Vishwabhanu - Dec - Jan 2013

DECEBBER 2012_JANUARY 2013 1

VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

As we watch India slipping into abysmal depths of lawlessness,

immorality and terrorism, the thought that should reverberate in our

minds should be Swamiji’s words – “Shall India die? Then from the world

all spirituality will be extinct; all moral perfection will be extinct; all

sweet-souled sympathy for religion will be extinct; all ideality will be ex-

tinct; and in its place will reign the duality of lust and luxury as the male

and female deities, with money as its priest, fraud, force and competition

its ceremonies and the human soul its sacrifice. Such a thing can never

be.” If India dies, not only the ozone layer but also the spiritual fragrance

which alone can purify the earth’s polluted atmosphere will disappear in

toto.

These thoughts brought into focus the advice of revered Swami

Ranganathanandaji Maharaj, way back in 1981. He said that “the present

day society is full of raw wounds, oozing with puss and blood with

hardly any healthy tissue.” It is the duty of those who adore Swamiji to

keep alive these healthy tissues by absorbing unto themselves Swamijis

idealism. Youthful dedicated workers can do that service, if not anything

else – live and work totally devoid of selfish motivations, with a sense of

detachment and love for the country and countrymen. If we do so we

would become the living tissues and can transform ourselves into centres

of active regeneration of values.

Swamijis 150th Birth anniversary should become an occasion for this

regeneration of new, healthy, active live tissues of idealism. Swamijis is

not with us any more but his thoughts are very much with us which can be

used as our tonic for our own regeneration first. Let us remember

Swamiji’s words “Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya ca—” that each

thought, word and deed should lead to our expansion and in turn result in

the welfare of the society.

One thought which may arise in our mind is what can I an individual

do to change the destiny of the country? When such a thought comes let us

remember the little story from Tagore, ‘when the sun was about to set, he

called out to the world to find out if anyone could bring some light to re-

move the darkness.’ No answer came, but a small fire fly shouted back

“I with my small little light shall be going round in the darkness bring-

ing a little bit of light where nothing but darkness exists.” Let this

small firefly show us the way.

M. Lakshmi Kumari

• Inauguration of

Vivekananda Yoga

Club

• Aghosa Samity meet-

ing at Panchayat

level Geeta Jayanthi

• Sankalpa Divasam

• Matrupuja

• VK Jayanthi

Competitions

• 12 th January-

National Youth Day,

Sobha Yatra

• Swami Vivekananda

Jayanthi celebra-

tion

• Regular activities

• Didi’s programs

• Special report


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

VIVEKANANDA YOGA CLUB VIVEKANANDA YOGA CLUB VIVEKANANDA YOGA CLUB VIVEKANANDA YOGA CLUB

Official inauguration of the Vivekananda Yoga Club of S.N.M. Maliankara College , Mooth-

akunnam, took place on the 7th December, in the campus auditorium of the college. Sreemad Swa-

mi Sadbhavanandaji Maharaj of Thrissur Sri Ramakrishna Math was invited to inaugurate the

programme. Man. Lakshmi Didi was the Chief Guest and Sri Sudhakarji the Speaker. About thou-

sand five hundred students attended. All the three speakers emphasised on the strength giving,

confidence building thoughts of Swami Vivekananda, knowing about whom was the need of the

hour. Weekly Yoga classes started on 14th December. 110 students from all the departments

registered their names.

13th of December at 6p.m, SV Sarda Shati

Aaghosha Samity meeting was held for the for-

mation of Taluk level Committee. Sri Eswaranji,

Prof. Bhagavan Pilli, Sri Godavarma Tamburan were

present and Didi presided. 100 people including

members of all works of life settled in Kodungallur

Municipality were present for the meeting.

Mananeeya Didi will be the patron, Sri Sivanji was

made the Taluk level in-charge and KB Satishanji

the chief convener of Kodungallur Municipality

area. The meeting concluded at 8 pm.


