Sri Swamiji in his message spoke on the fine distinction between Karma and Kartavya (fate and duty).
On 17th morning Sri Chakra Puja was conducted in the Enbridge Consumers Gas Convention hall. Sri Swamiji spoke on Sri Chakra Puja - the worship, the method and Dharma. This message of Sri Swamiji was carried live on the "Hot Pepper" a popular radio station which broadcasts in AM. Its signals reach even American shores.
Sri Swamiji released a compact disc containing Bhajans sung by Radha Krishna in Baton Rouge, USA, last year. Then Sri Swamiji released a commemorative souvenir containing valuable articles on Sri Swamiji, Hinduism, Music therapy and Guru Tattva. Sri Swamiji admired the souvenir book and Blessed the efforts of George Baldeo, Fyzul Mohammed, Toy Mohammed and Betty Ram Naraine who had worked for the souvenir book.
That evening Satsang was held in the same hall and Sri Swamiji gave a insightful discourse.
Click here for the text of the speech of Swamiji
On 18th Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and it was followed by a Question and answer session between Sri Swamiji and Radha Krishna. Sri Swamiji posed several awkward questions like why a Sadguru is needed, what does he give, Why does he test ? does it mean Sri Swamiji does not care you? Why Swamiji bashes ego ? Has Swamiji ego? Why Swamiji performs miracles etc. etc., Sri Radha Krishna gave befitting and convincing and illuminating replies.
The Satsang in the evening was wonderful and the devotees enjoyed the various Bhajans sung by Sri Swamiji.
On 19th morning Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in great detail and the Ashrama priests performed the chanting from four Vedas, Shastra, Purana and Sangeeta Sri Swamiji instructed to sing the composition "Akhilandeswari Rakshamaam" in Raga Dvijavanti. Many devotees thanked Sri Swamiji for the detailed worship. Nalini Talasila of Saginaw, USA who was present remarked that it reminded her of the detailed Navaratri Devi worship Sri Swamiji conducts.
In the evening, Music for Meditation and Healing was held in Missisauga Living Arts Centre. The imposing concert hall in three tiers was full of anxious people. Sri Gayadath Supersad, president of Datta Yoga Center gave the welcome speech and Sri Bhandari, Consul General of Indian High Commission in Toronto lit the inaugural lamp and in his address profusely thanked Sri Swamiji for visiting Canada and Blessing the audience with the healing Music. He traced the development of music and its relation to Yoga as mentioned in the scriptures and quoted several authoritative texts. He also conveyed his admiration for Datta Yoga Center to have the concert organised in such a beautiful hall which even the Indian High Commission had not been able to get.
Mr. Jay Ramsaran, presented the garland to Sri Swamiji and gave Vastram.
Sri Swamiji played the music for over 2 hours and the main healing composition was in Raga Sarasaangi with the popular Bhajan "Saptashva Rudham". Sri Swamiji went around the audience while Shankar Ramesh excelled on the Mridangam Solo. Bred in the pedigree of Sri Karaikudi Mani, the legendary and India's foremost Mridangam player, Ramesh's style and technique was captivating and made Sri Swamiji to sit in the audience and enjoyed the Mridangam solo .
On Sunday the 20th, Sri Chakra Puja and Maha Ganapati Homa were performed in the same venue. A famous Ganapati organisation of Toronto chanted Ganapati Atharva Sheersha from Atharva Veda. The detailed Sri Chakra Puja ended with Dance Seva by Parvathy of Machilipatnam, now settled in USA. She danced to the tune of Sri Swamiji's composition, the Bhajan "Chandi Chandasura Damani".
Click here for Sri Swamiji's speech on Sunday the 19th August 2000 at Toronto
Then Sri Swamiji gave away the Prasadm to the audience and Blessed the Purnahuti of Ganapati Homa. Later Sri Swamiji selected the new committee of Datta Yoga Center. The new members are:-
Teekah- President
Jairajh Maharajh - Vice President
Krishnee Singh - Secretary
Harry Ramnaraine - Treasurer
George Baldeo - Member
Gaydath Supersad - member
Ramdular Sharma - member
Lakshmi Narayana - member
Ranjson - member
Ramesh Ramsingh - member
Advisors:
Prakasha Rao
Mrudul Kumar
Surendranath Thakur
Dr. Madhusudana Rao
Sri Swamiji Blessed the new committee members.
The Sunday morning programme was attended by over 600 people most of them seeing Sri Swamiji for the first time.
In the evening, a boat cruise on lake Ontario was arranged and Sri Swamiji went on it with about 100 devotees. Enchanting Bhajan session by the Satsang group of Canada, whose participants for the day were Sheetal on Accordion, Sharma on synthesizer, Michel Ramnarine on Tabla and Radhanna from Mysore on vocals. Sri Swamiji later came and sang the Hanuman Bhajan "Vande Santam Hanumantam". Sri Swamiji later blessed Sri Venkatramayya of Florida, USA, by giving away the jacket Sri Swamiji was wearing. The boat named Oriole drifted along the waters of Ontario and gave the audience a spectacular view of the skyline of Toronto down town and the sun set on the placid waters of the lake.
On 21st August, Monday, Sri Swamiji visited the houses of several devotees and left for London at 6 PM.
Photos of the Canada visit..........
Sri Swamiji
releases the commemorative souvenir book for this visit to
Canada. Sri George Baldeo, member of Datta Yoga Center watches
Sri Swamiji
releases the compact disc "Datta Smaran-2" containing Bhajans
sung by
Radha Krishna in a Satsang session in Baton Rouge last year
Sri Harry
Ramnaraine gives introduction speech in the Music for Meditation and Healing
concert
on Saturday, 18th August at Missisauga Living Arts Centre
Sri Bhandari,
Consul General of Indian High Commission in Toronto,
bows down after lighting the lamp
Sri Jay
Ramdular presents garland to Sri Swamiji
Sri Swamiji
sings the Bhajan "Pahi Pahi Gajanana" in the concert
Sri Swamiji
in the audience during the concert
Sri Swamiji
sits in the audience and listens to the scintillating Tani Avarthanam
by Shankar Ramesh (Mridangam solo)
Sri Swamiji
was presented a flower crown by Sam Pillai after the concert
Sri Chakra
Puja on Sunday the 20th August
Bharata
Natyam Seva was performed by Smt. Parvathy of Chicago, USA
Sri Swamiji
explains about Shweta Arka Raksha
The audience
on Sunday
Four year
old Child prodig, Neel, gave an amazing Bhajan singing session,
as a pleased Sri Swamiji looks on
The newly
elected executive committee members of Datta Yoga Center, Canada with
Sri Swamiji
The boat
cruise on Lake Ontario on the boat ORIOLE
Sri Swamiji
stands in the front of the boat as it moves gently on the blue waters
of Lake Ontario
Sri Swamiji
blesses Venkatramayya of Florida, USA with the jacket Sri Swamiji
was wearing