VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 1 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
EDITORIAL
IN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUE
♦ Gita Jayanthi
♦ Vivekananda Study Circle
♦ Matri Puja
♦ Vivekananda Jayanthi
♦ Surya Kiran
♦ Regular programmes
♦ 26th January
A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation
INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER INCREDIBLE INDIA LOVE HER
AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.AS SWAMIJI HAD LOVED HER.
One fact that emerged out as clear as sunlight
over the last two years was that our people would re-
spond posi�vely and enthusias�cally once they are
touched in the right place, namely their hearts. Using
Swami Vivekananda as a stethoscope, Ramakrishna Mis-
sion, Vivekananda Kendra, and various other organiza-
�ons (surprisingly even the Govt of India) measured the
heartbeats of our countrymen – men, women and chil-
dren, and found them absolutely normal. They were
ready to accept and put into prac�ce Swamijis Man mak-
ing and Na�on Building ideals – his love for truth, his ado-
ra�on of his Motherland and Her heritage, his ideas on
educa�on, service and a host of other problems and his
prac�cal Vedanta which has the poten�al to be used as a
Viveka Sopana – a ladder for man to discover the divinity
within and manifest the same in his day to day life. Swa-
mijis pictures adorned even the remotest village was as
well as the wall of ultra modern ci�es like Mumbai, a re-
minder to the youth of what real youthfulness means and
how it should find fulfillment in the service of her na�on
and her people.
If the patrio�c enthusiasm of our people of coun-
try could be sustained and properly channelized, Bravo,
world will once again realize that India is truly INCREDI-
BLE.
Lakshmi KumariLakshmi KumariLakshmi KumariLakshmi Kumari
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 2 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
GITA JAYANTHI CELEBRATION
On the evening of 13th December, Gita
Jayanthi was celebrated in Ananda dham by coin-
ciding it with inauguration of the Vivekananda
Study Circle in the campus by Didi. Aim of the
study circle is to guide interested seekers in the
chanting and also acquaint them with the meaning
of the slokas of Sreemad Bhagavat Gita. On the
first Sunday evening of each month this class will
be held for an hour. Didi will be monitoring the
class. About fifty seekers attended the class on
Gita Jayanthi Day.
FAITH, SYMPATHY-FIERY FAITH FIERY SYMPATHY! LIFE IS NOTHING, DEATH IS NOTHING, HUNGER NOTHING,
COLD NOTHING. GLORY UNTO THE LORD—MARCH ON, THE LORD IS OUR GENERAL. DO NOT LOOK BACK TO
SEE WHO FALLS --FORWARD —ONWARD! THUS AND THUS WE SHALL GO ON, BRETHREN.
Swami Vivekananda
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 3 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
MATRIUPUJA
On the auspicious day of the Holy Mother’s tithi Puja on 24th Decem-
ber, grand mother’s or ammammas from the neighborhood as well as the
mothers of our Sishu vihar students were invited for ‘Matru puja’ celebration.
Thirty five of them were present for the puja. To imbibe the samskara
‘Matru devo bhava’ or to see the mother as God is what our scriptures teach.
Thus this day every year is the day for worshipping their mothers by the lit-
tle children. Puja was started by the oldest granny. After puja all the mothers
and children enjoyed the prasada.
The ideal woman in India is the mother,
the mother first, and the mother last.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 4 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
INTERSCHOOL GROUP SONG COMPETITION
Come January and all the branch and project
centres of Kendra bear a festive mood. It is
the month in which Swamiji was born. On the
9th of January there was patriotic and folk
song competitions. 9 schools took part in patri-
otic group song and 12 schools in folk group
song competitions.
In the forenoon we had patriotic song competi-
tion and in the afternoon there was folk song
competition.
It was a real sight to watch the spirit of the
children. Four judges one from Kodungallur and
three from Paravur were there to judge the
children's’ performance on stage .
The Folk songs were soul stirring. Students
dressed in colorful attires playing folk instru-
ments and rhythmically dancing to the tune of
their songs kept the audience including the
judges spellbound.
Announcement of the results was tough for the
judges, hence we had more than one group for
the second and consolation prizes in both pat-
riotic and folk songs.
The prize for patriotic was won by S.N.Vidya
Bhavan, Chentrapinni and for folk song was
bagged by Seedhi Sahib Memorial High School,
Azhikode.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 5 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
On the 10th of January a Thiruvathira group dance competition was kept for students
of classes XI and XII. Only two schools participated viz– Panangad H.S.School, Panan-
gad and Bharat Vidya Mandir, Valapad. Three judges were present to judge. Both the
schools performed excellently ,hence both were declared first prize winners. Smt
Padmaja, one of the judges explained the significance of this traditional dance .
