Feb 2019 – Mar 2019

Volume 7 Issue 4
Bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

In this Issue

• Editorial

• Annual Day Celebration of Sandeepani

Sishuvihar

• Srimad Bhagavatha Saptaha

• Yoga Sangamam

• Regular Activities

• Article By Ma. Lakshmi Didi

 Volume 7 Issue 4 -2- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

EDITORIAL
ARISE! AWAKE!

In ancient India our forefathers erected temples to disseminate knowledge, peace and
harmony in society. Thus they remained as centres of religious activity. In modern India,
in Pandit Nehru's words, our technological achievements like our great factories, dams,
etc., were to fill the role of temples in bringing solace to the common man, making him
free from wants and helping him to stand on his own feet. But time has proved it to be
otherwise. In spite of our scientific and technological progress, we, as a nation, still
remain disintegrated, lacking direction, groping in darkness with millions remaining poor
and ignorant, weak, diffident and unprotected.
The whole society is leprous, with gaping wounds, resounding with painful cries
of the hurt and the humiliated, aged and the invalid, helpless and disabled. A new wave
of health, strength and harmony must blow through society to bring solace, succour and
strength to the common man. The nuclei of health, peace and harmony have to be
created which will radiate vibrations changing the life of the individual and of the society.
This was the dream of Swami Vivekananda which found its fulfilment in the Vivekananda
Kendra which sprung up from the magnificent Rock Memorial in 1972, built to
perpetuate the memory of his famous address to the World Parliament of Religions which
in turn had its roots in his meditations on the Rock at the confluence of the three mighty
oceans at the land's end.
This is a new temple enshrining a new religion, which keeps man above all, his
unfoldment and fulfilment being the prime concern of life. A new religion which would
bring solace to the common man, wipe out the tears of the aged, invalids and the isolated
in society and would bring hope to the young where there is none and would inspire them
to work for their own good and that of the nation at large- a religion which would help
man to discover the strength in himself and overcome his weakness and fear.
The transformation of the individual, his awareness that he is part of the
whole, his rights and privileges and above all his responsibilities and duties, are facets of
human development which are best achieved by education of the individual in the true
sense. Where education of the individual had failed to achieve the goal, any amount of
superimposition by the State cannot hope to achieve it. Unfoldment of the bigger Self in
us from the clutches of the narrow limited self is a process which all religions try to
achieve in their own ways. Unless and until this liberation is achieved and the individual is
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -3- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

taught to expand and evolve his personality, society would remain backward and peace
and harmony would ever remain distant dreams. Hence it is man-making, that forms
the first step in all the programmes envisaged by the Vivekananda Kendra.
This process has started as a trickle from this temple of the Rock Memorial at
the southernmost tip of the country. It is the duty of every enlightened Indian to receive
this boon in his personal life and disseminate it in society so that sooner or later a flood of
goodwill, strength and harmony would emerge and raise the country once again to that
pristine glory and strength not only for her own sake but for the salvation of entire
mankind.

Annual Day Celebration of Sandeepani Sishuvihar

23rd February was the Annual Day for the tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar. Apart from a colourful
cultural programme by the tiny tots as well as their mothers who performed in the Thiruvadira group
dance, there was mini convocation for the outgoing UKG students. A certificate, a lighted small
brass lamp, a shawl and a book on quotations of Swami Vivekananda, were handed to each of the 7
students by the Guests who had come to attend the function and by Ma.Didi.

Smt Rema Menon an educationist and counsellor for students was the Chief Guest. Other Guests
were the ward councillors Smt Rekha Satprakash and Smt Parvathy Sukumaran were the other invited
Guests. The programme 4pm and concluded at 7pm. The parents took full responsibility of the expenses
of the programme.
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -4- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019
Srimad Bhagavatha Saptaha
Seven days Bhagavata Saptaham started on 9th March with chanting and explanation of the
Mahatmyam or the glory of Srimad Bhagavatam by Acharya, Brahmasree Kurumballoor Hari
Namboothiri. He was assited by Kunambilli Narayanan Namboothiri and Brahmasree Puzhalipuram
Krishnan Namboothiri.

