Archive for November, 2008

Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy Mahasamadhi celebrations at Ramagiri

HH Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy’s Mahasamadhi Divas was celebrated on the 23rd , 24 th and 25 th of November 2008. The celebrations included Poojas like Havan, Nag Pooja, Sampoorna Adhyatma Ramayana Parayanam , Lalitha Sahasranaam Archana, Sree Rama Rajyabhishekam and Annadaanam.

Special Features:

On the 23rd, Swami Krishnananda Saraswatiji also started at Ramagiri, Swamiji’s great tradition of chanting “Hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare ; hare krishna hare krishna , krishna krishna hare hare”  whilst walking around the ‘Mahadeepam’ at the temple centre, holding the divine ‘Tamburu’ musical instrument in hand. Various devotees chanted in such a way from morning till night for the three days, and this tradition will be repeated on all festive occasions. Schoolchildren from the Ashram’s Adivasi Vidyalaya (tribal-school) joined in the chanting and were given new blankets for the winter.


On the 25th, the VEDA MANDIR PRATISTHA was carried out amidst the chanting of Lalitha Sahasranaam and Adhyatma Ramayana.

The Mandir (Sreekovil) represents an ideal divine person by  :

  • Swamiji’s Paduka – the holy feet of Swamiji.
  • The four Vedas – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharvaveda. – The Shareeram (body) of the temple.
  • A Deepam (Lamp) -  The Buddhi (wisdom) of enlightenment.

Devotees were initiated into Veda by giving them printouts of the essence shlokas of each Veda for personal recitation. The mason and his son who constructed the Mandir were also felicitated and blessed.


This was followed by Bhoomi Poojan of the Sathyananda Sarovar: a planned artificial lake to be formed over 5 acres of land.

It has two objectives-

  1. To store water run-off during the rainy season and thus raise the surrounding water table, thus benefitting the parched nearby villages who are grappling without water and depend on the Ashram for their water supply needs.
  2. To facilitate the building of ‘Ashram replicas’ of great sages like Vashishtha , Vishwamitra , etc. surrounded on all sides by water within the lake, as a part of the proposed Ramayana Theme Park.

The preliminary work of clearing the valley had already been completed and thus Bhoomi Poojan was carried out on the most auspicious occasion, to begin construction of the dam required for the project.

The foundation stone was worshipped alongside the Vedas, Paduka and Deepam, then raised by Swami Krishnananda Saraswati above His head and offered to the lotus feet of Sree Rama and Swamiji. It was then carried in a procession whilst chanting ‘Hare Rama’ to the riverside. Laying down the stone before the image of Gurupadar and the Murtis of Hanumanji and Lord Shiva in the riverside ‘Parnakutir’ (hermitage) , Aarati was performed. Abhishekam of Sree Rameshwar Mahadev (Shivlinga) was then performed by all devotees. The procession then continued to the depth of the valley where the Sathyananda Sarovar shall be formed, and ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ was performed. The devotees all shouted ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ , ‘Sathyananda Saraswati Maharaj ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Sita Ram’ !

Thus has this great project been inaugurated. A few pics follow:


The memory of Swamiji and His great ideas and achievements was summarised by Swami Krishnananda Saraswati thus:

Great sages like Brahma and Vyasa conducted great Poojas at Pushkar and Naimisharanya respectively. This Veda Mandir is Swamiji’s Pooja. It symbolises the essence of his teachings. One who can understand the depth of this concept will understand Swamiji.

Jai Sita Ram.

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November 28, 2008 Posted Under: Celebrations completed, Functions   Read More

India , like Israel, has to fight terror on its own

India , like Israel, has to fight terror on its own

Barry Rubin – Courtesy- Daily Pioneer

For years, India has been subjected to periodic terrorist attacks throughout the country. But what happened in Mumbai is something new and different: A full-scale terrorist war.

This is the kind of threat and problem Israel has been facing for decades. What are the lessons for India from Israel’s experience point also reflected by India’s own recent history?

First, India needs and has the right to expect international sympathy and help. It will get sympathy but will it get help? Once it is clear that other countries must actually do something, incur some costs, possibly take some risks, everything changes.

If the terrorists come from bases or training camps in Pakistan, after all, India wants international action to be taken. Pakistan must be pressured to close such camps, stop helping terrorists, and provide information possessed by Pakistani intelligence agencies.

But how might this happen? Will Western countries make a real effort? Are they going to impose sanctions on Pakistan or even denounce it? Will they make public the results of their own investigations about responsibility for the terror campaign against India?

Not likely. After all, such acts would cost them money and involve potential risks, perhaps even of the terrorists targeting them. Moreover, they need Pakistan for various things, notably to cooperate on keeping down other Islamist terrorist threats, not spread around nuclear weapons’ technology too much, and being cooperative on maintaining some stability in Afghanistan.

This parallels Israel’s situation with Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. For decades, the United States and some European countries have talked to the Syrian Government about closing down terrorist headquarters in Damascus. The Syrians merely say “no” (though sometimes they have just lied and said the offices were closed). The United States even did put on some sanctions. But by being intransigent, pretending moderation, and hinting help on other issues, Syria has gotten out of its isolation.

So, despite all the pious talk about fighting terrorism, in real terms, India — like Israel — is largely on its own in defending itself from terrorism.

