"The Song of the Sannyasi" Rare Video of Speech by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, translated into German by Prof. Eleonore Lauterborn, played for all devotees and guests, on 25.12.2012, on the occasion of Omkarananda Jayanti Celebration, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-reti, Rishikesh, India. Here is the Text of the Speech by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati:

"Everywhere is God! Everything is God! He is eternal! He is indestructible! He is all-perfect! He is all-beautiful! He is the Music of music! He is the Quintessence of Rhythm! The whole in creation is a splendid Dance of Divine Consciousness! There is nowhere in the Bible the concept of God as a Dancer. But the Swami is one, whose God is a Dancer, whose God is a Musician, Poet of poets, supreme Kavi, the supreme Poet! He is Beauty of beauties, Quintessence of all Joy! He is the Light of lights, internal Light, the Light of Consciousness, the external Light! He is the Light of every form and kind! He is boundless Light. His nature is Light. His nature is Joy. His nature is unlimited and eternal. A Swami is one, who is established in the Consciousness of himself as infinite Happiness, in all conditions. It may be terrifying outer conditions. You may cut my hand, my body will be bleeding, yet you will see no change on my face. Examine me in all conditions of life! A Swami is a Hero! He is the greatest adventurer, one who has conquered nature, one who is superior to all modes of nature! Time, space and circumstance have no influence on him. He is established in unconditioned Happiness, eternal Happiness, unending Happiness, undivided Happiness. His heart sings in this manner:

Chidanand Chidanand Chidananda Hun,
Har Hal Men Har Mast Satchidananda Hun!

(In all conditions I am infinite Existence-Consciousness-Bliss!)

This is the song of the Sannyasi. His heart is always singing that. He says, his heart says, his experience says - in summer's sun, in winter's cold, in the cold of the Himalayas, in the hot mid-summer sun in the deserts, in all situations, He is in Supreme Happiness - :

Satchidanand Satchidanand Satchidananda Hun,
Har Hal Men Har Mast Satchidananda Hun!

So says that man, haben Sie verstanden? (Have you understood?) "

(Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati)

* OM *

Introduction and Divine Blessings by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and appointed Successor of His Divinity Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
Two Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances by Dr. Kumari Somashekhari:
1. "Trimaataa Kautuvam", in Raaga Maalikaa and Eka Taala.
2. "Kanjadalaayataakshi", Kriti by Shri Muttuswami Dikshitar, in Raaga Manohari and Aadi Taala.
Place: Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Omkarananda Nagar, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
Date: In the evening time of 16th June 2025.
Kindly Note: We regret the unavoidable background noise from the horns of passing vehicles. Our beautiful Temple is situated just adjoining the Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Marg, which is an extremely busy road, specially in the Yatri season. OM

"Jeernodharana Rajata Bandhana Maha-Kumbhabhishekam" for Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi and other Devatas, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, from 6th to 10th April 2023. Places seen in the Video: 1. Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, with its beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple and other lovely Temples. 2. The heavenly Vedic Gurukul, Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, situated directly at the holy Ganga.
Main Participants: H. H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, Treasurer, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Indian Classical Dancer and Musician, Chief-Priest of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri Suresh Joshi and other Omkarananda Ashram Priests, Priests of different parts from Tamil Nadu, like Kanchipuram, Chennai, Thiruvarur, Chidambaram, etc., Students of the Vedic Gurukul, Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, at the Ganga.
Speeches and Divine Blessings by His Holiness Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. Short speech in Tamil Language, towards the end, by South Indian Main Priest, Shri Prathap Anandham, who expresses his admiration for the heavenly and beautiful Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and its Temples and specially thanks its President, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, whom he calls "Guruji Avargal". The South Indian Main Priest also remarks, that the Supreme Divine Mother, Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, was surely very happy and pleased, that Kumari Somashekhari (whom he calls "Kumari Amma"), presented divine, traditional Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance as an integral part of the Rajata Bandhana Maha-Kumbhabhishekam Celebrations, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Special Thanks to Dr. Anupam Vaid, Trustee, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, and to the Video and Editing Team of Portfolio Studio, New Delhi, for their help and support. OM

ABP Ganga, "Kyaa Baat Hai", Television Episode on Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, by Prof. Dr. Kumar Raajesh, Consultant - Editorial
of ABP Network Television, August 2021.

