[GHHF] Returned to Dallas; Visited Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Skipped Andhra for possible security threat. Summary of our Activities in Bharat.
Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
"One day this world will accept Hinduism. Refusing to accept the true name of Hinduism will only make one accept its principles. Western nations will surely one day convert to Hinduism. The religion of the learned is equal to that of Hinduism".
I went to Bharath with a mission to meet as many Ghar Waapasi Pracharaks as possible, talk to them and find out about their efforts, problems they face and the resistance they encounter on the ground level, the techniques they use to talk to the Christians and how they address the queries of converted Christians. Planned to visit all five States – Assam, Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Reached Bharath in the middle of December 2022 to visit all five States where Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is conducting Ghar Waapasi, organizing 175 Bala Samskar Kendras and renovation Grama Devatas.
ANDHRA PRADESH: I skipped visiting all the locations where we have organizing various activities in Andhra on the advice of our friends who are aware of what happened in Frisco and Dallas, the demonstrations, vigils and false accusations. Shameless distortion of the facts, deliberate attempt to smear the reputation of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, and blatant attempt to falsify our mission ignited the Andhra Pastors and Churches. They have been discussing unashamedly almost every Sunday about how GHHF is demanding the demolition of all Churches. They never say anything about “ILLEGALLY BUILT.”
Based on the advice of our friends and others who are knowledgeable about Intelligence Department, we decided to skip visiting Andhra.
1) Tamil Nadu
The day after we landed in Bangalore, we went to Tamil Nadu and spend five days – December 17-22. Srinivas Pinnamaneni who is coordinating all our activities in Bharat, Sri Sridhar Mutrasanallur, Nandini Velagapudi and me met and discussed our activities taking place at the ground level. Next five days we visited five locations in Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Mahabalipuram.
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very happy to inform you that the Bala Samskar Kendras in Tamil Nadu have celebrated their year anniversary. The teachers talked about the progress they made and how Children were responding.
Sri Srinivas Pinnamaneni and Sri Sridhar attended the event and encouraged them to champion Hindutva ideology. Smt. Rajyalakshmi and other six teachers coordinated the program. Parents, students, and other community people attended the program. About 400 people attended this annual program.
December 17, 2022 witnessed a major Ghar Waapasi program in Tamil Nādu where 18 Christian families voluntarily converted back to their mother religion, Hinduism. This is the 3rd Ghar Waapasi program in the last six months in this district, all under the able leadership of our Karya kartha, Jayalakshmi Ji. RSS Pracharaks from Chennai were invited as chief guests for the program. The spoke about the importance of Hinduism provided them a big welcome back to Hinduism and gave them an oath to take to never turn back from their religion. They also encouraged them to conduct Bhajans.
Sri Srinivas Pinnamaneni from Visakhapatnam and Sri Sridhar from Bangalore made special trip to witness the Shuddhi program where these families were invited back to Hinduism. Prakasarao and his wife Nandini also attended and blessed them.
The highlight of our trip visiting the Bala Samskar Kendra in SLUM area called “Slum Clearance Housing Board, Ezhil Nagar, near Kannagi Nagar Police Station, Thoraipakkam, Chennai.
The teachers talked about the progress they made and how Children were responding.
It is heartwarming to learn about the success of the program. As you can see from the pictures, they wore Tilak on their forehead and chanted the slokas to their hearts content.
It is also heartbreaking to see the conditions they live in. You can see all the children sitting in the corridor of the building in front of the apartments where the families live. There was not enough space. Still, commitment and dedication are no match for comfort or convenience. It is even more heartbreaking to know the family situations in which these kids are raised. Teachers tell us about how the children are treated. Sometimes, teachers keep them for hours to make sure the kids feel safe to back home.
Sri Srinivas Pinnamaneni and Sri Sridhar attended the event and encouraged them to champion Hindutva ideology. Sri Rajkumar and his brother Sri Ramdas are championing the cause of transmission of Sanatana values to these slum areas. Sri Rajkumar is assisted by five teachers who coordinate the program. Parents, students, and other community people attended the program. About 100 students attended this annual program in the Slum building.
2) Assam
We visited Assam from December 22 – 26. Sri Samrat Dutt who coordinates all our activities organized four events in four locations. Many parents attended the events and appreciated the of GHHF and how their children were benefiting from the Bala Samskar
Samrat thanked all the parents and children for taking the opportunity to learn our customs and traditions. He said that nay people are crossing the border unchecked and the demography might change. We have to educate our children about the impending danger for Sanatana Dharma.