Thiruvathira group dance compe00on
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 6 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
SEMINAR
A half day Seminar on ‘Swamiji and Edu-
cation’, especially for the B.Ed students
and school teachers was arranged on 11th
January . Registration started from 9a.m.
165 delegates mainly from Dr Palpu B.Ed
College and HPK B.Ed College and
S.N.M.Maliankara College, registered.
Programme started by 10 a.m. Dr Geetha
Ex-Principal of Muthakunnam College was
the Chief Speaker who gave the Inaugural
talk . Other speakers were scientist Dr.
T.P.Sashikumar and Vice President of
Bharatiya Vidya Niketan-South zone,
Dr Madhavan.
Question answer session was dealt
by Dr T.P. Sashikumar, which almost all
the delegates enjoyed and actively took
part so much so that an open session was
kept even after lunch upto 3p.m.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 7 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
PUSHPARCHANA
&
VIVEKANANDA JAYANTHI CELBRATION
Pushparchana, at the feet of Swa-
miji was kept for people throughout the
day since the prize distribution ceremony
and public function of Swamiji’s Jayanthi
were kept on 12th January. All the yoga
satra and yoga varga participants, Sam-
skarvarga children and all those who at-
tended the function perform puspar-
chana. More than two hundred people
were there.
The programme started at 10.30
am. Sri Chandrasekharan an educationist
residing in Perinjanam, was the Chief
Guest. The first prize winner groups of
patriotic and folk songs performed on
tne stage. Apart from prize distribution,
five needy and meritorious students of
the XIth class of G.G.H.S.S. Kodungallur
were awarded scholarships by Didi. In
the end there was a beautiful Thiruvadi-
ra dance by Smt Padmaja and troup. The
song of this dance was the most popular
Sanskrit song on Swamiji- ’ Bhuvana Man-
dale’.
Programme ended by 12.30. All the
members had the prasada of Swamiji.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 8 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
SURYAKIRANSURYAKIRANSURYAKIRANSURYAKIRAN On 19 th January , 15 different schools
participated in the ’Surya Kiran’ Samuhika
Surya Namaskar programme held at the
Gurushree Public ground, Pullut. 600 students
participated in the programme which started
by 7.30 and ended by 9 a.m. Didi welcomed all.
This time student groups were arranged in
circles and the formations at each step of
Suryanamaskar were very attractive. Students
performed in groups of twenty to twenty five.
each group had a name on their placard. Group
from Amrita Vidyalayam, Phoenix Public
School and Gurushree Public School were
judged as best performers and received the
award on the spot.
Gurushree Public school was also award-
ed for the largest participation with 6 groups
totalling to 150 students. Chief guest for the
programme was Sri K.G Sivanandan, MD of Ko-
dungallur Cooperative Bank. Sri Sai Vidya Bha-
van performed yoga Pyramid on the stage af-
ter Samuhika Surya Namaskar( 12rounds) was
over. All the children, teachers and parents
were provided sumptuous breakfast after the
programme.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 9 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
REPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELANREPUBLIC DAY & KUTUMBA SAMMELAN
After flag hoisting by Didi Tushar Ghosh Dada our guest from Switzerland inau-
gurated the Kutumba Sammelan. Samskarvarga children, Sandeepani children and their
parents, yoga Varga pstudents and their family members took part in this jolly get
together. There were games for all age groups followed by a samuha bhojanam – shar-
ing of the varieties of delicacies brought by each family.
WHEN THE LIFE-BLOOD IS STRONG AND PURE, NO DISEASE GERM CAN LIVE IN THAT BODY. OUR LIFE- BLOOD IS SPIRIT-
UALITY. IF IT FLOWS CLEAR, IF IT FLOWS STRONG AND PURE AND VIGOROUS, EVERYTHING IS RIGHT; POLITI-
CAL,SOCIAL, ANY OTHER MATERIAL DEFECTS, EVEN THE POVERTY OF THE LAND, WILL ALL BE CURED IF THAT BLOOD
IS PURE.
Swami Vivekananda
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 10 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
DIDI”S
PROGRAMMES
DURING THE
MONTH OF
DECEMBER
AND
JANUARY 2014
1st December Mahila Sangamam, Thiruvananthapuram
2nd December Upanishad Yagna, Konathukonnu
5th December Satsanga at Lakshmi Nilayam, Thrissur
7th December Kattukkasserry Temple,Airtathur
13th December Geetha Study Class,Anandadham
15th December Vishnu Temple, Kaipamangalam.
