Memorable meet on Ancient wisdom

17-18 February 2013

It was indeed a privilege to interact with the Traditional Scholars from all Southern States under the auspices of The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The two day seminar brought out valuable inputs from well known scholar participants  embracing Veda, Dharma Shastras, Agamas, Sangita, Nrtya, Shilpa, Vaastu, Yoga and Jyotisha. Sri Sri delivered an inspiring  valedictory address.

The Chaitanya Bharati experience

14-17th February 2013

The Art of Silence retreat at Chaitanya Bharati Hall saw  a large and enthusiastic  group of participants soaking up in knowledge. The finale and the icing on the cake was a well choreographed ballet performed by Teacher Srinivas and  course participants to  Parameswaraya sashisekharaya- the nostalgic composition of Arunji.

Samplers of  participant  feedback  given below:

Bhavani wrote:

A sweet memory to cherish as our advance course with you remains - has left an indelible impression on our minds - rejuvenated us body, mind and soul - given us all a welcome confirmation that we are on the right path, for buying a ticket to stress-free life and fulfilling the purpose of this human life;  the delivery of the message from Yog Vasishta in the simplest and the most enjoyable manner, by a touch of humor as and when apt to do so, and holding together  the entire team of teachers, volunteers and participants as one identity - was something all of us experienced -  I am only a mouthpiece for all. Awesome! Awe-inspiring!!


Kishore wrote:

"This course came at a critical juncture in my life. A lot of tumult. I had just moved on from my previous venture. I was faced with a challenging situation in my life – almost a turning point. That is the time I got a call from Deepika telling me about the course on experience of silence. I had “tried” to attend his course in Dec 2012 too, but could not. This time I made sure I could make it. A business trip immediately after the course did not deter me.

The experience was awesome. The silence. The hollow and empty meditations. The beautiful explanations of Yoga Vasistha, and the explanations that Arunji provided  were incomparable. It gave me a new perspective. He conveyed the knowledge in such an easy way… it was so easy to grasp such  deep  wisdom. .. right from the word go when he came into the hall and wished us. Always had a nice and pleasant smile, and his calming and re-assuring  presence.

I came back with lot of energy and resolve to face the challenges in my life… being a lion is important…  I am reminded of the point of Valor… so needed in professional life. My heart reaches out to gratitude to Arunji, the instrument of Guruji who so touched my life.

Ramlal wrote:

 "Re-energized, Re-charged, Feeling Fresh and on top of the World. Bring it on !!!!! " was the posting on my facebook wall page at the end of the course -  this sums up my experience of the course and it comes from a person who was reluctant and had to be cajoled to join the course.

The course design is a wonderful blend of Yoga, Methods, Processes, Knowledge sessions, Satsang with a touch of Seva based on a foundation of Silence. I must make a special mention of the knowledge sessions on Yoga Vasistha - these were articulated and presented in such a simple and nice way making it easier to understand and digest. 

I take a moment to appreciate and thank Arun Madhavanji - the teacher for this program for his erudite discourse &  for the energy, passion and dedication while delivering this course. 

My deep gratitude and salutations to the THE MASTER for creating a wonderful program and giving me an opportunity to learn the same. 

I am now equipped with the required tools and methods to internalize the learning's from this program. 

Many thanks to Asokanji, Srinivasanji, Deepika Reddy and other volunteers of the AOL community for the wonderful experience they created with flawless execution. 

Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya

Addressing the young minds at School is always refreshing.

Presiding over the Annual Day celebrations at a Bangalore School; Lighting the diya along with Poojya Thiru Swamy , Director Iskcon.

Pasurams and the young minds

6th January 2013:

The juniors rendered the  pasurams with such devotion along with us at the Sri Andal Kalyanotsav satsang in Vivek Nagar. They made their parents and visitors proud. Equally these happy faces meditated with serenity despite the busy surroundings.

The aura of Kumbh at Kumbakonam

Click on the Photo to get a larger image.

