Pujya
Sri Swamiji in Trinidad - Report 2
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here to go to the first report
of Trinidad visit.
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Trinidad visit.
On Tuesday, 8th August, Pujya Sri Swamiji, upon invitation, visited the residence of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Trinidad, Sri. Basdeo Panday and Smt. Uma Panday. The Prime Minister received Sri Swamiji with traditional Purna Kumbham and had private audience with Sri Swamiji.
That evening Sri Swamiji flew to Tobago, the beautiful island in the West Indies. Sri Swamiji stayed at Tropikist, the hotel complex of devotee Ramsaran. In the welcome speech, he mentioned about Sri Swamiji's previous visit in 1995 and how the expansion had taken place due to the Blessings of Sri Swamiji.
The next morning (9th Aug) Sri Swamiji visited Nylon Pool and was accompanied by about 90 devotees. Sri Swamiji had Samudra Snaan (sea bath) in the Atlantic ocean there.
On
10th morning at 6 AM, Sri Swamiji left for Aripo river. Sri Swamiji had
bath in the river and meditated. He then stood on the stone Padukas consecrated
there and allowed devotees to perform Pada Puja. That evening, there was
Satsang in the Ashrama there.
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HERE FOR THE TEXT OF SRI SWAMIJI'S SPEECH
On the 11th, after Sri Chakra Puja and Homa , the members of the Ashrama requested Sri Swamiji to visit Trinidad in 2002 to coincide with the 60th year Birthday celebrations of Sri Swamiji to which Sri Swamiji agreed. As that year would be the 12th year of Datta temple consecration in Trinidad Ashrama, Sri Swamiji proposed to redo the temple building and construct new towers and walls in South Indian architecture style. It was joyously received as a Blessings of Sri Swamiji. Later Sri Swamiji asked all chronically sick persons to come forward. About 50 persons came and were made to sit near the Homa Kunda. Then Sri Swamiji, holding the long crystal wand, went to each person and asked then to tightly hold the other end of the wand. To some, Sri Swamiji massaged the chest, to others, He merely touched their forehead. It took about one hour to completely go through all the persons.
That evening
Sri Swamiji visited Princes Town and Blessed the Datta temple and its
members there. More than 500 people had packed in to the small temple
and Sri Swamiji expressed happiness to be with them. Sri Swamiji performed
Arati to the Dattatreya and Anaghadevi idols and then conducted Satsang.
The question answer session that ensued was lively and the questions the
local people asked showed the depth of the knowledge of the Hinduism they
possessed.
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HERE FOR THE TEXT OF THE QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
On 12th and 13th, programmes were held in the Ashrama premises. Thousands of people participated in the programmes. The Satsang sessions were carried live by three radio stations. On 12th morning, Navagraha and Maha Vishnu Homa was performed to help those having health and career problems.
In the evening,
Music for Meditation and Healing concert was held. The High Commissioner
of India in Trinidad H.E. Prof. Lal lit the traditional lamp to inaugurated
the concert. In his brief opening remarks, the high commissioner mentioned
that he had Darshan of Sri Swamiji last year in August and it was his
first meeting then as he had assumed the office only a few days before.
Sri Swamiji played several healing tunes. The Alapana and rendition of
Raga Putrika (Jagadeesha Guru Datta) and Palaya Mamiha
showed the depth of the Ragas and Sri Swamiji's innovative style of playing
brought freshness and newness in them. Sri Swamiji used the Steel plan
instrument in Roland synthesizer while playing the dancing tune and the
massive crowd went ruptures to hear their beloved tune in the instrument
native to their country. It was indeed wonderful. After the concert, Sri
Swamiji praised Shankar Ramesh, the Mridangam player for his excellent
Tani Avarthanam as Sri Swamiji went amidst the crowed to heal and
help the sick and needy. Sri Swamiji mentioned that a powerful and professional
Tani Avarthanam (rhythm solo) propels Sri Swamiji to go about the healing
process.
Later Sri Swamiji unveiled a plaque to commemorate the 24th year of Pujya
Sri Swamiji's first visit to Trinidad on 12th August 1976 (Today is 12th
August 2000)
On Sunday, 13th, Sri Swamiji conducted Durga Homa. While Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja, the devotees chanted Hanuman Chalisa in a melodious and captivating tune. As the Chalisa is very popular, almost everyone knew it by heart and chanted along. Giving a brief discourse, Sri Swamiji exhorted people not to attach too much importance to Black magic and the like as Sri Swamiji shunned these hyped up art. Sri Swamiji stressed the importance of attaching non importance to future prediction and asked people to keep away from being carried away by worrying or wondering about future and asked them not to waste money, time or energy for these. "Why worry for something that is anyway going to happen" said, Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji visited and blessed the Annapurna Mandir, canteen, Book shop and the free dispensary run in Ashrama. Later Sri Swamiji gave audience to Mr. Patrick Manning, Hon'ble Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and the present leader of opposition and Blessed him.
