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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
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SUNDAY
1.
Satsang
2. Bengali & Hindi classes
3. Dance class
4. Yoga class
5. Bal Gokulam
MONDAY
1. Bhagawat Geeta class
TUESDAY
1. Tabla lesson
WEDNESDAY
1. Hindustani classical Vocal
THURSDAY
1. Guided Meditation
FRIDAY
1. Vedanta classes
SATURDAY
1. Yoga class
2. Vocal music & Harmonium
3. Rabindra Sangeet
4. Bhagawat Geeta
6. Special Bengali language
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| A Pilgrimage to India by By Swami Amarnathananda
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Usually I go once a year to India to see our
motherland and the rapid expansion projects of
Bharat Sevashram Sangha all over the country. I
go at the time of Maghi Purnima and Shiva Ratri
festival. That is the only time I could meet my
fellow brother monks where we can exchange our
thoughts and experience. However, as soon as
Shiva-Ratri festival is over I try to visit as
many of our Ashrams as possible. This give me an
opportunity to see the improvement of our
country and also the rapid expansion work that
our Ashram is doing. This is my visit in
February 2004.
MUMBAI
This time I traveled by Air India flight which
leave from Newark Liberty International Airport,
New Jersey. This flight took me to Mumbai via
Paris. Mumbai is a place where people can give
you a meal one time, but accommodation is very
difficult. It was not easy for Swami
Prashantanandaji Maharaj to build an Ashram
there. By his hard work, strong determination
and by the blessing of Sri Sri Guru Maharaj he
was able to build a beautiful Ashram. Mumbai is
a densely populated city. It is the business
capital of India. Mumbai is also the home of
some of India’s best hospitals, educational
institutions and art centers. Tata cancer
hospital is one of them. Cancer patients come
from all over India for treatment there.
Sometimes they need to stay for many months in
Mumbai with there family. Swami Prashantananda
recognized the sufferings of these people and
arrange accommodation for the cancer patients
and their families at the Ashram campus. Now we
have almost 50 rooms for that purpose, not only
that, Swamiji made their food and traveling
situation very easy. Meals are being prepared
for them and he has bus and mobile vans that
take them to and from the hospital. I was
informed that now Swamiji arrange treatment for
them right at the Ashram campus.
Apart from cancer patient’s accommodation, there
is also primary school, eye clinic, temple and
general guess accommodation in the Ashram. I
flew from Mumbai to kolkata by Jet Airways.
KOLKATA
Kolkata is the state capital of West Bengal and
the Head quarter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha
world-wide is also located there. I have been
visiting Kolkata since 1976. Kolkata is a
densely populated city with old tram, buses, man
pulling rikshaws, hawkers, old buildings, new
buildings, Eden garden, Kali Ghat, Howrah
bridge, smoke etc. With all these, it makes it a
city of joy. Kolkota is loved by everyone.
In Kolkata, Ballygunge is the home of Bharat
Sevashram Sangha. Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj
himself bought this property and built the Head
quarter of the Sangha there. He spent many of
his glorious days there and introduced many
kinds of activities in the organization. His
austerities, his sacrifice for mankind, his love
for the suffering one and his divine presence
made that place a pilgrim center for all of us.
In Kolkata, you will find the monastery, Sri
Guru Temple, "Pranav" monthly magazine office,
publications office, Shiva mandir and the
presence of our revered president,
Vice president, General secretary and lots of
other senior monks. This building is located at
211 Rashbehari Avenue. Again at 219 Rashbehari
Avenue we have a cultural hall, students hostel,
International guest house, Hindu Milan mandir
central office, Gymnasium, hospitals which
included outdoor clinic, Pathology, X-ray room,
Mobile medical unit etc. Also we have yoga
clinic and scriptural study center, meditation
room and arrangement of spiritual counseling.
Hundreds of people visit our Kolkata Head office
daily for many reasons.
Joka, our 500 Bed Future Hospital Compound :
After Shiva-Ratri Festival, I began my journey
out of Kolkata Head office. First I went to see
the land, which was acquire to build a 500-bed
hospital for the general public. It is located
at a place call Joka, which is only 20/30
minutes away from the main Kolkata city. I could
see the land is being leveled, compound wall is
under construction. Work is going on to finish
up the outdoor portion as early as possible. I
was astonished and proud to see that huge
compound with lots of coconut and mango trees.