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

On the 18th December, Gita Chanting Competition was

conducted for the junior school children. About six chil-

dren from class III to Class V group and eight students

from Class VI group participated. All of them were from

Amrita Vidyalayam. Due to exams other schools could not

send their children for the competition. For the first

group chanting from memory, ten slokas from 12th chap-

ter and for the second group fifteen slokas were kept.

Ten Shishuvihar children also participated in the pro-

gramme.

Gita Jayanthi was celebrated on 23rd of December. Smt

Kalpana Ganesh of Edapilli, Kochi was the Chief Guest for

the programmme who inaugurated the programme by light-

ing the lamp. While speaking to the audience numbering

fifty, Smt Kalpana spoke on the importance of Bhagavat

Gita and how it cultures the mind of little children. She

reminded that it is the duty of the mothers alone to mould

their children and develop in them the taste for Bhagavat

Gita. Smt. Kalpana also gave away the prizes for the prize

winners of Gita chanting competition.

A very small amount of religious work performed, brings a large amount of result. Swami Vivekananda


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

December 25th to 27th , 1892, were the days on which

Swamiji meditated on the Rock at Kanyakumari. In the view

of this, 25th December has been chosen by the Sarda Shati

committee as the day for ‘Sankalpa Divas’ ,all over India.

Vedic Vision Foundation, Anandadham, Kodungallur was the

venue for Sankalpa Divas for all the workers and well-

wishers belonging to Kodungallur Municipality area. On the

25th December, on Tuesday, the programme started at 10

am .Eighty five workers including all the inmates of Anan-

dadham, took part. The programme ended by 11.30a.m.

It is a great thing to take up a grand ideal in life and then give up one’s whole life to it. Swami Vivekananda

The Sweeper A story for contemplation

A highly uncultured peasant, of advanced age, comes to the doors of a monastery. When they open them, he explains himself like this," Friendly monks, I am a man with a lot of faith. I want to receive

teachings."

The monks talk among themselves, at the side of the newly arrived. When they verify his lack of culture, they think that he is not able to receive teachings and much less methods of self-development, but since he seems a man of faith, they tell him, "Look, good man, you are going to be in charge of sweeping the

monastery every day. You may stay here and will have

room and board."

Months after, the monks start to see that each day the peasant is found more tranquil, with a semi-smile always drawn on his lips and a special shining in his eyes. He ex-hale true tranquility and is seen happy and balanced. It is so that the monks, bewildered, ask him, "Good man, it looks that during these months you have undergone a great spiritual evolution. Are you practicing any special

method?"

And the man answers, "Brothers, the only thing I do, with a lot of attention, clarity and love, is to sweep the monastery. I put all my vigilance and precision in that one too, when sweeping the garbage I think that I am sweeping from myself the rancor, deceptions,

greed and hatred. And each day I am happier."


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

On 5th January 2013, along with Sandeepani Sisuvihar’s

annual Matru Puja, Pada puja of the neighboring grand-

mothers ( ammamas) was also performed.

After Bhagavathi Seva done by Sri Sivanji of the Guru-

padam group, the mothers of Sishuvihar students were

seated in a row facing their children, while all the thirty

grandmothers were seated in two other rows.

The children performed pada puja of their mothers and

the grannies were worshipped by the inmates of Anan-

dadham. The elderly women who participated, deeply ap-

preciated the pooja.

All the mothers , grannies and the children had lunch

together. All could feel the silent blessings uttered by

the old ladies most of who were deprived of this sought

of affection at their homes.

The ideal of perfect women hood is

perfect independence Swami Vivekananda

Matru PujaMatru PujaMatru Puja


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

Interschool patriotic and folk group song competitions

were conducted on Tuesday,8th January. Ten schools participated.

But for the sudden announcement of bus strike on that day ,many

more children would have taken part in the competitions. Inspite

of that eighty five students turned up along with their teachers

and parents.

Our judges were – Sri Balakrishnan master from Chennai

and Smt Jayashri Satish , from Paravur.

Programme started at10 am with deepa prajwalan by Didi .

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan topped the list in the patriotic song con-

test, while Govt Girls’ Higher Secondary School bagged the first

prize in Folk song contest. The trophies for the competitions were

claimed by these schools. The programme concluded at 1p.m. with

Shanti Mantra.

