A SHORT REPORT ON THE OCCASION OF THE FOUNDATION LAYING CEREMONY AT HARIPAD MATH

TO ALL DEVOTEES

1. The message of most Revered General Secretary Maharaj

The message of most Revered General Secretary Maharaj was received on the eve of foundation laying ceremony at Haripad Math. We shared the joy of his holy message with our devotees and friends. Now we want to share with all friends and devotees.

2. Blessing of most Revered Maharaj

Most Revered Prameyanandaji Maharaj sent his prayer and blessing through phone. On the foundation laying ceremony at Haripad Math.

3. Simplicity of Most Revered Maharaj

The moment we invited our maharaj, without any delay he agreed to visit Haripad Math. Even without thinking of his personal comports. Maharaj wanted to spend his holy time from 26^th Jan to 31^st Jan 2009 in different centres of Kerala. Even Air Ticket were also booked. But health did not permit Maharaj to visit our Haripad Math. We did not loose our heart. Our heart always remains with Maharaj. Maharaj is always with us.

4. Ganapathi Homa and Vastu Puja

Ganapathi Homa started at 5 am with vedic chanting by Swami Vibhakarananda. A ritualistic vastu puja – started at 7 am with the supervision of Swami Vibhakarananda. Efficient pandits of Kerala performed the Homa and Puja.

5. No. of Devotees attended the Procession

• Children’s from different Schools 600
• Population of the adjenent colony 2000 attended 1000
• Population of the surrounding colony 3000 attended 500
• Population of the Haripad according to panchayat 50,000 attended 1000
• Devotees from Trissur and surrounding attended 15
• Devotees from Tiruvalla attended 25
• Devotees from Kayamkulam attended 250
• Devotees from Mavelikara attended 200
• Devotees from Near village attended 300
• Devotees from Karuvatta attended 50

Total 3940

Printed 8000 invitations in Malayalam and circulated house to house through Devotees.

6. Colourful Welcome and Procession at 9 am

We gave a ceremonial colourful Traditional Reception to the Representative of Most Revered Prameyanandaji Maharaj with Purnakumbha and vedic chanting. On  behalf of Maharaj, Srimath Swami Sakranandaji Maharaj received it.

600 chindren’s from different schools dressed with full uniform started to march in the procession with different sets of school bands. We had different colours of umbrellas which were used in Kerala temples. Many children’s were holding pushpanjali in their hands on the Road to receive Maharaj. Youth volunteers marched with vedic chanting. Large number of devotees and friends were joined - Swami Swaprabhanandaji Maharaj in Bhajans and marched. Large No. of local devotees welcomed the procession with lighting lamps at their doors. Revered Sakranandaji Maharaj received the welcome. All the devotees and friends were dressed with their ceremonial Traditional white saries and white dhotis and white shirts. It was a very impressive procession. Finally we reached the foundation site. The roads were highly decorated with flags, coconut leaves, plantain stems with Karnataka and Kerala Tradition. It was well disciplined and well originated procession. I have given opportunity to work in Haripad I am so indibeted to our General Secretary Maharaj and cabinet. I learnt many things from swami Mukhinathanandaji from Lucknow. I was camp incharge of Luknow flood relief in the month of Oct 2008 and he gave me full responsibility to organize Durga Puja and Kali Puja at Luknow Math. In this period I received many administration Training to organize big celebration. It helped me a lot to organize such a big function here in Haripad..

7. Foundation Laying Ceremony

Swami Sakranandaji Maharaj represented the foundation laying ceremony of New Ramakrishna Temple at haripad. On the half of Srimat Swami Prameyanandaji Maharaj. He laid the foundation stone at Haripad on 28^th January 2009 at 10 am. Following the request of our devotees and with the permission of Swami Sakranandaji Maharaj the name of Srimat Swami Prameyanandaji Maharaj remains in the name plate.

8. Public Meeting

1500 devotees attended the public meeting. The meeting started with the prayer of Swami Vibhakarananda. Welcome speech by Swami Golokanandaji Maharaj. President speech by Sakranandaji Maharaj. Our Prasanatanandaji Maharaj, Swaprabhanandaji maharaj and Amaleshanandaji Maharaj spoke on the occasion. Swami Kaivalyananda ji Maharaj of Ramakrishna (Mission) Ashrama, Kayamkulam and many other sadhus were on the stage.

9. Prasad Distribution for 1500 Devotees

1500 packets of Prasad prepared by mixing of Chira, Jagary and coconut powder were distributed. Each packet contained 200 grams quantity. With this we gave one banana each and tea to all.

10. Food arrangement for 400 devotees

Food for devotees who came from Tiruvalla, Trissur, Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara and other places including our volunteers was arranged.  We prepared 10 items of food.

