Sri Swamiji embarked on the 60th foreign tour on the 22nd of April. Arriving in Delhi on the 23rd morning, Sri Swamiji visited the new land given by Delhi Government in Dwaraka locality. Here, a new Ashrama will be constructed. Sri. R. Venkatraman, Patron of Delhi Ashrama Trust accompanied Sri Swamiji. Delhi devotees led by Dr. Shyamla Pappu were visibly elated to receive Sri Swamiji there. Sri Swamiji sat on the dias and Smt. Shyamala Pappu welcomed Sri Swamiji and offered a plateful of the mud (earth, soil) and Sri Swamiji placed his Sacred Feet on the earth.
The next day Sri Swamiji arrived in London and on that evening Sri Chakra Puja was performed in the church of Ascension in Wembly (Click here for Sri Swamiji's speech there). Coming outside, Sri Swamiji saw the five plants in a row and was elated.
Sri Swamiji left for Barbados the next morning and was in the Bridgetown Airport for a couple of hours. Devotees of Barbados led by Mrs. Estuko Anderson were with Sri Swamiji. They requested Sri Swamiji to visit Barbados for a longer duration some time soon. The same day (25th April) Sri Swamiji traveled to Trinidad. Arriving in the swanky new airport in Port of Spain at 7 PM, Sri Swamiji was received by Dr. Linda Baboolall, President of the Senate along with the important members of the Datta Yoga Center of Trinidad, Sri Ramesh Maharaj, Dr. Sieu Persad, Sri. Vishnu Deo Naraine, Sri. Sherwin Seenath, Sri Sieunarain Sharma, Smt. Savitri and others.
The following were the important highlights of the visit to Trinidad.
Release of Hanuman Chalisa tape on the 26th April morning. Sri Kusal won the first cassette and received the same from Sri Swamiji's holy hands.
Review of Temple construction activities in Trinidad Ashrama by Sri Swamiji. Fifteen south Indian temple architects are in Trinidad Ashrama and building a 80 foot Hanuman statue which will be the tallest Hindu God statue in the western hemisphere. New temple for Dattatreya, Anagha Devi, Raja Rajeshwari, Ganapati, Shiva and Navagraha. Big temple tower in front of Datta temple.
Inauguration of Hanuman square in Trinidad Ashrama. A well designed open temple in the Centre of Trinidad Ashrama circle with a Hanuman idol in it was inaugurated by Sri Swamiji on the 26th noon.
Sri Swamiji planted a sapling of Audumbara plant in the sprawling lawns of Ashrama in the evening of 28th April.
At noon on Sunday the 28th April 2002, Sri Swamiji placed the first brick at the base of the core pillar of the proposed 80 feet Hanuman statue. Thousands of people devotedly watched the sacred event which brought Sri Swamiji to Trinidad all the way from India. They excitedly chanted the Hanuman Chalisa as sung by Sri Swamiji.
Sri Swamiji during Sri Chakra Puja prepared Sumeru Sri Chakra from turmeric powder as He does during Navaratri festival. It was the first time that I saw Sri Swamiji making Sri Chakra from Turmeric powder anywhere outside Mysore Ashrama. I think it signifies the importance and sacredness of this 60th foreign tour and the visit to Trinidad.
On 29th morning Sri Swamiji left Trinidad for England and flew via Barbados again. In England, Sri Swamiji visited the Euro Datta Center on the evening of 30th and initiated the Puja Temple at the Center. This Altar houses the idols of Dattatreya, which was brought to England by the great Avadhuta Saint Pujya Sri Rang Avadhoot. The Euro Datta Center honoured Sri Maha Shankar Dave and Dr. Aria Maheson for their wonderful services rendered to Sri Swamiji and the Datta mission in England since 1976.
CLICK HERE FOR THE TEXT OF SRI SWAMIJI'S SPEECHES IN TRINIDAD
CLICK
HERE FOR THE TEXT OF SRI SWAMIJI'S SPEECH IN CHURCH OF ASCENSION,
WEMBLY, LONDON ON 24TH APRIL 2002
CLICK HERE FOR THE TEXT OF SRI SWAMIJI'S SPEECH IN EURO DATTA CENTRE
ON 30TH APRIL 2002
CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORT ON LONDON VISIT OF SRI SWAMIJI
Sri Swamiji Blesses the earth of Delhi's new Ashrama land
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Sri Swamiji plants Audumbara sapling in Delhi's new Ashrama land
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Sri Swamiji with Barbados devotees in the Airport lounge
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Sri Swamiji in the new Hanuman square in Trinidad Ashrama . The beautiful south Indian architecture is a verdantly new piece of architectural design in the country. The pillar behind is the core pillar around which the 80 feet Hanuman will be built in the coming months.
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Sri Swamiji stands next to the Hanuman Murti in the Hanuman square Mantap
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Sri Swamiji blesses Sri. Kusal, a devotee who won the first Hanuman Chalisa Tape
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The core pillar around which the 80 feet Hanuman Murti will be built by the South Indian sculptors now in Trinidad
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Sri
Swamiji prays the first brick to be placed for the Hanuman's construction.
Behind Sri Swamiji is the chief temple sculptor,
Sri Subramanya Sthapathy who
has been sent by Sri Swamiji to Trinidad
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Sri Swamiji sprang a surprise on the Nada Sangama steel band team when He joined them in pan playing
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Sri Swamiji in the new Puja Temple in Euro Datta Centre on 30th April 2002
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