Art, Science and Religion are but three different ways of expressing a single truth.


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

On 12th January, Shobha Yatra started from the South Nada

‘Bhagavathi Amman temple at 4.30 pm and reached Vivekananda Kendra

campus ( 1 km ) at 5.15 pm. 4 major schools of Kodungallur viz Amrita Vidya-

layam, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Phoenix Public School and Gurushree Public

School took part. Tiny tots of Sandeepani Shishuvihar, children of Vina-

yakapuram, Samskarvarg children were also present. A total of 729 chil-

dren, 150 teachers, 110 parents and other officials totaling 1250 in all,

participated in the Shobha Yatra. Band troop of Phoenix School added to

the grandeur of the rally . A number of students dressed in the attire of

Swamiji , Sri Sarada Ma and Sri Ramakrishna were represented from each

school. Amrita school had a tabloid of Sri Ramakrishna , Sri Sarada Ma and

Swamiji.

Concluding function took place in Vivekananda Kendra campus. Princi-

pal of Govt Girl’s Higher Secondary School, Kodungallur Smt Asha Anand was the Chief Guest . The Munic-

ipal councillors were also present. Smt Asha and Didi, spoke in the function. Smt Asha Anand spoke on

Swamiji as an educationist and how one and all should adopt the path traced by Swamiji Function conclud-

ed with Shanthi mantra.


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

On Sunday, 13th January, Vivekananda

Jayanthi was celebrated at Anandadham at a

public function open to all the people of Ko-

dungallur. About 300 people attended the

function. M.L.A.Sri T.N Pratapan was the

Chief Guest. Sri Prabodh Kumar ( Saraswathi

Vidyaniketan, Kodakara) was the Chief

Speaker. The Chief Guest was welcomed by

Kum. Anushka of Sandeepani Sishuvihar.

dressed as Swamiji.

Apart from prize distribution for the win-

ners of the patriotic and folk group song

competitions which were held on 8th Janu-

ary, Sri Pratapan also released the bound

copy of Didi’s compilation entitled ’ Incredi-

ble India , Love India As Swami Vivekananda

Loved her 'containing 366 thoughts of Swa-

miji with her commentaries . The running

trophy for patriotic group competition went

to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and that of Folk

Song competition went to G.G.H.S.S Kodun-

gallur. Ten meritorious needy students , five

each from classes X and XII were given

scholarships of Rs 500/- each and Sreedevi

Memorial Award of Rs 1000/,newly institut-

ed in the name of late Mrs Sreedevi Nam-

boodaripad , our close well-wisher, went to

the best all-rounder of class XI Miss V.S.

Sifna of the same school.

There was a beautiful yoga demonstration

with background music, by the students of

Gurushree Public School under the guidance

of their yoga teacher Smt Jaya Radha

Krishnan who is also the first yoga satra

participant of Anandadham.

Chief guest being welcomed Audience watching with rapt attention

L: Deepa

prajwalana, by

chief guest

R: Book release

by Chief guest,

T.N .Pratapan

Winners of

running

trophies for

Patriotic and

folk group

song compe-

titions

Scholarships

being given to

deserving

students by

Didi

Talk by Sri Prabodh Kumar

of Saraswathi Vidya

Niketan, Kodakara

Yoga Demonstration by students of

Gurushree School, Pullut


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

10 children were present

for the weekly yoga class

on Saturdays and Sundays.

7 ladies and five gents were

present for yoga satras

and 9 people were there for

Yoga varga and 4 ladies

attended the regular pra-

nayama class. Six children

were present for the follow

up camp held on 30th

Samskar varga went on well at two places with 6 to 15 children attending the Sunday morning

classes at Anandadham and with 20 children at Vinyakapuram, near Karur madam every month.

December. They were made to contemplate on their neg-

ative and positive qualities and then find out the possible

means of correcting their negative points and strength-

ening their positive to become better.

Ganapathi homam and Sri Chakra Puja were conducted on the pournami day.

On 28th December 2012 Dr Vijayan and his wife from Gurupadam came for the

puja and 27th January 2013, puja and homam were conducted by Sri Dilip Kumar.

