Sri Swamiji's Jayanti - Children's Day!

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This year ‘Swathi’ fell on Deepãvali. Jayanti of our Sri Swamiji was celebrated this year in Mathurapuri Ashram and in a style favoured by Sri Swamiji. It was incessant chanting of

“Hare Rama! Hare Rama! Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!”

by local and nearby village youths and children.

On the eve of Jayanti (13th November), the Patasala students chanted the Sahasranãma as Sri Swamiji performed ‘archana’ to Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. The students then burst crackers and lit fireworks as Sri Swamiji watched.

Sri Sumanth Bhãgavata and party performed Nãmasankirtan.
Sri Swamiji then joined the Veda Patasala students, the Ashramites and the few devotees who had gathered on the eve of the occasion, for supper.

The day began in the early hours. The Patasala students (though holiday had been declared, most of the students chose to stay back and spend the day with Sri Swamiji) were up by 3.30 a.m.! Being Deepavali, Ms. Meena Anantharãman (devotee from Bangalore) seated the Patalasala students, one by one, on a ‘manai’ (wooden seat) and applied oil on their head in the traditional way. Dipping a jasmine flower in the warm oil, she applied oil on the children’s and other ashramites’ heads. The children and all at the ashram had the traditional ‘oil bath’. It was a double celebration of Sri Swamiji’s Jayanti and Deepavali this year.
	Sri Swamiji, adorned in new dhoti, ‘angavastra’ and Tulasi mãlãs, went up the dais where Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi were placed on a small ‘oonjal’ (swing). Sri Swamiji performed ‘Prabodanam’ (waking up the Lord). Milk was offered to Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi and the ‘prasad’ distributed to all present. Sri Swamiji then blessed all the Patalasala students and the Ashramites with new dress for the occasion. The little ones in the company of senior students burst crackers. Some senior students stayed back with Sri Swamiji and chanted the Vedas as Sri Swamiji performed ‘abhisheka’ to Maha Periyava’s Pãduka and later to Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. Sri Swamiji then performed ‘archana’ to the Pãduka and Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi. By around 5.30 a.m. Sri Swamiji blessed all present with ‘theertha prasad’.
From around 8 a.m. devotees began pouring in. In spite of an indefinite strike by the public transport system in the City, devotees managed to reach the Ashram to have Sri Swamiji’s darshan and receive His blessings on the occasion of His Jayanti. Hundreds of devotees gathered in the Ashram and it was like our annual Brahmotsav! Not to mention the numerous calls received over the telephone from all around the world wishing Sri Swamiji on the occasion and receiving His blessings, by devotees who were not fortunate enough to be present personally.
The children and youth of Malaipattu, Mãhãnyam, Kunduperumpedu, Vallãrai and Amarampedu Villages, numbering about 250 performed “Hare Rama! Hare Rama! Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!” bhajan from 1 to 4 p.m.! This is the most favoured Bhajan of Sri Swamiji. And it was a befitting offering to Sri Swamiji by the village children and youths. They chanted the Kirtan of ‘Eka Nãma’ passionately all through the three hours, drowning Bhãgavata Bhavanam hall with it. Highly disciplined, they prostrated to Sri Swamiji one by one and received Sri Swamiji’s blessing devotedly. All of them were provided with milk.
This was followed by Sampradaya bhajan by Sri Murali Bhãgavata and party for two hours from 4 to 6 p.m. The Patasala students then chanted Vishnu Sahasranama from 6.30 to 7 p.m. Sri Mallikãrjuna Sarma, Mukhya Adhyãpak of our Sandeepani Gurukulam, along with the Patalasala students and ‘Mullaivãsal’ Sri Krishanmoorthy Shastri, performed Yajur Veda Pada Pãrãyana from 7 to 9 p.m.

Divya Nãmakirtan, led by Sri Sumanth Bhãgavata, was performed from 9.30 to 11.00 pm.

Dolotsav was performed around 11.05 p.m.

Let us all chant, on every occasion, every day, every moment

“Hare Rama! Hare Rama! Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!”

the most preferred bhajan and offering of Sri Swamiji.

“JAI GURUNÃTH! JAI GURUNÃTH! JAI GURUNÃTH! JAI GURUNÃTH!"

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