The Swamiji in charge is Swami Brahmatmananda
who himself is a physician. He took me
everywhere and explain to me all the future
plans. It is mentioned here that one devotee
from New York donated $300,000.00 to help with
this project. Surely we all will join hand in
due time to help with that project.
DIAMOND HARBOR
We have a beautiful Ashram near to the Dimond
Harbor railway station. Apart from the temple,
monastery, charitable dispensary, accommodation
for guests, we also have a big Higher Secondary
school there. The High school is very popular
and its annual results are outstanding. I
observed adults and children continuously
entering the Ashram. The local Swamiji mentioned
to me that at the time of main festival, almost
20,000 people attend.
BLOCK # 8
Devotees that go to Ganga Sagar can stay there
for a night. This Ashram is situated just at the
bank of the Ganges. It is actually at the ferry
ghat which will take you at the other side of
the Island pilgrim center of Ganga Sagar.
Vegetable garden, flower garden etc. made this
Ashram very beautiful.
GANGA SAGAR
Myself and one of my brother monk took a ferry
and cross the Holy river Ganges and dock at the
island of Ganga Sagar. From there we took a taxi
and went to our big and famous Ganga Sagar
Ashram. Just imagine Bharat Sevashram Sangha is
the biggest Ashram at Sagar-dwip. By the very
hard work of Swami Hanseswaranandaji Maharaj it
was possible to build such a huge and beautiful
Ashram. We have hundreds of rooms for pilgrims
who go to visit Kapil Muni Ashram at Ganga-Sagar.
Apart from that we have a beautiful temple,
charitable dispensary, monastery, free students
hostel, primary school and other facilities.
Ganga Sagar Ashram is a masterpiece of Bharat
Sevashram Sangha.
MAHISHADAL
We traveled to Mahisadal by road. Mahisadal
"Raj-bari", Mahisadal Raj College and Chariot
festival of Mahishadal is very famous to all.
Swami Muktanandaji Maharaj one of the direct
disciple of Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj build
this Ashram. Coconut trees, flower garden, mango
grove made this Ashram look like Tapovan. This
Ashram also has a charitable dispensary, hostel
for boys, temple, monastery and lots of other
things. Mahisadal Ashram produced many monks of
the Sangha. It is one of the most peaceful
places on earth.
HOREKHALI
Only an hour away from Mahisadal Ashram we have
another Ashram at Horekhali. This Ashram is
famous for it’s student hostel. Almost 200 poor
boys stay there free of charge. The Ashram
provides their food, accommodations, school fees
and cloths.
Haldia seaport is not very far from the Ashram.
There is a rapid change in that area. Our local
Swamiji has a very kind nature.
BARAJORI-GHATSHILA
We came back to Kolkata and left the next day
for Barajori-Ghatshila by Ispat express. Swami
Shivarupananda the architect of this Ashram was
with us. Barajori Ashram and tribal welfare
center is around 4 k.m. away from Ghatshila
railway station. It is in Jharkhand state. While
I was traveling by our Ashram jeep, I recognized
the dusty road, Jungle and poverty. Thoughts
came to my mind, why Swamiji came in this jungle
to build an Ashram? Once I reached the Ashram
campus, I was amazed to see what he had done
there, it seem that he have build another
Vatican city in the jungle. It is a huge
compound with 150 acres of land. It has
residential school for boys and separate
residential school for girls. All are tribal
children. All together almost 600 people take
three meals daily at the Ashram. These schools
and boarding are also free of charge. Children’s
food, clothes, teachers salary, accommodation
etc. all are provided by the Ashram. Apart from
these two schools, there are 17 Primary schools
run by the Barajori Ashram in the deep jungle of
Jharkhand. I myself went and visited some of
these schools.
There are also vegetable garden, 10 bed
hospitals, monastery, guesthouse, handlooms and
many other kinds of activities are done by our
Barajori Ashram. Thanks to Swami Shivarupananda
for his vigorous efforts and his dedicated
service.
