Highlights:  (click on a link to go to that section):   Inauguration of Orphanage Complex built by Project Hope Pujya Bhaishri comes to Parmarth BJP Women's Morch (Committee) Conference Yatra to the Source of Mother Ganga - Gangotri & Gaumukh  Pujya Swamiji in Delhi Pujya Swamiji in London Pujya Swamiji in New York City May - June Medical camps - medical seva     Upcoming Events:     Download your divine 2007 calendar here 53 pages of inspiring quotations and beautiful photographs -  make every week a Divine one DVDs of the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra 2006 now available -  Click here

May 12 -- Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu

The final stage in the work of Project Hope, India Heritage Research Foundation in the tsunami affected areas has been completed and inaugurated. On May 12, the orphanage which we built for the tsunami orphans as well as facilities for over 300 children who had been orphaned prior to the tsunami was inaugurated by the hands of H.E. the Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh Barnalaji with Pujya Swamiji.

The orphanage includes dormitory facilities, school rooms, a computer center, medical room, beautiful kitchen and dining facilities, a vocational training center and more.  It has been built on the same land as the previously existing home for approximately 200 widowed/abandoned and homeless ladies, which we also beautified.  In this way, the orphaned children will receive, in addition to the staff, mothers, aunts, grandmothers and older sisters; the ladies will receive the priceless gift of caring for orphaned children. We have also built a vocational training center for the ladies, and the new  huge dining/kitchen facilities are shared by both the children and the ladies.

	The outside of one wing of the new orphanage complex

 

	front of the new dining hall and inside on inauguration day

 

The Honorable Governor and Pujya Swamiji opened all of the different rooms, including the school rooms, computer center, vocational training center, medical room, etc. The dining hall had already been officially inaugurated last year, but the Hon. Governor went also and saw how beautiful it was. He was so happy to see the facilities as well as the smile on the faces of the children.

	The Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Pujya Swamiji, Shri Ravi Khemka, the District Collector of Cuddalore and other local authorities inaugurated the new orphanage -- including the classrooms, computer center, vocational training center, bedrooms, auditorium hall and medical clinic

	Bedrooms with brand new sheets, pillows, mattresses and blankets..... a fully equipped medical clinic with sick beds, a wheelchair, stretcher, all necessary medicines and doctor's table and equipment

A beautiful moment was when the Honorable Governor asked a few of the little orphan children, spontaneously, “What do you want to be?” One said doctor, another said scientist and the third said “Collector”. The district Collector is the government in-charge of the area. In the north they are called District Magistrates. The Collector has been helping the project a great deal so the children of probably seen him coming and going from the site, being the one in charge. . So, this little child, whose father was a fisherman and who has now been orphaned by the tsunami, wants to grow up and be the Collector! It was truly beautiful.

After the official inauguration on site, everyone went to Cuddalore Town Hall for actual function of speeches and blessings.

The Honorable Governor gave a beautiful speech filled with such praise for this project as well as for all of the work that Project Hope has done for the tsunami victims since December 2004.

	The children were so excited to begin their classes in the new classrooms

	(left) computer center; (right) huge auditorium and multipurpose hall

Project Hope was founded just after the tsunami by Pujya Swamiji and famous Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi when they traveled down to the tsunami affected areas in the wake of the tragedy and decided to become actively involved in both short-term emergency relief as well as long term, permanent reconstruction. See www.projecthope-tsunami.com for details of all the work.

Special thanks to Drs. Kiranbhai and Pallaviben Patel and the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding, and Smt. Bellaben & Shri Yogeshbhai Patel of Florida, USA for their generous sponsorship of the orphanage project.

May 13 - Ghaziabad

On the return to Rishikesh from South India, Pujya Swamiji was the Chief Guest at the opening of the new Vardhan eye hospital in Ghaziabad, of which our own dear Shri Nand Kishoreji is the secretary.

May - Rishikesh

		The last week of May, Pujya Shri Rameshbhai Oza was giving katha in the divine land of Uttarkashi. Prior to going up he came to Parmarth Niketan to meet with Pujya Swamiji and to perform the divine Ganga Aarti. It was wonderful to have him back at home at Parmarth.

Later in the week, Pujya Swamiji also traveled up to Uttarkashi for the final day of the Katha.

June 1- 3 -- Rishikesh

From June 1 - 3, the BJP celebrated their Women's Morcha (Committee) Conference to which all the BJP women ministers and committee heads from all over the country came together with the special guest of Smt. Sushma Swaraj. The Conference was organized and presided over by Smt. Kiran Maheshwari, the National President of the women's morcha. Hundreds of women leaders from all over India came to Parmarth Niketan for the 3 day event which was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttrakhand, Shri Bhuwan Chandra Khandhuriji.

