THE CHINMAYA VIBHOOTI PROJECT

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Hanuman Jayanti at Chinmaya Vibhooti – Kolwan

13th April, 2006

In his new abode at Kolwan, the sprawling area of 116 acres purchased by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust for the project, Chinmaya Vibhooti, Hanumanji seems to be waiting for the action to start.

Guruji, Swami Tejomayanandaji, reached Kolwan on 12th April afternoon and inspected the progress of the work. Much work needs to be done, and Hanuman Jayanti was a good day to continue the work with renewed vigour.

The young new Pujari was interviewed by Guruji, who found him good with his work. Early on 13th morning, an elaborate pooja was done at the temple before sunrise. Hanumanji was born at sunrise on Chaitra Poornima. It was a spectacle to see Hanumanji’s marble statue glowing with the radiance of the sun. The sun’s rays, as though, were only meant to light up the glorious vanara’s face. A whole lot of Mission members from close-by places had assembled by then, and chanted the Bhimarupi stotra together.

Aarti over, the formal programme began. The local children chanted Hanuman Chalisa (translated into Marathi), and a few other prayers. This was followed by two children giving interesting facts on the 11 Hanuman temples consecrated by Samartha Ramdas.

One of the brahmacharis, Subhash, from Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, then did a mind-absorbing Kirtan in Marathi on Hanumanji. He has been trained in Alandi in this field, and was accompanied by a group of kirtankaars from Alandi.

A couple of bhajans by the local villagers preceded Guruji’s talk, also in Marathi. This talk was aimed at the local people, and he spoke about the purpose of the project. He then went on to talk about Hanumanji and said that we should try to acquire ‘siddhis’ of Hanumanji – not literally, but figuratively. We should become small when with greater people and become big when we need to lead a group of people. He closed with an interesting story of how Hanumanji was ever ready to serve his Master, Lord Rama.

We broke for lunch prasad, soon after, with two varieties of food being served – one spicy and the other, bland. You could guess what the villagers chose!

..Pramodini Rao