Chitrapur Yuvadhara Sammelanam – Beyond 300!
Report by Jnanesh Kodical and pictures by Gurudatt Kadle and Kishan Kallianpur
“Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilize this
period will decide the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you. Your
happiness, your success, your honour and your good name all depend upon the way
in which you live now, in this present period. Remember this. This wonderful
period of the first state of your life is related to you as the soft wet clay
in the hands of the potter. Skilfully the potter gives it the right and correct
shapes and forms, which he intends to give. Even so, you can wisely mould your
life, your character, your physical health and strength, in short your entire
nature in any way in which you make up your mind to do. And you must do this
now.
O fortunate youth, recognize this great duty. Feel
this wonderful privilege. Take up this adventure. God watches you graciously,
ever ready to help and guide. I wish you to be great. The world has put its
faith in you. Your elders keep their hopes in you. Now youth means to place
your firm confidence in yourself and exercise your hopeful determination and
resolution and willing good intentions in this beautiful task of self-culture.
This will truly bring supreme satisfaction and fulfillment not only to you, but
also to all concerned. The shaping of your life is indeed in your own hands.” – Swami Vivekananda.
The
Chitrapur Yuvadhara Sammelanam was another momentous step towards nurturing the
amchi yuva peedhi to realise their
full potential, and to inculcate in them the willingness and the capability to
carry forward the torch of our rich spiritual and cultural heritage into the
next century of our revered Guru Parampara.
The
Sammelan was held on the 26th and 27th of April in Karla,
in the Divine Sannidhi of Parama Poojya Parijnanashram Swamiji and the
Benevolent Presence of Shri Durgaparameshwari Devi. With the blessings of
our Parama Poojya Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji, it was a gratifying and
fulfilling experience for all the participants, including first-timers like me.
The Sammelan was organised with painstaking attention to detail and accorded us
the most conducive atmosphere to imbibe everything that was imparted. It
challenged each one of us and made us grow spiritually, intellectually and
physically.
In
the morning on the first day, we recited the praarthana and Swamiji lit the deepa
to inaugurate the Sammelan. Sharayu Haldipur pachi, the Chief Co-ordinator
of this Sammelan,welcomed us and gave us a brief overview of what was in
store for us. Swamiji, in his aashirvachan,
urged us to approach the Sammelan with the willingness to learn and to open our
minds to the myriad education that would come our way through the various
sessions and activities.
Yatin
Mavinkurve led all of us in making a solemn pratijna, and we experienced a deep
sense of pride and belonging when we sang the Tercentenary Signature Tune with
its lilting melody and inspiring lyrics.
The stage was appropriately set for Vinod Yennemadi maam’s talk on the progressive and path-breaking initiatives that our revered Swamijis have taken through the centuries for the upliftment of not only our amchi community, but the populace in the precincts around our Math. While keeping us abreast of the changes to the various structures in our Math complex, he exhorted those of us who had not had the opportunity to go to Shirali in the recent past, to come and visit the Math. He walked us through the socio-economic and health initiatives that the Math has tirelessly undertaken. He shared with us the vision that Swamiji has for the future with various projects. The passion with which Vinod maam spoke was palpable. But not for a moment did one get the feeling that these plans were merely the idealistic thoughts of a dreamer – each of these projects was firmly entrenched in realistic planning, execution and a clear assessment of all the hurdles that might be encountered, but with a spirit that would not take ‘no’ for an answer. Each one of us felt that we should contribute to these noble causes and, more importantly, that none of us was too young or inconsequential to make a difference – in the larger scheme of things.
Archana
Savnal pachi then spoke to us about the benefits, on the conscious and
sub-conscious level, of our being in the presence of Swamiji. Her gift of lucidly
explaining esoteric concepts to a diverse group of youngsters was apparent.
While a lot of us had experienced the feeling and the indefinable aura and
electricity that one feels in the presence of our Swamiji, I don’t think anyone
had been able to put a finger on it and describe why that happened. To be able
to understand it a little better, but still have that feeling of magic when
Swamiji is in our presence is something that we will always have Archana pachi
to thank for.
