Role of Guru in Spiritual Life...

On the auspicious occassion of Guru Poornima, here is a wonderful story

which I came across in the book "Swami Brahmananda as we saw Him: Reminiscences of Monastic and Lay Devotees" published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai narrated by Swami Brahmananda, the spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna that appeared in the appendix titled 'Role of Guru in Spiritual Life' which has earlier appeared in the Vedanta Kesari, July 1987, p. 273 - 278.

"A certain king once developed dispassion for the world. He had heard that King Parikshit had attained Supreme Knowledge after hearing the Bhagavata for seven days. He sent for a renowned scholar who lived close by and began listening from him to the recital of the Bhagavata. Even after hearing the Bhagavata regularly for two months, he did not attain to any knowledge whatsoever. He said to the Pandit: 'Parikshit attained Supreme Knowledge after hearing the Bhagavata for only seven days. And even after hearing it for two months, how is it that I have not realized anything? If you do not answer this question by tomorrow, you will not get any money or other remunerations.' Worried at the profound displeasure expressed by the king, the Pandit returned home with a heavy heart. He could not arrive at any definite answer to the question even after hard thinking. He became much distressed and started worrying with numberless puzzling thoughts crowding in his mind. He had an intelligent daughter who was very much devoted to him. She saw her father in that distressed condition and asked him again and again the cause of it. Pressed by the love for his child, he was forced to tell her the cause of his sorrow. The daughter smilingly told him, 'Father, you need not worry at all. I shall answer the king tomorrow.'

Accompanied by his daughter, the Pandit presented himself at the king's court the next day and said, 'My daughter will answer your question.' The daughter began by saying, 'If you want an answer to the question, you must abide by whatever I say.' When the king nodded assent, the Pandit's daughter told the palace guards: 'Bind me to one pillar and the king to another. At the king's command, the guards did as told. Then the little girl said to the king, 'O king! Please release me quickly from this bondage.' The king said, 'You are asking for the impossible! I am myself bound, how can I remove your bondage?' The girl smiled and said, 'O king, this is the answer to your question. King Parikshit was a seeker of Moksha, and his teacher was Sri Shukadevaq himself, the all renouncing, great knower of Brahman. King Parikshit attained to Supreme Knowledge as a result of hearing the Bhagavata from Sri Shukadeva. On the other hand, my father is himself attached to the world and is expounding the scriputre to you with the hope of getting money in return. How can you attain Knowledge after hearing him?'

This meaningful story makes it clear that without the instructions of a Sadguru, there is not possibility of release from bondage.

further in the article...

There is no race as grateful as the Hindu. When the Hindu lets go of his devotion to the Guru, he would cease to be a Hindu. Recall to your mind the Mahabharata story of Upamanyu who was devoted to his Guru. That devotion to the Guru, that immovable faith, that infinite faith in the words of the Guru had once established India on the highest pedestal. If India has to prosper again, it would do so only with the help of this devotion to the Guru, knowing him to be God - not as an imagination, but God in reality. When we are ready to lay down even our lives at his feet, we would become capable of performing great deeds. Not only shall we be successful in carrying on our spiritual practices to attain mukti, but we shall also be able to do something for our country and race.

courtesy: Swami Brahmananda as we saw Him: Reminiscences of Monastic and Lay Devotees published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai ISBN: 978-81-7823-549-3 p. 588

available for purchase at all the centers of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj in Mysore

Reverend Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission will be visiting Mysore from February 15 - 22, 2011. During his stay in Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore he will also deliver a talk on 'Sri Ramakrishna' on Sunday February 20, 2011 at 6 pm in the Ashrama Auditorium. He will be leaving for Bangalore on February 22, 2011. Click here to view the tentative programme of Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj.

