HAPPY DIWALI

NAVARATRI 2014

Navaratri festival was celebrated at Sri Gnanananda Niketan.

During Navaratri festival, on the sacred day of Saraswati Puja, as per tradition the scriptural texts of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads etc were placed for offering puja. Ashtottara-sata-namavali archana of Sri Saraswati was offered.

Devi Mahatmayam was chanted with devotion by Kum. Vishnupriya and Kum. Radhika. The parayana was followed by soulful rendering of Sri Kamalamba Navavarana Kirtanas of Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar by Smt. Ranganayaki of Bangalore. Swami Nityananda Giri explained certain passages of the Navavarana Kirtanas.

On Vijayadasami day, Sri Saraswati Ashtottara namavali puja archana was offered again,. besides archana to Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Sankaracharya and Sadguru Gnanananda. 

VISIT OF GERMAN GROUP TO NIKETAN

A German group of  fourteen seekers led by Dr. Christian Hackbarth visited Sri Gnanananda Niketan in the month of Aug 2014. Swami Nityananda Giri conducted classes on "Nirvana Shatkam" of Sri Sankara.

"Nirvana Shatkam" is a short prakarana grantha giving quintessence of Vedanta. At the end of each verse, it reiterates that one who has the abiding Awareness of the Self in the manner explained in each of the six verses is a Guru, a Brahma-nishta. His state is without any reference to his caste.

The emphasis is on the basic fact that Atman is Infinte Awareness and therefore it has no relevance caste. One has to completely get over his identification with the physical body and the caste to which it belongs.

Swamiji explained the meaning of "Nirvana Shatkam" in English and Dr. Christian Hackbarth translated the same to German.

 

VYASA PURNIMA GREETINGS

VYASA PUJA CELEBRATION 2014

We are glad to inform you that Vyasa Puja festival (Guru Purnima) is on Saturday, 12th July 2014. 

Vyasa Puja is the only 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 not for just Sannyasins but also for all spiritual aspirants, to pay homage to the Brahma Vidya tradition and lineage. Guru Purnima is celebrated in all ashrams with great fervor.

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:

Sadguru in the Vyasa Puja

A. Sri Krishna (Pure Consciousness) Panchakam: Sri Krishna with his four disciples, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vasudeva and Sankarshana.

B. Vyasa Panchakam: Vyasa with his four disciples, Vaisampayana, Jaimini, Sumantu and Paila.

C. Sri Shankara Panchakam: Sri Shankaracharya with his four disciples, Padmapada, Sureswara, Hastamalaka and Thotakacharya.

D. Sanakadi Panchakam: Sanaka with his four disciples, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata.

E. Dravidacharya Panchakam: Dravidacharya with his four disciples, Gowdapadacharya, Govindabhagavadpadacharya, Sankshepakacharya and Vivaranacharya.

F. Guru (Gnanananda Giri) Panchakam: Guru is at the centre along with Paramaguru, Parameshtiguru, Paratparaguru and other Gurus of Brahmavidya sampradaya.

We invite you to attend the Vyasa Puja festival with your family and receive Sadguru’s grace and blessings.

PUJYA SWAMI OMKARANANDA VISIT TO U.S.

Swami Omkarananda is at present the President Trustee of Sri Gnanananda Niketan. Swamiji is visiting USA from 08th May to 10th June 2014.

 

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 an easily understandable manner has won him a large following of youth as well as rural and even not so well educated masses.

Swamiji was  inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. His spiritual thirst led him to Pujyasri Swami Chidbhavananda of Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam, Tiruparaiturai. Swami Chidbhavananda  was a disciple of Swami Sivananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Swamiji received sannyasa diksha from Swami Chidbhavananda.

Swami Omkarananda studied Advaita Vedanta under his vidya Guru Pujyasri Swami Paramarthanandaji, the well-known disciple of Pujyasri Swami Dayananda  Saraswati, the great master of our times.

Swamiji founded Sri Swami Chidbhavananda Ashram at Theni run by Vedanta Sastra Prachara Trust. He succeeded Sadguru Santananda Swamigal of Sri Bhuvaneshwari Avadhuta Vidya Peetham, Pudukkottai. 

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.

Swamiji, a great exponent of our scriptures in Sanskrit and Tamil, will give discourses on  a variety of topics in Tamil during his visit to US. He will be available for House Visits, Satsangs,  Pada Puja and Biksha Vandanam. For Further Information:  Iyer:  (732) 238 1119 ssiyer@comcast.net / Yegnasubramanian (908) 281 0607;yegnam@yahoo.com Gopal Rau: (609) 532 6146 gopal_rau@yahoo.com / Srinivasan: (732) 381 0931; trichy@hotmail.com

SEE SWAMI OMKARANANDA ITINERARY IN US

AKSHAYA TRITIYA AND SANKARA JAYANTHI

Friday the 2nd May 2014 is the sacred day of Akshaya Tritiya. “Akshaya” means never diminishing. In tradition dana or gifting away, is praised as the means for spiritual progress. Of all gifts, gifting of food or annadana is said to be the best. Therefore at Niketan annadana is organized for the people of the nearby villages on that auspicious occasion. It is done as Narayana seva or service to God, to help increase our spiritual wealth. 

Sankara Jayanthi will be celebrated this year on Sunday the 4th May 2014. It is an important day for the Hindus and especially for those who are in the path of Self-enquiry. At Sri Gnanananda Niketan it is an important event of celebration. On that day, we worship Sri Adi Sankaracharya and to honor him, the celebration continues for several days. On the morning of 5th May, Krishna Yajur Veda Parayana will be commenced. It will be concluded on 8th May. Four Vedic pundits will participate in the parayana as in the previous years.

These two events have become regular celebrations at Niketan. Devotees desirous of taking part in them may send their contributions mentioning the purpose of their donations (i.e. Annadana / Veda Parayana).

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)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY DIWALI!