Pujya Swamiji gave the special inaugural blessings, and he spent some time with Shri Khanduriji discussing numerous divine, humanitarian and positive projects for the state of Uttrakhand. Shri Khanduriji also stayed and had lunch together with Pujya Swamiji.

 

Pujya Swamiji and Hon. Shri Khanduriji walk to the inauguration

 

 

 

Pujya Swamiji and Hon. Shri Khanduriji at the inauguration, sharing thoughts and ideas for the betterment of Uttarakhand

 

		Pujya Swamiji gave a beautiful speech in which He urged the women to come forward and to lead the country of India toward a brighter, more beautiful future. He spoke about the divine power of the Shakti and implored the women to realize that helpful, healing instinct within themselves.

In the afternoon, Smt. Sushma Swaraj arrived, and she gave beautiful and inspiring talks to all of the women participants. In the evening she came for the divine Ganga Aarti which began with a beautiful Ganga chunari, in which 500 sarees are joined together and are dressed upon Mother Ganga.

She was so impressed and happy to see the way that divine and beautiful traditional values and sanskaras are being practiced at Parmarth, and imparted to all of the young rishikumars as well as shared with so many people from all over the world

	Pujya Swamiji welcomes and blesses Smt. Sushma Swaraj and then sits in His jyopri (hut) with her, Smt. Kiran Maheshwari and other top ministers and leaders for discussions on improving the future of Uttarakhand and India

Pujya Swamiji takes Smt. Sushmaji and the leaders down for Gangaji Chunari, Yagna and Aarti

	Pujya Swamiji blesses Smt. Sushmaji

Prior to the Aarti there was a beautiful Ganga Chunari (dressing a saree around Mother Ganga). The huge saree (500 tied together) went through all the audience as well and everyone had a chance to touch it and seek the blessings.

	The Ganga Chunari is always a beautiful, colorful, festive and divine celebration of the Mother Ganga, as Her saree is carried through the hands of everyone before eventually being draped upon Her

	After the Chunari there are prayers, and Gangaji looks as divine as ever!

	Finally it's time for the Divine Ganga Aarti ceremony!

 

After the Aarti Pujya Swamiji speaks words of praise and blessing for Smt. Sushmaji, Smt. Kiranji and the entire women's morcha

 

Smt. Sushmaji expressed her great joy at being in Rishikesh, on the banks of Ganga, at Pujya Swamiji's feet and sought His blessings.

Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Acharya Srikant Vyasji with Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Smt. Kiran Maheshwari

June 3-8 -- Yatra to Gangotri and Gaumukh

On the morning of June 3, Pujya Swamiji's sacred birthday, we departed from Rishikesh after a special puja on the banks of Mother Ganga, for the holy land of Gangotri, the Source of Mother Ganga.

The yatra included approximately 60 people from numerous countries around the world. We stopped in Uttarkashi for a divine lunch on the banks of Mother Ganga before continuing the 10 hour drive up to Gangotri.

Pujya Swamiji in Uttarkashi on the way to Gangotri....sitting on the banks of Ganga and offering prayers and flowers to Her

Pujya Swamiji bows to the Divine Mother and offers Her flowers and humble and loving prayers and pranams

		We had a wonderful lunch in Uttarkashi on the banks of Ganga at the Shikar Resort where we were able to sit outside (in an elegantly covered dining area where all the walls were left open) and enjoy the divine atmosphere and breeze

Pujya Swamiji with some of the yatris in Uttarkashi

Pujya Swami Hansdasji, the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (All India Committee of Saints/Sanyasis) came up to Gangotri from Haridwar, just for 1 day to be with Pujya Swamiji on His birthday.

On June 4 we had beautiful darshan, puja and aarti at the Gangotri mandir, and then Pujya Swamiji had a long meeting with the priests of Gangotri in order to work out a "clean, green and serene" program for Gangotri. Pujya Swamiji felt that the entire area surrounding the sacred temple should be beautified and He has offered to take on the entire project in conjunction with the local committees.

	The sacred temple of Gangotri; the view from outside the temple

(left) Pujya Swami Hansdasji gives Pujya Swamiji flowers and a shawl; (right) the rishikumars enjoy their prasad in the sun

The sacred temple of Gangotri

	Sadhvi Abhaji (Mataji) with the rishikumars and Yashodhara Oberoi

	Heavenly views!

