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VISHWA BHANU
A Bi-monthly Bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation February- March 2012 Volume 1 Issue 6

From the Directors pen

In good old days there were simple street lights,

small kerosene lamps, on iron lamp posts. Every evening as the sun was about to set a man would appear with a ladder on his shoulders, a duster and a lighted kerosene lantern in his hand. He would keep the ladder on the lamp post, climb up, clean the glass case inside and outside, fill it with kerosene, light the lamps inside, close the shutter, gets down and continue his trek towards the next street light. Each one of us is a street light wanting to be lighted. Swamiji is this street lamp lighter patiently cleaning the glass case of our minds, lighting the lamp within with the flame, Each soul is potentially divine. Contemplate on this simple picture, visualize the process within and we would understand what he means when he says, the goal of life is

to manifest the divinity within by controlling nature external and internal.

Elementary isnt it?

HIGHLIGHTS OF FEBRUARY-2012

Seminar in M.E.S.Asmabi College Tenth Annual Day Celebrations- Sandeepani Sishuvihar Myannur Satsangh Girishjis Satsangh Bhagavata Saptaham

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.
Swami Vivekananda

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Bharatiya dharma aur Samskriti

SEMINAR AT M.E.S ASMABI COLLEGE, KODUNGALLUR

A one day seminar with the collaboration of Vedic Vision Foundation and the Hindi Department headed by Prof. Ranjit of MES Asmabi College at P Vemballur, was conducted on the 18th of February 2012. The topic of the seminar was Bharatiya dharma aur Samskriti. Mananiya Lakshmididi gave the presidential address and Sri Sudhakarji coordinated the sessions. It was a good opportunity for Vivekananda Kendra to introduce Swamiji to the collegiate youth. About 150 students attended.

10TH ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS OF SISHUVIHAR On 18th February Sandeepani Sishuvihar had its Annual day Programme in the evening. Smt Vilasini Teacher a well known poetess was the Chief Guest. Sri Sundareshan Master from Sundarodayam was the Guest of Honour. The outgoing children UKG were awarded certificates after being felicitated by the Chief Guest with a shawl and presented with a lighted lamp symbolizing tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. A short cultural programme was presented by the tiny tots which included yoga demonstration. A number of ex-students of Sandeepani Sishuvihar also participated, This was followed by prasadam distribution prepared by the parents of Sishuvihar.

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The whole world is in our mind

S w a m i V iv e k a n a n d a

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MYANNUR PROGRAMME Didi was invited to Myannur Ramakrishna Ashram an independent ashram started by a local saint who is no more. Didi talked on Swami Vivekananda on the 18th of February 2012. A number of local devotees and monks attended the programme GIRISHJIS SATSANGH PROGRAMME On the 25 th & 26th of February, Girishji conducted his usual class on Lalitha Sahasra namam from 4pm to 6 pm. Fifty devotees used to attend. SRIMAD BHAGAVATA SAPTAHA JNANA YAGNA To commemorate the Pratishta Divas of Viveka Ganapathi temple. at Anandadham it was decided that from this year onwards there would be a weeklong Bhagavata Saptaham. Swami Adhyatmanandaji of Sambodh Foundation, Thiruvanathapuram was the Acharya of this years Saptaham which started with Bhagavata February 2012 Mahatmyam on the evening of 26th

First believe in this world , that there is meaning in everythiong. Everything in this world is good , is holy and beautiful. Swami Vivekananda

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HIGHLIGHTS OF MARCH-2012

Didi completes shasta saptathi Ganapathi Pratishtha Divasam Samapanam of Saptaham Seminar at Kerala Verma College Programme at NPOL,Ernakulam Kodungallur Sahitya Sabha felicitates Didi Girishjis Satsangh Rotary Excellence Award for Didi
.

All the powers in the universe are already ours

Swami Vivekananda

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VISHWA BHANU
1st March 2012
Didis seventy sixth birthday by star and birth date according to English calendar fell on the same day this year. Swami Adhyatmanandaji and His devotees presented Didi with a lamp and a Black berry plant (Naval pazham) supposed to be her star plant which she planted inside the campus. Saptaham continued with Sri Krishna Janma celebrated in the evening of the 5th day on 1st March 2012.

2nd March 2012

Ganapathi Pratishtha Divasam was celebrated on 2nd March 2012. Ganapathi Homam and Srichakra puja was conducted by students of Gurupadam of Dr G.S. Vijayan. In the evening there was Sandhya Puja. Simultaneously the daylong Bhagavatam programme also went on. It was Rukmini swayamvara on that day which was ceremoniously conducted .

Samapanam of Saptaham
Seven days Bhagavata Saptaham gloriously concluded on 4th March. All the devotees received a booklet Sri Krishna

Leelalayam in Malayalam as Yagna prasadam from Swamiji. It

was a wonderful experience for many of the newcomers. For some it was the beginning of a new life. Many of them young or elderly, promised to start Bhagavata parayanam.

