KUTUMBA SAMMELAN

26^TH January is the day fixed for Kutumba sammelan, at Anandadham every year. On this day, all the parents of Sishuvihar students and ex-students, well-wishers, yoga satra and Varga, Samskarvarga members, close well-wishers all come together along with their family members to spend the day as one family. Games for all ages, talks and lastly eating together.This year too, there was a gathering of a mixed group. Members of Samskara Varga of Edavilangu too joined this time. A total of 130 members were present.

After the flag hoisting by Mananeeya Lakshmi Didishe give a short talk. Su.Bindu, Anitha teacher, and Samskarvarga leaders conducted games for the different age groups. Having lunch together gave that feeling of ‘samgacchachdhwam, samvadadhwam’.

TWO DAYS RESIDENTIAL CAMP FOR YCC STUDENTS

Students of Yoga Certificate course in Malayalam under Kanyakumari Centre were invited to a two-day residential camp to get accustomed to the regular routine of the Kendra Shibirs. The camp started from Bhajan Sandhya on Friday evening and concluded on Sunday evening. Su Radha Didi- Dakshin Pranta Sanghatak and Sri Raghuji- Office Secretary, Central Office Kanyakumari, were there to guide the students on the Kendra activities and Kendra Karya Paddhaties, challenges and their responses etc. 

Swami Veerabhadranandaji, of Sri Ramarishna Math, Haripad, gave insights into the Raja Yoga of Swami Vivekananda. This is a bonus to all the students as they didnt expect to hear Swamiji.  He was the Chief Guest for Swamijis Jayanthi celebrations at Kodungallur.

At the concluding programme, the students expressed their feedbacks in front of Su. Radha Didi regarding their experience in Yoga Sastra Sangamam and also in the two days residential camp.

SAMARTHA BHARATH PARVA AND SWAMIJI JAYANTHI

A pradakshina around the campus of Anandadham was arranged on the 155th birth anniversary of Swamiji. Sandeepani Sishuvihar children, their parents, teachers and the inmates of Anandadham took part. This was followed by speeches on Swamiji by the tiny tots, a short talk by Mananeeya Didi and pusparchana. Prasada distribution followed after the children's programme.

On the same day, powerpoint presentation of Samartha Bharathb Parva was done in two schools MES Asmabi School and Sri Sai Vidya Bhavan in P.Vemballur. 100 students of class VIII attended. Yoga Certificate Course students conducted the ppt programme. To test their grasping capacities, students were asked questions based on the ppt. Those who answered confidently received Swamiji's books as prizes.

Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi Celebration

Patriotic and folk group song competitions were conducted in Anandadham, on 17th and 18th January. 14 schools and a total of 80 students participated.

Samuhika Surya Namaskar competition was held in the same campus on 19th January. The students demonstrated 6 rounds of Surya Namaskar in groups of 12 each. Boys and girls groups were separate. 6 schools, totaling 142 students participated. The creative skills of each group were beautifully projected. Each school performed the same steps in different formations, It was a real treat to the eyes.

The 155th birth anniversary was celebrated at Anandadham, on 21st January, Sunday. Srimad Swami Veerabhadranandaji Maharaj, head of the Haripad Ramakrishna Math center, was the Chief Guest. 200 people attended.

The programme started with a song on Swamiji by Kum. Sree Lakshmi, who conducts Samskarvarga on every Sunday at Anandadham. Mananeeya Didi welcomed the Chief Guest. Swami Veerabhadranandaji spoke on the need of focused mind not only for the students but for all in order to create an ideal society, free from hypocrisy and filled with love for themselves, others around, their society, and country.

The winners of Patriotic and Folk songs, both juniors and seniors presented their songs on the stage.There was a short speech delivered byMaster Ananthasree dressed as Swamiji, UKG student of Sandeepani Sishuvihar. Prizes were given away by the Chief Guest. The Rolling Trophy for the best Patriotic Group Song went to Amrita Vidyalayam, Kodungallur whereas the Trophy for Folk song went to Shantiniketan International School, Kodungallur, for the second time.

A special prize was given to Sri Udayan, Kendra Karyakarta for the essay he wrote on Swami Vivekananda and his love for India.

There was a sumptuous meal sponsored by Sri Murli and his wife Rema, of Irinjalakuda, a very close well-wisher, were the sponsorers of the meals.

Satsangha on Devi Mahatmyam

From October 2017 onwards, Sri L. Girish Kumar, a well known scholar on Tantra Vidya  of http://www.shripuram.org started his second series of talks on Devi Mahatmyam. Earlier, we had in depth explanation of Lalitha Sahasranama for almost two long years. The beauty of his talks are how these lucid explanations could be put into daily practice of our our lives.

