October is another interesting month with the Dusshera celebration in place.
Bhakthi Shakha will be performing on 23 Oct in the Vijayadasami Utsav and will be participating in Vyam Yoga, Padvinyas and Sloka (Aigiri Nandini -first 3 paragraphs).
After the Summer Break the Shakha activities started in full swing.
The first utsav done in September was the Ganesh Pooja and you can view the photos in
Clicking the link here.
Rama Skanda hanumantam vaikadeyam vrukodaram
Sayane sa smaren nityam dus-swapnam tasya nashyati
Slokha, Subhashitam & Amritvachan check out this link for details.
Tarun Gana discussion - In Indian Culture why do we? Light a lamp.
Stories - Dhruv and Nachiketan।
Sanskrit word of the week
Gaja - Elephant
गज
| SHLOKA- The holy name of |
| SUBHASHITAM-
|
| Amrutvachan ”The earth is enjoyed by heroes” – this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero. Always say, “I have no fear”. Swami Vivekananda |
This week we had our shakha in Roosevelt Park.
It was so much fun and we had the discussion topic for Tarun Gana
“In Indian culture – Why do we?”.
Since this is a vast subject we thought to pick one topic every week and
This week’s topic – why do we do Namaste , prostrate before parents and elders. Next week we will be discussing on the significance of lighting a lamp.
Jijabhai, Pana Dai and Rani Jhansi.
Sanskrit Word of the week
We decided to learn one sanskrit word every week either from the Slokha or Subhashitam and
this week’s word is
Ashwa (Horse)
अश्वा
सेवा है यज्ञकुन्ड समिधा सम हम जलें
ध्येय महासागर में सरित रूप हम मिलें ।
लोक योगक्षेम ही राष्ट्र अभय गान है
सेवारत व्यक्ती व्यक्ती कार्य का ही प्राण है ॥धृ॥
उच्च नीच भेद भूल एक हम सभी रहें
सहज बन्धूभाव हो राग-द्वेष ना रहे
सर्वदिक् प्रकाश हो ज्ञानदीप बाल दो
चरण शीघ्र द्रुढ बढे ध्येय शिखर हम चढे॥१॥
मुस्कुराते खिल उठे मुकुल पात पात में
लहर लहर सम उठे हर प्रघात घात में
स्तुति निन्दा लाभ लोभ यश विरक्ती छाँव से
कर्मक्षेत्र मे चले सहज स्नेह भाव से ॥२॥
दीन हीन सेवा ही परमेष्टी अर्चना
केवल उपदेश नही कर्मरूप साधना
मन वाचा कर्म से सदैव एक रूप हो
शिवसुन्दर नव समाज विश्ववन्द्य हम गढे ॥३॥
Check out the tune of this song at geetganga.org.
> English Transliteration:
sevā hai yajñakunḍa samidhā sama hama jaleṁ
dhyeya mahāsāgara meṁ sarita rūpa hama mileṁ
loka yogakṣema hī rāṣṭra abhaya gāna hai
sevārata vyaktī vyaktī kārya kā hī prāṇa hai dhṛ
ucca nīca bheda bhūla eka hama sabhī raheṁ
sahaja bandhūbhāva ho rāga-dveṣa nā rahe
sarvadik prakāśa ho jñānadīpa bāla do
caraṇa śīghra druḍha baḍhe dhyeya śikhara hama caḍhe1
muskurāte khila uṭhe mukula pāta pāta meṁ
lahara lahara sama uṭhe hara praghāta ghāta meṁ
stuti nindā lābha lobha yaśa viraktī chāva se
karmakṣetra me cale sahaja sneha bhāva se 2
dīna hīna sevā hī parameṣṭī arcanā
kevala upadeśa nahī karmarūpa sādhanā
mana vācā karma se sadaiva eka rūpa ho
śivasundara nava samāja viśvavandya hama gaḍhe 3
Meaning:
As fortunate, holy & good it is for wooden stick (samidha) to go in the holy
fire of yagnya, same way it is for us to enter in to service work. Stick
does not remain the same as it was, but burns itself to serve for the
purpose.As river flows & merges in to ocean, let us go & merge in to this
ocean like huge work of service (seva).Being a good to people & every person
being living a well contended life is song we boldly chant.Every person
filled with Service oriented mind, is essence or core of our work S
Forgetting about is superior & inferior, we should stand united,
Let feeling of brotherhood come naturally. Hatred & bitterness has no space
within us,
Let every where be lots of light, please give us all knowledge,
Let us move on & reach the top of our goal 1
Every flower is blooming with a smile,
Every wave is same & coming up,
Away from praise, criticism, profit, greed & glory,
We march forward with simple easy adorable way 2
Serving weak feeble is our routine practice,
These are not only teachings, but our regular work,
Let always be consistent about thoughts, talks & actions.