Ma. Didi's 83rd birthday was celebrated on 13th March with a sumptuous meal for all who had come
to meet her and for those who were attending the Saptaham. 14th morning being our Ganapathi
pratishtha divas, there was Ganapathi homam and Sree Chakra Puja apart from the usual Saptaha
prabhashanam.

On the 16th it was the concluding day. All those who attended the saptaham were captivated by the
lucid accounts of the 'puranic kathas' of Srimad Bhagavatam,narrated by the Acharya.

Yoga Sangamam
Yoga sangamam organised by Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation as a preamble to
International Yoga Day celebrations. As scheduled the Program started at sharp 6 am on 24th March,
under the presidentship of Man Lakshmi Didi. The Chief Guest of the programme was Yogacharya Sri
Narayanji from Perumbavoor. Maj Gen. Dr. Vivekanandanji was also present to give his blessings.

The programme started with invocation followed by presidential address by Lakshmi Didi. In her
address she highlighted the significance of yoga in day today life. Yogacharya Narayanji spoke on the
need to practice 'Tapas' and swadhyaya which are very essential for on to attain the spiritual benefits of
Yoga. He made an appeal to all who were present at the function to do swadhyaya to reap the rich
benefits of Yogic practices.
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -5- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019
Samuhika Surya namaskar programme came next and the baton was changed to the hands of Sri
Joshi who handled it with ease in guiding the participants to smooth performance of Suryanamaskar. Sri
Premnath, the Chief Coordinator gave the vote of Thanks. The programme concluded with sankalpa and
shanti mantra. Two hundred and forty participants took part.
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -6- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

REGUL AR ACTIVITIES

Yoga Satras
One satra at Anandadham with 10 members, Smt Suja conducted 2 satra’s in Thrissur with 13
members, one satra in Valsalayam with 13 members, two satras in Edavilangu with 24 members, two
satras in Kara with 13 members. One satra in Methala with 7 member, pone satra in Parambikulangara
with 8 member and one satra in Keeltholi with 8 members conducted by Sri Joshi.
In all 11 yoga satras were conducted at various places including Anandadham. 2 Pranayama classes
with 6 members in each were also conducted in the month of February –March at Anandadham.
Yoga Vargas
Regular yoga Vargas are being conducted at 14 places.
At Anandadham, 3 yoga Vargas with an average of 10 ladies and 25 gents regularly.
At Thrissur - 1 Varga of 9 members, Varga leader Smt Hena (Smt Suja.)
At Valsalayam - 1 Varga of 14 members, leader Smt Simi (Smt Suja.)
At Edavilangu - 1 Varga of 12 members. Leader Smt Latika (Smt Suja).
At Edavilangu - 1 Varga of 12, members, leader Smt. Rekha ( Smt. Suja)
At Kara - 1 varga with 12 people, leader Smt Suma ( Smt Suja )
At kadukachodu - 1 varga 10 people Leader Smt Bindu ( Sri Joshi )
At kadukachodu - 1 varga 10 people Leader Smt Srilatha ( Sri Joshi )
At keraleswarapuram - 1 varga 10 people Leader Sri Devadas (Sri Mithun)
At parambikulangara - 1 varga 8 people Leader Sri Subheesh (Sri Joshi)
At Methala - 1 varga 7 people Sri Joshi
At Keeltholi - 1 varga 10 people Leader Sri Mahesh (Sri Joshi)
At TKS Puram - 1 varga 8 people Dr. Mithun
At Vinayakapuram - 1 varga 6 people by Udayan
At Elthuruthu - 1 Varga with 15 people by Mani
Swadhaya Classes

Swadhyaya on Devi Mahatmayam: with Girish Kumarji of Irinjalakuda, on every second Saturday and
following Sunday with average attendance of 25 seekers and

Swadhyaya class with Acharya Sri Sethumadhavanji: on Jyotish Sastra on every 3rd Saturday with av-
erage attendance of 15 jignysus.