Traditionally the ‘Devi Mahatmyam’ is a portion of the Markandeya Mahapurana. The Devi Mahatmya is variously known as Sri Durga Saptashati, Sri Chandi or Saptashati. It is referred to as Saptashati as it comprises of seven hundred mantras. It is more popularly known as Chandi because it describes the glory of the Goddess as Chandika, the terrible. Like the god Rudra, the Goddess too has two forms- a malevolent form and another benevolent form. In Her terrible form She destroys the evil demons. Yet in Her destruction, one can see the light of a resplendent regeneration too. This resplendent and benevolent form is Her compassionate form as the Mother of the Universe. Among the sacred texts that laud the glory of the Mother, Lalita sahasranamam and Devi Mahatmyam are most popular. Both are considered to be extremely auspicious and powerful as tools of transformation. Both can be recited daily. Whilst Lalita sahasranamam describes the victory of the Goddess over Bhandasura, the Devi Mahatmyam describes the victory of the Goddess over the asuras Madhu-Kaitabha, Mahishasura and Shumbha-Nishumbha. 

This year on 19th and 20th January, Sri Girishiji addressed the seekers on the above subject. It was well received by the participants.

SAI RATNA PURASKAR

The Sai Ratna Puraskar by Baba Sai Educational Trust and Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisation Kerala, Thrissur, for this year has been conferred to Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi on 6th January 2018, for her great contribution in the fields of          Spirituality, Philosophy, and Social Service rendered to humanity.The award consisted of a memento, a citation and a cheque of 50,001/- rupees. 

MATRU POOJA

On the occasion of Sri Sarada Jayanthi, the birth anniversary of Sri Sarada Devi the Holy consort of Sri Ramakrishna, every year here in Anandadham Matrupooja is conducted for the mothers of the tiny tots of  Sandeepani Sishuvihar and the neighbourhood children.

This year too, the tradition was followed. Twenty five children and their mothers and grandmothers took part in the pooja.The programme started with deepa prajwalan by the Chief Guest Smt Jayashree, a senior teacher of Amrita Vidyalayam, Kodungallur.This was followed by pushparchana and arati at the feet of Sri Sarada Ma.

The tiny tots, their siblings sat at the feet of their mothers. The youngest of them was Master Abhijit who is two years old. Mananeeya Lakshmi meticulously guided the children in performing the pada-pooja of their mothers. With tiny fingers they washedthe feet of their mothers, applied  sandal paste and kumkumam, offered flowers and deepa aradhana and lastly fed their mother with ladoo and got a share of the offered laddoo sitting on the lap of their mothers! It was indeed an emotional moment for both the mothers and their children.  From this tender age, this samskara of worshipping their mother is being inculcated into these children so that this attitude of reverence remains till they are matured.

While talking to the mothers, Smt Jayashree, narrated about her own life and how she was chosen as a teacher of Amma's school. Good samskaras always help individuals to take up the right path. Mananeeya Didi in her speech asked the mothers to meditate on their motherhood and expand themselves so that they could understand their children better. The programme ended with prasad vitaranam. 

Satsanga Prabhashana Parampara

വിവേകാനന്ദ കേന്ദ്ര വേദിക് വിഷന്‍, ഫൗണ്ടേഷന്‍

ആനന്ദധാം, ശൃംഗപുരം, കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര്‍

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സുഹൃത്തുക്കളേ,

"ആപദി കിം കരണീയം....

സ്മരണീയം പാദയുഗളമംബായാഃ  എന്ന വാക്കുകളിലെ പൊരുള്‍ നമുക്ക് വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതാണ് ഈ മാസം മുതല്‍ ഇവിടെ പുനരാരംഭിക്കുന്ന ആചാര്യന്‍ ഗിരീഷ്കുമാറിന്‍റെ സത്സംഗ പ്രഭാഷണങ്ങള്‍. മേല്‍പ്പറഞ്ഞ  സത്യത്തിനെ അടിവരയിട്ട് ഉറപ്പിക്കാനായി ശ്രീ ഗിരീഷ്ജി, പരാശക്തിയുടെ അടിയന്തിര സന്ദേശമായ ശ്രീദേവീമാഹാത്മ്യമാണ് ഇത്തവണ പ്രഭാഷണ പരമ്പരയ്ക്ക് തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഡിസംബര്‍ 30,31 തിയ്യതികളില്‍ വൈകുന്നേരം 4 മണി മുതല്‍ 6 മണിവരെയാണ് പ്രഭാഷണം. കുടുംബസമേതം, സുഹൃത്തുക്കളേയുംകൂട്ടി പരിപാടികളില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്ത് അനുഗൃഹീതരാകാന്‍ സാദരം ക്ഷണിക്കുന്നു.

