Pujya Sri Swamiji visits Cochin (Kerala State)
Oct. 22nd to Oct. 26th 1998
Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived in the west coastal southern city of Cochin in Kerala State on 22nd October 1998. It was pouring rains the previous day and night. As Sri Swamiji landed in Cochin, the rains stopped and Sun shone. Sri Swamiji was received at Cochin airport by Mr. Padmanabhan, Inspector General of Police, his wife Dr. Vijayalakshmi, Mr. Sethuraman and family members, Trustees of the Datta Peetham of Kerala. Sri Swamiji was profusely garlanded and was lead to inaugurate the city's well-known medical centre and its Fertility clinic in Ernakulam area headed by Dr. Vijayalaksmi.
Sri Swamiji addressed a press meet and local journalists asked questions about healing properties of ancient Indian music. Sri Swamiji responded by saying, "Music by itself heals only to a certain a extent". Sri Swamiji also explained the need to listen to sonorous tones and how today the medical world has come to understand the need to involve music in surgery and clinical therapeutical methods. Mind heals the bodily wounds and undoubtedly music plays a vital role.
Later Guru Pada Puja was performed by Sri. Padmanabhan and family. Sri Swamiji left for Alwaye Ashram in the evening and was received by hundreds of devotees with excitement and happiness.
23.10.1998 - Friday:
Sri Swamiji, accompanied by a few devotees went on a boat ride in the coastal belt of Kerala, arranged by Mr. Jose Thomas of Choice Group of Companies. Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Pooja and Ganapati Homa in the famous Siddharaja Datta temple in the Ashrama. In the evening Vastu Homa was performed in a newly constructed hospital "Datta Charitable Medical Clinic" in the Ashrama which was sponsored by Smt. & Sri. Padmanabhan. This will cater to the medical needs of people all around the village. This adds to the charitable activities of the Datta Peetham of Mysore and also has an Ayurvedic section. In the evening Bhajans were performed by His Holiness in the Ashrama.
Pujya Sri Swamiji offering Purnahuti for Ganapati Homa
24.10.1998: Saturday:
Sri Swamiji inaugurated the Datta Charitable Clinic in Alwaye. In this unique function hundreds of devotees were chanting Lalita Sahasranama while Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Pooja. Many great scholars from Kerala came to have the Darshan of His Holiness. In the evening His Holiness sang many popular Devi Bhajans.
Sri Swamiji at the Datta Charitable clinic
25.10.1998: Sunday
Sri Swamiji inaugurated an Eye Camp (ophthalmic treatment). Abhayam, a well-known charitable organisation in Kerala and Datta Peetham joined together to conduct this Eye camp programme. Nearly four hundred people were checked on this day. He was happy with the service of the "Abhayam" organisation and blessed them. The camp was very successful with the help of Ashrama volunteers of Kerala and the Trust members. During the camp more than 200 people were given away free spectacles and free cataract operations were performed on about 75 patients.
Sri Swamiji with the doctors and patients after inaugurating the the Eye camp
Later Sri Swamiji blessed the big Audumbara tree in the Ashrama premises by placing Datta Padukas near the tree. Sri Swamiji performed Tailabhisheka to Siddharaja Dattatreya. Later Sri Chakra Pooja was performed near the tree. After the Pooja he explained the greatness and importance of the tree in the Datta tradition.
Sri Swamiji during the Bhajan session
Meditation and healing programme in the evening at Alwaye was a great success. Sri Swamiji played melodious Ragas. Hundreds of people attended the programme. Sri Swamiji sang compositions of Navaratri 1998 and a new composition on Lord Venkateshwara.
On 26th morning Sri Swamiji left for Mysore via Bangalore.