Our society be as pleasant as god Shiva & be praised by whole world. 3
The following can be used as discussion topics for Tarun Gana
http://www.hssus.org/content/view/48/69/ and http://www.esamskriti.com/index.aspx
Indian Culture And Traditions
Maharashtra`s famous Ashtavinayaka Temples
Monsoon Ragas
Worship of god as Mother in the Indian Tradition
Vithoba of Pandharpur
Foundations of Indian Culture
Questions and Answers Indian Civilization
In Indian Culture why do we
The Spiritual Heritage of India
Religious Development in India
Great Indian Leaders
Sree Narayana Guru- Founder of an Intellectual Religion
India`s Rebirth by Sri Aurobindo
Address Parliament of Religions 1893 by Swami Vivekananda
Life and Thoughts of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda in Punjab
Life of Chanakya
Arthashastra its Contemporary relevance
Shivaji Maharaj
Life of Sardar Patel
Thoughts on Pakistan by Dr Ambedkar
Life and Mission of Dr Ambedkar
Life story of Veer Savarkar
Science of Governance by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
My beliefs by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Traditions of Himalayan Masters
Lives of Indian Saints
Life of Sant Tulsidas
India the Mother
Rani of Jhansi
Issues and Insights
Religion, not caste, behind reservations
Why India is a poor country
Why did Buddhism vanish from India
Why has Asceticism led to the weakening of Bharat
Definition of Secularism
Decolonising the Indian Mind
Pakistani students study textbooks
How the British created the dowry system in Punjab
Why was Gandhi killed (full)
Why was Gandhi killed (short)
Why was the first son made a Sikh
The Unbreakable Hindu Sikh bond
Why Sikhism is not a separate religion
Why did the Ramakrishna Mission say they are not Hindus
Arrest of Shankaracharya of Kanchi - Insights
Hinduism Buddhism different religions
What can today`s Enterpreneurs learn from India`s past
Why did the Portuguese want to discover India
Knowing India
Seven Sacred Rivers
Sacred Trees of the Hindus
Hindu Calendar 2006
Five Elemental Women
Significance of every day Rituals
Significance of Religious sysmbols
Is Temple visiting a religious act
Hindu women as life partner
Vanaprastha Ashrama for the present Age
Eco-Religion of the Bishnois of Rajasthan
Andal the Divine maiden
The importance of Saucha in our lives
Song of the Sindhu
The romance of the wine glass
Who is a Guru
How does the West look at Indian Culture
Who is a Hindu
Saraswati the lost river
History
Forts & Palaces of Maharashtra
The Jodhpur Story
Who was responsible for Partition
Aligarh Movement
Khilafat Movement
Wahabhi Movement and Muhammad Iqbal
Maratha Supremacy in the 18th century
History of Jammu and Kashmir
A tribute to the Indian Women
Adi Devta Arya Devta
Basavanna & Vir Shaivism Lingayat Movement
Teachings of Arya Samaj
Taj Mahal a Shiv Temple
Taj Mahal a architects point of view
The Story of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Debunking the Aryan Invasion theory
The Pagan Arab pantheon
Festivals
A celebration of faith - Thaipusam
Makar Sakaranti
Basant Panchami
Shivratri
Holi
Shigmo in Goa
Ram Navami
Guru Purnima
Sravana
Janmashtami
Ganesh Chaturthi
Onam
Navaratri
Durga worship
Mysore Dussehra
Diwali
Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Kumb Mela
