H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj (Muniji)
August  - September 2003 

 

 

Highlights:
(Click on link to go directly to that section)
Mussoorie - Founder's Day
Rakhsa Bandhan at ParmarthIndia's Independence Day at Parmarth -
Special Yoga Demonstration by Rishikumars

Janmasthami at Parmarth
Nalini and Kamalini visit Parmarth and Veerpur
Pujya Swamiji in Vrindavan
Inauguration of Gurukul at Veerpur

Pujya Swamiji's upcoming itinerary

Links to Recent Newsletters

PUJYA SWAMIJI'S MESSAGES:
Raksha Bandhan
India's Independence Day
Janmashtami
Navratri

 

July 31  -- Mussoorie
Founders� Day at Mussoorie International School: Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Satyamitranandji were the Chief Guests at the annual Founders� Day function of Mussoorie International School. This year was a particurarly special and large function as it marked the 60th birthday of Shri Hasmukh Rawalji, the Founder and Principal of MIS.

   
 

 

Pujya Swamiji performs purnahuti of the yagna and gives an inspiring lecture

 

   
 

August 8  -- Rishikesh
Shri  Ashwini Luthraji, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Uttranchal came to Parmarth Niketan to perform the divine Ganga Aarti and also to seek Pujya Swamiji�s blessings and satsang.

 

 

August 12  -- Rishikesh
Raksha Bhandan: This beautiful ceremony was celebrated with great love at Parmarth Niketan as all of the girls and women tied rakhi bracelets on their brothers � both brothers by blood and also brothers by heart.

The day concluded with a sacred abhishek ceremony as it also coincided with the final day of Shravan Month. Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji, Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Bhanpura Peeth spent his time of Chaturmas on the holy banks of Mother Ganga at Parmarth Niketan, and graced us all with his darshan and satsang daily. The purnahuti of the abhishek was performed by Pujya Swamiji and by Pujya Shankaracharyaji. 

Click here for Pujya Swamiji's message on Raksha Bandhan

   
 

 
 

 

 

   
 

On this day it was also announced that our Mataji, previously known as Smt. Pratibha Joshi was now given 
the name of Sadhvi Abha Saraswati, as she took the official Sanyas diksha from 
Pujya Swamiji in the holy land 
of Mansarovar on the 
sacred day of Guru Purnima. 

 

 

As the Sanyas ceremony had been performed on the full moon day, Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Shankaracharyaji Swami Divyanand Teerthji waited until the next full moon to officially announce her new name. 

August 15  -- Rishikesh
 India�s Independence Day. To mark this special occasion, the children at the Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage gave a beautiful yoga demonstration.  

Click here for Pujya Swamiji's message on India's Independence Day

   
 

The demonstration was particularly impressive as the children had only been studying yoga for under 2 months.

 

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

In addition to the impressive yoga demonstration, August 15 was also the �Oath-Taking Ceremony� for the Prefects and Prefect Masters at the Gurukul. The children selected to undertake this important responsibility had a sacred oath taking ceremony in the presence of Pujya Swamiji as well as with the special presence of H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Bhanpura Peeth and H.H. Swami Harinarayanandji, the General Secretary for Bharat Sadhu Samaj.  

   
 

 

 

H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji invested the children with their sash of �prefect� and they took solemn oaths over the holy Deepak flames.

   
 

In addition, the revered saints gave inspiring and uplifting messages to the now 180 children who form the Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage.  

 

 

Late in the month, the Rishikumars also went on to win the Rishikesh Interschool Championship in Karate!

August 20  -- Rishikesh
Janmasthami � Bhagwan Krishna�s Birthday. A special puja and bhajan/kirtan program was held in the Satsang Hall until the sacred hour of midnight marking the hour when Bhagwan Krishna appeared on Earth! 

Click here for Pujya Swamiji�s message on Janmasthami.

 

August 23  -- Veerpur:
Special guests Nalini and Kamalini, the world renowned dancers, came to Parmarth to have the darshan of Mother Ganga and Pujya Swamiji. They accompanied Pujya Swamiji to the new land in Veerpur where there was a special function at the local school in Pujya Swamiji's honor. 

   
 

 

 

 

September 4  -- Vrindavan:
Pujya Swamiji was a Chief Guest at the special celebration in honor of the 110th birth centenary of the world famous bhajan singer Binduji Maharaj

The celebration was held in Vrindavan.

Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Swami Chinmayanandji and  H.E. Shri Vishnu Kant Shastriji, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh were the Chief Guests.

 

September 9  -- Veerpur:
Official Inauguration Ceremony and opening of Parmarth Gurukul, Veerpur

At the hands of H.H. Sri Shankaracharya Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Bhanpura Peeth the Parmarth Gurukul in Veerpur was official opened. Forty rishikumars from Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage have shifted to Veerpur where they will continue their studies and also lead Ganga Aarti for the local people. 

 

   
 

 
 

(clockwise from top): Pujya Swamiji takes H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji on a round to see the land. A large tree plantation program took place. the main function included also the blessings and presence of H.H. Swami Asanganandji Maharaj and was attended by all the local people as well as village heads. 

