November 7-- Haridwar:  Pujya Swamiji was the Chief Guest at the inaugural function for the enormous Mahapurnahuti Yagna Celebrations organized by the Gayatri Parivar. He gave an inspiring lecture on the true meaning of Yagna. He said that Pujya Acharya Shri Ram Sharmaji had created a true miracle. Through his grace he made so many shining stars across the world. "Now," Pujya Swamiji emphasized, "you should all take that divine light in you and use it to bring light to the world." Pujya Swamiji also effusively appreciated Dr. Pranav Pandyaji, under whose divine leadership and guidance the Gayatri Parivar is spreading further and further each year, bringing light and inspiration to more and more people. Pujya Swamiji said that Dr. Pandyaji used to be a doctor of the body, and now he is a doctor of the soul. 

Pujya Swamiji lights the deepak with Dr. Pranav Pandyaji before delivering His compelling and inspiring address

November 9 --Rishikesh:

Official Inauguration ceremony of the Dehradun Road school.

This school which opened in June was officially inaugurated by the hands of Shri Yatinder and Smt. Sarita Singhal who have divinely sponsored the entire project in loving memory of dear Sheena Singhal. 

	One divine child's life was taken away, but in her memory, thousands and thousands of divine children will receive life. These children who would have had no hope, no light, no chance in life, are now receiving an education, training, hope and faith. There are over 2000 students in the school now, including 400 children in the morning "academic" school, and 1600 students in the afternoon classes - including vocational training, sewing, handicrafts, dance, singing, karate, yoga.
Planting trees in dear Sheena's memory
Additionally, her divine, loving parents have said that in dear Sheena's memory, a computer center will also be built on the premises, giving these children a real chance to succeed in the modern world.  After the ceremony at the school, Pujya Swamiji and Shri Yatinderji and Smt. Saritaji returned to Parmarth Niketan, where Pujya Swamiji had a special aarti and puja program on the holy banks of Mother Ganga for dear Sheena and her loving parents.

Thank you to Shri Yatinderji and Smt. Saritaji

November 10-12 --Rishikesh:
 

Bharatiya Yoga Sansthan:
Close to 800 yoga teachers from across India came to Parmarth Niketan for this 3 day convention. Although Pujya Swamiji had to leave to go to Varanasi and Sarnath, He officially inaugurated the occasion and gave His blessings before leaving. 

Additionally, H.H. Mahamandaleshwar Pujya Swami Satyamitranandji Maharaj was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony

November 11-12--Sarnath :

At the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Maha Bodh Society of India had their annual Kartik Purnima celebrations, an occasion which is internationally renowned, and is always graced by top dignitaries and spiritual leaders. 

	On November 11, the Honorable Vice President of India was the Chief Guest, and on November 12, the Honorable Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji, cabinet minister was the Chief Guest.  Additionally, while there, He met with Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji regarding our proposed new Ayurvedic project and sacred arboretums in the Himalayas.
The honorable Vice President of India in the temple at Sarnath.
With Honorable Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji, Dr. B.K. Modiji, and Ven. Siri Sumedha Thero

Pujya Swamiji presided over the function on November 12 and delivered a beautiful, moving speech on the importance of the teachings of Buddhism.  He also spoke about the beautiful, pious Ven. Dr. D. Rewatha Thero, who is the General Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society and Ven. K. Siri Sumedha Thero the High Priest of the Sarnath Temple.      Buddham Sharanam Gachami Dhammam Sharanam Gachami Sangam Sharanam Gachami Satyam Sharanam Gachami

November 11--Varanasi 

Pujya Swamiji returned to Varanasi on the evening of the 11th in order to be the Chief Guest at the annual Dev Diwali celebrations on Dasashwamedh ghat. Over 100,000 people were present at this enormous function, celebrating the auspicious time of the first full moon after Diwali.

	Other guests and speakers included Honorable Justice Giridhar Malaviya, Dr. B.K. Modi and Shri Shyam Sunder Shah. Pujya Swamiji has been the Chief Guest at this function for the past two years. Pujya Swamiji and Dr. B.K. Modi offer milk to the waters of Mother Ganga, as part of the special Dev Diwali Ganga puja
	In fact, it was at last year's function that He decided to form the Parmarth Ganga Seva Nidhi, a foundation dedicated to adopting, sponsoring and cleaning up the ghats in this sacred city.  Parmarth Ganga Seva Nidhi has also brought the sacred tradition of daily, divine Ganga Aarti to Dasashwamedh ghat and to other important, main ghats of Varanasi.

