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Special Music program in honor of the great musical literature in DASA system

On 27th November 2005, Ashrama hosted a special music program to honor the great and classical literature of the DASA Sampradaya (like Kanaka Dasa, Purandara Dasa etc) . They were the great mystical saints of medieval India who have left a treasure trove of classical Kannada language compositions. Ashrama was teeming with the people who came to enjoy the music rendered by the stalwart singers of the state. It is estimated that more than 20 thousand people attended the evening in Nada mantapa

Sri Swamiji inaugurates the Musical extravaganza

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WARM CLOTHINGS TO THE VEDA BOYS

Mysore is getting cold. The chill increased, Sri Swamiji gave away warm sweaters and clothes to all workers, students and inmates of Ashrama. Here we see the beautiful sight of Sri Swamiji with Veda boys in their warm clothing

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Deepavali - The festival of Lights - 01 November 2005
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Deepavali - the festival of Lights was celebrated in Ashrama on 1st November 2005. Lakshmi Homa was held in the morning and Dhana Lakshmi Puja was conducted in the evening. Sri Swamiji spoke on the occasion and said that people waste money on crackers and urged them to support the victims of flood and earth quake who had no reasons to celebrate this year. South India received excessive rains falls this year and many places were inundated and flooded.

Sri Swamiji also spoke about the festival and said that the festival of lights should light up hearts and minds of people. Cluttered mind leads to a cluttered life. Simple thinking is needed - said Sri Swamiji. He also cautioned about obsessive news and information collection most of which is not needed for a person's life. Shed unnecessary baggage of thoughts - called Sri Swamiji.

Dhana Lakshmi Puja on Deepavali - 01 November 2005

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Chutuku Sahitya Sammelana in Ashrama - 29 & 30 October 2005
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Datta Peetham hosted Chutuku Sahitya Sammelana for two days in Nada Mantapa. Chutuku is the Kannada version of Limerick in English literature. More than 600 Limerick poets from all over Karnataka state attended the event. Sri Swamiji had written over 700 such poems in Kannada during this year's USA tour. The same was released as a book titled "Chutuku Saptashati". This book contains 700 poems. The poems are four to seven lines and the subject matter varies from Philosophy to family life to stock market to coffee to immigration problems to plane travel. Sri Swamiji keen observation of the world and humanity can be seen in this book. Though the poems are very easy to understand, the underlying pun, fun, rebuke, wonder will certainly startle anyone. Several literary luminaries like DE JE Gowda, Prof.Echcheske, Prof.Akbar Ali, Prof C.P.Krishna Kumar and others participated in the two day event. The preface written by Sri H.S.Krishna Swamy Iyengar (Echcheske), Dr.De Je Gowda and Prof Lakkappa Gowda in the book deal in detail Sri Swamiji's style and skills.

Prof H.S.Krishnaswamy Iyengar, well known Kannada scholar and columnist released CHUTUKU SAPTASHATI - kannada poems written by Sri Swamiji.	Sri Swamiji flanked by Kannada literature giants during the inaugural function on 29th October 2005
Ashrama donated Rs.25,000 to Mysore city corporation for flood related relief efforts. Ashrama also donated 25 bags of various grains for distribution in poor localities

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Eye Treatment camp in Ashrama Hospital - 19 October 2005
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SGS Hospital and MRC Eye Hospital jointly conducted mass eye operation camp. 200 patients registered themselves for check up. 40 patients needed different eye surgeries which were carried out free of cost to the patient.

Front of the hospital. Patients queue up	Doctors Examining if the patient needs surgery
Persons who needed surgery were taken in Ashrama Ambulance van to the MRC eye hospital for free surgery

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Kaveri river Theerthodhbhava Day - 18th October 2005
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According to the Indian almanac, the Kaveri Theerthodhbhava day (the day river Kaveri was born) fell on 17th October 2005. This is very important to the Kodava people of Coorg area (The area where the river is born - about 2 hours drive from Mysore). The Kodava Samaja (Organisation of Kodava people in Mysore) of Mysore had arranged the Kaveri water to be brought from from its birth place and was distributed by Sri Swamiji to the Kodava people on 18th morning. The program was attended by about 500 Kodava people (People who hail from Coorg area). Sri Swamiji also composed a new bhajan in Kannada language on river Kaveri which was sung by Sri Swamiji himself. Sri Swamiji also played some healing and meditation tunes.

The new Bhajan on river Kaveri was sung by Sri Swamiji on 18th October 2005. Here we see the Bhajan pamphlet being released by Sri. K.B.Ganapathy, Editor of Star of Mysore, the popular news paper in Mysore. Sri PS Ganapathy, President of Kodava Samaja and Dr.Shetty, senior Kodava person are also seen.

‘S.E.R.V.E’ (Scientific Research on Vedas) is a Charitable Trust, created on the advise and divine command of His Holiness Parama Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, with its head quarters at Hyderabad, India. The sole aim of SERVE is to explore the sciences hidden in Vedas and allied Shastras, as they are believed to be devoid of negative effects. SERVE web site - http://www.serveveda.org

It was indeed a special event for the residents of Mysore Ashrama that Sri Swamiji had returned in time for the Krishna Janmashtami festival. After the Abhishekam to Sri Datta Venkateswara, Sri Swamiji performed Arati to the gorgeously decorated marble Krishna Statue, The procession idols of Venkateswara, Sri Devi and Bhudevi and also the marble Dattatreya statues - all in the temple premises.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji sat in a flower swing as Ashramites chanted the Bhagavadgita Shlokas. Housewives came forward and offered many types of sweets and savories - which are part of the Janmashtami festival. Sri Swamiji then performed Krishna Puja. After singing some Krishna Bhajans, Sri Swamiji gave butter as Prasadam to all assembled devotee crowd. Sri Bala Swamiji gave a short but cute speech on how Sri Swamiji is like Lord Krishna to thousands of his beloved devotees and how Mysore Ashrama had become the beautiful Brindavana - full of lush green vegetation - flora, fauna and trees.

Sri Swamiji performs Arati to the marble idol of Sri Krishna in Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple on Krishna Janmashtami day - 26th August 2005 - 11 AM

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Sri Bala Swamiji's Kailash & Manasa Sarovara Yatra

Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji hoisting the Indian tricolour flag on Republic day (Jan 26 2005) in front of the Universal prayer hall in Mysore Ashrama

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