Mahagam festival in Kumbakonam
Health
Naturopathy
Medicine at Cross Roads
Women in the Mirror
Yoga and Orthopedics
Ayurveda
The Original Teachings of Yoga- From Patanjali Back to Hiranyagarbha
Ayurveda and the Mind- An Overview
Introduction to Ayurveda
The audio file for this song can be found by clicking this link http://www.geetganga.org/audio/by/title/mantra_chota_reet_nayi
मंत्र छोटा रीत नई आसान हमने पाई है
छोटे छोटे संस्कारों से बात बडी बन जाती है ॥
बाते करने से क्या होता नियमित होना पडता है
नियमित शाखा जाते जाते अनुशासन फिर आता है
अनुशासन ही संस्कारों का पंथ खुला कर देता है ॥
शाखा मे हम ऐसे खेले जिससे प्रेम उमडता हो
कुछ बौद्धिक हो गीत गान हो धर्म ग्यान की चर्चा हो
भगवा ध्वज हो नित्य सामने त्याग भावना पलती है ॥
सुख दुख मे हम साथ रहें परिवार रहे हर संपर्कित
यह समाज मेरा अपना है प्रेम भावना हो अंकित
गुरु-पूजा हो श्रद्धा से विस्तार तपस्या होती है ॥
वीर सुतों के दिव्य तेज से भू पर तारांगण आए
जगत निरामय करने हेतु सेवा-व्रत हम अपनाए
इसी मंत्र से इसी तंत्र से विश्व धर्म जय होती है ॥
English Transliteration:
maṁtra choṭā rīta naī āsāna hamane pāīe hai
choṭe choṭe saṁskāroṁ se bāta baḍī bana jātī hai
bāte karane se kyā hotā niyamita honā paḍatā hai
niyamita śākhā jāte jāte anuśāsana phira ātā hai
anuśāsana hī saṁskāroṁ kā paṁtha khulā kara detā hai
śākhā me hama aise khele jisase prema umaḍatā ho
kucha bauddhika ho gīta gāna ho dharma gyāna kī carcā ho
bhagavā dhvaja ho nitya sāmane tyāga bhāvanā palatī hai
sukha dukha me hama sātha raheṁ parivāra rahe hara saṁparkita
yaha samāja merā apanā hai prema bhāvanā ho aṁkita
guru-pūjā ho śraddhā se vistāra tapasyā hotī hai
vīra sutoṁ ke divya teja se bhū para tārāṁgaṇa āe
jagata nirāmaya karane hetu sevā-vrata hama apanāe
isī maṁtra se isī taṁtra se viśva dharma jaya hotī hai
a – Swami Vivekananda
b – Different characters of Ramayana
Shravan Kumar
Sumant
Guha/Guhan
Shabari
Angad
Mandodari
Manthara
Jaambuvant
c- How Vishnu with Garuda saved Elephant from crocodile
d – Hindu calendar/Months
e – Gods and their vahans
Shiva-Nandi
Durga –Lion
Indra – Airawat (White elephant)
Vishnu – Garuda(Eagle)
Ganesh –Mouse
Saraswati – Swan
Surya(Sun) – Seven horses
Lakhmi – Owl
Yama – The male buffalo
Bramha – Seven Swans
Shani – Crow
f – Facts about Indian flag
Kites
Rangoli
Uttishthita Jagrat Prapya Varannibodhata
Meaning - ARISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT TILL THE GOAL IS ACHIEVED
Danam Hastasya Bhooshanam
Meaning - Selfless giving is the ornament of hand
Narasyabharanam Roopam Roopasyabharanam gunah
Gunasyabharanam Gyanam Gyanasyabharanam Kshama
Meaning - Handsomeness is the ornament of men; quality is the ornament of
handsomeness; knowledge is the ornament of quality; (and) forgiveness is the
ornament of knowledge.
Gangecha yamunechaiva Godavari Saraswati
Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru
Meaning - In this water, i invoke the presence of holy water from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu & Kaveri.
_____________________________________________________________________
Saraswati Namastubhyam Varade Kaamaroopini
Vidyarambham Karishyami Siddhirbhavatu Me Sada
Meaning - Oh! Goddess Saraswati, my humble prostrations unto Thee, who is the fulfiller
of all wishes. I start my studies with Thy worship and always pray for success.
