Kerala visit of Sri Swamiji
(11th to 15th December 2003)

11-12-2003
Sri Swamiji started from Mysore on 11th December 2003 to to the Siddharaja Datta Kshetram, in Aluva town, Kerala. Enroute Sri Swamiji visited devotee houses in Palghat and Trichur.
A rapturous and magnificent welcome comprising Veda Ghosha by the students of Kalady Sringeri Sankara Math Rigveda Pathasala, Panchavadyam (a typical consortium of four rhythm instruments and clarinet type blowing instrument) by Sri Mohan & Party, three festooned Elephants, Jaya Ghosha by the devotees, volunteers Ashrama and Volunteers of RSS awaited Sri Swamiji. Though Sri Swamiji has almost visited Kerala every year, this trip has a special significance, as this was to be marked by Samprokshanam and Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Siddharaja Dattatreya Temple and Maha Ganapati Shrine. The organizers had made good arrangements befitting the momentous occasion. (Kerala has a unique place in Sri Swamiji’s mission. We should reverentially recall that Sri Swamiji has commenced His Dharma Prachara mission here in 1970s.) Kerala has become the first state in India to declare Sri Swamiji as a State Guest. All the paraphernalia connected with this declaration, was accorded to Sri Swamiji. 
Sri Swamiji has arrived at 6 PM in Ashrama. The Prayer Hall was extended and the stage was well remodeled for this occasion. The welcome function has commenced with the Veda Chanting by students of Kalady Veda Pathasala. The dignitaries who welcomed His Holiness were Sri Mohammed Ali- MP, Sri MP Sateesan – MLA, Sarala Devi - Chengamanad Grama Panchayat President, Anil Kumar – Desom Village Block Member and Sri P Balan Menon – Kerala State Sanchalak – RSS. Sri Swamiji described the importance of next day’s Kumbhabhishekam. His Holiness has recalled His earlier assertion during Pratishtha in 1991 that the one has to wait for a decade to see the grandeur of this Ashrama. (After the Pratishtha of Karya Siddhi Anjaneya, the outlook of Kerala Ashrama changed. The Poorna Phala Samarpana attracted thousands of devotees from all over the state.) He further predicted the profile of this Ashrama would not be the same after 5 years.
Executive Trustee of Kerala Gnana Bodha Sabha Sri V Parameswaran Iyer and other Trustees offered Garlands. Manimandiram Krishna Kumar, an active volunteer and Kannan have jointly conducted the proceedings in Malayalam and English respectively.
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12-12-2003
           
