C A N A D A S A B H A O F C H I T R A P U R S A R A S W A T S S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : V O L U M E 5, I S S U E 1 2 Sweekar (CSCS NEWSLETTER) M A R C H 2 0 1 2 Next Satsang Important Dates I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Next Satsang Aruna and Gautam Ullal would like to invite CSCS members to join in for Satsang from 11.30 am to 1.15 pm on Sunday April 15, 2012 at their residence 170 Chedmac Drive, Hamilton. The Prasad bhojan will follow thereafter. Please RSVP by April 7th to Aruna at 905-525-5964 (gautamullal@hotmail.com) or Maya at 905-566-7908 (kulkarni77@rogers.com). Annual Math Vantiga 2 Important Dates in March Published Articles 2 Mar 1 Shishya Sweekar divas of H.H.Shrimat Parijnanshram Swamiji III Mar 3 Vardhanti at Karla-H.H. Shrimat Parijnashram Swamji III Sannidhi Swamiji s Itinerary 2 Mar 10 Vardhanti at Mangalore-Shri Umamaheshwar Sannidhi Sri Ramkrishna paramhansa 3 Mar 22 Khara-Nama Samvatsara Samapti Math Vantiga 4 Mar 23 Ugadi-Nama Samvatsara Prarambha AGM & EC Nominations SVBF March Events 4 5 Stamp and First Day Covers We have received 25 commemorative stamp and first day cover envelopes from Shri Arun Heble of US. They will be available for sale at next stasang/ or AGM. Photos 6,7 To View the recently release stamp please visit the following website http://www.indiapost.gov.in/netscape/stamps2011.html#2
V O L U M E 5, I S S U E 1 2 Annual Math Vantiga We have forwarded all vantiga dues of our Sabha members to Shri Chitrapur Math. P A G E 2 Published Articles FUTURE SATSANGS Those who wish to sponsor future satsangs are requested to contact Maya Kulkarni. Following are list of articles that were published in Sweekar volume 4, Issues 1-12 April 2010 to Mar 2011 May 2010 : 2009 Tercentenary Scholarships Award presentation August 2010: Age of Saraswat Community by Dr, Kanak Raval; Guru Purnima in Karla by Vanita Kumta September 2010: H.H. Anandashram Swamiji October 2010 : H.H. Parijnanashram Swamiji II; H.H. Shankarashram Swamiji I; Chaturmas 2010 A beautiful description of Seemollangan by Vanita Kumta December 2010 : H.H. Keshavashram Swamiji; H.H. Krishnashram Swamiji; H.H. Vamanashram Swamiji March 2011 : H.H. Parijnanashram Swamiji III; NRI Sanskriti Prachar Shibir 2010 report by Chirag Amembal,Advait Amembal et al; Swamiji s Itinerary Following is the itinerary of H.H. Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji s till Mar 26, 2012. March 2012 Mar 5-Mar 6 Shirali Mar 8 Mar 10 Manglore Mar 12 Mar 15 Shirali Mar 17 - Mar 18 Goa Mar 22 Mar 25 On Tour Mar 26 Mar 31 Shirali S W E E K A R
P A G E 3 Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, (1834 1886) Indian Spiritual Leader (Article Source : Indianetzone.com) Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a great religious saint and a teacher of Bengali language. He was a Sanskrit scholar who interpreted Hindu religion in the true vedantic spirit. He believed that all religions of the world were alike and their ultimate mission was the realization of God. He wished to bring about a synthesis among divergent faiths. Vivekananda, the greatest saint was his disciple who founded the "Ramakrishna Mission". It is said that Bengalis possess a curious mixture of high intellectuality coupled with an equally strong emotionalism. A remarkable man of saintly character, Ramakrishna Paramahansa was born in 1834. He represented a tradition of loving faith and service of humanity during the second half of the nineteenth century. He was a simple priest in a temple at Dakshinswara near Calcutta. His simplicity was a symbol of wisdom and guide towards peaceful social life. He was a man of faith and great virtue, who believed in the Indian traditions. He interpreted Hindu religion in the true Vedantic spirit. According to him all the religions are alike and their ultimate mission is realization of God. He adopted the modes of worship practiced by various religions. Ramakrishna, in his search of self-realization even met Muslim and Christian mystics, some of whom also lived with him for some time. His extra ordinary personality and character gradually attracted the attention of people. Laying stress on the essentials of religious faiths, Ramakrishna linked up the various aspects of the Hindu religion and philosophy and seemed to represent all of them in his own personality. He also brought within his fold other religions. He was opposed to all kinds of sectarianism and emphasized that the ultimate destination of life lies in the adoption of the road that leads to peace. He had a magnetic style of presenting his ideas and thoughts, which could touch the sentiments of people and give them peace. His personal life is a story, full of inspiration to humanity, even for those who have never seen him. An order of service was established in his name, called "Ramakrishna Mission" by his famous disciple Swami Vivekananda. It has an unequalled record in humanitarian relief and social work. The Mission is also committed to serve the people who are suffering from various ailments. The members of the Ramakrishna Mission carry on their work in hospitals and educational establishments and engage in relief work whenever there is any calamity, either in India or any other part of the world. Ramakrishna asserted that God sees no difference between a Brahmin and Chandala and at times he would live like a Chandala. Ramakrishna passed away in 1886.