November 14: Delhi

Pujya Swamiji delivered uplifting and inspiring pravachan at the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha being recited by Pujya Acharya Kishore Vyasji.

November 17-19: Rishikesh
Hindu Heritage Pratishthan

For the second year in a row, the Hindu Heritage Pratishthan camp was held here, under the leadership of Padmashree Dr. Shyam Singh Shashiji. Over one hundred youth from thirty-two countries across the world came to Parmarth Niketan. The students all came to India - from countries including USA, Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Australia, Iran, etc. - to learn about Indian culture and Hinduism. 

	The students were drawn - from across oceans and continents -- to India by the glory of this foreign land. The students spent 3 days here, having classes and pravachan during the day, and participating in Ganga Aarti and yagna in the evenings.
International students performing Ganga Aarti

They also had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Dr. Ramesh Vaish deliver an excellent, informative, and thought-provoking lecture on the holistic approach of Hinduism. . 
 

The final day was a beautiful blessing. On the banks of Mother Ganga, in the glory of the morning sun, they received Pujya Swamiji's divine words of wisdom and inspiration. He explained the importance of being God conscious and not glamour conscious, and told them that God and spirituality were the keys to their success in life. He gave innumerable practical suggestions for how to live life to its fullest, and He reminded them all - young, foreign students - that they now have a home in the Himalayas. 
 

(left to right) Shri Babulal Gandhi, Shri Balkrishna Naik, Pujya Swamiji, Padmashree Dr. Shyam Singh Shashiji on the stage, in the middle of Ganga, for the concluding program.	Pujya Swamiji blesses each student, individually, with sacred tilak

November 19-21--Rishikesh 

Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao, the Chief Editor for the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, came to Parmarth Niketan to have discussions with Pujya Swamiji (the Founder and Chairman of the project) and with the Encyclopedia team in Rishikesh. 

Dr. Rao has come from Columbia, South Carolina, USA to India in order to travel the country, meeting with top scholars, editors, administrators and academicians.  His visit will bring clarity, guidelines and invigoration to the Encyclopedia offices across India.

Additionally, he is working with Shri Brahma Swarup Varma, Chairman of Project C-2000 and Director, Administration, IHRF, to set up new writing/editing units in order to expedite the progress of this monumental task. 

Upcoming Events
 

December 9: Kathmandu Pujya Swamiji will travel to Kathmandu to sign the official contract for the Mansarovar project - including a hospital, ashram and a school (in the nearest village, at a later date) in this sacred land. After 2 � years of writing to the Chinese government, they have finally granted permission for this noble project to begin. .

December 15-26: Bangalore : Pujya Sant Shri Rameshbhai Oza will be delivering soul stirring Katha, sponsored by Shri Dhirubhai Sangani of London.
 

January 10-February 9, 2001: Allahabad, UP, India
Maha Kumbha Mela - 
please see our special Kumbha site at http://www.kumbha2001.com for details of this glorious occasion. To register, please CLICK HERE or write to parmarth@aol.com
 

February 15-21, 2001: Rishikesh 
International Yoga Festival

Parmarth Niketan is honored to be the host of this world-renowned celebration of the ancient science of yoga. The dates are February 15-21, 2001. 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. 

To register, please CLICK HERE: 
 

March 12-18, 2001: Rishikesh 
Shrimad Bhagwat Katha

It is our great honour to invite you all to Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh (Himalayas), India for a divine and sacred experience. From March 12-18, 2001, His Holiness Sri Shankaracharya Divyanand Teerth Maharaj will be delivering inspiring and uplifting Bhagwat Katha.   This is one of the rare occasions in which the divine word of the Bhagwat is recited by a Shankaracharyaji. The Bhagwat is holy, sacred and timeless. However, to have it rendered and explained by someone of the highest post in Hinduism is a true chance of a life-time.

The katha will be held on the beautiful, divine premises of Parmarth Niketan, in the holy presence of H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji). Additionally, this glorious occasion will be graced by the presence of so many other revered saints. 

However, there will be more than Katha. It will be a week full of spirituality, of devotion and of prayer. There will be special programs each day, in addition to the Katha, including yagna, puja, aarti, bhajan, kirtan and satsang. 

There will also be daily meditation and yoga classes as well as special bhajan programs. 
We invite you all to attend this beautiful occasion. So, come, drink of the divine nectar of Mother Ganga; rest in the lap of the sacred Himalayas, have the darshan and satsang of so many pujya sants and imbibe the rich, transformative wisdom of the Bhagavat Katha.

To register, please CLICK HERE: