H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj (Muniji)
December 2005 - January 2006
   
   

PARMARTH HOME PAGE

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December 13 -- Pondicherry -Tsunami Affected Areas
On December 13, the first tsunami reconstructed village, built by Project Hope, in Pondicherry, was officially inaugurated by the Hon. Lt. Governor of Pondicherry, the Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Hon. Governor of Uttranchal together with the founders and leaders of Project Hope, H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi.  The Chief minister of Pondicherry was also supposed to be present, but due to the tragic demise of his father, he could not make it, but he sent his best wishes and also a representative on his behalf.


The Village of Pannithittu is being rebuilt by Project Hope through the generous funding from India Heritage Research Foundation, Rotary International and other generous donors from around the world. The village, which will ultimately include not only the 100 houses but also a school, community center, vocational training center, primary medical care center and computer center, was adopted by Project Hope in July 2005 and construction began in the middle of August. In just under 4 months, the first batch of houses were completed and handed over to the villagers.


 

   
 

Clockwise from top: Pujya Swamiji meets the Hon. Goverorns of Tamil Nadu, Uttranchal and Pondichicherry; The DM of Pondicherry garlands Pujya Swamiji; stage at the function

 
 

 

 

 

Pujya Swamiji lights the lamp with the Honorable Governors.
 


The 3 Governors praised the work done by Project Hope, and the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal pledged Rs. 30 lakhs of assistance in phase II (school, community center, vocational training center, computer center, etc.).

   
 

 
(left) Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry; (right) Honorable Governor of Uttranchal

 


Pujya Swamiji on stage with (right to left) Honorable Governors of Uttranchal, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry

 

   
 

 
Sivamani gives his divine drumming show



World famous drummer Sivamani, devotee of Pujya Swamiji�s, also came and gave a divine musical concert for the village. Through the sound of music he filled the hearts and minds of the villagers with hope, faith and love.
 

House ownership papers are given to the families selected by the Government for the houses


Following the function, hot lunch was served to thousands of villagers.

   
 

Clockwise from top: Pujya Swamiji speaks at the function; the audience of villagers; Sadhvi Bhagwati speaks 

 

 
 

 

 


 

All stand for the Tamil Tai Valtu at the beginning of the program


The function was one truly blessed by God! The forecast for the 13th was heavy rain, and in fact it had rained on the 12th and 12th night. Further the entire way from Chennai to Pondicherry was raining on the 13th. However, in the small area of Pannithittu and environs, the weather was clear and sunny, despite all predictions to the contrary. After the function concluded and after all of the villagers had finished their hot lunches, then the rains began and continued throughout the rest of the day!
 

   
 

 

The first house is officially opened by the hands of the Honorable Governors of Pondicherry, Uttranchal and Tamil Nadu with Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi

 
 

 

 

   
 

 
Trees are plantedon the village grounds


 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Pujya Swamiji opens a house with Sivamani and his wife

The sewing machine for the vocational
training program are officially inaugurated

 

Project Hope was founded at the end of December, 2004 by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Vivek Oberoi for the relief and  rehabilitation of tsunami victims. Project Hope was very active in immediate, emergency tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu, providing thousands of villagers with temporary homes, community kitchens, medical care, relief supplies as well as new fishing nets and boats.

   
 

 
Pujya Swamiji and Vivek overseeing the service of lunch; with village girls


In addition to village reconstruction in Pondicherry, Project Hope is also constructing an orphanage in Cuddalore town and renovating a social service center in which approximately 200 widowed, abandoned and impoverished ladies live.  The orphanage and ladies center will also include school rooms, computer center, vocational training center, and a medical care center.

For more information, please see the full pdf brochure at www.parmarth.com/updates/projecthope.pdf or www.projecthope-tsunami.com

 

December 8 - 16-- Rishikesh
Andrew Cohen, world renowned spiritual teacher, philosopher and prolific writer, led a retreat of more than 150 participants from across the world at Parmarth. The participants spent their days listening to his discourses, practicing meditation, examining the true nature of their beings, and going deeper into the Divine light within. In the evening, they joined for the divine Ganga Aarti.