Chaitanya
Gulvady maam presented to us the principles and challenges facing Hinduism. The
immense research that he has done on the subject is but one facet, to which he
has married a sharp analytical ability, the disinclination to take anything at
face-value and the objectivity to appreciate that which is good and criticise
that which is not. What, probably, made the strongest impact on us was that we,
as educated Hindus, have remained ignorant on so many of the fundamental tenets
that form the bed-rock of our spirituality and culture. Chaitanya maam’s talk
was an eye-opener to us that if we choose to assimilate only what is doctored
and served to us, we will go through life being reticent and almost apologetic,
rather than rightfully proud, of the religion, spirituality and culture that is
our heritage.
After
the teerth vitaran, the lunch satiated the stomach and the mind like
only a Math lunch can! I should remember to ask Archana pachi what it is about
a meal in the Math that can bring a smile to one’s heart and a lick of the lips
that is pure reflex!
For
those of us who needed something to dispel the lethargy after lunch, one
couldn’t have asked for a better session than the group games that followed,
with the enthusiastic duo of Krishnanand Heblekar maam and Priti Panemanglor
pachi. The large group game of the blind-folded mine-field crossing had forty
of us blown to smithereens while our faithful partners screamed their lungs out
like our lives really depended on them. We then introspected on what went
wrong, and I’m sure we’ll do much better next time, but knowing Kutty maam and
Priti pachi, they will have some other game the next time around so they can
take pleasure in quizzing us on what we did wrong! What followed in the smaller
groups game was an extremely elaborate version of dumb charades that some
engineering nerd must have devised! Groups of ten were made and each group was
to enact the working of a particular machine. Let’s just say that my outlook of
our esteemed fire-force and those old Bawa lady stenos in the law firms at Fort
has been irreversibly altered – for the better!
There
was a buzz going by then and we were joined by Sanjay Shetty maam, Balakrishna
Shetty maam and Nikhil maam. Sanjay maam trains with the Israeli army, and trains
India’s NSG and SPG commandos. From what he told us about his work, we are
counting ourselves extremely fortunate that we have not become casualties of
the Indian Official Secrets’ Act! Bala maam is an Asian Games medallist in the
traditional form of muay thai, and
makes tai-bo seem like a walk in the park. I have actually begun to suspect now
that National Geographic is not using camera tricks on its martial-arts
programs. Nikhil maam ‘doubled-up’ as the punching-bag and was nice enough to
smile through most of it. So we wouldn’t get hurt punching and kicking the
three of them, they decided to make us hurt by stretching muscles that are
apparently present in all of our bodies. Bala maam and Nikhil maam then gave us
a demonstration of the hand-eye co-ordination and reaction time that martial
arts exponents possess. With the enthusiasm that is the hall-mark of youth, we
volunteered in large numbers to go and demonstrate that martial arts actually
requires tremendous dedication, stamina, training and the willingness to endure
pain. After that, Sanjay maam demonstrated various aspects of unarmed combat
and continued our education on parts of our body that we didn’t know existed.
Amchi girls now have the combat prowess of Sherman tanks and woe betide the road-side
romeo. Sanjay maam, Bala maam and Nikhil maam have shown us that we should not
neglect our bodies, and that exercise is not an option, but an imperative. We
now know that it is only a fit and able body that appropriately supports the
mind and allows it to reach its full potential. It is when we are confident in
our physical abilities that the mind is at peace to pursue its goal in all
spheres - whether it be professional, personal or spiritual.
We
were honoured to witness Guru Poojan by Swamiji and to chant the shlokas along with Him. The sense of
peace that pervades one’s self when the mantras
are chanted en masse is unmatched. We
felt in unison with the sound from within, and the sound without.
Dinner,
with kulfis that Ashok Chandavarkar maam and Mangala pachi had so thoughtfully
sponsored, was followed by the cultural programme. If one needed any further
affirmation that this was a Yuvadhara Sammelan, it was none more obvious than
in the cultural programme. Fatigue was quelled, and the disciplined but
inter-active audience were treated to a bouquet of skits, kathak, instrumental
recitals, peppy-catchy indi-pop, film songs, some sufi mysticism, a 70’s pop
number, a story recitation, mimicry and raucous choruses! When global-warming
‘heats-up’ and our cities start getting flooded, I know 200 people who will
have a silly grin on their face when they swim!!
