Contents:
 Dance
Performance by Kumari Somashekhari
on the Holy Occasion of the 7th Anniversary
Celebration of Shri Gayatri Tapobhoomi Ashram,
Gayatri Nagar, Tadas, Hubli (Karnataka)
on Tuesday, 30.1.2007
The day in the life of Kumari Somashekhari was very special, when she could show
her excellent ability in Indian Classical Dance in front of the prominent
religious leaders from the South, like Shankaracharyaji of Shringeri, Sant
Vishweshwar Teerth of Pejawar Math, Udupi, Karnataka, H.H. Vallabha Chaitanya,
Mahant of Tapobhumi Gayatri Ashram and other spiritual personalities. Indeed it
was a sparkling moment when Somaji in her highly glittering dance dress appeared
in front of thousands of devotees of Gayatribhumi.
His Holiness Shri Swami Vallabha Chaitanyaji (right) is
receiving
Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari
Every dance item was first explained by her in her classical Hindi, then
followed by her dance to the holy rhythm of the spiritual musical items. The
ovation of the assembled devotees was tremendous and the Shringeri
Shankaracharyaji praised and appreciated the graceful contribution by Somaji,
when he addressed the gathering.
The next day Karnataka media praised Soma as a centre of attraction of the
event. Karnataka’s prestigious daily newspaper “Samyukta Karnataka” has given
her a place on the front page with a remark “Soma shines at Tapobhumi”.
Her simple smiling and soft spoken attitude was undoubtedly putting her on the
centre stage. When the correspondent asked her: “Do you have any idea of
learning Kannada?” she said: “It is very sweet to listen to you when you spoke
in Kannada, I love Kannada” and she also exclaimed: “Yours is Kasturi Kannada.”
“God-Realization through dance is my goal,” she said. She loves South-Indian
tradition and is quite advanced as far as the Tamil language is concerned. When
the correspondents asked her first name, she quietly said: “I love the name
given by my Guru Swami Omkarananda. It is sweet.” She didn’t forget to tell: “It
is Parvati’s name.” In her flawless talk she told: “South-India is very divine,
beautiful, colourful and versatile.”
Somaji performs a typical Indian Classical Dance in front
of His Holiness,
the Shringeri Shankaracharya and other respected Saints,
who came from Himalayas to Karnataka.
The air was vibrating by the constant chanting of the Vedic syllables. The smoke
of the purifying fire of several Yajnashalas spread amidst powerful prayers over
the entire place of worship.
It was the seventh annual Utsav-celebration of Shri Gayatri Temple in Tapobhumi
in the quiet village of Gayatri Nagar, near Hubli, Karnataka.
The driving force and great spiritual personality of this wonderful Ashram is
Shri Shri Vallabha Chaitanyaji Maharaj, very very simple, humble, but extremely
divine in His appearance. His presence is dominated by the power of Gayatri
Devi, which is uninterruptedly going on in His heart. He is like a
manifestation, presenting Gayatri Devi in a living personality. Adorations to
His holy feet.
The temple activities went in their special height when a grand Abhisheka was
performed the next day with the assistance of Shringeri Shankaracharyaji. Along
with the Vedic chanting, worshipping Gayatri Devi, great offerings were made and
the people were delighted to receive the blessings of those ecstatic moments.
Among the special guests were Sannyasis from the Himalayas, many from
Uttarkashi. Among those personalities who participated were Swami Premananda,
Swami Anandji Raghava, Swami Ramswarupananda, Swami Gambheerananda, Kashi
Basavarajendra Swamiji, Swamini Subhadra Mataji and others.
In the Satsang, H.H. Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, the President of Omkarananda
Ashram Himalayas, sitting next to Swami Vishweshwar Teertha of Pejawar Math,
spoke about divine living and the importance of repetition of the Gayatri
Mantra.
Guru Vallabha Chaitanyaji is looking on to Swami
Vishveshwarananda,
when he greets Raju, Manager of Shri Gayatri Tapobhumi Trust
To seek the special blessings of Gayatri Maa every evening more than ten
thousand Deepas came alive and presented among chanting of Gayatri Mantra a pure
heaven on earth. It was a very special moment when the crowd honoured our
Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati when they chanted together: “Swami
Omkarananda Maharaji ki Jay!”
In the concluding celebration, after several Satsangs, all the Swamis and
important personalities were honoured in an exceptionally wonderful way.
Among important visitors were Members of Parliament, IS Officers and other
important dignitaries.
Besides by the Newspaper Media, this auspicious event, including Soma’s dance
performances, was covered by Karnataka Television (DD Karnataka, ETV Karnataka)
and other TV Channels.
May Goddess Gayatri keep that tremendous spirit of Tapobhumi all the time in
highest esteem.
Mahashivaratri-Celebration
on 16th February 2007
It was an exceptionally bitter-cold
North-Indian night. But the air was sparkling with the mystical syllables and
the powerful Mantras, surrounding the Temple – a rare evening.
After the Evening-Arati for Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, the cultural programme in
honour of Lord Shiva started. Shri Swami Narasimhuluji, Trustee of Omkarananda
Charitable Trust, had brought a Devotee family from South Africa to our temple:
Shri Kanthilal Premrajh, his wonderful wife Renukaji and their sweet daughter
Diksha. They were joyously welcomed with flower malas by Swami
Vishveshwarananda, President, Omkarananda Ashram.
Besides local devotees and guests, some
other foreign devotees of Indian Origin took part in our celebration, Renu
Gulati and her Mother Krishnaa, who is a teacher in England. They also were
specially welcomed by Swami Vishveshwaranandaji.
Swamiji requested all honourable
devotees and guests to enjoy a short and sweet cultural programme in honour of
Lord Shiva, specially organised by Kumari Somashekhari.
The programme started with a powerful
Shivabhajan, sung by our Ashram-Priests, accompanied with Dholak and Manjiras.
Shivabhajan by our Ashram-Priests
Then followed a Groupdance by Soma and her
students, to a Shivabhajan in the Himalayan Garhwali language. Again
Shivabhajans were sung jointly by the Priests, Soma and her students, followed
by a Solo-dance of Soma, through which she described and worshipped the Glory of
Lord Shiva.
Before the next dance-performance again
Shivabhajans were sung, in which all joined. Since the concluding performance
for Lord Shiva was again a dance to a Garhwali Bhajan, Somashekhari explained
the beautiful meaning of it in Hindi and English to the audience.
This dance was a new item, which Soma and her students had specially prepared
and intensively practised for this holy Shivaratri-celebration.
Kumari Somashekhari and her students performing Dances for
Lord Shiva
After conclusion of this worship of Lord
Shiva through devotional dances and Bhajans, Swami Vishveshwaranandaji gave the
Vote of Thanks and then he requested Mrs. Renukaji Premrajh, a very devoted and
exceptionally nice and saintly Lady, to distribute some gifts to Soma’s cute
dance-students.
Renukaji took the mike
and thanked specially Swami Vishveshwaranandaji for organizing such a beautiful
cultural event in honour of Lord Shiva. She also expressed her deep admiration
for Soma’s dance, which she described as soothing, graceful and ravishing.
Somashekhari heartily thanked Mrs. Renuka Premrajh for her encouraging and kind
words.
Immediately after the cultural
function, the devotees assembled in front of Gurudev Swami Omkarananda’s Shrine,
where the Omkarananda-Arati and Shiva-Arati were performed.
Afterwards Prasadam was distributed to
all and our Pandits started the special Shiva Puja in Gurudev’s Shrine, which
lasted throughout the whole night, up to 4 AM, the next morning (17.2.2007).
Om Namah Shivaya Namah OM.
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