9th Inter-college cultural program at Thamaraipakkam

The 9th Inter-college cultural program titled ‘Inspirational India – 2014’ was held on Saturday, September 13th 2014 at Sarveshwara Dhyana Nilayam, Thamaraipakkam with much pomp and splendor. This cultural event is organized every year by Chinmaya Yuva Kendra volunteers, the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission Thamaraipakkam under the guidance of the Acharya In-charge with the vision to celebrate Mother India and to harness youth potential.

The program was a grand success among the youth once again. This success is attributed to the hard work of many volunteers who have toiled meticulously to put together the event. This year there were 310 participants from about 15 colleges in and around Thiruvallur district, participating in various competitions such as Quiz, Oratorical, Dance, Singing and Skit.

The day began with the invocation of the blessings of Lord Sarveshwara and Pujya Gurudev, followed by welcome speech by Arunachalamji. There were different competitions held simultaneously at 6 different venues within the ashram premises. These not only showcased the talents of the youth but also their passion for their Mother land instilling pride for our nation in the hearts of all.  The event concluded with the valediction function wherein the judges and coordinators of various colleges were felicitated for their contribution and medals were distributed honoring the winners.

National Swimming Competition Winner

It is a great pleasure to know that Chinmaya Mission’s swimming girls team participating in the national level  in CBSE National Swimming (Held at URMI School & Hostel sama vadodara) have bagged 11 medals. This includes, 1 gold medal, 5 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. Mahek Sunil Bhanderi  of class VIII has brought a gold medal in the Aquathlon event. Our students have been participating in Nationals in the past also but for the first time they have brought home so many medals. Especially CIRS has got a gold medal for the first time.

 EVENT-1 Aquathloan (400 Mts Swimming & 4Kgm Running)
1. Mahak Sunil Bhandari  Class VIII (Gold, Timing 19.56.48)
EVENT-2 4X100 Mts Free Style Relay (Bronze, Timing 05.36.83)
1.S.Ackshita class X
2.Jhanvi Punjabi Punjabi Class X
3.Mahak Sunil Bhandari  Class VIII
4.Anjole Donapaty class VIII
5.P.Padmashree class VIII

EVENT-3 4X100 Mts Medley Relay(Silver, Timing 06.18.93)
1.S.Ackshita, class VIII
2.Jhanvi Punjabi Punjabi, class X
3.Mahak Sunil Bhandari, class VIII
4.Anjole Donapaty, Class VIII
5.K.V.Kovarthana, Class VIII

CORD USA, Inc honored as 2014 Top-Rated Nonprofit!

The GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations announced today that CORD USA, Inc has been honored with a prestigious 2014 Top-Rated award.

We are excited to be named a Top-Rated 2014 Nonprofit, we are proud to be in the top rated list for the 3rd consecutive year!

The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that CORD USA Inc received – reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients. People posted their personal experience with the nonprofit. For example, one person wrote: “I have been a volunteer with CORD for 2 years. CORD is an organization that works directly in the remote villages in India without any overhead costs to maintain an organization. What I like about CORD is the personal touch it provides the volunteers by putting them in contact with the people who are benefitting from CORD. I also like the youth service-visits that CORD organizes, and I have seen many high school students being inspired to help others and look at life with a different perspective. The mission and vision of CORD is truly inspiring.”

Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more confidence that this is a credible organization. The reviews by volunteers, clients and other donors show the on-the-ground results of this nonprofit. This award is a form of recognition by the community.

About CORD USA, Inc
CORDUSA is a secular, non-profit that aims to help communities create a sustainable program to aid in their holistic welfare. We strive to facilitate integrated, sustainable social help programs in local communities and in the Indian subcontinent through processes of self-empowerment and enrichment.

About GreatNonprofits
GreatNonprofits is the leading site for donors and volunteers to find reviews and ratings of nonprofits. Reviews on the site influence 30 million donation decisions a year. www.greatnonprofits.org

Br. Ved Chaitanya tops the Sanskrit Exam by Cambridge International Examination

In association with St James School in London, UK, CIF is working to promote the Sanskrit Home Study courses. St James School promotes and supports teaching Sanskrit in schools and other institutes, world-wide. The institute guided CIF to let its students take the Sanskrit exam, offered by Cambridge International Examination (CIE), the largest International Education Programmes provider in the world.

