Maharaj, Pujya Bapu gave a
beautiful katha.
Pujya Swamiji
on the state with Pujya Swami Gurusharananandji, Pujya
Sant Shri Morari Bapu, Pujya Sant Shri Rameshbhai Oza,
Pujya Swami Govind Giriji and many other revered saints.
Pujya Swamiji
gives his words of wisdom
3. Yoga camp by Pujya Swami
Ramdevji - at the camp set up by Pujya Swami Hans
Dasji, Pujya Swami Ramdevji gave daily yoga/pranayama
camps.
Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Pujya Swami
Hans Dasji go together to visit the jail in
Allahabad and to give inspiration to the prisoners
to change their lives and to dedicate every moment
to loving God and serving humanity.
4. Special yagna and sant
sammellan given by Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji at
Pujya Swami Hans Dasji's camp.
| |
|
 |
 |
|
Pujya Swamiji
lights the inaugural lamp with Pujya Swami
Avdeshanandji, Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,
Pujya Swami Hans Dasji, Pujya Swami
Divyanand Teerthji and many others. |
Pujya Swami Hans Dasji also organized a large Sant
Sammelan in which the most revered saints at the
Mela came together to share inspiring, enlightening
and uplifting messages as well as to discuss the
importance of finding a solution to the tragedy
facing young, unwanted girls in India.
During the sacred
time of Kumbha Mela, the saints also gather together to
share their experiences and to sit together in a spirit
of divine oneness. Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Swami Hans Dasji,
Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji, Pujya Swami Nityanandji and other
saints sat together with Pujya Swami Gurusharananandji
at his Karshini camp, enjoying each other's divine
presence.
At the Parmarth camp, we had a
huge samasti bhandara for thousands of
Mahamandaleshwars and other saints and Swamijis,
hosted by Mahamandaleshwar Swami Asanganandji.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Thousands of
saints eat at the Parmarth camp |
|
Pujya Swamiji walks through the
bhandara, ensuring that everything is taken care of
for the saints.
After making
sure all the other saints were fed, Pujya Swamiji sat
for His own prasad
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Devotees and
sevaks offer tilak and dakshina to the
saints. |
|
Pujya Swamiji also met with
numerous other saints and took part in numerous
other sant sammelans and satsangs, including those
at the camp of Pujya Swami Gurusharananandji, Pujya Swami
Avdeshanandji and Pujya
Swami Shanta Baba.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji visits Pujya Shanta Babaji's
ashram and Pujya Shanta Babaji
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji
with Pujya Swami Avdeshanandji and Pujya
Swami Parmanandji |
|
January 7 --
Rishikesh
Jayshreeben Amin came to Parmarth
from Louisville, KY, with her daughter and her
parents. Jayshreeben and her husband Dr. Rajanbhai
are great supporters of IHRF as well as sponsors for
rooms in Parmarth's ashram in Mansarovar and Dirapuk
(Mt. Kailash).
January 24-26 --
Porbandar
Pujya Swamiji traveled to
Porbandar, Gujarat, to Sandipani Vidya Niketan to be
with Pujya Sant Rameshbhai Oza, for the anniversary
of the opening of the Hari Mandir. In February, 2006
he had spent 2 weeks in Porbandar for the official
inauguration of the Mandir at the huge Sammelan.
January 26 --
Rishikesh
On the special occasion of
Republic Day, the rishikumars at the Parmarth
Gurukul, Veerpur put on a special performance. The
children at our gurukuls/orphanages receive not only
a full academic education and Vedic training but
also the priceless gifts of hope, faith and joy in
life. Classes 3rd - 8th are kept at the Parmarth
Gurukul/orphanage in Rishikesh and 9th - 11th are at
Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage in Veerpur. See
www.parmarth.org/gurukul.htm for more details on
this divine "Dust to Diamonds" project.
Each major holiday here at
Parmarth is celebrated with a performance by the
beautiful Rishikumars.