(left) Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Hansdasji; meeting with a local saint of Gangotri who blesses Joseph

	We had a glorious puja outside on the banks of Mother Ganga......Pujya Swamiji, Sandeepji and Manjariji Gupta and all the yatris sat -- with the darshan of the flowing Bhagirathi -- and performed Her puja and then aarti.

Sitting with one of the local, revered saints of Gangotri

In the evening we had a beautiful Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Bhagirathi river (the name Ganga is used for the river typically only after the sangam at Dev Prayag -- where the Bhagirathi meets the Alakananda and Mandakini, which have already merged at Rudra Prayag) led by Pujya Swamiji and the divine rishikumars of the Parmarth Gurukul. Pujya Swamiji also brought up numerous large, beautiful aarti lamps which we use at Parmarth in Rishikesh for the aarti to donate to Gangotri so they can continue the tradition of aarti each evening as well.

	Performing divine puja and aarti in the Gangotri temple

	Performing Aarti in the Gangotri Temple

	(left): Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Hansdasji (right): Performing evening aarti on the banks of Bhagirathi (Ganga)

	Clockwise from right: performing divine evening aarti on the banks of Bhagirathi; praying on the banks of Bhagirathi;' sitting for satsang at the residence of a revered saint of Gangotri.

During the day, Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Hansdasji also had a beautiful meeting with Pujya Swami Sundaranandji one of the most revered saints of Gangotri who has taken the most spectacular photos of the Gangotri region during the last several decades.

Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Hansdasji and Pujya Swami Sundaranandji

	At the residence of Pujya Swami Sundaranandji

	Yatris enjoying the bliss in Gangotri

On June 5 we embarked on our yatra to the actual glacier which is the source of the Bhagirathi, and hence the Ganges river, at a place 18 km from the town of Gangotri. The glacier is called Gaumukh, referring to the fact that perhaps it used to resemble the open mouth of a cow.

We trekked 14 km the first day to Bhojwasa, or the forest of Bhoj trees. The trek was truly sublime, with Ganga rushing below, the trees towering overhead, the sun shining down upon us, Pujya Swamiji's divine presence amongst us.

After reaching Bhojwasa, and settling into our tents, we prepared for a beautiful Ganga Aarti and meditation. We were now only 4 km from the sacred source of the Mother River.... The aarti brought tears to many eyes as we never imagined we would be standing here, singing the aarti, at the top of the world, at the Source of the Mother.

THE TREK FROM GANGOTRI TO BHOJWASA - 14 KM

	Pujya Swamiji and the rishikumars and yatris stop to rest..... Pujya Swamiji lovingly combs the hair of one of the young rishikumars who had been trying shyly to do it himself!

Trying to make a fallen and still living tree stand again! Only with the grace and inspiration of Pujya Swamiji

	The route was amazingly beautiful, overlooking the river, full of lush vegetation and also lots of local flora and fauna, including wild mountain goats who stood majestically on the rock tops. .

	Finally we reached Bhojwasa! Just before heading down into the valley of the Bhoj trees, we stopped to enjoy the divine scenery and to rest for awhile in the Heavenly land

In the evening, before dinner, we left our tents and went down to have divine Aarti on the banks of Bhagirathi, at Bhojwasa which lies a mere 4 km from Gaumukh, the Source of Ganga. As the wind whipped through us, no one minded the biting cold for we were left speechless from joy at being in this divine place.

AARTI ON THE BANKS OF GANGA AT BHOJWASA

	Aarti at Bhojwasa

After the Aarti we had a divine meditation..... or rather, meditation had us! One did not have to even prepare for meditation or attempt to meditate. One merely needed to sit. Meditation happened immediately, of its own accord, and was deeper and more silent and still than many of us had ever experienced.

Everyone lined up for treasured photos with Pujya Swamiji after the aarti. What could be more of a glorious family photo? Gaumukh in the background, underneath the towering and sacred Himalayas, on the banks of the flowing Ganga, with our beloved and revered Pujya Swamiji!

After a hot dinner, accompanied by a blazing campfire, we settled in for an early night.

	The different faces of the Neelkanth range

The following morning, June 6, we departed at 6:00 am for the final 4 km to Gaumukh. With the sun rising over the mountains, casting light upon our path and dancing on the shimmering waters of the river below, we gingerly crossed boulders, as the smooth dirt path came to an end. The final 2 km of the journey are across precariously laid rocks and boulders which, while not moving or tipping in any hazardous way, do require a certain degree of attention, focus and agility to manouver.

All along the way, the towering glacier beckons us from ahead.