Shyampukur Bati now part of the Ramakrishna Order

The House where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa stayed for 70 days in 1885 during his illness, 'Shyampukur Bati' was handed over to the Ramakrishna Math and Mission at a ceremony according to the report published in 'The Hindu' dated Friday, November 19, 2010. Shyampukur Bati is also associated with the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and the personal items used by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa have been displayed at the Museum in the premises. The Handover ceremony took place in the presence of Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, President and Swami Prabhanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order. For further details regarding the event read the full article here:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article894253.ece

To know more about Shyampukur Bati visit: http://shyampukurbati.org/

96 years of The Vedanta Kesari

'The Vedanta Kesari' a cultural and spiritual monthly in English published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai since 1914 is now available in a DVD and for Digital download from the Ramakrishna Math, Chennai website. The magazine started at the behest of Swami Vivekananda, as the Brahmavadin in September 1895 under Sri Alasinga Perumal and later came to be called The Vedanta Kesari: the Lion of Vedanta since 1914 is an Encyclopedic Treasure House of Vedanta. The DVD contains all the articles published from May 1914 to December 2009 a period of 96 years with 14,300 articles by 2,400 authors in 48,000 pages. The DVD can be searched by Articles, Authors, Year wise or using keywords.

The DVD was released at a function on Saturday, October 9, 2010 in Chennai. The photographs of the release function are available here. The DVD has been beautifully produced by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai with digitization and programming by SriRanga Digital Software Technologies ltd., Srirangapatna, Karnataka.

To purchase the DVD online from the estore click here.

To purchase the digital download from the estore click here.

To read the Vedanta Kesari issues online or for subscription information click here.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2010: Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Shri Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 was celebrated at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore on September 11 - 12, 2010. Here are some photographs taken on the occasion.

Great Thinkers on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda

Great Thinkers on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda published by Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata 700029, Pages : 210, Price : Rs. 60 is now available for Download (free soft copy) or Read online from Belur Math website.

The book is divided into 4 parts, which can be read online consisting of

Title and Contents,

Great Thinkers on Ramakrishna,

Great Thinkers on Vivekananda and

Biographical sketch of the Great Thinkers.

This book first published in 1983 as "World Thinkers on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda" containing the thoughts of eminent world personalities and edited by Swami Lokeshwarananda is now made available online for the benefit of all those who want to know more about contribution of the Ramakrishna - Vivekananda to the world civilization.

One can purchase the above book online from Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata or Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai websites.

Another link about 'Great Thinkers on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda' available on Twitter @chetanhegdem

Voice Recording of Swami Vivekananda: an article in Vedanta Kesari, August 2010

On the Internet these days we find a Voice Recording being circulated purported to be that of Swami Vivekananda. Well, was the voice of Swamiji recorded during his famous Chicago Speech? Is there a recording of Swami Vivekananda available? Is the voice being circulated on the internet that of Swami Vivekananda? We get our answers to all our questions courtesy the following article "Swami Vivekananda's Voice Recording by Shri. M S Nanjundiah" published courtesy in the August 2010 issue of 'The Vedanta Kesari' published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.

Open publication - Free publishing - More vedanta kesari

For more information on The Vedanta Kesari please visit: http://www.chennaimath.org/edownloads/emagazines/vedanta-kesari

Swami Vivekanda's Jayanthi celebrations 2010

via belurmath.org

Swami Vivekananda's Jayanthi/ Janam Tithi celebrations were held yesterday 06-01-2010 at Belur Math the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Kolkata and various other centers including Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore. Here is the link to the photographs of the various events held at Belurmath: http://sn.im/svphotos2010 and http://sn.im/svphotos2010_1

Posted via web from chetanhegdem's posterous

Holy Mother's Jayanthi 2009 at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Holy Mother's Jayanthi was celebrated at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore on December 8, 2009. Here are some photographs taken on the occasion courtesy 'Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama,Mysore'.



