Pujya Sri Swamiji visits Kerala for Deepavali
Pujya Sri Swamiji celebrates Deepavali in Kochi Ashrama
Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji visited Dattaanjaneya Sriddharaja Datta Kshetram in Kochi for Deepavali festival. Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived from Singapore at 10 PM on 28th October 2016.
On 29th Naraka Chaturdashi was observed. Pujya Sri Swamiji took Darshana of Maha Ganapathy, Dattatreya & Karya Siddhi Hanuman shrines. Sri Swamiji also viewed the newly put photo of Parashurama seeking blessings of Dattatreya Swami before creation of Kerala land.
Pujya Swamiji then offered Purnahuti of Maha Ganapathy Homa and admired the installation of statues of Agni deity & deities of
Rigveda - Raasabha (mule)
Yajur - Aja (Goat)
Samaveda - Haya (horse)
Atharva - DhavaLa MarkaTa (fair ape)
Devotees performed Tulabharam of jaggery & rice.
During Sri Chakra Puja Vid.Madhav Gopi rendered solo violin concert. He attends weekly Datta Satsang every week in Kochi Ashrama.
Salient points of Pujya Sri Swamiji's speech on Saturday the 29 th of October
Swamiji explained the importance of lighting lamps or deepam on this auspicious day. The light from the lamp drives away the darkness from our minds. Our mind is clouded with the darkness of ego...and this light will drive that darkness away. Devotees should light up their minds with the blessings of Sadguru. Sri Swamiji also asked all Datta devotees to minimize the use of crackers. Try to make Diwali sweets at home itself...
In the evening, Vid.Shertalai Ranganatha Sharma rendered Carnatic Vocal concert. His professional interpretation of Bhajans composed by Pujya Sri Swamiji in Carnatic music tradition was greatly appreciated.
On Sunday the 31st October 2016, Deepavali Amavasya was celebrated with Maha Lakshmi Puja during Sri Chakra Puja. Music concert by Vidwan Krishnamurthy played flute & saxophone alternatively while Vidwan Parameswaran played flute.
On Sunday the 30 th of October Pujya Sri Swamiji highlighted the importance of Bali Padyami. Bali Chakravarti was pushed down to Pathala Loka by Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This happened in Kerala, a land shaped by Parasurama. And Lord Hanuman gives Mukti to Bali Chakravarti in Pathala loka. So there is a very close association between Parasurama, Vamana, Hanuman and Bali.
Sri Swamiji blessed all devotees with coins that was worshipped during Dhanalakshmi Puja.
In the evening, Vid.Vijayalakshmi, a celebrated blind musician played Gayathri Veena - a single stringed instrument.
Later, lamps were lit and some were floated on the Purna river (Periyar river) that flows on the southern boundary of Ashrama.
On 1st December - on Bali Padyami day, Pujya Sri Swamiji stood by Akaasha Hanuman while devotees chanted Hanuman Chalisa. Later, trustees & priests of Ashrama showed the plans of proposed meditation hall facing the river and PaataaLa AnjanEya temple in their Ashrama. Pujya Swamiji appreciated the efforts of Cochin Ashrama trustees to create new features every year to enhance the Ashrama ambience and Blessed the project.
Pujya Sri Swamiji then drove to Thiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum). Reaching there in the evening, Pujya Swamiji visited the home of Sri.Shiju, an acclaimed collector of medicinal plants. Sri Swamiji went through the plant collection and appreciated the hobby of Sri.Shiju. He has grown hundreds of rare medicinal herbs & plants on the roof of the house.
On 1st November, Pujy Sri Swamiji visited the famed Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple at 8 AM. Pujya Sri Swamiji prayed at the shrine for harmony and peace in the world.
Later, Sri Swamiji visited Nichin Bonsai of Sri Raveendran in Padmanabhapuram in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. Sri Raveendran is a Bonsai expert who was honored by Pujya Sri Swamiji with the award “Sasya Bandhu” recently.
In the evening, Pujya Sri Swamiji returned to Mysuru Ashrama.
