In an endeavor to offer Unto HIM Our Best the Noida Centre launched Pujya Gurudev Sw.Chinmayanandaji’s Birth Centenary Celebrations with a 3-day programme from 8th-10th May. On 8th May we had the Paduka Puja for 21 times. Early in the morning at 5.30 am Pujya Gurudev’s worship began with Paduka Puja by Sw. Chidrupananda (CM Noida). There was abhishek with various items, chanting the Purusha Sookta and the Rudram. This was followed by offering archana to Sw.Tapovan Maharaj and Pujya Gurudev with their 108 names.
Simultaneously 10 other altars were set up where by turn devotees sat and offered the flower archana to Pujya Gurudev. Thus at a time 11 pujas were being conducted and the sequence was repeated 20 times. In between two pujas there was chanting of Tapovan Shatakam, Geeta, stotras and bhajans on Pujya Gurudev. The devotees had specially prepared a variety of delicacies for naivedya to offer in each puja.
On the 9th May the glory of Gurudev was celebrated on a public platform where several eminent citizens who had been inspired by him shared their reminiscences at the Amity University auditorium. The special invitees were Shri NP Singh, the erudite District Magistrate of Noida, Dr.Ashok Chauhan, Educationist and Founder President of the Amity group of institutions, Dr.Sambit Patra the eloquent spokesperson of the BJP and our own beloved Sw.Nikhilananda, Regional Head, CM (NCR). Drawing parallels between science and spirituality Shri Singh showed how all religions have the same philosophy and that the real offering to Pujya Gurudev was not merely a ritualistic worship but living the knowledge he imparted and developing a missionary zeal.
Dr.Sambit Patra, alumni of the Chinmaya Vidyalaya (Bokaro) shared how as a child he attended Gurudev’s yagna and though he could not understand much he felt the vibrations assimilate in him and also made him resolve to be a speaker like him. He gave a beautiful logical explanation of the way the panca-deva pujan prescribed by the scriptures for the Kali-yug integrate the body, mind and pranas. Dr. Ashok Chauhan who had hosted Pujya Gurudev at his residence on several occasions narrated some anecdotes. His frank admission to the reason for sponsoring the program that the University will be blessed by the spiritual minded people assembling in the auditorium was touching.
Sw. Nikhilananda appreciating each person on the dais said they represented achievements like Shri, Vijaya, Vibhooti and Dhruva Niti which follow when one lives the Geeta way of life. Swamiji said that the Vedas are the Constitution given by God and Bhagavad Geeta is its essence. And in a very potent one liner he said – Gurudev is Krishna inside and Arjuna outside! Summing up the session Sw. Chidrupananda said that in view of the present-day challenges in the society this platform gives us hope as there are so many good people in society doing marvelous work in their respective fields. Col. K.K.Puri, President, CM Noida presented the vote of thanks.
There was a cultural program of music and painting where the renowned painter Shri Kuchi Saisankar brought out on a canvas the accompanying musical rendering by Smt. Susheela Subramanyam and her group.
And on the 10th May the joyous occasion was shared with one and all by having a Bhandara (lunch feast) for several hundred people, mainly members of the public. The Noida family is looking forward to more such events to celebrate during Pujya Gurudev’s centenary year.
Report by Devna