During our visit 16 Christians of village Pynursla returned to Hinduism. All of them belong to the indigenous khasi community. Puja, rituals done as per their faith and new clothes given to them.”
Some of the significant events he was able to accomplish are:
Started 16 BALA SAMSKAR Kendras in three districts in Assam;
Welcomed 119 to Hinduism from other faiths;
Organized 6 Hindu Jagrana Sabhas with more than 7000 in attendance;
Initiated signature campaign to repeal Muslim Waqf Act;
Supported Grama Devata Temple renovation;
Helped rescue 335 cows from Butchers;
Provided legal help for hundreds of Hindus;
Annadanam and food items were provided to flood victims;
Organized Parents Worship Day for more than 200 families;
Distributed more than 1200 booklets on the dangers of Love Jihad;
And many more.
3) Karnataka
I. Spoke at Suttur JATHARA organized by His Holiness Sri Mahasivaratri Desikendra Mahaswamy.
I was invited as a Special Guest to speak at the Conference. The speech that lasted 15 minutes on the problems Bharath facing and the responsibility of each Hindu to protect her from being maligned.
Bharata Mata under Attack; Stop being Spectators, Act Immediately
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2qb_BduTtI&t=3s
Speech discussed about different aspects that are affecting the very existence of Bharata Mata – Sanatana Dharma. It is amazing to know that India is the only country that does not teach about the greatness of her own Dharma. We did not teach our children about the Scientific advances, different dynasties that enriched our culture, the voluminous literature, and the admiration of Nobel laureates. We as Hindus are failing our Bharata Mata, not protecting her from being strangled. Hindus are responsible for not guarding her. If we do not rise up and act together, we may be looking at the potential demise of Sanatana Dharma. We as individual Hindus must take it as a mission to protect. Time is running out. Stop being a spectator, act immediately.
Lakhs of devotees witnessed the Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogigala Maharathotsava organized as part of Suttur Jathara Mahotsava at Suttur Srikshetra in Nanjangud taluk on the 21st.
They celebrated the car festival (Rathotsava) in religious fervor and grandeur, by pulling the old and new chariots which were accompanied by folk and cultural troupes. Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Desikendra Swamiji and various pontiffs graced the occasion.
Almost all the State Politicians attended and spoke at the function. Chief Minister Sri Bommai, ex-Chief Ministers Yedyurappa, Siddaramaia, Jagdish Shettar, and several Ministers attended and spoke on the occasion. Many MLAs, attended. RSS and BJP leaders also spoke at the event. The speaker of the Karnataka Assembly also attended. Mysore Raja spoke on occasion.
More than 12 lakh people are estimated to have attended. All the arrangements were planned and executed professionally. It is an event; one must attend and experience the Jathara. It is a 24-hour event every day.
A large number of devotees from across the State including from Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar districts flocked to the Suttur village, and many people visited from the USA.
Six-day Annual Suttur Jathara Mahotsava began on January 18 and concluded on the 23rd morning.
The six-day event is organized every year by Suttur Mutt to commemorate the birth anniversary of Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shiva yogi Swamiji, who founded the Sri Veerasimhasana Mahasamsthana Mutt at Suttur Srikshetra ten centuries ago.
II Attended Sahasra Chandra Darshan Mahotsavam.
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji celebrated Sahasra Chandra Darshan from February 1-5 in Mysore at SGS Ashrama.
Attending Sahara Chandana Darshana celebration of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in Mysuru.
Sri Swamiji is celebrating the witness of 1000 moons in his life time. In general, whoever completes 80 years and four months is supposed to have experienced the moonlight of Chandra.
In South, especially in Tamil Nadu, this function is very popular. It is customary for people to have a darshan of the person who celebrated Sahasra Chandra Darshan and it is believed that the witnessed reap many benefits and get the blessings.
Nobody has to invite to Sahasra Chandra Darshan function. Anybody can go and receive the blessings.
In SGS Ashram in Mysuru Sri Swamiji is celebrating at a grand scale. The whole Ashram is decorated for the occasion. Sri Swamiji started the day by attending Sri Narasimha Swamy Kalyanam, went to attend to bless the devotees who were getting married at Sri Venkateshwara Temple. Later, 80 ladies carried Kalasam on their heads by leading the precession.
III Discussed about Christianization of Villages.