വിധേയ

എം. ലക്ഷ്മികുമാരി

                                                    

പ്രത്യേകശ്രദ്ധയ്ക്ക്  :

ഈ മാസം 23-ാം തിയ്യതി ശനിയാഴ്ച, ശ്രീശാരദാ ജയന്തിയോടനുബന്ധിച്ച് നടത്താറുള്ള മാതൃപൂജ രാവിലെ 9.30 മുതല്‍ ഇവിടെ നടത്തുന്നതാണ്. എല്ലാ രക്ഷകര്‍ത്താക്കളും ഇതില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്ത് ആനന്ദനിര്‍വൃതിയടയാനുള്ള അപൂര്‍വ്വ അവസരത്തെ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്താനപേക്ഷ.

Vrindavanam in Ananda Dham

"The ideal of all education, all training, should be this man-making" and keeping in line with the words of Swami Vivekananda is Sandeepani Sisu Vihar, at Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation, Kodungallur.

Sandeepani Sisu Vihar is the courtyard of Happiness (Ananda) at Ananda Dham, in Kodungallur. Children from nearby homes are initiated into the rich and traditional culture and practices of our nation. Sisu Vihar's has the warmth and affection of a home, combined with the spiritual energy of an ashram, which ensures that the children put in to practice their day to day learnings both at school and home. Thus each child becomes a torch bearer to the eternal or absolute set of duties or dharma (Sanathana Dharma) bringing forth a new light in the day to day lives of their parents, family, and friends.

A children's park (playground) is vital for a child's cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development. Keeping this in mind is the current initiative to build a children's park.

The building of the proposed park is by the Parents of Sisu Vihar children & Sisu Vihar Alumni, Yoga Varga Students and Well Wishers. The combined effort from these different groups should bring in considerable momentum for the successful completion of the Park. However, we require assistance by way of Funds

We need your SUPPORT! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation right now. Please send us your PAN details at vkvvf@vkendra.org post your online payment, bank and account details are given below.

Account Name: VIVEKANANDA KENDRA VEDIC VISION FOUNDATION

Bank Name : CANARA BANK

Branch: KODUNGALLUR 

IFSC Code : CNRB0000758

Account no: 0758101127166

Alternatively, you can also Sponsor an item in the Playground. All ` 25,000/- and above donations will have business/family name on permanent plaque displayed at the park

Please send your PAN No along with a letter mentioning the purpose of the same for the above project

Vishwabhanu

When the announcement came that this year’s ‘Amrita keerthi’ award is to be presented to me, the first question that arose in my mind was whether I deserve it. That led to an exercise of looking back as to how I came to deserve this honour. I thought I should share my thoughts with our friends and well - wishers at this momentous occasion. 

All of us have heard the story of the squirrel who helped Sree Rama during the construction of the Great Ramasethu, how, picking up sand grains and putting up in the Sethu he made himself immortal receiving the grace of Sree Rama. Amma’s contributions to the welfare of humanity and preservation of Hindu Dharma cannot be described even by thousand tongued Anantha. What wonders me is how in this mammoth service programmes she could recognize this small squirrel and confer her blessings on it. I humbly accept the award, taking it to be recognition by the Divine Mother Herself executed through our beloved Mother. 

Such an occasion demands that I express my gratitude to all those who were responsible for making me what I am today. First in the line is my adorable father who put up the strikingly attractive picture of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago posture in our home and opened up the spring of guru bhakti when I was just 12 or 13 years old. It was he who lighted up the Vivekadeep in my heart. Later my mother saw to it that this Vivekadeepa doesn’t get extinguished and when the call came permitted me to offer my life at the feet of my master at Vivekananda Kendra. It was Swargeeya Agamananda Swami who awakened in me the very first waves of spiritual yearnings. Those were further nourished by the two great teachers of modern India, Swami Ranganathanandaji and Swami Chinmayanandaji. It is through them that I tasted the practical Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda. 

