Report by Prof.Krishan Kumar & H.V.Prasad

The long cherished wishes of devotees of Northern and Western parts of India saw their fruition when Parama Poojya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji undertook a three weeks tour of Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Bombay & Surat beginning from the 1st week of November, 1999. Poojya Sri Swamiji’s visits to these places were marked with such inspired programmes and events that they would remain as lifetime memorable experiences in the lives of countless devotees who have had the privilege to witness and participate in them.

New Delhi:

A hearty and reverential civic reception was accorded to Poojya Swamiji at Vignan Bhavan, New Delhi on 9th November, 1999. (photographs taken by Sri H.V.Prasad on this occasion have been printed on the cover page of this issue – ed.)

The dignitaries who had assembled to felicitate and welcome Poojya Sri Swamiji included Shri R. Venkatraman, the Former President of India, His Excellency Shri Krishan Kant, the Vice President of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpeyee, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri L.K. Advani, the Hon’ble Home Minister and Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Human Resource Development.

Shri R. Venkatraman, the Former President and the Patron of Delhi Jnana Bodha Sabha Charitable Trust, in his welcome address extolled the multidimensional social, religious and spiritual services being rendered to the mankind by the Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore under the inspiring leadership of Parama Poojya Sri Swamiji.

His Excellency Shri Krishan Kant, the Vice President of India and the Chief Guest of the function referred to the pioneering contribution made by Poojya Shri Swamiji in the field of Music Therapy. He recalled with heartfelt satisfaction his previous visits to the Mysore Ashrama, and in particular, his visit last year when he was the chief guest to inaugurate the Nada Mantapa – The Hall of Music.

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpeyee, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India acknowledged with deep gratitude and appreciation the innovative work done by Poojya Sri Swamiji in reviving and disseminating to the public at large – both in India and abroad, the mysticism of Nada Chikitsa as enshrined in the ancient Indian scriptures. While making passionate reference to the time immemorial Datta tradition and Guru Parampara of the country, Shri Vajpayee ji prayed to Poojya Sri Swamiji for His blessings for the stability, strength and prosperity of the country in the next millennium.

Shri L.K. Advani, the Hon’ble Home Minister and Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Human Resource Development also lauded in their welcome addresses the important role being played by Poojya Sri Swamiji in reviving the liberal socio-cultural and socio-religious traditions of the country and in mitigating the sufferings of the distressed.

Poojya Sri Swamiji, in His benidictory address extolled the leadership qualities of Shri Vajpeyee by reciting an instantly composed Shloka.

A cheque of Rupees One Lakh towards Orissa cyclone relief was also presented by His Holiness on behalf of Avadhoota Datta Peetham to the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Smt. Shyamala Pappu, the Executive Trustee of Delhi Gnana Bodha Sabha Trust thanked all the dignitaries and members of the audience for joining together in seeking Sri Swamiji’s blessings and making the programme a great success. Poojya Swamiji blessed all the distinguished dignitaries with Peetha Prasadam.

Earlier in the morning, soon after Sri Chakra Pooja and Maha Ganapati Homa, a newly constructed hall built through the services of Shri Azad Singh Yadav, a trustee of G.B.S. Delhi was inaugurated and named as Jayalakshmi Mata Dhaam by Poojya Sri Swamiji. The Hall raised on the first floor of the Delhi Ashrama has the lodging facilities to accommodate 35-40 devotees / pilgrims.

Haridwar & Rishikesh:

Poojya Shri Swamiji reached Haridwar – the base of Himalayas on the 12th morning and was greeted and welcomed by over 500 hundred devotee delegates who had assembled from all over India and abroad at the Bhadrakali Peetham campus, a branch of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore, to participate in Ganga Sannidhi Volunteer Camp.

The camp was formally inaugurated on the 13th November with lighting of the lamp by Shri K.V. Aiyappan, the President Patron of the All India Volunteers Core. Shri Aiyappan profusely welcomed and thanked Poojya Sri Swamiji for His gracious gesture in holding the camp for such a large number of delegates on the sacred banks of the Holy Ganga. Shri Rishi Prabhakar, founder of Rishi Samskruti Vidya Kendra, Bangalore and an ardent admirer of Poojya Sri Swamiji, who had specially come to attend the camp, also felicitated Poojya Sri Swamiji and expressed his gratitude for giving him the sacred opportunity to participate in the camp.

The congregation of around 500 participants who attended the camp underwent such a divinely charged and spiritually vibrant experiences that they defy all description. Everyone just felt that Heaven had descended on the Bhadrakali Peetham Campus, Haridwar and that they were in the closest proximity with the Lord of the Heavens – their Sadguru Parama Poojya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. During His Bhajans and discourses in the camp, Poojya Sri Swamiji imparted extremely important and fundamental lessons on subjects of spiritual significance such as the values of pilgrimage, the relationship of Sadguru and a devotee, the essence of spiritual life and the social responsibilities of volunteers.