We
were then sternly directed to go and get some sleep because we had another
fun-filled and exciting day ahead of us, and we needed to be back in just under
5 hours. The adrenalin levels and the peppy feeling was so high that we had to
force ourselves to sleep, but when it did come, it was deep and blissful!
The
second and, unfortunately, last day of the Sammelan started early for all of
us. Bala maam and Nikhil maam took a session on tai-bo with Kishan Kallianpur
maam DJ-ing with characteristic verve! The work-out was strenuous, but one did
not feel it because of the energy brought to the session by Bala maam. We
pushed ourselves through the routine and learnt not just the exercises, but
which part of our body was being strengthened and toned at each step that we
took. We revelled in the quietude one feels when the mind is empty of all
thought, and all one feels is the vibration and sound of deep, measured
breathing. We learnt the importance of a warm-down after exercising which, like
so many things in life, shows that if we do not go through with something
correctly and properly right to the very end, it can harm us more than help us.
We also had the privilege of attempting stomach crunches which have the unique
ability to make you laugh and cry at the same time, and both because you just
can’t do them right!
We
went straight in for a session on time-management by Savita Upponi pachi, a
management consultant who had made the time for us. She elucidated the need to
expressly prioritise deeds that one needs to accomplish within defined
time-periods, and to tackle them methodically. The analogies and illustrations
that she gave us and the video that was shown helped us assimilate these
concepts. Savita pachi’s lessons in organisation and optimum
utilisation of time will enable us to balance our personal and professional
lives while always finding time for japaa
and upaasana.
The
session that followed was an update and an overview of the various projects
undertaken in commemoration of our tercentenary year. Prakash Gokarn maam, with
his team consisting of Prakash Mavinkurve maam, Archana pachi, Smita Nagarkatti
pachi, and Sheela Kalavar pachi presented and explained to us all of the
projects. The scale of each of these projects is mind-boggling – in terms of
time, man-power, resources, ideas and implementation logistics. The methodical
manner in which Prakash maam presented the projects that were a fait accompli and detailed the on-going
projects was commendable. The dedication and fervour of the team was apparent
and we were briefed on what we could each do make each of these projects a
resounding success. Seeing so many of the seniors in our community putting in
the efforts that they have, and constantly do, is inspirational and is a tonic
for the youth to put their hand up and be counted.
After
teerth vitaran and lunch (just as
satiating as on the first day!), we were addressed by Adil Darukhanawala maam
on what was penned on the agenda as a talk on the automobile industry. What we
got instead were lessons in life and the manner in which we should chase our
dreams and work towards them – peppered with amusing and educative anecdotes
from the world of automobiles. Adil maam’s down-to-earth perspective on what
success means, and the courage and ground-work required to reach for the stars
was refreshing. He brought with him an encyclopaedic knowledge of his field and
the philosophy that one can attempt what others think is impossible, so long as
one has unshakeable faith in one’s own abilities and the courage to realise
their full potential.
If we
had thought things could not get better, we were sorely mistaken! The best had
been saved for last – an outing with Swamiji on a tranquil and idyllic
hill-side. After we walked up the short distance and
settled down, Swamiji took impromptu feed-back from us on the Sammelan and we
opened our hearts to him and shared with him not only our experiences regarding
the Sammelan itself, but of all that worries and troubles us. Swamiji
patiently took us through the ways in which we can resolve the niggling doubts
and angst that plague our everyday lives and rise above them to become stronger
and more aware as human beings. He discussed various actions and means by which
we can contribute to our community and foster an even stronger sense of
togetherness and well-being. Swamiji explained in lucid terms the meaning of
social-service and the pleasure we would derive from it. He shared with us
anecdotes to show us how we need to be firm and single-minded when all else
fails and negativity pervades. We performed for Swamiji the best and the
funniest items from the group games and cultural programme and had sharbat that was prepared there, and
left for Karla in time for the deepnamaskaar.
Swamiji,
in His aashirvachan, urged us to
exercise and do our japa regularly,
and blessed each one of us and gave us phal-mantraakshat.
Thus ended the Chitrapur Yuvadhara Sammelanam, and each one of us left with our hearts filled with joy and the conviction that we would do our very best for the Math, in every way that we can.
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