Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
(From 13 May to 11 September 2009)
Nineteen Shiksharthis were taken to the sacred Vivekananda Rock Memorial early in the morning. After worshipping at Shripad Mandapam and Sri Ramakrishana, Ma Sharada and Swami Vivekananda, all had the Darshan of Suryoday and the hoisting the saffron flag.
The hoisting of saffron flag -the symbol of “Tyaga and Seva”-. with Om in the center, on Vivekananda Rock Memorial, was started on the occasion of launching Vivekananda Kendra on 7th January 1972 and since then it is hoisted every day with the blowing of siren as Sun rises and lowered similarly at the sun set.
The inauguration program commenced with chanting of ‘Karma Yoga Shloka Sangrah’ from Bhagwad Gita and ended with ‘Kendra Prarthana’.
Mananeeya Balakrishnanji, Vice President, addressed the Shikshartis thus: You are fortunate to dedicate your life for a great cause at a young age. This is because of the Tapas you must have performed in your previous lives. You should continuously keep this thought alive. This is very important. This is Rashtriya Yagna. Bharat Mata is the Yagna kund and you are the Ahuti. Hold on to the Adarshabhut Vicharam and you will reach the goal.
Mananeeya Parameswaranji exhorted in his half an hour speech to the Shiksharthis:
“You are sitting in the living presence of Swami Vivekananda. This is the place where Swami Vivekananda sat three days and night; this is the place where Ma. Eknathji visualized the grand memorial and Devi Parvati did Her Tapas. For doing any good work one has to have desire but desire alone is not enough; determination is needed. But that is also not enough; a high level of motivation is required. It has to be absolute. This type of motivation we can get from the lives of our great personalities: to name a few – Dhruva, Prahalad , Adi Shankara, Savitri and others. Adi Shankara within no time learnt every thing. Savitri by her Tapas could control even Death. She said, “I will change the fate.” Motivation also is not enough’ training and knowledge are required."
"You have come here for training and knowledge. For this, time is very important. Every second is important. You can utilize time in three ways – use, abuse, misuse. You should think how well you can use every second to prepare your body, mind and intellect to be a fit instrument to make Bharat Mata ‘Jagat Guru’".
