Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama @ Belgaum

A Report 

When the veteran politicians, young legislatures, entrepreneurs & men of social standing, share the same stage for a noble cause & speak earnestly, to a gathering of school & college students, their parents & teachers, about their experiences in life & how their lives have been inspired by the life & teachings of one man - Swami Vivekananda- then one may very well imagine what effect it must have made on the minds of the audience.

This is what happened on the morning of 27^th Sep, 08 at the very place sanctified by the stay of great Swami Vivekananda at Belgaum.

Saturday, 27^th September 2008 will be remembered, in coming times, as a day on which a new foundation was laid towards the strengthening of spiritual, cultural & moral values of our society in the region of North Karnataka. It was not an event for public propaganda. Rather it was, as Swami Vivekananda says “Slow and silent, as the gentle dew that falls in the morning, unseen and unheard yet producing a most tremendous result…”. This programme had the hallmark of the spirit in which the Ashrama is carrying on its activities.

The Chief Guest for the occasion, Sri C.M Udasi, the Hon. Minister for Public Works, Port & Inland Water Transport, Govt. Of Karnataka laid the foundation stone for the new Sabhangana to be constructed in the Ashrama premises. The sabhangana will serve as a multipurpose hall for conducting various activities of the Ashrama throughout the year. It will be used as a hall for special lecture programmes, satsangas, conducting Vivekananda Balaka Sangha & Yuvaka Sangha, competitions, students & youth conventions, welfare service activities, annual celebrations, etc.

In his touching & very thoughtful speech, Sri Udasi expressed his happiness & joy for being invited as the chief guest for this auspicious occasion. He appreciated the spirit of service towards the society with which the Ashrama is conducting all its activities & also the effort Ashrama is making in spreading, to the youths of this region, “the Character building & Man making ideas & ideals of Swami Vivekananda”, which is the pressing need of the present times.

The minister expressed his joy for the service activity of helping the poor students to continue their education by way of scholarship.

He also said that it is highly commendable & praiseworthy that the Ashrama is carrying on its multifarious activities for past several years in a quiet way. On behalf of the government he promised to extend all possible help for the Ashrama.

The other guests of Honour were Sri Shivakumar Udasi, Sri Ram Reddy, Sri Lakshman Reddy, Dr. A Rama Reddy. As special invitees were present Sri Abhay B Patil (MLA, Belgaum South), Sri Sanjay B Patil (MLA, Belgaum Rural), Sri Feroz N Saith (MLA, Belgaum North) & Sri Nanjundaiah. They expressed their heartfelt appreciation of the services being rendered to the Society through this Ashrama & wished these to continue to grow in the future also. All the speakers appealed to the gathering, in right earnestness, to imbibe the teachings of Swami Vivekananda for personal development in particular & development of the society in general.

The scholarships to the poor & meritorious students were distributed by the honorable minister & other dignitaries.

Free book coupons worth Rs 5000/- were also gifted to all the recipients to buy Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature of their choice.

Sri Feroze Saith, (MLA, Belgaum North), under whose constituency the Ashrama is located, was much impressed by the Scholarship programme & promised to donate Rs. 50,000/- from his personal account to the Ashrama for this purpose. Similarly the other two legislatures from Belgaum, Sri Sanjay Patil & Sri Abhay Patil also assured to extend all possible help, monetary or otherwise, to the Ashrama.

In all, scholarships worth Rs. 5 lakhs & sponsorships worth Rs 2 lakhs have been distributed to 218 college students & 170 school students respectively, from all over Karnataka.

More than 500 people attended the function. All were served with cooked prasada after the programme.

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama is the only Branch centre of the world wide Ramakrishna Math & Mission in the region of North Karnataka. This Ashrama since its inception in the year 2000, at the very place where Swami Vivekananda, as an itinerant monk, had stayed for 9 days (Oct 13-21, 1892) during his Bharat Parikrama, has been serving the society in various ways through its multifarious spiritual, religious & cultural activities.

Slowly & steadily the Ashrama has been expanding its services, which are being extended to the people of North Karnataka & there was a pressing need for proper infrastructure to conduct these activities. As such this new project comes as a welcome addition to the Ashrama & will go a long way in helping Ashrama serve the society.

It is estimated to cost Rs. 1.15 crores to construct this auditorium.We appeal to individuals & institutions to come forward to help generously in order to complete this project.

