Posted in Being Prayerful, Blessings from Appaji, Hanuman Day of Prayer, Love and Blessings, Ram Navami, Trinidad and Tobago

Celebrating Ram Navami 2019 & HDOP in the Divine Presence of Sri Bala Swamiji!

Jaya Guru Datta! The countdown to the visit of His Holiness Pujya Sri Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (our beloved Sri Bala Swamiji) is officially on and mere hours away. The coming days will without a doubt be days to remember! They will be days of prayer, spiritual upliftment and a spiritually enlightening and rewarding journey!

This is what 10-14 April 2019 will be for Datta devotees of Trinidad and Tobago and Datta devotees from around the world who will be joining with us for what will prove to be a historic Ram Navami celebration and Hanuman Day of prayer.

newpostWe will be blessed to be in the presence of pure Divinity as we will be blessed with the visit of His Holiness Pujya Sri Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (our beloved Sri Bala Swamiji), Junior Pontiff at Avadhoota Datta Peetham.  His Holiness Pujya Sri Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (our beloved Sri Bala Swamiji), returns to Trinidad after 14 years to bless us with His presence, His messages and discourses from Sundar Kand. His Holy feet will touch our soil (Dharti Mata) and He will bless this land.

For those who are aware Trinidad holds special significance in Sri Bala Swamiji’s life as this is where He began His life as a Swami (following ceremony at Aripo Datta Ganga) and Bala Swamiji’s visit is one many have been eagerly awaiting for several years now as it is in a very real sense, His return home if we can humbly call it such! Just as we always look forward to the presence of our beloved Appaji (His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji)- His physical presence, His graceful walk, the sound of His voice, His radiant smile, His chanting of mantras, His singing of Bhajans, His discourses and messages- we also wait in eager anticipation with thousands of devotees for Sri Bala Swamiji’s physical presence, His graceful walk, the sound of His voice, His radiant smile, His chanting of mantras, His singing of Bhajans, His discourses and messages.

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It promises to be epic, historic and memorable. The programmes of Thursday and Friday at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre will be followed by the Hanuman Day of Prayer on Sri Ram Navami day (Saturday 13th April 2019) which will begin at 5am and conclude at 9pm. This Hanuman Day of Prayer is designed for families to take part in a range of activities which include Yoga, Prayer and Puja, Hanuman Chalisa chanting, a Bhajan concert, Mangal Aarti, a live address by His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (our beloved Appaji) and a host of activities that are especially designed for kids.

Sri Bala Swamiji’s final day of programmes in Trinidad will be held on Sunday.

 

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Of primary significance is His life of unwavering devotion to Sadguru, His selflessness, His commitment to service and to mankind, His humility, His purity of thought and action which parallel that of Lord Hanuman on so many levels. Permit me to say that on the occasion of Ram Nawami there is no other fitting tribute to Lord Rama than to have Lord Hanuman in physical form, leading the proceedings and marking the occasion with readings from Sundar Kand.

His Holiness Sri Bala Swamiji’s visit is in preparation for Maha Rudra Yagna which His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (our beloved Appaji) announced will take place in Trinidad in 2020. As you continue chanting “Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha” be sure to register your count on Yoga Sangeeta.

Be sure to save the dates, visit the Ashrama (DYC, Carapichaima), participate in Pujas and activities, and do everything you can to ensure that you are a part of this historical spiritual occasion.

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Celebrating Hanuman Chalisa Chanting at Coromandel Shiv Mandir

Sita Ram! Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Indeed January 31, 2016 was a blessed and blissful day! If you missed this opportunity to join with us we are happy to share some of it with you via this post and if you were with us, this is our way of letting you know how meaningful your presence was to us.

It was a day Coromandel Shiv Mandir hosted the Datta Kirtan Mandali members and it was a day that we together with many other devotees were looking forward to! For those who know Coromandel is where I grew up and an opportunity to be at the Mandir and in my family home is always something I look forward to thoroughly.

We had planned on leaving earlier than we actually did but we were happy that we got there on time. Interestingly enough we met our Datta family just before we reached Chatham and were able to witness the full Hanuman Chalisa Chanting event! When the function ended we were able to spend more time with everyone-our Coromandel Shiv Mandir family, our Datta family, my family, members of the Epic ChanTTing Team and other devotees who are equally dear to us!

Here is what the official invitation looked like and we were happy to share it with as many people as we could.

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This was created by my sister- Ria Thomas

The Mandir as always was beautifully decorated and at the entrance we were greeted by the beautiful Murti of Lord Ganapati! Ganapati Bapa Moriya! When we got there Pundit Naresh Maharaj was concluding puja and devotees were seated, awaiting the start of the chanting!

Many would agree that Hanuman Chalisa Chanting is so therapeutic, so meaningful, and it is always filled with so much love and energy. This event is indeed a memorable one and it is considered by us all as a great blessing. It was a collective effort as teamwork was present throughout. Moreover it was a blissful, a powerful and an awesome experience. No one word could fully describe it.

Here are some of the pictures I was able to get:

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Sri Gyan Ramlogan and Members of the Datta Kirtan Mandali as they get ready for chanting

 

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Prayer was being offered-Om Namo Hanumate Namaha

 

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Lord Shiva was adorned with a beautiful fresh flower Mala made by Auntie Asha Moonsammy

 

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Lord Hanuman was adorned with another beautiful fresh flower Mala made by Auntie Asha Moonsammy

 

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Hanuman Chalisa Chanting was in progress! Jai Veer Hanuman!

 

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Devotees were doing Aarti
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Standing by the Bedi was Pundit Naresh Maharaj who conducted Puja prior to the start of chanting.  

 

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Devotees stood with clasped hands and sang as the Aarti was being performed.

Every moment spent was one to cherish. We could tell that everyone enjoyed this experience because of the radiant smiles we saw, the way everyone participated in chanting and in the feedback we received following the function.

We had just over 125 devotees in our presence and chanted Hanuman Chalisa 14 times.

It was a joyous occasion too as it allowed Epic ChanTTing members to officially meet each other.

January 31, 2016 remains a memorable day for the Coromandel Shiv Mandir and its Members. From my Mom (Mrs Doris Thomas), my Dad (Mr Ranjit Thomas), and all other Members of the Coromandel Shiv Mandir to the Members of the Datta Kirtan Mandali and all Devotees, we thank you each of you wholeheartedly for chanting Hanuman Chalisa with us! May the continued Blessings of the Divine Master be with you now and always!

Jai Veer Hanuman! Bajrang Bali Ki Jai! Om Namo Hanumate Namaha!