Talked to Sri Suryanarayana, one of the activists from BJP who is engaged in Ghar Waapasi program in Mysuru Rural District. We had a two-hour meeting to plan for combined activity to start Ghar Waapasi program in villages. We discussed about how Christians are moving close to Hindu Temples and Ashrama/Mutts. We Hindus are not doing enough to protect out villages from their cunning plans to see that Hindus would be discouraged to attend their religious places.
IV Met with Hindu Munani leaders and BJP leaders.
Our main Coordinator of Tamil Nadu activities, Sri Sridhar came along with Sri Ramesh of Hindu Munani and Sri Bhojaraj, activist leader of GHHF. We discussed a number matters related to ground level activities, GHHF is already working with Hindu Munani in organizing Bala Samskar. GHHF agreed to start another 10 Bala Samskar Kendras in Tamil Nadu. Also discussed about possible addition of another four Pracharaks for Ghar Waapasi.
Sri Ram Kasibhatla invited BJP leader Sri Munindra Kumar and a number of other activists to exchange the information about our activities. We spend about one hour talking about the need for ground activities instead of talking and suggesting. Hindus have to protect their mother – Bharat Mata – from all kinds of attacks both internally and externally.
4) Telangana
I Spoke at Sishu Mandir on Vasantapanchami Day
I spoke on the occasion to impress upon the importance of education as well as teaching about the Hindu dharma. We have to impart the individual responsibility and parents must play a major role in instilling the moral compass. We have to make sure that our children would appreciate the richness and width of our Hindu Dharma.
Sishu Mandir in Kandi Village organized Aksharabhyasam for about 25 children aged 2-3 on January 26th which happens to be Vasantapanchami Day in Kandi Village in Telangana. We have a long association with the school for decades. In fact, my wife’s brother and his children donated to build third floor for the school and renovation of some part of the building.
Parents are urged to learn about our dharma and it is not late to learn the greatness of our culture. Other religions are taking advantage of our lack of knowledge and try to allure our children by enticing them with biscuits and chocolates etc. and take them to their churches and brain wash them. Once we start teaching about our dharma and how it is universal, our children would be our ambassadors. I requested them to make sure that they would not tell them that they do not know if their children ask them questions. We requested them to consult the teachers at Sishu Mandir and fill their minds with the nectar of wisdom.
If we fill the glass with right kind of information, nobody can fill it with dirt. Education must be used for skill development as well as development of personalities with morals and character. We should emulate the qualities of our Gods and Goddesses.
Aksharabhyasam is a Sanskrit word. The word is a combination of two letters: Akshara means ‘letters / alphabets’ and Abhyasam means ‘practice’. Aksharabhyasam means “the study of practical letters”. In this function a child is given initiation for writing / education. With this function the child is ready to receive formal education in a school. The function is performed in different ways in different regions of India.
Aksharabhyasam is a traditional religious ceremony in which the child is given initiation of Education. It involves worship of Goddess Saraswathi.
Aksharabhyasam includes pre-writing skill which is initiated when the child is as young as 2 years old. It is not about mastering the art of writing but developing skills to help train small muscles in the child’s hands and fingers so they can complete the motions necessary to eventually form letters.
Normally the child sits in his father's or maternal uncle's lap for 'Aksharabhyasam'. The child is made to hold a plate full of rice grains spread on it or a slate. The person in whose lap the child sits, holds its hand (normally right hand) and makes him / her write the first letters which are either 'AUM' or 'Om Namah Sivaya' in regional language after the pooja is performed by the priest.
Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswathi, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswathi Panchami It is believed that without Saraswathi the world would be shrouded in ignorance, as she is the one who represents enlightenment. Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami Tithi) in the Hindu month of Magha, Shukla Paksha.
Basant Panchami is the time when people start giving the first lessons on education to their children. This custom is referred to as Vidyarambam. It is also known as Aksharabhyasam.
II Met Several Dignitaries.
I had the opportunity to meet Sri Ramarao Gooty, who served as a Chairman of BHEL. In fact, I stayed in their house last summer for more than a week. We had lunch with Sri Raghava Sastry, Sri Raghunandan Reddy, Sri Suneel, Sri Sudershan Acharya, Sri Arunji, and others.
III Met with A S Santosh of Legal Rights Protection Forum and discussed our mutual interests in protecting Hindu Temples, exposing the minorities who are exploiting the Hindu Rights, efforts to stop the conversion by foreign nationals, how Grahm Stains abused his Visa by converting Hindus to Christianity instead of helping the Leprosy patients, and many other topics. GHHF has agreed to help him in tireless efforts to defend Sanatana Dharma.
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 Waapasi Donation category.
By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com
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