More Photographs of Holy Mother's Jayanthi celebrations held at Belur Math: http://sn.im/hmphotos2009

Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission center links

For the past many days, I have been going through the Belur Math website Ramakrishna Math and Mission for information on the various branch centers addresses and activities . Being a Library professional I felt the need for consolidating all the websites under one link so that it would be easier for me as well as for others to go through all the branch center sites in one window. At the same time, I came across http://sharetabs.com which lets one add as many as 30 links to get a single link for them all. So I have put across all the links available about all the Branch Centers of Ramakrishna Math and Mission under the following 3 links for easy follow up. The links are given below:

http://sharetabs.com/?srkm or http://sharetabs.com/97s

http://sharetabs.com/?srkm1 or http://sharetabs.com/97w

http://sharetabs.com/?vedanta or http://sharetabs.com/97f

I hope it will be useful for the Devotees of Holy Trio to access all the websites from one single link.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna

Ramakrishna Mission Relief work

The Ramakrishna Mission is carrying out extensive relief works for the affected people of the recent floods in the Tungabhadra - Krishna basin. Report of the various flood relief activities carried out by the centers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are given below.

Report of Flood Relief Works - Karnataka
On Tuseday, 6^th Oct, 09, Swami Raghaveshanandaji Maharaj (Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum) & Swami Nityasthanandaji (President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore) visited Bellary district & surveyed some badly affected villages. At one place hearing that a village, named Matur in Siruguppa taluk, has been totally washed off, they visited the village & were surprised to find that the villagers were staying on the main (tar) road making their own make-shift arrangements with plastic covers, etc just like nomads putting up a tent. There were about 150 families. On being asked what they need, the villagers requested to be provided with tent material.

Immediately thick plastic tent materials (LDPE tarpaulin sheets) & coir ropes were purchased & were distributed on the next day (Wed, 7th Oct, 09). In all about 150 tarpaulin sheets & coir ropes worth Rs. 40,000/- were distributed.

Both the Swamijis are moving about surveying badly affected areas in Bellary, Koppal & Bijapur districts & trying to arrange whatever services possible, depending on the immediate needs of the people.

Few photographs of the Matur Village are attached herewith.

Report of the Flood Relief works being carried out by Ramakrishna Mission, Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh...

Report of Flood Relief Works - Andhra Pradesh
Dear Friends,

Because of the sudden inundation of the areas adjoining the river Tungabhadra whole areas were submerged suddenly making it difficult for the people residing in those areas to shift and lost most of the items of their use. The damage to property is very huge. Ramakrishna Mission, true to its tradition has started the relief with limited resources at its disposal in Kurnool area as follows.

1. We have procured food articles like rice, dal,oil etc. and also needed cloths like lungi, saree, bedsheets etc. With one of our Monks and volunteers they have transported the materials to kurnool (about 200kms from Kadapa) on 4.10.2009 (As all shops also were inundated materials were not available there or they were very costly). After due survey they have selected one interior village - Sultanpura in Mahaboob Nagar District, about 40 kms from Kurnool. That village of 650 families was surrounded by water and houses were also in waist deep water. people were living on roof tops and no other agency had gone there to render any service. In this scenario, we selected that village and are distributing food articles, drinking water pouches and cloths.

2. The second team with another monk and volunteers have gone with food articles for distributing in E.Tandrapadu village and cluster of villages in kurnool District which was totally cut off from the road connection because of washing away of bridges and breech of railway track. They have distributed about 5000 drinking pouches and 3000 cooked food packets on 6^th Oct. The relief is continuing in a similer way as the areas are still full of slush though the flood water has some what drained off.

More villages will be added and service in these two above villages will continue as it will take quite some time for normalcy to return to these villages where every thing is out of gear because of the damage due to floods.

With best wishes and Namaskars,

Yours in the service of the Lord

Swami Atmavidananda, Secretary

(courtesy: S. Sudarshan, Devotee, Bangalore)

For making contributions or to get more information on the relief work activities contact:
Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama,
Yadavagiri
MYSORE-570020
Karnataka, INDIA
Ph: 91 821 2417444 / 2412424
Fax: 91 821 4288842
Email: info at srkmys dot org

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama,
Fort,
Belgaum-590016
Karnataka, INDIA
Ph: +91 831 2432789, 2430789
Email: rkmissionashrama at gmail dot com

Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission,
Putlampalli, Near RIMS Hospital,
Kadapa 516002, A.P.,
Phone 08562 - 200120, 200633
Email: rkm dot kadapa at gmail dot com

SRK Temple, Polali Consecration Photos....