THE TREK FROM BHOJWASA TO GAUMUKH GLACIER - 4 KM

	Love filled our hearts, joy filled our beings and stillness overtook our minds as we completed the trek to the Source of the Mother

	The sun was beginning to rise and shower us with its rays, but the temperature was still cold in the early morning.... Jayendrabhai and Shailaben from Florida soak up the divine darshan together..... the Glacier itself beckons from ahead, a huge, inescapable "mouth" in the mountains, a fountain of divinity, purity and liberation.

Almost there!

Finally upon reaching the Source, with the rushing, gushing water pouring out from within the mouth, we fell to our knees in humble pranams -- to the Mother Herself and to He who had brought us here.

The urge to bathe was irrepresible, despite glacial temperatures with huge chunks of ice floating in the water.

We bathed. We meditated (or rather we sat and meditation happened of its own accord, spontaneously and powerfully). We allowed the tears of love, of bliss, of divine connection, of gratitude to pour out of our eyes and down our cheeks, and back into the waters from whence we had truly come. We performed Aarti. We worshipped and prayed and wished the moment would never end.

 

AT GAUMUKH - THE SOURCE OF MOTHER GANGA

	At Gaumukh

	Pujya Swamiji and the rishikumars in meditation and prayer

	Awe, silence, prayer and meditation.... this is how our hours were spent at Gaumukh. The divine rishikumars, ever so blessed at such a young age, to experience this divine wonder in the shelter of Pujya Swamiji.

	In spite of the frigid waters (which did not feel frigid once you were inside) many of us bathed, soaking ourselves -- body, mind and spirit -- in Her waters as they poured forth from the "mouth" which was really just a small, cave-like opening at the base of the glacier (see bottom left).

We performed a divine and beautiful aarti, right there at the Source of the Mother

 

 

	Om Jaya Gange Maiya.......

Finally, though, we had to offer our pranams once more to the Divine Mother and turn, ever so unwillingly, back up the hill toward Bhojwasa and Gangotri for the return journey.

Silence overtook us. No one could speak. Only the wind in the trees and the waters rushing over the rocks could be heard.

After brunch in Bhojwasa we began the journey back to Gangotri in order to reach in time for our evening Aarti.

 

Along the way, Pujya Swamiji was disheartened to see so much waste dropped along the way. He is very committed to cleanliness and sanctity, and hence we began a special clean up program. The rishikumars and yatris picked up all of the trash from the path from Bhojwasa back to Gangotri. The coolies were amazed and said that in decades of guiding yatris along this path they had never, ever seen anyone bend down to pick up someone else's trash. They clearly had never traveled with Pujya Swamiji!!! Bending, picking, standing, bending, picking, standing, along the way the rishikumars and yatris went, filling innumerous trash bags with wrappers, waters bottles, empty bags of chips and more all of which got deposited into the appropriate bins back in the city of Gangotri. (click here to hear Pujya Swamiji's beautiful 8 minute talk on the meaning of yatra and cleanliness which He gave upon returning to Rishikesh).

We had a beautiful aarti back in Gangotri, and after dinner we had our final satsang prior to our departure the following day.

IN UTTARKASHI ON THE WAY BACK TO RISHIKESH

On the 7th June we left from Gangotri for Uttarkashi where Pujya Swamiji had spent one day in the end of May during Pujya Bhaishri's katha. On the evening of the 7th June, Swami Bhagwandasji and many of the local leaders came to see Pujya Swamiji, and on the 8th morning we went to visit a local school and Sanskrit Vidyalaya.
	Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Bhagwandasji walk to the mandir. to the Sanskri Vidyalaya and local school.

	top right:Pujya Swamiji is welcomed and honored by Swami Bhagwandsasji, the head of a beautiful temple in Uttarkashi at the Sanskrit Vidyalaya in Uttarkashi; below: meeting with Tapovan Mataji

Also, before leaving Uttarkashi we had the darshan of Tapovan Mataji, a Sadhvi who had lived for many years at the sacred place of Tapovan, high above the Gaumukh glacier. Winter, spring, summer and fall she had stayed, engaged in intense austerities and meditation. Only when the cold and adverse elements had nearly caused her to have to leave the body did her devotees insist that she come down. She has been staying in Uttarkashi since then. Her beauty and divinity were wonderful and we had a very special time with her. She and Pujya Swamiji greeted each other as brother-sister, and their eyes were filled with love for each other.

	Pujya Swamiji with Tapovan Mataji; meeting with Joseph

	Local children of Uttarkashi

On the return to Rishikesh from Uttarkashi we stopped at another beautiful temple on the banks of Ganga where we had stopped on the way up, where Pujya Swamiji had been honored on the auspicious day of his Jayanti (birthday). We had a beautiful meditation and Pujya Swamiji shared words and love with the Swamiji who lives there.