Ganapathi Homam & Srichakra Puja

Ganapathi homam and Sreecakra puja: was performed regularly on Purnima days.
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -7- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

THE BATTLEFIELD
Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari
(From this issue we are bringing Ma. Lakshmi Didi’s interesting articles on Bhagavad Gita which she had penned in ‘Yuva
Bharati’ as it’s editor in the eighties of last century )

Isn't this world a huge battlefield?

The mighty vanquish the weak, the haves exploit the have-nots, the literate win over the
ignorant. There goes on an incessant struggle for survival among the living - fights to safeguard
positions of supremacy, to retain territorial rights and battles to win love, wealth and fame. This fight is
seen within the living organic system as well, in the crusade of the living healthy tissues against invading
disease germs. This fighting spirit engulfs the whole creation taking monstrous forms where hatred
confronts love, vice, virtue, and death meets life. Within the human heart, it gets condensed into
psychological conflicts of an infinite variety, which in practical life confront him as crisis of one sort or
another.

Could this will be an illusion or part of a grand design to make man aware of himself, his
potentialities? Or, is it the unfoldment of the divine plan to get the spirit win over matter so that the
finite will find its ultimate rest in the Infinite?

In no literature in the world has a battlefield, a scene of poignant action, been raised into an
occasion of such incredible beauty, grandeur and purposefulness as we have in the Mahabharata; that
too to give expression to one of the profoundest and most practical of philosophies calling upon man to
fight his battle with peace in heart and thus realise the meaning and purpose of his life!

The two mighty armies of the Pandavas and Kauravas are arrayed facing each other. The
Kauravas have placed their confidence in their quantitative strength. The Pandava strength lay in their
innate moral rectitude, in their adherence to righteousness and above all, in the presence of Vasudeva in
their midst. The weapons and missiles that the armies had were powerful, deadly, capable of destroying
the entire world.

The cause of the war was apparently the suzerainty over the ancient kingdom of the Kurus, but
in essence, the fight was between the forces of dharma - righteous action and those contrary to and
opposing it. To add more poignancy to the drama, the fight was between first cousins and naturally the
army was filled with blood relations of every hue. Grandfathers were to fight grandsons, teachers with
disciples, uncles with nephews and so on. Almost the entire Bharatavarsha was drawn into the
battlefield. This was the battle as the world saw it.

Battle cries, sirens drums, conches - the noise was deafening, blood-curdling. Armies stood
alert waiting for the count down. Grandsire Bhishma was being briefed by Duryodhana. It was into this
battlefield of alertness, expectancy and poignant action that the resplendent chariot of Arjuna, drawn by
 Volume 7 Issue 4 -8- Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

magnificent white stallions, with its flag, imprinted with the insignia of a monkey, held aloft, enters, in all
swiftness and readiness splashing a divine splendour of its own. It was being driven by none other than
Lord Krishna, the bosom pal of Arjuna, beloved of millions, already renowned as the upholder of dharma,
the living embodiment of Existence, Knowledge and Bliss.

None of the tension was there on Krishna's face as he sat radiant, with the same enchanting
smile with which he captivated the hearts of Gopis; his hands holding the bridles of the horses,
controlling every movement of theirs with the same ease with which he held aloft the mountain in his
childhood days; with the same look of unconcern with which he did away with all those who crossed his
path and obstructed dharma; a most fascinating picture of tremendous action, yet not of it.

Thus has Swami Vivekananda portrayed this wonderful picture.... "The central idea of the Gita
should radiate from his whole form. Look here.... thus does he hold the bridle of the horses so tight that
they are brought to haunches with their forelegs fighting the air and their mouths gaping. This will show
a tremendous play of action in the figure of Sri Krishna."

This is the picture of life to be ever contemplated upon, the inevitable action-filled battles, the
conflicts that would shake and torture the human mind, its potential victories, possible defeats. Aren't
our senses the horses which take this human chariot hither and thither, if Arjuna the mind be weak and
effete, identifying with the wrong values? But there is hope, if our intellect be like a Krishna, holding
strongly the bridles through correct understanding and discrimination. Then, life becomes a Gita - Song
Celestial.