Pujya Guruji visited Mahatma Gandhi Ji’s family settlement area in Durban called “Sarvodaya” where he lived prior to returning to India. Guruji was personally accompanied around  Sarvodaya by Gandhi Ji’s grand daughter and member of African National Congress Ms. Eila Gandhi.

The trip was arranged by Mr. Ishwar who is the personal assistant of the Zulu King of Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

Indeed Pujya Guruji was very happy to visit the settlement area and walk about the whole house where Gandhiji lived with his family and ran a printing press, releasing the newspaper called “Indian Opinion”.

It was really a momentous occasion that Guruji visited this historic and monumental site which is close to the hearts of all the Indians.

Pujya Gurudev’s twenty fourth Aradhana was observed on 3^rd August with usual religious fervor in all the centres of Bengaluru city. The main programme was at Deenabandhu Devasthanam, Indiranagar in the evening when Gurudev’s Padukas were taken in a procession round the Kalia Mardhana Krishna temple with the chanting of bhajans and received with poornakumbha at the auditorium and installed on a beautifully decorated dias. Rudrabhisheka was performed with chanting of Rudra and later Paduka Puja was performed.

After aarati Pujya Br. Sujay Chaitanya of Mangalore centre conducted a Jnana Yajna on Kaivalya Upanishad till 10^th August daily in the evening. Smt Veena Salgar, senior devotee of Pujya Gurudev inaugurated the Yajna. Pujya Sujayji started paying rich tributes to Pujya Gurudev’s contribution in reviving the scriptures by removing the wrong notions that had made deep inroads in the society and giving a total new meaning to the study of our rich shastras through Gita Jnana Yajnas and discourses on Upanishads. The Upanishad explains in detail the practical approach and scientific methods of meditation by dropping the non Vedantic thoughts with Vedantic ones to prepare the ever turbulent mind to grasp the subtle Truth. Understanding the Supreme Lord in the true sense awakens the seeker to the realm of Immortality which is literally a state of experience that never changes. This understanding is possible only through total surrender to the Guru and scriptures.

The Yajna was well attended.

Sadhana Day was observed on 7^th August, 2016 at Sripaadakshetra, J P Nagar, Bengaluru with almost 100 study group members participating and having a lively discussion on Amrita Bindu Upanishad in the divine presence of Pujya Swami Brahmananda. The members were divided into six groups for discussion on selected shlokas and later presentation by the coordinator of the group. Each group had very thought provoking discussion for almost one hour and later each coordinator presented the ideas discussed in a lively and subtle manner to the appreciation of not only all the members present but also the Acharyas. Pujya Swami Brahmananda summed up the entire proceedings as to how the mind plays hide and seek with the sadhak and how one needs to observe and tame the mind not only to calm it but also help the sadhak to realise the impermanent nature of the world. Only then the body conscious will get destroyed and the sadhak will realise that he in reality is the all pervading Sat Chit Ananda.

Pujya Brn. Vasuman Chaitanya of Mysore centre conducted a Jnana Yajna in English from 14^th August to 20 August at Malleswaram Mission centre taking Amrita Bindu Upanishad in the evenings. The Yajna was inaugurated by Smt Vijaya Bairappa, senior devotee of the Mission. Pujya Vasumanaji gave detailed interpretation & analysis of the mind along with several practical tips to transform the turbulent impure mind to become calm peaceful and pure that can create a heaven anywhere.<br>

The Yajna was well attended.

On Sunday 21^st August 2016 the Balavihar children of Chinmaya Mission, Bengaluru representing nook and corner of the city staged a wonderful programme depicting various aspects of our rich tradition, culture and values at Deenabandhu Temple, C M H Road, Indiranagar. The programme was attended by over 400 children along with parents.

Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with great pomp and joy at the Kalia Mardhana Krishna Temple, Indiranagar on 25^th August, 2016. Vishnu Homa Performed with all ritualistic traditions in the morning. The chariot procession in the evening was the big attraction of the day’s festivities. The utsava murthy was taken in a grand procession round the temple led by Pujya Swami Brahmananda to the Chinmaya Mission hospital where the Lord was given a ceremonious welcome to be installed on a decorated altar. After bhajans, Aarati and blessing the hospital the Lord was given farewell from the hospital to be installed on the beautifully decorated chariot and taken round the temple on the road with devotees singing and dancing in total ecstasy. Thousands of devotees visited the temple during the day till the midnight aarati with continuous bhajans and nama japa.

Pujya Swami Adityananda of Mandya centre conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in Kannada at Sripaadakshetra, J P Nagar from 28^th August to 3^rd September taking Bhagavad Gita chapter 4 in the evenings. The inauguration programme was beautifully conducted by Balvihar children using a few namavali from Pujya Gurudev’s Ashtottara Shatanamavali explaining His glory, mission and vision. Pujya Swamiji took the text stressing the fact that that it is important to drop the attachment to body and realise that the all pervading Self enlivens the entire universe and there is nothing other than this supreme Truth. This can be realised only through knowledge of the scriptures studied with faith under a Master.

The Yajna was well attended.

Shravana Masa considered auspicious in all Shiva temples was observed as usual in Sripaadakshetra, J P Nagar where the presiding deity is Lord Dakshinamurthy. Special Rudrabhisheka, Puja and Alankara followed by devotional offerings by well known singers was organised on all the Mondays of Shravana month (August).