11. Accomodation and food arrangements for monks

All the arrangements were made for Srimat Swami Prameyanandaji Maharaj at Kayamkulam Ramakrishna (Mission) Ashrama. Its just 12 km from Haripad. Here we have a 2 A/c rooms and 8 rooms attached with both bathrooms. For cooking they have gas and steem arrangements. Even idli they prepare in steem cooking. 100 free students are staying here. New temple work is over. It will be inaugurated in the month of April 2009. We accommodated all our brother monks here. Swami Kaivalyananda ji Maharaj made all the arrangements with the guidance and methodical supervision of Swami Vibhakarananda. The arrangements were more than any listed centre. Without any assitation Kaivalyananda ji spent money for the arrangements for our monks. He purchased all new things for our sadhus. We take this opportunity to invite all devotees and monks to visit the abodes of Sri Ramakrishna at Haripad and Kayamkulam.  Please come and stay with us for few days. We will be very happy. 

12. 100^th year of Haripad math in 2012

Haripad Math is going to complete its 100^th year on 2012. We want to inaugurate the temple on this occasion we will build a simple temple with rich religious ornaments in the style of Kerala temples to preserve local culture.

13. Donations

Most of the donations we are getting from all over Karnataka with the help of our senior monks. In Kerala we have no industrial estate. People surrounding us are very poor. We have to help them. Because of their simplicity our heart bleeds for them, Even Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj felt for their simplicity. When he visited Haripad in 1916.

14. Volunteers Arrangement

We had children volunteers. We had youth volunteers. We had devotee’s volunteers. All were trained by the style of Balaka Sangha of Karnataka. With the motive of seva bhava. With the guidance and supervision of our Swami Vibhakarananda. For celebration we had nearly 300 volunteers of our own. Work is allotted them with different responsibilities. Group leaders were made. Today all the work of our Math done by volunteers.

• Work of Children Volunteers: Serving water,campus cleaning and flower collection.
• Youth Volunteers: Prasad packing, banners writing, decoration of roads, stage, math campus, serving food.
• Devotees Volunteers: Prasad distribution, Tiffen distribution, stage arrangements, donation collection, invitation distribution and many other works in the celebration. According to their specialty in work, work was distributed.

15. Special events of Haripad Math

1912 - Foundation Laid.

1913 - Temple inauguration and visit of Srimat swami Vishudhananda ji Maharaj.

1916 - Visit of Srimat Swami Brahmananda ji Maharaj and taken initiation both monastic

and lay devotees.

1923 - 11 monks were initiated in to Sanyasa They were: 1. Swami Chitsukhananda 2. Swami Nirvikarananda 3. Swami Niranjanananda (Junior) 4. Swami Sekharananda 5. Swami Chidambarananda 6. Swami Naishtikananda 7. Swami Chitprabhananda 8. Swami Chidbhasananda 9. Swami Subhrananda 10. Swami Vageeswarananda 11. Swami Dheeswarananda

Up to 1943 - It was in our Belur Math general report. Then for historical reasons the name

of Haripad disappeared from our records.

Dec 2007 - Due to untiring and sustained efforts of Swami Kaivalyananda ji Maharaj, the President of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama at Kayamkulam, under the direction of Swami Sakrananda ji and the then authorities of the Headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math received the land which had gone out their possession due to various reasons. Swami Kaivalyananda ji also succeeded in getting back into our posession a house by the main side which belonged to Haripad Ashrama. This house serves as the temporary ashrama at Haripad now.

June 2008 - Swami Golokananda ji became president of Haripad.

28^th Jan 2009 - Foundation laying ceremony over.

2012 - 100^th year of Haripad Math.

2012 - Expected to complete the temple.

Coverage of the Programme in TV and News Papers

All the news papers of Malayalam covered our programme on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th Jan 2009.

In local TV there was a direct relay of the programme on 28^th Jan 2009.

Door Darshan of Trivandrum covered our programme in TV news.

CONCLUSION

From the day of 12^th January 2009 youth of surrounding Haripad is awakened. Our youth of Haripad loves Swami Vivekananda from the bottom of their hearts. Because of their demand to read more on Vivekananda, the Janma Bhoomi Malayalam News Paper almost daily publishing 1 photo of Swamiji and one article of Swamiji in their news paper. Janmabhoomi is an important Malayalam paper in Kerala and circulated in large number. Our youth wants to work more for school children’s. Our devotees wants to work more on spiritual life. So Haripad is developing in full circle of children’s, youth and devotees. We brought exhibition panels from Mysore Ashrama. We are carrying from school to school and temple celebrations with free distribution of books and photos for children’s and youth.

From A Devotee of Sri Ramakrishna