The examination is conducted at three proficiency levels, viz. Basic, Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced. St. James facilitated and sponsored the participation of 29 students of CIF, including 9 staff-members, students of the Home Study Courses and 7 Acharyas from the organization. All these students appeared for the various levels of this examination, corresponding to their respective proficiency levels in Sanskrit.

We are happy to announce that all participants passed with flying colours. While Sri Swaminathan, one of the sevaks at CIF, scored a marvelous 94% and topped nationally in IGCSE Option B level, Br. Ved Chaitanya, Acharya, Chinmaya Prerana, Navi Mumbai, topped nationally with a score of 97% in the Advanced Subsidiary level of the examination.

In an interview to DNA Navi Mumbai, the Acharya stated, “I took the exam to make people aware of the opportunities to excel in Sanskrit and put the knowledge to good use. If one chooses to diligently learn the language, there are various options in terms of vocation. While they can opt to teach the essence of the sacred texts to interested people, there are opportunities to conduct research both in India and abroad. Researchers are contemplating using Sanskrit as a computer language because its time-tested syntax and structure make it easy, with less word usage.” Finally, he emphasized on the integral role of Sanskrit in preserving our culture and vice versa.

Prior to the exam, CIF organised week-long preparatory classes led by Swami Sharadananda, Acharya, CIF and Dr. Sheeba, Deputy Director, CIF Shodha Sansthan.

The exams have motivated students to delve deeper into the Sanskrit language. We hope many more people take up these exams in the coming years.

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji’s Yagna at Vijayawada

Pujya Guruji’s yagna on Srimadbhagawadgeeta Chapter 17 was conducted in English in Vijayawada for 5 days from September 20 to 24 at Siddhartha auditorium which is located in the heart of the city. The talks drew large crowds from all walks of life.  Since Guruji was coming to the city after a gap of more than a decade, the mission members were very happy and worked enthusiastically to make the event a grand success. All the acharyas from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were warmly invited and more than 20 acharyas attended the yagna and enjoyed the hospitality of Vijayawada Chinmaya family.

Guruji visited Chinmaya Sitarama ashram at Nandamuru village which is the rural project of Chinmaya mission, Vijayawada. He was welcomed by Swamini Bodhanandaji, acharya at the ashram. Many villagers who were enjoying the benefits of the free medical camp being run at the ashram, were also present to obtain Pujya Gurujis blessing. A calf was born in the Goshala at the ashram on the morning of Guruji’s visit and it was considered very auspicious by Guruji . The calf was named Nandidni by Guruji. The programme was a roaring success thanks to the wholehearted efforts of the local acharyas Swami Prathameshanandaji and Br. Akasha Chaitanyaji.

Chinmaya Mission Jagadevpur Events

Chinmaya Mission Jagadevpur has started in 1998 by the grace of pujya Gurudev and swamini and the asram building has come in 2008. In the presence of Swami Yajnanandaji we are able to conduct following events.

  • We performed Rudra Abhishekam where about 101 families directly participated.
  • “Laksha-Deepotsavam  Programme” Where lighting of 1 Lakh lamps was done on the occasion of Karthika Poornima.
    Also conducted 3 children camps.
  • Spiritual Camps were conducted in Tirupathi and Chinmaya Vibhoothi, Pune.
  • Many Jnana Yajnas and upto 17th chapter Geetha Shravana Sadhana was conducted by swami Yajnanandaji.
  • And all Festivals like Krishnashtami, Ramnavami, Shivratri, other events of Chinmaya Mission were celebrated and also every year Varshika utsav.
  • Daily activities like every day puja to our “chinmaya krishna” in our Asram and also satsang.
  • From the last year on every Ekadasi day Vishnu Sahasranam Archana and Geetha chanting and bhajans were performed.
  • Devi Groups and Study classes are done regularly with lot of participation.