Sri Venkateswara Bhakta Samaj, Ãnand nilayam, Perambur, Chennai.
6th April 2003 - 10th April 2003

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji rendered ‘upanyãs’ on Bhakta Charitra

H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji spoke on

• Sri Adi Sankara

• Sri Bodendra Swami

• Sri Jayadev

• Sri Thiagaraja swami and

• Sri Ãndal

On the last day, after the ‘upanyãs’ large number of devotees in a highly disciplined and reverential manner came up to and received ‘akshadai’ prasad from the hands of H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji. Those who were interested to receive Rama Nãma upadesa from His Holiness received the same.

Ramayana pãrãyana and Raghava Shatakam - Premika Bhavanam, Chennai
11th April 2003 - 20th April 2003

Ramayana pãrãyana and Raghava Shatakam was rendered from 11th to 20th instant.

Rama Navami (Birth Day of Lord Rama)
11th April 2003

5.00 a.m. ‘Ramayana navãham’ by Dr. Vasu commenced.

8.00 a.m. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘abhisheka’ to Sri Maha Periyava’s Pãduka and Salagrãmãs even as Ms. Vishnu priya sang kirtans at the behest of H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji.
Sri Mruthyunjaya Sarma, the Sama Veda adhyapak at our Sandeepani Gurukulam, chanted the Sãma Veda.
At noon (the time of birth of Lord Rama) Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma (Mukhya Adhyãpak, Sri Sandeepani Gurukulam) read from the Ramayanam the birth of Sri Rama and performed ‘harati’ to Lord Rama.

H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji then blessed all the devotees with ‘teerta prasad’.
The traditional hand fan made of palm leaf was given to all men.
‘Pãnakam,’ ‘neer more,’ ‘vadai,’ and ‘kosambari’ Prasad were given to all.

10 a.m. - 12.00 noon H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji rendered Sri Raghava Shatakam, accompanied primarily by
Ms. Vishnupriya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran,
Ms. Leela Narayanaswami and Ms. Poornima Kumaraswamy and by Sri Sumant (our Satsang Bhãgavata), Sri Srikant, Sri ‘Pãttu’ Balaji and Sri Chattanatha Bhãgavata.
Dholki was played by Sri Ganesh and Sri Hareesh.
All the devotees joined in the rendering of the kirtan.

6.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted the Sahasranama.
Ms. Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang Pancha Gita.

H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji accompanied by Sri Sumant Bhagavata,
Sri Srikant, Sri Chattanatha Bhãgavata and ‘Pattu’ Balaji began ‘sampradaya’ (traditional) bhajan.

H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji sang, ‘Charanamu nambide nee divya charanamu nambide’ of Badrachala Ramdas followed by
‘Palukke bangara mãyana kodandarama’
‘Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Nãma thãrakam’
‘Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama enniro, Seetha Rama enniro’
‘Kellati mama hrudaye’

At the behest of H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji the two young grand daughters of His devotee ‘Koda’ mãmi melodiously sang,
‘Marukelaro Oh! Raghava!’ and
‘Mãkelara vichãramu!’

At H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji’s behest, Sri Chattanata Bhãgavata sang,
‘Enneramum …………’

His Holiness.Sri Sri Swamiji sang, ‘Rama ra! ra!
Ra! ra!’

Around 7.30 p.m. H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji brought the beautiful, charming, ‘new’ ‘marble’ Krishna Bhagavãn to the Hall amidst loud melodious singing of kirtan and commenced the ‘Divya nãma’. This Krishna is about a foot in height with the most graceful bearing. He holds His foot in a different way i.e. His stands with His left foot held across the right as against the usual right foot held across the left one.

There were about twenty young Bhãgavatãs and half-a-dozen elderly Bhãgavatãs singing the kirtans in bhakti-filled melody and dancing around H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji; the ‘new’ Krishna Bhagavãn stood in the center on the decorated seat, enjoying what He had come seeking!
The two young ‘dholki’ players sat inside the circle playing on the dholki.
‘Is this not the ‘parama padam’?’ was the experience of everyone! The whole air was reverberating with Bhagavan Nãma! Even little ones Srinath, Mira, Madhu joined the divya nãma - singing and dancing around. Premika Bhavanam was spilling with devotees - no place for even a small pin to drop. The whole gathering was lost in the reverie of Bhagavan Nãma! What an evening! Bhagavãn! Bhãgavata! Bhaktãs!

Little Madhu and little Mira ran to H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji who held their hands one on either side! With two little ones on either side of Him, H.H.Sri Sri Swamiji walked around Sri Krishna with short, light steps, leading the Diyva Nãma.

Ekãdasi
13th April 2003

H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji performed ‘thirumanjanam’ followed by ‘archana’ for Premika Varadan-Mãdhuri Sakhi and Salagrãmams. All devotees were blessed with ‘teerta prasad’.

10.00 a.m. to 12 noon H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji sang Sri Raghava Shatakam accompanied by Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran and Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy.

6.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted the sahasranama.
Ms. Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang Pancha Gita.

7.00 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Divya nãmakirtan was led by H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji.

11.00 p.m. Dolotstav

Tamizh New Year Day
14th April 2003

Mathurãpuri Ashram -
6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji inaugurated the new building that would henceforth house the Ashram Sunday clinic ‘Sri Premika Varadan medical camp’. Dr. Srinivasan, Dr. A. Bagyanath, Dr. Venkatesan, Dr. Ganesh, Dr. Saraswati, assistants Sri Murugaiyan, Sri Rangarajan, and Sri Murugesan were present.

