(12) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December 2017.

Continued from part (11).....

A few memorable moments arranged by the VKendra, Kanyakumari........

On 10th December 2017, at  9.30 am all the participants were taken to the nearby places of interest inside the Kendra's huge campus by the senior Karyakartas to explore a few of those. Amongst them was Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition, Ramayana Darshan  - a very attractive pictorial exhibition on the great Epic of Hindus The Ramayana which was inaugurated by the Honourable PM of India Shri Narendra Modiji on 14th January 2017.

Vkendra Pictorial Exhibition

Bharat Mata Mandir & Ramayana Darshan.

Gautam Buddha Statue

Backside of Ramayana Darshan

Front Side Of Ramayana Darshan

Garden Area of Ramayana Darshan.

Then we visited the Gramodaya Park, an exhibition center of village development and training projects undertaken by the Vivekananda Kendra.

Lastly we all gathered at the Gangotri, a gallery of Mananeeya Eknath'ji Ranade the founder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra of Kanyakumari. 

After exploring all those attractions we came back to the training centre at 12.30 pm
as per the instructed schedule. It was indeed a sacred and great experience for all of us.

In the afternoon at 1.30 pm after lunch we were again taken to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial by Kendra's bus upto the Rock Memorial point. From there we had to get up to a Jetty boat to cross a small area of Indian Ocean, nearly 1350 ft. to visit the Memorial. Everything for visiting the Rock Memorial was arranged free of cost by Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, in that way it was also great experience for all of us. We spent nearly 2 hours there and had a photo session also. 
Then we proceeded by another Steamer to enjoy the beauty of the statue of the great Saint "Thiruvallavur". The statue is 80 foot high and can be located from any place of Kanyakumari. It is located only a few meters of distance from the Rock Memorial on the sea.
A few amongst us took leave from the group and went for shopping in the main market area of Kanyakumari and returned back to the Kendra campus at around 7 pm. That trip was really very exciting and memorable for all the participants.

Sunrise View Point

Vkendra Campus

Photo Session at Rock Memorial.

Photo Session on the Footsteps of Rock Memorial

Visiting Rock Memorial

A few links of YouTube has been added for aspirants knowledge. 

https://youtu.be/p2kuwaOgfcYhttps://youtu.be/TgK2hMqPI04

https://youtu.be/yGvJR8pVSeo

https://youtu.be/WNN4xQyaLAA

(11) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December 2017.

Continued from part -(11)...

Geetabhyas was followed by Tea break for half an hour, which was again followed by the 2nd session of spiritual and philosophical lectures continued till 4.45 pm and then again Yogasanas being practised up to 5.45 pm. There was a gap of 45 minutes in the evening for the preparation of Bhajan Sandhya, which was conducted everyday at 6.30 pm. 

Bhajans were presented by Jeevan Bratis and Karyakartas of the Vkendra alternatively everyday. Bhajan Sandhya gave us a great relaxtion and peace of mind every evening.

We all had to participate in the Bhajan Sandhya as a chorus singer on the basis of lead and follow norms.

Those beautiful memories cannot be wiped out throughout one's life. 

Bhajan Sandhya is followed by Supper (NaishaBhojon) from 7.15 pm to 8 pm, then there was a most interesting part of the day the traditional game played by the Group members from 8 pm to 8.30 pm every night which was termed as "Prerana Se Punarutthan".

Those games were played team wise inside the Patanjali Training Hall. Many young Karyakartas from different parts of India were the lead instructor of those games.

At the end of the day's activities and session at night, there were some short reviews of the activities up to 9 pm  followed by a cool speech from the main incharge of the Vivekananda Kendra's Training Centres Adarneeya Raghunathji.

To be continued in part - (12)....

(10) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December' 2017

Continued from part - (9)......

One must attend at least once in his/her lifetime to such camp and have this opportunity to hear such wonderful words from the intellectual classes of VKendra's Karyakartas/Jeevanbratis who have given their whole life for the mission of "Man Making and Nation Building" as their objectives.

A few name of the dignitaries and Senior jeevanbratis/karyakartas may be mentioned here who had delivered words of wisdom during in the lecture session during the period of YSS.

Amongst them were......

1) Mananeeya Hanumanth Rao'ji

2) Mananeeya Rekha Didi

3) Aadarniya Radha Didi

4) Aadarniya Ravi Sharma'ji

5) Aadarniya Mangalatai Didi

6) Aadarniya Aparna Didi

7) Aadarniya Lalita Didi

8) Aadarniya Avinash'ji.

