An article by François Gautier:

( François Gautier is a French journalist, editor of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde (lesbelleslettres.com) and the author of The Guru of Joy (Hays House, 2007) and A New History of India (Har Anand, New Delhi, 2008)

INSTEAD of calling an all-party meet to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir row, the government would do well to try to understand the fury of Hindus and not limit the scope of the introspection to the Amarnath issue. Are Hindus angry only with the hypocrisy of the government on the land issue? Are there no other topics that make them furious?

Hindus are a peace-loving people. The average Hindu is easy-going and accepts you and your diversity, whether you are Christian, Muslim, Parsi or Jain, Arab, French or Chinese. He goes about his business and usually does not interfere in yours. In fact they take it a little further: They hate trouble and go out of their way to avoid it.

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About 40 members of Gujarati Mahila Mandal, Vikhroli (Mumbai) visited Sree Ramadasa Ashram, Ramagiri today.

The devout ladies enjoyed a holy dip in the Barvi River bordering the ashram, and worshipped Lord Shiva present there as Shri Rameshwar Shivalinga.

This was followed by a day of prayer attending the poojas at the temple, and indulging in sweet Bhajan-Kirtan. They also had the opportunity to perform Lalitha Sahasranaam Archana at the temple. The ashram provided them breakfast and lunch.The Mandal members were very happy at the culmination of a fruitful day of prayer at Ramagiri !

All seekers of solace and divine blessings are welcome to come and partake of the holy environment of Ramagiri. Swamiji had said “This land is a Punnya Bhoomi” . May His blessings reach all who come to Ramagiri !

Jai Sita Ram

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24th Aug 2008:

The traditional ‘Dahi-Handi’ festival on the occasion of Sree Krishna Jayanti was celebrated with gusto at Sree Ramadasa Ashram, Ramagiri. Local villagers and tribals were made a part of the celebrations and were overjoyed!

The day-long prayers at the temple were accompanied by the Dahi-Handi fest and Mahaprasadam.

Jai Sri Krishna!

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An article remembering Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy

Dr. Vijayakrishnan

Director, WHO (Retd)

When one is attempting to write about Swamiji, one’s feelings, or one’s experiences, or the countless blessings received; it becomes repetitive as that is what many received. Before I met Swamiji, I believed in Shiridi Sai Baba and my father had built a temple. Swamiji helped me in many ways to improved the temple, install an abhishek moorthy and advised what all I should do. At the installation, it was the only time that I saw tears in this eyes. When I dared to ask He said that He saw the presence of GURUSWAMI. My family and I had the good fortune to be very closely associated with Swamiji for over three decades.

We had the good fortune to meet many saintly persons but Swamiji was special.

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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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