Recently on Wednesday March 11, 2009 Sri Ramakrishna Temple was consecrated @ Ramakrishna Tapovan, Polali near Mangalore.

Photographs of Ramakrishna Tapovan, Polali and article
courtesy Shri. S Sudarshan, Devotee, Bangalore

On the eve of the Temple's inauguration, Sri H V Vishwanath of Sarada Gurukula, Bangalore wrote a small introductory article - "Paschimateerada Nava Dakshineshwara" (the New Dakshineshwar of the Western coast) for publication in Viveka Hamsa (kannada magazine)...

Open publication - Free publishing - More article

for more on Ramakrishna Tapovan, Polali visit: http://ramakrishnatapovan.org/

Swami Vivekananda Stone-Bench Monument consecration: a report

Consecration Ceremony Photographs:
courtesy Shri. S Sudarshan, Devotee, Bangalore

Dear devotees, Namaskar.

By the grace of the Lord, the consecration of the Swami Vivekananda Stone-bench Monument function went off smoothly on Friday the 27th March 2009.

We are herewith sending a brief report of the event along with a few photographs as attachments.

With good wishes,

yours in the Lord

Swami Harshananda

Ramakrishna Math, Bull Temple Road,

Bangalore - 560019 Ph # 080 - 2661 3149, 2667 1010

Report

On Yugadi day i.e. Friday the 27th March 2009, Swami Vivekananda Stone-bench Monument was consecrated by Srimat Swami Bhaumanandaji Maharaj (President, Ramakrishna Math, Pune). The consecration was done at 7:15 AM followed by special puja, homa, mangalarathi and prasad distribution. The morning session was concluded at 12:30 PM. Around 1200 devotees attended in the morning session.

In the evening there was a public meeting where Srimat Swami Bhaumanandaji Maharaj presided and Dr. Gururaja Karjagi (Director, International Academy for Creative Teaching, Bangalore) was the main speaker. Swami Harshanandaji addressed the gathering explaining the significance of the Stone-bench. Mementos were distributed for the devotees and members who worked for this Stone-bench project. There were about 1600 devotees in the evening session.

Brief report of the Monument

When Swami Vivekananda arrived in Bangalore during December 1892 from Belgaum, he stayed at the Kalappa Choultry in the Majestic area for a few days. During that period he sat and rested quite a few times on a stone- bench attached to the front wall of the house of Sri Sugappa, a jeweller by profession. After discovering later that the sannyasin was none other than Swami Vivekananda, Sri Sugappa and his descendants preserved it carefully with all respect, as a valuable monument. This stone – bench – slab, which was sanctified by Swami Vivekananda, was officially handed over to Ramakrishna Math in January 1997

Treasure for the Devotees...

I received this Treasure Box from the threads of the Holy Trio group on Google. You may be wondering what treasure lies within this box. Without, taking more time let me come straight to the point. Recently, I discovered this book @ the Book stall of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore with the following title "How to Live with God: In the company of Ramakrishna" by Swami Chetanananda, Minister of Vedanta @ the Vedanta Society of St. Louis. I had read books titled "God Lived with them" and "They Lived with God" also by Swami Chetananandaji, but here was a book which gave a new perspective about Sri Ramakrishna the world knows about.

By reading this book a Devotee or for that matter the common man will be able to understand 'how to live with God, how to love Him and how to establish a relationship with God and Sri Ramakrishna' just as the publisher has mentioned in the publisher's note. The Treasure Box as I have mentioned earlier consists of lectures delivered by Swami Chetananandaji maharaj (part 1 and part 2) on the book 'How to Live with God' @ Vedanta Society of Sacremento. Follow the instructions given on the downloads page to listen to the various lectures delivered @ Vedanta Society of Sacremento which they have offered as free downloads.

The book is published by Advaita Ashrama in India and available @ all the centers of Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Three Things....

Three things are necessary to make every Man great, every Nation great:
1. Conviction of the powers of goodness.

