Impressions of France Pilgrimage, May 2012 - Part 2

Some more pictures from the ongoing pilgrimage in Southern France. Apparently, the last few days have had extreme rain from morning til evening!

Impressions of France Pilgrimage, May 2012 - Part 1

A short series at some photos from the ongoing Pilgrimage taking place in Southern France with Sri Swami Vishwananda.

Upcoming Seva in Kenya

Jai Gurudev,

The Kenya Seva Group comprised of devotees of Sri Swami Vishwananda, including Swami Vishwaramananda and Swamini Vishwamohini, calls for a re union in order to serve the needy.

As part of the Guruji's birthday celebrations this Seva is being held on the 17th June 2012.

"Joytown Primary School" is a special school for physically handicapped children. The school is situated in Thika town which serves 330 children currently.

The main service offered at the school is that of correcting limb deformities through a process that involves surgery and physiotherapy. 

The Seva will be held on the 17th June. Transport is being arranged for those who would like to come. Please send me your names, other details as soon as possible for the booking of vehicles.Transport charges will be at minimal fee.

Meanwhile please details below of the home requirements which have been sent out by the head teacher. If anyone would

like to make a donation from the below list please mail me the list. I propose we can send out all the contacts the proposed list in order to fund 330 children a small donation would even be blessed .

Here are the School needs.

    Blankets

    Bed sheets

    Bed covers

    Mosquito nets

    Diapers

    

DRY  FOOD STUFF

    Rice

    Maize flour

    Cooking fat

    Maize

    Beans

    School uniforms for the children

Your assistance will be highly appreciated.

I look forward to receiving your responses for those willing to come and also donations requirements.

Bansi Shah +254(0)720 053880 .

swamivishwanandafoundation@gmail.com

Khilan Shah +254(0)734699806

svsssevagroup@gmail.com 

Bank Details

BANK OF INDIA

Nairobi , KENYA,

WESTLANDS BRANCH

Name: SWAMI VISHWANANDA SEVA SOCIETY

A/C: 01F75014801

Swiftcode: BKIDKENA

Jai Gurudev

Kenya Seva Society

For several years, gradually, there has been a charity network built up in Kenya (which we reported about earlier) by devotees of Sri Swami Vishwananda.
There are several ongoing projects but here's a little YouTube video of one of the visits to a home for elderly and disabled people:

Rakesh has known Sri Swami Vishwananda  for more than 12 years and he is the founder of the Seva Society in Kenya.

(Unfortunately we caught Rakesh on a very photo-shy day!)

Yesterday, after the Bhu Devi Yagna celebration, Binodini had the chance to talk with Swami Vishwananda to clear the last points about the France Pilgrimage.

Do you want to go here or there first?

Ok, we can change it.... then we have lunch there...

By the way: as we are organizing this pilgrimage to Southern France we can see how much work it is and have great respect for all that Yamunashree does with the pilgrimages through India!

This weekend the Bhu Devi Yagna takes place here at Shree Peetha Nilaya. Swami Vishwananda is celebrating all the rituals very lovingly and intensely.

At 9 different Kunds (fireplaces) a lot of Mantras for Bhu Devi (Mother Earth) were recited.
On one of the many rounds all the residents could also come offer samagri.

As a Yagna is an traditional vedic ritual there are some rules which should be followed - for all the ladies: please wear a long skirt or a Sari while sitting at the kund. For men it would be nice to wear a lunghi / dhoti. Thank You.

Narashinga Celebration in South Africa

The 4^th of May 2012 marked the Appearance Day of Narashinga Dev.

The Jwala Narasimha Temple in Johannesburg celebrated this glorious occasion over two days.

We were honoured by the huge attendance of Devotees from various organisations around Johannesburg and other areas of South Africa. We were also graced with the presence of Swami Bhakta Dhodhayan, from Vrindavan.