For Republic Day, the older boys
at Veerpur put on a performance of a series of acts,
including songs, dances and drama.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
A small stage
is set up in the Veerpur garden |
|
At Janmasthami the younger
children had put
on a heart-stopping rendition of "Meera". One could
not believe that the grace, beauty and femininity of
Meera (both as a young girl as well as a married
woman) was played by young boys between the ages of
10-14!!!
Young Puneet as Meera dances
January
--
Rishikesh
Shri Madanlal Dewan, a great came
to Rishikesh, as he comes frequently as part of his
"Rejuvenation and Greening of the Himalayas"
program. Pujya Swamiji blessed him at the aarti for
his indefatigable commitment to the Himalayas
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Madanlal Dewan after receiving his
special shawl from Pujya Swamiji stands in
front of Shiva with Dr. Alka Patel and
Rajan Swaroop.
He is a great inspiration to us all and
we all hope that at that age we will also be
filled with such energy and vigor. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
January 28 --
Winnipeg, Canada
Pujya Swamiji's divine books became part of the
Manitoba Hindu Dharmik Sabha Library, when they were
given by Tara Maniar of IHRF - Canada to
Krishna Goolcharan, president of the MHDS. He
received Drops of Nectar, Grace in the Home, A Year
of Spiritual Celebration and the newest release,
Peace.
February 1-4 --
Rishikesh
Each year, India Heritage
Research Foundation sponsors several medical camps
on the site of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh.
In 2006, there were 2 large acupressure camps during
the summer in which hundreds of patients received
treatment and training, and a large eye/cataract surgery camp in
October with doctors from Australia, led by Dr.
Purnima Roy. The first camp of 2007 saw
experienced doctors come from the Hinduja Hospital
and Lilawati Hospitals of Bombay for a camp
including dental care, eye care and general medical
care.
During the course of this camp, a total of 700
patients were seen, including
125 patients who received dental
care
200 eye examinations and distribution of glasses
33 cataract operations
24 urology, gastroenterology and orthopedic
surgeries.
Thanks to Rupen and Lopa Desai of
South Africa and other generous donors for making these camps
a reality!
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Pujya
Mahamandaleshwarji inaugurates the camp;
Dentists extract teeth from a patient.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Successful
cataract operations - the women (left) and
the men (right). |
|
Shri Subhash Kumarji, former Commissioner Garhwal
comes with his wife for Ganga Aarti and officially
inaugurates the medical camp with Pujya Swamiji:
February 5-8
--
Delhi
An
historic event took place in New Delhi, February 5-7,
2007, when a delegation of senior rabbis from Israel and
other countries met top Hindu leaders for the first time
to discuss a range of subjects including the relevance
of tradition in everyday life, similarities and
dissimilarities between the two religions and the
promotion of education. They affirmed their shared
values, condemned violence, and pledged to address the
challenges of poverty and illness.
Pujya Swamiji was a participant at this Hindu-Jewish
Dialogue, organized by the World Council of Religious
Leaders, headed by Shri Bawa Jain and Aim for Seva,
headed by Pujya Swami Dayanandaji. The Summit brought
together the top leaders of Hinduism, represented by the
Acharya Sabha as well as numerous heads of ashrams and
institutions, with the leaders of Judaism, represented
by the Chief Rabbiniate of Israel. India
Heritage Research Foundation (the
international-non-profit organization founded and
chaired by Pujya Swamiji) is dedicated to inter-faith
harmony and Pujya Swamiji is actively involved in a wide
variety of interfaith-harmony activities.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
Pujya Swamiji had been
together with the Chief Rabbi of Israel in
Kyoto, Japan at the World Conference of
Religions for Peace in August, 2006, where
they shared love and friendship. So it was
wonderful to be together again.
