Latest news about the activities at Datta Peetham and Pujya Sri Swamiji
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Interstate Bhajan Competition Held in Mysore Ashrama

Interstate Bhajans competition was held in Nada Mantapa on 8th October 2006. Over 30 schools / collages from 18 districts of Karnataka who had topped in the respective area competitions held two months earlier participated. Ashrama was full of youth energy as more than 400 school children were singing in groups, obviously preparing for the competition later.

The program was inaugurated by Smt. Sudha Rao, Vice Chancellor of Karnataka Open University. The winners of the competition in Junior division was Vijaya Vitthala Vidyashala, Mysore. The winners of collage division was Vidya Bharati Pre University Collage from Shimoga town. Smt.Meera Datta, Post master general of Karnataka state gave away the trophies.

Other details of winners

Collage Division

1st Prize - Vidya Bharati PV collage, Shimoga
2nd Prize - SDM Ayurveda Collage, Hassan
3rd Prize - Bellary Independent PU Collage, Bellary
consolation prize - Badriji Prasadji PU collage, Mysore

School Division

1st Prize - Vijaya Vitthala Vidyashala, Mysore
2nd Prize - Jawahar Navodaya Residential school, Mandya
3rd Prize - Government Model Kannada Higher Primary School, Mellalamakki, Sagara
consolation prize - Auden Public School, Bangalore

First prize winners of Bhajan Competition, Students from Vijaya Vitthala Vidyashala hold the prize shield aloft

Students of SDM Ayurveda Collage , Winners of second prize in Collage division lift the prize shield

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Sri Swamiji sings Krishna Bhajans composed by Jayalakshmi Mata

Today (20 August 2006), Sri Swamiji passionately sang three Bhajans on Lord Krishna composed by Sri Swamiji 's mother Jayalakshmi Mata. It was a treat to listen to them. The compositions were literary master pieces in Kannada language. For e.g., in the third Bhajan, if one added the first letter of each line of the bhajan, t would form the entire first line of the Bhajan. It was indeed a feast to the ears.
Earlier in the day, Sri Swamiji spoke about Vishwam museum. Smt.Sudha Rao, Vice Chancellor of Karnataka open university was honored in the prayer hall.

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Sri Swamiji's discourses in Canada online. Click here

Discourse in Canada - 2006

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Pujya Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji's Chaturmasya program in Vijayawada

Pujya Bala Swamiji has been observing the sacred Chaturmasya Vrata in Vijayawada Ashrama. This Ashrama was one of the earliest places for Sadgurudeva Sri Swamiji to start the Datta Mission. So, Vijayawada was chosen to be the first ashrama outside Mysore Ashrama for Bala Swamiji to observe this sacred Vrata.

Also Vijayawada Ashrama has its own web site now. You can access it by going to

Marakata Raja Rajeswari temple in Vijayawada

Sri Guru Datta

On 11 July 2006, Sri Bala Swamiji performs Vyasa Puja on Guru Purnima festival in Vijayawada Ashrama

Sri Bala Swamiji is speaking on Lalitha Sahasranama during the two month stay in Vijayawada Ashrama

Chandana Abhisheka to Mother Goddess Marakatha Raja Rajeswari
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Rathotsava (chariot) for Goddess Chamundeshvari on top of Chamundi Hill-28 June 2006

Pujya Sri Swamiji and Bala Swamiji pulled the Chariot of Goddess Chamundeshvari on top of the famous Chamundi hill on 28th June 2006 at 10 AM. After that special Archana was held in the Sanctum sanctorum followed by Mantapa Puja.

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Pejawara Swamiji felicitated in Nada Mantapa - 23 June 2006

Renowned saint, Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawara Matha, Udupi was felicitated on the 50th year of his Sannyasa Deeksha. The program was held on 23rd June 2006 in Nada mantapa , Mysore Ashrama.

