This is a report in ‘The Organiser’ published on Swamiji’s Samadhi day, remembering His greatness:

Swami Satyananda Saraswathi’s Mahasamadhi

Spiritual leader who fearlessly campaigned for the Hindu cause

Report by S. Chandrasekhar, Nov.24,2006.

Swami Satyananda Saraswathi (71), head of Sree Ramadasa Mission, former chairman of Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV) and fiery orator par excellence, who devoted his entire life for unity and self-respect of Hindus, passed away on November 24 due to liver and kidney ailments.

Inspiring orator and religious scholar, Swami Satyananda would quote from the Bible and Quran with calm ease, as he handles the broad spectrum of ancient treasure house of knowledge from ‘Vimana Shastra’ to ‘Upanishads’. He shot into prominence in late seventies, when he took a march from Kasargod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram, for removal of the Cross erected in the dense Agasthyavan forests, after demolishing the statue of saint Agasthya by Christian encroachers. Later, he entered the forest, removed the Cross and consecrated the idol of saint Agasthya. The Nilackal  Agitation, which was a bench mark of Hindu unity in Kerala for removal of the Cross situated at Nilackal enroute to Sabarimala, saw Swamiji as a frontline warrior. Later, during the CPM led rule of 1991-96, when there were attempts to divert temple funds to the Government treasury, the Swami was in the vanguard of the agitation against the Devaswom Bill of 1996 with the slogan of “Temple Administration for Believers”.

Also in every issue of injustice meted out to Hindus, Swamiji was in the forefront of agitation like removal of papal podiums during John Paul II’s Kerala visit, Guruvayur temple liberation struggle, etc.

An author of almost 50 books including English translation of Tulsidas’s Rama Chritamanas, the Swamiji was also founder editor of Punyabhoomi, a Malayalam daily. He is also the first person to conduct Shata kodi archana.

Sri Kummanam Rajasekharan, state organising secretary of VHP and Swamiji’s companion during several agitations, described him as a Nishkama karmayogi who enriched spiritual Kerala by his presence and contributions. He described him as a selfless saint who worked for Hindu reformation and unity. RSS Prant Karyavah Shri A.R. Mohan said Swamiji had converted Sri Ramadasa Ashram into a renowned centre of spirituality. Sah Prant Pracharak, Shri J. Nandakumar, gave credit to Swamiji for being in the forefront to question the injustice meted out to Hindus of Kerala. Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shri O. Rajagopal described Swamiji as a brave warrior and hero, who all through his life fought for Hindu unity and renaissance. He called upon the Hindus of Kerala to forge greater unity so that the life-mission of Swamiji is realised.

When the mortal remains of Swamiji were interred to the Jyothi Kshethram in the Chengottukonam Ashram, it was raining torrentially. Perhaps it is symbolic of even nature crying over the passing away of its loving son.

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A , magnificent 50 foot high Sree Neelakantha Mahadeva Mandir shaped like Shivalinga with shrines of:

Lord Shiva, Shivalinga, Gurupeeth, Ganapati, Karthikeya, Sita-Rama-Anjaneya and Ashta-Digpaal

was constructed and Prana Pratishtha was done by Sree Ramadasa Mission in Surwari , Uttar Pradesh (near Faizabad). The Special Havans and Poojas were conducted from 1 week before the Pratishtha continuously till the Pratishtha took plkace on March 13th, 2008.

The corresponding news articles in Dainik Jagran:

Click on an article to view

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Source – http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles/display.php?profile=74115

1500 attended the Kerala Hindus of North America convention in Vedic Nagar in Chicago. The spiritual event, also held over the Fourth of July weekend, introduced Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy’s plan for a “World Hindu Parliament.”

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THE HINDU

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040105330300.htm

Suspend Sethusamudram work, says Joshi

Special Correspondent

TRADITIONAL BEGINNING: BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi inaugurating the Sree Ramanvami Hindu Maha Sammelan organised by the Sree Ramadasa Mission Universal Society in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. — Photo: S. Gopakumar
Note: from left to right- HH Swami Krishnananda Saraswathy, HH Swami Brahmapadananda Saraswathy, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi has demanded the Centre to suspend work on the Sethusamudram Channel project and hold discussions to allay the apprehensions over its alignment, which is feared to be detrimental to Kerala and the security of the nation………….

……………Dr. Joshi called for a detailed scientific, technical and strategic review of the project by a multi-disciplinary expert team to realign the channel based on oceanographic studies and also its geo-strategic implications.The BJP was not opposed to the project, but it should be designed to incorporate tsunami protection structures along India’s coastline, which had to face the brunt of the tsunami strike on December 26, 2004. The tsunami had claimed over 2 lakh lives in the region between the straits of Malacca and Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar………..

……………The Sethu Mandir also known as Rama Sethu, Adi Sethu and Adam’s Bridge is revered by millions of people of all religions. The present alignment would lead to its destruction too.Details of the bridge had been mentioned in the epics and also the administrative and historic documents of Tamil Nadu……….

THE ORGANISER

Source – http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=179&page=6

Sethusamudram Project can destroy Kerala
By S. Chandrasekhar

Joshi Inaugurates Ramnavami fete

Inaugurating the 10-day Sri Ramanavami Hindu Maha Sammelan, organised by Sree Ramadasa Ashram (of Swami Satyananda Saraswathi who attained samadhi recently) on March 31, 2007 at Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Senior BJP leader, M.P. and former HRD Minister, said the Sethusamudram project will destroy the Rama Sethu, which is revered by crores of Hindus. “Details of the bridge are mentioned in the epics and administrative and historic documents of Tamil Nadu.” Dr. Joshi said, the bridge should be declared a national heritage……..
………….Earlier Dr Joshi garlanded a portrait of Swami Satyananda Saraswathi and described him as an evolved soul who had worked tirelessly for six decades for the unity of Hindus in Kerala.

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Source – http://www.hvk.org/articles/0302/147.html

Caste no bar to be Hindu priest

Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 8, 1995

The landmark ruling of the Kerala high court recently that a trained priest belonging to any caste was eligible to be appointed a priest has been hailed by all the major Hindu organisations In the state……

…..The Hindu Aikya Vedi, a leading Hindu voluntary organisation in Kerala, has termed the ruling, “historic” which would go a long way towards the demolition of the decaying caste system. The chairman of the vedi, Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy, said the judgement which was not a day too soon had the potential to engender brotherhood among various Hindu castes and help regeneration of the community.

The swami said many pseudo-sadhus had defiled the places of worship and brought a bad name to the Hindu community. Some so-called ashrams even practised casteism within their premises.

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