27th Dec 2012:

Participants at The Art of Silence course held in  Kumbakonam  experienced the aura of  Kumbh in their deep silence. The visits to the Navagriha sthals with descriptive coverages were invigorating and served to deepen their roots and broaden their horizons. The host team did a spectacular job in ensuring that every one felt at home with care and hospitality. One of the participants from a leading IT firm wrote an interesting critique which is reproduced below:


"Who is this Arunji everyone keeps talking about? I was inquisitive. I met him for the first time during his birthday bash in ashram a couple of years ago. I crashed the party so that I could see Guruji. But, at the corner of the eye, I was wonder why is this fella getting so much attention from Guruji. His music was playing in the background, like the ones mom used to play on the cassette in the early mornings during my childhood. Not my type, I said to myself. But again and again, people kept telling me about him; i kept ignoring. And opportunity knocked when I got to know about the Kumbakonam course in Dec. I badly needed time out from work. Apparently, it wasn’t just AMC, but AMC with Arunji plus Navagraha tour. I was skeptical, because I hated to go to temples, I never believed in idol worship. But I did enroll.
The day arrived, I entered T.S Mahal the location was just adjacent to a large paddy field. I have never seen a field up-close. Ah, that’s something to cheer about. Then, Arunji entered while people sang Vazhiya Vazhiya song. I was like, OK, this man’s got style (including his dress code) but not my type I reminded myself again.

He started with course points. At this point of time, I already had couple of Advance courses, so I had expectations. I was watching closely what he was up to next. Then he opened up a PPT, my first impression "he is not a tech-savvy" was trashed. Good start. Then he went on to talk about a lot of course points plus his own variations of it with humor and stories– along with 'Life, a movie' (Yoga Vashishta),in which he mentioned something about opening a lot of windows (laptop). I could relate to his example. I will never forget this in my life. I had a huge yearning to learn more about death and dispassion, just as I sat, he was explaining about lotus (dispassion/detachment) and Yoga Vashishta (death and movie).

It was time for temple visits, I wished so much there would be just 1 navagraha temple to visit, sadly there were 9, 5 were to be covered on a single day! I was like are you insane!? I wouldn’t go to 5 temples even if you were to trade you i-pad for it. But I did go and it was because of Arunji. Before we left for the temples, he started explaining science behind it (I am not going to say what it is, sit in his course J to know about it). That was the moment I started to fall for him. Somehow, he knew I needed to know why, or I was taking his course because he knew why. Either way, I felt really grateful.

People kept talking about his satsang. I was waiting for him to open his musical notes to our ears and to my happy feet. He did, I didn’t fall in love instantly.  But then he started explaining the songs. It was like expressing one’s feeling/thought in ancient language (Sanskrit or Tamil). Made sense, by then I was in that “feeling” level. Thanks to a butt load of meditation sessions, temple visits and silence. Then he talked about “thought, words and action”. How thoughts transform in to happenings. We are alone responsible for what is happening to us nobody else period. The conscious/unconscious thoughts, we attract the events in our lives. Ok, so I did experiment in the course. Yeah, he was right - another huge dive into his magnetic field. I was hooked.

Gratefulness - a word I often come by, but I never felt it so deep. Temples that we went to he explained how we take things for free and how much little importance we give to the things that is bestowed to us. There was a magical course, that most of it was feeling level than logical and yet there was logical reasoning behind it.The story of challenges in our lives are to make us strong was a big take a way for me. Looking back at my past, he was right. Absolutely right.

Well, it was not the AMC I had in mind, not even close it, but it gave me a purpose, reassured something really deep. I have so much to look forward to in life now! Thanks Arunji!


Jai gurudeva, Rock & Roll

Aparna

Reminiscing on the Kumbakonam experience:

Imagine being on vacation. Imagine what it feels like when your mind comes to stillness, when your heart fills with peace and when your body lets go of all stress, tension and relaxes to such a profound level that you begin to feel rejuvenated and alive again! This is the place of natural being; the place we were meant to experience life from. It is where your peace, your love and your power come from.  Silence takes you deeper into yourself. Meditation creates and revitalizes one’s energy. Celebration maintains the energy and elevates consciousness .Service is how the energy is channeled. 

