‘DRAVYA YAJNA’ (Distribution of raw food materials to the extremely poor people)

Dear Friend,

A few weeks back there was a news article in BBC stating that about twelve Indian states have alarming levels of hunger. The rise in the global food prices has reduced the food buying capacity of many poor families, making their situation worse. In the past year food prices have increased significantly, but people’s incomes haven’t kept pace, forcing many families further into hunger, experts say.

We have therefore planned to start another service activity, “the distribution of food grains & other raw food materials” to extremely poor families.

Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi was very much concerned for the poor & suffering people. In order to help at least some of the poor people we have planned to start this ‘Dravya Yajna’. Under this service scheme, rice, dal (lentils), oil, etc will be distributed every month to 75 poor families.

It costs a minimum of Rs. 4000/- per year to support one family. We intent to extend this service to more people as & when we get more funds from the devotees & admirers.

This project will be implemented from January 2009. The first distribution will be held on Sunday, 28th December 2008, at 4.00 pm in the Ashrama.

We invite you to extend your support to join in this seva.

You may also share this appeal with your friends & acquaintances who would wish to contribute their mite for this noble cause.

Yours in the Service of Lord,
Swami Raghaveshananda
(Secretary)

Note: Cheques / DDs can be drawn in favour of ‘Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum’.

‘Donations are exempt from Income Tax u/s 80G’

SRI SHARADA DEVI JAYANTI

  Dear Friend,

The 156th Jayanti celebration of Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi will be held at the Ashrama on Thursday, December 18^th, 2008.

We cordially invite you and your friends to attend the celebration.

Yours in the Lord,

Swami Raghaveshananda 

(Secretary)

Morning

6:15 am-7:15 am :  Usha Kirtana (Omkara, Vedic Chanting, Guru Stuti, Bhajans, Meditation)

   8:00 am :  Special Puja

   9:30 am :  Sri Lalita Sahasranama Parayana

10:00 am :  Homa and Veda Ghosha

11:00 am : Bhajans

11:45 am : Pravachana

12:15 pm : Pushpanjali & Namasankeertana

12:45 pm : Mahamangalarati & Prasada

Evening

6:00 pm : Sri Devi Stuti

6:30 pm :  Special Arati and Stotras

7:00 pm-7:45 pm : Bhajans and Namavali

Note:

* Christmas eve will be celebrated on Wednesday, 24^th December, 2008 from 7:00 pm.

* Kalpataru Day will be observed on Thursday, January 1, 2009. There will be a special satsanga from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

* Like the previous years, woollen blankets will be distributed to 200 poor people. This programme will be held in the Ashrama at     4.00 pm on Sunday, 30th November 2008.

* In connection with the Jayanthi of Holy Mother Sri Sharadadevi, sarees will be distributed to 200 poor women at 4.00 pm on Sunday, 21st December 2008 in the Ashrama,

‘Donations in cash or kind for the celebrations will be thankfully acknowledged.’

Dear Devotees,

Our hearty greetings to you all on the auspicious occassion of Sri Sri kali Puja & Deepavali.

As per the tradition, the Divine Mother is worshipped in her terrible form of ‘Kali’ on the night of Kartik Amavasya.

On Tuesday, 28th October Sri Sri Kali Puja was performed in picture in the Ashrama. A special arati was performed & bhajans in praise of the ‘The Divine Mother’ were sung with great enthusiasm. About 100 devotees participated in the evening worship.

‘Deepalankaras’ (decoartion with lamps) were done with the oil lamps. Apart from the prayer hall there was also special decoration done at Sri Sharada Mantapa (Dining Hall). All the devotees assembled for the evening prayers were invited to see the special decoration done in front of the picture of the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi at Sri Sarada Mantapa & to pay their obeisance to Her.

All the devotees were served with sweeets offered to Mother Kali.

Dear Devotees,

Our hearty Vijaya greetings to you all!

The Navrathri festival was celebrated in the Ashrama from 31^st September to 9^th of October.

In the evenings during these nine days there were the chanting of Devi stuti followed by the Arati of Sri Ramakrishna and devotional songs sung in praise of the Divine Mother.

On the Saptami day, according to the local custom, Mother Saraswathi was worshipped in picture.

From Ashtami day to Vijayadashami Mother Durga was worshipped in picture at the Temple with special Puja, Havan, Vedic Chanting and bhajans. More than four hundred devotees participated and partook cooked food Prasada on this day.

On the Navami day Ayudh Puja was performed in the Ashrama, in which as per the tradition, the work places, instruments & machineries were worshipped.

In the morning of the Vijayadashami a small, informal worship was conducted on the new land acquired by the Ashrama & construction of the Sabhangana.was started on this auspicious day

In evening after the vesper services symbolic ‘Visarjana’ was done, amidst vedic chants, sounds of gongs & conch shells, by shaking of the picture of Sri Sri Durga.

The 6th batch of Japa Yajna programme was held in the Ashrama from 17th - 21st sep.

Around 50 people from Bangalore & Hyderabad participated.

Some of the photographs & the remarks from the devotees are given below:

Some remarks from the devotees:

1. Truly a great experience. The body & mind in longing for more . Melodious bhajans, short discourses & your your own way of narration of stories , is rejuvenating.- Smt. & Sri Annajee Rao, Hyderabad

2. I cannot forget this, it is really a great experience. I don’t know how to express my gratitude. Everything is very nice & well organised. - Smt. Girija, Hyderabad

3. This experience cannot be explained in words,it’s a unique experience & wonderful experience, it was thrilling to sit in front of Sri Sri Thakurji, Sri Sri Maa & Swamiji & do Japam. At home it is just impossible for us to devote such a long time for Japam. I’ll try to do more Japam at home. - Smt. Madhu Asthana, Mumbai.

4. It has been a fascinating discovery that we were practically cajoled into experiencing the joy of doing Japa. It is going to be the beginning of a joyous journey as far as I am concerned.- Smt. Uma Rajagopal, Bangalore.

5. It is not a theoretical Japa Yajna. All the time it was taken care that we were doing our Japam. Even the volunteers were not permitting us to move here & there unneccesarily. It is a practical japa yajna. Routine for these days is excellent. - Sarala, Hyderabad.

6. This japa Yajna has been a great help for me. It made us forget the outside world for these days & be always in “Sri Ramakrishna’s” thoughts. - Gayathri S, Bangalore