Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama @ Belgaum

As a part its on going services towards the student community ( Vidyarthi Devo Bhava),  Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum distributed free notebooks to the poor students from the nearby government schools.

Some of the photographs of event can be seen below:

Around 250 poor students were given 2 note books & 1 pen each, along with candies. The articles were distributed by the dignitaries present  namely Sri Sudhakar Prabhu (Manager HDFC Bank, Belgaum), Sri Vikas Kalaghatgi (President, Bengal chamber of commerce), Sri S G Wke ( advocate & an ardent devotee), Smt. Shanta Hisholkar ( a devotee) & Swami Raghveshanandaji Maharaj.

Sri Sri Guru Purnima was celebrated at the Belgaum Ashrama on 18th of July with due solemnity. The programmes included homa, chanting, bhajans, pushpannjali, etc were attended by many devotees. The detail programme is given below:

Morning:

        06:15 am : 07:15 am : Usha Kirtan (Omkara, Vedic Chanting, 
                                              Sri Guru Stuti, Bhajans & Meditation)
        09:30 am : 10.00 am : Vishnu Sahasranama (Parayana)
        10:00 am : 11:00 am : Homa
        11:00 am : 11:30 am : Bhajans
        11:30 am : 11:50 am : Sri Ramakrishna Ashtottaram
        11:50 am : 12:20 pm : Speech
        12:20 pm : 12:45 pm : Pushpanjali & Namavali
        12:45 pm : Arati & Prasada

Evening

        06:30 pm - 07:45 pm : Special Arati & Bhajans

In all more than 650 people participated in the morning programme & about 150 had assembled for the evening prayers & bhajans. All the assembled devotees were served with prasada. The programmes went on very smoothly. More than 50 volunteers gave their services along with the inmates of the Ashrama in conducting the overall programme.

Some of the pictures of the event can be seen above.

A Report

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum organized the 3rd camp of ‘One Lakh Japa Yajna’ from 25th-29th of June, 08. In this 3rd camp more than 60 devotees participated in which around 45 were from Mumbai, Thane & Bangalore & remaining from Belgaum town. All arrangements for food & accommodation for the outstation devotees were provided.

In this third batch special event 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 from Mumbai & Dhuni (sacred fire) during which there were singing of Bhajans, reading from ‘The Eternal Companion’ which was followed with Japam & dhyana.

All the devotees were very glad for having got an opportunity to participate in this unique Yajna.

‘Some remarks from the participants’ 

1. " Japa Yajna has given me the proudest moments of my spiritual life, next only to moments of receiving MANTRA DIKSHA. My only request is to call me again & again for all Japa Yajnas in future."- A Devotee

2. "Dhuni meditation was a life time experience, overall it is an enriching experience for all of us & given a chance I will come back again for spiritual upliftment."- Surender Vasandani, Mumbai

3. "I am indeed blessed for being able to participate in the 5 day Yajna. I will make all efforts at home to improve my Japam and other spiritual practices. I would like to attend Japa Yajna again & earnestly request you to consider me for future Yajnas."- K Rama Rao, Mumbai

4. "About ‘Dhuni’ I really liked the silence & now I realize that we can also do sadhana if we wish & Thakur will help us in many ways. Only we should have desire for God.- Dr.(Mrs) Nivedita Bakshi, Mumbai

5. "Japa Yajna is really a new thing for us. Although it is very tightly scheduled but we did not feel it. Rather we enjoyed every moment, especially Bhajans & Kirtans. The time spent here will be an unforgettable experience of my life."- Chitra Ray, Mumbai

6. "Usha Kirtana has made a deep impression on my mind. Its timings & the way of its presentation is very good."- Raghunatha Rao, B’lore

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION ASHRAMA, BELGAUM organized Japa Yajna programme for doing one lakh japa & practice sadhana in a suitable atmosphere for the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna.

The 1st camp was organised from 14th-18th of May, 08. In this 1st camp more than 75 devotees participated in which around 50 were from outside Belgaum & remaining from Belgaum town. All arrangements for food & accommodation for the outstation devotees were provided.

Some photographs of the event

All the devotees performed one lakh japam within 5 days. They were all excited & highly appreciated the program.

A Report

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum organized the 2nd camp of ‘One Lakh Japa Yajna’ from 4th-8th of June, 08. In this 2nd camp more than 65 devotees participated in which around 50 were from Mumbai, Thane, Kolhapur & Bangalore & remaining from Belgaum town. All arrangements for food & accommodation for the outstation devotees were provided.

In this second batch there were two additional events namely Sri Saradanaam Sankirtana performed by a group of devotees from Mumbai & Dhuni (sacred fire) during which there were singing of Bhajans, reading from ‘The Eternal Companion’ which was followed with Japam & dhyana.

All the devotees were very glad for having got an opportunity to participate in this unique Yajna.

‘Some remarks from the participants’ 

1.The best thing about ‘Japa Yajna’ is that it is a group activity. If anyone had asked me to do a Lakh Japam I would definitely have hesitated to attempt it whatever the incentives might be. Being in a group makes it more appealing, besides it is a good way to enthuse the spiritual aspirant to perform japam & once we have tasted the joy & peace we get therein, it will help us to continue on our own - Chaya Sawant, Mumbai.

2.The ‘Japa Yajna’ has immensely helped me to identify many things like- necessity of constant practice regularly, impact of disciplined & regulated life &  the importance of Japam in purifying & control of mind - Sudipto Choudhary, Thane

3.Now I am determined to practice this discipline at home also - Smt Geeta Dhyani, Mumbai

4."Morning to evening" program was nicely planned. I found it as a spiritual symposium/retreat. I am satisfied - Anu Kamat, Thane.

5."Maa" always says about Japa & its benefits, I never took it seriously. But after attending ‘Japa Yajna’ it is a great feeling, it has given me peace & strentgh. It was hectic but I did it. My heart was joyful in listening to bhajans - Smt. M D Verma, Mumbai.

6.First I was very scared to attend the Japa Yagna as i am not at all used to do japa for a long time.I used to do only for a few minutes in the morning as well as in the evening without counting.But when I attended the ‘Japa Yagna’ I was extremely surprised how I finished the japa as instructed to do in a day, nor did  I felt tired. Its all Mother’s grace - Vaijayanti Pal, Mumbai