[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Participated in and learned about Nagara Sankeerthana and performed Shiva Abhishekam in Karthik Masa
Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767- 1835), after reading Bhagavad Gita, he wrote to his friend:
“I read the Indian poem for the first time when I was in my country estate in Silesia and, while doing so, I felt a sense of overwhelming gratitude to God for having let me live to be acquainted with this work. It must be the most profound and sublime thing to be found in the world. “
Global Hindu Heritage is very happy to inform that we started about 150 Bala Samskar Kendras in five States in India – Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - to teach about the richness of Hinduism, Hindu festivals, Hindu ethos, Hindu History, and culture and traditions. Sri Rajesh is a very active member in the community championing the Hindu Values not only to the children but also actively involved in making the Hindus proud of their culture.
Our Children are taught about the richness of our culture by teaching about various scriptures and the timeless wisdom found in them. Our students will learn how Hindus conceive the abstract concept of God, their features, physical features and the divine qualities. We talk about the characteristics of Lord Rama, the attributes and his behavior and the qualities that we can emulate. Many of our Gods are incarnated at different times and we try to explain about different Avataras and the purpose of incarnating at a particular time.
Nagara Sankeerthana
Nagar sankirtan, is a tradition in the Indian religions involving the processional singing of holy hymns by a group in a residential area. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is credited with introduction of custom of Nagar kirtan, which included singing not only lyrical verses dedicated to Krishna but also chanting and singing them repetitively on the streets of city in form of a procession.
Nagara Sankeerthana means organizing group chanting of religious songs selected a number songs on different Gods and Goddesses such as Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Devi, Ganesh, Dattatrteya, Rama and other gods going around the streets either in the city, village or in the Ashram itself. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji of Avadhuta Datta Peetham conducts Nagara Sankeerthanas during new year in different cities – Mysore, Hyderabad and other cities. In 2013, following Nagara Sankeerthan in Hyderabd he said, “ Today we completed Nagara Sankeerthana for a second consecutive year victoriously, gloriously, happily, with devotion and focus! Who in the world doesn’t want the blessings of God and Guru? Nobody. If such people exist, they would be the most ignorant beings that ever existed. Everybody needs Guru’s blessings. I pray that His blessings last forever.
We now reached the last part of Nagara Sankeeerthana programme. We started at one point, tried to cover as much distance as we can. Of course, we would like to cover up entire city of Hyderabad but that would take us three days or so! We covered about 8 kilometer radius, praying that we get rid of the kinds of hardships and get the 8 sidhis. With Gods grace, may the worlds be prosperous, happy, peaceful and courageous. With this wish, we sang His name on the streets, reached the starting point. After this, we are supposed to sit down for a while here and pray to God. This set of events have been an ancient tradition. We just followed all the steps in this tradition. We also witnessed prayers to Lord Rama. Let’s now sing one song on Lord Rama. Our Guru Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji has written and composed thousands of bhajans because in this Kali Yuga, singing God’s praise is the most effective spiritual practice. This was also true for other Yugas as well. Today as we were singing in the streets, it felt like we were transported to Krita Yuga. Only by following dharma and ethics can we reach such a happy state. Following that ancient dharma, we performed Nagara Sankeerthana today. Let’s sing one of the thousands of Bhajans given to us by our Guru and then we will talk more about the importance of Nagara Sankeerthana. Everyone should sing with me. Bhajan removes fear and re-birth. It removes our sins and sorrows from our past lives as well.
When we hear the sounds of songs, “it reverberates to a long distance. In the old world, they used to say that the sound of the bell on the hills of Tirupati used to be heard across the kingdom. The power of sound is such. This is a direct answer to those who wonder what good we are doing to the world by singing in the streets of Hyderabad. The waves of our sound reach far corners of the world and bring peace and happiness to the world. How much service can we do to the world? We have our human limitations. We can’t serve the world physically beyond those limitations. Only by singing God’s name with devotion, we can serve all the people in the world. This tradition has been followed by Lord Hanuman and other great men like Tumbura, Narada, Tyagaraja, MuthuSwami Deekshitulu, Shyama Shastry, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya and the like. Today, our Sadguru, the living incarnation of Datta Himself is promoting this tradition. This year’s Nagara Sankeerthana is the second. We did the first in the year of Nandana. We should do this every year. I pray God to make it possible.”
Sri Satya Sai Baba is communicating to the whole world lessons in spiritual practices. One of the important items of these spiritual activities is Nagara Sankeerthana. Members should wake up in the Brahma muhurta (before sunrise), mentally intone the name of God, and also do it loudly so that others will hear it. All are to be woken up with God's name. All daily chores and disciplines should be carried out in God's name. Each member should encourage other members also to follow this ritual so that collectively all will dedicate their lives and work to God. This comprehensive programme of service is Nagara Sankeerthana. This sacred programme should be carried out in every hamlet, village, town and city. At dawn no other sound but the name of God should be heard. This will yield immense benefit. It purifies the mind as well as the environment. On waking, if one loudly intones the divine names of Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Damodara, Sankara, Durga and Lakshmi, one's heart gets cleared of impurity. Sathya (truth), Dharma (duty), Santhi (peace) and Prema (love) get firmly implanted there. Moreover, waking up in the Brahma Muhoortham is itself a wholesome habit. It is good for health; mind gets alert; heart is filled with happiness; all the organs are purified. Sri Sai Bhagavan has given instructions that all devotees should assemble at one place, conduct intonation of Pranavam (i.e. Om), and recite Suprabhatham. Afterwards they should go about on the streets of the town from 5 to 7 A.M. singing soulful devotional music with appropriate bhaav (content), raag (tune) and thala (rhythm in sounds which is reflected by cymbals, Mrithangam, tamboora etc).
Performed Shiva Abhishekam
Karthik Masa is considered the most auspicious month of all twelve months. This is the only month where both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are given equal importance and worshipped with fervor and zeal. During the entire month, Lord Shiva is worshipped with great reverence and prayers are offered. Offering Prayers to Lord Shiva, performing RUDRABHISHEKHA , BILVAPOOJA and reciting the VISHNU SAHASRANAMA during this Holy Month will bring great benefits and will absolve us from all our sins.
Rudrabhishekam is performed to pacify and propitiate the nine planets, in order to increase their positive influence and neutralize the negative influence, and also to give you enlightenment.
Sri Rudram is the basis of Yajurveda, with the sacred Siva Panchakshari Mantra enshrined in it. Lord Shiva is worshipped in Rudra form. It is one of the greatest one to remove all evil and sins, to attain all desires and all-round prosperity. The Maha Rudra Abhishekam is particularly performed for the sake of washing away one's sins and afflictions, for bringing peace, prosperity and happiness along with family togetherness.
All our Bala Samskar Kendra students performed Rudrabhishekam while chanting panchakshari Mantram.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Ghar Waapasi is going on unimpeded. We appreciate it if you can help in hiring more people who can go to these villages to do Ghar Waapasi. We have employed 20 Pracharaks working at the ground level. More people we hire, more villages can cover to welcome them back and also create Chaitanya (Awareness) among the students and villagers.
1) Sponsor one Bala Samskar Kendra for $1000.00
2) Sponsor one Pracharak: In order to expand our base and hire one Pracharak, it would cost approximately $3000.00 per year. We have five anonymous donors who sponsored Assistants.
DONATIONS
PayPal Method: To donate visit our website: savetemples.org. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category, and select the Ghar Wapasi Donation category.
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By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, . It is tax-deductible.
RUPEES, if you would like to contribute to rupees, please either call or send an email. We will call you back to give you the required information
For more information, call Prakasarao Velagapudi at ; Email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com