To bring the USA (Upasana, Sadhana, Araadhana) into the center-stage of their daily lives, was the resolve of about 500 devotees who flocked the Satsang Center of Woburn, to participate in a soul enthralling celebration of “Vasant Panchami” on January 31st, 2004. This is the central message from Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, who envisioned the awakening of divinity in Man and the descent of heavenly bliss on Earth. According to Him, the tripple endeavors of Upasana, Sadhana and Araadhana are the key to create a partnership with the Divine to facilitate the fulfillment of this two fold vision of Divinity in Man and Heaven on Earth.

Vasant Panchami is celebrated as the “Avatarn Divas” of Devi Sarasvati, the divine mother of art, knowledge and learning. This also marks the arrival of spring season in Bharat. Vasant Panchami is celebrated to affirm the importance of knowledge and continuous learning with renewed vigor. Several devotees from NY,NJ, NH, CT and RI also joined this celebration in Massachusetts.

The chilled but beautiful evening started with traditional chanting of Sriram Stuti and followed by “Pragya Geets” (inspirational bhajans) melodiously rendered by Surendra, Sangeeta and Kumkum. Devotees were captivated with their sweet voices. Master ParamVyom, age 12, enchanted the audience with his skillful accompaniment on tabla. The ceremony was centered around the “Deep Yagya”, which is a contemporary version of traditional Yagya, conceived and developed by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, for popularizing the philosophy of Yagya for the busy lifestyle of modern times.

“Deep Yagya” was performed with the lighting of 108 deepaks (lamps). All the devotees participated in the “Gayatri Mantra Aahutis”. “Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Aahutis” were also offered for the devotees, whose birthday’s and wedding anniversaries fall in the current calendar month. The entire celebration was interspersed with the elucidation of the philosophy behind all the rituals performed throughout the evening. Sanjay Saxena, rendered the commentary based on the philisophy of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya. Sangeeta conducted the Yagya/Pujan ceremony. In concluding part of Yagya i.e. “Dev-Dakshina Purnahuti”, all participants took vows to give up one bad habit and inculcate one good habit for the continued progress and refinement of of their lives. The program was a huge success with the active participation of Satsang Center volunteers. Dr Sanjeev & Archana Sharma offered the mahaprasad with great love that was cherished by one and all.

Gayatri Parivar also celebrated the Vasant Panchami as “spiritual birthday” (Atma Bodha Divas) of its founder Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya. Acharyaji pioneered the revival of spirituality through creative integration of modern science and ancient Dharmic Traditions relevant for challenging circumstances of modern times. Acharya Sharma is a harmonious blend of a saint, yogi, philosopher, writer, eminent scholar and visionary. According to him, the “perversion of thought” is the root cause of crisis in individual, familiy, social and world affairs in contemporary times. The only way out of this desperate situation is “total thought revolution”, which he called as “Vichar Kranti”. “Gayatri Sadhana and Yagya” is one of the most effective techniques or methodologies for pulling the humanity out of this current crisis as a prime enabler of “Vichar Kranti”.

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