Sri Swamiji in Switzerland

Sri Swamiji arrived in Switzerland on the evening of Sunday the 22nd August 2004. From Kloten airport, Sri Swamiji went by Swiss Bahn (Swiss Railway) train to Berne city. From there, Sri Swamiji traveled by car to Gwatt Congress centre in the town of Thun. This seminar place is located on the idyllic banks of Thun lake. It is a very beautiful place with the lucid green waters of lake Thun lapping up the shores.

23 August 2004 - Monday

In the morning, Sri Swamiji walked around the Gwatt centre and along the Lake thun. Sri Swamiji watched the Hamsas (Swans) in their natural setting and said that He was remembering the Hamsas in Ashrama. Later, Sri Swamiji visited the Mechanical Musical instruments museum and was delighted to see the ancient and wonderful musical instruments from several centuries ago. The melodious music they played displayed the expertise and musical talent of that age. Sri Swamiji spent over three hours and viewed each exhibit with keen interest.

In the evening, Narahari Teertha Aradhana and Sri Chakra Puja were conducted. Following this, welcome festival for Sri Swamiji was held. Ursula Shabari Honeggar, President of Swiss Datta Yoga Center welcomed Sri Swamiji with a moving welcome speech. Dana Gita translated the same. Hans Burgener offered intriguing play of violin thereby showing the five elemental nature of music. There after, Sri Swamiji gave away sweet liked by Swami Narahari Teertha (known in Kannada as Rave Unde) to all .

24 August 2004 - Tuesday

In the morning Sri Swamiji visited the Mystery park in Interlaken town. This newly built mega exhibition and show place of several mysteries of the past is a amazing one. It has been built by the famous ET explorer - Erik van Danikan, author of several hundred books on the subject. Chariots of the Gods, Is God an astronaut are among the most famous ones. First Sri Swamiji saw the Peru pavilion and was impressed by the exposition of Nazca lines. There after, Sri Swamiji visited the Stone Henge and two other pavilions. Mr. Daniken came and met Sri Swamiji and expressed his gratitude for visiting the Mystery park.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in Gwatt Zentrum

25 August 2004 - Wednesday

After Puja, Sri Swamiji inaugurated seminars on Vedanta, Advanced Kriya Yoga and Puja worship. Sri Swamiji was fascinated by various small mechanical wind mills and wind turning artifacts designed by the staff of the Gwatt centre.

In the evening wonderful Bhajans were sung including the Vedanta Bhajans. Sri Swamiji's lecture had very meaningful lessons. Please click here for more full text of the speech

26 August 2004 - Thursday

After the Sri Chakra Puja, a very rare event happened. Sri Swamiji ordered that the turmeric from the previous day's Sri Chakra Puja be distributed to all the Sri Chakra Puja sponsors as Prasadam. Probably it is for the first time that Sri Swamiji did this. In the Puja and Vedanta seminars, Sri Swamiji went around and touched several students for quite a long time. In Kriya Yoga class, Sri Swamiji lectured on Niyantrana Pranayama and its benefits.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji sang more Vedanta Bhajans and played Kiravani raga melodiously and softly.

Earlier, Kali Ray of Tri Yoga fame who followed Sri Swamiji throughout the European tour showed 108 slides of Sri Swamiji life story. It was very informative and the audience appreciated her explanations. Agastya Seikritt translated it to German language.

27 August 2004 - Friday

After the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji went to the Puja Seminar and explained the significance of the the Panchayatana system of worship. In Vedanta class, Sri Swamiji gave the valedictory address. In Kriya Yoga class, Sri Swamiji meditated along with the Kriya Yoga students. While returning, Sri Swamiji went by the peninsular strip of land leading to the lake and watched the tranquil waters of Thunnersee all around. Sri Swamiji seemed to be communicating with the lake. The Swans, ducks and other water animals gathered around Sri Swamiji.

The evening Satsang was the last one on the tour. Sri Swamiji sang old Bhajans, Namah Parvati Pataye, Krishnam Vishnum and others. After the Satsang, Govinda and Vanaja conducted a quiz program on Sri Swamiji's life story book and Hinduism. Many of the randomly called participants had quite deep insight in the book and answered questions with confidence and correctness. The lucky winner of the prize was Shanti Anupindi of USA. She received a Sphatika Sri Chakra from Sri Swamiji. Later Sri Swamiji manifested Vibhuti from the beautiful rose garland that had been offered by the quiz programmers. Sri Swamiji indicated that the Vibhuti be distributed to those having chronic sufferings.

28 August 2004 -Saturday

After the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji returned to music practice. The last concert of the tour was held in the French Church in Berne at 7.30 PM. This 11th century grand place of worship has been host to several musical programs before. The special acoustical aspects of the hall has been hailed as a marvel. The hall was over flowing more than one hour before the concert was yet to commence. Many persons who have been devotees since Sri Swamiji's first visit to this beautiful mountainous country in 1976 were there. Sri Swamiji while walking in the hall to the stage recognized many of them and went over to them and talked to them.

The energy of the music that enraptured in the next two and half hours is indescribable. Sri Swamiji elaborately developed the Mohana Raga (Isha Patisha) and then further developed four more Ragas by key note development of the same Raga. During the thunderous Tani Avarthanam, Sri Swamiji walked around the audience for about thirty minutes. It is probably one of the longest times Sri Swamiji walked around the audience. Many in the audience were wearing special cotton necklace type malas to specify the chronic illness they had.