All the students of our Sandeepani Gurukula Veda Patasala were present.

H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji then visited Sri Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal Temple and then the Ashram. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji blessed the cows in the ‘go shala’ with bananas, as He chanted
“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!”

H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji then blessed all the Patasala students and the Ashramites with a rupee coin each. Those villagers who came in to receive His blessings were also blessed similarly.

Sri Swamiji discoursed on 'Thirumãlai' from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Premika Bhavanam for six days from 9th March 2003 to 14th March 2003.

Premika Bhavanam -
H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji came to Premika Bhavanam around 8.30 a.m.
The hall here was beautifully decorated with ‘kolams’ and mango leaves. ‘Vishu’ was kept at the head of the hall - a mirror, lamp and all kinds of fruits and vegetables - a sign sof prosperity.

9.40 a.m. The traditional ‘Panchãnga patanam’ (reading the year forecast) was performed by Brahmasri Rajagopala Ganapãdigal. The New Year born is known as ‘Su-bhãnu’ varusha. (‘Su’ means good and Bhanu refers to the Sun).
Brahmasri Rajagopala Ganapãdigal explained that with the birth of every New Year there is a change in the governing Planets. This year it is the Guru who will be the ruler. The posts of other planets were also read out. The general status of individuals was also read out. It has been said that women would enjoy ‘their say’ in all fields that they occupy!

However, for those who have been led up the hill of Satsangh there is no pit fall. The only prediction for all in the Satsang is -
Bhagavan Nãma kirtan! Bhagavan Nãma kirtan! And more Bhagavan Nãma kirtan!

Can there be any other ‘joy guaranteed’ days ahead?

Devotees chanted the Maha Mantra,
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna! Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ From 11.00 a.m. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji led Sri Raghava Shatakam to the accompaniment of dholki. Sri Sumant Bhãgavata, Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran and Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy also joined in the rendering of the kirtan.

5.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted the Sahasranama.
Ms. Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang the Pancha Gita

5.30 p.m. - 10.30 p.m. At H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji’s behest Sri Sumant Bhãgavata led the kirtan ‘Nãne nimmadi adainden ulagam maranden ãnandam thãn adainden’ (Tamizh).
Next, at the behest of H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji’s behest Dr. Vasu led the kirtan, ‘vizhi kidaikkuma abhaya karam kidaikuma? Sadgurunãthan charanatthil nizhal kidaikkuma?’ (Tamizh)
H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji then led the kirtan ‘Bhãvam illada bhajanai eno? Bhakti illãda bhajanai veenne’ ((Tamizh - H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji’s kirtan) H. H. Sri Sri Swamiji then accompanied by Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani and Sri Sumant Bhãgavata, Sri Srikant, sang Sri Raghava shatakam. . 10.35 p.m Dolotsav.

Akanda Nãma Kirtan at "Aruvathimoovar" festival in Kapaleeswarar temple, Chennai
15th April 2003

10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
Sri Raghava Shatakam was rendered.
H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji blessed the devotees with ‘teerta prasad’.
H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji blessed all devotees with darshan upto 12 noon.

16th April 2003

10.00 a.m. - 12 noon Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran and
Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy rendered Sri Raghava Shatakam. Several other devotees also pariticipated.

17th April 2003

“SWATI”

10.00 a.m. - 12 noon Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran,
Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy rendered Sri Raghava Shatakam. Several other devotees participated.

5.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted Vishnu Sahasranama.
Ms. Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang the Pancha Gita. H.H..Sri Sri Swamiji blessed the devotees with darshan upto 9.00 p.m.

18th April 2003

10.00 a.m. - 12 noon Sri Raghava Shatakam was sung by Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran, Ms. Leela Narayanaswami, Ms. Vishnu priya and Ms. Janani. Sri Chattanãtha Bhãgavata played on the dholki.

5.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted Vishnu Sahasranama.
Ms.Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang Pancha Gita.

7.45 - 8.20 p.m. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji spoke briefly on the need for devotion to one God.

8.30 p.m. Dolotsav.

19th April 2003

5.00 p.m. Dr. Vasu chanted the Sahasranamam.
Ms. Janani and Ms. Vishnu priya sang Pancha Gita.

6.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji sang Sri Raghava Shatakam.
Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran and
Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy sang with His Holiness. 8.40 p.m. Dolotsav.

Sri Rama Pattabhishekham
20th April 2003

8.00 a.m. Thirumanjanam was performed.
His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji, and Ms. Vishnu priya, Ms. Janani, Ms. Jayanti Janakiraman, Ms. Kanchana Sankaran, Ms. Leela Narayanaswamy, Sri Sumant Bhãgavata, Sri Srikant, Sri Chattanata Bhãgavata sang Sri Raghava Shatakam.
This was the concluding day of the 10 day Sri Ram Navami Utsav. The last 10 kirtans of Sri Raghava Shatakam was sung this morning.

H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji blessed all devotees with ‘teerta prasad’.

‘Pãnakam’ and sweet prasad were distributed to all devotees.

Ãmbur Ãnmiga Peravai, Krishnapuram, Ambur, Tamizh Nadu
21st April - 26th April, 2003

8.00 - 10.00 p.m. His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji performed Bhakta Charitra ‘upanyãs’.
Devotees turned up in large numbers to hear the nectarine words of H. H. Sri Sri Swamiji.