 

   
 

 
Andrew and his wife Alka Cohen perform Ganga Aarti

 

   
 

 
Pujya Swamiji honors and blesses them with shawls

 

 

December 19 -- Rishikesh

December was a month of spiritual teachers from the West, inspired and uplifted by teachings of the East, coming from the West back to India with their students and followers. Less than a week after Andrew Cohen left we had Brandon Bays -- the founder of "The Journey" path -- come to Parmarth with a group of more than 80 Journey students and teachers from around the world.  After Brandon cured herself of a huge tumor through spiritual work, she began teaching others, around the globe, how to access their own internal healing mechanism and get in touch with the divinity within.

 

 

   
 

Brnadon Bays and her group of nearly 90 participants take part in the
 divine Ganga Aarti

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31 -- Rishikesh

NEW YEAR'S EVE
We had a beautiful New Year's Eve puja, yagna and Aarti at Parmarth, followed by Pujya Swamiji's inspiring New Year's message.

 

Havan performed on the banks of Mother Ganga for world peace and harmony in 2006

 

On January first we had a huge bhandara, on the banks of Mother Ganga in which all of the sadhus, saints, priests, brahmacharis, rishikumars and guests were fed prasad on Ma Ganga's holy banks.

 

   
 

 
Yash and Avanti Birla and their family feed the sadhus and rishikumars 

 

   
 

 
Kantibhai and Vibhutiben Jamnadas of Lisbon feed the sadhus and rishikumars

 

 

 

 

 

January 4 - 10-- Rishikesh
A team of dentists and hygienists from Canada and USA was brought to Parmarth Niketan by Dr. Rajiv Naik. For one week the dentists examined, cleaned and treated the teeth of all those in need. There were hundreds of patients, including local poor people, poor people from the rural villages, as well as our rishikumars! It was truly divine seva for this team of dedicated and committed doctors to travel all the way across the world to offer their expertise and seva for the needy people of this sacred Himalayan region.

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Dentists and hygienists from Canada light the inaugural lamp

 

 
   
 

The dentists treated hundreds of local poor people and also our divine rishikumars!

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
   
 

 
 

 

January 7-9-- Rishikesh
The Himalayan Parivar had a beautiful program here for 2 days in which people from the sacred Himalayan region (from all states and regions) came together to discuss the protection and preservation of the ancient Himalayas and also the divine culture of the mountaneous land. Led by Shri Indresh Kumarji, this is the second year that the Himalayan Parivar has met at Parmarth, and it is an honor for us to host this divine and crucial conference.

January 5-25-- Rishikesh

   
 

 

 

Pujya Swamiji performed a 21 day special, silent anushthan meditation in Rishikesh. Observing complete silence and meeting no one during the day, Pujya Swamiji emerged for darshan and satsang only during the time of Ganga Aarti and for brief darshan/satsang afterwards.

 
 

The entire energy at Parmarth was infused with even more divinity and even more sublime vibrations during this time.

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 

January 24-30-- Bombay
In the Parmarth Gurukul (see www.parmarth.com/gurukul.htm) we have over 200 young boys who come from disadvantaged and impoverished backgrounds. Some of them are orphans; some have one parent but not the other; all of them are needy and many of them have been victims of abuse and neglect. In November when the Hinduja family came to celebrate the 70th birthday of Shri S.P. Hindujaji (see www.parmarth.com/updates/octnov05 for details), Vinooji Hinduja saw one of our young rishikumars, Robin (8 years old from a small village in the Himalayas), who could not breathe properly and walks with a pronounced limp. She looks after the Hinduja hospital in Bombay, one of the best medical institutions in India and also one committed to charity work. Hence, she said that their hospital would run all necessary tests on him and also perform any necessary operations for free.

On January 23rd Sadhvi Bhagwati took  Robin to Bombay where  tests done at the Hinduja Hospital revealed a severely deviated septum and swollen adenoids which were preventing him from breathing.