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji of Sri Suttur Matha, Sri Vageesha Teertha Swamiji of Parakala Matha and Bala Swamiji participated on this occasion. Sri Shivaratreeshvara Swamiji spoke and compared Pejawara Swamiji to the untiring efforts to bring peace and harmony. Sri Swamiji said that in present turbulent times, seeing Pejawara Swamiji was like getting sprinkled with Amrita. Pejawara Swamiji spoke and said that he was humbled by the love and affection of the Mysore people and Swamijis. He continued that Matha is a public institution and should be self evaluated to check if it is serving the purpose for which is has been established. He stressed that he would continue his tours and efforts to bring peace and harmony. Later Tulabhara was performed to him.

Children dressed as Lakshmi and Narayana perform Tulabhara to the Pejawara Swamiji. In the end
they put Tulasi leaves for the Tulabhara balance to tilt

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Narasimha Jayanti - 11th May 2006

Sri Narasimha Jayanti was celebrated for three days from the 9th to the 11th May 2006. The programs culminated on Narasimha Jayanti day, 11th May 2006 with Sri Swamiji personally performing Abhishekam to the Narasimha Swamy idol in the temple next to Universal prayer hall. Hundreds of devotees witnessed the once a year divine spectacle.

Sri Swamiji performs Arathi after anointing the idol with sacred Turmeric powder.

Kriya Yoga Teachers's Training at Datta Peetham - 9-14 May 2006

Avadhoota Datta Peetham hosted a week long teacher training sessions for those interested in teaching Kriya Yoga, the ancient breathing technique as adopted by Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji speaks at the kriya Yoga teacher training camp.

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Pujya Jaya Lakshmi Matha Aradhana held in Jayalakshmipuram on 2nd May 2006

Sri Swamiji returned from His 79th foreign tour of South East Asia on 1st May and proceeded to Jayalakshmipuram directly to participate in the Aradhana festival.

Members of Jayalakshmipuram village and Ashrama pose with Sri Swamiji at the Shrine of Mata Jayalakshmi in Bommeparty.

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Lekhanusandhana= Manuscript protection

Sri Bala Swamiji presides over the inaugural function of LEKHANUSANDHANAM- a short term course on Manuscriptology - hosted by Avadhoota Datta Peetham and organised by Ayurveda academy and Oriental Research Institute of Mysore. The course was attended by numerous experts and volunteers. The program commenced on 23rd April and concluded on 30th April 2006.

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Pujya Sri Swamiji honoring Pujya Sri Vishwesha Teertha Sripadangalavaru of Pejawara Matha on His 75th birth year with a Panchaloha idol of Lord Krishna and a shawl at a function in Bangalore on 4th March 2006. Sri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka is seen next to Sri Swamiji. On the extreme left is Sri. B. Krishna Bhat of Bangalore.

Pujya Swamiji's Purvashrama (pre ascetic) brother - Sri Nanjundayya passes away - 24 Feb 2006

Sri Nanjundayya - a retired teacher from Anantapur city of Andhra Pradesh state was living in Mysore Ashrama for over a decade. He was the son of the Sri Narasimha Shastry's first wife Smt Lakshmamma. It was upon the untimely death of Lakshamma that Sri Narasimha Shastry married Jayalakshmi Mata in Mekedatu.

Sri Nanjundayya was ailing for a while. Just three days back, Sri Swamiji visited the Ashrama hospital and spent some time with Sri Nanjundayya. He was 74 years old and is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.

Sri Bala Swamiji, Pujya Sri Swamiji, Sri Nanjundayya & his wife Smt.Lalithamma

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CD Release of 11 year old Bhanusree Sajith Kumar - 24 Feb. 2006

Sri Swamiji released an audio cd sung by 11 year old child prodigy singer, Bhanusree Sajith Kumar. She is the daughter of Cochin Ashrama devotee Sri Sajith Kumar and grand daughter of Late Sri Viswanathan, a staunch devotee of Sri Swamiji. The compositions in the CD are on the deities of Dattatreya, Ganapathy, Hanuman and Sadguru Sri Swamiji. They were composed by Sri Ajith Namboothiri, Sri OB Sudarshan and Sri Suresh of Alwaye town in Kerala. Cochin Ashrama is in the Alwaye town. Sri Swamiji praised the young singer and Blessed her career. The CD was released in Sri Datta Venkateswara temple after the Friday Abhishekam was completed. This was the first ever CD release in the temple precincts.