The Hyderabad group of devotees who had spearheaded the organizational aspects of the camp, very meticulously and worshipfully conducted different sevas to Poojya Sri Swamiji which included Deepdaan (offering of the lights), Vasthra Daan (offering of clothes) and Bhiksha Daan (offering of food). Each and every devotee participant took full advantage of the camp programmes with overwhelming participation and sense of satisfaction. It was indeed a divine sight to behold Poojya Sri Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Pooja on a platform specially raised right over the flowing Ganga Waters, sprinkling the Holy Ganga water on all the devotees, conducting Rudra Yaga on the sacred bank and distributing Ganga water pots to each and everyone present by His Holy hands. Neither any language nor any expression can pen-down the sublimity, the beauty and the sanctity of the events that took place in the divine presence and proximity of Poojya Sri Swamiji on the sacred bank of Holy Ganga. The one and the only one feeling which charged one and all alike was – that it was a lifetime event, unforgettable and most memorable; that its mental recapitulation alone at anytime in the future would suffice to lift them up from the mundane levels of existence to the higher levels of consciousness.

The camp concluded on the 16th, and on the 17th, Poojya Sri Swamiji and the devotees went to Rishikesh to offer prayers at Lord Datta Digambara Temple.

Mumbai:

After the momentous programmes at Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh, Poojya Sri Swamiji reached Mumbai on 19th November. The Gnana Bodha Sabha Trust of Mumbai had organised Bhajans and discourse sessions of Poojya Sri Swamiji at several venues namely the Flower Valley Complex, Thane; The Andhra Bhajan Samaj, Dadar; The Hari Hara Putra Samaj, Chembur; The Vinayaka Mandir at Anushakti Nagar and a Music Concert for Meditation and Healing at the prestigious Shanmugananda Hall. Everywhere, large audiences had the benefit of having Sri Swamiji’s Darshan and listen to His devotional Bhajans and discourses.

The Music Concert for Meditation and Healing held on 19th Nov. at Shanmukhananda Hall drew a full capacity audience over 3,000 persons. The concert was inaugurated by Dr. R. Chidambaram, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Govt. of India and the guests of honour included Shri V. Ranganathan, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra and Shri P.S. Subramanian, Chairman, Unit Trust of India. The organisers, while thanking Parama Poojya Sri Swamiji and the distinguished dignitaries also profusely lauded the services of Shri Nikhil Merchant in supporting the Music Concert.

Surat:

On 25.11.99, Thursday, early in the morning at about 6.00 a.m. Parama Pujya Swamiji arrived at Surat Railway Station. His Holiness was given a warm welcome by all the trustees and many other devotees.

At about 9.30 am in the divine presence and by the holy hands of Sri Swamiji, Shree Devi Kalyan Mandap (Prathana Hall) was inaugurated. On this happy occasion, Shri Navabhai Patel, Hon’ble Dy. Mayor of Surat city and Shri Jay Prakash Agarwal, Hon’ble Chairman, Rachna group of Industries were present as Chief Guests of the function.

Sri Chakra Pooja was performed by Sri Swamiji in the newly built Shree Devi Kalyan Mandap. Homa was also performed in the basement of Shree Devi Kalyan Mandap. Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji is always kind towrds humanity. His Holiness has always worried about needy people. In Mysore Ashram, there is great help of Ayurvedic medicines. On the auspicious visit of Surat of Parama Pujya Swamiji, Ayurvedic Medical camp (Sarva Rog Chikitsa and Nidan) was organised with the help of Surat Ayurvedic Medical College. This camp was begun by blessings of Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji. Dr. Dinesh Bhatt extended his honorary services and Shah Brothers Ayurvedic Pharmacy provided medicines to patients. In this camp 81 patients took benefit of Ayurvedic medicines.

In the evening Parama Puya Sri Swamiji performed Pooja and provided benefit of bhajans and Pravachan.

On 26.11.99, His Holiness showered His blessings by performing Sri Chakra Pooja, Homa and Bhajan Kirtan and Pravachan. On this day at 8.00 p.m. Press-TV interview was arranged in which reporters of leading news papers and TV Chanels were present. All the reporters were very highly impressed by Sri Swamiji’s messages of kindness towards humanity and perfectness in the religious performances. During the interview, Sri Swamiji explained to the reporters, the meaning and usefulness of Nada Chikitsa, difference between Daivi Shakti and Adhyatmic Shakti etc. On this day, after press interview, a meeting of trustees was held.

Saturday, 27th November, 1999 will never be forgotten by people of Surat city. On this day, Spiritual Music Concert of His Holiness Sri Swamiji was arranged at Madhur Millan Plot, near Kailash Nagar of Surat city. This concert was started at 7.45 p.m.. Parama Pujya Swamiji, before beginning the music programme, narrated the history of music in which the relation between Bansri vadan of Krishna and effect of it on Gopikas, birds, animals, etc. was also explained. Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji emphasized the need to cultivate deep faith and affection on the Nada Chikitsa. Sri Swamiji started the concert with Ganesh Vandana by singing Jai Jai Ganapati Mangalakari. Parama Pujya Swamiji showered His kindness by using Raga Mohan for chronic allergic diseases and Raga Kalyani for Sarvaroga Nivaran. This was a golden opportunity for people of Surat and surrounding places Shri Narottambhai Patel, Hon’ble minister for Water Supply, Gujarat State and Dy. Mayor Shri Navalbhai Patel were present on this occasion. Press reporters were very highly impressed by the programme. Gujarat Samachar (dtd. 29.11.99) a leading news paper of Gujarat reported that Parama Pujyua Swamiji had brought Swarg on the earth by His music. Parama Pujya Swamiji performed prayer for Manav Kalyan (universal welfare).
28.11.99. On this day eyes of all the devotees were full of tears of joy as Parama Pujya Swamiji by His divine presence brought such a happiness which could never be forgotten.

In the morning Parama pujya Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Pooja and Paduka Pooja and left for Baroda in the afternoon.