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Vijnaana Mahotsava

17th Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram

Harih Om Tat Sat. We are happy to announce that the 17th AnnualSreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram will be held duringthe auspicious Margasheersha, from 21st December to 30th December2018 in Paralikad Naimishaaranyam, the sacred precincts ofThacchanaathukaavu Devi Temple. Narayanashrama Tapovanam andHind Navotthana Pratishtan are jointly conducting the event.

Satram Hall

The 17th Satram was proposed to be held in the newly constructed hall,but the final consent from authorities was received only in August this year.Since it will not be possible to complete the construction before December,the programmes this year will also be conducted in the temporary pandal.The construction will commence in January 2019. According to thearchitect’s proposal, the estimated budget for the 30,000 sq.ft hall is 6crores. It is hoped that the work will get over by November 2019.

Vishnusahasranaama Japa and Bhagavad Gita Recital

Vishnusahasranaama Japa for about 7500 students will be held on Dec26 forenoon. On Dec 28 Friday, Students of Cultural Heritage class,Narayanashrama Tapovanam along with those of other schools willpresent programmes based on Bhagavad Gita, including akshara-shloka.Akshara-shloka is a literary competition in which participants sit in acircle and recite shlokas beginning with the first letter of the third line ofthe shloka recited by the one before him. The procedure is followed byevery participant. The game needs astute memory and presence of mind.It is a traditional literary competition, but has its appeal to modern studentswith a literary flair.

It was 5155 years ago, at Kurukshetra in Haryana, located 160 km fromNew Delhi that the Mahabharata war was fought. Bhagavad Gita wasaddressed to Arjuna who was overpowered by grief and fear at the beginningof the war, in order to help him come out of his miserable nervousbreakdown. After the war, when Yudhishthira was shattered by his motherKunti’s revelation that Karna was his own brother, Vishnusahasranaama wasgiven to Yudhishthira to remove his torment and to restore his poise.

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After that there has been no war. What faces us is the war of life. Ourancestors have preserved Bhagavad Gita and Vishnusahasranaama as atreasure and handed them to us in order to enable us to face life withoutgetting overwhelmed by it. Anyone who holds on to these two gifts willfind that his intelligence becomes subtle and memory power increases,thus augmenting the ability to learn and comprehend. It safeguards againstdementia, Alzheimer’s and other neurogenic disorders.

For students, it will reduce the time required to learn from 1 hour to 30or 40 minutes. It will improve one’s presence of mind and the skills toface interviews. Are these not desirable for anyone?

It is on this basis that we have taken up this prodigious task of teachingstudents Bhagavad Gita and Vishnusahasranaama. Needless to say thefamilies to which children are born should also take up this good causeand help in all ways. We hope you will realize this and respond to theneed of the hour.

Sreemad Bhaagavatam holds that Knowledge of the Supreme Truth isthe only panacea for taapa-trayam, the three-fold afflictions caused bythe world. Distinct from Saptaahams, this Tattva Sameeksha Satramaims at instilling deeper wisdom, universal values and rational insightthrough narration and discussions of the great holy Text. Over the last16 years, the objective is being fulfilled, each time to a greater degree.

Genesis of the Satram

In 2001, in connection with the inauguration of the Annakshetra inThacchanaathukaavu to serve free food at noon every day, SreemadBhaagavata Saptaaham was held. When it concluded, some listenersexpressed to Poojya Swami Purushottama Tirtha and me, their eagernessto be exposed to the lofty text in greater depth, so that its message willbecome part of their daily life and interactions. It was then that we designedthe Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram.

Programme details

Over 37 distinguished exponents – Sannyaasins and Scholars – will beexplaining the precious value-treasure. In addition to 5 lectures, mostlyin Malayalam every day, there will be full recital (paaraayanam) of theoriginal Sanskrit Text, spread over ten days. Additionally, English talksalso will be there on 25th, 28th and 29th Dec keeping in mind those whowould be attending the event from other States and abroad.

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Vishnusahasranaama Saarvajanika Mahaayajna

On the concluding day, 30 December Sunday, Vishnusahasranaamaarchana and havan will start by 9 am and conclude with distribution ofprasaada, by 2 pm. Those who are unable to sit on the floor may performarchana with akshata on plates, sitting on chair.

Devotees coming from various parts of India and abroad can participatein the event, considering that it is meant to shower prosperity, solidarityand inner strength to the society at large. This year facilities will beprovided for 500 students to do archana.

Spreading the awareness

As in earlier years, this year also three yaatras (processions) areorganized for bringing (i) Sri Krishna idol from Guruvayur (ii) DharmaDhvaja from Thiruvilwamala, and (iii) Sreemad Bhaagavata Grantha fromNarayanashrama Tapovanam, Pandavagiri, to the Satrashaala. Theseprocessions are part of the measures for general Dhaarmic Awakening.Enroute, the yaatras will be welcomed by votaries of Dharma with bhojana-dravya-samarpanam (offering of materials for Annadaanam).

Students Competition

Essay writing, Sreemad Bhaagavata Hymns recital, and elocutioncompetitions are also arranged for children of different age groups, aspart of the measures to infuse National culture and patriotism.

Sreemad Bhaagavatam 4th Skandha, 4th Chapter ( Daksha Yaga) 1 to 10shlokas will be the subject for Junior section for recital competition. Andfor seniors it will be shlokas 11 to 30 of the same chapter. For Juniorsthe subject for essay is “Dance of Viveka on the hoods of poison”. Andthe seniors will speak on “Prithu - an embodiment of Dharmic fullness”.For elocution the selected subjects are, “Fondness and affection arousedby a handful of flattened rice” and “When Jadabharata broke his silence”- respectively for Junior and Senior sections.

