The 10th Brahmotsava, or 10th
Commemorative Celebration of Gayatri Mata Pratishthapana, was
held on 26th, 27th and 28th January 2010, at Gayatri Nagar,
Tadas, Hubli, Karnataka.
The whole area of the beautiful Gayatri
Tapobhumi Ashram was decorated in a grand way and many
Hawana-Kundas for performing Yajnas had been established.
A big tent had been erected for hundreds
of devotees, who joined the spiritual functions.
On 26th January the programme started
with Udak Shanti and discourses of Pravagada Prakash Rao on
Gayatri Mantra.
On 27th morning, after Dwajarohan,
Punyavachan and Devata Sthapana, Yajna-Prarambha was done by
many Expert-Priests.
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Great Saints from Himalayas
and Karnataka sitting on the dais to
bless the devotees. From left
to right: Yogini Subhadra Mataji,
Shri Swami Vallabha
Chaitanyaji, Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and others |
A huge crowd of devotees had
assembled
in Gayatri Tapobhoomi Ashram |
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Shri
Swami Vishveshwaranandaji inspired all with his divine
speech. |
The Heart and Soul of this beautiful
Ashram, the great Saint Shri Vallabha Chaitanyaji, had invited
many Saints and Mahatmas from different parts of India, to make
this event even more powerful. The Saints, who had come from the
far away Himalayas, belonged to the Main-Attraction. Among them
were Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President
Omkarananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Muni-ki-Reti, Shri Swami
Premananda Saraswati and Swami Gambhirananda Saraswati from
Uttarkashi, the great Yogini from Gangotri, Subhadra Mataji and
others. Among prominent Swamijis from Karnataka, attending the
function, was Shri Swami Pranavananda Teerthji.
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All these great Saints and
Mahatmas graced the beautiful dais, with a huge,
colourful picture of Gayatri Devi as back-ground.
In the afternoon of 27th
January, all the Saints gave their Blessings to the
audience through their speeches.
Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji,
President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, got a lot of
spontaneous applause from the audience for his intense
and heart-touching divine speech.
Exactly during this time the
warm winter-sun moved slowly towards the horizon and
enveloped the beautiful Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram with a
red-golden mystical Light. It was, as if Gayatri Devi
Herself, in form of the huge, radiant, golden Orb of the
Sun, was observing the function and giving Her
Blessings.
After the Saints had completed
their speeches on the dais, devotees could have the
opportunity to meet each of them personally and take
their Blessings.
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Prof. Sadanand Murthy, Kumari
Somashekhari, Randhir and Rupa Rane
and others with the great
Yogini Subhadra Mataji |
In the evening, after sunset,
Deepa-Utsava was held on a huge open ground of the Ashram.
Thousands of Deepas were lighted. Their glowing light and the
shining Moon above transformed Gayatri Tapobhumi into a galaxy
of stars.
After all devotees had refreshed
themselves with a wonderful dinner, available in the Ashram
itself, they could enjoy beautiful cultural programmes, which
continued throughout the whole night, till next morning, 1 AM.
Professional Musicians, Bhajan-Singers
and Indian Classical Dancers from different parts of India
delighted the audience with their extremely melodious and
devotional performances.
Two very beautiful Bharatanatyam-Dances
belonged to the main-attraction of this evening, a Shiva-Dance
by Kumari Varsha, residing in Hubli, Karnataka, and a Krishna
Dance from Kumari Meghana, having come from Mumbai. Kumari
Meghana is also a gifted classical singer. The two young girls
danced extremely gracefully, and the divine expression of their
beautiful dances lingered on as an unforgettable experience in
the hearts of the spectators.
Kumari Somashekhari, from Omkarananda
Ashram Himalayas, had the honour to award the two beautiful
Bharatanatyam-Dance-Artists with gifts and Dakshinas.
Somashekhari, being herself an Indian Classical Dancer, was
overwhelmed about the beauty of the performances of these two
charming Bharatanatyam Dancers and she wholeheartedly thanked
the two artists and was full of praise for them.
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In the evening
beautiful cultural programmes took place. |
Kumari Somashekhari honoured
Kumari Varsha for her beautiful
dance-presentation and was
full of praise for her divine art. |
The whole evening and night, till early
morning hours, the area of the Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram was
filled with divine music by great classical musicians. The
devotional melodies and expressions of the music and songs were
penetrating deeply one’s heart. One could really feel, why
Indian Classical Dance and Music are a purely divine Art and how
this spiritual Art can be a divine inspiration and even a means
for God-Experience.
On the next morning, the 28th
January 2010, a grand Maha-Abhishekam was performed for
the Pranapratishtha Murti of Gayatri Mata in the Sanctum
Sanctorum. Shri Vallabha Chaitanyaji himself, along with
a few of his main Priests, was standing in the small
Garbhagriha and offered the most beautiful Abhishekam to
Devi, one can imagine. Huge baskets of colourful
fragrant flowers were showered upon the Deity, and also
milk, curd, honey and Ganga Water, along with fragrant
ingredients, like Sandalwood-Powder, Turmeric, and many
things more. A “water-fall” or “rain” of hundreds of
silver coins was offered to the Devi, which gave the
impression of a heavenly experience to the spectators.
The spiritual vibration of this
event was multiplied by the most powerful and
enthusiastic Mantra-chanting of many priests.
After this extraordinary
Abhishekam everybody proceeded to the nearby Yajnashalas
for the final Purnahuti, which was performed with
Chanting of Mantras from all the Vedas.
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Saints, devotees
and guests taking part in the Maha-Yajna
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Then all Sannyasis and Mahatmas were led
to the dais, where they were felicitated and thanked for
honouring this auspicious event with their divine presence.
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On the last day of the holy
event all Saints and Mahatmas were felicitated.
From left to right: Swami Gambhirananda, Swami
Vishveshwarananda,
Shri Vallabha Chaitanya, Swami Pranavananda Teertha and
others |
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda
expressed special praise for
Shri Vallabha Chaitanya and
his divine work. |
The 3-days Festival concluded on 28th
January night with an Indian Classical Dance Performance by
Kumari Somashekhari from Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. She was
introduced to the audience by Prof. Sadananda Murthy, a Member
of Omkarananda Ashram.
The people in the audience were
astonished and thrilled, when Soma, before starting her dance,
addressed them in their own language, “Kannada” or “Kannarese”,
the language of Karnataka.
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Somashekhari addresses the
audience in Kannada,
the language of Karnataka |
Kumari Somashekhari performs
special Temple Dances
in front of the audience. |
Somashekhari presented four devotional
Temple-Dances, two dances were dedicated to Devi, one dance to
Lord Shiva and one dance to Lord Krishna. Her appearance in a
colourful shining Lahanga (traditional Dance-Dress) and her
classical and graceful dance-movements were the top of the
evening.
One the Chief Trustees of Gayatri
Tapobhumi Ashram honoured Soma for her excellent performances.
Many ladies and local children
approached Soma, and expressed a lot of love and affection
towards her, which was equally reciprocated by her. It was a
heart-touching sight, when so many children assembled around
Soma, and Soma herself enjoyed very much to be with them and
talking to them.
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Children were eager
to interact with Somashekhari. |
The 10th Commemorative Celebration of
Gayatri Mata Pratishthapana in Gayatri Tapobhumi had come to an
end. But the memories and impressions of this wonderful holy
event will last forever.
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