Observance of silence allows the mind to become still. It is a powerful process that lets you get in touch with a deeper wisdom within yourself, a place of calm and tranquility. Meditation allows you to release deep-seated stress and tension from your body. As a result you get a chance to feel your true self. Celebration lets you experience the newfound enthusiasm for life with all the other participants

Enjoyed such perfect spiritual vacation at the Kumbakonam Advanced course (27^th to 30^th Dec’12), with Dr Arun Madhavan ji.It was a retreat with a bonus of visiting all the Navagraha Parihara Stalas located in & around the venue.  The town is home for its four large, well known temples dedicated to 1) Sarangapani, 2) Kumbeswarar 3) Brahma and 4) Nageswarar.Located in the vicinity are all the Navagraha Temples.

It is said that planetary transits bring about change in certain people's well-being and fortunes for better or worse. The worshipping of planets gives us great relief; the process known as propitiation (Dosha Pariharam).

Planet	Temple
Surya (Sun)	Suryanar Koil
Chandra (Moon)	Thingalur Koil
Chevaai (Mars)	Vaitheswaran Koil
Budhan (Mercury)	Tiruvenkadu
Guru (Jupiter)	Alangudi
Shukran (Venus)	Kanchanoor
Shani (Saturn)	Tirunallar
Raghu	Tirunageswharam
Kethu	Keezhperumpallam

Kudos to the hosting team who had pre-visited the places, studied the traveling time and the time that would take for darshan at each temple. Such meticulous planning before the course ensured that there were no setbacks such as having to skip one or two in the agenda.  I appreciate their organizing skills & take back home this learning of organizing skill. Dr. Arunji was co-relating the visits with our course sessions so well that it was a perfect blend.  Participants got an answer as to why the visits & the course were combined together.

This is my first AMC outside the Ashram & had a wonderful experience.  Dr Arun Madhavanji was fantabulous. He was available with us all the time right from the early morning yoga sessions to the end of the day concluding sessions.  I have lot of things that I (or rather we) carry back home from Dr. Arunji’s AMC course.  I have a big list but I shall shortlist them.  His Simplicity, Punctuality, Presenting skills, Dress Code, Concerns towards the participants, be it local or from outside states, Command over the languages, his sessions were awesome, filled with knowledge, Blissful satsangs, and humor.  He is gifted with a Golden Voice.  He was enquiring us every now & then to see to our comforts, be it with the travel or the stay or during our course sessions or & even before & after reaching our destinations, he was finding if we had reached the venue & have we reached back safely.  Really appreciate his concerns that he has for every single participant.  Felt like we were in the safe hands with the divine & were feeling at home always.  He established the course points so well co-relating with our tour to various Navagraha places.  We could experience it practically & all of us just witnessed the events & every moment was enjoyable.

I learnt from Dr. Arunji that if we visit a temple, we should know a few things that I would like to share with you all.  First is the stala purana, energy centers in & around the premises, stala vruksha & also about the central sanctum sanctorum (high energy place).  We used to all assemble in these energy centers & used to pray & sing together & experience was just awesome & no words to explain the blissful feeling.  In every temple, the temple main priest used to explain us in details of the stala purana & the powers and such history.

I would like to share this wonderful experience as to how Mother Nature answers our prayers.  On Thursday the 27^th Dec’12, we all gathered in Suryanar Koil. The weather was warm & sunny that day.  We stood near the Kalyani of the temple & prayed to the Divine to rain frequently & take care of the farmers who are solely dependent on natural rains.  To our surprise, the same evening it started drizzling & the next whole day from early morning till night it was continuously raining.  We consider living in harmony and understanding with life's myriad forms as a religious act. Our commonality lies in our reverence and connection with Nature and Mother Earth, seeing Her as a conscious, living entity.