   
 

Robin receives an echocardiogram, MRI,
x-rays, eye exams and a full blood work up

 

 
 

 

 

Therefore, he was admitted on the 26th, and Dr. Abhinav Shukla performed the operation to repair his nose and remove his adenoids on the 27th. The operation was a great success and Robin was discharged on the 30th.

   
 

 
Robin sits on his bed in the pediatric ward, holding his photo of Pujya Swamiji for blessings

Further, his limp is due to a fracture from many years ago which did not heal properly, but Dr. Sanjay Agarwal, the orthopedic specialist,  said that over time the body will naturally compensate; hence an operation at this stage is not advisable, but he ordered a special pair of shoes made in which the heal on one side is higher than the other in order to balance out Robin's legs and enable him to walk better.

   
 

 

 

Also, during the tests it was discovered that his eye sight is very weak and brand new glasses were made for him by Dr. Nikita Agarwal

 
 

Thank you so much to the Hinduja family and all the doctors at the Hinduja hospital for making such a great difference in the life of a young rishikumar.

Thank you also to Yash and Avanti Birla who lovingly took Robin into their home, as one of their own children, for more than a week, during his stay in Bombay.

During Robin's trip to Bombay he also went to visit Bollywood stars Sanjay Dutt and Vivek Oberoi. Vivek was shooting for a new movie (Fool and Final) and Robin even got to see the filming in action!

Robin with Vivek in Vivek's trailor

January 30-- Ahmedabad
Pujya Swamiji traveled to Ahmedabad on the 30th January, to the home of Shri Ramniklal Solanki,  the owners, editors and publishers of Garavi Gujarat and Asian Trader magazines, the most widely distributed magazines for the Indian community living abroad in Europe, USA and Africa. One year ago the Solank opened an office in Ahmedabad and have been waiting for him to come and bless it. So He went to the office with Shri Ramniklal Solanki and Shri Kalpesh Solanki where He gave a beautiful, inspiring talk to all of the workers and also blessed all of the rooms. Further, they had organized a video conference with the London office, so that we could speak with Shri Shailesh Solanki in London.

   
 

 
Pujya Swamiji blesses the offices and enters the video conference

 

   
 

 

 

In the evening at home, a special havan was performed and Pujya Swamiji also gave satsang. 

 
 

 


CLICK HERE FOR PUJYA SWAMIJI'S DIVINE, INSPIRING MESSAGE ON THE MEANING OF SHIVRATRI (FEBRUARY 26):
 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

 

Parmarth Niketan
&

present:

INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL
MARCH 1-7, 2006

This year’s highlights will include:

Inspiring lectures by revered saints

H.H. Sri Shankaracharya Swami Divyanand Teerthji H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji H.H. Swami Veda Bharatiji

 

KUNDALINI YOGA

taught by world famous Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, a world-renowned Kundalini yoga instructor. She is the co-founder and director of Golden Bridge, Los Angeles� premier center for the study and practice of kundalini yoga and meditation. She is a direct disciple of kundalini yoga master Yogi Bhajan. Gurmukh has been teaching for over thirty years and is also a prolific author on the ways kundalini yoga can be used to bring peace and health to the body, mind and soul.  

 

YOGA, VEDANTA & AYURVEDA

taught by David Frawley (Pt. Vamadeva Shastri), one of the few Westerners ever recognized in India as a Vedacharya or teacher of the ancient wisdom. In 1991, he was named Vamadeva Shastri, after the great Vedic Rishi Vamadeva. In 1995 he was given the title of Pandit along with the Brahmachari Vishwanathji award for his knowledge of the Vedic teaching. Vamadeva is a prolific and renowned author on a vast array of topics ranging from Vedanta, to yoga to Ayurveda. He is also a distinguished speaker and teacher in USA as well as in India and has lectured at most of the major Vedantic and Yogic institutions in both countries.

 

IYENGAR yoga

taught by Birjoo Mehta, a long standing disciple of Yogacharya Sri B.K.S Iyengar, as well as the managing trustee of the Light on Yoga Research Trust, Mumbai. Birjoo has been a student of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar since 1975, and since 1984 has accompanied Sri Iyengar on many tours in India and overseas. Birjoo has been teaching Iyengar yoga in Mumbai for 18 years and has been one of the principle teachers at the Iyengar Yoga Conventions in UK, France, Holland, Spain and Israel.