Regular study classes on Sri Lalitha Sahasra Namam by Sri Girishji are

being conducted on the last Saturday and Sunday of every month in the

evenings. At present he is dealing with the elaborate explanation of the 72th

sloka. of Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama.


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA AT ANANDADHAM

Kunjunni Tamburan Smaraka Kala Sadassu, in collaboration with Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vi-

sion Foundation ,conducted a dance recital of Kootiyattam. The topic of dance was ‘Subhadra

Dhanjayam’. Performed by wellknown artist Sri Ammannur Rajanish Chakiar, Sri Kalamandalam

Narayanan Nambiar and Sri Kalamandalam Ravi Kumar were at the Mizhavu, Sri Kalanilayam Un-

nikrishnan at the the Edakka and Sri Pothiyil Ranjit Chakiar was the narrator.

Enacting as Subhadra, Dhananjaya, Kunthimata and other characters performed by a single per-

former as the name of the dance ‘Kootiyattam (Kooti–all characters together, attam-dance),

with his mudras and facial expressions kept the audience spellbound. Ofcourse the narrator of

the performance group gave an elaborate explanation of the dance performance before it began

which made it easy for the audience to understand the tough mudras and facial expressions of

the performer. More than hundred people were present for the programme which started at

6.30 p.m. and continued till 8p.m.

The great quality of Bhak% is that it cleanses the mind.

Flag hoisting in the campus was at 10 am. Didi hoisted the flag .

Sishuvihar children , their parents and a few samskar varga chil-

dren were present along with the inmates of Anandadham.

On the same day ‘Kutumba Sangamam’ of Sishuvihar students

and their parents and welwishers of Vivekananda Kendra was also

kept . A number of games were kept for them,viz memory test,

passing the parcel and musical chair. There was a quiz on Swamiji

and extempore speech on swamiji’s thought. This was followed by

lunch. Each family had brought one item for lunch which was

shared by all.


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

1st December Vidyadhiraja School , Angamali

8th December Sri Ram Temple, Thalassery

15th December Sukrutam”, Edavilangu , Matrusamagamam

22nd December Vidyaniketan, Chalakudy, Matrupuja

23rd December Chenmanganad, Sarda shati programme

26th December Paralikad, Bhagavata Satra

27th December N.S.S. Perinjanam, Message for women

30th December Vishnu Yagam, Ponkunnam,Thrissur

1st January SVYAS– Prashantikuteeram ,V.K.V.Bangaluru.

12th January Shobhayatra-Kodungallur

13th January Public function of Vivekananda jayanthi in the campus

14th January Inauguration of ‘Sukritam” Edavilangu and IJK West

Gita Pathanam Group

22th January Sivan temple at Valappad

28th &29thJanuary Jalgaon University– Message of Swamiji : Viveka Sopanam.

30th & 31st & 1st Vivekananda Kendra,Nasik .

February Vivekananda Kendra,Pune

What makes one man great and another weak and low is Shraddha. Swami Vivekananda

DIDI”S PRABHASANAMS DURING DECEMBER AND JANUARY

On the 2nd of December , Didi was honored with a shawl and

citation by the Pustakotsavam Samity at the 16th international

Book fair (Antharastraiya Pustakotsavam), Kochi, in recognition

of the services rendered by her to the spread of Swamiji’s

thoughts throughout the state. Sri Anoop Jacob, Minister Civil

Supplies, gave away the award.

On the auspicious day of Kalpataru Divas and in commemoration of

Swamiji’s 150th birth anniversary, this year, on the 1st of Janu-

ary, Didi was honored with the ‘Vivekananda Vibhuti Award’ for

her life time contribution to the society, by Vivekananda Yoga

Anusandhan Samsthana, Prasanthikuteeram, Bengaluru. Dr.H.R.

Nagendra, the present President of VYASA institute, Dr

Nagarathna, Dean, Yoga & Physical Sciences and Chief Medical

Officer - Arogya Dhama, Dr Subramaniam, Pro Vice-Chancellor of

the institute ,presented Didi with a shawl, cheque of Rs 51000/-a

framed picture of Swamiji and a citation .


