Sharvesh's Learnings & Experiences

The last day of the camp started with the regular chanting of 'Medha Sooktam'. Swamiji asked one child from each group to come forward to chant one line of the hymn and thereby check their mastery over it. This was followed by the chanting of "Nama Ramayana" and "Sankatmochan Hanumanashtakam", led by Srijit bhaiya, Monisha Didi and Rajeev bhaiya. The last breakfast of this camp followed the chanting, after which the children were asked to assemble in the temple. There was a group photograph of the children, with Swamiji, just outside the temple and then children assembled inside, for the valedictory function. Along with our Camp Acharya, Pujya Swami Aparajitanandaji, the resident acharya of the Chinmaya Sandeepany Asharam – Br. Sanat graced the occasion. Sri. Guru Prasad, one of the senior mission members from Bangalore and Sri. Chandra Prakash, President of Chinmaya Mission, Kolar also took part in the event. Shalini didi took us through the entire ...

Children assembled in the morning, punctually, after their morning milk, for the chanting of the “Medha Sooktam”. The children have mastered the correct technique of chanting this vedic hymn, with the correct pronunciation with the intonation. The chanting was followed by the yoga session, led by Shruti didi. She has asked the children to continue the Sivananda yoga sequences they have been taught, for the continuation of good health. A yummy breakfast was followed by the chanting of the “NamaRamayan” and “Sankat Mochan Hanumana Ashtakam”, again led by Srijit bhaiya, Priya didi, Rajeev bhaiya and Monisha didi. The children have almost perfected their chanting now. Vijayanandji, from Bangalore gave a short and inspiring talk on the topic- Science and technology in ancient India. He emphasised that the Indian subjective and objective sciences were not in conflict and also gave a top level overview of the advances in science and technology in ancient India in the fields of mathematics...

Our fifth day here also started peacefully, with the holy chanting of the “Medha Sooktam” by the children, under the guidance of Swamiji, after the morning milk. The yoga session led by Shruti didi followed the chanting and children performed their asanas, with an improved flexibility. The delicious breakfast was followed by the chanting of the “NamaRamayana” and “Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak”, led by Srijit bhaiya, Priya didi, Rajeev bhaiya and Monisha didi. The children are chanting with an increased fervour, as they have learnt the stotras, almost perfectly. Gopalji took up the next session, with a talk, enlightening the children about the symbolism in the temples. He talked to the children, about how scientifically the temples, especially the ancient ones, were planned. For example, he told that the ‘gopura’, at the entrance of the temple has the images of many different Gods on it. This is to show us, that we human beings interact with so many people in our day-to-day lives. ‘Go...

Children were ready in the temple, after their morning milk, for the chanting of “Medha Sooktam”, under the guidance of Swamiji. A soul touching chanting was followed by a good yoga session, led by Shruti didi and it was seen that the flexibility of the children had increased, by now. This was followed by a very yummy breakfast and then the children were seated in the temple for an active and melodious chanting session of “NamaRamayana” and “Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak”, under the new- gen volunteers, Rajeev bhaiya and Monisha didi. Swami Ramatmanandaji took up the next session and spoke, in his inimitable style, about how the values like honesty, love, peace, etc., are eternal and lasting joy can be obtained only from these. Swamiji said that a solution to any problem can be found only if the mind is calm, undisturbed and steady. He told us how the problem/disturbance in the mind, is a thought and the name of the Lord is also a thought, with the only difference being that the forme...

Day 3 of the camp was also as lively as the previous days with the children ready in the “Annapoorneshwari” hall, after their morning ablutions, for their morning milk. After having their milk, they were ready for Swamiji’s chanting, by 7.00 am, in the temple. There was a half an hour soulful rendering of “Medha sooktam”, by Swamiji and the children, with a lot of divine fervour. The children were then, immersed in their yoga session, guided by Shruti didi for the next half an hour and then, went for a healthy and nutritious breakfast, at 8.00am. The children were in the temple, by 9.30am, for the next session, led by Shrijit Bhaiya, Rajeev Bhaiya and Monisha Didi. The children continued to chant the stotras they learnt yesterday – the ‘Nama Ramayana’ and the ‘Sankatamochana Hanuman Stotram’- and also learnt the further verses in both of these stotras. Shruti didi took up the next half hour session, enlightening the children with the story of Goswami Tulsidasji and they were enrapt...

Day 2 started with the respective matrons knocking at the doors, at 5.00am, to wake up the children. The children were ready well in time, and went to the Annapoorneshwari hall, by 6.30, for their morning milk and were seated in the temple, punctually, by 7.00am, for the vedic chanting session led by Swamiji. Swamiji gave a small one-minute introductory talk about vedas and then started off with the chanting of ‘Medha sooktam’, guiding the children with the correct pronunciation and intonation. ‘Medha sooktam’ is specifically aimed at boosting/increasing the intellectual capacity and is obviously the perfect choice for these students. Half an hour of vedic chanting was followed by half an hour of yoga, led by Shruti didi. The children were able to stretch out, warm up and perform many asanas, with ease.  They were given their yummy and filling breakfast at 8.00am. 9.30 am saw the children assemble in the temple for a chanting session led by Srijit bhaiya, Rajeev bhaiya and Moni...

We started from Bangalore in 3 buses and reached the Chokkahalli ashram by 11.00 am. The ashram is set in a beautiful and pristine location. It is such a change for us, from the chaos of Bangalore. We were welcomed into the ashram by the wonderful sight of cows grazing peacefully and little calves frisking around. After deboarding the bus, the children were guided to their respective rooms. They freshened up and came to the dining area, called the ‘Annapoorneshwari’ hall where they were given a glass of very refreshing lemon juice and biscuits. Everyone assembled in the temple for inauguration by 12.00 noon. Our camp acharya, Swami Aparajitanandaji was welcomed by chanting of Guru Stotram. An invocation was also rendered by Priya, in her melodious voice. Aishwarya gave the welcome address and introduced Swamiji to all the children. She proceeded to give out the instructions to be followed by the children, while staying here for the next week, stressing on the discipline and etiquet...