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The Spiritually Enlivening Ashram Sthapnadin Mahotsav 2010
(25th - 28th March, '10)
Active spirituality has radically transformed the dry customary practice of religious acts into a festival of celebration with the influx of soul stirring satsang shibirs, bhakti, meditation retreats and spiritual mega events led by Pujyashri Gurudev at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur.
One such enlivening, spiritual mega event is the Ashram Sthapnadin Mahotsav, a four-day devotional saga, organized for the spiritual enhancement of sadhaks; especially holding significance this year as it marked the triumphant foray of the Ashram into its tenth year. The enriching Mahotsav comprised of a vast array of diverse devotional activities combined with pravachans on the fundamental philosophy of the ‘Art of Witnessing,’ based on the invaluable teachings of the Ashtavakra Gita imparted by Pujyashri Gurudev to all seekers.
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The day began with the ever-connecting Ajnabhakti and Chaityavandan, at the break of dawn every morning, followed by the humbling acts of obeisance or Guruvandan and the aligning of the body with mind and soul through Yoga. The seekers then established their concentration and connection with the insightful, profound and invigorating pravachans by Pujyashri Gurudev, which brought alive the age-old spiritual intoxication of the guru-shishya relationship between Ashtavakraji and King Janak. Through six potent pravachans during the Mahotsav, Pujyashri made seekers traverse through the third and fourth prakarans of the sacred text – Ashtavakra Gita, imparting practical applications of meditation in daily living, serving as a roadmap for the inner expedition of true seekers.
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(Click on the images to view its bigger version.)
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The evenings were spent in divine celebrations through innovative means of connection – which began with the annual Paritoshik Vitaran where sevaks were acknowledged for their altruistic contribution towards the organization along with the Shrimad Rajchandra Youthwing (SRY) Awards for selfless service. This was followed by an enchanting bhakti by Sarvarpits, in deep gratitude of the Sadguru. One evening was spent in devotion via the classical tunes of Dr. Chandranath Chatterjee. An unforgettable event was the power packed and inspiring theatric performance of ‘Gandhi before Gandhi,’ a narrative on the life and high moral character of Veerchand Raghavji Gandhi, a powerful ambassador of Jainism at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago with great personalities like Swami Vivekanandaji.
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The finale of the Mahotsav converged into a grand celebration with the joyous Dhvajarohan ceremony on the auspicious day of Mahavir Jayanti, as the Ashram entered into the tenth year of its initiation. This was then followed by a festive Snatra Puja, to commemorate the birth of Lord Mahavir and a robust pravachan on the ideals of Jainism and sadhana by Sadhvishri Shilapiji, of Veerayatan. Some of the most illustrious moments remained when the forthcoming programmes for the year planned by Pujyashri Gurudev for inner and all-round spiritual development were unleashed in a spirit of gusto and cheer.
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Truly, spirituality is a lifestyle, an attitude and a journey towards attainment of the fundamental truths of existence and supreme contentment. Active spirituality, practiced under the impeccable guidance of Pujyashri Gurudev is moving seekers rapidly towards their destined goals of Self-realization.
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