ABP Ganga, "Kyaa Baat Hai", Television Episode on Kumari Somashekhari,
General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, and Indian Classical Dancer & Musician,
by Prof. Dr. Kumar Raajesh, Consultant - Editorial of ABP Network Television, December 2021.

     

Full Moon Temple-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and Divine Blessings by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, in the night of Friday, 23rd February 2024, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, during the auspicious Purnima Tithi (during the auspicious Full Moon time). Details: 1. Glimpses of Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance: “Puṣpāñjali and Gaṇeśa Vandana ‘Mūṣika-Vāhana’ ”, in Tālam Ādi and Rāgam Gambhīra Nāṭṭai, by Kumari Somashekhari. The perfection of each Mudra, along with the rhythm of the music, makes the dance outstanding. 2. Divine Blessings and inspiring and enlightening Speech by H.H. Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda on the Greatness of Lord Ganesha, the importance of the holy Durva Grass and the importance and benefits of a Spiritual Life. Place: Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. OM

     

Full Full Moon Temple Program with Dances and Speeches, on 17th September 2024, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Omkarananda Saraswati Marg, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
1.) Welcome by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
2.) Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance “Kanjadalaayataakshi” by Kumari Somashekhari.
3.) Devi-Dance “Jagadambike” by Kumari Arohi, dance-student of Kumari Somashekhari. Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
4.) Devi-Dance “Maa Vedon ne jo Teri Mahima kahi hai” by Kumari Somashekhari. Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
5.) Divine, inspiring Speech by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
6.) Spontaneous speech by Trustee of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri Munnesh Agnihotri.
7.) Divine Speech, Vote of Thanks and Blessings by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.


Full Moon Program, in the night of 6th March 2023, Monday, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Omkarananda Saraswati Road, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India:
Bharatanatyam Temple Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and Divine Blessings
by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.


Full Moon Temple-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and Divine Blessings by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on 24. June 2021, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, Omkarananda Saraswati Road, Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari. OM.


At the crowing conclusion of the 9th Global Literary Festival, Noida, Kumari Somashekhari,
Indian Classical Dancer and Musician and General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, received the
"6th Atal Bihari Vajpayee National Award for Promotion of Art and Culture", on Friday, 6th October 2023,
at Marwah Studios, Film City, Noida, along with other great, eminent, honourable Awardees.
Chief-Guest: His Excellency the Ambassador of Serbia
Guest of Honour: His Holiness Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
Festival President: Dr. Sandeep Marwah Festival Director and Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Sushil Bharti


Maha-Shivaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India,
on 18th February 2023. Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances by Kumari Somashekhari and Blessings and Divine Speech
by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Anupam Vaid, Trustee Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Script for Master of Ceremonies was written by Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, and Indian Classical Dancer & Musician. OM.

During conclusion of Omkarananda Mahotsava, on 31. December 2021, Kumari Somashekhari danced in Honour of her Adorable Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati to an ancient Tamil-Hymn by Shri Aandaal, “Maargazhi Thingal”, in the Vedic Gurukul of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, the Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, at the holy Ganga. Dance-Choreography is by Kumari Somashekhari. Short Vote of Thanks by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, at the end of the Video.

