A huge gathering of devotees eagerly waited for Param Poojya Swamiji on the 23^rd February,2008 evening at Santacruz and broke out into huge smiles and loud Jai Jaikars when He finally arrived at the junction of Linking Road.

 

He was escorted with energetic and rhythmic lezims by children in a welcome procession and received with Poorna Kumbha Swagat at the entrance of the large and colourfully decorated Pandal. The backdrop of the stage was a Vanam with large Ashwatha tree at the centre and large portraits of Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji and Shrimat Parijnanashram Swamiji in a small hut like structure giving a overall milieu of an Ashram.

 

It was a happy double celebration of Ekadashama  Peetharohana of our beloved Swamiji and also the inaugural function of the Tercentennial Year of our Revered Math.  The eleven day programme was replete with Yoga sessions, Anusthans, Bhajans, Vimarsha and cultural programmes presented by the eleven Sabhas of Mumbai who were hosting this function collectively. In fact, the number eleven seemed to weave a thread through the entire event. It was a eleven day programme for the eleventh Peetharohana of our Swamiji hosted by eleven Sabhas through an eleven member Committee!

 

There were two Homas performed for the benefit of our Samaj  viz Saraswati Homa on 25^th February and Rudra Trishati Homa on 26^th February. Param Poojya Swamiji offered Poornahuti on both the days. The local Vaidiks participated in the Homas in large numbers adding more fervour to the occasion. The other highlight of the function was “SARASWATAM” a Dance recital by Smt. Sushila Ullal-Mehta who enthralled the audience and the Tercentenary Signature Raga "Bhavani-Shankar” presented by the well known vocalist Smt. Lalith J Rao & her disciples. 

 

On 24th February,2008, evening  Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande gave a wonderful recital of devotional music in the presence of Param Poojya Swamiji. Dharmapracharak Shri V Rajagopal Bhat delivered a discourse over two days. On the first day he spoke on “ Prayer to Agni " (representing the Supreme  God) and on the second day he explained the meaning of  “ Chakshurno Dehi Chakshushe ……. ….. Vicha Pashyema“ the prayer on our Math logo. Needless to say the discourses were as usual outstanding in content  and clarity and left the audience asking for more.

 

The devotees celebrated the eleventh Peetharohana day of our Swamiji with a “Digvijay Utsav” on 26^th Feb 2008.Param Poojya Swamiji was taken in a procession on a flower bedecked silver Ratha around the  Saraswat Colony  with the singing of full throated bhajans which brought smiles to everyones faces , the 10pm deadline for switching off the Sound system notwithstanding.

 

There was a Palkhi Utsav on the 1^st of March ’08, marking the Anniversary of the Shishya Sweekar day of Shrimad  Parijnanashram Swamiji III. As the Palkhi carrying the beautiful portrait of Guru Swamiji wended through Saraswat Colony accompanied by Lezim playing children and devotees singing bhajans, a frail but beaming Gurumata Shukla Shantipacchi, seated in a car, watched as devotees offered Puja & aaratis to Guru Swamiji.

 

Param Poojya Swamiji conducted Swadhyaya on the Bhajan “ Khela Tuze Jeevaghene” on two days and enlightened devotees  on the deeper meaning of this bhajan in the vedantic context.It was a truly eye opening exposition of the profound lyrics penned by Guru Swami.

 

All the eleven Sabhas of Mumbai put up wonderful ballets and dramas on different evenings in Konkani, Marathi and even Sanskrit. Most of them were performances by children and emphasized on spirituality and devotion to God. Especially endearing was the dance drama on Sunday 2^nd March 2008, when a 15 feet tall Ratha (Teru) was pulled into the Shamiana and devotees took part in a Palkhi Utsav enacted on the occasion. This was part of a drama portraying different aspects of the Spiritual and  cultural festivities of the Chitrapur Saraswat community.

 

The youth of our community in the age group of 17 to 35 years were given a special audience by H.H. Swamiji in an interactive session on the 27^th Feb2008. Swamiji spent about 2 ½ hours with this exclusive group in what was surely a memorable occasion for them. Shri Vinod Yennemadi made a presentation on the Math and its working.

 

A Medical Camp for Early Detection of Kidney diseases was conducted on the 2nd of March'08 and by a happy coincidence,  300  persons went through the check up. This is part of an on going project for the entire community undertaken by Drs  Trikannad Satyendra & Vrinda.  An Eye Check up camp was also conducted on the following day, by Lotus Eye Hospital, at the initiative of Shri Ashwin Rao and about 75 elders benefited from the same.

 

A mammoth crowd gathered at the Dharma Sabha to hear Swamiji’s Ashirvachan on 2nd Mar 2008 when He emphasized on the need to forsake fear and anger in the pursuit of Guru Seva. The detailed transcript of the Ashirvachan will be published at a later date in the Sunbeam. The Standing Committee President Shri Vinod Yennemadi spoke about the various developments and projects of Chitrapur Math. He also eulogized the Pada yatris and the efforts of the organizers and volunteers especially the Bangalore sabha and the Chitrapur Math Administration led by Shri B. G. Kailaje during the Pada yatra and the festivities connected with the Pratishtha ceremonies in Chitrapur math. Lt. General Prakash Gokarn and Geeta Gokarn were also felicititated by Swamiji on this occasion in recognition of their leadership role in organizing the  Paada Yatra A Souvenir, aptly titled “300 years of Bliss”, a prized book featuring leading articles, some  from archives about our cultural heritage, was released by Poojya Swamiji. A Soma Patra made of gold was presented to Swamiji on behalf of all the Mumbai Sabhas- which will now be an integral part of the pooja samagri used by Poojya Swamiji.

 

Thousands gathered daily to partake of the Teertha and perform Paaduka Pooja and to pay their respects to Swamiji who had just returned from the very successful & historic Pada Yatra from Gokarna to Shirali. Shri Kandlur Jaikishan put up the two stellar exhibitions capturing pictorial memories of Shrimad Anandashram Swamiji and Shrimad Parijnanashram Swamiji, on one side of the pandal. Devotees streamed into these enclosures to reminisce the past and bask in the glory of our revered Guru parampara. The sumptuous and steaming Prasad Bhojana was well appreciated by the long winding queues of Sadhakas.

 

All too soon, the morning of 4^th February dawned with the realization that Param Poojya Swamiji would be departing from Mumbai. Devotees gathered at 7.30 am in the pandal with heavy hearts to bid goodbye to Swamiji. There were many a moist eye when Swamiji finally walked through the gathering of devotees and boarded his car at the front entrance of the pandal amidst loud Jai Jaikars.

 

Param Poojya Swamiji’s words of satisfaction itself was a great tribute to the All Mumbai Sabhas Tercentennial and Ekadasha Peetharohana Mahotsav Committee to put up such a wonderful celebration with the united efforts of all Mumbai  Sabha volunteers in offering Guru Seva.  Surely we will have many such celebrations in the days to come.