VSGH Celebrates Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday

HOUSTON: Swami Brahmarupanandaji,  visiting from Vedanta Society of Washington D.C. performed an elaborate worship for Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday celebration on January 22. On the weekend of January 27-29, he gave a retreat on Bhagwad Gita Chapter 6.

About 70 people attended Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday celebration. This marked a yearlong celebration observed in different Vedanta Societies on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

The program began with a melodious song on Swami Vivekananda . Swami Brahmarupanandaji explained that the purpose of the special worship of Swami Vivekanada was to invoke the blessings of Swamiji for developing knowledge, love and renunciation (Jnana, Bhakti, Vairagya) .  The Swami chanted mantras to invoke various Gods-  Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, the Divine Mother, the Sun God and the nine planets and the Guru.  He then performed an elaborate ten item worship of Sri Ramakrishna, followed by the worship of the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi with five items.  He performed the worship of Swami Vivekananda for this special occasion of his birthday with ten items.  Another melodious song on Swami Vivekananda was sung by the devotees followed by traditional Artis for Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and the Divine Mother.  The program ended with a sumptuous feast arranged by the devotees for this special occasion.

on this special occasion, the Swami also gave an excellent retreat on the  6th chapter of the Bhagwad Gita, which deals with the ‘Yoga of Meditation’. He gave an elaborate introduction to the subject by explaining which types of works a devotee, who is sincerely seeking perfection in Yoga of Meditation should do and which he should refrain from.  He then explained in details how to do the required duties in a detached and an efficient manner,  offering its fruits to God.  This type of work helps to purify the mind and helps one to progress in this path. He gave details of what a beginner in yoga practice should do (Arrukhsha) and what a rare one who succeeds in this practice (Yogarudha) does.  He explained ways how to deepen one’s meditation and how to control the mind.  He reiterated Sri Krishna’s reassuring statement that no effort in this path goes to waste and if one were to not reach the goal in this birth, that one picks where he or she left off and continues to make progress infuture births.  He enumerated the  benefits of meditation and how this path is superior to other paths.  Anyone who is interested in getting the audio CDs of the talk can inquire with the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston (www.houstonvedanta.org)

Swami Brahmarupanand is in residence  at  Vedanta Society of Greater Houston’s (VSGH) new premises at 14809 Lindita Drive in Houston from January 16 to February 15, 2012.

There will be a General Body Meeting on Sunday, February 5, 2012.  The Swami will conduct another retreat on Practical Spiritual Life from February 10-12, 2012.   He will also give public lectures on Wednesdays at 7:30pm on different spiritual topics.

For more information, visit www.houstonvedanta.org or call Swapna Chaudhuri at 281-584-0488.