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

DR. M. LAKSHMI KUMARI

In one of the lectures delivered by Swamiji at Chicago Parliament of Religions we come across

an idea that all those cultures and civilizations which had an existence “like a frog in the well”, re-

fusing to enlarge their vision of the expansive world outside have died a natural death. This idea he

reiterated again and again through his famous utterance “Expansion is life and contraction is death”.

We can see this idea again in his concern for India and her ever-living’ spiritual traditions in the fol-

lowing famous quotation “Shall India Die?” Then from the world all spirituality will be extinct; all

moral perfection will be extinct; all sweet-souled sympathy for religion will be extinct; all ideality

will be extinct; and in its place will reign the duality of lust and luxury as the male and female deities

with money as its priest, fraud, force, competition as its ceremonies and the human soul its sacrifice.

Such a thing can never be”.

To preserve Bharat in all her immortal pristine glory, raising her once again to the position of

Universal Mother and Teacher, for the well being of the entire humanity is the onerous task that Swa-

mi Vivekananda has bequeathed to the youth of our country. From time immemorial, it is the youth,

absorbing the eternal values of Satya and Dharma, allowing them to throb through their life impulses

and to percolate into the society that has preserved the Indian spiritual heritage. One can shirk that

responsibility, only at one’s own peril and at the risk of plunging the entire humanity into strife and

chaos. It is this neglect and shirking of the responsibility that has led to the degradation of our na-

tion.

When the world civilizations were in their infancy, just learning to take their first steps through the

corridors of history, out Motherland was also very much a part of them. She was, however, endowed

fortunately with a rare insight, far sight and foresight. She was ever ready to give her helping hands

to all the sister cultures in this steep ascent to the pinnacle of everlasting Life. But unfortunately,

almost all of them chose to let go her grip and at some point or other faltered and fell down to be

crushed under the mighty wheels of time.

All along the steep pathway’s to this pinnacle of glory our ancient seers had kept signposts and

guidelines so that those who came behind would not suffer from the lack of clear vision. It is such

clarion calls to the entire human race that lie scattered in the most ancient of world literature the

Vedas and Upanishads.

‘Uttishtata jagrata , prapya varaan nibodhata’ Kshurasya dhara nisitha niratyaaa……

Isavasyamidam sarvam……..

Tena tyaktena bhunjeetha

Tameva viditwa ati mruthumeti

Nanya pantha vidyate ayanaya…..

So on and so forth. Each one of them is a call to the erring humanity to rectify their mistakes.

Each is an exhortation to turn away from pursuing the self-destroying path of Preyas (purely material-

istic pursuits) and to turn to Sreyas (the path of enlightenment). Unfortunately, addicted as their


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

people were to material pleasures they did not heed the words of this wise old mother. And

the result, almost all of them have disappeared from the world map of modern civilization.

In our own land too though the majority were enamoured of the glamour and lure of the

material, armed with the ideal of Purusharthas which kept Dharma and Moksha at the begin-

ning and end of Artha, Kama combination, a good number of discriminative youthful intellects

made it their life’s mission to follow these guidelines and helped to create an eternal monu-

ment to the glory of manhood- the Sanathana Dharma which remains to this day an ideal and a

hope for the entire human race. These youth kept India rejuvenating herself through their own

ideal lives. Their enrichments were in different fields of human activity, yet they all converged

to one point, the Eternal Truth. It is this one Truth, which they all glorified through their mul-

tifarious activities and efforts. Some of them were ascetics as we see in the galaxy of Indian

rishis, some were princes, some kings, and some of them very very common simple individuals.

The list includes a good number of women as well.

Is there anyone comparable to a Nachiketa, Satyakama, Sri Rama, Bharata, Prahlada,

Dhruva, Janaka, Yudhishtira, Anjaneya, Gargi, Maitreyi, Sita, Urmila, Radha? Anywhere in the

world literature?

