www.hck.or.ke/ [email protected]1 सरवति नमि ु यं वरदे कामपिणि । पवयारभं कररयामम मसधिभभवि ु मे सदा ॥ saraswati namastubhyam varadé kāmarūpiṇi | vidyārambham kariṣhyāmi, siddhirbhavatu mé sadā || Small kids are taught this shloka (verse) when they start school. Maybe not anymore in English medium schools in India. But in the Sunday School (culture/heritage schools) abroad, Indian families still teach this. Maybe they miss the culture more than those in India. It is always true that most of us do not know the value of something unless we don't have it. Going out of India, parents feel the need of self-identity, and focus much more on the culture. The divinity of learning, knowledge called Saraswatī सरवती - the name of a river, whose lit- eral meaning is 'one with flow'? She called boon-giver? She called Kāmarūpiṇī MESSAGE FROM OUR NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY Namaskar. Thank you very much for giving me opportunity to serve the Hindu Council of Kenya as your Naonal General Secretary. I will give my best to serve the Community by working together with Unity and Harmony. We began the work by interacng with the Member Instuons sharing the ideas and views, so that we can work hand in hand. Our Hindu Council team is a good mix represenng the different communies. We have 15 Directorates meeng most of our Community needs. We are striving hard to connect well with the Government Departments and con- vey the important issues like budget 2018, Security and Immigraon, New Tax laws to our Community. Many are geng assistance with the Marriage Cerficates as required by the laws of Kenya Government. We are conducng IT and Language classes at HCK premises for the needy of our Community. We request you all to take the advantage of these facilies. As HCK we are acvely parcipang in Inter- Religious events. We have plans to hold Vibrant, Sporve and Enthusiasc Mega events with cooperaon from all Member Instuons, joining the hands, we can share our experiences and we can also learn, As said in The Bhagavadgita “Co-operaon is about Unity, Joining Forces, Willing to Share Experience and Learnings”.. We always support our community, we are ready to help. Let us make an effort to make one united voice I conclude my message with Love all Serve All, Help Ever, Hurt Never A NEWS LETTER OF HINDU COUNCIL OF KENYA JULY 2018 ISSUE ARTICLES DIRECTORATES ACTIVITIES HINDU COUNCIL OF KENYA HINDU DEEP
Small kids are taught this shloka (verse) when they start school. Maybe not anymore in English medium schools in India. But in the Sunday School (culture/heritage schools) abroad, Indian families still teach this. Maybe they miss the culture more than those in India. It is always true that most of us do not know the value of something unless we don't have it. Going out of India, parents feel the need of self-identity, and focus much more on the culture. The divinity of learning, knowledge
called Saraswatī सरस्वती - the name of a river, whose lit-
eral meaning is 'one with flow'? She called boon-giver?
She called Kāmarūpiṇī
MESSAGE FROM OUR NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY Namaskar. Thank you very much for giving me opportunity to serve the Hindu Council of Kenya as your National General Secretary. I will give my best to serve the Community by working together with Unity and Harmony.
We began the work by interacting with the Member Institutions sharing the ideas and views, so that we can work hand in hand. Our Hindu Council team is a good mix representing the different communities.
We have 15 Directorates meeting most of our Community needs. We are striving hard to connect well with the Government Departments and con-vey the important issues like budget 2018, Security and Immigration, New Tax laws to our Community.
Many are getting assistance with the Marriage Certificates as required by the laws of Kenya Government.
We are conducting IT and Language classes at HCK premises for the needy of our Community. We request you all to take the advantage of these facilities.
As HCK we are actively participating in Inter- Religious events.
We have plans to hold Vibrant, Sportive and Enthusiastic Mega events with cooperation from all Member Institutions, joining the hands, we can share our experiences and we can also learn, As said in The Bhagavadgita
“Co-operation is about Unity, Joining Forces, Willing to Share Experience and Learnings”..
We always support our community, we are ready to help. Let us make an effort to make one united voice
2018 Devshayani Ekadashi ON 23-JULY-2018 Devshayani Ekadashi is the one that comes during the Shuklapaksha (waxing phase) in the month of Ashada (June-July). This is also called as Ashadi Ekadashi in the name of the month.
Devshayani Ekadashi is highly special as indicated by its many names including Maha Ekadashi, Ashadi Ekadashi, Toli Ekadashi, Padma Ekadashi, Devpodhi Ekadashi and Hari Sayana Ekadasi. In the state of Ma-harashtra, this Ekadashi is popular in thename of Ashadi Ekadashi and the annual Padharpur Yatra or holy pilgrimage to the Padharpur temple comes to an end on this day. In the south, this day is identified as Toli Ekadashi. As per the popular custom in the Vaishnavite Mutts, the inmates wear heated seals on their bodies called as Tapta Mudra Dharana.
Why Devshayani Ekadashi is so popular ensues from the idea that Lord Vishnu chooses to go to a long sleep in the Ksheer Sagar (milky ocean) on this day.