 Even with such a treasure chest in my possession, the attractions of materialistic life kept their grip on me like an octopus. It was none other than Swargeeya Eknathji Ranade, the Master Builder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Founder of the spiritually oriented service mission Vivekananda Kendra, who pulled me out of that mire and handed over the responsibility of looking after Vivekananda Kendra as its Mother. Thus was fulfilled my dream of surrendering my life for the service of Swami Vivekananda. This award reminds me of the magnificent gift which Eknathji gave me by which I rediscovered myself. Thecumulative effect of all the love and respect with which the well - wishers of Vivekananda Kendra all over India received me have now become consolidated in Mata Amritananda Mayi’s choice of me to receive the Amritakeerthi Puraskar. This will definitely add a special glow to the evening of my life. To mother, I offer my shathakodi pranaams. My thanks also to the selection committee for choosing me. Last but not the least, once again I assert ‘Apara Mahima Guru Mahima’

---

CELEBRATION OF 125TH YEAR OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA'S VISIT TO KODUNGALLUR

           CELEBRATION OF 125TH YEAR OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA'S VISIT TO KODUNGALLUR

In order to celebrate Swami Vivekananda's 125th year of visit to Kodungallur, a committee 'Swami Vivekananda Smarak Samity was formed by the like-minded Hindu organizations of Kodungallur. Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi was made ONE OF the patrons  A month-long programme from 1st November to 3rd December, mainly consisting of a series of competitions for the school children from LP level to Higher Secondary level and also for the youth was chalked out. To coordinate in the conducting of the various programmes, Vivekananda Kendra Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation,  Tapasya, Bharateeya Vichara Kendram, Vishwa Samskrta Pratishthan and Nehru Yuva Kendra also participated.
Apart from competitions, a seminar in Malayalam and Sanskrit, Yuva Sammelan, Parikrama and Pushparchana and various other programmes were conducted.
School children many of them dressed as Swamiji took part in the Parikrama programme.  After offering flowers at the feet of  Swamiji (Photo), there was parikrama of the Bhagavathi temple from outside. Amrita Vidyalayam children had their band troop also. Sandeepani Sishuvihar LKG and UKG students also took part.

The month-long programme came to an end with the concluding programme held at Navaratri Mandapam, Kodungallur on 3rd December, Kartika Pournami evening. In the presence of the General Convener and Chairman of the Swami Vivekananda Smarak Samity Sri D.Sundareshan and  Sri  M.P. Venugopal, and other members of the team including the audience, Mananeeya Lakshmi DIdi was felicitated by Rev.Swami Nandatmajanandaji, editor of Prabuddha Keralam-Ramakrishna Math Thrissur who was also one of the patrons of the above Samity. Prize distribution and talks by Sri K.B.Surendren of Bharatiya Vichar Kendra and Rev Swami Nandatmajanandaji, Smt Saraswathy -principal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan-Kodungallur, formed part of the evening programme.

SADHANA DIVAS

On the auspicious morning of 19th November, a session was kept for the Yoga Certificate Course students along with Yoga Varga participants, with Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi. She explained the significance of the day and also the purpose of choosing yoga as a  way of life. The herculean task was performed by Mananeeya Eknathji in the construction of the Mighty Rock Memorial and after the construction of the Memorial nowhere was there a mention of his name and even during the inauguration of the memorial, he was behind the screen. This was what is called as a Karmayogi, a silent worker.

Yoga Varga participants  and YCC students
performing Kriya

Ma.Didi with the coupons for fund collection

A group of Sishuvihar parents along with Sri Sudhakarji and Sushree Bindu began the first door to door collection of funds for the creating a children's park the cost of which will exceed rupees ten lakhs.

Ma.Didi talking to the participants

A donor( Sri Ramankutty Master) handing the money for Children's park

BALA-SAMARPAN

                      SWADHYAYA EXAMINATION AT SCHOOLS 
                                            ON THE OCCASION OF  
BHAGINI  NIVEDITA 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

              

In connection with Bhagini Nivedita 150th Birth Anniversary,  a swadhaya examination was conducted in Malayalam based on the book on Bhagini Nivedita. Around 300 students from 6 schools registered. 280 students wrote the examination which was held in their own schools on 7th November. Out of the total of 280, 55 students who had scored average marks, were invited to Anandadham on 14th November, for an inter-school quiz competition on life and messages of Swami Vivekananda and Bhagini Nivedita.  

On the morning of 14th November, Children's  Day, two programmes were simultaneously conducted on the campus, one of the successful students of Swadhya competition and the other of Shishuvihar tiny tots. Lighting of the lamp was done by Little Aradhya of LKG dressed as Bhagini Nivedita and little Achut dressed as Chacha Nehru. Prayer was chanted by the UKG tiny tots. The tiny tots and their parents and teachers went for campus cleaning ('Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan'), a one hour programme on 14th November, every year which they had taken up from last year onwards.
The other group of older children coming from different schools got the opportunity to listen to the talk by Mananeeya Didi on Bhagini Nivedita's life and message and why they should know about this great personality who had given her all for the sake of the Indian masses. The students also got an opportunity to listen to the Chief Guest for the occasion, none other than India's  first female  Merchant Navy Captain Radhika Menon, and who had received the  Exceptional Bravery award by International Maritime Organisation(IMO). All potential is within us, the need of the hour is to have the confidence in one's own self and determination to keep going till the end and to be able to practically apply the knowledge acquired in any field in life, was what the Captain advised the students.Captain Radhika gave away the prizes and certificates to the successful students of the swadhya examination.
The second part of the programme was the inter-school quiz on Swamiji and Bhagini Nivedita.The students of Shantiniketan International school received the trophy for best performance in the quiz. All the students had a sumptuous lunch after the programme concluded.

