4th SDHS Volunteers Camp at Mekedatu ~ 12 & 13 December 2011

Jaya Guru Datta

Mekedatu was and remains as one of the driving energies behind all the service activities from the times of Sri Lingannaiah (father of Jaya Lakshmi Mata) who lived in this sacred place for over two decades in the early 19th century and believed that Service to man is Service to God. The divine birth of Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji also took place here.

This place of service was aptly chosen by Pujya Gurudeva to conduct the 4th SDHS Volunteer Camp on 12 & 13th December 2011. 650 Sri Datta Humane Service volunteers had a blessed opportunity to be in the divine fold of Pujya Swamiji for two days. 650 volunteers in 11 buses started from Mysore Ashrama on 11th December, visiting Shivana Samudra (Bhara Chukki) waterfalls and Ranganatha Swamy temple en-route and reached Mekedatu Ashrama by 8 p.m.. Hot & delicious food welcomed these volunteers.

Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived in Mekedatu on 12th December 2011, to the delight of all volunteers. He was welcomed by a disciplined chain of volunteers standing on both the sides of the path chanting Jaya Guru Datta & Sri Guru Datta. With a blissful smile Pujya Swamiji walked into the venue of the camp and inaugurated the camp by lighting the lamp. SDHS Vice-President Smt. Srilakshmi, IPS, Founder Trustee Sri K. Narayana Rao and Sri Ashwatha Narayana joined Sri Swamiji.

In His inaugural speech, Pujya Swamiji explained in detail the social service rendered by His maternal grand father Sri Lingannaiah in Mekedatu area during Indian freedom fight and expressed His happiness that this camp for service oriented volunteers is being conducted on service oriented land of Mekedatu.

The evening witnessed the cultural talent of volunteers. The humorous skits impressed Pujya Swamiji. Earlier to that, many volunteers had shared their experiences in association with Sri Swamiji and how Sadguru made their lives meaningful. On the midnight of 12th December, about 6 volunteers had a rare, amazing and an unbelievable experience on the banks of river Kaveri. They were blessed with Vishwaroopa Darshana of Lord Dattatreya under a series of miraculous circumstances. This experience continued for all the three days in different forms. All volunteers deemed it to be their fortune and blessing of the Lord and Pujya Sadgurudeva.

On 13th December, Sri Chakra Puja was performed by Sri Swamiji, followed by distribution of Performance Awards for various outstanding services of volunteers. The Best Volunteer Award was given to Sri Lakshman of Machilipatnam. In team categories, Hyderabad team of volunteers received both Best Program Participation and Best Medical Services awards. Later, founder trustee of SDHS Sri K. Narayana Rao explained the origin and evolution of SDHS and spoke about the various current & upcoming social, medical, charitable and spiritual activities that SDHS plans to undertake as a prelude of Pujya Sri Swamiji's 70th Birthday. After lunch, all the volunteers had a wonderful opportunity of taking holy dip in the waters of Sangama. Sri Swamiji who stood on a rock for more than an hour was surrounded by volunteers to take three holy dips while Sri Swamiji personally chanted and made volunteers repeat the Hanuman Mantra "Om Namo Hanumathey Namaha" while taking the dip.

Cultural programs continued in the evening. Later, Sri Swamiji explained the significance of viewing Shatasloki Ramayana and insisted all the volunteers to take part in this Maha Yagna. He also explained about how this video is making waves across the world for universal peace. He gave precautions on using Facebook and other social networking sites. Marking the conclusion of this 4th volunteer camp and to the delight of all the volunteers, Pujya Sri Swamiji announced that the next year's camp will be for a period of four days.

All the three days, a wide variety of delicious and sumptuous food was relished by the volunteers. Sri K.V. Aiyappan, President of SDHS extended his invisible hand behind this. Volunteers of Mysore and Mekedatu worked tirelessly for over a month under the overall supervision of Sri K. Narayana Rao to make every volunteer comfortable.

As they say, every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning, this 4th volunteer camp too ended for a new beginning inspiring hundreds of souls, directing to the path of Guru Seva. Pujya Swamiji left for Bangalore at 8 am on 14th December for His 113th foreign tour.

Volunteers eagerly waiting for Pujya Sri Swamiji's arrival

Gurudeva enters Mekedatu Ashrama

Pujya Sri Swamiji lights the inaugural lamp of the 4th SDHS Volunteer Camp.
SDHS Vice-President Smt. Srilakshmi, IPS, Founder Trustee Sri K. Narayana Rao and Sri Ashwatha Narayana are seen.