16th December Shree Rama Temple, Thelisherry
18thh December Matru Sangamam Edavilangu
22nd December R.M.S. Matrusammelan, Tripunithura.
24th December Matrupuja, Anandadham,Kodungallur.
26th –29th December Kanyakumari
2nd January Mahadeva Temple, Koluthoor
3rd January Viveksmriti Kutumbayogam,Munamban
5thJanuary Geetha Study Class,Anandadham
13thJanuary S.D.College,Alappuzha
16thJanuary Vivekodayam School, Thrissur & Kasturi Kovil kdr
18th January Hindu Dharma Parishad, Thrithala
23rd January S.V.Jayanthi , R.K.Math, Vittila
25th January Aravindo EducationSociety, Pallikathodu
28thJanuary Pannangad H.S.S, Pannangad.
30th January Sri Rama Temple, Chiramangalam, TCR
31st January Govt College, Manimalakunnu, Kottayam.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 11 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
Samskar varga went on well at two places
with 6 to 12 children attending the Sunday
morning classes at Anandadham and with
15 children at Vinyakapuram, near Karur
madam every month.
10-15 children were present for the week-
ly yoga class on Saturdays. 5ladies and 11
gents were present for yoga satras . 6
lady participants and 7 gents attended
Yoga varga. 7 ladies attended the regular
pranayama class.
Regular study classes on Sri Lalitha
Sahasra Namam by Sri Girishji were
conducted on 28th and 29th
December and 18th and 19th January.
Didi’s friends Tushar Ghosh and
Katherine, both devotees of Ramakrishna
Math from Switzerland, visited Ananda
dham. Tushar Ghosh stayed for a week
from 21st January and Katherine
stayed for five days from 31st January.
Both took part in the various activities of
Kendra and attended the
Yoga classes too.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 12 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
SWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LANDSWAMIJI AND MOTHER LAND Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari
‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’‘LOVE INDIA’ Whenever Swami Vivekananda’s admirers asked him in what way they can serve him,
he simply told them ‘Love India’. Loving India assured, in Swamiji’s mind, a sure transfor-
mation of the personality of such a person. The best gift we can give to Swamiji on his 150th
Birthday is learning to ‘Love India’ and through the process transform ourselves into better
human beings and thus fulfill the destiny of our great Motherland.
“I too believe that India will awake again, if anyone could love with all his heart the
people of the country-bereft of the grace of affluence, of blasted fortune, their discretion total-
ly lost, down-trodden, ever-starved, quarrelsome, and envious. Then only will India awake,
when hundreds of large-hearted men and women, giving
up all desires of enjoying the luxuries of life, will long and
exert themselves to their utmost for the well-being of the
millions of their countrymen who are gradually sinking low-
er and lower in the vortex of destitution and ignorance.
( C.w.V.125-26)
Swamiji was enchanted more by the spiritual power
that was hidden in India than in her soul-absorbing physi-
cal attributes. The latter was a manifestation and exempli-
fication of the inner spirit of oneness and universality that
the ‘Mother’ has harboured from time immemorial. It is this
Inner Spirit that had to be rejuvenated and revitalized for
the regeneration of the present. That rejuvenation of spirit
can be achieved only in one way-that is, through her own children, destined to be born in this
Punya bhumi, imbibing those values and reliving them in their own lives. What the world
needs are manifestations of ‘Be and Make’, of Satya and Dharma, not just prattle about val-
ues. Indian society is truly the only gymnasium where this exercise can be undertaken.
That it is possible to transform Truth into life principles (Dharma) which can help man
in his self unfoldment has been demonstrated by countless sages and saints from all parts of
the country from time immemorial. To press upon the people this great idea of the magnifi-
cence of human life and its possibilities was the crux of the message of Swamiji.
Thus, Loving India for him was to imbibe her philosophy which was as deep as the
ocean as high as the Himalayas and as vast as the Indian planes. Karma - Bhakti - Jnana
Yogas illustrate the wide scope and opportunities available to man to experiment with his
own life. This understanding made Swamiji carefully scrutinize and practice the four yogas
and update them, so as to explain them in modern times, to the modern man, in modern lan-
guage and idioms. That is what made Swami Vivekananda’s teachings so very unique, prac-
tical and universal.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 13 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
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 ever-
lasting life. But unfortunately, almost all of them let go her grip and at some point or other fal-
tered and fell down to be crushed under the mighty wheels of time.
