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PREMANANDA
DAY
A few years ago Swamiji named the 1st January "Premananda Day".
He suggested that his devotees start the New Year with a service
activity. We should start the year thinking of others and giving
service. Start the year with Premananda, think of Premananda and
give Prema and Ananda. Many devotees all over the world are following
this call and are spending Premananda Day by doing something for
their neighbours, those in need, etc.
MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY
Our Ashram President's birthday is always a feast for her small
and big children. Mother being the spiritual successor of Swami
Premananda encourages the Ashram residents and devotees with her
practical advice and inspiring satsangs. She is herself a perfect
example of pure devotion towards Guru and the Divine and is constantly
giving truly selfless service to mankind. Mother's birthday is a
joyful day with a lot of fun, singing and of course a birthday cake
at the end of the day.
PONGAL
On that day the Sun God, Surya, is worshipped at sunrise with the
outdoor cooking of a large pot of rice from the recent harvest.
When the dish overflows everyone around shouts "pongal-oh-pongal".
The cooking place is traditionally decorated with sugar cane, turmeric
roots and colourful drawings with rice flower on the ground ("kolams").
FULL MOON DAYS
On full moon days the planetary influence of the moon is very strong
and people are more receptive for spiritual energies. Therefore,
these days are very conducive for meditation and other spiritual
practices. On full moon days, in the main Ashram, we are chanting
a special mantra for the Divine Mother in Her fierce form of Sri
Maha Pratyangira Kali Devi for several hours continuously. Pratyangira
Kali unites the ascpects of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati and appears
in a fearsome form of Shakti. This particular mantra invokes Her
blessings and asks for protection of all the people around. Many
Sri Premananda Centres around the world are joining in this activity
by chanting this powerful mantra in their countries on full moon
days.
SWAMIJI'S MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY
Traditionally the mother of a saint is revered as a saintly person
as she was chosen by divinity to be the mother of a great saint
and to give birth to him or her.
We fondly remember Swamiji's mother on her birthday. While still
alive, in spite of her ill health, she would never fail to come
to the pooja hall on her birthday to attend the cultural programme
with dance and songs, which the Ashram children and youth used to
present in her honour. After the function she used to distribute
sweets and bless each and every one with vibhuti.
After her death, we are commemorating Amma's birthday as well as
her death anniversary with a pooja in her room and a special meal
for the Ashram children.
MAHASHIVARATRI
Mahashivaratri is Lord Shiva's great night. It is perhaps the most
important festival in Sri Premananda Ashram. During that night Swami
Premananda will bring out several lingams through is mouth. This
phenomenon called Linghodbhava has been taking place every Mahashivaratri
night since Swamiji was very young.
In
the Ashram we all keep vigil during that night. Very keen spiritual
aspirants will observe a strict fast the whole day without taking
even a drop of water. The big Shiva Lingam in the pooja hall is
worshipped throughout the night by performing Mahabishekam every
three hours. The Panchakshara mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA is chanted
for 24 hours without interruption. It is said that those who utter
the name of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration,
are freed from all sins and are liberated from the wheel of birth
and death.
PREMANANDA PARENTS DAY
Swamiji has introduced Premananda Parents Day suggesting to his
young and elder devotees to dedicate one day in the year to their
parents. On this day the Premananda youth members and other devotees
all over the world visit their elders and parents or invite them
for a special surprise activity.
TAMIL NEW YEAR
The Tamil calendar starts on 14th April and the Tamil people celebrate
the Tamil New Year as a festive day. They go to temples to receive
God's blessings, children seek the blessings of their parents and
devotees get the blessings of their guru. They visit their families
and friends and spend New Year's Day happily. Of course a special
meal will not be missing on this occasion!
WESAK (BUDDHA POORNIMA - FULL MOON)
Wesak is celebrated on full moon day in May. On this day the Buddhist
people remember Lord Buddha's birth, His enlightenment and His samadhi.
In the Ashram we celebrate Wesak around the Bodhi tree, which has
been grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya
under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment more
than 2,000 years ago. The area around the bo-tree is decorated with
coloured flags and lanterns in a traditional Buddhist way. We place
oil lamps around the bodhi tree and place Lord Buddha's picture
between Swamiji's and Mother's chairs. After dusk we sing bhajans
and then chant a Buddhist mantra while walking around the tree and
giving water to the tree. Afterwards many like to meditate around
the tree until late in the night.
GURU POORNIMA (FULL MOON)
The full moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August) is the auspicious
and holy day of Guru Poornima. It is the day on which devotees all
over the world worship and offer homage to their beloved Guru. Lucky
are those whose Guru is living amongst them while they are alive.
It is a rare gift to have a Sathguru who guides one on the correct
path through the turmoils of life to the feet of God. It is through
the medium of the spiritual master that the individual can raise
him- or herself to Cosmic Consciousness, that the imperfect can
become perfect, the finite can become infinite and the mortal can
pass into the eternal life of blessedness.
Guru Poornima day in the Ashram is dedicated entirely to our beloved
Swamiji. In the early morning after the Ganesha abishekam children
and residents join the Nagarsankirtan, that means walking to Swamiji's
house while singing Guru bhajans.
There is a pada pooja, there are speeches and a cultural programme.
Of course a special lunch will be offered to all. Throughout the
day the devotees experience Swamiji's blessings.
