Sunday, 19 January 2014

IN LOVING MEMORY OF JUSTICE SRI T.L. VISWANATHA IYER

On 12 January 2014, Honorable Justice Sri T.L. Viswanatha Iyer attained the Lotus Feet of Sadguru Gnanananda.

He came to the sage as early as 1957 with his father T. K. Lakshmana Iyer of Calicut who was the younguer brother of Swami Mukundananda, one of the earliest residents of Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam. This family had the privilege to receive Sadguru Gnanananda at their house "Balananda Bhavan" during his tour of Kerala, where he delivered a memorable discourse of Grace that was recorded and was included in the book "Sadguru Gnanananda", a publicxation of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Through this family many aspirants from Kerala came to Thapovanam and became ardent devotees of Sadgurudev.

Sri T. L. Viswanatha Iyer and his father, together with a few senior devotees of Sadgurudev, were instrumental in founding Sadguru Swami Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust in 1975, to carry on the religious activities of the Ashram. Later in 1986, they also took the initiative to constitute this Vedantic Sadhana Kendra, Sri Gnanananda Niketan. This separate Trust takes care of the Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and siritual seekers and continues the tradition of Vedanta classes in the Ashram.

Sri T. L. Viswanatha Iyer was a Trustee of the Memorial Trust for many years. He was also a Trustee of Sri Gnanananda Niketan and held the office of the President during the past few years.

He started practice in Kerala High Court in 1957. He was appointed as a judge in September 1986 and retired from service in November 1994. Thereafter he practised in the Supreme Court being designated as a Senior Advocate.

The legal fraternity and public showed their regard for him on the occasion of the public reception hosted in his honor on his eightieth birthday.

He was an accomplished lawyer and an acclaimed judge and jurist; a friend, philosopher and guide, a role model to everyone; the founder and Chairman of Cochin Kendra of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; as a lover of arts and social service he founded the "Rasika Priya" an organization to promote Carnatic Music; he was connected with Sri Ramakrishna Sevashram and other charitable organizations; he was also a legal adviser to Sharada Peetham of Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri.

Till the end of his life he was active and committed to serve Dharma and the Vedic tradition. His sense of duty was extraordinary; he was  a noble soul, very simple, working silently without being noticed.

Sri T. L. Viswanatha Iyer is a special recipient of the Grace of Sadguru Gnanananda to whom he was most devoted throughout his life. Doubtless, he is fully blessed with Shanti and Sadgati.

A great support to Sri Gnanananda Niketan and to the Sannyasins of Thapovanam, we honour him with gratitude and great respect.

Sri T.L. Viswanatha Iyer's Reminiscences on Thapovanam (PDF)

Thursday, 2 January 2014

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Monday, 28 October 2013

TIRUVACAKAM MUTTRODAL 2013

In December 2011, the newly constructed Satsang Mandap at Sri Gnanananda Niketan was consecrated and inaugurated with the chanting of Tiruvacakam, called ‘Tiruvacakam Muttrodal’, performed by over a hundred devotees of Lord Siva. It was a joyful event, a Gnana Yajna which charged the atmosphere with finest and exalted spiritual vibrations of the content of the devotional hymns. 

It was such a great experience that all felt Muttrodal could take place every year in the Tamil month of Kartikai, the sacred month when Deepam festival takes place at Arunachala, just before the commencement of the month of Margazhi when Saivaite hyms are sung early morning throughout Tamil Nadu. 

In the month of Margazhi, Aradhana celebrations of Sadguru Gnanananda also take place. He was very fond of Tiruvacakam hymns. 

Eagerly looking forward to the celebration of the forth-coming events, expressing our reverence to the sacred Arunachala and to Sadguru Gnanananda, and invoking their Presence and Blessings in our lives, Tiruvacakam Muttrodal will take place this year on Sunday, the 24th November 2013 (8th of Kartikai month). The one day function will be conducted under the graceful guidance of Pujya Sri Swami Omkarananda Saraswati of Swami Chidbhavananda Ashram at Theni, Pujya Sri Swami Nityananda Giri and Pujya Sri Swami Brahmavidyananda Saraswati.

The chanting will be performed from 9 AM to 5 PM by more than a hundred Sivan-adiyars (devotees of Lord Siva) from and around Tiruchirapalli and from East Tambaram, Chennai.

The program will be same as in the previous years. It will include Sandana kappu alankara of Sri Somaskanda (Lord Siva, Sri Parvati Devi and Sri Subrahmanya) seated on Rishabha. In front, will be the four Saivite saints, Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manickavacakar also in Sandana kappu alankara.