Therefore, this day is considered to be ideal to propiti-ate Lord Vishnu and Mata Mahalakshmi. Starting on this day, the sleep of the Lord called as Yoga NIdra stretches over four months called as Chaturmas. When the Lord wakes up after the sleep at the end of four months, the day is heralded as Prabodhini Ekadashi or Dev Uthani Ekadashi falling on the Karthika (October – November) month.
On the day of Devshayani Ekadashi, people take a ho-ly bath in the morning and install the idol of Lord Vishnu in their altars. This idol or image is given a
holy bath and decorated with flowers and yellow clothes. The whole of the altar is decorated with flo-ral, mango leaf and festoon hangings. People make special dishes with dry fruits and milk as chief ingre-dients. Following the arati or waving of camphor in front of the idol, the observers of this vrat partake the Prasad offered to the Lord. As per their interest, peo-ple also observe strict fasting procedure on this day.
Once there lived a king called Mandata who was just and pious. He took great care of his subjects and peace and prosperity reined over the empire for a long time. Once during an unfortunate turn of events, a se-vere famine and draught struck the kingdom and a lot of people were dying due to starvation and disease. Mandata went on a voyage over a long distance to seek remedy for the plight that had struck the empire.
On the way, he met Sage Angira, who enjoined him to observe the Devshayani Ekadashi Vrat. He came back to the empire and gathered the public telling his mo-tive. A large gathering diligently observed a strict fasting and puja procedures on the Devshayani Eka-dashi day and there were torrential rains blessing the kingdom with prosperity once again. Thus, the ob-servance of Devshayani Ekadashi is so efficacious in bestowing prosperity upon people’s lives.
Hindus attach paramount importance to spir-itual gurus—their teachers on matters of reli-gion and spiritual growth. Gurus are regarded as a link between the individual and the im-mortal, to such an extent that they are some-times equated with God. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun and thereby glorifies it, all disciples can shine like the moon by reflecting the spiritual light emit-ted from their gurus.It's no surprise, then, that Hinduism offers a sacred day devoted to hon-oring the guru.
What Is Guru Purnima? The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspi-cious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Maharshi Veda Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas and who wrote the 18 Puranas, Mahabharata, and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Even Dattatreya, re-garded as the guru of gurus, was himself edu-cated by Guru Purnima.
Significance of the Guru Purnima Cele-bration On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devo-tees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine per-sonage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of
their respective spiritual preceptor, or Gurudevs.
This day is also of deep significance to farm-ers, for it heralds the beginning of the much-needed seasonal rains, when the advent of cool showers ushers in fresh life in the fields.
Symbolically, this is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons, thus spiritual seekers tradi-tionally begin intensifying their spiritual sad-hana—their pursuit of spiritual goals—on this day.
The period Chaturmas ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, this was the time when wandering spiritual masters and their disciples settled down in a single place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa—a time to conduct Ve-dantic discussions.
Swami Sivananda asks:
"Do you realize now the sacred sig-nificance and the supreme im-portance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not with-out reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemo-rates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby reaffirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bond-age of sorrow and death, and experi-ence the Consciousness of the Reali-ty."
Deserving aspirants are initiated into the Holy Traditional Steps for Cele-brating Guru Purnima At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the Guru Purnima is celebrated every year on a grand scale:
All aspirants awake at Brahmamuhurta, at 4 o'clock a.m. They meditate on the Guru and chant his prayers.
Later in the day, the sacred worship of the Guru's Feet is performed. Of this worship it is said in the Guru Gita: Dhyaana moolam guror murtih; Pooja moolam guror padam; Mantra moolam guror vakyam; Moksha moolam guror kripa
The Guru's form should be meditated up-on; the feet of the Guru should be wor-shiped; his words are to be treated as a sacred Mantra; his Grace ensures final liberation.
Sadhus and Sannyasins are then wor-shiped and fed at noon.
There is continuous Satsang during which discourses are held on the glory of de-votion to the Guru in particular, and on spiritual topics in general.
Order of Sannyas, as this is a highly aus-picious occasion.
Devout disciples fast and spend the whole day in prayer. They also take fresh re-solves for spiritual progress.
A Guru's Advice on How to Observe the Holy Day Swami Sivananda recommends:
Wake up at Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m.) on this holiest day. Meditate on the lotus feet of your Guru. Men-tally pray to him for his Grace, through which alone you can attain
Self-realisation. Do vigorous Japa and meditate in the early morning hours.
After the bath, worship the lotus feet of your Guru, or his image or picture with flowers, fruits, incense, and camphor. Fast or take only milk and fruits the whole day.
In the afternoon, sit with other dev-otees of your Guru and discuss with them the glories and teachings of your Guru.
Alternatively, you may observe the vow of silence and study the books or writings of your Guru, or mental-ly reflect upon his teachings. Take fresh resolves on this holy day, to tread the spiritual path in accord-ance with the precepts of your Guru.