Jnaana yajna being far superior to material Yajnas, to participate in orsupport this Knowledge Festival elicits the best of Divine blessings.

Opportunity for all

Thousands of people are expected to assemble everyday inNaimishaaranyam. With Annadaanam for all, accommodation foroutstation seekers, spacious pandal, sound, light, first aid and medicalhelp, arrangements for scholars, etc., this year’s event is estimated to

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Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satra SamitiMukhya Rakshaadhikaari & President

Sampoojya Swami Bhoomananda Tirthaji MaharajPresident - Hind Navotthana Pratishtan &

Managing Trustee - Narayanashrama Tapovanam

ConvenorsSri. P.V. Narayanan (General)Tel: 9447182859Sri P.M. Unnikrishnan (Office)Tel: 9446036699Sri. Kodakare Bhaskaran (Ghoshayatra)Tel: 9447530379Sri. K. Vijayan Menon (Lecture Arrangements)Tel: 9447748919Sri. K. P. Sasidharan (Public Relations)Tel: 09656681139Sri. A.K. GovindanTel: 9447969217Sri N. Raman

Co-ordinators

Sri. C.S. SangameswaranProf. Sri. P. Ramakrishnan

Sri. E. UnnikrishnanSri. A Ramachandran

Joint SecretariesSri. Purushothaman Master

Sri. P.V. KrishnanSri. Baburaj Kechery

Sri. V. RamachandranSri. C.S. Sridhar

SREEMAD BHAAGAVATA TATTVA SAMEEKSHA SATRA SAMITIVyasa Tapovanam, Vyasagiri P.O., Wadakkanchery, Thrissur Dist. - 680 623,

Phone : 04884 237486, E-mail : vyasatapovanam@gmail.com

TreasurerSriyukta Swamini Sivapriya

Vice President Sadhu Sriman P. S. Padmanabhan

Tel: 9447038018(Secretary - Hind Navotthana Pratishtan)

SecretarySri. I. Vijayakumar

Tel: 9349043105Programme Advisors

Prof. Sriman Vaidyalinga SharmaSwami Nigamananda Tirthapadar

Joint ConvenorsSri. K.V. RadhakrishnanSri. P.D. GopalanSri. P.K. RamakrishnanSri. P.P. KrishnanunniSri. A. Ramaswamy

Joint Co-ordinators

Sri. Venu ChelakkaraSri. P. Prabhakaran

Sri. K. MukundanSri. P. Achuthan

Sri. Vinod KrishnanSri. K. Gopinathan

Sri. E.K. ParameswaranSmt. Radha Purushottaman

Prof. Smt. SanthaSri. Suresh M G KavuSmt. Vanaja Shankar

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Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha SatramHow you can participate

Our tradition enjoins that to offer materials or means for SreemadBhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram is as holy and benedictory asparticipating in it.

Annadaanam, is the most holy act, gracing the receiver and giver alike,one with material gain, the other with inner spiritual gain. We areparticular that opportunity should be given to one and all toparticipate in Annadaanam and the inestimable grace it bestows. Thefollowing details will, we hope, enable you to decide upon the offering:

Annadaanam: for 100 people a day Rs. 10,000for 100 people one time Rs. 4,000

The devotees may also offer material offerings for the Annadaanam.The materials such as rice, dal, jaggery and sugar for offering areavailable at “Vyasa Tapovanam counter” at Satram venue. Dailymore than 3000 devotees are expected to participate.

Apart from Annadaanam, devotees and well-wishers can also selecttheir devotional offering from the following: (part offering allowed)

For a Day (Rs.)

Oil for lamps - 1 Tin 2,500

Pooja 5,000

Flower Decoration 5,000

Ghee Lamp Lighting 5,000

Tattva Pravachanam including travel 12,000

Tattva Pravachanam (per exponent) 3,000

Light & Sound - Satrashaala 30,000

Seating Facilities for devotees 10,000

Construction of Satrashaala (100 sq ft) 5,000

Flowers for Vishnusahasranaama Saarvajanik

Mahaayajna (for 100 participants) 10,000

Donations to Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Hind NavotthanaPratishtan are eligible for exemption under 80G of the Income Tax Act.

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For the Attention of Devotees

n All Satram Volunteers will have identity badges.

n All devotees please register your addresses.

n For all your enquiry please contact the “ENQUIRY” counters.

n Devotees requiring accommodation facility may please contact the “ACCOMMODATIONS” counter.

n Devotees may deposit their offerings in the “OFFERINGS” counter and ensure to receive the receipt.

n Do not smoke in the Satram area.

n Strict discipline may please be adhered to in upkeeping cleanlinessand silence in the Satram precincts.

n Please co-operate with us to ensure the successful conduct ofthe Satram by following the regulations, instructions and restrictions,lovingly and heartily.

n Devotees desiring to offer Annadaanam may please contact theEnquiry Counter.

n Offerings such as flowers, pooja materials, groceries, rice, vege-tables and coconuts may please be deposited at the Mandapamexclusively made for this purpose.

n In event of difficulty on any account during the Satram eventplease approach the Volunteers.

n Observe the Satram venue as a Temple precinct and followaustere procedures as in temples.

n Apart from the three poojaas (tri-kaalam), during the “Avataara-alankaaram” special poojas, nivedyam, pushpaanjali,anddeepaaraadhana will be conducted.

n For special pooja, Nivedyam, Pushpaanjali and Deepaaraadhana,arrangements are made for devotees to book and obtain receipt.

n As in past, all devotees participating in the Satram event will beprovided with Bhakti-Bhojanam.