Shiva Shiva

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri was solemnly celebrated at Eire Vedanta Society on Friday, 21st Feb 2020. The auspicious evening began with Sri Ramakrishna’s evening Vesper Service.

Then the Shiva Puja was duly performed. It was a combination of four prahar puja with abhishekams (pouring out) of Milk, Curd, Ghee (clarified butter) and finally honey.

At the completion of every snan (bath) of the sacred Shiva Lingam, devotees queued up and offered the same over the Shiva Lingam. Shiva bhajans and hymns were sung in chorus intermittently through out the Puja period. Maha mrityunjay mantra was chanted uninterruptedly during the offering of four items.

Devotees brought all the required items. Prasad of fruits were distributed to the devotees. Plenty of white flowers also were offered. All enjoyed the surcharged peaceful atmosphere.

For a few snaps click this Link here

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Master and Mahadeva

Vedanta in Practice

A very happy, auspicious Maha Shivaratri to every one here!

A few years back, over a cup of cappuccino, one devotee came to meet me. As usual I asked him who was he! And he went on to give an elaborate reply such as that “firstly, he was a devotee of the latest Incarnation who brought the idea of harmony, love, peace and sacrifice to Society – Sri Ramakrishna”. He added that he also presents “a radio program on Hindvani, an Indian community based Radio station in South Africa”. He “had written a Religious Review on Sri Ram‘s Puja method”.

He in all seriousness continued to say that he was “a schoolteacher by profession – with some thirty years of experience. That is – two generations”. So he proudly announced to me that he has “a fair idea of how the older ones thought, and how the younger ones…

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At Connecticut…

On Friday, 1st Nov, Swami Vimokshananda left New Jersey for Connecticut. Ranjitda of Moorestown arranged transport. Ms Vellachi Arunachalam accompanied the Swami during the 3-hour travel. The Swami expressed that he was overwhelmed at the charitable nature of Chettinad people who came abroad from India and their contributions in building temples in foreign lands should be etched in golden letters. He told her that he was happy to meet her who belonged to that wonderful community.
The Swami reached the home of his hosts Debashis-Nibedita at Connecticut by late evening. The next day, the Swami was taken to Wilton Hindu Temple where the Skanda Sashti Festival was on.
Swami Balgopal Maharaj, a Vaishnavite sadhu and Incharge of the Temple duly welcomed him. The Swami witnessed the orderly puja done to Lord Muruga in the big size image and also at the utsava vigrahas. The Festival saw surging devotees visiting the temple throughout the puja time. The puja included abhishekams (pouring milk, honey, vibhuti, and sanctified water etc), carrying kavadis on the shoulders, taking the pal kudams (milk pitchers), chanting of powerful bija mantras of Lord Shanmukha through Shatru-samhara trisati archana (floral offerings) using “sha-ra-va-na-bha-va“ in a unique rotational method.
After the noon prasad, Swami Vimokshananda was taken to Hicksville of Long Island to witness the Mata-ki-Chowki function held at Sai Durbar Temple. Thereafter, both the Swamis with accompanying devotees reached the home of Kamal Raj where Swami Balgopal Maharaj performed an hour long puja and hawan.
It was indeed a hectic program-filled travel on that day.
On 3rd and 4th Nov, the Swami was the guest of his sister-disciple Rakhidi at Shelton. The members and others met the Swami at her home and held a Satsang.

The Swami conducted a discussion where he outlined the importance of experience in religious life. The Swami returned to Moorestown in New Jersey on 5th Nov with Debashis-Nibedita, visiting on the way the Vedanta Society of New York. On 6th Nov, Soumen-Sushmita saw off the Swami at the Philadelphia airport for his return journey to Dublin.

For more photos on this event please click here.

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At New Jersey…

Visit to New Jersey – 1
Swami Vimokshananda arrived at Philadelphia from Dublin on 29th Oct 2019. It was late evening. The host Ranjan Das of Moorestown who is the President of the New Jersey Vedanta Centre (NJVC) received him at the airport.


Next day on 30th Oct, a Ramakrishna Puja was performed at his home with a few close devotees joining in. The devotees met the Swami and had some discussions on spiritual life.
In the evening, the Swami was taken to the New Jersey Hindu Temple where the NJVC organised a public meeting. The Swami spoke on the difference between murti and vigraha and explained how the vigrahas become a living being and how they interact with the earnest devotees. It was followed by a Q & A session that saw interesting questions coming up from the audience.

For more photos connected to this event please click this link.

Visit to New Jersey – 2
On Thursday 31st October 2019, Swami Vimokshananda participated in a Satya Sai Baba Satsang. This was held at Moorestown, New Jersey at the home of Sri Ranjit Das. The altar was decorated with pictures of Sri Ramakrishna, Shirdi Sai Baba and Sri Satya Sai Baba.
After the opening prayers, one by one the assembled devotees sang several “namavalis” telling the glory of the Lord’s Holy Name.


At the close of singing, an Arati was performed. Swami Vimokshananda was requested to speak. The Swami expressed his happiness in participating in the Thursday Satsang.
He narrated an unusual story of battle between Lord Sri Ram and His best sevak-das Sri Hanumanji. The interesting story was concluded with the fact that God and God’s name are non-different. The Swami also explained the modus operandi of how the remembering of Name would lead to the feeling of His Presence quoting profusely from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.
The devotees partook of a sumptuous supper arranged by the hosts.
Earlier in the morning hours the Swami gave spiritual counselling to earnest seekers.

For more photos connected to this event, please click this link.

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Short Report on Shyama Puja

A Short Report

Sri Sri Kali Puja cum Diwali was celebrated with due solemnity at Nivedita House on Sunday, 27th October 2019. 92 people attended the function which began with Sri Ramakrishna Puja followed by Sri Kali Puja. Mother Kali was worshipped with 16 items (Shodasopachar puja).

It was appreciated that during Puja time, the assembled devotees maintained silence and focussed on Puja. Thereafter, the vesper service began and after a short break, Swami Vimokshananda gave a Talk on the Significance of the Kali Puja and Mother Kali’s iconography. During the Puja time, the children were taken to the adjacent Library Room where they were engaged in colouring activities.

Everyone who put his/her time, money and efforts in meeting the deadline for the Puja and assisting the performance of Sri Kali Puja, felt blessed. The Eire Vedanta Society offers deep appreciation and prayers for the well being of all.

It was indeed a joyous occasion! Special thanks to the children whose presence added to the joy! Prasad was distributed to all at the close of the function. This occasion was dedicated to Sister Nivedita whose birthday was on 28th Oct 2019.

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A few snaps of the event are given below in a slideshow. For full view of all photos please visit this link page.

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