The donations may be sent by Cheque or D.D. favouring “Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama” to the following address:

“RAMAKRISHNA MISSION ASHRAMA

FORT, BELGAUM 590 016

KARNATAKA, INDIA

PH: 0831-2430789”

All donations are exempted from IT u/s 80G.

To accommodate ever growing demand from the devotees a special 5th camp of Japa Yajna was held from August 27th - 31st. In this camp more than 40 devotees from Bangalore participated. Usually one camp per month is held but due to overwhelming demand from the devotees this 2nd camp in the month of August was organised. All the devotees expressed their joy for being given a chance to attend Japa Yajna programme. For the dates of upcoming Japa Yajna camps kindly see page end:

Some of the remarks  from the devotees:

1. The word ‘constantly’ & ‘incessantly’ are used often in connection with spiritual life. We have heard & known only the word-meaninig. But through this Yajna we have been given an opportunity to practice ‘constantly’.

About the ‘Dhuni’ - we had read & thought of it & had our own ideas of this programme. But we can’t forget those thrilling moments during dhuni meditation. As Sri Ramakrishna says "Just by saying ‘intoxication’ nothing happens, only those alone who experience that intoxication can understand it truly". - Devotees from Ramakrishna Vivekananda Kendra, Yelahanka, Bangalore

2. I started doing Japa mechanically to begin with, I was filled with doubts whether I would be able to complete 1 lakh Japa within 5 days. But as I proceeded I began to feel that we have great strength, like Lord Hanuman, & we did not knew of it because nobody told us about it. I thank Swamiji for having shown us that capacity in us. I began to have taste for God’s name.

More such Japa Yajna camps should go on. We sincerely pray at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna that like Belur Math this Ashrama also become a great spiritual centre & more & more devotees be benefited thus.- Smt. S Geeta, Bangalore

3. I feel sad that on 5th day this camp is coming to an end. Through the grace of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother & Swamiji may we come back again to participate.

Though we have opportunities to practice at home, it does not happen like the Japa sadhana done here in the Ashrama.- Smt Cheluvamba, Bangalore

4. I have participated in many satsangas & devotees convention , but have not had such experience anywhere. Here we are immersed in the bliss of Sri Ramakrishna. The waverings of mind is reduced. - R N Sarojamma, Bangalore

5. For those who desire the bliss of God, this Japa Yajna camp was a very good chance. The arrangements made to take care of the participants of the camp were extremely good. - Smt. K Srilakshmi Venkatesh

6. This Japa Yajna is an excellent and wonderful program. This program is an effort to draw our attention to our attention to our Ishta Devata by performing 1 lakh japa. This camp is a guidance to the initiated devotees to perform sadhana & to progress towards our goal. - Smt Rajkamala Prakash

Upcoming Japa Yajna camps

Japa Yajna 6

September      17^th – 21^st Devotees from Bangalore.

Japa Yajna 7

November       12^th – 16^th Devotees from Chennai

Japa Yajna 8

December        3^rd-7^th Devotees from Ahmednagar, Bangalore, etc.

Japa Yajna 9

January, 09      7^th – 11^th Devotees who have already participated.

Sri Ganesha festival was observed in Ashrama for 3 days from 3rd - 5th September. The image of Lord Ganesha was installed & worshipped ceremoniously during the festival.  There were chantings & bhajans both in morning & evening for these 3 days & also an immersion ceremony on the last evening. Many devotees participated whole heartedly for these programmes. Some of the photographs of the event are given below.

The daily programme was as follows

September 3^rd to 5^th – Sri Ganesha Utsava

10:30 am - Special Puja to Sri Ganesha

11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Vedic Chanting, Stotras and Bhajans

7:45 pm - Prasada

Immersion ceremony On  Friday 5^th September 2008, at 8:00 pm

A Report

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum organized the 4th camp of ‘One Lakh Japa Yajna’ from 6th-10th of August, 08. In this 4th camp more than 70 devotees participated in which around 36 were from Hyderabad-Secunderabad & rest were from Bangalore, Chennai & Mumbai. All arrangements for food & accommodation for the outstation devotees were provided.

In this 4th batch also there was chanting from the 12th chapter of ‘Srimad Bhagavat Gita’ before the noon & night prasada & also there was Sri Saradanaam Sankirtana performed by a group of devotees as well as Dhuni (sacred fire) during which there were singing of Bhajans, reading from ‘The Eternal Companion’ which was followed with Japam & dhyana.