Puja, Maha-abishekum and yagna were performed on Friday 4th May 2012, followed by the first ever Yatra (Chariot Procession), hosted by Bhakti Marga in South Africa honouring our Dear Lord Narasimha, on Saturday 5th May 2012.

The Chariot Procession aroused the curiosity of many a resident along the route, who came out to witness and capture this great event on camera!

The hauling of this gigantic Chariot by the brave and enthusiastic Devotees, with the Lord at it’s helm, was made to feel like an effortless exercise despite the weight and size of it!

It was indeed a moving spiritual experience that many of us will never forget!

In Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Shanta-Narasimha Temple observed the day on the 4th of May 2012. Many people from afar attended the Kalash Puja, abishekam and Havan that were performed.

Jai Shri Narashinga Dev !

Jai Shri Mahavatar Kriya Babaji!

Jai Shri Swami Vishwananda Maha Prabhu!

The celebration with Swami Vishwananda of Narashimha Chaturthi in London will be starting at about 5 pm (4 pm London time) this afternoon.

You can whatch it live at:

http://demo.streamingwizard.com/clients/4100/

Darshan with Swami Vishwananda 21.04.2012

Last night we had a wonderful Darshan with Swami Vishwananda.

Urgent Call for Seva

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Call for Seva

for building wooden cabinets and shelves and varnishing!

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Requirements:

-Being able to use power tools for carpentry: router, electric saw, drill, sander, etc.

-Being able to lift 25kg.

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Start: any time, as soon as possible

Minimum 3 weeks, if possible 4 – 6 weeks.

35 – 40 seva hours per week (min. 7 hours per day, min. 5 days a week)

Room and food for free. Attending morning and evening prayers possible.

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Please apply with your full name, your work experience and a photo. Please let us know any disabilities in advance. Mail to: tusti@bhaktimarga.org

Please bring a valid European health insurance card.

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For any questions please contact:

Mataji Tusti tusti@bhaktimarga.org, 0049 (0)178 539 1406.

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Swami Vishwananda installs Lakshmi on the roof

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"Shree Peetha Nilaya" means: "The home of the Divine Mother"

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Because of this, Swami Vishwananda installed a wonderful Lakshmi Statue on the top of the roof above the main entrance.

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The ceremony was started with a Kalash Puja and Yagna (on the picture you see Paartha from the top)

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Then Swamiji celebrated an Abishekam while reciting special Mantras to invoke the Goddess inside the Murti.

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Jai Shree Lakshmi Ki Jai!!!

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Easter with Sri Swami Vishwananda

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Christos anesti! (Christ is risen!)

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Alithos anesti (Truly He is risen!)

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Christós anésti ek nekrón

thanáto thánaton patísas,

ké tís en tís mnímasi,

zoín charisámenos!

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Good Friday

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Good Friday (from the senses pious, holy of the word "good"), is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

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1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus accepts the cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

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My Father, the work which you have given me to do, I have accomplished. My Father, to you I commend my spirit.

Jesu

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"Before the crucifixion, He knew that inside Himself something great was happening, something that human minds can’t understand. He materialised His body into light, like He did when He transmuted Himself on the mountain.

How many people will really understand that? Not many. He did it to show that within our body lies the spiritual body. We all can access this spiritual body if we really want it. By the way, through the crucifixion Jesus showed that He was not just this mere human being crucified, He accepted all, in order to rise above the illusion and become the light. That is what man is here for – to continuously remind one that within this body there is the spiritual body, and that this is the reality. The other body can make this body grow above it.

But as long as we identify ourselves with the mere human being, we will always be this human being that we want to be. Do you want to be Divine or not? Then be it! Go ahead by reminding yourself continuously that you are God’s child. Pass through the stage of being a child of God until you can say afterwards “I and my Father are one.” From the son of man, who is human, to the son of God, who is reminding us continuously that we are Gods, until we can say “I and my Father are One.”

Swami Vishwananda

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Easter Package

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"He is calling everybody to resurrect with Him

and to let the old man, the old one who is inside of you die,

and to let the new one resurrect together with Him.