Seewww.parmarth.org/updates/julysept2006
for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Jewish representatives included:
1. Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, Israel, Chief Rabbi of
Israel
2. Dr. Oded Wiener, Israel Director General, Chief
Rabbinate of Israel
3. Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Israel , President,
International Jewish Committee for Interreligious
Consutation (IJCIC); International Director of
Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee (AJC)
4. Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber, Israel, Professor of
Talmud and Jewish Studies at Bar Ilan University
5. Rabbi Dr. Israel Singer, USA , Chairman,
International Jewish Committee for Interreligious
Consultation (IJCIC); Chairman, Policy Council of the
World Jewish Congress
Rabbi Moshe Garelik, USA , Director of the Rabbinical
Centre of Europe
6. Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui, Belgium , Chief Rabbi of
Belgium
7. Chief Rabbi Isak Haleve, Turkey, Chief Rabbi of
Turkey
Further Mr. David Danieli the Ambassador of
Israel to India attended as well.
The Hindu representatives included:
1. Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji
2. Swami Gurusharananandji
3. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji
4. Swami Hans Dasji
5. Swami Madhav priyadasji
and many, many more.
Pujya Swamiji began His
talk by chanting both the sacred mantras of Hinduism as
well as the Sh'ma Y'israel, one of the most sacred
chants of Judaism.
It was a beautiful time of
discussions and understanding. The leaders of two
ancient, non-proselytizing religions came together to
better understand each other and to explore avenues in
which they can work together to help bring peace and
understanding within their own traditions and also
amongst people of different faith traditions. A
declaration was signed stating the following:
|
Declaration of
Mutual Understanding and Cooperation
from the First Jewish-Hindu Leadership
Summit
New Delhi, February 5-6, 2007
The participants affirm that:
- Their
respective Traditions teach that
there is One Supreme Being who is
the Ultimate Reality, who has
created this world in its blessed
diversity and who has communicated
Divine ways of action for humanity,
for different peoples in different
times and places.
- The religious
identities of both Jewish and Hindu
communities are related to
components of Faith, Scripture,
People-hood, Culture, Land and
Language.
- Hindus and
Jews seek to maintain their
respective heritage and pass it on
to the succeeding generations, while
living in respectful relations with
other communities.
- Neither seeks
to proselytize, nor undermine or in
any way replace the religious
identities of other faith
communities. They expect other
communities to respect their
religious identities and
commitments, and condemn all
activities that go against the
sanctity of this mutual respect.
- Both the Hindu
and Jewish Traditions affirm the
sanctity of life and aspire for a
society in which all live in peace
and harmony with one another.
Accordingly, they condemn all acts
of violence in the name of any
religion or against any religion.
- The Jewish and
Hindu communities are committed to
the ancient traditions of Judaism
and Hindu dharma respectively, and
have both, in their own ways, gone
through the painful experiences of
persecution, oppression and
destruction. Therefore, they realize
the need to educate the present and
succeeding generations about their
past, in order that they will make
right efforts to promote religious
harmony.
- The
representatives of the two faith
communities recognize the need for
understanding one another in terms
of lifestyles, philosophy, religious
symbols, culture, etc. They also
recognize that they have to make
themselves understood by other faith
communities. They hope that through
their bilateral initiatives, these
needs would be met.
- Because both
traditions affirm the central
importance of social responsibility
for their societies and for the
collective good of humanity, the
participants pledged themselves to
work together to help address the
challenges of poverty, sickness and
inequitable distribution of
resources.
- The
representatives of the two faith
communities also agree to constitute
a Standing Committee on Hindu-Jewish
Relations.
|
|
Pujya
Swamiji with Pujya Swami Dayanandaji, Pujya Swami Madhavpriyadasji
& other revered Swamijis.
On the evening of the 6th February,
dinner was hosted at the home of Shri L.K. Advaniji
which was a wonderful time for all the delegates to come
together in a casual setting and share the evening and
prasad (dinner). The Chief Rabbi of Israel gave a
glowing speech about the role that Shri Advaniji had
played for Israel over the many years. Following the
dinner, Shri Advaniji's daughter, Pratibhaji, gave a
special screening of the beautiful movie she had made
for Shivratri. Even though it was late at night and the
movie was in Hindi and dealt with traditional Hindu
themes, the Chief Rabbis sat and enjoyed many minutes of
the beautiful film.
