Earlier this year in January,
Darshainee and I (two youth wing members) were fortunate enough to spend our
New Year with Swami in Swami’s ashram in Sreekrishnapuram, Palakkad. Every
year, my family go to India for Christmas and spend a few days with Swami. This
year we were able to spend our first new year with Swami. It was both of our
first new year away from home. Both of us found it to be a magical experience
as well asbeing an opportunity to learn many important messages and lessons
from Swami and participate in the several New Year programmes.
My family arrived at Palakkad on the 27th December
2015, and Darshainee and her family arrived the day before .Shortly before we
arrived, Swami had gone to Chennai to aid those who had suffered in the Chennai
flood, where more than 300 people had been killed and the city was a state of
devastation.
On our first day, we spent the day
strolling around the ashram and relaxing with Swami’s dog, Appu. It was
exciting to see the preparations taking place for the New Year Celebrations.
The next day, we woke up early to go to Naga (snake) temple to attend the Naga
Pooja, where Swami enlightened us on the importance of praying to Naga Devas
(snake Gods) on a Saturday. During the pooja we were also joined by some little
kittens who had also come to watch the Pooja. We were given manjal (turmeric
powder) and coconut water as prasadam at the end of the pooja.
Shortly after, we moved to the Saraswathi
Mandapam, where Swami gave his beautiful discourse and awaited darshan. Later
in the evening, Swami took us to Mayiladumkunndrum, which is a temple that
Swami is building in Calicut. It will be the next Palani, one of the six abodes
of Lord Murugan. The view from the top of Ashram was astounding and we had lots
of fun. Except from the fact, we ended up getting bitten by ants.
Below is Swami’s New Year message:
''We have a strong internal connection
with every atom in this universe. The universe, the womb in which we are all
placed, which leads us from old to the new (constant change). Due to this we
can never say that we are alone in this universe. We are enriched with all the
energy that is present in the bodies of our father and mother, from whom we
obtained this body. When we turn inwards and perform worship to the divinity
within, the inner light manifests. Then we truly realize everything, see
everything.
Realizing what has to be realized, and
worshipping with sincerity that which has to be realized, our life favours our
resolve. When our life is in tune with our resolve, we get to realize that we
have the Almighty's grace. It is not that His grace is absent, it cannot be
created, it is only to be received/absorbed. We must not be dispassionate
towards anything; our thoughts must be illumined such that we are able to see
the divine effulgence within everything that exists. With cleansed words and
actions, we must transcend from the old to the new.
We always say, 'forget the past!', and
we find this very difficult. But we must erase what is to be forgotten and
highlight that which has to be remembered. Isn't this process an inseparable
part of our life? We must forget the detrimental memories and cherish the truly
blissful ones. Reject that which is detrimental and receive that which is
beneficial (for life to proceed). Isn't this the reason why this New year has
come in search of us? The basis of our life; peace of mind, physical
well-being, victory in all walks of life, world peace, love and brotherhood,
are all the same. May all be blessed with true knowledge and goodness. Welcome
to all children across the globe, to this New Year.
The New Year Celebrations continued
until 4am, but everyone was still wide awake. To end the evening celebrations,
we were given deepams (lanterns) to mark the New Year. We hope next year
we get blessed with the same experiences and spend
another New Year with Swami.
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| New Year celebrations underway |