2. Absence of jealousy and suspicion.

3. Helping all who are trying to be and do good.

- Swami Vivekananda. C.W. Vol. 8, Epistles - Fourth series. XV

How to Pray...

How to pray is the question. Let us not pray for things of the world, but pray like saint Narada. Narada said to Ramachandra, 'O Rama, grant that I may be favoured with Bhakti (love, devotion and self-surrender) for your lotus-feet.' 'Be it so, Narada,' said Rama, 'but will you not ask for anything else?' Narada replied, 'Lord, may it please You to grant that I may not be attracted by Your Maya, which fascinates the universe.' Ramachandra said once more, 'Be it so, Narada, but will you not ask for anything else?' Narada replied, 'No, Lord, that is all I pray for.' - Sri Ramakrishna

Swami Harshanandaji Maharaj's Article

Article by Swami Harshanandaji Maharaj, President, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore in courtesy of Vijaya Karnataka (Kannada daily)....

Mother Ganga: the story of a living Goddess

This is a story of Maa Ganga: the living goddesses.

From Char Dham Yatra 2007

A family of 3 people a couple and their little daughter of 4 or 5 years came on a pilgrimage to one of the most revered pilgrim places in our country "Gangotri" on the last day just before winter would set in and the authorities were making preparations to close the Holy shrine of Mother Ganga at Gangotri. The couple had darshan of Mother Ganga in all her splendour and also the other temples in the surroundings. Just when they were about to leave they noticed that their little daughter was missing. They searched for their little daughter for a long time but in vain. By the time the couple lodged a complaint with the local police, the authorities had closed down the main temple gates of Ganga Mata Mandir for the season and were preparing to leave the place. The couple requested the authorities to atleast open the main gates of the Gangotri temple so as to look for their little daughter inside, but the authorities cited their helplessness and assured the couple of all possible help in this regard. The couple had to leave for their hometown as Gangotri and its surroundings are closed to the outside world for a period of 6 months.

After 6 months, when the authorities opened the holy shrine of Maa Ganga, to the amazement of one and all present. A little girl was found inside the main shrine of Maa Ganga, as if waking up from a state of deep sleep. The authorities asked the little girl how she came to be inside the temple for such a long time without food and water. The young girl said that when the gates of the temple were closed 6 months earlier she cried out for help and started crying for her parents and went to sleep in a corner of the temple. Later, a young girl came to the little girl and talking to the little girl in a sweet and soft voice stayed with little girl all the time bringing food and playing with her all through the 6 months inside the temple. The authorities were amazed at the story of the girl and were convinced that the young girl who came to the rescue the little girl was none other than 'Maa Ganga: the living goddess'. The authorities prayed to Maa Ganga for her love and compassion towards the little girl and also informed the little girl's parents who having lost all hope were overjoyed to be reunited with their little daughter....

I heard the above story from a monk and after having had the opportunity of going on a pilgrimage last year "Char Dham Yatra" to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in October 2007 conducted by Nirmala Travels. I am convinced that Maa Ganga is amongst us looking after us with her life giving touch inspiring us to go onwards on a spiritual journey.

Why read the Gita?

An old farmer lived with his grandson. Each morning grandpa would red his Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him. One day the grandson asked, 'Grandpa! I try to read the Gita just like you but I don't understand it and what I do understand I forget. What good does reading the Gita do?' The grandfather quietly replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.' The boy did as he was told but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back. This time the boy ran faster but again the basket was empty. Out of breath, he told his grandfather, that it was impossible and went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible but he wanted to show that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath he said, 'See grandpa, it's uselless!' 'So you think it is useless?' the old man said, 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. 'Son, that's what happens when you read the Gita. You might not understand or remember everything but slowly you will be changed inside and out.'

courtesy: Samvit, No. 57. March 2008. published by Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata

Read about the Bhagavad Gita here:
Swami Vivekananda about his Thoughts on the Gita
Bhagavad Gita, the divine song translated by Swami Tapasyananda

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore Photographs.....

Photographs of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore...