The temples of India bear His imprint. The Scriptures echo with the sound of His name, from the Vedas to the works written by the sages. All the great ones of the world have felt His influence and it is not only as a person but also as a force that embodies both perfect undemanding love and the Highest Knowledge in itself. This is why a great Advaitin said that there is no great truth, tattwam, than Krishna.
From Krishna to great Gurus who enrich our lives, nay our soul, the story although in a different time and level has a life-changing impact. One such Guru is Her Holiness Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Sarasvathi .For Her many devotees and the Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation, the similarities between Krishna and Her, the simplicity and the exhortations of surrendering to the Divine Will and living a good clean life in this world and the next however resonate with endearment and urgency. Through Her many darshans, bhashanams and question – answer sessions, She has been spreading the message of saranagati and true bhakti, the joys of surrender, the need to live one’s life with simplicity and faith.
Her devotees and the Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation would like to thus reaffirm their longing for Sri Krishna and their Guru. Therein lies the genesis of the Sri Krishna Utsavam to be held in Chennai from the 9th- 21st August, 2011.| Why a Sri Krishna Utsavam | Close |
The learned know that an Utsavam has special meaning and significance. An Utsavam is an occasion for renewal: for the Vigraham in the temple to have its powers renewed; for the devotees to renew their faith and devotion to the Lord and for societal ties to be renewed. It is for these reasons that the Rishis had decided that Utsavams should be held at temples regularly. The word Utsavam also means a “joyous occasion” or celebration and the joyful mood of the devotees influence even those who are unhappy. The chanting of the Vedas etc, the bhajans, creates spiritual vibrations, which help turn the mind towards Bhakti. The musical instruments, the firecrackers etc., are planned to create sound vibrations that drive away evil spirits and draw Daivic forces to the temple.
It is this spirit and context that our Sri Krishna Utsavam will be celebrated.
And why Sri Krishna if you are still wondering? Ironical as it may sound we seem to be considering Sri Krishna only as a God beyond all suffering and Happiness. We are intent on only praying to Him failing to realize His life in this world. Sri Krishna lived in this world as one of us and without divorcing Himself from the happiness and sufferings of the world. After an incident in which He had shown His Divine powers, the gopas approached Him and said, ” we know not if you are a Devaa, Yaksha or some other Divine being. Whoever you are, do you bless and protect us? ” Sri Krishna got angry and said that ” I am just one of you and if you wish my presence amongst you, then treat me as just one of you.”
This is what we have forgotten all these centuries.
Sri Krishna was and is one of us. Realizing His glory and filling ourselves with devotion to Him we attain His protection and blessings. But by understanding Him and His teachings, we attain to happiness both in this world and the next. Our lives get transformed and our interactions with other beings, whether human or otherwise become filled with light and compassion.
It is this Sri Krishna who is the focus of our Utsavam. Our Sri Krishna Utsavam is for 13 days. And there is an endearing and good reason for that too. Our Utsavam will bridge the Jayanthi of our revered Sri Sathguru, Her Holiness Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Sarasvathi with its culmination on Krishna Jayanthi (9th August to 21st August, 2011).
The Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation through this Utsavam wishes to help us all revisit and renew our eternal bond with Sri Krishna, the prince of Mathura and Dwaraka. Get yet one more glimpse into His teachings and life. Reinvigorate the timeless usefulness of gurubhakthi. Traditional pravachanams will be combined with celebrations of the life and teachings of Sri Krishna in song and dance.
| Programme | Close |
Venue: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai |
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| date | 5pm to 6pm | 6pm to 7pm | 7pm to 8:30pm |
| 9th Aug. | Inauguration of Utsavam | Devotional Music OS Arun | Devotional Music OS Arun |
| 10th Aug. | Devotional Music Dr Mathangi Ramakrishnan |
Talk on Krishna Vaibhavam Sri Goda Sastri |
Devotional Music T.V. Gopalakrishnan |
| 11th Aug. | Devotional Music Mrs Uma Prabhakar, (Mayavaram Sisters) & Ms. K P Nandini |
Kathakali Dance Drama Krishnadoot, Kerala Kalamandalam & Kathakali Troupe |
Kathakali Dance Drama Krishnadoot, Kerala Kalamandalam & Kathakali Troupe |
| 12th Aug. | Devotional Music
Krishna Balesh |
Devotional Music
Krishna Balesh |
Devotional Music
P Unnikrishnan |
| 16th Aug. | Devotional Music
Champa Kalkura |
Devotional Music
Champa Kalkura |
Devotional Music
Prince Rama Varma |
| 17th Aug. | Devotional Music
Shobha Upadhya |
Devotional Music Anuradha Sriram & Sriram Parasuram |
Devotional Music Anuradha Sriram & Sriram Parasuram |
| 18th Aug. | Devotional Music Jaishree Viswanathan |
Talk on Or Iravil
Sri Venu Raza Narayanan |
Devotional Music
Vijay Shiva |
| 19th Aug. | Devotional Music
Kamala Ramaswamy |
Namasankeertanam by
Brahma Shri Sattanatha Bhagavathar & Party |
Devotional Music
Sudha Raghunathan |
| 20th Aug. | Talk on Narayaneeya Saram U.ve Damal Ramakrishnan | Talk on Narayaneeya Saram U.ve Damal Ramakrishnan | Dance Madhurya Lahiri Sreekala Bharath |
| 21th Aug. | Closing of Utsavam | Devotional Music Aruna Sairam | Devotional Music Aruna Sairam |
Please Note: On 13th to 14th & 15th August there are homams being performed at Sri Gnana Advaitha Peetam, New Giri Road, T Nagar, Chennai. You are welcome for it.