Concluding Program - Samarpanam

Concluding Function Of Sister Nivedita Birth Anniversary

The Chembai Sangeetha college auditorium was the venue to the culmination of the one year long celebrations in conjunction with the 150^th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita. The events were jointly organised by Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation and Vivekananda Darshanika Samajam.  On the occasion were distinguished guests from different walks of life.   On the dais were :

• Hon. Justice  K P Jyothindranath - High court of Kerala,
• Param Poojya Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji - Vice President, Sri Sarada Math, and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission,
• Hon. Mr. Peter McIvor, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi,
• Mr. François Gautier, editor in chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde and   trustee founder of FACT – India(_http://www.fact-india.com/ ) and
• Mananeeya. Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari, Chairperson 'Samarpanam',  Past President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari and Chairman of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation , Kodungallur.

Revered Swami Golokananda Maharaj of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Kalady, also graced the occasion.

The lighting of the Bhadra deepam was carried out by Justice Jyothindranath.(🎧 https://goo.gl/wJkX5e )

Post this Lakshmi Didi's opening address stressed upon "Shraddha/avivesha " with references from Kathopanishad and throwing light upon the thoughts for choosing Margaret Elizabeth Noble to be Sister Nivedita whose life was dedicated to the people of India, especially in the upliftment of women. (🎧 https://goo.gl/c3EZbU )

'Thank you Ireland for having produced such a wonderful Lady' said Mataji in her address to the gathering. Towards the end of her address she asked everyone to remember the 5 words 'Mother's heart', 'Hero's will', 'the leader, servant and friend in one'. She ended the talk by saying "Try your best to nourish those ideals within you, as much as you can for God's children, that will be the highest homage we can give to Sister Nivedita."(🎧 https://goo.gl/BoUkp1 )

Hon. Mr. Peter McIvor spoke on the contribution of Sister Nivedita, her lifetimes work, education and empowerment of young women. He continued, 'She was an important interpreter of India to the outside world. Informing a western audience about India of all it wonderful phases -  It's history, it's heritage, it's mythology, it's religions and it's cultural reawakening of that times. Later she was also to write about the life of  her master and his master Shri Ramakrishna, for whose life and teachings she had developed a strong attachment.' (🎧 https://goo.gl/KK41yr )

As a token of India's love and respect for Sister Nivedita's sacrifice for our motherland, Justice K.P.Jyothindranath presented a memorabilia to Hon. Peter McIvor who represents Ireland, the motherland of Sister Nivedita.

Mr. François Gautier in his talk started off by saying 'I am not a knowledgeable man of Sister NIvedita" but I have always admired her and this is why I accepted this invitation, for most of the time I refuse invitations to this type of conferences.' He continued 'Sister Nivedita is a special person to me, because she is one of the very very few westerners who come to India not to give something but because India gave here something. Sister Nivedata had a rare intuition when she met Swami in London that there is a rare knowledge in India that she needed.' He talked off a similar intuition that he had when he came to India many years back.(🎧 https://goo.gl/fvQDxH )

Sister Nivedita award was presented to Smt. Uma Preman, Founder, Santhi Medical Information Centre, Guruvayur By Mrs. McIvor  & the Citation for the same was read by Shri. Arun. A.  In response to the award Smt. Uman Preman  thanked the organisers and shared her experiences.

Prize distribution for Quiz competition winners were given by Shri N. Nandakumar, 

President, Vivekanada Darsanika Samajam.

Vote Of Thanks was given by Ms. Beena Govind.

A sanyasini and non-sanyasini listening

From R to L : Mr. François Gautier, Mr. Peter McIvor, Justice  K P Jyothindranath, Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji, Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

Deepa prajwalanam by Justice  K P Jyothindranath 

Rev. Swami Golokananda Maharaj 

Justice K.P.Jyothindranath presented a memorabilia to Hon. Peter McIvor

Smt. Uma Preman and Mrs. McIvor

Panoramic view of the auditorium