Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama @ Belgaum

Aims:

This one month long Jnanavahini programme was designed to spread the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda to students, youths and common people in the district of Belgaum especially rural areas. It was Swami Vivekananda’s idea that such education (man-making and character-building education) should reach the village also. Jnanavahini follows Swami Vivekananda’s dictum, “If the mountain cannot come to Mohammed, Mohammed should go the mountain”. Jnanavahini was aimed at giving back the lost individuality to the people, strengthening their lives through spreading the truths preached in our eternal religion and as presented by Swami Vivekananda Every development starts with the inner development of man. If men can be given ideas and ideals to build a strong personality, nation building is on its way. Only when people are giving ideas for a responsible living, real development can be brought about, or else as Swami Vivekananda said – “The wealth of the whole world is not enough to improve one little village in India, if people are not taught to help themselves”

Preparation:

The Mysore Ashrama provided us with all the information {both in written and visual (VCD) form} regarding the programme. A batch of Brahmacharis and volunteers went around taluks of Belgaum district to locate places where the programmes could be held. Discussions were held with this groundwork. Once again a batch of inmates and volunteers by Swami traveled to the planned places to meet important people who will help us in organizing the programme. A very detailed programme was worked out with date time and programme fixed at each place. All these were printed as an invitation and sent to all those different town’s and villages for information. Invitation was also sent to devotees and important people for information.

Persons in charge of the programme in different places were giving the details of the programme (written and soft copy), which included the welcome of Jnanavahini team.

The Jnanavahini Vehicle:

It is a mini bus (TATA 407) suitable built to suit the purpose of carrying/housing the following:

• Photos panel on the life of Swami Vivekananda for exhibition.

• Books (Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta Literature) to carry.

• Audio visual system (Amplifiers, speakers, DVD player CD’s, VCD’s screen stand etc).

• Solar panel maintaining, batteries for energy storage, converter for power output etc.

  Almirah & racks for storage of other accessory items.

• Most importantly this vehicle carries a 6 feet tall, fiberglass statue of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago standing pose. This will be mounted in front of the vehicle during processions and exhibitions.

• People

Inauguration:

This programme was inaugurated, on 6th November, Sunday by worshipping Swami Vivekananda .the vehicle left for its mission immediately after puja. 3 inmates (1 Swami, 2 Brahmacharis), volunteers, 2 technicians (from Mysore) constituted the Jnanavahini team.

Method of preaching (Model programme):

• Jnanavahini enters a town on the decided day and time with Swami Vivekananda (statue) leading the team.

• Important people, organizers welcome the Jnanavahini by offering puja to the statue of Swami Vivekananda, offering garland to Swami Vivekananda and to the accompanying swamiji.

• Jnanavahini is taken through major streets of the town in a colorful procession where students of high schools and colleges participate. Band sets, drum, bhajans teams, banners, etc add enthusiasm to the procession.

• Jnanavahini reaches the destination of the morning programme (school\college)

• Personality development classes are conducted for school/college students which

  • include –prayers (Vedic chanting, bhajans), talk on Swami Vivekananda’s life and messages,

  • ideas for successful student carrier, personality development etc,

  • video film show to further impress the importance of building a strong character and personality,

  • exhibition and sale of Swami Vivekananda literature etc,

  • free distribution of photos of Swami Vivekananda, books of Swami Vivekananda.

• This personality development programmes are in two or three batches or in 2 or 3 institutions.

• Evening public programmes are held at the destined places (halls etc) for the benefit of the general public. This includes

  • bhajans/vedic chanting, lecture (on life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sharada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda),

  • film show (parables of Sri Ramakrishna, life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda), exhibition and

  • sale of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta literature collection of monthly magazine subscriptions etc.

• Note: In big towns the Jnanavahini halts for 3 or 4 days to cover the different school/colleges and also to reach more people through more programmes in the evenings.

More details:

Response:

The response showed by the students and youths were very encouraging Swami Vivekananda’s message was received with great enthusiasm. Most of the students and youths had heard of Swami Vivekananda and a little of his life but were unaware of the power and fire of his message which have particular relevance to Indian youths. Swami Vivekananda’s message was “Strength!!” and the force of swamiji’s language surprised many. Those burning words will lift them up form weakness and misery. There is no escape. The interest shown in buying literature of was also fairly good. The evening public programme also drew lot of common people. Lectures and film shows were aimed at presenting to them clear ideas of God, religion and it practice etc as practiced and preached by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.

Photo Gallery:

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