SRI GURU PURNIMA, SADHANA WEEK AND 38^th HOLY ARADHANA CELEBRATION OF H. H. GURUDEV SRI SWAMI SIVANANDAJI MAHARAJ

SRI GURU PURNIMA:  The annual worship of Guru- Tattva or the principle of spiritual mastery in the hierarchy of the Guru-disciple relationship was observed at the Sivananda Ashram, Ahmedabad on 5^th July 2001, as the holy Sri Gurupurnima, the full-moon day on which spiritual adepts and masters are adored everywhere. The day’s programme commenced from 5a.m. (Brahma-muhurta) with prayer and group meditation. H.H Sri Swami Adhyatmanandaji spoke on the occasion, dilating upon the spiritual significance of the day. Also known as the Vyasa-Purnima, particular celebration is devoted to the invocation and worship of Bhagawan Sri Vyasa, who is regarded as the Guru of all Gurus. It is also held to be the special annual day of invoking God Himself as the Supreme Being, since all souls gravitate towards Him in greater or lesser intensity and the Guru is a gracious form, which God assumes in the expression of His relationship to creation in general. By self-control and the self-surrender, the seeking individual reasserts the presence of God in all things and unites itself with His presence in profound meditation. To the seeker, the Guru is not a person but a link in the chain of the procession of spiritual forces that ranges unremittingly from the absolute down to inanimate matter. It is only at the level of the human being that the consciousness of the operation of these forces arises and attracts the attention of the deepest aspiration in the man. 

In the forenoon an elaborate worship was conducted at the holy Sri Ashta Lakshmi Bhavan, with Abhishek and Archana. A large gathering of devotees came from different places participated in the worship. In the afternoon session, which was reserved for discourses, speakers dwelt on the life and teachings of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, as well Rev. Gurudev Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj and the services of the Divine Life Society, which they founded as the medium for the propagation of the message of the great spiritual heritage of man. The austerities, meditations and services of the Saintly founder ensoul the institution even today and the Divine Life Society stands as an emblem of the strivings of those souls, a few in number though they be, who have girt up their loins to live the life spiritual in their own example, to proclaim the glory of God to the world and recognize God’s magnificence in the world or beings. 

H.H. Sri Swami Shankeranandaji Maharaj, Sri Swami Ashutoshanandaji, Dr. Mafatlal Patani, Sri Balvantbhai Bhatt, Smt. Nayanaben Dave and Smt. Yashomatiben Trivedi shared their feeling and views about the glory of the Guru. The programme concluded with Bhandara (Feast). 

During night satsang, Prof. Mrs. Bansari Yogendra with the accompanist Mr. Bhargav Raval poured the nectar through their devotional singing. 

At Sri Ashta Lakshmi Bhavan along with Sri Adi Shakti Mataji Gurudev's photos and Padukaji.	Holy Padukaji of Sri Gurudev	P. Swamiji along with H.H. Sri Swami Swaroopanandaji Maharaj
Aarati after the Paduka Punjan on Aradhana day (With Aarati, Mrs. Rupaben & Manishkumar Majmudar -a REIKI Master along with Sri Prof. J..N. Moudgilji - founder of IIT, Delhi and so many engineering institutes all over India and a pioneer in computer education in India, in a chair along with other devotees)	Holy Padukaji	Amrut Mahotsav Celebration of Sri Gangananda Mataji on 7th July 2001 along with Smt. Umaben Antani -a founder of Bharatnatyam research group.
Paduka Punjan	Paduka Punjan	A Bharatnatyam performed on Aradhana Day by Sri Bijoy Shivram along with Ms. Polomy Joshi

SPIRITUAL RETREAT (SADHANA WEEK):  The annual training of aspirants in Spiritual Sadhana, known as the Sadhana week, was held in the ashram for eight days from the 6^th July to 13^th July. The week’s programme consisted of illuminating discourses on the 13^th chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Gita by Sri Swami Adhyatmanandaji Maharaj and Sri Rama- Valmiki’s Samvad from Ayodhya Kand of Sri Ramacharita Manas by Rev. Brahmacharini Shobha Chaitanya Mataji from the Chinmaya Mission- Paramdham, Ahmedabad. 

Entire programme was divided in four session with prayers, meditation, Gita and Sri Vishnu Shahashranam chanting and discourse, in which more emphasis was given on practical Sadhana, by inspiring sadhaka’s for three hours of meditation everyday and three hours of spiritual study, its reflection and contemplation. 

In the night Satsangs Smt Mayurikaben and Smt. Monikaben gave thrilling devotional Bhajan’s and Kirtans. At the same time Pro. Smt Uma Antani of Rasadhwani Institute of Bharatnatyam research, presented excellent dance performance by Dr Jay Thumar (M.D.) medicine accompanied by Miss Gargi, Payal and Shivangi. 

PUNYATITHI ARADHANA. The 38^th Punyatithi- Aradhana Anniversary of His Holiness Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj was celebrated on 14^th July. The function was almost replica of Sri Guru Purnima, with certain added items of worship, as well as variety programmes. Prayers, meditation and recitation of peace chants formed early morning (Brahmamuhurta). Programme followed by Sri Vishwanath Mandir special pooja, Archana and Aarati. With utmost surprise; of all most Worshipful and Revered Sri Swami Swaroopanandaji Maharaj (107 years age) blessed disciple of Brahmalin Sri Swami Madhavtirthji Maharaj and chum of Rev. Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj graced the ashram. He arrived at very early dawn and participated in whole daylong function. 

During the forenoon session there were discourses on the life and teachings of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. Rev. Sri Swami Swaroopanandaji Maharaj shared his memory of Rishikesh of 1924 to 1936 (before setup DLS) with Rev. Gurudev and his two-generation of Sanyasa Diksha that is Rev. Sri Swami Vishnudevanandaji Maharaj, rev. Sri Swami Chetangiriji Maharaj of Sri Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh. 

In the afternoon a grand Paduka Poojan was organized, devotees joined from all four corners of Gujarat, even devotees from Durban (DLS South Africa), from Switzerland, United Kingdom and other parts of India also joined the holy festival. Sri Bijoy Shivram, Smt. Polomi Pandit and Smt. Vanita Nagraj presented memorable dance performance and thrilled the august gathering. After peace prayer a Prasad (Dinner) Bhandara was given to one and all those who all joined the evening function.  The celebration concluded with prayers for peace of the world.

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