Sri Swamiji holds the released CD "Poorna Tharangam-1" Sri Datta Anjaneyam.
The singer, 10 year old Bhanusree and her father Sri Sajith Kumar are seen.

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Akhand Paath of Sacred Guru Granth Sahib - Nonstop chant of the holy text of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Religion) in
Avadhoota Datta Peetham - 22, 23 & 24 Feb. 2006

Sri Swamiji fans the Guru Granth Sahib book
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Sri Swamiji offers Vastra (clothe) as honors to the Guru Granth Sahib book
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The President of Singh Sabha of Bangalore offers a Guru Nanak photo to Pujya Sri Swamiji

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For the first time in the history of Avadhoota datta Peetham, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram, Mysore, Akhand Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was conducted from 22nd to 24th February 2006 in the divine presence of Parama Pujya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji.

As it is firmly known by the devotees that Pujya Sri Swamiji stands for unity of all religions and advocates Faith on the part of everyone to respect his or her religion, the conducting of Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib was a very heart warming testimony to the universal outlook of Pujya Sri Swamiji towards all religions of the world and Oneness of God.  Swamiji’s famous saying is “Flowers are many but Puja is one, Temples are many but worship is one, Religions are many but God is one.  Hundreds of devotees who had thronged the Ashram coming all the way from China, U.S.A., Germany, France, Canada, UK and and also from different parts of India had the rare blessed opportunity to see their Sadgurudeva paying unreserved respect and reverence in all humility to the holy book of Sikh religion – Sri Guru Granth Sahib.  There was hardly any person including hundreds of devotees from Sikh community, whose heart did not melt and whose soul was not touched by the devout profile of Pujya Sri Swamiji.

The Akhand Path started on 22nd at 11.00 am and concluded on 24th at 11.00 am.  All along these 48 hours, the chanting of the holy book was taking place and Pujya Sri Swamiji, everyday in the morning as well as evening would sacredly participate in the proceedings for hours together.  Seeing their Gurudeva as a role model, hundreds of devotees lent their participation in all earnestness marked with service and devotion.

The Sikh religious organizations of Mysore and Bangalore known as Sri Guru Singh Sabhas had fully supported and participated in the programme.  For them also, it was an eye-opener to see the depth of devotion and service rendered by Sri Swamiji’s devotees in responding to the programme.  The president of Mysore Sri Guru Singh Sabha even went on to comment “I have never come across in my life so much reverence, devotion, and respect shown to our faith as I have seen at Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashram, Mysore”. 

To conclude, this programme was a very very grand success and the power behind this success lay in the inspiration given by Pujya Sri Swamiji to the organizers to organize this function.

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Shankara Sandesha - 19 February 2006
Avadhoota Datta Peetham hosted the program "Shaankara Saraswati- Shaankara Sandesha on 19th February 2006. The morning to evening program was held in Nada Mantapa. The program's emphasis was on the successful dissemination of Adi Shankara's message to the present world. The Program was organised by His Holiness Sri Shankara Bharati Swamiji of Sri Yoganandeshwara Saraswati Matha of Yedathore village near Mysore city. His Holiness Sri Vireshananda Swamiji of Ramakrishna Matha, Tumukur town gave the key note speech. Over thousand ladies from different women organizations of Mysore district chanted compositions of Adi Shankara. Pujya Swamiji Blessed the occasion. Pujya Bala Swamiji spoke on the occasion. It was the one hour speech of Sri Vireshananda Swamiji which was the main attraction. Pujya Swamiji later commented that He was very impressed with the young Swamiji's speech on Adi Shankara and His message. (we will put the speech - verbatim- shortly).

Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Pujya Shankara Bharathi Swamiji, Pujya Vireshananda Swamiji watch the traditional lighting of lamp by the programs organizer,Dr.K.S.Narayana Swamy