News & Notes - November 2008

 

      National Summit on Values: With the object of stimulating a “National thinking and perception on Value decline and its redress”, Foundation for Restoration of National Values (FRNV) will conduct a two-day National Summit on November 18 & 19, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. In this, attendance for which is by invitation, leaders and thinkers from various branches of National life will take part to discuss and formulate steps to be taken to remedy the widespread value crisis.

      34th Delhi Annual Jnaana Yajna: Poojya Swamiji, along with Ma will leave for Delhi on Nov 05. Nutan Swamiji is already there in Delhi from Oct 19. The programme details of Jnaana Yajna were announced last month. Contacts: CIRD: 0120-288 0563; Ramesh Ramanathan: 98180 77380; Mithu Sengupta: 011 - 2924 4147/2923 4169, Sanjay Chakravarty: 98112 03815.

      On October 8, the Mahaanavami day, Poojya Swamiji inaugurated the annual Aachaarya Sangamam at the Brahmaswom Thekke Madhom Thrissur and addressed the assembly of sannyasins and devotees.

      On the same evening, Poojya Swamiji was invited to a public gathering called ‘Matetara Saahyaannam – an Evening of Secular Thoughts’ at the Sahitya Academy Hall in Thrissur. Addressing the meeting, in which representatives of various religions were present, Poojya Swamiji emphasized that principles of Hindu Dharma are ever secular and universal. Regarding the aggressive and enticing methods adopted for religious conversion, Swamiji said that this is against the spirit of secularism enshrined in the Constitution. When unscrupulous methods of inducement are freely employed, it undermines the very principle of secularism and the consequences may become very undesirable. It may hurt many a religious mind leading them to unchecked responses and reactions, as are noticed in some of the recent instances.

All Nationals of the country live and move under the Constitution and its provisions. Religious pursuits and persuasions can only come under this fundamental obligation. It is necessary that all concerned understand this and adhere to the spirit and purpose of the Constitution. Let each religion look after its own followers by giving them the right insight into the true religious principles and practices, Swamiji said.

      On Vijaya Dashami day, October 09, Poojya Swamiji initiated many children into the literary world in the traditional manner (vidyaarambham) in the Vijnaana Bhavan of Sri Dakshinamoorthy Temple, Vyasa Tapovanam.

      Poojya Swamiji was invited to give a talk on “Sri Krishna Amrta Vaani” on October 18 at the Akhila Bhaarateeya Bhaagavata Satram – an annual event that has been exposing Sreemad Bhaagavatam to the public at large in various districts of Kerala for the last 26 years. This year’s event was held between October 10 and 19 in Thrissur, after a gap of sixteen years. Poojya Swamiji addressed a fully packed pandal with over five thousand listeners.

In his thought provoking speech, Poojya Swamiji said: “Bh¡gavatam is a scripture of ‘tattva moolya siddhaanta – a fundamental exposition of Truth’. All the narration revolves around this basic concept.”

      7th Sreemad Bhagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram will be held in Naimishaaranyam at Paralikad (Wadakancheri, Thrissur Dist., Kerala) from  24th December 2008 to 1st January 2009. As in previous years, the programme is organized jointly by Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Hind Navotthana Pratishtan.

The Satram is a great spirituo-social event meant to ensure prosperity and wellbeing (kshema-mangala) of one and all, making the society strong and cohesive. While the annual Anna Vastra Daana Satram caters to the material needs of people, Jnaana-satram like this bestows freedom and fearlessness through enlightenment.

Scriptural texts like Sreemad Bhaagavatam have the sole object of revealing and inculcating the eternal values, which ensure long-term auspicious growth of the individual as well as the society. Hence, events like Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram, which aims at disseminating these eternal values, are always a recurring need of the society.

Over 30 speakers, five each day, will expound the immortal message of Sreemad Bhaagavatam. Besides daily paaraayana (recital) of the sacred Text in Sanskrit, and a few talks in English, the language will mainly be Malayalam.

On the concluding day, 01 January, will be the benedictory Vishn-sahasranaama Sarvajanika Mahayajμa, wherein over 1,000 people led by Sannyasins will be collectively performing arcana and havan.

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