That is the resurrection of Christ.“

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Sri Swami Vishwananda, Easter 2009

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Let us plant seeds of hope and resurrection together!

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At Easter we celebrate the beginning of the new seasons, the blossoming of nature and the return of the sun after a long winter period. We would like to share Swamiji´s thoughts on the resurrection of Jesus, on His works and His teachings with you.

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Our Easter package contains:

• A little wooden cross blessed by Swamiji.
• A photo on canvas of the icon of the risen Christ in our chapel, painted by Swamiji.
• “Resurrect with Christ”, a wonderful booklet of over 100 pages with words of Swamiji about Easter and its deeper meaning. (in english)
• Tulsi Seeds (Saint Helena found the cross of Jesus' crucifixion due to the fact, that the ground there was strewn with basil (Tulsi). Just like the Hindus, the orthodox Christians venerate basil as a sacred plant.

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PS: Our Easter package costs 35,- Euros, Friends of Bhaktimarga get a discount of 10% on the package. To buy it please send an e-mail to:

order@bhaktishop.de

Proceeds go to the renovation of the Ashram.

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Darshan March 31st

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An adorable Darshan with Swami Vishwananda - wonderful Bhajans, dancing people - Music sometimes loud, sometimes quiet and contemplative - and all this in the presence of Swami Vishwananda .... Pure love!

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Rama Navami

Rama Navami is a festival commemorating the birth of Sri Rama, an incarnation of Sri Vishnu. It is celebrated on the ninth day (Navami) of the Chaitra month of the Hindu lunar year. (1st April for 2012).

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Lord Rama incarnated to save his devotees from the tyrant, Ravana, and he is worshipped as an epitome of an ideal man. One who is good and true and the one who is ideal in every regard - a perfect son, an ideal brother, a wonderful husband, a great father and mighty king. He is not simply thought of as a hero, but as someone who is the true representation of a flawless man. It is believed that listening to the story of Rama cleanses the soul.

Meditating on the noble Rama and chanting his name is believed to ease the pains of life and lead one to moksha, or liberation. Devotees fast on this day seeking perfection as human beings, offer puja and also sing bhajans praising the deeds of Lord Rama, his loyal brother Lakshman, his devoted wife Sita and Rama's greatest devotee Hanuman. For our 2010 Celebration, Swamiji told stories about Lord Rama and talked about the significance of chanting Ram-Naam or the name of Lord Rama.

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Evening Prayer with Swami Vishwananda

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Bhajan Workshop in Switzerland

After the last Darshan in Switzerland, Swami Vishwananda asked us to learn more Bhajans and to grow together more as a Bhajan Group. When we heard that Meera Dasi was asked by Swamiji to go to different countries and give Bhajan lessons to the exisiting groups there, we organized a 2 day workshop here in Cudrefin.

There were about 15 participants. With a lot of interest, we listened the explanations about the history of bhajan singing and about Raagas. Then we did the NOM-TOM singing which was a wonderful experience - we became very relaxed and forgot about our daily worries.

At the end we also wanted to learn some new Bhajan - "hits" of Swami Vishwananda. On Sunday we were busy learning new songs.

It was a very interesting and fulfilling weekend, and we want to thank Meera Dasi and Ratnamanjari for their patience and loving way of teaching. Above all we want to thank Swami Vishwananda for his love and support!

The Sri Kamala Netra Krishna temple team, Switzerland

Bye bye Rio

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Before Swami Vishwananda started his trip home he was, among other places, also at the beach.

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Here on this picture, Swamiji is together with Daya and Yogeshwar. Together with the Brazil-Team, Daya organized the whole tour in Brazil.

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As sad the devotees in Brazil are - we are very happy that Swami Vishwananda is coming back soon.

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Swami Vishwananda in Rio de Janeiro

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Swami Vishwananda went on a helicopter flight to see Rio from the air:

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