Ms. Mira had rendered Sangeeta Seva during Srichakra Puja. Later, Pujya Swamiji proceeded to offer the Maha Poornahuti for Dattatreya Maha Yaga and Homa related with the Samprokshanam and Maha Kumbhabhishekam conducted by the team of scholars from Datta Peetham. Kumbhabhishekam for Ganapati Shrine and Datta Temple occurred at 10.30 AM. Hundreds of Devotees thronged the Ashrama, which wore a festive look. After the Sikhara Abhishekam, Sri Swamiji made the large crowd chant Victory to Truth and Righteousness. He has also prayed for the welfare of the state, country and the planet. After coming down from the altar, Sri Swamiji performed Samprokshanam to the presiding deities in the Sancta Sanctorum. Poorna Phala was offered to Karya Siddhi Anjaneya for the fulfillment of Sri Swamiji’s wish that His Holiness should visit this Kshetram often. Nearly 300 members tied the coconut for this prayer.
Two Malayalam Booklets- translated by chief priest of the Ashrama- Sri V Maruti Krishna Sarma and Sri Krishna Pillai of Aluva; Sri Guru Geeta and Sri Datta Dhyana Maalika were released on this occasion. Prasadam was given to the sponsors of the Book and function. All the devotees were fed sumptuously.
            As per the tradition of Datta Peetham to honor outstanding persons in Culture, six eminent personalities of the region were felicitated by the local Trust. Sri Prabhakara Verma – Carnatic Musician, Dr. Sri K Kunjuraman Warrier – Mural Painter, Sri Narayanan Namboodri – Bhagavata Pravachanam, Sri G Mahadeva Iyer – Astrologer, Sri Subrahmanya Iyer – Sanskrit Exponent, Sri Sreedharan Vaidyar – Ayurvedic Physician were the six pundits, blessed by Sri Swamiji. The evening Bhajan session was very lively, with Sri Swamiji singing..
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13-12-2003
            Sri Mattanchery Sasidharan and Child prodigy Sri Jaya Krishnan soulfully sang classical music during morning Puja. Ksheera Abhishekam(Milk Abhishekam) and Betel Leaves Alankaram to Karya Siddhi Anjaneya was the important event for the morning. After Puja to Hanuman, Sri Swamiji has revealed His Sankalpam to adorn Anjaneya Swamy with Golden Kavacham. Later He has inaugurated the Kerala Style Large Lamp (Velakku), donated by the family of Anjaneya Temple Donor Sri Mohan Kumar.
            Before the evening session, an interview with Jeevan TV, a Malayalam channel and local press was conducted on the banks of Poorna river (called Periyar locally). In the interview HH promulgated that a bath in this river could help us achieve Poornatwa (Fullness). Outlining the intended scheme of activities, He has told the media that an orphanage project was in the offing after acquisition of more land and naturopathy section would be added to Ashrama’s Datta Clinic. He informed that Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Allopathy General Medicine and Ophthalmology sections of the clinic were serving hundreds of people every year. 
One can never guess what great momentous things could happen, with Sri Swamiji around. This evening’s program was differently scripted by His Holiness. Kerala Bhajan group led by Sri TR Seturaman and Narayanan sang energetically for 1 hour. Sri Swamiji had explained how singing the holy names could help improve your health. He had blessed Sri TB Rama Swamy Iyer (one of the founding members of the Branch in Kerala, whose family is one of the most active in Ashrama Activities) and Sri Parameswaran Iyer, Executive trustee for their yeomen services to Ashrama for the past decades. Both were felicitated with Peetha Vastram. Sri Swamiji has materialized 2 necklaces and conferred to Sri  Parameswaran and Sri Sasidharan, who has developed an art of playing classical music on a Hair Comb. Sri Sasidharan later played a Keertana in Todi Ragam and Bhajan in Sindhu Bhairavi before an astonished audience. Later Sri Swamiji narrated how difficult, it is to control breath during this type of practice. He has demonstrated how Naada is an integral part of our body. Later, a fund raiser for the MatruChchhaya –an orphanage near Ashrama, was announced. Sri Swamiji has gifted a cheque of Rs.55,000/- to the organizers on behalf of Kerala Trust.

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14-12-2003

Prof. KV Thomas – Minister for Tourism and Fisheries visited Sri Swamiji in the morning. During Srichakra Puja, Udyoga Mandalam Vijaya Kumar devotionally rendered a song on Sri Swamiji’s Mukham (face). His rendition stirred souls of several devotees. Sri Swamiji during His address blessed the Artist for the continuation of the devotion and improvement of his talent. He further elaborated the procedure for worship of Guru and Devatas.
Kavacha Manjari – Malayalam version, another translation work of the Maruti & Krishna Pillai combination, was released by His Holiness. Sri Swamiji has exhorted all those present to subscribe for Malayalam Bhakti Mala. This was followed by Karya Siddhi Anjaneya Homa Poornahuti and Taila Abhishekam to Siddharaja Dattatreya.
That evening, a session of Music for Healing and Meditation was conducted. The magical sounds of Sri Swamiji’s synthesizer reverberated in the entire premises. It was a blissful experience for hundreds of devotees, who had come for the occasion, to listen to the captivating music of His Holiness in the vicinity of calm and gentle River Periyar. Chakravaka was the main Raga for the evening. Sri Sajit Kumar, Trustee has honored the artists. With this concert, the enthralling events in Kerala Ashrama concluded.

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15-12-2003    
           
            Sri Swamiji has left at 5 AM for Tiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum), capital of Kerala State. This city is named after the presiding deity of the city and erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, ruled by famous Cultural Giants such as Raja Ravi Verma- a legendary painter, whose paints adore most of the galleries in India and abroad; Swaati Tirunal – a mystic composer. The scion of the kingdom His Highness Martanda Verma had visited Datta Peetham, and Kerala Ashrama many times and had invited Sri Swamiji to visit the Temple. {The king is called Padmanabha Dasa (servant of the Padmanabha Swamy) and is the hereditary Dharma Karta of the sprawling 12th century Temple. Only devotees wearing traditional Indian dresses are allowed in the precincts of the Temple.