MIDNAPORE
In Midnapur district of West Bengal we have many
Ashrams. I have already mentioned about the
Ashram in Mahishadal and Horekhali. We also have
Ashram in Midnapur town, Kharagpur and two
Ashrams at Jhargram. All Ashrams are doing lots
of humanitarian services. They are helping
people spiritually, running schools, and
standing by the people at the time of need. But
I want to tell you something about the Jhargram
Pukuria Ashram. This is one of the oldest Ashram
of the Sangha.
A tribal community called "Lodha" lives in this
area. They are very poor people, because of such
poverty they sometimes commit crimes. Bharat
Sevashram Sangha runs two schools there for
them. Not only that, we have free hostel
facilities for boys. There are charitable
dispensaries and Ashram also creates lots of
jobs for the Lodha people. The Ashram is really
doing a marvelous job for these neglected
people.
BANKURA
We traveled from Midnapur city to Bankura by
train. It was very nice to see the train running
through the green field, vegetable garden and
villages and cities like Bishnupur etc. Bankura
Ashram was founded by Pujjapada Sreemat Swami
Arupanandaji Maharaj, a direct disciple of
Acharya Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj. I myself
started my monastic life there. Many sweet
memories came to my mind. I remembered those
days when I was very young and didn’t know
anything about monk life. Swami Arupanandaji
very patiently thought me everything. He showed
me how to do Guru Seva, cooking, art of yoga,
meditation, puja, how to behave in public, study
of scriptures and gardening. Bankura ashram is a
beauty to that city. It consists of temple,
students hostel, library, guesthouse, charitable
dispensary, monastic training center, overall it
is a heavenly environment for the devotees.
Bankura Ashram does lots of philanthropic
activities in this poor district of West Bengal.
JAMSHEDPUR
Jamshedpur Ashram became a symbol of vigor,
courage, sacrifice, dedication and pride for
all. If I write properly about the multifarious
activities of this Ashram, it will be a huge
book. At the main Ashram campus on 30 acres of
land there are three big schools, high school
for boys and high school for girls, English
medium co-ed high school and primary schools.
There are hostels for poor tribal boys. It is a
wonderful view to see around 400 tribal boys
growing up in the Ashram environment. There is
guests house, monks quarters, a very big
beautiful temple, gymnasium, vegetable and
flower garden, mango trees, kathahar trees, eye
clinic and many more facilities are there.
Outside of the main Ashram campus there are
hundreds kinds of activities done by the
Jamshedpur Ashram. Leprosy hospitals, general
hospitals, schools, hostels, handlooms, building
homes for the homeless people, eye clinic,
mobile medical clinics, eye operation camp,
feeding the poor, helping people monetarily and
lots of other works. I would like to mention
here that seven days is not enough to see the
various services that are done by this Ashram.
As I see our Swamiji created many jobs for the
local people, I even saw Swamiji giving money
and clothes to a very poor man for his daughter
marriage. I think it run six to seven hospitals
for leprosy patients and general people. The
whole Singbhum and Santhal Pargana district is
covered by Jamshedpur Ashram.
Thanks to Swami Jnanatmanandaji Maharaj and his
group of wonderful monks for their vigor and
sacrifice.
RANCHI
Ranchi is the capital of newly created Jharkhand
state. Our Ashram is also new there. A property
was donated by a doctor family which used to be
an old age home. The local Swamiji opened a
student hostel for tribal boys. Around 17 to 18
boys stay there. Swamiji is trying his best to
make that Ashram beautiful. It is the beginning
stage, a time of struggle for money,
communication, food and mental tension. I am
sure that this young, vibrant and wise Swamiji
will do very good there. People will be very
much benefited by him.
VAIDYANATH-DHAM
It is a very popular pilgrim place for Hindus.
Vaidyanath Shiva Temple is the main attraction
there. This temple city brings thousands of
people there everyday. Baba Vaidyanath Shiva
mandir is one of the dwadash jyotir-lingam we
have in India. It is very auspicious, very
famous and a very popular temple there.
Apart from that, Vaidyanath dham is the home of
"Satsang" head quarter founded by Sri Sri Anukul
Tahkur. Also there is Balananda Brahmachari
Ashram where Sri Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari
Maharaj spent many of his years practicing
spirituality. Recently after the maha samadhi of
Mohananandaji Maharaj, a Mohan mandir is also
being built. There is also a huge and beautiful
Ramakrishna mission Ashram there.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha didn’t have any Ashram
there. Very recently we got a beautiful property
just in front of the Mohan mandir. Seven bighas
of land and a nice home was donated to us by a
devotee. I was very pleased to see this nice
piece of land. Lots of projects can be done
there. This place needs lots of help from us.
