Southern California Talks

We are pleased to announce that  Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati will be returning to Southern California to give four talks this year – two in San Diego, one in Diamond Bar, and another in Irvine. Please be sure to save the dates and come to hear this most compassionate, wise, and respected mahatma.

 Swami Viditatmananda is the senior ācārya (teacher) and  president  of the Arsha Vidya Pitham in the US, founded by Pujya Swami Dayananda.  Swamiji’s depth of vision and scholarship, coupled with a gentle and direct communication style enables him to clearly unfold the transformative teachings of the sages of ancient India in a manner that is immediately accessible and relevant to our daily lives.

During his discourses Swamiji leads us through an exploration of the realities of our everyday experiences, enabling us to see life through his eyes and thereby begin to directly recognize our innate peace and joy, and our inherent non-separateness from the sacred.

You are also cordially invited to a lunch satsang with Swamiji Monday afternoon, June 27th in San Diego.  Please RSVP (required) to Kavita Rajaratnam – kvraj64@gmail.com, 858-880-8609.  Seating is limited.

Talks are in English.  Admission is free.

Watch talks given by Swami Viditatmananda during previous visits to the area HERE.

San Diego

Los Angeles Area

Due to Swamiji’s teaching travel schedule the Thursday evening meditation and Kaivalya Upaniṣad Vedanta class as well as the Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday chanting and Sanskrit classes will be on hiatus from May 2 – June 4.  Classes will resume June 5.

The Sunday and Wednesday Gita study groups will continue uninterrupted.  Beginning Sanskrit TA sessions will also continue.

Come learn to chant the Universal Peace Prayer “Svasti Prajābhyaḥ” with Swami Advayatmananda 7:00 PM, April 27th, 2016 at the Community Room at People’s Food Market in Ocean Beach, California.

Download Text and Audio

स्वस्ति-मन्त्र
Svasti-Mantra
Universal Peace Prayer

ॐ स्वस्ति प्रजाभ्यः परिपालयन्ताम्
न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः ।
गोब्राह्मणेभ्यश्शुभमस्तु नित्यम्
लोकास्समस्तास्सुखिनो भवन्तु ।।

Om svasti prajābhyaḥ paripālayantām ।
nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṃ mahīśāḥ ।
go-brāhmaṇebhyaś śubham astu nityam ।
lokās samastā sukhino bhavantu ।।

May there be abundance for all.
May leaders wisely protect the earth.
May there always be well-being for animals and the wise.
May the entire world be joyful.

काले वर्षतु पर्जन्यः । पृथिवी सस्यशालिनी ।
देशो ऽयं क्षोभरहितः । ब्राह्मणास्सन्तु निर्भयाः ।।

kāle varṣatu parjanyaḥ ।
pṛthivī sasyaśālinī ।
desó ‘yaṃ kṣobha-rahitaḥ ।
brāhmaṇās santu nirbhayāḥ ।।

May the clouds bring rain at the proper time.
May the earth produce abundant food.
May the land be free from famine.
May the wise be fearless.

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः । सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु । मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग् भवेत् ।।

sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ ।
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ ।
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu ।
mā kaścid duḥkha-bhāg bhavet ।।

May all be happy.
May all be free from illness.
May all experience what is auspicious.
May none suffer.

असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।।

asato mā sad gamaya ।
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya ।
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya ।।

Lead me from the unreal to the real.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to deathlessness.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ।।

Om pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ
pūrṇat pūrṇam udacyate ।
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya
pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate ।।

Om That formless, unknown reality is limitless wholeness.
This knowable which posseses form is limitless wholeness.
Adding form to or removing form from that limitless wholeness,
Still, only that limitless wholeness remains.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।।

Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ।।

Om peace, peace, peace.

Overview

A painless introduction to the Sanskrit language and chanting.  Classes will cover the alphabet, proper pronunciation, Devanāgarī script, grammar, vocabulary, translation and reading.  This class will lay the groundwork for you to begin reading and learning to chant the Bhagavad Gītā, as well as various stotras, mantras, etc.

Each class begins with one half hour of Sanskrit chanting instruction followed by one hour of Sanskrit language instruction. The intention is to progress at a comfortable pace to lay a solid foundation upon which to build.  There will be some small amount of homework required to stay on top of the material.

The same material will be presented in both the Tuesday and Saturday classes. You are welcome to attend either one. It is fine if you would like to attend both at anytime to review the lesson again, though there is no guarantee the two classes will stay exactly in sync over time.

No prior experience is needed. All classes are free of charge.  Donations accepted.