KRISHNA JAYANTHI
This is the birthday of Lord Krishna. He was born at midnight, therefore,
strong devotees of Lord Krishna observe a fast of 24 hours until
midnight. Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss. His soul-stirring leelas
(divine plays) are its waves. The sweet music of his flute attracts
the minds of His devotees and His beauty amazes the animate and
inanimate beings. Devotion (or "bhakti") is the only means
of attaining Lord Krishna. Bhakti kindles love for the Lord. When
love is directed towards Krishna, man is freed from the bondage
of the world.
In the Ashram we celebrate Krishna Jayanthi with a Mahabishekam
to our statue of Lord Krishna, special poojas, Krishna Bhajans and
prasadam.
VINAYAKAR CHATHURTI
On Vinayakar Chathurti we celebrate Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is
the elephant-headed god and he is worshipped first in any Hindu
prayers. His names are repeated first before any work is begun.
He is the Lord who removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual
aspirant and bestows on him worldly as well as spiritual success.
Lord Ganesha is the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge and he is
therefore most popular amongst children who pray to him for successful
studies and exams.
On this day we perform a Mahabishekam to Lord Ganesha and we offer
Him a vast choice of delicious prasadams which He is so fond of.
NAVARATRI
Navaratri is celebrated all over India as the ten-day festival dedicated
to the Divine Mother. In various parts of the country it is celebrated
in different ways with different rituals and traditions. However,
the main aim of this celebration is to worship the many aspects
of Devi, the universal Mother, and to receive Her great blessings
and boundless grace. During nine days the Divine Mother is worshipped
in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati during three nights
each. On the ninth day a special pooja called Saraswati Pooja is
performed during which school and study books are being blessed
and young children receive initiation in the study of the alphabet.
AYUDA POOJA
In the evening of the 9th day singing children and devotees walk
in a procession through the Ashram to all the public Ashram buildings
where the arathi is performed to bless all the tools, instruments,
equipment, vehicles, etc.
VIJAYADASAMI
It is the day when we celebrate the ultimate victory of light over
darkness. The Divine Mother shows Herself in all her greatness and
strength. A Mahabishekam is performed to our Amman statue and afterwards
she is carried to all the buildings in the Ashram to bless all the
houses and its residents. The person carrying Amman leads the procession
of children and residents who are singing bhajans with great devotion
and joy.
DEEPAVALI
Deepavali means "a row of lights". On this day people
celebrate the victory of the forces of light over darkness. The
early morning bath on Deepavali is considered to be a bath in the
holy river Ganga itself. It is a custom in India that all wear new
clothes on Deepavali. Following this tradition clothes are distributed
to the children in the Ashram and also the labourers working here
will receive new clothes. On Deepavali people visit their families
and friends and bring many different sweets as gifts. At dusk, inside
and around the houses small oil lamps are lit to symbolise the victorious
light.
SWAMIJI'S BIRTHDAY
Every year we celebrate Swamiji's birthday starting with a yagam
in the early morning. When Swamiji was present in the Ashram the
devotees were allowed to pour water over him before the 9 kumbams
of the yagam were poured on him. On this special day a pada pooja
is performed to Swamiji's lotus feet or his sandals if he is not
physically present. Traditionally on Swamiji's birthday all the
children, devotees and poor people are fed with a delicious meal
for lunch.
ASHRAM ANNIVERSARY
Sri Premananda Ashram was inaugurated in 1989 on 18th November,
the day after Swamiji's birthday in the presence of many sadhus
and other guests from all over Tamil Nadu. We celebrate this day
as Founder's Day and the Sri Premananda High School presents an
interesting programme with songs, dramas, competitions, etc. In
the morning a new flag is hoisted in front of the prayer hall.
RAMZAN
Ramzan marks the end of the fasting period of the Muslims. This
festival is an occasion for us to become more familiar with Prophet
Mohammed's teaching of which the essence is oneness of God and the
importance of charity and religious discipline.
KARTIKAI DEEPAM
As many of you know, the locally famous 'Muruga Rock' lies on our
Ashram land in the direction of Viralimalai. Around 600 years ago
saint Arunagiri Nathar was travelling to the Muruga temple in nearby
Viralimalai, located on a small mountain in an otherwise relatively
flat landscape. As the area at that time was covered with dense
forest, the saint got lost and was praying to the Lord to show him
the way to the temple. It was then that a villager pointed out the
Muruga Rock as a good look-out point to view the temple mountain.
After climbing on the Rock he prayed and pleaded to Lord Muruga
to show him the correct direction and he got a divine vision of
the every-youthful Lord. Because Muruga appeared to the saint on
that Rock, it is said that He left His footprint there.
Harohara! Kartikai Deepam is the festival that celebrates the victory
of Light over darkness. It reminds us to burn our impurities in
the fire of knowledge of the Self. In the Ashram we light around
300 small clay oil lamps and distribute them along the Ashram roads
and buildings. Then a procession goes to the Rock singing bhajans
and brings a deepam or bowl of fire to the top of the Rock. On this
day we remember that we should attain illumination and behold the
light of lights in the heart of every creature.
CHRISTMAS
Every year on 25th December we celebrate Christmas in a very festive
and peaceful manner. There will be a beautifully decorated Christmas
tree and a crib set up in a natural surrounding with leaves, twigs
and plants. As a multinational community we sing Christmas carols
in all the languages before Father Christmas pays his visit to the
Ashram children and distributes small gift bags, sweets and fruit.
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