Datta Kshetra Yatra - Eluru, Andhra Pradesh

Nam Dattanatha - Navanaatha Kshetra

Arriving close to midnight on the 12th January 2003, Sri Swamiji was received by over three hundred devotees in Eluru Ashrama. A weary Swamiji still sported smile and lit of the hearts of devotees with love and devotion.

Undoubtedly Eluru Ashrama is the most beautiful Ashrama in India. Its inauguration in 2001 heralded a new spirit in Datta Devotees to bring Sri Swamiji to Ashrama after its full completion. The Ashrama was named as NAM Datta Natha Kshetra. It has shrines of Dattatreya, Anagha Devi, Ganapati, Venugopala, Karya Siddhi Hanuman and Navagrahas. A prayer Hall, Guru Nilayam, priest quarters, This year A shiva temple has been built.The Ashrama was a single minded effort of the Lunani family and notably the three brothers - Brij Gopal Lunani, Venu Gopal Lunani and Hari Gopal Lunani. Eluru is 80 kilometres from Vijayawada and the newly constructed four lane road makes driving a pleasure now.

On 13th January 2003 morning Sri Swamiji attended the Kriya Yoga camp where more than 100 students had taken a introductory classes on Kriya Yoga. Sri. Gopala Krishna and Sri. Raja Rao had successfully conducted the camp. Sri Swamiji appreciated the interest of the students and proclaimed that before 1985 Kriya Yoga was one of the main stays of Sri Swamiji and he would return to the same path of december this year when there would be a special and contained emphasis on Yoga and its many paths. Sri Swamiji urged the students not to give up the practice of Pranayama. Later there was a press conference and Swamiji spoke extensively about Trinidad Hanuman project. Children from a tribal school run by the Lunani family sang some Bhagavad Gita Shlokas and Annapurna Ashtaka Shlokas and earned appreciation from Sri Swamiji.

Diabetes detection camps were held on 13th and 14th January 2003.

In the evening there was a grand welcome reception to Sri Swamiji. The chief Government officer of this district Sri. Shashi lit the traditional oil lamp. Several poets read out poetry welcoming Sri Swamiji to Eluru. Sri Brij Gopal Lunani, eminent industrialist and advisor to the Eluru Ashrama Trust released the Video CD of 60th Birthday celebrations of Sri Swamiji. Devotees were anxiously looking forward for its release.Sri Swamiji gave a short discourse. (click here for the text of the speech)

The14th January 2003 was a rare day as three important festivities had fallen on a single day. They were

Sankranti - the day of Sun God's return journey to Northern hemisphere

Vaikuntha Ekadashi - the day when the heaven gates are opened

Kumbhabhishekam of Vishveshvara Shiva Linga

Sri Swamiji arrived in the proposed Shiva Temple at 6 AM and placed the Shiva Yantra in the base stone. Later Sri Swamiji came to Datta temple and opened the northern door indicating the UTTARA DVARA DARSHANA. Thousands of people went in queue and had Darshan of Lord Dattatreya procession idol and Sri Swamiji. It was indeed a blessed occasion.

At 11 AM, Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti of the Shiva Homa and carried the Kalasha to the roof of the newly built Shiva temple and performed Kumbhabhishekam. After coming down, Sri Swamiji performed Abhishekam to the newly installed Shiva Lingam. This Lingam has been fixed at a low height to enable people to sit around and perform Abhishekam.

The speech after Sri Chakra Puja had real fire in it when Sri Swamiji exhorted the audience to develop love towards all including workers at home and to put in correctional techniques from a total collapse in the moral fabric of humanity. This stirring speech of Sri Swamiji shook up hundreds of people.In the evening Bhajans were held.

Sri Swamiji left for Nuzividu on the early morning of 15th January 2003 .

Sri Swamiji arrives at 11 PM on 12th night. Hundreds of devotees were anxiously waiting and cheered as Sri Swamiji arrived.
___

Sri Brij Gopal Lunani, advisor to the Eluru Ashrama Trust and a gentle giant.
___


Sri Swamiji addresses the Kriya Yoga students in the Eluru Ashrama Yoga Centre
___

The imposing Bhayya Devi and Shiva Gopal Lunani Yoga and meditation centre
___

The Dattatreya, Ganapati and Gopala Krishna temple and Karya Siddhi Hanuman temple to the right
____

Sri Swamiji in the Satsang Hall. Daily thousands of people participated.
_____

Children from the Lunani tribal school sing Sanskrit shlokas
_____


Sri Swamiji listens to the children singing as the temple towers form as back drop
_________


Sri Swamiji holds the 60th Birthday Celebrations Video CD
__________

Eluru Ashrama Trustees with Sri Swamiji and advisor Sri Brij Gopal Lunani
_____

Uttara Dwara (Northern door) of the temple was decorated for the
Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival
_________

The Entrance opened at 6 AM as Bala Swami performs Arati to Datta idol
__________

People rush inside for Darshan
_________

Sri Swamiji performs Arati to NAM Datta Naatha Dattatreya and Anagha Devi
_________

Sri Swamiji bows to Venu Gopala idol
_________

Karya Siddhi Hanuman in Eluru Ashrama - Sri Swamiji in Prayer
______

Carrying the Sacred Kalasha, Sri Swamiji climbs the Shiva Temple for Kumbhabhishekam on 14th January 2003
______

Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Vishveshvara Shiva Temple
_____

Sri Swamiji scatters flowers in air after Kumbhabhishekam.
____

Abhishekam to the newly consecrated Shiva Linga
______