VYASA POOJA 2017 - MESSAGE FROM SWAMIJI

Blessed One!

Hari Om!

i³yte naray[Sm&it>,

We are glad to inform you that Vyasa Pooja was celebrated very well in a traditional manner at Sri Gnanananda Niketan on Guru Purnima, Sunday, 9^th July 2017. 

Vyasa Pooja marks the commencement of the two months’ retreat, Chaturmasya for Sannyasins. The elaborate pooja was performed by Swami Nityananda Giri. One Yajur Veda Pundit and two Rig Veda pundits performed preliminary poojas like Sri Ganapathi Pooja, Punyaha Vacana etc. and chanted Vedic hyms wherever required. Special archana was performed to pictures of Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Sankaracharya, Sri Dakshinamoorthi and Sri Sadguru Gnanananda.

Dr. Srinivasan, an eminent Sanskrit scholar and retired principal of Vivekananda College, Chennai, helped Swamiji in the performance of pooja of the six Guru Panchakams. During the pooja of every Panchaka, after the archana a stotra was chanted and kirthana was sung pertaining to it.

Dravidacharya Panchaka archana was offered with chanting of Guru Stuti with special verses from Guru Gita recited in the Pada puja.

Ashtottara sata nama archanas were offered to Sri Krishna, Sri Vedavyasa, Sri Sankara Bhagavadpadacharya, Sri Daskshinamoorti and Sadguru Swami Gnanananda in their respective panchakas. Nirguna Ashtottara sata nama archana was offered to Suddha Chaitanya.

Swamini Prabhavananda Saraswati, Swamini Atmatatvananda Saraswati and Swami Amriteshwarananda Saraswati were present during the performance of the Pooja and participated in the commencement and in the special mantra pushpa along with Swami Nityananda Giri.

Devotees chanted Stotras and rendered Keertanas in respect of each Guru Panchakam.

Smt. Renganayaki and Smt. Abhiramasundari sang a keertana on Sri Veda Vyasa composed by Sri V.G.Parthasarathy. Smt. Indumati sang the very famous Pada of Sri Purandarasa “Varaguru Upadesa’.

There was a good attendance of the devotees and Vyasa Akshata and fruits were distributed as Prasad.

Following Vyasa Pooja, the parayana of Rig Veda Samhita, was performed by four qualified Vedic pundits guided by Brahmasri Krishna Bhat from the 10^th July 2017 to 13^th July 2017.

We are sending with this letter the Vyasa Pooja Prasad (“Akshata”) with our prayers that Sadgurudev’s special Grace may be showered on you on this especially auspicious occasion and you may be blessed with ever increasing devotion to His lotus feet of Sadgurudev, Sampradaya Nishta, Viveka, Vairagya and Gnana. May all the members of your family, be blessed with Sowbhagya (prosperity) and Sreyas (the highest good) !

With love and Narayanasmriti again,

Swami Nityananda Giri

ANNADANAM TO SCHOOL CHILDREN ON 14TH JULY 2017

The family of Sri Rajamani arranged for Annadanam for the school children around Thapovanam on 14th July in his memory.

Some pictures from the functions is below:

VYASA POOJA CELEBRATIONS 2017 AT SRI GNANANANDA NIKETAN

We are glad to inform you that Vyasa Puja (Guru Purnima) was celebrated on Sunday, 9th July 2017.

Vyasa Puja is the only and special elaborate puja that a Sannyasin is called upon to perform to pay his homage to the tradition. It marks the commencement of his spiritual retreat (“Chaturmasya”). It is a very sacred day for all spiritual aspirants, to pay homage to the Brahma Vidya tradition and lineage. Guru Purnima is celebrated in all ashrams with great fervour.

Vyasa Puja is of particular importance to us at Sri Gnanananda Niketan, as Niketan is dedicated to the study of Adhyatma Vidya, and therefore to the service of Brahma Vidya tradition and Sannyasins.

As you may already know, the traditional Vyasa Puja comprises of the worship of the following:

1. Sri Krishna (Pure Consciousness) Panchakam: Sri Krishna with his four disciples, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva and Sankarshana.
2. Vyasa Panchakam: Vyasa with his four disciples, Vaisampayana, Jaimini, Sumantu and Paila.
3. Sri Shankara Panchakam: Sri Shankaracharya with his four disciples, Padmapada, Sureswara, Hastamalaka and Thotakacharya.
4. Sanakadi Panchakam : Sanaka with his four disciples, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata.
5. Dravidacharya Panchakam: Dravidacharya with his four disciples, Gowdapadacharya, Govindabhagavadpadacharya, Sankshepakacharya and Vivaranacharya.
6. Guru (Gnanananda Giri) Panchakam: Guru is at the centre along with Paramaguru, Parameshtiguru, Paratparaguru and other Gurus of Brahmavidya sampradaya.

VYASA POOJA 2017 GREETINGS

RELEASE OF BOOK KAIVALYVA NAVANEETAM BY SRI GNANANANDA NIKETAN

The release of the book "KaivalyaNavaneetam" of Sri Tandavaraya Swamigal translated into Sanskrit by Sanku Kavi, was held at Sanskrit College, Mylapore, Chennai on 24th June 2007.

Pujya Swami Omkarananda Swamigal released the book and Dr. K.S.Maheswaran Namboodri, Professor, Advaita Vedanta, Sanskrit College, Chennai received the first copy.

The function was a great success and attended by more than 50 people. Some pictures from the function is attached below: