Activities - RKM, Belguam

A report of recent activities

On November 22nd, 2006 the Ashrama had organized a programme coinciding with the visit of Srimat Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order and the head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Holywood, USA. The programme started with the chanting of the holy vedic hymns. Srimat Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj and the Chief guest, Dr Sri K. Balaveera Reddy, the Vice-Chancellor of Visweshwarayya Technological University addressed the gathering. A report of the event is given below:
~ Swami Raghaveshananda

DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIP TO NEEDY & MERITORIOUS STUDENTS
The scholarship scheme was started in 2004 to help and encourage poor but meritorious students in pursuit of academic excellence. This is a yearly venture and any student in the state of Karnataka can apply for availing this financial aid.

This year more than 270 students in the state of Karnataka were chosen to receive the scholarships amounting to more than Rs. 5.0 lakhs. Srimat Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj graced the occasion while Dr Sri K. Balaveera Reddy, distributed scholarships to few chosen students.

Revered Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj
distributing scholarships

Dr Sri K Balaveera Reddy distributing
scholarships

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES TO WINNERS OF COMPETITIONS
The Ashrama had conducted competitions on essay writing, drawingand painting, elocution and quiz on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekanandafor the students of primary and high schools in the city of Belgaum. We believethey help in propagating the character-building, strength-giving messages ofSwami Vivekananda and will immensely benefit budding students. More than450 students participated and 46 students won prizes. Books worth Rs. 4,000/- on Swami Vivekananda useful to the students were given as prizes.

Sri Sashikumar C. Welling distributing prizes to
the winners of competitions

Sister Vimala distributing prizes to winners of
competitions

DISTRIBUTION OF BLANKETS TO POOR PEOPLE
As a token of our service to the poor and the needy, woolen blanketswere distributed as winter relief to 200 poor people in and around the city ofBelgaum. The dignitaries distributed blankets amidst chanting of vedic hymns.

Revered Maharaj distributing blankets tothe poor

Ms. Wendy (a devotee from Hollywood)
distributes blankets to the poor

Universal Temple, Jaipur

Click on the images to read the text in bigger size

The story of Ramakrishna Mission

A New Book on Ramakrishna Mission and Math

The Story of Ramakrishna Mission

Swami Vivekananda said, “We are the servants of that God who by the ignorant is called man.” Ramakrishna Mission has completed 108 years of loving service to God in the form of humanity, and now stands at the dawn of the Third Millennium poised to blossom forth into the immense possibilities of the future. To mark the event the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, is bringing out a new book, the story of Ramakrishna Mission. Since Ramakrishna Math, the monastic order brought into existence in 1886 by Sri Ramakrishna the Prophet of the Modern Age, is inseparable from Ramakrishna Mission, the story of Ramakrishna Mission is also the story of Ramakrishna Math. As a matter of fact, the book is a comprehensive survey of the whole Ramakrishna Movement which includes lakhs of lay devotees and hundreds of non-affiliated centres. In this book you read: * how a handful of educated young men, inspired by the ideals of renunciation, service and devotion to their great teacher Sri Ramakrishna, started a new monastic order in a dilapidated building, and how it later grew into two worldwide organizations which together have 162 branch centres in India and other countries; * a comprehensive account of the schools, colleges, hospitals, dispensaries, tribal development centres, large-scale relief operations, etc conducted by Ramakrishna Math and Mission and the contributions the twin organizations have made in educational, medical and other fields of social service; * studies on the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, and Vedanta Philosophy – which form the ideological basis of Ramakrishna Movement – and how these universal concepts are shaping world thought current. The story of Ramakrishna Mission is a massive volume of 1260 pages studded with more than 130 colour photos. But, to make it affordable to many, the book has been priced Rs 350/- (US $7) only. We are also offering the book at a special prepublication rate of Rs 300/- (US $6) to those who place their order prior to the book’s release. Postage within India is Rs 50/- and postage for foreign countries (by air mail) is $16/- The book is expected to be released early in December 2006. Those who are interested in getting the book at the prepublication price should contact Advaita Ashrama 5 Dehi Entally Road Kolkata 700 014 Email: mail@advaitaashrama.com Website: www.advaitaashrama.org

Visit of Swami Swahanandaji

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION ASHRAMA

(A Branch of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah)FORT,

BELGAUM - 590 016 KARNATAKA

Phone: (0831) 2432789, 2430789

Dear Friend,

We are fortunate that Srimat Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj, the Head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hollywood, USA, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order will be in Belgaum on the 22^nd of November 2006.

Revered Swamiji has very kindly agreed to distribute the prizes to the winners of the various competitions held by the Ashrama on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. On this occasion, Revered Swamiji will also distribute woolen blankets to 200 poor persons as a token of our service to the society.

Dr. Sri K. Balaveera Reddy, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor,Visweswaraya Technological University (VTU) has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest on this occasion and distribute scholarships to the selected students as part of the Ashrama’s annual scholarship scheme.

We extend a very warm welcome to you all to participate in this programme.

Yours in the Lord,

Swami Raghaveshananda

(Secretary)

PROGRAMME

5:45 pm : Vedic Chanting, Welcome & Introduction

6:00 pm : Address to Students & Devotees by Dr. K. Balaveera Reddy

6:15 pm : Benedictory Address by Srimat Swami Swahanandaji Maharaj

6:30 pm :Distribution of - Scholarships - Prizes to winners - Woollen Blankets

7:00 pm : Vote of Thanks

In the world take always the position of the giver. Give everything and look for no return. Give love, give help, give service, give any little thing you can, but keep out barter. Make no conditions and none will be imposed on you. Let us give out of our own bounty, just as God gives to us.

-Swami Vivekananda

Free Cataract Screening & Surgery Camp

The Ashrama conducted two free cataract screening & surgery camps, one in the Ashrama premises on 25^th October, 2006 and another in a nearby village. These were conducted jointly with the KLES’s Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum. In total 166 patients were screened and 48 were operated for cataract at KLES’s Hospital.

Swami Raghaveshananda

Camp details till date:

Month Year	Nos Screened	Nos Operated	Screening at
May 2006	67	22	Ashrama
Jun 2006	106	36	Ashrama
Jul 2006	53	20	Ashrama
Aug 2006	69	27	Ashrama
Sep 2006	69	21	Ashrama
Oct 2006	78	16	Ashrama
Oct 2006	88	32	CHC, Hirebagewadi

Swami Purushottamanandaji and his hand writing