Script for Master of Ceremonies with explanations about the dance, etc., was written by Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Indian Classical Dancer & Musician and read out by Prof. Dr. Apurvaa Trivedi: "About 5000 years ago a great Saint-Poetess lived in today’s Tamil Nadu, in Shrivilliputhur, near Madurai, who is regarded and worshipped as an Avataara of Bhumi Devi or Lakshmi Devi. Her name is Aandaal. She belongs to the greatest Worshippers of Lord Narayana, Lord Vishnu or Krishna. She had so much divine love for Lord Narayana, that she fiercely refused to marry a human being. When she was a very, very beautiful girl and only 15 years old, Lord Narayana Himself appeared to Priests in the dream and ordered them to arrange Aandaal’s spiritual marriage with Him. When Aandaal entered the Vishnu-Temple, where her divine marriage was arranged, she ran with great joy and ecstasy into the Garbha Griha, the Sanctum Sanctorum, and in a miraculous way merged with the Vishnu Murti and disappeared for ever from the physical plane. In the following You can see a dance to one of Aandaal’s original, devotional songs, in which Aandaal calls her lovely Sakhis, her lovely maiden friends, to come with her to the river to worship Lord Krishna or Lord Narayana, in order to obtain worldly fame, prosperity and also Immortality.

In this song Aandaal describes a beautiful moonlit time in the holy month of Maargazhi, which usually lasts from 14. December to 14. January. She further describes Lord Krishna’s divine Beauty and mighty divine Powers to her friends. 

After learning to sing and fully understand the meaning of Shri Aandaal’s song, Kumari Somashekhari choreographed a dance to it, which she presents in Honour of Her adorable Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, the born Sage, Mystic, Genius, Philosopher and Writer and Sampurna or Complete Avataara, Who appeared on earth in the auspicious month of Maargazhi. OM"

Krishna-Janmashtami Celebration in the beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
situated in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Omkarananda Saraswati Marg,
Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, on 30. August 2021.

The Video shows glimpses of the Celebration:
1. Pujas and Prayers by Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
2. Temple-Dances in Honour of Lord Krishna by Kumari Somashekhari. Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
3. Divine Blessings and Speech by H. H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
4. Krishna Arati and Pushpanjali, sung by Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and performed by Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Swami Satchidananda and Kumari Somashekhari.
5. Swinging of Krishna Cradle (Jhoolaa  Jhoolaanaa) by Ashramites, Devotees and Guests.
6. Please Note: The Krishna Altar for this special holy occasion was established by the Priests inside the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, directly in front of the Pranapratishtha Shrine of Shri Venkateshwara and Padmavati.  Videos of the Krishna Altar could be taken only from a certain angle, since Photos and Videos of the Pranapratishtha Murtis inside the Shrine should not be made.  OM

Full Moon Temple Program, on 18th December 2021, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, Omkarananda Saraswati Marg, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. In this special Video can be seen:

1. Maiden performance - first ever Solo Dance-performance - by Kumari Arpita, Dance-student of Kumari Somashekhari. Kumari Arpita learns Indian Classical Dance from Kumari Somashekhari, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, since beginning of November 2021.  Before starting her dance, Kumari Arpita offers flowers in front of the Garbha Griha, the Sanctum Sanctorum of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.  She then performs "Jagadambike", a heart-touching Devi Dance. Dance-Choreography and costume-design is by Kumari Somashekhari.

2. Glimpses of Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance "Melaprapti", by Kumari Somashekhari. Dance-Choreography and Nattuvangam are by Somashekhari’s Bharatanatyam Guru Shri Deepak Mazumdar, Mumbai.

3. "Aandaal, Maargazhi Thingal", danced by Kumari Somashekhari. First Kumari Somashekhari learned to sing that famous ancient devotional Tamil song and then, after making a lot of research, Kumari Somashekhari choreographed herself a classical dance to it, in order to express the meaning of Goddess Aandaal’s devotional song as exactly and as clearly as possible. Since this special Full Moon, on 18. December 2021, occurred in the auspicious month of "Maargazhi", a Tamil month, which usually starts from 14. December and completes on 14. January, this Temple-Dance was very appropriate for the occasion. 

4. Special Divine Blessings by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on this holy Full Moon Temple-Program, where Swamiji generously encourages all active participants of this Function and beautifully explains the highly divine and mystical aspect of real devotional Indian Classical Dance. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji also nicely describes for the North Indian Devotees the inspiring life-story of the great Goddess and Saint-Poetess, Shri Aandaal, who lived ca. 5000 years ago, in today's Tamil Nadu, in South India.

