NAMADWAAR AUSTRALIA GURUJI SRI MURALIDHARA SWAMIGAL MISSION AUSTRALIA 9, Ridgemont Close Cherrybrook NSW email: sydneysatsang@yahoo.com web: http://www.ozmadhuramurali.org HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE V O L U M E 1, I S S U E 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 7 Welcome to the first edition of our SRI SWAMIJI S NEW YEAR MESSAGE Satsang s Newsletter. We intend to report Satsang news, both from India and Australia, provide information on future Satsang activities, and include educational articles on topics of spirituality. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Upcoming Events 2 Do you want to 2 host Nama Sankirtan Nama Bhiksha 3 Kendra Centers Satsang News 4 Yuva Kendra News 5 If we take a look at the world around us, we will find a million reasons to be proud about the amazing human race. After all, we have landed on the moon! We have sent the pathfinder to the Mars, Gene-mapping and cloning have become reality. Hats off to the exponential progress made in the realm of science! But if we contemplate deeply for a moment on the questions "have all these advancements made life happier and more peaceful than before?", what answer do we get? A quick, unambiguous "NO!!". If we were to assume that intellectual, cultural and scientific underdevelopment was the reason why tribes, cavemen and men of the past fought with each other, how do we explain the situation prevalent today? In this age, when we claim to be at the peak of intellectual, cultural refinement, the incidence of violence and war is on the rise globally. We expect all these developments to nullify differences, break all walls, wipe out boundaries and take us to universal brotherhood. On the contrary, what is happening is an increase in the number of countries. More and more boundaries are being demarcated. Countries are broken down to form more countries. Instead of integration into one powerful, peaceful society, we are disintegrating all the time, in the name of race, religion and language. How can we achieve that integration? Down the ages, there have been numerous thinkers, revolutionaries, leaders and organizations who have worked towards that goal and yet their efforts have not produced sustained results because they have all tried to bring about unity through changes in the external world and society. Any external transformation is never longlasting. So, Universal brotherhood and peace can never be brought about by power, force or scientific advancement. The only solution is inner transformation a change in the tendency of every single person and the only way to achieve it is through spirituality. To achieve this, we need not change our lifestyle; we need not go to another place; we need not renounce anything; there is no dress code or any such formality; we can go to work; go to school and live as usual and yet bring about UNIVERSAL BROTH- ERHOOD. How is that possible? Indian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world and it is globally acknowledged that our Scriptures and the great Rishis have accurately predicted the course of the world and future. Thousands of years ago, foreseeing the troubled times ahead, they have shown the remedy which is the Maha Mantra found in the Kali Santarana Upanishad Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Not only do we believe in the Scriptures and the great Rishis, but it has been found that all have experienced the inner transformation, bliss and joy even while chanting this Maha Mantra. Having tasted the divine nectar called Hare Rama, we wish to share the joy with one and all, through Nama - Nama Dwaar. On this New Year s day, we all pledge solemnly to work towards Universal peace through the Maha Mantra.
January 2007 Su Mo Tu We Th Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 All the great Saints right from the Azhwars and the Nayanmars to Thyagaraja Swami, Panduranga Bhaktas, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa have all shown that one CAN attain liberation through mere chanting of the Divine Name. Even today we find Sadhus who have attained the highest state through mere chanting of the Divine Name. This is the glory of 'Nama Kirtan' -- An absolutely easy, simple path suited to the Age of Kali. The chanting of Divine Names is a free path. It has no binding of rules and regulations. Namasankirtan can be done by anybody, anytime and anywhere. It involves no cost. It is a path that requires no paraphernalia but leads one to the very Lotus Feet of the Lord. While mental repetition of the Divine Names leads to the good of the individual, chanting the Divine Names loudly purifies the singer, the listener (the scriptures say Shrotrunapi punati cha ) and the very place where the chanting is done. UPCOMING EVENTS FOR JANUARY 2007 January 12th -Kid s School holiday camp Venue: No. 9 Ridgemont Close, Cherrybrook NSW Time: 9am-5pm If you want to enrol your child please contact: Chitra Sekar on 9680 4292 January 21st - Nama Sankirtan Venue: Smt Meera and Sri Jagadeesh residence 78 Betts Rd, Merrylands NSW Time: 3-5pm Phone: 9632 1889 January 26th Nama Sankirtan Venue: Sri Vishnu Siva Mandir Mawson, Canberra Time: 3-4:30pm For further information please contact: Kavitha Bhaskaran on 9836 2354 / 0434 514 245/ email:sydneysatsang@yahoo.com Do you Want to Host NAMA SANKIRTAN Our Satsang conducts regular Nama Sankirtan at various locations around Sydney throughout the year. If you would like to host a Nama Sankirtan at your home, either to mark a special occasion or on some other convenient date, please contact: Kavitha Bhaskaran on 9836 2354 / 0434 514 245/ email:sydneysatsang@yahoo.com
CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU NAMA BHIKSHA KENDRA CENTERS AUSTRALIA Chant the Name yourself; inspire others to chant as well. By hearing it, speaking of it and living by it, salvation is obtained. The true essence is the Lord s Name. By spontaneous devotion, says Nanak, chant the Lord s praise The chanting of the Maha Mantra "HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA Adi Grant, Gauri Sukhmani 19-6, p.289 KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE" is done during fixed hours at the below listed locations. All are welcome to participate in the Nama Sankirtan. SYDNEY MELBOURNE Name Glenfield Area Sri Narayanan Sri Rajagopalan Address For venue details please contact Mr Reddy Contact No. 0421 890 310 No. 37 Windamere Av, 0404 866 Woodcroft Sydney 146 No. 4 Broadoak Pl, Castle Hill Sydney 0418 569 841 Nama Sankirtan Timings Wed 7:00-8:00pm Thur 8-9:00pm Sun 8-9:00am Shankar Sridharan 69 Innisfail Drive Point Cook Vic 3030 Ph: 03 9395 6839 Mob: 0417 374763 Every Second Sunday of the month at 6pm. Sri Rajaram No. 5 Northcott Wy, Cherrybrook Sydney 0404 992 403 Fri 8-9:00pm Sri Ramanan No. 113 Adderton Rd, Telopea Sydney 0430 487 780 Sat 8-9:00am
Satsang News Jan 1st 07: 10:30am-12:30pm Nama Kirtana Satsang for World peace, happiness and prosperity in 2007. In the august presence of Sri Swamiji, a mass prayer and chanting of the Maha Mantra was organised at Kamarajan Arangam, Teynampet, Chennai, India. More than 5000 people participated in the chanting. Report in the next month issue. Sri Swamiji Jan 1st 07: 4-6pm: Nama Sankirtan at Smt Chitra and Ravi's residence.about 15 people participated in the Nama Sankirtan. 10:00pm 31st Dec 06: 12:15am - 1st Jan 07 Bhajans and Nama Sankirtan at Smt Mythili and Sri Bala Subramanian's residence. 30 people participated in the Satsang. 30th Dec 06: 7:00-10:30pm Bhajans and Nama Sankirtan at Smt Jayanthi and Sri Venkat Ramanan's residence. 35 people participated in the Satsang. 20th Dec 06: 7:30-8:30pm - Sri Hanumath Jayanthi Nama Sankirtan at Smt Jyotsna and Sri Guruva Reddy's residence. 10 people participated in the Nama Sankirtan. 16th Dec 06: 4-6:30pm Nama Sankirtan at Smt Saroja and Sri Narayanan's Residence. Dec month s Nama Sankirtan was combined with Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's Jayanthi Celebrations. 75 people participated attended the Satsang. Program: Ganesha Dhaynam and Guru Stotram Nama Sankirtan Chanting of Upadesa Saaram led by Chitra, Uma and Meera Chanting of Akshara Mana Malai led by Smt Jayashree Ramankrishnan Bhajans by senior citizens Managala Harathi and Prasad distribution
Yuva Kendra Satsang kids with Poornimaji & Ramuji The youth of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Namabiksha Kendra- Sydney have come together to organise programs for kids wanting to learn more about Hinduism and Indian culture. Inspired by the recent visit of Sri Swamiji s disciples, Sri Ramanujam and Kumari Poornima, the focus of these programs is the importance of Nama chanting and how it enlightens every aspect of our lives. Role Play Tiny tots displaying their painting Role Play The day retreat with Shri Ramanujam and Kumari Poornima centred on the significance of Nama chanting. Apart from chanting, the kids were also taught various shlokas and moral stories. There were trivia games and quizzes with a religious flavour and talks on the significance of major festivals. The day ended with the kids demonstrating what they had learnt to their parents through various activities. Since the day retreat, the youth have organised an hour-long monthly program (from November 2006 onwards), to continue the work of Shri Ramanujam and Kumari Poornima. The primary aim of the program is to encourage and motivate kids to chant Nama daily. So far, the kids have been taught the stories of Shabari (from Ramayana) and Dhruva (Bhagavatam). A bhajan song is also being taught. To keep it fun, games such as celebrity heads and trivia quizzes are also embedded into the program with a distinctly religious touch. Every month, the program begins and ends with nama chanting. With the blessing of Sri Swamiji, the youth of Sydney will continue to spread the message of Nama chanting through these programs so that the kids will come to see the relevance and importance of chanting in their lives.