Vivekananda Navaratri Day 7

Seventh day of Vivekanda Navaratri’s program began with the Bhajans rendered by students of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School. Dr Chowdri, leading heart specialist and ardent devotee of Ramakrishna Math read some extracts from the lectures of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Nilamadhavananda Maharaj delivered a talk on the topic “Swami Vivekanandar kanda Pen Singam – Sister Nivedita’. Swami began his speech with the wonderful prayer on Sister Nivedita by Mahakavi Bharathi. Swami Vivekananda told Nivedita: You should teach the Indians to regain their lost glory. But Sister Nivedita told him that she wanted to learn from India. Immediately Swamiji replied that this is the suitable moment for you to go to India.

Some important ideas that Swami Vivekanda gave to Nivedita are:

-          You should spread national ideals to the people of India.

-          Should lift the people spiritually from where they are.

-          Educate them.

-          Literature such as Ramayana, Mahabharata should be made to read by all Indians

-          Bharathiyans must write their own history not others.

-          Service to the suffering

-          All this must be promoted and taught to the people in a national perspective.

Swami also explained how orthodox devotees and Holy Mother Saradha Devi accepted Nivedita without any hesitation.

Smt. Chitra Visweshwaran, Secretary, Tamilnadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram participated as the chief guest of the event. She recounted her childhood experiences on how she grew up in Kolkata, Golpark. Some extracts from her special address: Swami Vivekananda sowed the seeds for the freedom struggle. At that time of British rule our people were happy to copy their life style. Swamiji asked us to remember our own rich and traditional heritage. He questioned his Guru many times, but it was all sincere calls for understanding great ideas. Our Children must know the greatness of such place like Vivekanandar Illam. They should love their country and wish to be born in this great land again and again.

The climax item of today’s program was the Dance Drama program on the vedic theme “Aham Brahmasi” by Smt Sheela Unnikrishnan and her disciples. It is one of the Mahavagya of the Upanishads. Smt Sheela came from the Guruparampara of Melattam style of Bharatanatyam.

The Mahavagya was preached by Swami Vivekananda.23 dancers participated in this performance. The advent and action of Maya was beautifully described. Life of Sri Shankaracharya was portrayed. The only path for the soul to get liberated is Advaita – this grand philosophy was the central theme of the dance and it was enacted very beautifully. Audience were seen immersed into the subject. More than 500 people attended the evening Navaratri program.