From the legendary times we move on to Sankara, Chaitanya, Sri Ramakrishna, and Vive-

kananda in modern times and see it was the youth who always upheld the banner of Satya and

Dharma and established them as the cardinal pillars of Indian heritage.

It is indeed strange that only in our country that even the ordinary conversations be-

tween a husband and wife or a king and his preceptor carried with it the quality of the dia-

logue between a teacher and disciple which in turn crystallized into an Upanishad of universal

importance and application as they were all commentaries on human life on what is to be done

or not to be done in the pursuit of excellence, in the pursuit of truth. The sum total of all the-

se glorified the goal and purpose of human life, in essence, Dharma, a word even the meaning

of which is difficult for an outsider to comprehend, leave alone to follow.

Following Swamiji, Sister Nivedita reiterates this message in her own inimitable style

“India’s youth has to add to the world knowledge through their lives based on Dharma and sim-

ultaneously enrich their mother culture….. Only the fully national can possibly contribute to

the cosmo national - only the tree that is firmly rooted in its own soil can offer us a perfect

crown of leaves and blossoms. And similarly, only the heart that responds perfectly to the

claims of the immediate environment, only the character that fulfills to the utmost its strict

civic duty, only this heart and mind is capable of talking its place in the ranks of the truly cos-

mopolitan.”

“The indianising of India, the organizing of our national thoughts, the laying out of our

‘line of march, all this is to be done by us, not by others on our behalf. Our task is translate

ancient Indian knowledge into modern equivalents. We have to cloth the old strength in a new

form. New form without the old strength is nothing but a mockery.

***********************


VOLUME 2 –ISSUE 5

Those who adore Swami Vivekananda cannot but greet the month of September without a

thrill. One is reminded of the World Parliament of Religions and the appearance of the young dy-

namic youthful Swami from India on their stage on 11th September, who shattered the fond hope

of the organizers to convert the parliament into a forum to project the superiority of their own

religion and culture, through five simple eloquent, soul-stirring words. “Sisters and Brothers of

America’’ By addressing the sisters and brothers of the newest nation he also delivered a magnifi-

cent gift to his sisters and brothers of this most ancient nation. They can be put simply in a few

words- pride in their country’s time tested religion and culture. From there starts the saga of Swa-

mi Vivekananda’s life and teachings.

Four times in his three – minute lecture, he emphasized his pride in belonging to this eter-

nally alive tradition, thereby drawing the attention of the whole world to what they had been

missing in India when they looted and exploited her, and written her off as worthless. His speech

came as a challenge to them to reevaluate India.

The future expansion of India certainly lies in continuing our efforts in the glorification of

human life pursuing the path of Satya and Dharma. Even a little knowledge of this, as Sri Krishna

puts in Gita can save us from great calamities in life. In fact it is these values, which have pre-

served India throughout her incomparable long existence. These values more than ever need per-

petuation today, not through books, dogmas, rituals, temples or constitutional amendments, but

through throbbing dedicated human lives so that they stand renewed and revived, simultaneously,

rejuvenating our great Mother land and enriching our world civilization.

To restore our Mother back to her vigour, health and glory we have to make use of the most

modern scientific knowledge blending it with our ancient wisdom. This tonic has to be mixed with

portion of our hearts aspirations. It also needs curing in the fumes of our self-sacrifice. Definitely

it is a better way of living than wasting our precious lives through addiction to drugs, alcohol or

other varieties of self-destroying influences.

Our Youth should strive for Eternal Life through their selfless surrender to the ideals our

nation has always upheld. This is the challenge, which the Indian youth faces today. If we cling on

to the old without allowing it to become our own lives’ experience we would become

“kupamandukas” (frogs in the well) which sooner or later would lead to our cultural and spiritual

death. That would also mean closing our doors on expansion, growth and freedom. Those who

adore Swamiji have to see that these universal values in life are restored and not lost forever.

Otherwise it would also mean the death of the most unifying and Universal Spiritual Tradition in

the world. Such a thing can never be…..

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION

ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR, PIN 680664. KERALA Ph. No : 0480-2803349, 2805780, 2812780

Email ID : [email protected]

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Vishwabhanu - Dec - Jan 2013