The head table at the
dinner, pictured left to right: Rabbi David Rosen,
Chief Rabbi Metzger, Shri Advaniji, Mrs. Metzger,
Shri Bawa Jain, Pujya Swamiji
Pujya Swamiji with one of the rabbis; Pujya Swamiji
with Shri Tarun Vijay, editor of Panchjanya and
Jayant Advani, Shri Advaniji's son
On February 7th, Dr. Bhupendra
Kumar Modiji hosted a gathering of Buddhists, Hindus
and Jews, followed by an all-faith gathering.
Pujya Swamiji with
Dr. Oden Weiner,
Israel Director
General, Chief Rabbinate of Israel
and
respected Buddhist Leader Ven. Sumedha Thero
After the
meeting there was a special prayer, in which a
representative from each religion chanted a sacred
mantra of that religion, to pray together for peace.
Pujya Swamiji chanted the concluding, final blessings of
"Purnamadah Purnamidam
Purnatpurnamudachyate.
Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevavashisyate"
(left) Pujya Swamiji
receives a flower garland welcoming Him to the Summit;
(right): Pujya Swamiji shares love with Maulanna
Wahiduddin Khan Sahib and Shri Ramesh Bhandari
On the afternoon of the 7th a
small delegation consisting of a few main
representatives of the Jewish and Hindu traditions
including The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Rosen,
the Honorable Ambassador of Israel to India and several
other Chief Rabbis from other parts of the world, Pujya
Swamiji, Pujya Swami Dayanandji, Pujya Swami
Madhavpriyadasji and others had a beautiful meeting with
the Honorable President of
India. It was a wonderful, fruitful and
inspiration-filled meeting in which the Honorable
President was apprised of all that took place and he
also offered his support, his thoughts and his learned
suggestions of how to move forward.
Later in
the afternoon of the 7th March, back at the Oberoi
Hotel, there was a formal
discussion between Hindus and Muslims
in which great strides were made in terms of sharing of
views, understanding, respect and love and mutual
condemnation of violence.
February 9-12
--
Rishikesh
Following the Hindu-Jewish
Summit, Rabbi David Rosen, the President of the
International Jewish Committee came to Parmarth with
his wife Sharon to spend a few days of quiet
reflection on the banks of the Ganges with Pujya
Swamiji. Pujya Swamiji and Rabbi Rosen have been
together at so many international, interfaith
gatherings, including at the United Nations, the
World Economic Forum and the World Conference of
Religions for Peace. Pujya Swamiji has always
invited Rabbi Rosen to come "home" to Rishikesh and
it was wonderful to have him and Sharon with us for
a few days.
February 9 was a friday, the holy
day of the Sabbath according to Jewish tradition.
Pujya Swamiji invited Rabbi Rosen to lead a special
Jewish Sabbath prayer after the divine Ganga Aarti
on the banks of the Ganges.
Dena Merriam, the Convenor of the
Global Peace Initiative for Women (and one of the
organizers for the youth summit at the United
Nations) also came to Rishikesh during these days
and spent time together with Pujya Swamiji and Rabbi
Rosen.
It was probably the first time
ever that the sacred Sabbath prayers were chanted by
a respected Rabbi on the holy banks of the Ganges
Rabbi Rosen, Sharon Rosen,
Dena Merriam and Bijon Das Gupta (the well known
set/stage designer and architect) sit together at
the Ganga Aarti
February 11 --
Delhi
Pujya Swamiji traveled to Delhi for the special
Sarva Dharma Sammelan (Interfaith harmony summit)
held at the ashram of late Pujya Shri Sushil Muniji
Maharaj, who was a great torchbearer of
non-violence, peace and harmony.
February 16 --
Mahashivratri
February 16 was the holy night of Mahashivratri
(click here for Pujya Swamiji's message on this
divine, sacred and auspicious holiday). To
celebrate, we had a beautiful shiv puja/abhishek
conducted by the Rishikumars at the Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage.
Pujya Swamiji performed the puja and then all the
devotees and visitors were able to come up and each
could offer milk to the holy Shiv Linga.