Days & Times

• Weekly Class begin March 22 & 26
• Tuesdays 5:30 PM
• Saturdays 11:00 AM

Check your local time.

Location

• Arsha Drishti in San Diego – Contact Swamiji for directions
• Online using Zoom – See Connection Instructions

Please test your ability to connect to zoom prior to the day of class.  You can ensure your microphone, and preferably video as well, are working properly by clicking on Zoom Settings.  There are also call-in options.  Contact Swamiji if you run into difficulties

Text

Introduction to Sanskrit Part 1 by Thomas Egenes

निर्भयो भव !  Nirbhayo Bhava ! Have No Fear ! This text is a gentle introduction to the Sanskrit language.  It is well paced and introduces aspects of the language in parallel over several chapters so as not to overwhelm with too much information while keeping the lessons interesting.

The text is available in paperback on Amazon, though it might be less expensive elsewhere.  Contact Swamiji for more information or if you have trouble obtaining the text or can not afford it.  It will not be needed for the first few sessions.

Supplementary material we will be using in class for the first few classes is available for download HERE.  Swamiji will be sharing his computer screen with the class materials in both locations during the classes as well.

Class Format

The first two or three sessions will include a brief introduction to the language followed by presentation of the alphabet and proper pronunciation. Please attend these sessions even if you already know Hindi, the Sanskrit alphabet, Devanāgarī, etc as critical foundational information will be presented necessary for both the chanting and Sanskrit grammar study.

After these introductory sessions each class will begin with 30 minutes of chanting instruction class followed by 1 hour of Sanskrit instruction.

Chanting

The first three chants we will cover will be used at the beginning and end of each class.  The high-level explanation of the meaning and grammar will also help introduce facets of the language:

• Sarasvatī-Śloka – Prayer to the Goddess of learning, knowledge, and arts
• Sahanāvavatu – Peace mantra invoking clarity in learning and teaching
• Pūrṇamadaḥ – The entire vision of non-duality in one mantra
• Svasti-Mantra – Universal Peace Prayer
• Tryambaka-Mantra – Prayer for mokṣa (liberation) and relief of suffering

There are many options available to us after this. Please let Swamiji know if you have any special interests.

Additional Sanskrit Classes

For those of you with some background in Sanskrit you may wish to drop in on the Intermediate Sanskrit class or the Bhagavad Gītā Śāṅkara Bhāṣya reading class to see if it meets your level of experience and needs.

Spiritual seekers in San Diego and the Los Angelis area had the honor of listening to the profound teaching of Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati in both 2014 and 2015.  We will again be blessed by a visit by Swamiji during the last week of June, 2016.  Event details will be sent once they are finalized.

Please mark your calendars and save the dates:

• San Diego : June 26 & 27

• LA Area : June 28 & 29

We are looking for volunteers – If you would like to help with organizing Swamiji’s visit or lend a hand on the day of the event please contact Swami Advayatmananda: Swamiji@ArshaDrishti.org.

Please contact Swami Advayatmananda as well if you are interested in hosting a bhiksha or satsang with Swami Viditatmananda at your home.

Please join us at Arsha Drishti in San Diego or Online  for our first annual Mahashivaratri Celebration 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM March 7, 2016.

The evening will begin with group chanting of the Pañcākṣara Mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in bhajan format.  This will be followed by the Śivaliṇga-Abhiśekaham, chanting of Śrī Rudram and Pūjā.  Celebrants are asked to come and leave in silence, and maintain silence while not chanting.  All are invited to stay as long as they wish afterwards for silent meditation.

For more information or directions to Arsha Drishti please contact Swami Advayatmananda:  Swamiji@ArshaDrishti.org

Mahāśivarātri is a yearly new-moon celebration in honor of Lord Śiva, the Auspicious Lord from whom all creation comes and into whom all resolves.  Traditional observances includes a 24-hour vigil and fast, continuous chanting of Om Namaḥ Śivāya, alternatively maintaining maunam (silence), silent japa or meditation.  Prayers, austerities, and meditation are considered to be particularly efficacious on this day.

Prātas-Smaraṇa-Stotram

Awakening to Non-Dual Reality

A Morning Hymn

Listen to Class Audio

Listen to Class Meditations

Download Text

The Prātas-Smaraṇa-Stotram is an invitation to our own awakening.  This hymn of just three verses unfolds the entire vision of Advaita Vedanta in the form of a morning meditation on the the truth of oneself.  Begin the day by recognizing the essential silent presence which you are, empowering yourself to greet the day with compassion and fearlessness.

