"Vishamakkara Kannan"

Krishna's childhood revisited by Arunji in this delightful rendition of "Vishamakkara Kannan" - 

Krishna  bringing cheer all around with all his innocence, establishing righteousness with his naughty disposition, making him the fondest of  devotees.

Krishnam vande jagatgurum.

Conference on Parapsychology

24 Nov 2017

Was invited to address the event at the Jain University. For long, the scientific community in the West has not been open-minded, rather sceptical, towards Para normal, on grounds that it lacked scientific credentials. However emergence of quantum physics, contemporary findings of physicists, testimonies of neurosurgeons like Dr. Eben Alexander (Proof of Heaven) have to a great extent lifted such reservations.

This field, however, has a niche in the Indian context thanks to the time honoured dictum ‘Vismaya yoga bhumika’ that one must be astonished in order to get into yoga!. In simple terms, when we feel the 'wow' in astonishment, we stay connected with the spirit that we are! The guided meditation that followed was enjoyed by those present.

Erode Satsang

22 November 2017

Visited Erode after a hiatus to lead a satsang in an artistic setting as seen in the backdrop! The city, once a quiet agri-textile hub and the largest source of turmeric, has today emerged a major producer of hand-loom and knitwear. 

Was curious to learn how it came to be called Erode. Here are two versions!  In the first version, the name is traced to ‘Iru- Odai ‘meaning two streams. The second version to the phrase "Eera Odu" meaning wet skull. Perhaps in reference to the popular legend revolving around Daksha, his daughter Dakshayini and her consort Shiva. When on one occasion, she saw her husband being belittled by her own father, she went into a deep state of trance and self immolated. When Shiva came to know about her end, he went into a rage. In the apocalypse that followed, the skulls were strewn over river Cauvery, one of the four rivers flowing in the area; the others being Amravati, Noyyal and Bhavani.

Addressing wellness aficionados :

18 November 2017
Bangalore

An engrossed audience received  the presentation well. The core message was that wellness matters as everything we do and every emotion we feel, relates to our well-being. Crucial and pragmatic therefore for everyone to achieve optimal wellness to help subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and facilitate healthy social interactions

Harikatha

Bangalore: 8th November 2017

Harikatha is a composite art form composed of storytelling, poetry and music. Literally refers to Stories of Hari-Narayana. By sowing seeds of devotion, it aims to impart truth and righteousness in the minds of people and show them the path of liberation. This traditional fine art requires mastery of varied skills, music, dance, drama, knowledge of languages, Puranas, Itihasas, the Vedas, Sastras & granthas.

Was invited to render a bouquet of sacred hymns and bhajans at the finale of Harikatha on Sri Krishna Katha Amrutham. Seen in pic with Kalyanpuram Sri Aaraavamudachari. Interestingly he chose to relinquish his prestigious official position in IBM to dedicate himself to divine service and to adorn the mantle of a Harikatha exponent!

In praise of Annakoot:

4 -11-2017

Last evening was at a ceremony of Annakoot. The name refers to a mountain of food; some fifty-six food items - chappan bhog, prepared afresh and offered to the deities. It has been part of our Sampradaya for ages. It relates to the incident described in Bhagavat Puran when Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to provide villagers of Brindavan shelter from torrential rains. Metaphorically how God will protect all devotees who take singular refuge in Him.

Returning home read news from the Capital that a team led by a celebrity chef, set a world record when they cooked 918 kg of khichdi at the World Food India event. Thankfully NGOs and Gurudwaras take over distribution of mega khichdi among orphans and 60,000 other people. The effort may gain recognition from Guinness but cannot perhaps take away the scale and pride of Annakoot of yore!

Forthcoming Satsang

Navakoti Narayana Temple

28th October 2017

Coimbatore -Pollachi Highway

Divine moments at the Navakoti Narayana Temple complex.

Advanced Meditation Program - Kanyakumari.

One of the AMP goals is to awaken the child in us. Kanya Kumari is one of the rare temples in India where Devi is worshipped as a child. Swami Vivekananda came to this temple directed by his Guru Ramkrishna Paramhamsa.