All the devotees completed One lakh Japa within 5 days.

‘Some remarks from the participants’

1. “After returning to my home I am going to enjoy the bliss in my solitude, wherever I live & wherever I go the nama Japa will always go on.”- K Saraswathi, Chennai

2. “I was able to do I lakh Japa in 5 days. It has given me confidence to perform more Japa & meditation in a day.”- N Radha Krishna, Hyderabad

3. “I have never done Japam so consistently & joyfully, which I did here. Japa Yajna is has been the most experienced and joyful sadhana ever done.”- Rajesh dave, Mumbai

4. “I think no one will ever say herafter that there is no time for doing Japam. Thank you very much for initiating us in right path.” Smt. Usha Ganesan, Chennai

5. “I have realised the importance of continuous Japa, which leads to a further step in the spiritual life.”- M Madhava Reddy, Hyderabad

6. “Japa Yajna was so helpful to me in understanding what Sri Ramakrishna means by “solitude” in the Gospel. I do not remember anytime in my life I have practiced Japa & meditation for so long”- Sri Nitin Muthane, Belgaum

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum conducted a 6 day programme from July 29^th – Aug 3rd named ‘VIVEKA VAHINI’. This programme was planned in order to spread the Value education.the programme consisted of Vedic chanting, Bhajans, lectures, classes, audio-video presentations, sales & free distribution of selected books.

A team of 7 monastics & 3 volunteers from the Ashrama headed by Swami Raghaveshanandaji Maharaj visited different schools & colleges in rural areas in the districts of Belgaum, Bagalkote & Raichur. The following was the programmed schedule in brief.

Day 1- July 29^th, 08

1^st programme: was held at Shri Annadaneshwara Swatantra pre-university college, Munavalli, Tq. Savadatti, Dist. Belgaum. 240 students from PUC I & II years (Arts & commerce) participated. Free books on teachings of Swami Vivekananda & were distributed to the participants.

2^nd programme: was held at Dr. Govindrao Vamanarao Nayik Swatantra PU college, Munavalli, Tq. Savadatti, Dist. Belgaum. In this 230 students from PUC I & II year (arts & commerce) participated. All participants were also given a free book on teachings of Swami Vivekananda & a photo of Swami Vivekananda.

3^rd programme: was conducted at Shri Kumareshwara high School, Munavalli. More than 200 students attended this session.

4^th programme: at Govt. High School, Munavalli. 250 students participated & were benifitted.

5^th programme: was held in evening for the benefit of general public at Panchalingeshwara Kalyan Mantapa, Munavalli. More than 200 people attended the Bhajans & speeches.

Day-2. July 30^th, 08

Different sessions at Sports school, Chandargi for English & Kannada medium students from 6^th – Puc 1^st Yr students. In all 900 students attended these sessions.

In the evening a public programme ( Satsanga) was organised by Swami Vivekananda Seva Kendra, Lokapur, Tq. Mudhol, Dist: Bagalkote. 150 people attended the programme.

Day 3. July 31^st, 08

Programmes were held at 3 different schools & colleges in Jamkhandi Tq, Dist. Bagalkote. More than 2,000 students attended these programmes.

In the evening a public programme was organised at Ganpati Temple, in which 200 people participated.

Day 4, 5 & 6. Aug 1, 2 & 3

In all 5 sessions were held at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Lingasagur, dt. Raichur, for all the students of this residential school. Also a Q & A session was held for PUC students & a special programme was conducted for the staff & teachers of the School.

Apart from the Navodaya school, 4 programmes were conducted at different school & colleges in Lingasagur Tq. In which 800 students participated.

In the evening of 3rd Aug, a special satsanga was conducted at Shri Raghavendra Swami Matha for general public. Around 70 people participated in this programme.

In all more than 5,200 students were reached & an effort was made to inculcate in them higher values for self development & formation of strong character, so that they can grow into a useful member of the society.

Free books & cards were distributed & for students interested in reading more literature, facility of a mobile book stall was provided at all the places where the programmes were conducted. In all the response was overwhelming & the student community showed much enthusiasm & genuine interest in the books on & by Swami Vivkekananda. The ideals & ideas of Swami Vivekananda was received with much keenness by the students as was understandable by the demand of more such classes by the students community.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum is committed to take the life giving message of Swami Vivekananda by visiting as many schools & colleges as possible , specially in the rural areas.