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| Chant For Dharma: Early Results From A Fund-Raising Experiment |
K. Arvind
10/10/2012
Chant for Dharma is a novel and experimental fundraising approach that volunteers at the Hindu Temple of New Hampshire are using to raise funds to support the purchase of a new property by the Temple. See http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=8409.
We are happy to report that early results of the approach have been encouraging. In the three weeks since "Chant for Dharma" was announced, we have held several Chant for Dharma events and have now raised over $4000 in funds. More events are in the pipeline. The events were reasonably well-attended, and were well-received by the sponsors and their guests. The quality of the chanting was appreciated by the audience. The Ritwik volunteers were very happy participating in this cause.
The inagural event on Saturday, Sept 15, 2012 was sponsored by a patron in Acton, MA, and subsequent events were sponsored by patrons in Nashua, NH and Acton, MA again. The volunteer Ritwiks who conducted the event chanted a sequence of Veda Mantras in chorus in their bold and baritone voices, adhering to the requirements of Akshara Shuddhi (syllabic fidelity), Maathra Shuddhi (temporal fidelity), and Swara Shuddhi (tonal fidelity) to the best of their abilities, thereby creating an atmosphere filled with divinity, devotion, bliss and peace in the sponsor's home. All Indian music originated from the millenia-old Vedic chanting. The sound vibrations that the Ritwiks created at the event seemed to almost transform the home into a Temple. The great sage of Kanchi explains that "the vibrations that Vedic Chanting creates in our body and in the surroundings results in the well-being of both the individual and of the entire world". The hour-long sequence of chants drawn from what are regarded as powerful Veda Mantras started with the Ganapathi Atharvasheersha Upanishad, and included the Sri Rudram, Chamakam, Purusha Suktham, Narayana Suktham, Vishnu Suktham, Durga Suktham, Sri Suktham, Pancha Shanthi, a piece from the Mahanarayanopanishad, and concluded with the beautiful Mantra Pushpam, followed by the universal Jaya Jagadeesha Hare Arathi that provided an opportunity for all those who are assembled to be actively involved in the service.
It is said that Vedas are the basis of all Dharma ("Vedaakhilo Dharma Moolam"). Could there be a better way of raising funds to support Dharma than through the chanting of Veda Mantras? Chant for Dharma makes the blessing of Veda Mantra Sravanam (exposure to the sacred sounds of the Veda Mantras) easily accessible to devotee patrons right in their homes, while providing them with an opportunity to support the growth of a Temple that fosters Dharma, in their own vicinity. The demands on time and effort on the part of the sponsor are minimal - just an hour of the sponsor's time on a weekday evening or a weekend with no other special preparations.
Even though Chant for Dharma is a fund-raising initiative in the short-term, the Hindu Temple of New Hampshire sees this as a service (supported by yathaa-shakthi - according to the donor's abilities - contributions) offered to the community in the longer term - a service that helps propagates the ideals of Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Shanthi (Peace), Prema (Love), Ahimsa (Non-violence), Seva (service), and the oneness of all that are enshrined in the Vedas; a service that exposes the community to Bhakthi Marga, which is considered to be a very simple and easy path to attaining peace of mind and enlightenment in modern times.
You probably have sponsored a "Walk for Hunger" event or a "Bike for Cancer" event. Why not sponsor a "Chant for Dharma" event in your home (and invite other like-minded friends) to support the growth of a Temple in your vicinity, which could have a direct positive impact on your life?
If you wish to sponsor a "Chant for Dharma" event, please send an email to hindutemplenh@hindutemplenh.org.
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