All four days were filled with fun filled sessions of yoga, deep guided meditations, and profound processes that cleansed, renewed, and led us to an experience of inner peace and freedom. We used to conclude with the mesmerizing satsang or the knowledge sessions & not to forget Arunji’s power point presentations on Yoga Vasistha –Life, a movie.  Simply Superb.  I sincerely thank Arunji for giving me an opportunity to take fun filled sessions of dance yoga. All the participants too really enjoyed the sessions.  Also, Ashokan ji’s Sukshma Vyayam was amazing along with his singing talent.  It was a good learning experience from him.

Food was amazing & was completely Satvik. Perfectly designed menu, which suited the place & the weather.  Last day’s meal was very grand & outstanding.  In each break there was a surprise waiting for us & we were curious to know what the surprise would be. Not to forget Mr. Ravvichandran’s filler stories – humorous yet with morals.

To support the host team were couple Sunderesanji & Dr.Sarada, Smt.Sivakami and the vibrant Satish ji.   How can I forget Sri.Rajesh who exemplified the planning of infra structure. Many more names behind the scenes & hope they excuse me for not mentioning every name incase if I have forgotten to mention it here. Aside from the host district, people turned up from Delhi, various districts of TN and AP.  What a way to celebrate & start the New Year!!! I think it’s one the best gifts that I have gifted to myself.

The course was typically held at a perfect place & was really a retreat in a place of natural beauty and tranquility.  I conclude here by saying that it’s no wonder that many course participants refer to it as the ideal vacation for body, mind, and spirit.  I would look forward for another course with Dr. Arunji shortly. 

Wishing you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2013.

With lots of Love & Wishes,

Srinivasa G V

Ps: Only sign of disappointment was that my camera stopped functioning on the 3^rd day of the course.  Lens error!!! I need to get this fixed.  I will shortly share all the snaps captured by me. 

An unforgettable Nectarine event

25th December 2012: Kadtal is located close to the International airport in Hyderabad. This year it became  home for  global  meditators. Close to 95,000 gathered from across the world, beyond barriers of religion and race, to listen to eminent artistes.  The Celestial Nectar team was invited to perform before them. These pictures have captured the mood of this gathering. They wouldn't let Arunji leave the stage until they extracted a bonus of his popular bhajan  numbers.

Ulsoor Turns into a Brindavan

9th December 2012: The evening session began with a sampler of caring beyond imagination. It was a narrative of a crab running on the seashore and admiring it's own beautiful footprints. Suddenly a huge wave splashed and washed away the footprints. The disappointed crab asked the wave:'I considered you as one of my Best friends, and then what made you do this?' The wave replied: "A fisherman was following your footprints, that’s why I cleared it off." Knowledge soon blended into devotional melodies  which  transformed the packed auditorium into a Brindavan; as if on cue, when the lines of Murali Manohara began, the audience were elevated into raas mood.

Trichy women get tips on Ancient Wisdom

5th Dec 2012: The Nivedan Hall, Trichy saw an eager turnout of a prominent Women Empowerment Group to gather tips from ancient wisdom. A serene ambiance and soothing music contributed to an absorbing  morning session. 

The preciousness of  human birth figured in the presentation that included techniques to tune and tame the Mind.  We are then freed to have  the time to see, when woods we pass, where squirrels hide their nuts in grass; time to see, in broad daylight, streams full of stars, like skies at night; time to stand and stare!

Business Ethics and Spirituality

1st December 2012: Young Managers of tomorrow at a  Bangalore Business School called IAME-B SCHOOL. The audience were  in rapt attention listening to an address on Business Ethics and Spirituality. The presentation  traced examples of  how both Corporates and NGOs in the previous century operated ethically, still could  sustain competition and reward  their stakeholders  by practicing  values  and ethics in their managerial decision making. An enjoyable Q&A followed. 