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VISHWA BHANU
Seminar at Kerala Varma College, Trissur
Samskrita Dept of Kerala Varma College Thrissur in collaboration with Vishwa Samskrita Pratishthan and Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation conducted a half day seminar on the life and message of Swami Vivekananda. Mananiya Lakshmi Didi spoke on Vivekananda Darshanavum Yuvakalum through a power point presentation depicting the life of Swami Vivekananda based on Vishwa Bhanu, (pictorial exhibition). Sri Nanda Kumar, the Akhil Bharatiya General Secretary of Samskrita Bharati, spoke on Vivekananda Vidyabhyasa Veekshanam. About 200 students attended.

Womens Day Celebration at NOPL, Ernakulam

Mananiya Didi was invited by the coordinator of the women's cell of Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory at Kochi, Smt Subhadra Bhai as Chief Guest on the occasion of International Womens Day in their institute. Didi spoke on the Art & Science of being Woman which was highly appreciated by the staff mainly consisting of the lady scientists. Later Smt Subhadra Bhai who is a senior scientist and programme coordinator showed us around the laboratories where the wonderful work of Sonar technology is going. We could meet several women who work as scientists and technologists in the naval submarines. It provided an opportunity to introduce Vivekananda Kendra s activities amongst the intelligentsia.

There is no other teacher but your own soul

Swami Vivekananda

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11th March 2012 The Kodungallur Sahitya Sabha Awarded Mananiya Lakshmi didi recognizing the contribution for the spiritual upliftment of people especially for the less privileged women folk of Kodungallur. A shawl and a memento were presented on the occasion.

SRI L. GIRISH KUMARS SATSANGH This month Girishjis class on LSN was kept on 31st march and 1st April 2012. About 50 devotees attended the programme. 31st being Sri Rama Navami Day Special prasadam in Andhra style was distributed with special panakam.

ROTARY EXCELLANCE AWARD For this years Rotary Excellence award they selected Mananiya Lakshmi Didi. The award comprised of a memento and a shawl. A small function preceded the award giving ceremony held on 30th March 2012.

With the successful conclusion of the sixth issue of the bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation, we have completed one year in highlighting the various activities of our project. Those who browse through this bulletin may please give their valuable suggestions so as to make the bulletin better. Your comments are always welcome!

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION ANANDADHAM, SRINGAPURAM KODUNGALLUR, PIN 680664. KERALA Ph.No : 0480-2803349,2805780,2812780 Email ID : vkvvf@vkendra.org

They alone live who live who live for others, rest are more dead than alive Swami Vivekananda

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SWAMI VIVEKANANDAS
CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

There is no leader in our country who has pondered over the health of our nation in all its varied aspects as the illustrious patriot saint Swami Vivekananda. His patriotism had its roots in the depths of our nations spiritual heritage, but his nationalism grew like a giant banyan tree propping itself up on an infinite number of roots, covering the entire fertile area of nations possibilities and potentialities. Added to this was his deep conviction that India has a message to the entire humanity and that has to be conveyed through the lives of its people. That is what made him bring Vedanta from its Himalayan heights to become practical in the lives of the lowest and lowliest in the country. His meditation on the rock at the lands end of India added a universal dimension to his nationalist ideas, confirming his dreams and aspirations on the role of Mother India as a JAGAT GURU. As we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of our independence it will do good to remind ourselves of the vision Swamiji has bequeathed to us and his very valid observations as to why we have failed in achieving what we should have. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is when the national body is weak that all sorts of disease germs, in the political state of the race or in its social state, in its educational or intellectual state crowd into the system and produce disease Swami Vivekananda ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is feeling that is life , the strength , the vitality without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God Swami Vivekananda

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We all know that our national body is weak today with all types of disease germs debilitating it at all fronts. One cant but wonder how could Swami Vivekananda, way back in 19th century so clearly foresee this weakness and the consequent onslaught of the terrible disease. The Indian nation is a multifaceted gem with its varied cultural traits, races, religions, languages and so on. It is only natural that our problems are therefore more complicated, more momentous, than the problems in any other country. But that doesnt mean that there are no solutions for these. The unfortunate thing is that we all know the cure but do not have the national will to apply the medicine. The vested interests that dominate our national scene today continue to project the diversities but not the unity of our people, further and further fragmenting our nationhood. Recognition of unity in diversity had been the uniqueness of Indian culture. Instead of discovering the unity and endorsing it through educational, constitutional, political formulations, attempts are made to deliberately keep the people divided for petty political gains. This is the double tragedy afflicting the nation today. At this rate of dispersion and disruption how long can we hold to our nationhood? The greatest torture to which our society is presently subjected to is the revival of casteism in its most terrible and endangering form. The occasion demands that we look at the situation through the eyes of the Master Builder Swami Vivekananda who foresaw this calamity and forewarned us. During his wanderings over the country, after the passing away of his Master, Swamiji made very sincere attempts to discover the strength and weaknesses of our nation. His aim was to strengthen further the pillars that have carried this magnificent monument from ancient days and thus pull the nation out of its enfeebling weakness. He understood that India is the crucible of a gigantic spiritual amalgamation and the benefits of this must be shared by the entire mankind. Scattered throughout the Vivekananda literature we find his well-considered observations on both the positive and negative aspects of casteism and other national problems. It would be a