May 31 - June 2 -- Uttarkashi and Gangotri

In honor of Pujya Swamiji's 55th Jayanti, Dr. Ravi Kasliwal who was then one of the top cardiac surgeons at Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi and has is now at Apollo Hospital New Delhi organized a team of doctors, led by Drs. Raman Raj & Dr. Brajesh K. Mishra, to travel to the towns of Uttarkashi, Dharali and Gangotri to have free heart camps for the local people. On the 31st May they began in Uttarkashi, then were in Gangotri on June 1 and in Dharali on June 2. It was a great gift to the hundreds of local people who were tested, examined and given necessary medicines.

The team from Escorts was joined by a divine, dedicated team of sevaks from Parmarth. Dr. Alka Patel and Dr. Ravi Kasliwal from Parmarth and Nishit, Priyesh, Sonal and Rona Kotecha from London (who were at Parmarth for our yatra to Gangotri and to be with Pujya Swamiji on HIs birthday) traveled up to take part in the medical seva.

Patients were examined, tested -- with both simple as well as elaborate, modern testing equipment -- and given diagnoses as well as required medicine.

Over 200 patients were seen in Dharali and Gangotri and they were treated for a wide variety of ailments, not only for cardiac issues.

Sincere thanks to Shri Radheshyam Goenkaji and Shri Sushil Goenkaji of the Emami Group, Calcutta for sponsoring this entire 3 day medical camp. There is no better way to serve the Guru than to perform divine seva in His name....

The medical team in Dharali (a small Himalayan village near Gangotri) performing seva in honor of Pujya Swamiji's teachings and His divine Jayanti

	The medical team from Parmarth

June 12 - 18 -- Rishikesh

A free acupressure treatment and training camp was held at Parmarth by Dr. KC Goyal and his team from Allahabad. During the weeklong camp hundreds of patients were seen and treated for a wide range of ailments ranging from blood pressure to diabetes to pain to asthma. Dr. Goyalji's annual camps are a great asset to the local people as well as yatris.

June 25-- Delhi

On the 25th July Pujya Swamiji stopped at the divine wedding reception of Gaurav and Deepali, son of Dr. NK Guptaji of Delhi and daughter of Shri Ashok Guptaji of Varanasi. Pujya Swamiji had been unable to grace the wedding in Varanasi with His presence, but He was in Delhi on the 25th prior to HIs international flight and, upon the ardent request of the Guptaji families, came to bless the divine newlyweds.

 

June 26 -- London

Pujya Swamiji was in London for 2 days en route to USA and he had a beautiful darshan and satsang program in London at the home of Shri Himatbhai Dawada. The evening included bhajan and kirtan, the showing of the beautiful DVD of Pujya Swamiji's yatra to Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash (click here to order your own), Pujya Swamiji's inspiring and uplifting words as well as time for question-answer and private blessings.

June 29 -- Chicago

Pujya Swamiji was a special guest at the grand opening and murti pran pratishta of the Kaival Gyan Mandir in Chicago, presided over by Acharya Shree Avichaldasji. Pujya Swamiji attended and gave a beautiful talk, with Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Pujya Swami Hansdasji.

June 30 -- New York

Pujya Swamiji gave a lecture at Golden Bridge Yoga, New York in the Soho district of Manhattan. Pujya Swamiji has been giving beautiful lectures, question-answer sessions and darshan at Golden Bridge Yoga in Hollywood, California for many years, owned and organized by Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and Gurushabd Singh Khalsa. Now, Golden Bridge has opened a new center in New York City and Pujya Swamiji had promised He would grace the center with HIs presence and words. Last October when He was at the United Nations (see www.parmarth.com/updates/october2006) He was supposed to go but unfortunately had to cancel so this time His presence was awaited ever so eagerly by Satya who is the organizer of the New York Center.

	Pujya Swamiji speaking at Golden Bridge New York

September 30 - October 9-- Rishikesh:

Divine Katha by Goswami Indira Betiji

October 18 to 23 -- Rishikesh:

Free Artificial / Prosthetic limbs camp! For the first time, Parmarth Niketan and India Heritage Research Foundation will be the sponsor and host of a huge camp, organized by Manav Seva Sannidhi and led by Divine Soul Abhilasha Singhviji (daughter of most respected Dr. L.M. Singhviji) in which free prosthetic limbs will be fitted and applied to the patients. Hundreds and hundreds of impoverished, handicapped and limb-less patients will receive prosthetic legs and arms during this week long camp. Many of these are patients who have suffered for years and even decades because they could not afford the prosthetic limb.

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