Sripuram Chitrakoot Car Festival- 2012

Valliyur  gets its name from Valli, consort of Lord Muruga.  The town is located midway between  Tirunelveli and Nagercoil in National Highway 7.  Once a shanty village with farmers and shepherds, it is  home for  the beautiful Murugan Temple and the oceanic Valliyoor Kulam, the wide and appeasing Kuravan Malai of Western Ghats, all of which add up to to its beautiful look and feel.  Thirukurungudi one of the celebrated 108 Divyakshetras is only three kms from here.Sripuram  which is part of the town has risen in prominence in recent years  for its vibrant hill called Samiyar Pothai  where a large team of volunteers are engaged in various commendable community initiatives  that include  cultivation of  herbal plants and protection of environment.

The annual Sripuram  Chitrakoot Car-Cultural festival attracts thousands from different regions of the State and beyond. Eminent  artistes, dancers and singers participate in the festival.

26th November 2012, the Thean Amudham team was invited to perform at the festival. Dr.Arunji rendered a musical lecture on the topic Arthamulla Sampradyangal.  It turned out to be an unforgettable evening.The audience was drenched in knowledge and soulful bhajans.

BiBi Nachiyar: A tribute to the catholicity of Shri Ramanuja:

From the exuberant opening scene till the closing sequence in poignant devotion, the premier show of BiBi Nachiyar dance ballet had all the ingredients to hold the audience spell bound.  The event held on 15^th November 2012  marked the run up to the Millennium  celebrations  (1017- 2017) of Acharya Sri Ramanuja. The ballet draws inspiration from the much cherished story of Melkote Cheluvanarayanaswamy in true historic perspective with finesse and integrity.

The ballet revolves around the backdrop of  the temple town  which fell prey to the attack of Sultan  who ransacked its treasures. The ‘Utsav-murthy’ of the temple was carried away by him as war booty. Enraptured by the beauty of the idol, the Princess (Bibi) kept it with her.  Years later, Ramanuja had a dream in which Thirunarayana asked him to retrieve his idol from  the Sultan’s  hands. Acharya called on him and did convince him to return the idol. The Sultan however said that his collections were far too many to help any search!  It was then the Acharya endearingly called out “Ramapriya”  upon which, much to the astonishment of the entire Court the idol in child form ( see pic) came dancing towards Ramanuja and sat on his thigh. When the idol was brought back to Melkote, Bibi could not bear the separation and followed it to Melkote. She lived in Melkote for the rest of her life. Today an idol of hers adorns at the feet of the Utsavamurthy to commemorate her memory.

Students of Vaishnavi Natyashala, Bengaluru deserve all praise for their well crafted, choreographed movements under the commendable direction of Guru Mithun Shyam. He himself essayed the role of Ramanuja with great aplomb and devotion. Apart from the choice of ragas to which the lyrics were set, the dance movements carried the befitting nuances of Bharat Natyam, Mohini Aattam and Kathak.

Interestingly in SriRangam, there is a shrine next to the main sanctum lovingly dedicated to Thulukka Naachiyar (Islamic Princess). Once a year, the Kalyana utsava of Thulukka Naachiyar with Ranganatha is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In testimony to her unflinching love, to this day, Ranganatha’s breakfast consists of Butter Roti cooked in Mughlai style. They are first offered to the Naachiyar and then only offered to Ranga.

 The broad vision of Saint Ramanuja and the catholicity of Sri Vaishnavism have been best demonstrated in these historic narratives.

The Domlur Inspiration

The Domlur - Indira Nagar Art of Silence Course ended on an inspiring  note with a brief address by one of our senior local patrons. He narrated how his family fought their way with the State to protect the public land in Domlur which now  proudly houses a Government School, a PU College and play grounds. Often people think that they need financial resources to render seva to the community and the examples shared by him showed that our concern for the Society can also be demonstrated though social activism with genuine intent on common public good.

Participants were drawn  mainly from IT and ITES industry. Evidently, with the feedback already received and still flowing in, the Volunteer team feels fulfilled that their efforts were well directed.

As a parting memento, each participant got a copy of Arunji's latest essay on Joy of Parenthood.