Another problem India faces, like Israel in the case of Lebanon, is that it is dealing with a country that lacks an effective Government. Pakistan is in real terms a state of anarchy. Even within the intelligence apparatus, factions simply do as they please in inciting terrorism. Given popular opinion and Pakistan’s Islamic framework, even a well-intentioned Government would be hard-put to crackdown.

In Israel’s case, the whole rationale for regimes like those in Iran and Syria is a radical ideology. So pervasive is the daily incitement to hatred and the lies, that popular opinion supports the most murderous terrorism. The murder of Israeli civilians brings celebrations in the Arab world. The usual types of appeals to law and order, holding Governments responsible for their actions, shaming them, or going over their heads to appeal to the masses on humanitarian grounds simply don’t work.

So what’s a country to do? It will consider cross-border raids against terrorist camps or retaliation to pressure the terrorist sponsor to desist. Sometimes it will actually take such action. But can India depend on international support for such self-defence measures or will it then be labeled an aggressor?

How much is India willing to risk war with Pakistan even though it has a legitimate casus belli due to covert aggression against itself by that neighbour? And let’s not forget that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, a situation which Israel may soon face in regard to Iran.

Now we can see the logic of terrorism as a strategy by radical groups and countries pursuing aggression by covert means. The terrorists and their supporters have lots of advantages; the victims are not only put on the defensive but have to make tough decisions about self-defence.

Finally, there is the dangerous “root cause” argument. Many Western intellectuals and journalists — as well as some Governments — are ready to blame the victim of terrorism. In Israel’s case, despite desperate efforts to promote peace, making of concessions, withdrawals from territory, and offer of a Palestinian state, it is said to be the villain as not giving the Palestinians
enough.

The terrorists and their sponsors use this situation to their advantage. By being intransigent — demanding so much and offering so little — they keep the conflict going and are able to pose as victims simultaneously.

Will some suggest that if India merely gives up Kashmir and makes various concessions, the problem will go away? This might not happen but it is worth keeping an eye on such a trend.

The Indian Government is thus going to have some very tough decisions to make. How will it try to mobilise real international support, not just expressions of sympathy for the deaths and destruction? In what ways can it seek to destroy terrorist installations and deter their sponsors?

Israel’s experience offers some lessons: Depend on yourself, be willing to face unfair criticism to engage in self-defence, take counter-terrorism very seriously, mobilise your own citizens as an active warning system, and decide when and where to retaliate.

Defending yourself against terrorism is not easy. Unfortunately, even in an era of “war against terrorism” those truly willing to help in the battle are few and far between.

– The writer is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal.

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November 28, 2008 Posted Under: Articles, Other   Read More

SRDM Chicago Group Archanas


The Mission in Chicago holds regular group Archanas at weekly intervals.

 

A group of people assemble together to chant invocation mantras followed by

  • Siddhi Vinayaka Ashtotharam,
  • Lalitha Thrissathy,
  • Lalitha Sahasranama Archana and
  • Lalitha Ashtothara Archana.

 

This was started in July 2006, 18 weeks before poojya Gurudev’s Mahasamadhi.

 

 

Details on regular group Archanas can be found on foll. link:

http://www.srdm.org/events/USA/chicago-archana.htm

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November 26, 2008 Posted Under: Announcements   Read More

SRDM Chicago celebrates Swamiji's Mahasamadhi Divas

2nd Annual Samadhi pooja was conducted at Bharath Seva Ashram at Aurora, IL by reading Ramacharit Manas (aka Tulasi Dasa Ramayan),  a composition that Swamiji used to like very much. People flew in from various parts of North America to attend this event. Each family took up the responsibility on themselves to provide food for so many people at periodic intervals.

All families who regularly participate in the Lalitha Sahasranama Archana – started by Swamiji were present all through out the function. Around 150 people participated in this devotional event.

Details on the function can be found on foll. link:

http://www.srdm.org/events/USA/Samadhi-2008.html

Jai Sita Ram.

Popularity: 3% [?]

November 26, 2008 Posted Under: Celebrations completed, Functions   Read More

23rd Holy Sabarimala Pilgrimage by Mission's Pilgrimage Unit

Sree Ramadasa Mission’s Ayyappa Pilgrimage Unit will be carrying out the Holy Sabarimala Pilgrimage Programme for the year 2008-09. By the blessings of Swamiji, this is the 23rd Sabarimala Pilgrimage for ‘Mandala Season’ and ‘Makara Jyoti Darshan’ being organised by the pilgrimage unit.

The programme is organised under the guidance of H.H. Swami Krishnananda Saraswathy.

Ayyappa devotees from Mumbai shall travel to Sabarimala Sannidhanam. All those interested may join.

The unit will carry out train bookings and charter buses as required to take devotees (Ayyappas) to various Holy places en route to Sabarimala. It will include Palani, Madurai Meenakshi Amma, Ramaeshwaram , Kanyakumari, Nagercoil Nagaraja, Sri Padmanabha Swami temple and many more such holy pilgrimage spots.

Special arrangements are made by the Ramagiri ashram for the benefit of needy Ayyappas during this Pooja season. These include stay , Maaladharanam, meals , prayers, etc. under the guidance of Poojya Swami Krishnananda Saraswathy. Those Ayyappas facing problems in rituals can approach Swamiji for solutions.

Those interested in joining the Holy Pilgrimage can inquire by email : relations(at)srdaramagiri(dot) org

or by phone to 022-28086832 / 022-28629513 / 0251-3242694 .



Popularity: 1% [?]

November 22, 2008 Posted Under: Announcements   Read More
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