All along the steep pathway to this pinnacle of glory our ancient seers had kept sign-
posts and guidelines so that those who came behind would not suffer from lack of clear vi-
sion. 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, prapyavaraan nibhodhata’, Kshurasya dhara nisitha niratyaa….
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 materialistic pursuits) and to turn to Sreyas (the path of enlightenment). Unfor-
tunately, addicted as their 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.
Our Dharma sastras, after thoroughly analyzing the human possibilities came to the
conclusion that every human being is endowed with three instruments for the manifestation of
Divinity in one’s life. They are body, mind and intellect and through them flow actions,
thoughts and knowledge. Knowledge in the intellect manifests in the mind as thoughts and as
actions in the body. Action, thought and knowledge of a wise person will ever be illumined
with wisdom and that of an ignorant person will always be under the shadow of ignorance.
Sruti provides three means of enriching and fine tuning these three instruments with
knowledge. They are Karma, Upasana and Jnana or in other words Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yo-
ga and Jnana Yoga. Sruti adds that a person can attain perfect gnosis when he is able to
practice simultaneously Karma Yoga at his body level, Bhakti Yoga in his mind and Jnana
Yoga in his intellect. It is this philosophical Truth that our sages discovered through their own
magnificent super human, cognitive powers. This has been endorsed by Swami Vivekananda
in all his teachings. Therefore, in tune with the teachings of our great sages who brought out
this Eternal Wisdom to the notice of the suffering humanity through their immortal words
“Srinwanthu vishwe amritasya putrah”, so did Swamiji, through his immortal messages bring
this Eternal Wisdom to eradicate the sufferings of the modern man. Swamiji scrutinized each
and every statement of the great rishis, contemplated upon it and made them part of his life’s
experience before sharing it with humanity at large. That is why his words fell like sparks of
fire destroying the ignorance of the listeners and igniting in them the thirst for knowledge.
Swamiji loved India because She was the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of the
realization of the Ultimate Truth and it was from here that the light of omniscience, omnipres-
ence, omnipotency of Truth radiated to other parts of the world.
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 14 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
Swamiji loved India because She was Dharmabhumi. It was here that Truth lent itself
to be translated into human thoughts, words and interactions establishing the interconnected-
ness, interrelatedness and interdependence of the whole Universe.
Swamiji loved India because She was Karmabhumi, where man’s work has been so
intensively analysed leading to the discovery that work could indeed be a means to manifest
the Divinity within man.
Swamiji loved India because She was Yanjabhumi. It was here that the immense po-
tential of the spiritual energy hidden in the Nishkama Karma was discovered and brought out
for the common good of the people.
Swamiji loved India because here was a Tapobhumi where the rishis formulated the
superfine technique of stopping the wastage of spiritual energy through controlling the sens-
es from their outgoing habit and directing it towards realization of the Truth.
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 preserved India throughout her incomparably long existence. These values, more than
ever need perpetuation today, not through books, dogmas, rituals, temples or constitutional
amendments, but through throbbing vibrant human lives so that they stand renewed and re-
vived, simultaneously, rejuvenating our great Mother land and enriching our world civilization.
To restore our Mother back to her vigour, health and glory we have also to make use
of the most modern scientific knowledge blending it with our ancient wisdom. This tonic has
to be mixed with a 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 ad-
diction to drugs, alcohol or other varieties of self-destroying influences.
Swamiji firmly believed that “On our work depends the coming of the India of the fu-
ture. She is there ready waiting. She is only sleeping.
Therefore to make a great future India, the whole se-
cret lies in organization, accumulation of power, co-
ordination of wills. Already before my mind rises one
of the marvelous verses of the Rig-Veda Samhita
which says, “Be thou all of one mind, be thou all of
one thought”……. Being of one mind is the secret of
society…. That is the secret-accumulation of will-
power, co-ordination, bringing them all, as it were, into
one focus. (C. w. III. 299-300)
Our Youth should strive for Eternal Life through
their selfless surrender to the ideals our nation has al-
ways upheld. This is the challenge, which the Indian
youth faces today. If we cling on to the old without al-
lowing it to become our own lives’ experience we
would become “kupamandukas” (frogs in the well)
VOLUME 2 - ISSUE – 11 15 DECEMBER –JANUARY 2014
VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION
ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR,
PIN 680664. KERALA Ph. No : 0480-2803349, 2805780, 2812780
Email ID : [email protected]
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…..
May Swamiji’s inspiring words kindle in all of us, a bright new flame of love for our
Motherland and inspire us to re-dedicate ourselves for the service of our nation and our
countrymen.
GLIMPSES FROM THE NORTH EAST BY OUR WELL WISHER