Those were very
special days, when the Successor of Satguru Sivaya
Subramunyaswami, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, the Chief
Editor of the internationally reputed magazine “Hinduism Today”,
Acharya Arumugaswami, along with Brahmachari Nandi Natha and
Shri Rajeev Malik, Principal Correspondent, “Hinduism Today”,
New Delhi, arrived on 19th March 2010 in Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas.
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Somashekhari is receiving H.H. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan
Swami, Acharya Arumugaswami, Brahmachari Nandi Natha and
Shri Rajeev Malik |
The Swamis were received with
Purnakumbha in front of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
Mandir |
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and
Acharya Arumugaswami belong to the most important monastic
disciples of Sivaya Subramunyaswami, who has founded and
established one of the finest Hindu monasteries in the world,
the Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, U.S.A.
The Saints, wearing typical Sannyasi
dresses, were received with traditional Purnakumbha in front of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. Kumari Somashekhari, General
Secretary, Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, guided
the honourable guests to the Temple for Darshan of the
Divinities.
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Darshan of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir |
The next morning, 20th March 2010, the
Swamis were received in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam
Inter-College by the honourable Principal Col. Sachdeva.
Students, standing in two lines on both sides, showered a rain
of flowers upon the guests and garlanded them with malas. In
spite of heavy and important examinations going on, the
Principal managed a nice function in honour of these holy
guests. Music Teacher, Mrs. Banerjee and her student-team,
filled the hearts of the Swamis with many beautiful, spiritual
songs. Selected students, with brilliant English, introduced the
guests to the audience. Shri Bodhinatha Veylan Swami blessed the
students, and Mr. Malik spoke about his own experience of
earlier visits in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam. Swami
Vishveshwarananda highlighted the great works of Satguru Sivaya
Subramunyaswami and appreciated the dedication of his disciples
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and Acharya Arumugaswami, who
are now representing the Ashram. Col. Sachdeva expressed a warm
welcome to his guests and requested them to come again and
again.
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The Principal of
Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, Col. Sachdeva, receiving
the Dignitaries |
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Special Reception by the
Students of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam
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H.H.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami is addressing the
students. |
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Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda
introduces the Swamis
from Kauai’s Hindu Monastery
to the students. |
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Shri Rajeev Malik
inspires the students with his dynamic talk. |
The journey went from Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam to
Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology, where the
students received the Swamis with a big multimedia projector
beaming a photo of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and welcome
wishes for him and the other honourable guests, on the wall. No
doubt it was a wonderful gesture, appreciated by the Swamis.
After introduction, both the Swamis were requested to bless the
students and the teachers. Shri M.S. Negi, President, OIMT,
offered beautiful malas and flower-bouquets to both the Swamis
as gratitude for their arrival. After conclusion of addresses of
many important speakers, lecture halls, computer rooms,
libraries, etc. were shown to the holy guests from Hawaii.
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Arrival in
Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology |
Multimedia
Reception for the Swamis |
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Shri M.S. Negi, President,
OIMT, welcomes
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan
Swami with a flower bouquet. |
Acharya
Arumugaswamiji speaks to the students |
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Shri Rajeev Malik
introduces the Swamijis to the OIMT-Management |
Visit to one of
the Libraries of OIMT |
In the afternoon the
Swamis were invited to see the documentary film of the
Inauguration of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, which
impressed them most.
In the evening of
20th March Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and Acharya
Arumugaswami joined a Yajna in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
and offered the Purnahuti.
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Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan
Swami performs Hawana
in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
Mandir |
Acharya
Arumugaswami prepares for Purnahuti |
After Devi Arati Kumari Somashekhari gave
an excellent dance performance alone, and also with her
students. In the end the dancers offered Aratis to the Devi
while a lot of gathering was watching the function. The Chief
Editor of Hinduism Today magazine, Acharya Arumugaswami,
expressed praise to Somashekhari. He observed that her dance is
always in the direction of the Divine Mother. Like a Pujari
faces the Divinity and the people around can look at the Priest,
Soma is facing the Divine Mother, dances in front of Her and the
people can watch her, were his special remarks.
The day ended with Prasadam and
interesting talks with the Swamis in Omkarananda Ashram about
researches in Vedic Culture, ancient Indian History and other
related subjects.
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Kumari Somashekhari explains
the essence of the Temple Dances,
which are going to be
performed |
Kumari
Somashekhari performs Indian Classical Dance in front of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. |
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Devi-Arati-Dance
as an offering to the Divine Mother |
Prasad
Distribution |
On 21st March, in the early morning, the
Chief Managing Editor of the internationally renowned Magazine
“Hinduism Today”, Shri Arumugaswami, unannounced took a surprise
interview with the President of Omkarananda Ashram, Shri Swami
Vishveshwarananda Saraswati. Shri Arumugaswami, a highly learned
Scholar and Intellectual, put very interesting questions
concerning different forms of Yoga, specially Karma-Yoga, and he
also wanted to know an answer from Swami Vishveshwarananda
concerning a prediction for the year 2012.
In spite of being totally unprepared for
this interview, Swami Vishveshwarananda gave, without
hesitation, on the spot most inspiring, brilliant answers. The
content of this interview is published separately, see
here.
The holy guests from Kauai’s Monastery of
the tropical isle Hawaii, took leave from Omkarananda Ashram
after the interview and a breakfast, because they had
appointments in other places.
It was a great honour for Omkarananda
Ashram Himalayas to host such wonderful Saints and Vedic
Scholars like Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, Acharya
Arumugaswami and Shri Nandi Nathaji. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji
requested them to make Omkarananda Ashram their home-base,
whenever they are in India.
It has to be mentioned here that Shri
Satguru Sivaya Subramunyaswami, Shri Arumugaswami and others
from Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, were in close contact with
Gurudev Paramahamsa Shri Swami Omkarananda. Their lives are of
extremely pure and exemplary nature. Their excellent magazine
“Hinduism Today”, in which the essence of Vedic and Hindu
Philosophy and life is taught and published since many years,
has become one of the very rare and valuable magazines for
spiritual seekers all over the world.
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