A Few Hours at Sabari Ashram
January 22, 2012 3 CommentsAs Sri Shankar, a member of our Satsang, who is a professor at Vidya Engineering college, Kunnamkulam, Thrissur, wanted to celebrate the birthday of his second son Maheswar by feeding the under privileged. We chose the venue as Sabari Ashram situated near the Akathethar Railway Gate, on the way to Malampuzha dam.
The Ashram is founded by T R Krishnaswami, disciple of Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1923 and the property where the Ashram stands now was donated by Appu Yejaman for the noble cause of uplifting the Harijans a class of under privileged people during the time. The Ashram supports 30 students every year for their studies and these students study in different government schools and in different classes. The common thing about them is that they all belong to the Harijan class and they do not have financial means to pursue studies. For this they are filtered and taken at the Ashram and the studies are sponsored by the Harijan Sabha and grant from State government is also provided.
The ashram teaches basic values taught by Mahatma Gandhi to be pursued in day to day life such as discipline of mind and body. The children wake up early, pray, take bath and have their breakfast and they go for their schools. In the evening they are asked to play and they are taught with basic agriculture also. Prayer is part and parcel of their daily activities.
As we reached the Ashram, the children greeted us with folded hands and Namasthe. After brief introduction, we all assembled at the Mess hall where sumptuous breakfast was provided for the children. They prayed for the world welfare and for the welfare of the Kid Maheswar of whom birthday was celebrated.
After the breakfast, we all gathered under a coconut tree which was planted by Mahatma Gandhi himself. A brief talk on importance of prayer and Namasankeerthanam was exchanged between the students and our satsangh members. Apart from the family of Sri Shankar, today’s sponsor for the event, his wife, two children and his father and mother in law were present on the occasion. Dr Vasu represented GOD, while Mani(Sivaramakrishnan), Hari and Venkatraghavan represented the Yuva Jana Sangham Govindarajapuram.
A short speech signifying the importance of Namasankeerthanam was performed by the members of Yuva Jana Sangham after which the kids chanted Hare Rama Mahamantra, clapping their hands. They were then taught to pray with dedication and concentration by chanting the Mahamantra in High, Mid and Mental Recitals. A Brief silence followed while the Kids prayed and then every one dispersed. The Ashram authorities have requested us to come and chant Nama and teach the Kids whenever we find time to which we have agreed. We thank the Ashram inmates for the support extended to us.
Related posts:
- Mass Prayer For Students Attending Exams
- SANDHYAVANDHANAM
- Mass Prayer on March 2nd for the Students Attending Exams
- A Week with Sri M K Ramanujam
- Sri M K Ramaujam’s Speech at British Parliament
I truly appreciate Sri Shankar’s thought of celebrating his son’s birthday in a noble way.
Dear YJS team,
I wish to do similar offerings. Kindly send me the details.
Truly an ideal way to celebrate such events and really a praise-worthy act on the part of Shri.Shankar and family. Helping those in dire need of it, is virtually service to God. It is worthy of emulation by others.God bless Shri.Shankar & family. The G.R.Puram Yuva Jana Sangham’s role in this regard is laudable.
We are Sankar’s father and mother, presently stationed at Trivandrum. Our original plan was to join the satsang at the ashram, but due to one of our family members being seriously ill and hospitalised at Tvm, we could not make. Certainly our family members will make it a point to celebrate such joyous occasions in the midst of devotees, during satsangs.