With the splendour of striking sunrise and the soft sunset simmering over the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, the place indeed weaves a magical spell. At the culmination of the course on 1st January, as an icing on the cake, we will partake in a grand AOL satsang at Suchindram Temple festival.This is another rare shrine where Siva, Brahmā and Vishnu, are in one form.

Though principally in Tamil medium, English will be the additional medium.Book early and join us in a setting of variously hued sands!

World Elders Day - Ashvasan Foundation

14th October 2017

Forenoon session: Delivered the inaugural address to the Ashvasan Foundation. Dr.A.Amarnath who spoke later, cautioned about how frequently drugs were inappropriately prescribed and the problem of over medication in the elderly. He revealed that 65% of elderly patients had one or more inappropriate drug prescribed to them.. 

Session at the  Palace: In conversation with HRH Maharani of Mysore, Patron of Foundation of Revitalization of Local Health Traditions. Various presentations brought forth commendable  impetus to research that would eventually give a strong scientific framework to this area of healthcare.

“Nectarene bhajans” at Modera Maha Vishnu temple

​5th October 2017, Modera, Colombo

Near the confluence of the Ganga and the Indian Ocean at the North East Corner of Mutuval, is the majestic Modera Maha Vishnu temple. It was the auspicious venue for a memorable satsang evening of “Nectarene bhajans”.

 Amongst many interesting features, an impressive ghanta (bell) adorns the shrine. The bell is the spiritual abode of all Gods and Goddesses and is much dearer to Lord Vishnu. Made up of metals like cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and manganese in scientific proportions, it creates lasting sound vibrations, long enough to touch our seven chakras and fill the mind with peace.

Devotees of all age groups from across the island joined us with great enthusiasm adding to blissful moments of the full moon night.

Memorable satsang at Chaitanya Bharathi

16th September, 2017
Whitefield, Bangalore

It didn’t take long for the assembly that included  many newcomers to go deep within themselves. The sylvan surroundings of the venue and an enchanting hall added to the flavor. The evening of Music yatra and meditation blended well with snippets of wisdom. As we were taking leave, we asked a young participant about his ‘take away’ from the session. He quickly recalled our reminder “None can destroy iron, but its own rust can!  Likewise, none can destroy a person, but his own mindset can.”

Kudos to the ebullient team of volunteers for facilitating the event and the melodious support of co-singers.

Nectarene Bhajans

Rishikesh Advance Meditation Program

17-22 August , Rishikesh

 Special sessions on Ram Gita  - Yoga Vasistha were received well. When the Gyan yagna got over, a brief visit to Vasistha Gufa ensued! It gave some of us an opportunity to spend meditative moments reflecting on the Supreme Yoga.

Be it the Agastya cave in Tenkasi range , Virupaksha in Arunachala  or the ​Vasistha Gufa on the banks of Ganga, natural caves always captivated the attraction for meditators; a spiritual reason  could be that when one meditates in a cave where the  enlightened have meditated,  one could  still feel their energies.
​

A serene Sadhu bhandara was held during  the retreat. It gave the participants a glimpse of a meritorious and benevolent vedic tradition practiced through ages.

Feed back received from Participants.

“ji bahut bahut dhanywad for such a nice arrangement; full programme was well planned and very interesting.”

“It's again a wonderful experience to have Arun Madhvanji ; the knowledge he shared I never had before. Tusssi great ho, it was really a remarkable program and the translation from English to Hindi was really admirable, I can say it was shudh Hindi.”

“The last 4 days of my life were so peaceful and beautiful. Thanks to you for this wonderful experience, Acharya Arun Madhvan ji, thanks for being our guru and giving us this knowledge. Wonderful course, very well organized program, nice stay.”

“Ganga just flows with purity n love...
Ganga gives space to everyone in her bed...
Blessed are the souls who were chosen by the Guru to receive the highest knowledge of Yog Vasisht with simplicity from beloved Arun Madhavan ji. His face that shines like sun n eyes Crystal clear...deep as Gurudev! – “

Thiru aadipuram 2017 Sri Villiputtur

Sri Villiputtur, 23rd July 2017

Sri Andal is one of the best-loved poet-saints of India. Pious tradition holds her to be the incarnation of Bhūmi Devi,Mother Earth, to show humanity the way to Lord's lotus feet.