On 14th evening, Sri Chakra Puja and Maha Ganapathy Homa were performed. After that at 7 PM, Sri Swamiji gave a discourse on the Vedas and spoke about the hoary antiquity of the Vedas, its divisions and the need to popularise and propagate them. Sri Swamiji shunned the idea that Vedas were for Brahmins only and said God's fruits are for all and that God does not discriminate amongst his own creations. Any body who has the interest and aspiration can learn and profess the Vedas, said Sri Swamiji. The pundits from Datta Peetham, Sri Radha Krishna, Prasad, Jaitra, Ramesh and Srikant then chanted the beginning Mantras of the four Vedas. Then they chanted Ganapathy Atharva Sheersha, Rudra Prashna, Chamaka Prashnam and the passage "Shishya Anushasanam" of Taittareeya Upanishad. Then Sri Swamiji chanted the Parak Mantras and Sangeeta Seva was conducted by the Pundits by chanting the popular Devi composition "Akhilandeswari Rakshamaam" of the legendary composer Sri. Muttu Swami Deekshitar. This composition is one of the most beloved to Sri Swamiji. This special programme on Vedas concluded at 9 PM. The audience numbering over 2000 appreciated this special feature on Vedas and thanked Sri Swamiji for blessing their country men with such special programme. The programme was carried live on two radio stations.
15th August
being full moon day (Purnami), the devotees in Trinidad conducted it as
Guru Purnima. Pt. Viswanath gave a soulful rendition of Hindustani classical
music furing Sri Chakra Puja. After the Puja, Sri Swamiji mentioned in
the speech that devotees had requested him to send a Priest from India
again and cautioned them to respect his privacy and utilise his presence
in the country. Sri Swamiji had replied to over 150 letters which the
devotees had written to Him. To mark the Guru Purnima day, Tulabharam
with coins was performed and Sri Swamiji sat on one side of the scale
as devotees came in a line and poured coins on the other scale. After
the Tulabharam, Sri Swamiji spoke on the Tulabharam performed to Lord
Krishna and how a small Tulasi leaf with devotion and love from Radha
tilted the scale which till then challenged the ego of Rukmini and others.
Later Sri Swamiji gave away 54 Padukas to chosen devotees.
Afterwards, the 53rd independence day of India was marked by unfurling of the flag of India and Trinidad by Sri Swamiji. The respective national anthems were sung to the melodious accompaniment of Steel Pans by the newly formed Nada Sangama Steel band. Sri Swamiji expressed happiness with the relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago and desired much more to happen. The renovation of the Datta temple is in this direction, commented Sri Swamiji.
In the evening, devotees tearfully thank Sri Swamiji for visiting the country for 14th time since Sri Swamiji started to travel outside India in 1976.
Pujya Swamiji
Blesses the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon'ble Sri Basdeo
Panday
Sri Swamiji
presents a Saree to Mrs. Uma Panday, the lady Prime Minister
Sri Swamiji
traveling in a Buggy after arriving in Tobago.
Sri Swamiji
holds aloft a conch in Nylon Pool, Tobago
Devotees
form a circle around Sri Swamiji in Nylon Pool
The grand
sun set in Tobago
Sri Swamiji
holding the crystal wand, healed the chronically ill persons.
The High
Commissioner of India, Prof. Lal and Pujya Swamiji light the inaugural
lamp before the concert
Sri Swamiji
holding the rose crystal wand during the Music for Meditation and Healing
concert on 12th August
The superb
Tani - Mridangam solo by Shankar Ramesh won praises from Swamiji.
The plaque
unveiled by Sri Swamiji on 12th August 2000 . It commemorates the 24th
year of visit to Trinidad.
Sri Swamiji
in Princes town Datta Temple
Former
Prime Minister and Present leader of opposition Mr. Patrick Manning
seeking Blessing of Sri Swamiji on Sunday
The Veda
Sadas in progress on 14 August
Tulabharam
- Sri Swamiji was balanced on a scale with coins on 15th August
Sri Swamiji
unfurls the Indian flag as the crowd chanted the Indian national anthem
to the melody accompaniment of Steel Pan drums by devotees of Nada Sangama
orchestra.
The flags
of two great nations flutter on the 53rd independence day of India
A happy
Sri Swamiji in Trinidad
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on the image for a larger photo)
Click
here to go see more photos of Trinidad
visit.
Click here to go to the first
report of Trinidad visit.