The greatest religion is to be true to your nature .Have faith in yourself

Swami Vivekananda

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good education for all of us to recall some of his very valid observations in order to face the challenges which threaten to tear apart our centuries old social fabric. Even if the maddening crowd is not willing to listen to it, at least those who have not yet lost their sanity would certainly gain through this exercise. Swami Vivekanandas perceptions take us back to the very root of our problem. When comparing it with the European civilization he says, inter alia, The object of the peoples of Europe is to exterminate all in order to live themselves. The aim of the Aryan is to raise all to their own level, nay even to a higher level than themselves. The means of the European civilization is the sword; of the Aryans, the division into various Varnas (natural castes). This system of division into varnas is the stepping stone to civilization, making one rise higher and higher in proportion to ones learning and culture. In Europe it is everywhere victory to the strong and death to the weak. In the land of Bharata every social rule is for the protection of the weak. Clarifying further he adds: The institution of caste has always been very flexible to ensure a healthy uprise of the races very low in the place of culture. It put, theoretically at least, the whole of India under the guidance- not of wealth, nor of the sword but of intellect chastened and controlled by spirituality. Institutions such as these were necessary to protect our nationhood in those begone days. Those which have outlived their purpose must now die a natural death. This can be hastened in two ways; the higher reiterating the spiritual ONENESS and extending their hands of sympathy and help, the lower putting all-out efforts to suffuse themselves with a new confidence and strength that modernism can provide and coming out of the throes of caste stigma. They must show a readiness and willingness to break open their shackles in the larger interests of themselves and the nation rather than be fooled into accepting backwardness as a treasure to be perpetuated for ever.

The goal of mankind is knowledge

Swami Vivekananda

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Whatever we any do at the social or political levels, in the final analysis, it is the individuals or groups sincere self effort alone that will bring strength and dignity. Without the concerted effort from both sides, out with the understanding of the vision of the whole , we would only be widening the gulf with every succeeding generation, plunging our nation deeper and deeper in to the abyss of perennial class/caste conflicts and confrontations. Only when spiritually viewed does life show its totality, wholeness and dynamism. Nurturing the spiritual awareness and aspirations of our people is the only sure remedy that Swami Vivekananda prescribes for our national malady. All evils come relying on differences. All good comes from faith in equality, in the underlying sameness and oneness of things. Giving up religion and along with it spiritual aspirations of man is not the remedy. Swamiji points out that religion must be kept within its proper limits and society must be given the freedom to grow. He further adds, All the reformers in India made the serious mistake of holding religion accountable for all the horrors of priestcraft and degeneration of society and went forth to pull down the indestructible structure; and what was the result? Failure.Caste is simply a crystallized social institution which after doing its service is now filling the atmosphere of India with its stench; and it can only be removed by giving back to the people their lost social identity. This same mistake is being repeated today as well and the results are for all to see. To nourish truly secular instincts in one and all and eradicate fanatic sentiments and approaches, a universal spiritual dimension must be stressed upon in every aspect of our national life. Real secularism is unfortunately getting transformed into pseudo-secularism adding its own share to the stench. Swami Vivekananda was extremely averse to the idea of caste as a hereditary system

which he knew hinders mans progress. On the other hand he could also find some intrinsic worth in the intellectual categorization of the people so that entire groups of people could be helped and supported in every way to move forward.

Everything can be sacrificed for truth but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything
Swami Vivekananda

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In this progress Swamiji aimed not only for economic or political freedom but also for a moral, cultural, intellectual and spiritual kinship based on true freedom of mind. He believed in leveling up and not in leveling down. Variations in capacity and occupation cant be ruled out or eradicated by any number of constitutional means. They must remain in the society to make it richer, dynamic, ever moving forward. At the same time Swamiji reminds us that our mission is for the destitute, the poor and the illiterate peasantry and laboring classes and if after everything has been done for them first, if there is spare time then only for the gentry One must raise oneself by ones own exertionthis holds good in all spheres. In that lies the glory of mankind, we must help them to help themselves to regain their vitality. Swamiji adds his warning note when he says, But then you must take care not to set up class strife between the poor peasants, the laboring people and the wealthy classes. Make it a point not to abuse the moneyed classes. He was a champion of the cause of the poor, the fallen and the downtrodden and urged his countrymen to correct the mistakes of the past by preaching Vedantic ideals to one and all, irrespective of case, creed and sex so that they all can discover the essential divinity within. Presently, with questionable intentions, selfish motivations and wrong methods, we have tried to bridge the gap and the result is predictably, utter chaos. We have once again proved that even good work when carried out in an improper way creates a backlash which will hurt the giver and the receiver. For the regeneration of India his Mahamantra was RENUNCIATION AND SERVICE. He called upon Indians to intensify them in all spheres of national life to check the erosion of spiritual values by materialistic encroachments. Who will show the light? For that matter who has the light anyway?
Condemn none : if you can stretch out a helping hand , do ao . If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers and let them go them their own way Swami Vivekananda