5. Note: It was a little "sacrifice" for all participants in this special Full-Moon Temple-Program to be present there, outside, in the open Temple-Hall, in the very cold night, when the temperature had gone down to 5 Degree Celsius only. OM 

Bharatanatyam by Kumari Somashekhari at the holy Ganga: In Honour of her Adorable Sadgurudev
Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, Kumari Somashekhari performs Bharatanatyam
at the holy Ganga during Omkarananda Mahotsava. Master of Ceremony: Shri I.D. Joshi,
Senior Educationist and Ex-Principal of Shri Bharat Mandir Inter-College, Rishikesh.
To see the whole event, please click here.

Bharatanatyam by Kumari Somashekhari on Omkarananda Jayanti: In Honour of her Adorable Sadgurudev
Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, Kumari Somashekhari performs Bharatanatyam
on Omkarananda Jayanti, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
To see the whole event, please click here.


Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and divine Blessings by
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
on Maha-Shivaratri, 24.2.2017, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

In this Video can be seen a Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance in Honour of Lord Shiva,
performed by Kumari Somashekhari on Maha-Shivaratri, 13. February 2018,
in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, followed by Divine Blessings on this holy occasion
by Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. 


 

In Honour of His Divinity Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati
Kumari Somashekhari performs a Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance,
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on Omkarananda Jayanti (25. December 2017).
Nattuvangam by Bharatanatyam Guru Shri Deepak Mazumdar, Mumbai,
who taught this dance to Somashekhari.

Kathak Dance, "Murali Manohara", by Kumari Somashekhari,
in the Gurukul "Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya", at the holy river Ganga,
Muni-ki-Reti (Sheshdhara, Tapovan), via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India,
on 31st December 2016.  Introduction by Kumari Somashekhari. 

Bharatanatyam Temple Dance "Melaprapti" by Kumari Somashekhari, during Omkarananda Jayanti.
In honour of her beloved Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati,
Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari performs pure Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance.
This Dance was taught to Kumari Somashekhari by the great Bharatanatyam Guru
Shri Deepak Mazumdar, Mumbai, who also did the Nattuvangam (Recitation of rhythmic
Dance-Syllables) for this dance.

Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance "Ganesha Kautuvam" by Kumari Somashekhari in
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India,
during Navaratri-Celebrations.

Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari dancing spontaneously and impromptu to a
Radha-Krishna-Bhajan, new to her, played by musicians of Shri Gopalacharyaji in
Omkarananda Ganga-Mata Mandir, Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India,
during Omkarananda Mahotsava

Omkarananda-Arati-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari in Honour of her
Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, at the holy river Ganga,
at Omkarananda Ganga Ghat, Muni-ki-reti, via Rishikesh, during Omkarananda Mahotsava.
Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
 
Radha-Krishna Dance "Sapne Men" by Kumari Somashekhari and her Students Neha and Pinky,
at Omkarananda Ganga Ghat, Muni-ki-reti, India, at the holy Ganga near Ramjhula,
during Omkarananda Mahotsava. Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
Omkarananda Arati Dance by Kumari Somashekhari & Students on the occasion of Omkarananda Jayanti,
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-reti, Rishikesh, India. Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
Radha-Krishna Dance, by Kumari Somashekhari and her Students Neha and Pinky,
during Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations,
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, India.
Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
Navaratri in Omkarananda Ashram: Devi Dance "Laal Churiya Charhaun" by Neha and Pinky
(students of Kumari Somashekhari), on Ashtami, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Omkarananda Saraswati Road, Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
Navaratri in Omkarananda Ashram: Devi Arati Dance by Kumari Somashekhari
and her students Neha and Pinky, on Ashtami, in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
Omkarananda Saraswati Road, Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
Dance-Choreography by Kumari Somashekhari.
 
Please see other Videos of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas here.
Copyright © 2025 Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. All Rights Reserved by Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Last modified: