Trinidad

Sri Swamiji's annual visit to Trinidad and Tobago this year was extra ordinary.

Upon Arrival in the Piarco International airport in Port of Spain, Pujya Swamiji was warmly and reverentially welcomed by the members of Datta Yoga Center and Sri. Chandresh Sharma, Minister of Public works.

The reception at the Ashrama was warm and colourful with hundreds of Devotees singing welcome songs for Swamiji with clapping, dancing and drumming. Sri Swamiji visited the Datta Temple and offered Arati to Lord Dattatreya. In his welcome speech, Sri Ramesh Maharaj, Trustee of the Datta Yoga Center reverentially thanked His Holiness for deciding to visit Trinidad this year.

Pujya Swamiji in the benedictory address spoke about the Venkateswara temple in Mysore Ashrama and said "After worshipping for 40 days continuously, It was very hard to leave the place. Trinidad is doubly blessed because Sri Swamiji is coming here straight from the Mandala Puja celebrations for 40 days. Many other places were requesting that Sri Swamiji to visit their place after the temple inauguration. Trinidad was in Sri Swamiji's mind all along" said Sri Swamiji.

The next day Sri Swamiji visited Princestown in the evening and sang Bhajans in the Datta temple there. This temple was inaugurated by Sri Swamiji in 1997. In the ensuing days, Pujya Swamiji discussed with the Trustees / Members of the Datta Yoga Center here about building a Balaji (Venkateswara) temple in the Ashrama premises. The members over joyously accepted the preposition and considered it to boon. Then Sri Swamiji asked Sri Subramanya Sthapathy, temple architect, who had accompanied Sri Swamiji to draw sketches and to prepare plans. Sri Swamiji specified the idol size and temple measurements.

Every evening Sri Swamiji spoke on Vedanta in a series called "Embrace the Truths".

Sunday the 8th was special because Sri Swamiji had announced about Surya Homa in view of the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Thousands attended the Homa and were blessed by Sri Swamiji. On that morning, Sri Swamiji presented to the Devotees the sketch of the Venkateswara temple proposed to be built in Trinidad Ashrama. The Sthapathy (temple architect) was honoured by Datta Yoga Center. Sri Swamiji also released two books written by devotees on their master - Sri Swamiji. One was Experiences with the Master by Ramesh Pragg. The book traces the author's slow development of Devotion and faith and experiences with Sri Swamiji. The second book My Swamiji by Dr.Balkaran Shivnauth is an assortment of thoughts and writings on various facets of Hinduism and Sri Swamiji's persona.

In the early hours of Sunday (8th)Sri Swamiji made a unannounced visit to Aripo river and brought water from the holy river for Sri Chakra Puja.

Denmark

Sri Swamiji arrived in Denmark from Trinidad on 11th August at 4 PM.

The members of the Datta Yoga Center, Denmark and Devotees of Sri Swamiji from Europe welcomed Sri Swamiji at the Copenhagen airport. The programmes in Denmark included Vedanta course and Music for Meditation and Healing by Sri Swamiji.

The Vedanta course commenced on 13th evening. Sri Swamiji in the inauguration speech commended the interest the people had evinced in Vedanta and cautioned them that the course will be difficult. Over 200 persons were participating and the beach side resort of Gallebjeggard was bubbling with enthusiasm and interest. Last year too a Vedanta course was held in the same place and the topic of the 15 lesson course was - WHO AM I ? This year the course was titled "Journey in to the Self".

On 15th, Sunday, Maha Ganapati Homa was conducted along with Sri Chakra Puja. Sri Swamiji performed the Purnahuti of the Ganapati Homa.

The evening witnessed a beautiful and melodious concert in the sublime settings of Saint Anne Gymnasium in Copenhagen. Sri Swamiji played Ragas Varam (Bhajan Shankaram Shankaram), Raga Kama Vardhini (Bhajan Jyoti Veligindi). As it was 15th August, Sri Swamiji remembered the Indian Independence day and played Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram (Raga Kaapi). Indian and Danish flags were placed as the backdrop of the stage to mark the Indian independence day. As the Tani Avarthanam was going on with Shankar Ramesh on Mridangam and Mahesh Bhat on Tabala, Sri Swamiji wielding a Crystal wand were around the auditorium.

