Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama @ Belgaum

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

A unique oppoprtunity for sadhana for devotees of

Sri Ramakrishna  

  Sri Ramakrishna repeatedly speaks of three things essential for God realization.

  1. Going into solitude now and then.

2. Holy company (satsanga)

3. Repetition of God’s name.

     Keeping in view these three things, we have organized Japa Yajna programme for doing one lakh japa in a suitable atmosphere for sadhana.

     Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum organized the camps  of ‘Japa Yajna’. All arrangements for food & accommodation for the outstation devotees were provided.

What is Japa Yajna:

      One lakh Japa Yajna is a 5 day residential camp designed for the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna to give them an opportunity to practice spiritual disciplines in holy atmosphere of the Ashrama. The main feature of the programme is that participants have to finish one lakh count of Japa. Also there will be Sankeertana, Reading from ‘the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, discourses, etc.

  The aim of the project:

    There are several devotees who received Mantra Diksha from Ramakrishna Mission, but unable to stick to daily Japa due to various constraints in this age of mechanical life with busy schedules and life styles required to cope with changing times. All these devotees are to be inspired and to be provided with suitable environment and regular follow up so that they don’t leave the path due to various reasons. This project steers their life into a most wonderful achievement wherein they will be kept back on track and move forward in their spiritual practices.

     In order to facilitate the devotees to reap rich benefits of Sri Ramakrishna’s message, we have launched a new wave from Belgaum  Ashram in the form of “Japa Yajna".

Instructions:

1. Devotees initiated from the Ramakrishna Order & below the age of 60 years only will be registered.

2. Participants should compulsorily do 20,000 japa sitting in the temple.

3. Please come physically and mentally prepared for the camp.

4. Everybody should possess a copy of ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’.

5. Participants should observe silence as far as possible & should not indulge in gossip.

6. Asana for sitting and japa mala (rosary) for counting will be required.

7. Every participant should complete a minimum of one lakh japa. Those who are capable of doing more can do so.

8. Participants should follow the routine strictly and should attend all the programmes during the camp.

9. Use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited during these 5 days.

10. Those who do not follow the rules will be asked to leave the camp.

11. Breakfast, noon & night prasada will be arranged in the Ashrama

12. We have decided to make the entry to this camp free of cost. However those who wish to contribute for the camp are welcome to do so according to their means & mite.

 Daily Routine for the Yajna 

Dear friend,

Spreading the divine life and message of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda - The Holy Trio - is one of the important activities of the Ashrama. The Ashrama has been rendering this service to the students, youths and devotees from the beginning.

With the same objective in view, students’ convention, youth convention, and special satsang programmes for devotees were organized in some of the taluks of Belgaum District. To introduce and promote ‘Viveka Prabha’ the Kannada monthly magazine of the ‘Ramakrishna Order’ was the other objective of these programmes.

Swami Vireshanandaji Maharaj of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore and the team of Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and volunteers of Belgaum Ashrama organized and conducted these programmes.

The details of the programmes are given below. Our heartfelt thanks go to all those who helped in organizing the programmes and also to those who participated in them.

May the Holy Trio bless them all immensely! We seek your prayers and support for such programmes.

Yours in the Lord
Swami Raghaveshananda
(Secretary)

DETAILS OF PROGRAMMES
Photos of the event are awaited

Date: 21/11/2007
Place: Moodalagi, Tq. Gokak Dt. Belgaum

• 600 participated in the Students Convention for High School Students
• 400 participated in the Students Convention for 10^th Standard & PUC Students
• 100 participated in the Satsanga programme for Devotees

Date: 22/11/2007
Place:Gokak

• 100 participated in the Youth Convention for College Students
• 800 participated in the Students Convention for  High School Students
• 200 participated in Satsanga programme for Devotees

Date: 23/11/2007
Place: Ghataprabha, Tq. Gokak Dt. Belgaum

• 400 participated in the Students Convention for 10^th Standard Students
• 300 participated in the Youth Convention for the students of K.H.I Nursing School
• 100 participated in the Satsanga programme for Devotees

Date: 24/11/07
Place: Savadatti, Tq. Bailhongal Dt. Belgaum

• 1200 participated in the Students Convention for High School Students
• 300 participated in the Youth Convention for College Students
• 100 participated in the Satsanga programme for Devotees

IN ALL
3400 students, 700 Youths & 500 Devotees (spiritual aspirants) Participated &
Ramakrishna - Vivekananda literature worth Rs.41,000/- were sold