P A G E 4 Math Calendar As in the past this year also CSCS has sponsored the month of June in Math Calendar. CSCS has requested copies of the Math calendar for year 2012-2013. Calendars are expected in Month of April. Annual General Meeting Annual General Meeting will be held on April 15, 2012 at 2.45 pm to 4.00 pm at 170 Chedmac Drive, Hamilton. The main agenda will be the selection of new CSCS Executive Committee Members for 2012-2014 term and presentation of April 1,2011- March 31, 2012 Financial Report. The detail meeting agenda will be presented on April 15th, 2012 prior to the meeting. Your presence will be greatly appreciated Executive Committee Nominations Two year term of the current executive committee expires on March 31,2012. The slate for nominations for new executive committee members is now open. Please send your nominations to Vivek Kulkarni (email:kulkarni77@rogers.com) and/or to Ganesh Shenoy (email: gnshenoy@yahoo.com). At the next Annual General Meeting which will be held probably between April-June 2012 (date and place to be advised), the new executive committee will be formed.
P A G E 5 Yugadi, Vasantha Navarathri and Rama Navami Celebrations Vasant Navaratri, also known as Vasant Navratras, begins on March 23, 2012. This festival of nine nights in Hinduism is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is also known as Chaitra Navratras or Spring Navratri or Basant Navratri. As this Navratra coincides with Ram Navami, it also referred as Ram Navratri. The dates are from March 23, 2012 to April 1, 2012. March 23, 2012 also marks the beginning of the New Year for the Kannada and Telugu speaking people. Yugadi or Ugadi is celebrated on march 23, 2012. Click here for details of the celebrations for Yugadi, Vasantha Navarathri & Rama Navami.
PAGE 6 Photo (courtesy of Shri kishan kallianpur & Atul Rao. Sunbeam Jan 2012 issue) SWEEKAR
P A G E 7 Photo (courtesy of Shri kishan kallianpur & Atul Rao. Sunbeam Jan 2012 issue) Canada Sabha of Chitrapur Saraswats (CSCS) Chitrapur Heritage of Canada Inc. (CHCI) Board of Trustees: Maya Kulkarni, Vivek Kulkarni, Kishore Nadkarni, Vinayak Shanbhag, Ganesh Shenoy, Pramod Udiaver, Gautam Ullal. Editorial Team: Mahesh Nileshwar, Vivek Kulkarni, Sadanand Mankikar, Ganesh Shenoy Web: Deepali and Vinayak Shanbhag Contact: 3727 Queenston Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 2H4 Phone: (905) 566-7908 www.canadasabha.com info@canadasabha.com Articles for publication as well as questions, inquiries etc. may be forwarded by e-mail to Vivek Kulkarni (kulkarni77@rogers.com) or Sadanand Mankikar (sadanand.mankikar@gmail.com) or by mail to 3727 Queenston Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 2H4. S W E E K A R