After the concert concluded, an Indian video production team interviewed Sri Swamiji about the healing music and Raga Ragini Vidya.

Vedanta classes continued with the sessions discussing the subject "Who Am I ?Sri Swamiji's lucid explanations and Bhajans connected with each chapter's summary and Sri Swamiji translating and singing those Sanskrit bhajans in to English bhajans seemed quite interesting.

The visit of Pujya Swamiji to Denmark was given publicity by the local media with main stream news papers carrying prominent articles on Sri Swamiji and His visit to Denmark.

Norway

Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived in to Norway on 21st August 99, a sunny Saturday morning.

The journey from Denmark to Norway was memorable as well as a historical one. This was Sri Swamiji's first ever over night journey on a ship. As the Scandinavian Sea Ways ship - Queen on Scandinavia- brought Pujya Swamiji to the shores of Norway, it also brought immeasurable joy in the hearts of the devotees of Norway for it was a dream come true to all of them. Indra - a familiar figure in Ashrama, having brought many people from Scandinavia to Mysore Ashrama to introduce Sri Swamiji in their lives, welcomed Sri Swamiji to his home country.

From the Oslo port, Sri Swamiji was taken to Sanatan Hindu Mandir in Slemmestaad, a town on the out skirts of Oslo. Shri Lal and Shri Jaikrishan Gosaine, members of the temple committee welcomed Pujya Swamiji in the Indian tradition with Purnakumbha and chanting of Mantra by the temple priest.

That evening Pujya Swamiji was taken to the famous Vigeland sculpture garden, which exhibits the world renowned sculptures of the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Sri Swamiji made a silent journey through the garden.

The 22nd August was an important day. After the morning Sri Chakra Puja and Maha Ganapati Homa, which was witnessed and participated by hundreds of devotees, Pujya Swamiji's healing tones were heard in Oslo Kosorthus - one of the world's best concert theatres. The sprawling facility in the heart of Oslo is the heart of the arts and culture in this country. Designed impeccably in every detail, the Center is a testimony for time tested design ingenuity of the Scandinavians. Pujya Swamiji was very pleased with the auditorium.

As Pujya Swamiji entered the stage at 5 minutes past 7 PM, Christopher Meru Keller, a well known Danish composer and devotee of Sri Swamiji played a welcome song for Sri Swamiji on the huge pipe organ built on the stage. He played Priere a Notre Dame, Toccata - both from Suite Gotigue - 3rd and 4th movement. Then his own composition "He is Sachchidananda" was sung by Spran Eva Cramer of Denmark. Meru played on the organ. It was very melodious, and Sri Swamiji liked it very much. Indra welcomed Sri Swamiji and the musicians and Agastya introduced Sri Swamiji's healing music.

Sri Swamiji played five compositions - Gana Gana Mrogedu, Shankaram Shankaram, Palaya Mamiha (Tani Avarthanam), Raghupati Raghava. The two and half hours of mellifluous and healing music soothed the audience and scores of them stood in the line and gave flowers to Sri Swamiji after the concert. During the Tani Avarthanam (percussion duet between Mridangam and Tabala) Pujya Swamiji moved among the audience. He touched some of them with crystal. After reaching the back of the hall, Sri Swamiji sat in one of the concert chairs and appreciated the aesthetics of the stage and the decor of the auditorium. The evening came to a wonderful end with Pujya Swamiji leaving the auditorium with all smiles.

Germany

Pujya Swamiji arrived in Germany from Copenhagen on 26th August. Devotees welcomed Sri Swamiji in Berlin airport.

Being a Thursday, Pada Puja was performed to Sri Swamiji that evening.

On 27th, in the late afternoon, Sri Swamiji was taken on a boat tour of the great city of Berlin. Many devotees came on the boat tour on river Spree. A guide explained the history and the growth of Berlin.