Classes include the unfoldment of the meaning  as well as learning to recite the chant.

These classes were given December 3 – December 17, 2015 at Arsha Drishti in San Diego, California by Swami Advayatmananda Saraswati

San Diego and Los Angeles were honored with a 3 day visit from from  Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati late June of 2015.  He spoke in San Diego, Diamond Bar, and Mission Viejo, California, and also gave a morning meditation and several satsangs.  Over 200 spiritual seekers were blessed with his words of wisdom and loving attention.

Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati

Sw Viditatmananda and Sw Advayatmananda

Swamiji with Long Time Devotees

Educating Rural India Through

Free Student Homes

A Dance Ballet for a Worthy Cause

Sundara Kandam –  a Signet of Hope

San Diego Event Report

by Devika Ashok

An Indian classical dance performance was held for the first time in support of the AIM for Seva organization in San Diego on 22^nd August 2015. It was part of the ongoing 19-city USA tour to raise funds for the more than a 100 free student homes (FSHs) across India.  Started by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati in the year 2000, AIM for Seva addresses the fundamental issue of the lack of access to high quality education for children from rural areas in India. By building chatralayas free residential student homes, AIM for Seva gives every child the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and lack of education. With an impressive turnout for a first time event, San Diego raised over $50,000 dollars for this worthy charitable organization due in large part to the tireless work of Kavita Rajaratnam and her team of volunteers.

The program brought together about 200 individuals from varied walks of life – Bharatanatyam enthusiasts, AIM for Seva supporters, as well as those just curious about the performance and its beneficiary. A spectacular show was presented, brimming with creativity, beauty, and yet adhering to the traditions of the classical dance method of story telling.

The choreography by Smt. Anita Guha was flawless and the bhāvas (emotions) were beautifully expressed by each of the 11 artists. Rama and Lakshmana entered as the curtain opened, and the anguish of the warrior princes was heart wrenching.  A beautiful varṇam ensued, explaining to Hanuman their journey thus far. A confluence of brilliant music and dance by energetic Hanuman soon followed  – the audience was in for a treat every second. Each vānara’s (monkey’s) mannerism was lauded in an energetic tillana following Sughreevas victory over Vaali. The highlight was the immaculately executed fight sequence between the brother Vaali and Sughreeva choreographed by Shri. Thiruchelvan. It was heartening to note each participant had enacted two different characters, each better than the other.

The acclaimed composer Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan set music and lyrics in Tamil that went hand in hand with the choreography. Tunes to the famous Thirada Villayatu Pillai or creatively using S M M swaras to ask if there is anyone who can parallel Vaali’s strength were some of the gems among the compositions. The performers were greeted to a standing ovation at the end for their outstanding performance and heartfelt to support for such noble cause.

Additional AIM for Seva performances events such as this are planned for the future here in San Diego.  We ask on behalf of the hundreds of children benefitting by the tireless work of the volunteers of AIM for Seva to please consider donating generously to continue this invaluable work.  Donations can be made year-round at the San Diego AIM for Seva website.

We also welcome new volunteers who can help us organize future events. Please contact Kavita Rajaratnam at kvraj64@gmail.com to volunteer.  Also, join us on the San Diego Aim For Seva Facebook page. Our goal is to create a strong San Diego base to support AIM for Seva, thereby giving every child in rural India their right to free education against all odds.

Srini Raman, AIM for Seva US National Coordinator; Ravi Rajaratnam, Event MC; Kavita Rajaratnam,AIM for Seva San Diego Coordinator

For more information and to see inspiring videos of the good work AIM for Seva is doing see the original AIM for Seva San Diego announcement, or visit the  AIM for Seva national website.

DONATE at the San Diego AIM for Seva website.

LIKE San Diego Aim For Seva Facebook page

LEARN How You Can Help

AIM for Seva National Website

।। श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः ।।

Śrīgurubhyo namaḥ

Salutations to our honored teachers

Friends,

Our beloved guru Pujya Swami Dayananda attained Videhamukti (Mahasamadhi) at his Ashram in Rishikesh today, September 23, 10:20 PM IST (Indian Standard Time.)

A brief biography of Pujya Swamiji can be found HERE

Some of us will gather tonight to chant and celebrate his life.

Date: Today, Sept 23, 2015
Time: 7:30 PM, Pacific Time
Location: Online

Or

Arsha Drishti Ashrama
4950 Santa Cruz Ave
San Diego, CA 92107

Texts for chanting this evening:

• ŚrīRudram
• BhagavadGītā Ch 8
• GuruStotram