 

REIKI

taught by Smt. Rohini Khatri a renowned Reiki master a Tarot reader  from Hyderabad, India.  She practices and teaches all levels of Reiki , Crystal healing, Tarot reading ,Aura reading and a string of Indian ,western and Zen practices at her healing center in Hyderabad , the south of India.She conducts workshops at different levels all across the globe. She has been guiding people on the healing-path , giving love ,light and peace to one and all.

 

TAI CHI & YOGA

taught by Sensei Sandeep Desai. Sensai holds a Fifth Degree Black Belt in Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate, attained in Okinawa, Japan. He studied Chen Style T�ai Chi Chuan in  China under the supervision of Grandmaster Zhu Tian Cai �descendent of Chen family, the foremost authority on Chen style T�ai Chi Chuan. Trained for several years in Hatha Yoga , the Sensei is perhaps one of the first few practitioners to integrate these two ancient disciples. He has been featured on major television networks and writes for The Times of India and The Indian Express.

 

HOW TO FIND YOUR PASSION IN LIFE

Led by Janet Atwood, a world renowned speaker and author who has taught "The Passion Test" to thousands in the U.S., Canada, Europe and India. She is the author of  "The Passion Test - The effortless path to living your destiny". Knowing your passions is the first step and "The Passion Test" gives you the simple, yet profound tool to align your life with your own destiny. In just a few minutes participants will discover the one thing which will put their lives on the fast track to abundance, joy and fulfillment.

 

POWER YOGA
  taught by Brahmachari Vishwapal Jayant (Yogiraj)  a famous pranayama and power yoga expert and also an ayurvedic expert who has completely mastered the power of the breath.

 

YOGA NIDRA AND NADA YOGA

taught by Sadhvi Abha Saraswati, an avid yoga practitioner since the age of 25, when - through yoga - she cured herself of a terminal kidney ailment called nephritis. Since then she has delved more and more deeply into various forms of yoga and has become not only a practitioner, but also a teacher. Sadhvi Abha took Sanyas diksha in 2003 from H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. She resides permanently at Parmarth Niketan, where she teaches yoga nidra, nada yoga and Vedic chanting to students from across the world as well as infuses the Ganga Aarti with the heavenly sound of her voice.

 

MEDITATION

taught by Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati. A graduate of Stanford University, she left America in 1996 and has been at Parmarth Niketan since. She took Sanyas diksha in June 2000 from H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, marking her pledge to a life of service, renunciation, purity and devotion. She performs a vast array of selfless service at Parmarth Niketan as well as teaches meditation and yoga both at Parmarth and also in travels around the world. She also speaks to audiences across the world on the importance of having God and spirituality in our lives.

 

YOGASANAS & PHILOSOPHY
taught by Ganeshanath, director of the Latin America School of Yoga, and president of The Argentine Republic Federation of Yoga.

 

KAYA KALP YOGA

taught by Srivijayanand, the President of �Rishikesh: International Cultural and Health Foundation� and the International Kaya Kalp Academy. He is based in Moscow, Russia and travels extensively in Europe teaching the Kaya Kalp Yoga (journey to eternal youth).  

 

YOGA THERAPY AND PRANIC HEALING
  taught by Laxmi Narayan Joshi has received his diploma in Naturopathy and yoga, diploma in yoga and Vedanta, BPEd in physical education with a specialty in yoga and MPEd, specialization in yoga, and diploma in physical therapy.

 

VINYASA YOGA
taught by Bhavini Kalan. Bhavini started practising Bikram Yoga in 1999 while doing her graduate studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. She has completed the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Programme as well as the program in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (of Pattabi Jois), in Mysore, India.  Bhavini also recently became interested in the Ayurvedic aspects of yoga and has integrated that in her teachings as well. Bhavini now teaches Integral Vinyasa Yoga. Since receiving her teacher certification from the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala , she has been teaching in South Africa.

