On
Saturday, 21st April Sri Swamiji arrived in Cochin Ashrama and inaugurated
the newly constructed Guru Nilayam, which was offered by devotee Sri
Padmanabhan and Dr.Vijaya, his wife. Arriving in the Ashrama at 10
AM, Sri Swamiji was received in the picturesque Alwaye Ashrama by
all the Trustees and devotees. Sri Swamiji first visited the shrine
of Sidhdharaja Nama Dattatreya and had Darshan. Thereafter Sri Swamiji
was led to the place where the new addition of Cochin Ashrama stood.
It was a beautifully built Guru Nilayam. Standing next to the mighty
Periyar River, the Guru Nilayam looked divine. Sri Swamiji unveiled
the inaugural plaque, untied the ribbon and entered the premises.
The traditional spilling of the milk by over boiling it was done and
Sri Swamiji poured sugar in it and then offered a spoon to those who
were there. Then Sri Swamiji was taken to the prayer hall, which was
extensively renovated and expanded and decorated with photos and pictures
of various deities. Addressing the gathering Sri Swamiji remembered
story of the development of Cochin Ashrama and blessed that devotees
too should develop in their Sadhana likewise. Then Sri Swamiji went
to the Yaga Shala of the newly constructed Nava Graha temple and witnessed
the Purnahuti there.
In
the evening there was a civic reception and the members of the local
Panchayat offered welcome to Sri Swamiji and commenced an Anna Dana
program in Cochin Ashrama. Sri Swamiji blessed various functionaries
of the Ashrama and was pleased with the free hospitals run in the
Ashrama. Cochin Ashrama runs both Allopathic and Ayurvedic hospitals,
free of cost. Thousands of patients are benefited there. Sri Swamiji
praised the services of Dr.Vijaya Padmanabhan and Dr.Sridharan Vaidyar
who spearhead the medical projects. Sri Swamiji continued to say that
it is such charitable projects of Ashrama, which bring Swamiji to
Cochin again and again. Sri Swamiji also said that the activities
of Cochin Ashrama were to be emulated by other Ashramas where more
emphasis on social projects needs to be given. Sri Swamiji thereafter
released two books. The first a Malayalam script collection of prayers
on Lord Dattatreya which was compiled by Maruti Sharma, priest of
Datta Temple in Cochin Ashrama. The second book, a collection of new
Bhajans of Sri Swamiji printed in Malayslam script was released by
Sri Jayaraman, Commissioner of Customs, Cochin.
At
5 Am on Sunday the 22nd, Sri Swamiji placed the copper Yantrams of
the Navagrahas in the stone base. And after the Sri Chakra Puja in
the morning, Sri Swamiji spoke about Dattatreya and principles of
Dattatreya. After the Purnahuti at the Yaga Shala, Sri Swamiji went
in to the small shrine of Karya Sidhdhi Anjaneya and sat in meditation.
Thereafter, Sri Swamiji gave dry coconuts to devotees and asked them
to tie them around the temple and come after 40 days to open the shell.
Later, Sri Swamiji climbed up the small Navagraha shrine and performed
Kumbhabhishekam. Hundreds of devotees witnessed and were Blessed.
In
the evening a wonderful Bhajan session was held in the Ashrama prayer
hall where Sri Swamiji’s captivating voice combined with the
power of old Bhajans took the devotees to a devotional frenzy.
Sri
Swamiji left Cochin on Wednesday, 23rd April for Katmandu, Nepal.