All are welcome to attend the Muttrodal

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Friday, 18 October 2013

NAVARATRI


Navaratri went off very well at Niketan.

On Friday during Navaratri festival, Swamiji visited Pudukottai to be with Swami Omkaranandaji at Sri Bhuvaneswari Peetham.

On Saraswati Puja day, Sri Kamalamba Navavarana Kirtanas of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar were rendered at Ananda Kutir by Smt. Ranganayaki of Bangalore.

Saraswati pooja was performed invoking Her in the books of Prasthana traya and pooja was offered in a traditional manner.

On the next day, Swami Nityananda Giri explained the significance of Vijayadasami and after the chanting of Sri Dakshinamoorthi Ashtaka the first Paragraph of Adhyasa Bhashya of Sri Shankara was read and its meaning explained by Swamiji.

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

VISIT OF PUJYASRI SWAMI GOVINDANANDA SARASWATI



Yesterday we received with great happiness the visit of Swami Govindananda Saraswati and Brahmachari Ramji at Sri Gnanananda Niketan.

Swami Govindananda Saraswati is a direct and prominent disciple of Maharajsri Swami Akhandananda Saraswati of Vrindavan. We had the good fortune of his company and satsang for four years at Niketan.

It was with great joy that we received him in his lighting visit to South India.

Sunday, 22 September 2013

VISIT OF PUJYASRI SWAMI OMKARANANDA SARASWATI

On 22nd September 2013 Pujyasri Swami Omkarananda Saraswati blessed us with his visit and short stay at Thapovanam.

We were very happy to receive him and enjoy his satsang.

Pujya Swami Omkarananda is an outstanding Teacher of Vedanta known for his eloquence in Tamil and Sanskrit. His ability to present the most intricate topics of Vedanta in and easily understandable manner has won him a large following. 

Sri Swamiji is an authority on Tirukkural, a great admirer of Manickavacagar, Saint Tayumananavar and Mahakavi Sri Subramanya Bharati. A unique feature of Sri Swamiji’s classes is the spontaneous flow of quotations from the Vedas as well as Tamil texts like Tirumandiram and Kaivalya Navaneetam.

Swami Omkarananda is the head of Sri Swami Chidbhavananda Ashram at Theni. At present he also is the Peethadipathi of Sadguru Santananda Swamigal of Sri Bhuvaneshwari Avadhuta Vidya Peetham, Pudukkottai.

After his visit to Niketan Swamiji proceeded to Chennai were he is to conduct a series of lectures from 25th Septemer to 8th October.

Thursday, 15 August 2013

DAINIK SEVA SCHEME

As suggested by many devotees, a “Dainik Seva” scheme has been introduced by which one may, by way of donation, sponsor one day’s expenses of Niketan, including food expenses. 

It could be on any date of the devotee’s choice like birthday, wedding anniversary etc. and in the name specified by the donor. 

Contribution towards DAINIK SEVA for one day is Rs. 3000/-

You may send your contributions in favour of Sri Gnanananda Niketan (A/C Payee) by way of Cheque, Demand Drafts (on State Bank of India, Tirukoyilur) and Online Transfer. For Online Transfers contact us for details to gniketan.office@gmail.com.

Donations to Sri Gnanananda Niketan are exempted from income tax under section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.

When you send a contribution we request you to provide all your details (name, address and e-mail, etc.)  to enable us to send you the receipt and prasad.

Monday, 22 July 2013

VYASA PUJA

MONDAY 22ND JULY 2013

Vyasa Puja was very well celebrated at Niketan. In South India, Vyasa Puja is the sacred day on which homage is paid to the Guru Parampara in a traditional manner. It is also celebrated as Guru Purnima in various Ashrams.

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

It also marks the commencement of Chaturmasya, a period of retreat for Sannyasins.

The puja was performed by Swami Nityananda Giri assisted by one Yajur Veda Pundit and two Rig Veda Pundits in an elaborate manner.

Read Kanchi Paramacharya's article on Vyasa Puja and Chaturmasya of Sannyasins


Monday, 27 May 2013

SWAMIJI'S VARDANTI

MONDAY 27TH MAY 2013

Some devotees were keen of conducting japa and homas on the day of Swamiji’s birthday to pray for his good health and longevity. Sri Rudra Ekadasini Homa, Vardhanti Homa, Nakshatra Homa, Navagraha Homa and Avahanti Homa were performed on that day by eleven Vedic pundits.

Kumaris Vishnupriya and Radhika performed parayana of Devi Mahatmya on that occasion at Swamiji’s kutir.