February 18-21 --
Patiala, Punjab
IHRF was the co-sponsor for a three day
international seminar on the theme "Towards building
a peaceful society: Role of Religion" organized at
Punjabi University by Dr. Dharam Singh, in
collaboration with the International Interfaith
Centre, Oxford, UK.
Scholars from India and abroad came together for
this seminar. Seminarians presented research papers
on cultural hermeneutics, global peace through
global values, interfaith themes in the life and
writings of Swami Vivekanand and Buddhism towards
social harmony. The seminar was co-sponsored by
IHRF.
February 18-19
--
Delhi
Pujya Swamiji traveled to Delhi
for the final ceremony in the 100th anniversary year
of Shri Guruji Golwalkarji of the RSS.
Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former
Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayeeji, leader
of the opposition Shri LK Advaniji, Gujarat Chief
Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, Pujya Swami
Avadheshnandaji, Pujya Swami Satyamitranandji, Pujya
Dr Pranav Pandyaji, Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji, RSS
chief Shri Sudarshanji and many other saints,
political heads and dignitaries graced the occasion
with their presence.
Pujya Swamij
and Pujya Swami Dayanandaji released the 6-volumes
of "Shri Guruji Samagra" in Sanskrit
February
18--
Rishikesh
A
large group of yoga students had come from China to
do their teacher's training program for 3 weeks at
Parmarth. During their stay fell the auspicious time
of the Chinese New Year. To celebrate, they all
performed yagna and aarti and then sang traditional
Chinese songs after the aarti.
February
20-23 --
Rishikesh
Famous Bollywood actor and devotee of Pujya
Swamiji's, Vivek Oberoi came home to Parmarth with
his father Sureshji (also a very famous Bollywood
actor), mother Yashodharaji and sister Meghna. As
Vivek has been very busy lately with shooting so
many movies, it had been awhile since he'd come home
to Parmarth and the whole Parmarth family
(particularly the rishikumars) were so happy to see
him.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Vivek and his
family perform yagna with Pujya Swamiji |
|
February
22-23 --
Rishikesh
A
group of 25 devotees from Durban, South Africa came
on a yatra organized by Pushpaben and Bachhubhai
Patel of the Ekta Mandir in Durban. Pujya Swamiji
had been in Durban for a special function last May
and invited everyone to come home to Rishikesh.
Inspired, Pushpaben and Bachhubhai organized the
Indian yatra for their community members. It was
wonderful to have everyone at home.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Devotees from the Ekta Mandir perform Ganga
Aarti |
|
February 28 --
Rishikesh
Pujya Swami Hariprasad Swamiji, of the Swaminarayan
tradition came to Parmarth Niketan with a large
group of Swamijis and devotees. They came to perform
the divine Ganga Aarti and to meet with Pujya
Swamiji.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Pujya Swami Hariprasad Swamiji performs
Ganga Aarti |
|
back to top
February 28 --
Winnipeg, Canada and
other places
International Prayer for "Interfaith Harmony and
Universal Peace." This event, organized by Tara
Maniar, project coordinator of IHRF Canada was
co-sponsored by IHRF. There were representatives of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Catholocism, Baha'i,
Wicca and Aboriginal. The main event was held in
Winnipeg, but simultaneous events were held by
congregations/groups in Calgary, Florida, Delhi and
Guyana as well as by numerous individuals around the
world.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Peace prayer and Interfaith harmony
gathering |
|
Special Sevaks
They were also great, indispensable assets for the
International Yoga Festival which took place from the
1-7 March (update will be out shortly). EB unfortunately
had to leave to go back to Jamaica last week, but
Suzanne is still here serving with great joy and
dedication each day! She is now
joined by her good friend Jake Plfaum who is also
serving with wonderful commitment.
back to top
For links to all previous updates and Divine Messages, click here.
back to top
Contact Information
Phone: (0135) 2440088, 2440077, 2434301
Fax: (0135) 2440066
From abroad, dial: + (91-135) instead of (0135)
Email:
parmarth@parmarth.com
back to top
|
|