Anybody who go to Vaidyanath dham please go and
visit our new Ashram and help in whatever way
you could to make this Ashram beautiful.
Swami Bhutesanananda a young and dynamic monk is
working very hard to make this palce a place of
peace.
RAIPUR
From Vaidyanathdham I travel all the way to
Raipur, the capital of newly created chhatisgarh
state. Bharat Sevashram Sangha runs a beautiful
English medium school there. It is a unique
piece of property. Local Swamiji is trying very
hard to develop and improve this place. We need
lots of help there also.
Apart from schools we also have a Milan mandir
where our temple and monk’s quarter is situated.
From Raipur I went to visit Mana camp. Probably
you might remember that at the time of the
division of Bengal in 1947 lakhs of people
became refugees. Government of India brought
thousands of them there in that dandaka forest.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha used to distribute
relief materials for a long time. The Sangha has
a small Milan mandir and are still working among
the people there. If I was not there I would
have never knew what pain people went through
and how they were thrown away from there own
home. I will request all of you, please go and
see how they are suffering.
JABALPUR
My next stop was at Jabalpur of M.P state of
India. The local swamiji was very enthusiastic,
he is doing wonderful work there. We have a
temple, computer-training center, yoga school,
tribal welfare project and mobile medical unit.
We also have farmland away from the city, which
produces wheat and vegetables. These are used
for Ashram inhabitants. We celebrated Vasanti
puja there.
From Jabalpur we visited Amar Kantak, one of the
most popular pilgrim centers in India. Amar
Kantak is the birthplace of Narmada and Son
River.
BHUPAL
From Jabalpur we traveled to Bhupal, the state
capital of Madhya Pradesh state. Swami
Arpitanandaji built a beautiful Ashram there.
Swamiji is a very hard working monk and his
vision for the future made that place very
active. At this Ashram we have Hatha-yoga center
and most mentionable is our acupuncture clinic.
Every morning almost 30-40 people come for this
treatment. Bhupal Ashram also has a monastery
and a beautiful Sir Guru Temple.
UJJAIN-KUMBH-MELA
Relief work:
Ujjain Mahakaleswar Shiva mandir is also one of
the dwadash Jyotir lingam of Lord Shiva. It is
besides the bank of the Shipra River. This year
Kumbha Mela was close by. I was desperate to go
and take a holy dip in the Shipra River to wash
away all my sins.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha does massive relief work
at Kumbh Mela. We arrange accommodation for
pilgrims, medical clinic, helping people to take
holy dip at sacred river, helping people to find
their lost one’s, Sadhu sammelan, distributing
drinking water and satsang. Our camp is one of
the most attractions at any Kumbh Mela. I was
very fortunate to be there with my other brother
monks and take part in serving the moksha
seekers.Delhi
I reached Delhi via Bhupal by train. Train
journey in India is very pleasant to me, also it
is safe. Delhi is the political capital of
modern India. A booming city, it is busy with
millions of people. In my monastic life, I
myself spend almost fifteen years in Delhi.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha has a beautiful Ashram
in South Delhi area. Temple of Sri Sri Guru
Maharaj, Lord Rama, Devi Seeta & Laxman, temple
of Lord Krishna, Shiva & Durga are all there.
There are also beautiful rooms for guests,
computer training center, students hostel,
medical clinic, Dental clinic, mobile medical
unit, religious bookstall etc. are there.
Several Prime Ministers of India and many
dignitaries have visited this Ashram. As I have
heard from local Swamiji in-charge, that plan is
going on to purchase a piece of land at Noida
area and they will build a modern residential
school there.
Conclusion:
With sadness in my heart, it was time for me to
leave mother India, my brother monks, Ashrams
and the wonderful people. Two of my brother
monks came with me to Indira Gandhi
International Airport to see me off. There were
tears in their eyes and it was also a very
emotional time for me. Air India did not
hesitate to take me into the deep sky and drop
me in a land which I do not belongs to.
I was happy to see the progress of our country
and the rapid expansion work that Bharat
Sevashram Sangha is doing for the needy people
in India.
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