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17th INCOFYRA

Cultural feasts in Prashanti Kutiram as a part of the 17th INCOFYRA activities

Prashanti Kutiram, the abode of peace is a seat of advanced learning and research in Spirituality and culture. To give good exposure to the students, inmates and the delegates of various programmes into the age old traditional arts and sciences of our culture, we often organize lecture demonstrations, seminars, live cultural programmes from the experts in the respective fields. In the evenings of the annual International Conferences we organize cultural programmes from great performers.This time we have extended the cultural programmes to almost all days of the conference activities including the pre-conference workshop , Himalaya Yoga Olympiad, post –conference workshop, Main conference,National psychology seminar etc.

Hari Katha Programme by kumari Srilalitha,Mysore- 12-12-2007:

The twenty day long cultural feasts had a good beginning this time with a traditional Harikatha Programme by a child prodigy Srilalitha , a student of class II from Mysore. The 6 years old genius could enthrall the audience with her melodious Dasa sahityas, slokas from Srimath Bhagawatam and other upakathas. She spoke on the theme “Krishna Avathara” in Chaste Kannada. The traditional dress added beauty to the performance. She made the audience realize how the fancies and fantasies of modernization has made men stressful and to forget the goal in life to realize the ultimate truth. She emphasized the glory of the chanting of Hari Naama as the solution to all modern menace. Her parents had recognized this talent of the daughter at the age of 3 when she chanted slokas in the presence of SriSri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji and was highly appreciated by him. Encouraged by the parents, She had started her journey at the age of 4 and had given numerous performances in various places including a few television programmes. She was appreciated by all as a female Prahalada.She was accompanied in Harmonium ,Tabla and flute by Sri Goplappa, Jogappa and Chenna Kesava.

Naamasankirtan Programme by Devotees of Sarada Devi Adyatma Mandira ,Bangalore-13-12-07:

"Mat Bakthah yatra Gaayanthi tatra tishtami Narada!" "I reside where my devotees sing in praise of me", says Lord Vishnu to Sage Narada. Inmates of Prashanti Kutiram and the pre-conference delegates could feel the presence of the Divine during the one and a half an hour soul stirring devotional rendering by the devotees of Sri Sarada Devi Adyatma Mandira ,Vijayanagar,Bangalore led by Kumari Arathi Balasubramaniam. Arathi, through her melting melodies, led all the audience into a pilgrimage which first took a dip in the holy Ganga and had Darshana of all leelas of Sri Ramakrishna,Ma Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. After the Darshana at Dakshineswar and Ganga, Arathi took us to Vrindavan in the bank of Yamuna. Chanting the naama "Radha Ramana,Radha Ramana" people had the opportunity of joining with Sri Krishna’s raasa leela. Next was the Darshana of Mount Kailash and a holy dip in lake Manasarovar. The tiny naamavali,
"Kailasha sikarasya Darshanam subham,
Manasa thirthasya snanam mutham
Paramadhama darshanena janma saarthakam- kuru
Om Nama Shivaya mantra gaana nartanamll"
took people to trance. Tears were rolling down the cheeks of devotees when she sang, "Maa Maa Maa ratle Maa Maa Maa".
Many of the Bhajans were Arathi’s own compositions. All together the bhajan was a Divine experience for everybody who could really feel the Divine presence during those hours. It was well evident from the experience of the devotees that it was not the melody of her voice nor her scholarship in Sanskrit , music and dance or the charming personality but the true devotion and sadhana had brought such a good vibration.
In addition to conducting regular satsanghs, Bhajans, lectures and Sanskrit classes in the Adya Mandiram, Kumari Arathi conducts various seva and spiritual oriented programmes in AIR, television channels and conducts youth motivational programmes in educational institutions. Her mother Srimathi Alamelu Amma started the Adyatma Mandiram almost 20 years back inspired by the great Bhajan Swamiji, Swami Purushottamanandaji Maharaj and runs it under the guidance of the Monks of the Ramakrishna order. Both Amma and Arathi had the reminiscences of their 15 days stay at Prashanti Kutiram almost 11 years back.