 

 

 

The divine land of Veerpur

 

A large function was held with H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji, Pujya Swami Asanganandji, Pujya Swami Chidanandji and Pujya Rasyani Babaji as well as the local village "pradhan" (village head) and the local villagers where the first Ganga Aarti was performed. 

There was also a special tree plantation ceremony and the ground has been readied for plantation of more organic fruits and vegetables. 

The medicinal garden is growing beautifully and is going to be shifted to a larger area of land. 

   
 

 

 

 

In the future, a new vocational training program will also start there. We are already running many women's vocational training programs throughout the Himalayas, which teach sewing, handicrafts, tailoring, music, dance and also adult education. However, this will the first men's vocational training program where carpentry, handiwork and electricity will be taught. 

Thanks to all of the donors who are helping to make this dream a reality and a special thanks to Shri Chandru Ramani for his great generosity in assisting with every area of the project. 

 

   
 

 

Rishikumars and guests walk in the garden; Pujya Swamiji walks with the local  sevaks, giving inspiration for the next phase

 

 

 

 

September 14-16  -- Rishikesh:
Himalayan Shakti Conference - the Himalayan Parivar organized a conference for the protection and conservation of the Himalayas - focused on women -- titled "Himalayi Mahila Chetna Sammelan". The conference brought women from every area of the Himalayas together to discuss aspects ranging from environmental protection to unity to preservation of the culture. The conference also focused on the problems being faced by women in the Himalayan villages and how these problems can be ameliorated. 

   
 

 

Shri Indresh Kumarji, Shri B.S. Koshyariji, Lama Jyotpa and Swami Chiranjeev Puriji at the aarti.

The conference had over 500 participants and included such dignitaries as Shri Indresh Kumarji, Shri B.S.  Koshyariji, the former Chief Minister of Uttranchal, Smt. Jaswant Kaur Mina, State Minister - India for Human Resources and Development, and Shri Bachchi Singh Rawat, State Science and Technology Minister. Further, Lama C. Jyotpa the Vice Chairman, Minorities Commission of India and Swami Chiranjeev Puri of Kurukshetra also blessed the event with their presence. 

   
 

 

Pujya Swamiji gives Mansarovar jal and prasad to Shri Koshyariji (left) and Shri Indresh Kumarji (right)

 

The conference began on the 14 September with a divine Ganga Aarti. Then, on the 15th morning there was a special yagna for the protection and preservation of the Himalayas and also for the strength and health of the women of the Himalayas.

 

 

   
 

Following the yagna, the main function was inaugurated. Pujya Swamiji, Shri Indresh Kumarji and several other ministers and dignitaries gave beautiful speeches about the importance of the land, the history, the culture of the Himalayas and also about the crucial role that women have to play in the preservation of not only the Himalayas but in the preservation of the entire culture and country of India. 

 

 

 

 

The full day of speakers and technical sessions was again followed by a divine Ganga Yagna and Aarti. 

 

   
 

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

PROJECT UPDATE: PARMARTH GURUKUL COMPUTER CENTER

By the generosity of Smt. Bellaben and Shri Yogeshbhai Patel, a first class computer center is being built at the Parmarth Gurukul/orphanage. It has been a vision of Pujya Swamiji's that the boys should learn this important skill which will be a great asset in helping them succeed in whatever field they choose. The computer center should be up and running within the next month.  

 

MANSAROVAR WEBSITE: 

A new website has been created for the Kailash/Mansarovar Projects and yatra. The site offers details of the significance of both Kailash and Mansarovar as well as updates on the projects India Heritage Research Foundation is running, under Pujya Swamiji's guidance, blessings and inspiration. Further, the details and photos of the yatra are also there. 

The site was lovingly created by Andrea Levin during her time at Parmarth Niketan in July/August 2003. 

See www.kailashmansarovar.org

If you missed the update of our Divine Yatra to Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash please go to www.parmarth.com/updates/july2003/index.html to have the divine darshan of Mansarovar, Mt. Kailash and all of the revered saints and 200 devotees from all over the world who undertook this yatra together. 

 


CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR PROFESSIONAL COPY OF THE VIDEO AND/OR VCD OF THE KAILASH/MANSAROVAR YATRA
 
BY SANSKAR CHANNEL

 

Click Here to See Mansarovar Yatra in the News

 
 
 
Pujya Swamiji's Itinerary
September - November, 2003

September

October November
1-11 Rishikesh 2-3 Nadi, Fiji 1-2 Zurich
13 Agra 4-5 Auckland, 
New Zealand
5-8 London
14-19 Rishikesh 6-8 Hong Kong 10-30 USA

itinerary to be posted in October

19 Delhi 10-30 Rishikesh
20-21 Bangkok 31 Zurich, Switzerland
22-24 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia    
26-27 Jakarta, Indonesia    
28-29 Bali, Indonesia        
30 Sydney, Australia        


Please note: Pujya Swamiji's itinerary is always subject to change. Prior to coming to Rishikesh, please make sure to confirm whether He is here by phone or email.