At night, assemble again with other devotees, and sing the Names of the Lord and the glories of your Guru. The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, to shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his glo-ry and his message.
According to spiritual significance of Katha Upani-shad- The festival talks about Human body as Rath and sarathi or driver as God, who drives the chariot of body to the yatra/journey to material existence or Bhavasagar. Classically it is mentioned as- The soul drive with in the Rath of body, which has been intellect and total devoted to God the driver of the chariot towards the material existence. The wheels are the significance of velour. The horses are and persistence. The horses are the synonyms of vigor, self discipline, tolerance, charity and discrimination, where as pity, equanimity and for-giveness are the reins of horses.
The popular Rath Yatra is the time when the Deities come out of the temple for all
to see. Each deity visit Gudicha Temple in their spe-cific chariots drawn by devotees. Gudicha temple is dedicated to Lord’s Aunt.
The chariots used during Rath Yatra are built every year. Carpenters began the construction of chariots on the Akshaya Tritiya day. The chariots are painted with bright colors and the tops are covered with red, black, yellow, or green canopies. Lord Jagannath uses red and yellow, Lord Balaram uses red and green, while Goddess Subhadra uses red and black. All the chariots have separate features to distinguish from each other.
Lord Jagannath's chariot is called as Chakradhwaja or Nandhighosa, which simply describe about tumultu-ous and blissful sound. 45 feet tall, 16 wheels, 65 tons weigh, Garuda on its crest along with four white wooden horses are the specific features of Lord Jag-annath's Rath.
Lord Balaram's cart is called Taladhwaja, which means the sound of significantly powerful rhythm. It has 14 wheels, and is drawn by four black wooden horses. It carries Hanuman on its crest.
Goddess Subhadra's cart is called Padmadhwaja or Darpadalan, which means destroyer of pride. It has a lotus on its crest, uses 12 wheels, and is drawn by four red wooden horses.
On the celebration day devotees pull the chariots till the Gundicha temple. This time in Rath Yatra Puri 2018 also you will see the same celebration but wide more spiritual excitement. Because it is the Nabakale-bar Rath Yatra where all the Lords will get new ava-tar after nineteen years. The return journey of Lords is also celebrated as Bahuda yatra. The deities reach the Puri temple on Ekadasi day, than attired in new costumes and this new form of the idols is known as ‘Suna Vesa’ . So come to be a part of Puri Rath Yatra 2018 to see new looks of deities and get blessing for
your lifetime.
2018 Jagannath Rath Yatra ON 14-JULY-2018 Rath Yatra or Jatra is the celebration of the Lord Jagannath, who is believed to be the Lord of Uni-verse's journey towards his aunt's house. Though it is a Hindu shrine but this chariot festival is not associated with any particular denomination of Hinduism entirety, though there are several com-mon aspects with Vaishnavaism, Saivism, Shak-tism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Jagannath Rath Yatra is more than five thou-sand years old and the most spiritual thing is, the celebration follows all the same rituals from its starting. There would not seen any changes in this festival. Traditionally the Rath Yatra festival is celebrated annually in Puri, Odisha. During this world renowned festival, lord Jagannatha is wor-shipped along with his brother lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra.
" BETTER PARENTING " – TALK BY WOMEN & MAT-RIMONIAL WING OF HCK On the 16th of June 2018, Saturday the Women & Matri-monial Wing of Hindu Council of Kenya organized a talk on "Better Parenting". The speakers were Ms. Vasha Vora and Ms. Bindi Shah, both well known Counsellors. " It is very important for us to be responsible parents and develop ourselves too while maintaining the structure and discipline", said Ms. Sabina Bindal, Directorate – Women & Matrimonial Wing of HCK. It was an interactive session and the enthusiastic parents were involved throughout the program. The talk not only enriched us but made us revisit our definition of Better Parenting and how the 3 C's – CONSISTENCY, COMMIT-MENT AND CHOICES are important in responsible par-enting. Groups were made and each group was given a question to discuss and give the answer collectively. Parents shared their ideas and even their personal experiences to which everyone felt connected.
The Hindu Council Management committee and Trustees would like to thank you all for support during the year 2017-18. .
In this edition we have tried to capture spirt of international yoga day 2018 which was held in various parts of Kenya. We have captured some of the activities of HCK Branch-es . We have captured our some of member Institutions programs during the last month.
We do have Hindu Religious Education Directorate and number of books on this subject. Please do visit Hck Library and enhance your knowledge. We also would like to give us suggestions to improve and also your contributions. If you wish to contribute any article please send it to [email protected].
Hindu deep is our news letter where will be mentioning the activities of various direc-torates conducted during the period.
With Best Regards
Nagaraj Rao
Director and Editor for Hindudeep
Editorial team
Nagaraj Rao
Ravi Kaul
Yatin Joshi
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Hindu Council of Kenya, Kusi Lane, Off 3rd Parklands Avenue Nairobi