___________________________________________________________________
Om Sahanavavatu Saha Nau Bhunaktu Saha Veeryam Karavavahai
Tejasvinavadheetamastu Ma Vidvishavahai
Om Shantih shantih shantihi
Meaning - Om! May He(Brahman) protect us (teacher and student) both.
May He nourish us both. May we both acquire energy (as a result of this study).
May we both become illumined (by this study).
May we not hate each other.
Om! Peace! Peace! Peace!
_________________________________________________________________
Om Bramharpanam Bramhahavir Bramhagnou Bramhanahutam
Bramhaiva Tena Gantavyam Bramhakarma Samadhina
Meaning - (The act of offering is Brahman. The offering itself is Brahman. The offering is done by Brahman in the sacred fire which is Brahman. He alone attains Brahman who, in all actions, is fully absorbed in Brahman. As we chant this prayer we are offering the different types of food to Brahman This is 24th verse from the 4th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita)
___________________________________________________________________
Buddhirbalam Yashodhairyam Nirbhayatvamarogata
Ajaadyam Vaakapatutvam cha Hanumatsmaranadbhavet
Meaning -Intelligence, strength, fame, valor, fearlessness, lack of ill-health;
absence of sloth, skill in speech, and many more -- all accrue upon remembering Hanuman.
____________________________________________________________________
Twameva Mata Cha Pita Twameva,
Twameva Bandhu Sakha Twameva,
Twameva Vidya Sarvinam Twameva,
Twameva Sarvam Mama Dev Deva.
a.Daksha - Stand smartly with heels together and the feet forming a 30 degrees angle between them.The knees should be stretched and pressed in with the legs, thigh and hip muscles tensed,
the body straight with equal weight on the feet. The shoulders should be in one straight
line, slightly pulled backwards, with the chest in natural position. The arms should be
stretched downwards, touching the sides of the trunk, without any bends in the elbows.
The fists to be in natural position with the groove between the first finger and thumb
aligned to the seam of the trousers. The neck should be stretched with the head centrally
balanced, looking directly in front. Breathing should be normal
b.Arama - From the Daksha position slide the left leg 30 cm. on the left hand side maintaining
equal weight on both feet. Simultaneously take the arms at the back, the right hand
resting on the left palm with the right thumb over the left thumb. The arms and the
fingers should be stretched.
c.Agresara-
d.Dakshin Vruta – When turning right, turn 90 degrees using the right heel and the ball of the left foot, whilst keeping the knees stretched and the trunk should remain erect. The right foot
should be flat on the ground while the left heel remains raised, maintaining the balance
on the right leg. In the second move the left foot should be brought together with the
right foot ending in the Daksha position.
e.Vama Vruta – Vãma Vrut is the same as above except you use
the left heel and the right ball of the foot to turn.
f.Ardha Vruta - As above, except turn 180 degrees from the right hand side.
HSS NE Vibhag organized Bal Mela on March 20, 2010 to celebrate Yugaadi Utsav. Almost 100 or so attendees
of Bal Mela enjoyed the entire event that included Khel, Sanskrutik Karyakram, Pratyakshik Milan with
shakha sevak and sevikas.
Bhakti Shaka Sevaks & Sevika performed Yog Chap and the kids played Vamshi(Flute) & performed a
Sanskrit play. All these videos can be watched by click on this Bal Mela Video.
Sanskrit Play Sanghatanam Evam Balam(Unity is strength).
putraH 1 - pitAshrI, saH mandaH asti saH udyamam na karoti
putraH 2 - bhavAn eva mandaH asti
putraH 3 - pitAshrI saH sarvadA mama vastUni harati
putraH 4 - asatyam na vadatu
pitA - bhoH sarve putrAH , kRupayA gruhasya pRuShThataH gaChantu anantaram yaShTim Anayatu
( sarve gaChanti)
sarve - pitAshrI , vayam aanitavantaH
pitA - idAnim troTanam kurvantu
putra 1 - aam tat sulabham aasit
pitA - idAnIm , aabadhnAtu
(sarve aabadhAnti )
pitA - idAnIm punaH troTanam karvantu
putra 2 - pitAshrI etat abhedyam
pitA- kim j~jAtavantaH ?
