On 25th December 2011, Omkarananda Jayanti, the Birthday of
Beloved Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, was
celebrated from early morning, with deep devotion, in
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
As in earlier years the Celebration started with Sundarkand
Path. Since in the meantime a beautiful Omkarananda-Hanuman
Mandir had been established at the Headquarters of Omkarananda
Ashram Himalayas, the Recitation of Sundarkand took place in and
around the lovely new Temple.
At 11 AM the cultural programme in Honour of Paramahamsa
Omkarananda Saraswati started in the Auditorium "Omkarananda
Vidya Bhawan".
After a warm welcome to all the guests by the charming and
dignified Masters of Ceremony, Shrimati Indu Gautam and Shri
Apurva Trivedi, both Lecturers of Omkarananda Institute of
Management and Technology, Deepas were lighted in front of
Gurudev’s beautiful Photo.
Then small Sanskrit-Students made the Hall vibrating with the
Recitation of Shukla Yajurveda. The students accompanied their
Sanskrit Recitations with traditional hand gestures.
The next item was a Pushpanjali and Bharatanatyam Solo dance by
Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari in honour of Gurudev.
 |
 |
Kumari Somashekhari in a graceful way
is performing a dance. |
Kumari Somashekhari and her well-trained Students Neha
and Pinky
presenting a Radha-Krishna Dance. |
 |
Kumari Vidushi, a bright student of class 9 of Omkarananda
Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College, read out Words of Divine Wisdom
by H.D. Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati: "How
to develop Love for God?"
This was followed by a joyous Radha-Krishna Dance, "Sapne
men", performed
by Gurubhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and her students Neha
and Pinky. The audience responded with a huge clapping.
After this all devotees and guests had the golden opportunity to
listen for a few minutes to a recorded speech of Gurudev
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati: "The
Divinity manifests Itself in Extraordinary Works". There
was pin-drop silence in the auditorium, when the beautiful voice
of Gurudev inspired all with most precious divine Wisdom.
Then Shri Gopalacharyaji and his musicians entertained the
audience with Bhajans, Kirtan and a short Katha.
A new book, titled "Who
is a Guru? and Other Inspiring Speeches" by
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati had come out recently, which
is distributed worldwide by Motilal Banarsidass, and which is
also available from the world biggest on-line Bookseller Amazon
(U.S.A.) and other Book-Agencies.
 |
 |
Kumari Somashekhari praising the Acharyaji for his great
Katha. |
Release of the great book “Who is a Guru? and Other
Inspiring Speeches”
by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, compiled by Kumari
Somashekhari. |
Since Omkarananda Jayanti is a most auspicious day for all
Devotees of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, the great
Veda-Pandit, Shri Sudhakar Sharma, was requested to offer this
new book with powerful Vedic Prayers to Gurudev and then Swami
Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and some selected
Devotees and guests were releasing Gurudev’s new book in an
informal way. Afterwards Swami Vishveshwaranandaji threw light
on the salient features of this book. He praised Kumari
Somashekhari for her outstanding and most difficult work in
compiling, editing and formatting the Wisdom and Knowledge of
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
The cultural programme neared conclusion with the "Omkarananda
Arati Dance", performed
by Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and her students in
adoration of Gurudev.
 |
Beautiful Arati Dance by Kumari Somashekhari, Neha and
Pinky. |
Then it was the turn of Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji,
President Omkarananda Ashram, who was supposed to take the mike
for giving the Vote of Thanks. But the charming Masters of
Ceremony, Induji and Apurvaji, had a small surprise in store for
Swamiji. Before handing over the mike to Swamiji, they informed
the audience in short about the inspiring life and great divine
works of Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and then requested Dr. Aditya
Gautam, Director of Omkarananda Institute of Management and
Technology, to offer a beautiful flower-garland to Swamiji,
which was done among huge clapping and a short and powerful
Mantra-Recitation by Sudhakar Sharma.
Swami Vishveshwaranandaji was totally unprepared for this kind
gesture of love and affection, but since Swamiji always thinks
only of the welfare of others and not of himself, everybody
felt, that he was definitely very much deserving it.
 |
 |
Director OIMT offered a garland to Swami
Vishveshwarananda
while Sudhakar Sharma was chanting Shlokas. |
Everybody gets ready for the Omkarananda Arati. |
Swami Vishveshwarananda, in his wonderful and intense speech,
threw light on the importance of a real spiritual Guru and a
good, divine and spiritual lifestyle. The powerful speech of
Swami Vishveshwarananda reflected his divine character, thoughts
and feelings and his great Devotion and Reverence for his
Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
This auspicious programme was concluded with Omkarananda Arati
and Pushpanjali, followed by a delicious Bhandara (lunch) for
hundreds of guests and devotees.
 |
Arati by Swami Vishveshwarananda. |
In the late afternoon a very special Hawana was performed in
Honour of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, conducted
by Shri Sudhakar Sharma with the help of other Priests and in
the Presence of Swami Vishveshwarananda, Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari
Somashekhari and Shri G. Sukumar. The divine fragrance of this
wonderful Hawana spread everywhere in the surroundings of the
headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
|