Devotees in extra-ordinary numbers gather each year to celebrate and commemorate her appearance on earth. Panch Garuda Seva is one of the major festive highlights when deities on Garud vahanas in procession appear in best attire, flower garlands and jewels, each trying to outshine the other! 

We thought of availing darshan of Sri Andal-Rangamannar before ascending the stage.With co-singers in tow, some 20 of us got to the spot only to be daunted by the colossal numbers already awaiting darshan. Out of the blue, emerged a kind soul who understood our dilemma with a benign smile “just follow me”. He took upon himself to first guide us through temple features and eventually paved the way for darshan at the inner sanctum!

Before he left we thanked him and enquired about his current vocation. “Caretaker of Go- shala” was his reply! Before long following lines dawned on me: Engirundho vandhaan, idai jaathi naan endraan!!

Guru Purnima tidings

Guru Purnima at Vishakapatnam (Vizag)

​9th July 2017​

The sea (Bay of Bengal) stands for dynamism, change and adventure; the mountain stands for permanence, tradition and values. Geographically nestled in this dialectical process, Vizag has grown out of its humble origins. Once known as Waltair, the fisherman’s village, is all set to become a Smart city.

Guru Purnima afforded an opportunity to visit this City of Destiny after a hiatus especially post-tsunami. The transformation in the panorama was quite visible. For instance, some 1.2 million yatris thronged Simhachalam at the outskirts of Vizag on the Guru Purnima night. Movement of traffic and the attendant cleanup operations were astonishingly swift. Swachh abhiyan has clearly taken roots here.

There was a meaningful interaction with the Faculty and Students of the University Business School on the theme of Science and Spirituality.Seen in pic: the MBA aspirants.

An interview with a leading National Daily in English followed and carried in this link:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/calm-mind-can-think-better/article19248886.ece

Let the Guru Purnima tidings bring waves of happiness in your lives.

Arunji

‘Calm mind can think better’

AOL teacher talks about stress-free life

He believes in the theory ‘life is a sojourn on the planet and service is the rent you need to pay’. Arun Madhavan, a former banker, a singer, a trainer, a writer and a motivational speaker who has been associated with the Art of Living (AOL) for over three decades, says that engaging in community service has been an integral part of his life ever since his childhood.

In a chat with The Hindu, the Bengaluru-based trainer talked about his journey and the significance of leading a stress-free life.

For many, bidding adieu to a plush job and dedicating to the community service was not an easy task. When Mr. Madhavan discovered his true calling, he did not think twice to give up his 27-year-long career. “As an employee of Standard Chartered Bank, I had an opportunity to travel across the world and be a part of the special committee, contributing to a model village development programme taken up by the Government of India,” recalls Mr. Madhavan, who was the first chairman of the AOL.

When Mr. Madhavan met spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1986, he decided to contribute to the spiritual landscape by becoming the founder trustee of Vyakti Vikas Kendra, India. “The kendra primarily aimed at educating the children by setting up free schools in tribal areas and empowering the unemployed youth in a range of soft skills which eventually changed millions of lives,” says the advanced meditation course teacher who did his MBA at IIM-Ahmedabad and recognised as a Dynamic Indian of the Millennium by the KG Foundation. He also bagged an award for the project that promoted India as an investment destination.

Advice to youth

About the younger generation, Mr. Madhavan says that life has become more complex for the youth. “Technology addiction and substance abuse continue to impact the youngsters’ life adversely. Parents’ role plays a crucial part to shape the youth’s future and direct them on to the right path. When I interact with students during seminars conducted as a part of achieving personal excellence programme, I try to explain the link between science and spirituality, offering tips to enhance their emotional quotient and steer clear of bad habits,” he says.

He says that to cope with an increasingly stressful environment, techniques such as ‘Bhastrika pranayama’ and ‘nadi shudhi pranayama’ (alternate nostril breathing) will be of immense help. “Our mind needs to be de-cluttered as a calm mind can think better and makes others life easier,” he adds.

This article was contributed by 

Rani Devalla

rani.devalla@thehindu.co.in

Kind courtesy The Hindu 

The Hindu Article.