putraH 3 - saMghaTanam evam balam
putraH 4 - vayam sarvadA ekatra vasatum icChAmaH
Sarve - etat vayam dRuDha saMkalpam
sarve - saMghaTanam evam balam
HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH
invites you to please come and
join us to celebrate our culture and
heritage on the occasion of
MAKAR SANKRANTI
on Sunday January 31st, 2010
at 25 Brown Ave, Iselin, NJ
from 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM
(Bhojan/Prasad Served)
Activities for the evening include:
Arts n Crafts
Kite making for Kids
Rangoli Pradarshan
Chitra Pradarshan by Kids
One minute speech by Kids on Sankranti Utsav
Yoga
Suryanamaskar
Read how we celebrated the Utsav.
It was a very good experience for the kids to make the kite” , “ We liked the Rangolis and Chitra Pradarshan”, “we liked these handmade Shloka bookmarks” , These were the comments from the families after the Makara Sankranti Utsav of Bhakti Shakha, Iselin NJ held on Sunday , January 31st 2010. The planning for the Utsav started one month before and all the shakha sevaks , sevikas , balas were thinking and preparing creatively their designated role for the Utsav. The highlights for the Utsav were Rangoli Pradarshan by Sevikas, Chitra Pradarshan by Balas, Kite making Activity for everyone, one minute speech on Sankranti celebration in every state of India by Balas.
Everyone reached 15 minutes before to the place and started setting up the things. We made the charts for showing Sankranti wishes in 5 regional languages of Bharat including, Marathi , Hindi, Gujrati, Tamil and Telugu . Near to those charts we set up our Rangoli Pradarshan by Sevikas. We had 7 types of Rangoli including Rangoli on water showing kite flying , Flower rangoli, traditional rangoli, Samskar Bharati Rangoli , Rangoli decorating our Bhojan pan ( Dinner plate) – Mahirap , Rangoli decorating for Samai or Diya and Rangoli with Lentils i.e all Dals. It was really very good and creative pradarshan .
Another table, we set up Chitra Pradarshan by Balas. They drew Kite flying in Summer, Sankranti sweets and celebration, etc. We will upload it for the Balagokulam Magazine quarterly entry from our shakha.
Utsav started with the regular acharpaddhati. We played Dhwajaropanam on Vamshi. In Shakha we have just started teaching Bala Ghosh Vamshi to the kids. So it was a motivation for them to learn and play for the next Utsav. Then we did one set of Suryanamaskar with video on background followed by distribution of appreciation certificates of participating in Surya Namaskar Yajna 2010 to all the Balas and Shishus. All of them were really excited to have this and it motivated them to continue suryanamaskars daily.
After that, it was a time for Khel. Balas and Shishus played very enthusiastically. Then came the long awaited activity of Kite Making. Everyone was given all the material for it like Square of big and small tissue papers , bamboo arch and stick and as per instructions they were pasting those arch and bamboo stick on it. All the kids along with their parents enjoyed this activity. After that we had One minute speech on how Sankranti is celebrated in various parts of Bharat by Balas. Our shakhas stared this in the Gurudakshina Utsav and kids liked it so continued for this Utsav and saw the improving performance. Other shakhas in a Vibhag also started the same activity as they also liked it.
Then we had an inspirational Sanghik Geet “ Mantra Chota Reet Nayi” , Subhashitam, Amrutvachan and Vaiyaktik Geet everything done by Balas very nicely as they were practicing for it for the last few days.
Then we had our Boudhik by our NJ Vibhag Sah- Karyavah Shekhar ji on Sankranti. He emphasized the significance of it in various parts of Bharat and also in Sangh.
After that we had Prarthana followed by Bhojan Mantra. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food made by all the sevikas. All Balas were given preference for food and they enjoyed food by sitting in a one big mandal.
To all sevikas who attended the Utsav while leaving we did traditional haldi Kumkum and giving homemade Tilgul . We also gave as a token of Sankranti like we do it back in Bharat , a bookmark made by sevikas and Balas having different shlokas written on it so the habit of reading and remembering of shloka is served in one thing.
20 kids and 21 Tarun attended the Utsav. It was a really very good experience for everyone meeting new people and families and enjoying in each other’s company as well as working together for the Utsav.