From Team Venugaanam

We are delighted to bring you the 34th edition of Venugaanam this May.  Starting with the precious discourse of our beloved SWAMI, we had given the SKM updates for the month of April.

In Atmajyothi, we further continue sharing the knowledge on devotion as indicated in Naradha Bhakti Sutras. Here we discuss the various aspects of the devotion.

Along with that we have an article from Prakash about the over valuation of product in the name of luxury.

“The Night” is back to attract its readers/followers followed by an article about the world in child’s view.

The final article is about Swami Vivekananda’s perspective on Muhammed – The Prophet. Its always delighting and exciting to read about a Master, speaking about another Master.

We are happy to have your feedback on how to make ‘Venugaanam’ a better communication tool. Please mail us at contactus@saikrushnamandir.org . Do feel free to share with us your articles, thoughts and ideas.

We pray to Swami to bless all the children and inmates so that they may all come up to His expectations. May Swami turn our lives into a celebration of His message of love, sharing and caring.

                                                                                                                                With All our Prema,

                                                                                                                                Team Venugaanam

Swami’s Discourse on striving for world peace and prosperity

THE dualistic attitude of man was born out of a sense of separateness which was not correct.

Man should realise his inherent divinity and get rid of identification of his real Self with the

body. The body is only an instrument for realising the Self. No great scholarship is needed for

achieving this realisation. The attitude of surrender to the Divine and dedicating all thoughts,

words and actions as an offering to the Divine will lead to Self realisation. The bliss one will

experience in that state is beyond description in words.

Today marks the beginning of the year Akshaya (according to the Hindu Almanac). Akshaya is a

combination of "Kshaya" and "A." "A" represents the Atmaswarupa--the Absolute, the Eternal.

"Kshaya" represents the Jivaswarupa--the individual entity that is liable to change. Akshaya

indicates the union of the unchanging Eternal Spirit and the impermanent individual entity.

Because of the association of the human entity with the indestructible and eternal principle, you

have to investigate what is permanent and unchanging and what is transient and liable to decay.

The march of time is inevitably associated with ups and downs, joys and sorrows, gains and

losses. This is inherent in the nature of the world, which is called Jagat--That in which birth and

death take place. ("Ja" means birth and "ga" means passing).

Sai Krushna Mandir Updates

On 7^th January, an eye check-up camp was held in school in co-ordination with doctors from Karthik Netralaya. The doctors were headed by founding member, Dr Karthik himself, and the doctors first briefed the children about eye care and followed it up with screening of all the children. Exceptional cases were identified and children with refractive lens requirements were listed. All these children will be provided with free spectacles and those needing special attention will be taken to the Karthik Netralaya for follow-up. The camp also saw the participation of almost 70 parents and villagers in addition to the participation of the 250 school children from classes 1-10 and their teachers. The event was a grand success and we profusely thank Mr Pothana Setty, Mr Ashok Meda and Dr Karthik Meda for their continued support and help in this.

The children have also been busy with different contests like Spelling Bee conducted by Mrs Vijayalakshmy Krishnan this month.  Prizes were given for all students class-wise based on their ability to spell 30 different words given during the contest. It was wonderful to see all the children participating with enthusiasm and we hope that this will increase their zest for learning. 

Republic day was celebrated in school on 26^th January, 2014. This time the function was a brief occasion involving the Chief Guest’s speech and welcome speeches by the school students and teachers. The children sang the national anthem and saviouries were distributed to all the children. 

On 27^th January, 2014, all of us celebrated the birthday of Shreyas Gowda- one of the children residing in Sai Krushna Mandir. Cake cutting was done and the Happy birthday song was sung,  just after Shreyas took the arathi for Bhagavan. 

We were also very happy to have had many visitors this month. Kalpana aunty and Niki aunty from London spent time teaching bhajans and gardening to the children. They also got them some interesting story books and goodies from London.  Asmita aunty and Urvashi aunty spent time classifying the library books for the children and labelling them. Thanks to Mr Kaliprasad and Mrs Usha for their thoughtful gesture of getting rice and dal for the kids.  Mr Madhav Naik’s visit from Vermont, USA along with his family was nice too.

The SKM team is now actively engaged in finding a suitable warden on paid basis. The major duties of the warden will involve supervising the children, helping them with their homework and co-curricular activities. Knowledge of computers, record maintenance and driving skills will be bonuses on this job.

We look forward to all your active involvement and participation in this God given opportunity. We also welcome you to come and visit the site and participate in the activities of Sai Krushna Mandir. We pray that Swami’s grace will crown our genuine intentions and He will continue to guide and bless the children and residents to live in a happy home and grow to his ideals.

Atmajyothi

by Shri Lakshminarayan Aithal 

लोकवेदेषु तदनुकूलाचरणं तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता ।। 11 ।।

      11.Among  worldly  and  Vedic  activities,  performing  only  those  (activities)  that  are  favorable  to  uniqueness (अनन्यता)  is  indifference  to  unfavorable  (activities).

अनन्यता

    34. Giving  up  of  worldly  and  Vedic  activities – these  words  have  the  meaning  that  in  all  ways  giving  up  of  actions.  But,  theists (नास्तिकाः)  have  given  up  all  actions;  by  that  giving  up,  the  restraint  has  not  taken  place  at  all.  Therefore,  the  meaning  of  ‘ giving  up  of  worldly  and  Vedic  actions’ – should  be  unraveled  further.  The  restraint  of  desire (कामनिरोध)  of  a  devotee  is  not  merely  giving  up  of  activities.  Two  parts  are  included  in  that  restraint.  Among  the  two – not  having  difference (अनन्यता)  is  the  first  part;  and,  indifference (उदासीनता )  is  the  second  part.  The  tenth  aphorism  tells  that  what  is  not  having  difference  with  God.  Not  having  difference