The hills are alive with the sound of music

11th June 2017

The evening commenced with the launch of Aalekh, the worlds first- ever hand written 3-D Art Magazine in the hands of Pujya Sri Sri at AOL International Centre. This path breaking initiative seeks to offer a fresh approach to art focusing on India’s vast cultural wealth.

The release function was followed by the vibrant ‘Ananta – Live in Concert’ conceived by Siddhant Bhatia who produced the ‘Ram Amrit’ album. Well known maestros performed before an appreciative, massive assembly for three consecutive nights.

The occasion threw up many surprise guests, one of whom was the genial Kalyan Ramana (pic 2nd from left), a well regarded Tollywood singer and composer. He handled the huge responsibility of Sound for the magnum opus ‘Baahubali’. A good Sound supervisor can breathe exciting life into any film. Else imagine movies like ‘Jaws’, ‘Apocalypse Now’ or ‘Baahubali’ without the visceral sound effects!

As the evening concluded, nostalgic moments two decades ago of our first ever musical evening at the Panchagiri campus with maestros flashed back. The hills are indeed alive with the sounds of music!

From a Human Being to Being Human

“Championing the Cause” was the theme given to address an assembly of service- oriented Doctors, Engineers, Educationists and Bankers. During the interaction, learnt about an exemplary voluntary service initiative taken by (Late) Mr. Mani, a retired Bank Manager two decades ago. While commuting to work every day, he used to pass by the Bangalore Central Jail where he observed children crying outside the gates. With the breadwinner of the family in prison, these children had absolutely no support from society. Before retirement, he decided to contribute towards making life better for these children. He and his wife converted their house in Bangalore into a hostel and with their life savings helped to provide a free comprehensive care for these children including food, health, education at three separate facilities in Bangalore and Gulbarga.   Its impact has been profound not only on the children but on the parents’ prison behaviour as well.

“This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” How true!

Golden Jubilee reunion IIM, Ahmedabad

Returning to the campus of one’s alma mater, the nurturing mother of studies, rekindled memories and emotions beyond words. Over the past five decades, IIM, Ahmedabad has excelled in academics and given the best of management talent to India and to the whole world. Today, we can find the alumni working in corporate, governmental & public services, expanding the brand globally. It has truly lived up to the universal message of its logo - 'Vidya Viniyoga Vikas' .

The Institution maintains very cordial relations with the alumni, evident from the honours showered on us during our Golden Jubilee reunion coinciding with the Convocation at the campus.

                                                      Classroom today

   

Down the Harvard Steps

Lord Ramanuja Sahasrabdi -1000 years celebrations Srirangam.

7th May 2017- Srirangam:

The venue for our musical tribute to  Sahasrabdi -1000 years, interestingly, was the famed Hall of 1000 pillars. A fine example of a planned theatre-like structure constructed during Vijayanagara period (1336–1565), the hall is celebrated for sculptures of wildly rearing horses bearing riders on their backs and trampling with their hoofs upon the heads of rampant tigers.

Mercury touching peak level during the day did not deter devotees from turning up in large numbers to immerse in nectarine hymns.

A week thereafter, on 14th May 2017,  Pujya Sri Sri paid a rich tribute to Lord Ramanuja on the concluding day of  Viswa Mangala Mahotsava held at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore. He referred to him as a Universal teacher whose teachings shall remain relevant for all times for all people.

Magnificent Srirangam

Sunday 7th May 2017 4.30 pm.

A great opportunity to be at the Arangam of 1000 pillars, soak in the  tharangam of nectarene bhajans, transcend to antarangam  of your heart to  experience  bliss at the Bhuloka Vaikuntam!

Located in an island, the Ranganatha Swamy temple is one of the world’s oldest and foremost divine abodes. Towering gopurams, numerous sanctums and mandaps, thousands of sculptures evolved here over many centuries. The tradition of food offerings, festival, music and dance abound. The Lord gets entertained in Nithyotsava. Saint Ramanuja   played a vital role in its resurgence and the protocols evolved by him are adored here for centuries.

 Join us at his Sahasrabdi festivity.

Thaen Amudham Satsang on 1st May 2017.

The uninhibited joy

Been part of two programs back–to-back, attended by differing age groups.There is no richer experience than to see children's faces light up at the suspense of a new tale! The uninhibited joy with which they listened was akin to that of an eager adult audience at the AMP.