 

lectures on the connection between mind-body
cultural song-dance programs   musical performances

Experience the Evening divine Ganga Aarti. Set to devotional music, this special light ceremony in the evening, called 'Aarti' is sure to stir your soul and touch your heart regardless, of your religious or cultural background (click here for more information about this beautiful ceremony)

Click here for highlights of the 2004 Festival
Click here for highlights of the 2005 Festival

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Yoga means “union;” it is a union of breath to the body, of the mind to the muscles, and most importantly of the self to the divine. What better place to become “united” than on the sacred banks of Mother Ganga, in a land to which rishis and sages have flocked for millennia?

While all aspects of yoga will be discussed, the focus will be on yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation. Using the body as a medium, the breath becomes still, the mind attains peace and the soul moves closer to liberation.

Through yoga we learn how to use the body and the breath as a path to inner peace and transformation.






























     The festival includes:

     Yogasanas
     Meditation
     Pranayama
     Lectures by Spiritual Leaders
     Lectures by Yogic Experts
     Demonstrations
     Personal Consultations with
          Yogacharyas
     Evening Divine Ganga Aarti
          (Lighting Ceremony)
     Special cultural programs
          (singing and dance)

For more information about
Parmarth Niketan's Yoga and Meditation,
please contact:

Sadhvi Abha Saraswati (Mataji)
Karin O'Bannon
Yoga and Meditation Section, Parmarth Niketan
P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh (Himalayas) 249304, India
Phone: (0135)  2440077, 2440440,  2440088
[from abroad dial +91-135 instead of 0135];
Fax: (0135) 2440066
E-mail: Parmarth@aol.com or parmarth@parmarth.com

PLEASE CALL BETWEEN 10 AM AND 10 PM INDIAN TIME

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCAL TIME OF INDIA WHICH IS
13 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF USA EAST COAST TIME,
10 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF USA WEST COAST TIME,
5 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF UK AND 4 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF EUROPE.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For assistance in booking plane tickets, hotel arrangements, tours or transport to Rishikesh, please contact Mr. Neeraj Gupta at gupta_ng_in@hotmail.com
or by phone on +91-9811111044

 

 

FILM ON PUJYA SWAMIJI & HIS TEACHINGS:

On April 17, 2004 at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood, USA a film on the life and teachings of Pujya Swamiji premiered to a sold out audience. The film, titled, "A Day in the Light" is produced and directed by Christopher Miglino. 

The film has already been shown to delighted and inspired audiences at the Sedona Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles and several other film festivals in USA and Europe. 

See www.adayinthelight.com  to order your own copy of the beautiful film. Or, you can go directly to www.amazon.com and order it from there

For more information, email Christopher directly at chris@yogamates.com

Click on the links below for previews:
Windows Media files
Reduce Your Desires
Forgiveness
Expectation
Love
Real Player Files.
Reduce your Desires
Forgiveness
Expectation
Love

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bathing in Ganga at Parmarth

 

 
Itinerary for Pujya Swamiji 
for February - May 2006
February March April
1-12 Porbandar, Gujarat 1-31 Rishikesh 1-30 Rishikesh
13 Bodhgaya        
15-16 Tsunami affected area     May
17-18 Bangalore     1-31 Rishikesh
18-19 Delhi        
           
 

**Please note that Pujya Swamiji will be in a silent meditation
from January 5 - January 25.
He will be giving darshan only for a brief period once a day.

Email contact for program information: parmarth@aol.com

*Note: Pujya Swamiji's schedule is always subject to change at the last minute. Please be sure to call or email prior to coming to Rishikesh, just to confirm that He is there.

 
 
Special 50th Jayanti
of Pujya Swamiji
International Yoga Festival  2005
Mansarovar Special - July 2003

June 2005

January - February  2005

July-August 2005

Tsunami Relief Special

 Sept 2005

Please click on www.parmarth.com/updates.htm for links to all previous updates and Divine Messages


Contact Information:
Phone: (0135)  2440088, 2440077, 2434301 Fax: (0135) 2440066
From abroad, dial: + (91-135) instead of (0135)