            His Holiness was ceremonially received by the Temple officials and Priests. He was shown all the important shrines in the Praakaaram, namely Sri Dharma Sasta Ayyappa Swamy, Sakshi Gopala and Ananta Padmanabha Swamy. The Chief Priest hailing from Udupi narrated the formation of idol, consisting of 1200 saligramas from Nepal. The Garbha Gruha of the Ananta Sayana Maha Vishnu (Lie Back reclining posture), who faces the sky (facing upwards) has 3 Doors. Through the First door, one can see the Head, and thru the second Naabhi (Navel) and through the third Door, one can have a glimpse of the feet. A lotus emanating from the Navel of Vishnu has Brahma on its top. (The name Padma Nabha is derived from this posture.) Another significance of this temple is that underneath the right hand of Vishnu, a Siva Linga is worshipped. After Darshanam, Sri Swamiji has visited the magnificent Kula Sekhara Mandapam, (consisting of several rare idols depicting various celestial events) where Navaratri Sangeeta Seva is rendered.
            After Darshanam, Maharaja Sri Martanda Verma called on Sri Swamiji in Bhajanpura Palace along with his family. Principle Secretary of Home, Government of Kerala, Sri Rama Krishnan has also visited Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji lauded the efforts of all those who made this trip very successful especially Sri Padmanabhan, retired DGP of Kerala and the team of young organizers for whom this was the maiden effort.
            Boarding the plane at 3 PM, Sri Swamiji has left Kerala and reached Mysore 6 PM

The ornately decorated elephants and the Panchavadyam orchestra welcoming Sri Swamiji to the Ashrama
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Sri Swamiji lights the new lamp in front of Karya Siddhi Hanuman shrine
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Sri Swamiji adorns the new stage. several dignotories and devotees offered welcome to Sri Swamiji
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Sri Menon of RSS speaks
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Sri Chakra Puja in the renovated and extended prayer hall
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Aratii to mother Goddess during Sri Chakra Puja
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The 12th year Kumbhabhishekam to the Kalasha above Ganapati Temple
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The 12th year Kumbhabhisheka to Siddha Raja Dattatreya temple Kalasha on 12th December 2003
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The Samprokshana to Ganapati idol in the temple
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Abhisheka to Siddha Raja Dattatreya in Ashrama-14 Dec 2003
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Sri Swamiji shows Arati to devotees after waving it to Dattatreya
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The Karya Siddhi Hanuman getting milk Abhishekam by Sri Swamiji
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Sri Swamiji offers Purna Phala to Karya Siddhi Hanuman
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The Generation divide. Sri Swamiji is flanked on either side by the two generations.
On his left is the second generation - Sri Sethuraman, Sri Parameshvaran and Sri Vaidyar. On the right side are Sri Kannan, Sri Krishna Kumar and Sri Gautham. Sri Swamiji stands in the center as an anchor for both generations
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Sri Swamiji honors Sri Rama Swamy Iyer, The first generation devotee from the mid sixties
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Sri Parameshvaran, Executive Trustee of Kerala Ashrama is honored
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The awardees: Sri Prabhakara Verma – Carnatic Musician, Dr. Sri K Kunjuraman Warrier – Mural Painter, Sri Narayanan Namboodri – Bhagavata Pravachanam, Sri G Mahadeva Iyer – Astrologer, Sri Subrahmanya Iyer – Sanskrit Exponent, Sri Sreedharan Vaidyar – Ayurvedic Physician
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Sri Swamiji releases Malayalam book - Guru Geeta lecture by Sri Swamiji. The translator, Sri Maruti Sharma is on the left.
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Sri Swamiji donates Rs.55,000 to Matru Chaya an orphanage nearby
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The Healing Music concert in Ashrama on 14th December evening
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Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji with his most powerful healing instrument - a lighted crystal in his hand. In the back Maha Ganapathy with his most powerful energy in the the front as Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
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Sri Swamiji among the audience in the concert held in the Ashrama prayer hall
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Sri Swamiji stands in Ashrama at the banks of river Purna (Periyar) The lushness of Kerala can be seen on the other side of the bank.
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Sri Swamiji is all shyingly smiling as a squirrel deems Swamiji's shoulder is the safest place after being with Rama in the Ramayana
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The squrril cultches Swamiji safely and surely
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Sri Swamiji visited Thuruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) on Monday 15th December 2003. Maharaja of Trvancore Raja Marthanda Verman offers gifts to Sri Swamiji. Later Sri Swamiji had Darshan of Ananta Padmanabha Swamy
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