At 10.03 PM, Sri Swamiji's nimble fingers gently landed on the SA note thereby finishing the Raga Ragini Mangala. Sri Swamiji looked beaming and happy.

Hans Burgener, the musician organizer who had welcomed and introduced earlier, proposed the vote of thanks. Vimala Esther Kaegi, resident of Berne who was wearing the traditional Berner Oberland dress had lit the inaugural lamp. Krish Raman of Datta Yoga Center, USA presented the garland. In the end, Sri Swamiji and the musicians were given scarves with musical notes printed on them and umbrellas. Sri Swamiji tied the scarf on the head and held the umbrella aloft. It was as if Sri Swamiji was sheltering all devotees from the vagaries of life with His music.

29 August 2004 - Sunday

The last day of the tour. Sri Swamiji came to Sri Chakra Puja at 10.20 AM. Before entering the hall, Sri Swamiji symbolically inaugurated the Puja shop of Deva Kusuma. At the instance of Sadguru Sri Swamiji, Pavamana Sukta from Rig Veda was chanted. Thereafter, Shabari, Narendra and Dana Gita spoke about the proposed DATTA YOGA RETREAT CENTER in Germany. A slide show was presented showing the photos of a property near Frankfurt. Sri Swamiji spoke and Blessed the efforts. He fondly remembered the special feeling Switzerland has and the good organization of the local Datta Yoga Center. Sri Swamiji then Blessed Mr. Lutz with a singed concert poster. Volunteers who were instrumental in the week long programs were also recognized and concert posters were given. Some devotees then presented to Sri Swamiji a 100 year old beggar organ - a mechanical harmonica which produces music when a handle is turned. It is said that 100 years ago when soldiers were wounded in the war, the king gave them such organs instead of money. This would make them to carve a living out of playing it for children in the city center or suburbs. Sri Swamiji was very happy with the gift and announced His intention to start a musical instruments museum in Mysore.

Mr. Charly, an elderly Swiss gentleman came around wearing traditional Swiss dress and carrying the long Alp horn. He played the Alp Horn for Sri Swamiji. The booming and reverberating sounds of the horn was like giant conches being blown.

After giving Puja Prasadam, Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti of Maha Ganapati and Nava Graha Homa. More than 500 persons had come and it was a full event. Sri Swamiji asked everyone to concentrate on fire God and pray for the welfare of man kind. It was a divine feeling and Datta vibrations permeated the atmosphere. As Sri Swamiji started to walk back to his cottage, thus concluding the trip, many eyes were moist. Happy that Sadgurudeva chose to come to Switzerland yet again,

In the evening Sri Swamiji left Gwatt and visited Kusnacht and rested near the Zurich airport.

30 August 2004 - Monday

Early in the morning, Sri Swamiji left Zurich and via Frankfurt, arrived in Bangalore at 11:30 PM.

Thus concluded the Nada Prasara 2004 tour - the European part of it.

Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji is reverentially welcomed by Datta Yoga Center's President, Shabari Ursula Hoegger
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Sri Swamiji on a boat ride on Luke Thun
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Sri Swamiji in the Mechanical Musical instruments museum in Thun on 23rd August
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The variety and ingenuity of the century old musical instruments surprised and interested Sri Swamiji
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Sri Swamiji speaks on Narahari Teertha on Narahari Teertha Aradhana day - 23 August
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Sri Swamiji plays Chitike and sings Bhajans on 24th August evening
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Sri Swamiji meditating with Kriya Yoga students
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Sri Swamiji massages the head of Ranjani, a participant in seminar
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Kali Ray of Tri Yoga center shows 108 slides of Sri Swamiji's early life.
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Sri Swamiji gives away Panchayatana idols to participants in Puja Seminar
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Sri Swamiji in Vedanta seminar. Swami Manasa, the teacher is also seen
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Sri Swamiji in the Gwatt Zentrum where he stayed full week, enjoying the Thun Lake. The scenic beauty of this area is soothing and has a calming effect. Observe the interesting cloud pattern above Sri Swamiji. It looks like a garland
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Seeing Sri Swamiji, swans and other birds came around
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Sri Swamiji enjoyed a double swing, a mechanical marvel, on the grounds of Gwatt zentrum.
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The quiz show on Friday, 27th August
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Manifestation of Vibhuti. A vibhuti cloud swirls around Sri Swamiji's hands

Sri Hans welcomes Sri Swamiji to Berne concert
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Concert in French Church in Berne on Saturday, 28th August
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The sides of Sri Swamiji had soaring columns and gothic styled designs
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10.03 PM. Sri Swamiji looks up after the last note of the Mangala has been played. In the foreground the oil lamp shines steadily
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Sri Swamiji was presented with the scarf with musical notes and a umbrella. Sri Swamiji immediately tied it around the head.
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The final Sri Chakra Puja in Switzerland for this tour - on 29th August 2004
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Sri Swamiji shows the Arati to people
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Daniel Ehrmann offers to Sri Swamiji the concert poster. This signed poster was taken by Mr. Lutz.
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Sri Swamiji gave away concert posters to volunteers who helped in the organization
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The Maha Ganapati Homa Purnahuti on Sunday the 29th August
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After the Purnahuti, the young Datta devotee whose NAMAKARANA was performed on Sunday as VAMANA DATTA gives Roses to Sri Swamiji and said "COME BACK SOON". And......
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Sri Swamiji beams. Sri Swamiji was very happy that the final part of the tour, Switzerland programs went on very very well. (click here for a large sized photo of this wonderful shot)

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