Goddard Chapel's vibrant sanctuary started buzzing on a crisp spring evening, with the students enthusiastically converging to perform a collective Sarawati puja. Those who had also brought their books & notebook computers
for Devi's blessings, placed it in front of an artistically decorated
alter dedicated to Devi Saraswati. Just prior to start of their finals,
TUFTS HSC concludes spring semester with an uplifting Saraswati Puja
creatively facilitated by the Gayatri Pariwar of Massachusetts and Dev Sanskriti University Foundation's
outreach initiative. Group also wished farewell to the graduating
seniors in the midst of chanting of the vedic mantras while blessing
them in the 'aashirvaad mudra'.
The students performed puja in the spirit of Vasant panchami, which included the aavahan of Devi Saraswati, Mayur (peacock) pujan, vaadya-yantra (musical instruments) pujan and vasant pujan. It's followed by Deep-Yagya with Gayatri and Mahamritunjay mantra-aahutis.
This exalted and sublime puja celebrations concluded with 'Dev-dakshina-purnahuti' (देव-दकà¥à¤·à¤¿à¤£à¤¾ पूरà¥à¤£à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤¤à¤¿),
where participants took vows to give up one weakness/undesirable habit
in their lives while also taking a vow to inculcate a new strength/good
habit for the continued progress and transformation of their lives. Students also offered the Gayatri Mantra-ahuti and
Maha-Mrityunjaya Ahuti for promoting universal peace and happiness.
Students also prayed for the spiritual strength and recovery to normal
life for the people recently hit sever earthquake in Nepal.
The
evening came to an end the with prasad distribution followed by a
delicious catered Indian vegetarian dinner shared by all ! The
chapter of Hindu Student Council (HSC), along with many Hindu cultural festivals, very elegantly and
efficiently hosts several puja events to enrich the vibrant student life in the campus and
also raises awareness of Sanatana Dharma traditions. HSC’s vision is to inspire
the development of an “integrated personality†based upon the spiritual
and cultural treasures of Hindu heritage.
Since the middle of the last decade, volunteers of Gayatri Pariwar of Massachusetts (www.Gayatri.info) through
it's campus ministry, reach out to the Greater Boston area university
campuses to help students celebrate their Hindu heritage and enrich
Dharmic life. Where fall semester kicks off with the Sri Ganesh Utasva integrating the 'Gyan-deeksha Sanskaar' (जà¥à¤žà¤¾à¤¨ दीकà¥à¤·à¤¾ संसà¥à¤•à¤¾à¤°). Also,
the series of puja/celebrations come a full circle towards the end of
Spring semester with Sri Sarasvati Puja integrating 'Samaavartan-Sanskar / समावरà¥à¤¤à¤¨ संसà¥à¤•à¤¾à¤° ', a graduation ceremony in Vedic Tradition and a send off to the seniors class. Many got inspired and started Gayatri Mantra and Dhyana sadhana. Over the years thousands of students have benefited by Sanjay Saxena's lucid commentaries based on Acharya Shriram Sharma's Scientific Spirituality (वैजà¥à¤žà¤¾à¤¨à¤¿à¤• अधà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤µà¤¾à¤¦), on all aspects Sanatan Dharma traditions. In
which these 'digital-natives' feel engaged and inspired with the
timeless inner technologies of personal transformation propelling them
on a path of success, happiness and fulfillment. 
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