Professional Documents
Culture Documents
E - Newsletter
March 2012
Calender Events of
February 2012
03 Friday - Ekadasi 07 Tuesday - Swami Adbhutananda Jayanti 18 Saturday - Ekadasi 20 Monday - Maha Shivaratri (Whole night Puja & Bhajan) 23 Thursday - Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti
Content Calender Events and Contents Maha Shivaratri - A Report Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti A Report Sri Chaitanya Jayanti Swami Yogananda Jayanti Human Excellence Courses Schedule Spoken English & Other Languages Admission Details
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Calender Events of
March 2012
04 Sunday - Ekadasi 08 Thursday - Sri Chaitanya Jayanti 11 Sunday - Swamy Yogananda Jayanti 18 Sunday - Ekadasi 23 Friday - Ugadi
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Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna 177th Jayanti - A Pictorial Report 23rd, 24th and 25th Evening February 2012
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CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Anich (1486 - 1534), was a monk and a social reformer of Eastern India in the 16th century. (present-day Bangladesh and states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa of India). Sri Krishna Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti Yog based on the philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita. Specifically he worshipped the forms of Radha and Krishna and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. His line of followers, known as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as an avatar of Krishna in the mood of Radharani. He was also sometimes referred to by the names Gaura (Sanskrit for golden one) due to his light skin complexion, and Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree. Chaitanyas life According to the biography, Chaitanya Charitmrita, Nimi appeared on the full moon night of February 18 1486 at the time of a lunar eclipse. His parents named him Visvambhar - He was the second son of Jagannath Mishra and his wife Sachi Devi who lived in the town of Navadwip in Nadia, West Bengal. In his youth, Chaitanya Mahprabhu was primarily known as an erudite scholar, whose learning and skills in argumentation in his locality were second to none. A number of stories also exist telling of Chaitanyas apparent attraction to the chanting and singing of Krishnas names from a very young age, but largely this was perceived as being secondary to his interest in acquiring knowledge and studying Sanskrit. When traveling to Gaya to perform the shraddha ceremony for His departed father, Chaitanya met his guru, the ascetic Ishvara Puri, from whom he received initiation with the Gopala Krishna mantra. This meeting was to mark a significant change in Mahprabhus outlook and soon he became an eminent leader of the Vaishnava group within Nadiya. After leaving Bengal and receiving entrance into the sannysa order by Keshava Bharati, Chaitanya journeyed throughout the length and breadth of India for several years, chanting the divine Names of Krishna constantly. He spent the last 24 years of His life in Puri, Orissa, the great temple-city of Jagannth. The Suryavanshi Hindu emperor of Orissa, Gajapati Maharaja Prataparudra Dev, regarded Chaitanya as Krishnas incarnattion and was an enthusiastic patron and devotee of his sankeertan party. It was during these years that Lord Chaitanya is believed by His
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followers to have sank deep into samdhi. He is considered by some to be one of the incarnations of The Supreme Personality Of Godhead Krishna. According to beliefs of orthodox followers, Chaitanya Mahprabhu united in Himself three aspects: ecstatic devotee of Krishna, inspired teacher of the love of Krishna, and Krishna Himself in inseparable union with Radha. Teachings Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not known to have written anything himself except for a series of verses known as the Siksastaka, or eight verses of instruction, which he had spoken, and were recorded by one of his close colleagues. The eight verses created by Mahaprabhu are considered to contain the complete philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in condensed form. Chaitanyas teachings are summarized as ten roots or maxims, dasa mula: 1. The statements of amnaya (scripture) are the chief proof. By these statements the following nine topics are taught. 2. Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth. 3. Krishna is endowed with all energies. 4. Krishna is the ocean of rasa (theology) 5. The jivas (individual souls) are all separated parts of the Lord. 6. In bound state the jivas are under the influence of matter, due to their tatastha nature. 7. In the liberated state the jivas are free from the influence of matter, due to their tatastha nature. 8. The jivas and the material world are both different from and identical to the Lord. 9. Pure devotion is the practice of the jivas. 10. Pure love of Krishna is the goal.
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Swami Yogananda (1861-1899), whose original name was Jogindranath Chowdhury belonged to an aristocratic family that had declined. His father was a devout Brahmin and he was devoted to religious affairs from a young age. Popular as Jogin, he came in touch with Sri Ramakrishna when still at school but his family did not approve of this association and forced him into marriage. Jogin was one of the six disciples whom Sri Ramakrishna regarded as ishvarakotis. (An ishvarakoti is a godlike soul who is eternally free from the bondage of karma, and who allows himself to be born simply to do good to humanity.) He was spiritually inclined from boyhood. He first met the Master when he was studying for school final examination. Since he lived in the neighbourhood of Kali Temple, he started visiting Sri Ramakrishna frequently. Yogananda lived an ideal life and taught by his example. He did not lecture or do any spectacular work. Although born into a rich family and married, he demonstrated how to practice renunciation and purity. After the Masters passing on, Jogin accompanied Holy Mother on her pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya and then reached Vrindaban. It was in Vrindaban, one day Sri Ramakrishna appeared before her and asked her to give Jogin formal initiation. Jogin also, in a vision, received similar instructions from the Master. Shortly after Mother initiated him and Jogin thus became her first initiated disciple. After his return from the pilgrimage he joined Baranagar Math and took the vows of sannyasa, assuming the new name Yogananda. However, he dedicated his life to the service of Holy Mother. Whenever Mother visited Kolkata, Swami Yogananda would arrange for Mothers accommodation, usually in rented premises, and stayed with her to look after her needs. He also spent some time in Varanasi and other places doing severe austerities which told on his health. When Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897, he made Yogananda its Vice-President (Swami Brahmananda was made the President). Owing to his delicate health, he did not live long. He passed away on 28 March 1899 at the age of 38, causing much sorrow to Holy Mother and the other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Yogananda was the first disciple of the Master, to die. Grief stricken, Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) remarked A beam is down and now the rafters will fall one after another.
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OTHER LANGUAGES FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH, JAPANESE, SANSKRIT, HINID LANGUAGES. ADMISSION FOR THE ABOVE LANGUAGES HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON 30 DEC. 2011. CLASSES BEGAN FROM 4 JAN. 2012
Please visit our website in the last week of April 2012 for application, admission and other details.
Director
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Chronos
Universal Temple of Sri Ramakrishna : (open to all, except for children below seven
years) 5.00 a.m to 12 noon & 4 p.m to 8.15 p.m; 5 a.m - Mangal Arati 9.30 a.m - Puja , 6.45 p.m Arati and bhajans (After evening Arati, there will be Ramanamam Sankirtana on Ekadasi days, and Special Bhajans Programme on Saturday, Sunday and other festival days.)
: Telugu weekly discourse & Meditation Saturday (5.45 p.m to 6.45 p.m)
Vivekananda Auditorium
Office
Book Stall
: 9.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m & 4.00 p.m to 8.00p.m (Book Stall adjacent to Gita Darshan Building is open on all days from 9.00 a.m to 8.00p.m)