Marathon Ten million recitation and Seetha Kalyanam from April 23-25, 2021
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 5, 2021
Organisers of the ‘Koti Vishnu Nama Parayanam’ (or chanting the Name of Lord Vishnu one crore-ten million times) have invited young people to join the Group at the three-day religious programme in Auckland during the ANZAC weekend.
While they would be welcome to participate at all sessions on all three days, their presence is in essence requested at the ‘main and longest session’ on Saturday, April 24, 2021 commencing with early breakfast . The Chanting will be from 7.30 am to 9.30 am and from 10.30 am to 4.45 pm). Details follow in the ensuing paragraphs.
Parayanam inspires piety
While rendering Vishnu Sahasranamam- 1000 names of Lord Vishnu- at least once a day- is desirable and does immense good for the mind, the soul and the body and hence enhances the wellbeing of the entire family- group recitation of the Divine Name ten million times is stated to benefit the entire Universe.
Koti Vishnu Nama Parayanam is not common in New Zealand, although hundreds of groups get together every Saturday at various homes to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam at least once. Group recitation brings various other advantages including unity of purpose, promotion of community welfare and increased piety and good deeds.
The Marathon will be held at Shirdi Saibaba (located at 12 Princes Street in Onehunga, Auckland) from Friday, April 23, 2020 (7 pm to 8.30 pm), Saturday, April 24, 2020 (7.30 am to 9.30 am; 10.30 am to 4.45 pm and 7 pm to 8.30 pm) and Sunday, April 25, 2021 (9 am to 10 am). Those keen on joining the chanting sessions are required to register.
Please use the QR Code in the Poster published hereunder or visit http://bhajansathsangh.org
Organised by the Auckland based Bhajan Satsangh Prayer Group Trust, the three-day Parayanam is expected to draw more than 1000 people.
Trustees Venkat Subramaniam and Ravi Shankar said that there is growing interest among the members of the community to participate and render the name of the Lord ten million times as a joint exercise but more young people are needed.
The Trust conducts regular Bhajans on the first Saturday of every month attended by 100 people. This helps especially the younger generation to learn the traditions of their culture.
The One Crore Virtue
Ideally, at least 500 people are required to chant Vishnu Sahasranamam at least twenty times each, to achieve the target of (1000x500x20) 10,000,000.
“When we chant the 1000 Names alone (Vishnu Sahasranamam, once), we get the benefit of chanting the 1000 names of the Lord. But when we are in a group and we chant the same 1000 Names, the effect is multiplied by the number of people who are present there. So, even if there is only one other person at Satsangh when you chant the 1000 Names together, instead of getting the benefit of the 1000 Names, you get the benefit of 2000 Names in the same amount of time. Extending the same logic, if there are 500 people and together we chant Vishnu Sahasranamam 20 times in unison, then each of us gets the benefit of chanting One Crore (ten million) Namas of the Lord, a daunting task that would otherwise take about 30 years even if we chant every day,” Mr Subramanian said.
Sita Kalyanam
The crowing glory of the ‘One Crore Vishnu Sahasranamam Marathon’ will be ‘Sita Kalyanam,’ the marriage of Lord Rama (an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) with Sita (an Avatar of Goddess Lakshmi) on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
One of the joys of being a Hindu is the perception of God or Goddess as per one’s desire or disposition. Thus the Lord or Goddess can at once be a King, Queen, Parent, Relative, Brother, Sister or even a Friend. Extending that thought is the pleasure of ‘conducting’ and ‘witnessing’ the Marriage of the Divine. The Rama-Sita Wedding is known as ‘Sita Kalyanam,’ one of the most auspicious occasions for Hindus.
Sponsorships for two persons- one each to represent Lord Rama and Goddess Sita will be based on a lucky draw before the start of Sita Kalyanam on April 25, 2021. Sponsorship costs $501 to be paid by the successful bids at the venue. However, those interested may please register their names as soon as possible at http://bhajansathsangh.org
The Significance
Mr Subramanian outlined the significance of Vishnu Sahasranamam.
“Chanting or listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam ensures, that nothing inauspicious or unwelcome will accrue to those in this world or the next. It creates positive energy and peace of mind for the whole family at home. Doing so in a Temple energises the precinct and provides peace of mind to the whole community. As a community, let us join and achieve this goal in just two days for personal and universal welfare and liberation,” he said.
Quoting a verse from Bhaja Govindam (a Composition by Adi Shankaracharya as a Salutation to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna), he said, “From Satsang comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, from freedom comes self-knowledge and from self-knowledge comes liberation even while living.”
About the Bhajan Satsangh Prayer Group Trust
Bhajan Satsangh Prayer Group Trust is an organisation registered under the Societies Act. It has nine Trustees and represents a community of approximately 300 families in Auckland. The Trust is a Voluntary, Non-Political, Not-for-Profit organisation, with the objective of creating and maintaining a platform for learning and sharing the traditions of Indian culture. Music is an integral part of that process.
Donors can claim tax exemption.
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