Music for Meditation and Healing took place in the evening of 28th August in Grosse Sender Saal theatre in the city of Berlin. The stage was wonderfully decorated with colourful clothes flowing from out of a Lotus placed on a high riser.

The inaugural lamp was lit by the a Chinese Lotus master. Shri Doraimaniam. The President of the Gnana Bodha Sabha, Malaysia was present in the concert and offered a garland to Sri Swamiji. Antje Fritz, President of the Datta Yoga Center Germany welcomed Sri Swamiji and Vaishali, host of the Berlin visit, introduced the musicians.

Sri Swamiji played a special song in Raga Brindavana Sarangi for the first time. The soulful raga was quite appealing. Other Ragas played in the concert were Kalyani (Bhajan - Gam Gam Ganapati), Varam (Bhajan - Shankaram Shankaram), Ahir Bhairav (Bhajan - Gauri Taye) - Tani Avarthanam was conducted in this Bhajan among others. During the Tani Avarthanam, Sri Swamiji moved among the audience numbering more than one thousand. After the concert Sri Swamiji sat for more than one hour and received flower presents given by many of those attending the concert.

Sunday (29.8.99)
Maha Ganapati Homa and Sri Chakra Puja were performed at Oeko Werk in the suburbs of Berlin city. After Puja, Sri Swamiji released the German translation of the book "Neeti Mala". The book was translated from English with the Sanskrit verses printed in the Sanskrit script. Kalpana Talea, the translator was blessed by Sri Swamiji. In His speech Sri Swamiji expressed his happiness over the visit to Germany and lauded the efforts of Datta Yoga Center.

After the Maha Ganapati Homa, People came in a queue and Sri Swamiji inscribed some writing on their stretched palms (right palm) with a small crystal. No reasons were mentioned by Sri Swamiji for doing this. In her vote of thanks speech, Antje Trilokavati Fritz, thanked Sri Swamiji for visiting Germany and made a fervent appeal to visit next year.

United Kingdom

The visit of Pujya Swamiji to England this time saw the important event of inauguration of the Euro Datta Center, in the premises recently bought by the Datta Yoga Centre, U.K. to conduct its activities.

Sri Swamiji arrived in Birmingham airport from Hamburg (Germany) on Thursday, the 2nd September.

On the evening of 3rd (Friday), Krishna Janmashtami (Birthday of Lord Krishna) was celebrated at the Preston Manor auditorium in Wembley. As the priests recited the sacred Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram, Pujya Swamiji performed the Krishna Puja. Various sweets were prepared for the occasion and Butter was offwews as Naivedyam.

Later Sri Swamiji spoke about Lord Krishna and blessed the devotees with Butter Naivedyam. Everyone received a spoon of butter. Devotees were exalted to receive butter from Sri Swamiji Himself. It was a serene moment.

On 4th (Saturday), Pujya Swamiji arrived at the premises of the Euro Datta Center in South London (address : # 673, Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, SW 17 0PB). Sri Swamiji entered the premises at 10.45 AM..

After Sri Chakra Puja, Punyaham and Vastu Homa, Sri Swamiji expressed happiness over the move of UK Datta Yoga Center to purchase a premises of its own and conveyed His blessings for the Center. Sri Swamiji blessed that the Center should calm the disturbed mind, clear confused minds, heal wounded minds and better the progress of spiritual life of those coming to it.

In the evening, Bhajans were held in the ADT school auditorium in Putney. Sri Swamiji playing of synthesiser and subsequent singing of "Shankaram Shankaram" gripped d the audience and took them to devotional ecstasy. "It was an ethereal experience" said a devotee.

On 5th, Sunday, Maha Ganapati Homa and Sri Chakra Puja were conducted at the Preston Manor auditorium in Wembley, North London.

In the evening, committee members of Datta Yoga Center met Sri Swamiji and requested Sri Swamiji to visit London next year. Sri Swamiji agreed to visit London in August 2000 and stay in UK for about ten days. With this meeting, the programmes in U.K. came to an end.