Apart from them, there were also two senior and respectable persons in the role of coordinator who were always a very caring and cooperative with all of us. They were namely Aadarniya Nandan'ji Kulkarni and Aadarniya Govind'ji Khandekar. They always extended their helping hands to the participants all the time.

Lecture session was then followed by "Manthan" i. e, reviewing the topics of the lectures delivered in the first session everyday among the Group members separately. After the manthan session being completed we had a practical class on Pranayama everyday from 12.15 pm to 12.45 pm followed by the "Madhyanna Bhajan" (Lunch) and rest break up to 2.30 pm. From 2.30 pm to 3 pm we were taught different songs, Desh Bhakti gets and Bhajans from the spiritual book of VKendra known as "Padavali" everyday during "Geetabhyas" session.

Those session were very interesting and we could learn and experience many new things from the session everyday, because those Songs, Geets, Bhajan and Mantras were again translated and narrated in very simple words to us very clearly to understand the true meaning of those.

To be continued in part (11)...

(9) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December' 2017.

Continued from part - (8).....

After this session, we then had to proceed to the courtyard of Patanjali Training Hall and sing a few Desh-bhakti geet together lead by a few trained Karyakartas of Vkendra everyday in the morning. At 8.30 am we had another session of physical works (Shram Samskar) divided amongst the six ganas alternatively everyday on day to day basis and that session was known as SHRAM SAMSKAR. All the participants from each ganas (Group) had to undertake some cleaning works like brooming the campus areas, boarding hall, training hall etc. Those session was very good and interesting one. We could experience how a team work enhances ones energy and capabilities of doing any work together with ease and  the feelings of oneness amongst all the ganas. Our next session was from 9.45 am everyday where a few senior Karyakartas of the Vkendra used to deliver lectures on different topics on different subjects, namely Philosophy, History, Religion, Practical Vedanta etc. 

There were two sessions of lectures everyday. First one was from 9.45am to 10.45 am and second one was from 3.30 pm to 4.45 pm. Lectures delivered on the topics are shown here for the evaluation by the reader.

1) Concepts of Yoga 

2) Sister Nivedita & Swami Vivekananda & their works for India.

3) Swami Vivekananda & Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

4) Kendra Prarthana.

5) Yama & Niyama in yoga.

6) The story of Rock Memorial.

7) Karma Yoga from Srimad Bhagwat Gita.

8) Bhakti Yoga.

9) Asthanga Yoga.

10) Indian Culture & It's Uniqueness.

11) Practical Vedanta.

12) Vivekananda Kendra and it's Activities.

13) Dharma and Sadhuttava.

14) Challenges we have at present throughout the world.

15) Purposeful Life.

16) Vivkananda Kendra and It's Movements.

17) Adi Guru Sankaracharya.

18) Mananeeya Eknath'ji Ranade the founder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Those lectures were delivered in English and Hindi as per the headings of the topics listed above.

Those lectures were I believe the lifeline for us to adhered with for a purposeful living.....
Those speeches were gems from the philosophy of Indian heritage and culture in relation to the universal truth.

TO BE CONTINUED...in part (10).

(8) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra-Kanyakumari, December' 2017

Continued from part- (7)

Sutra Neti Kriya :

Here Sutra means thread, which is passed through the nostrils and out of the mouth, then holding both the end of the thread pulls it back and forth to cleanse the nose. The thread is normally made of smooth rubber pipe. ( An image is shown below)

Vamana Dhauti :

This is also known as Kunjala Kriya. Here Vamana means middle or center and Dhauti means purification. In this process the participants need to drink 3 glasses of luke warm saline water and after a few minutes bending forward in standing position at an angle of 105 degrees one have to put his/her forefinger and middle finger together inside the mouth as deep as possible and throw out the water from our stomach like vomitting. (Camera shot photos)

After the practical session of Yogabhayas we had to have our breakfast within 7.15 am to 8.15 am everyday at the dining hall named as "Prasada". All the participants used to sit together on mat or dining tables as per one's choice and then after chanting the Bhojan Mantra we could enjoy the delicious Sattavic Vegetarian food everyday.

Foods were served by the Six Ganas alternatively as per the prior instructions from the Kendra's senior Karyakartas on day to day basis.
Again, after the breakfast we found tea, coffee and milk were ready for us to have as per our choices everyday.

(7) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December' 2017.

Continuation of part (6)......….

TRATAKA :

It is a yogic exercise for Eyes which help enhances the eye sights if practices regularly.

MUDRA : 

Our hands are the map of our entire system and mudra is the finger position that guides energy flow in a particular way. By utilising our finger position, we can produce a tremendous affects pertaining to all the system in our body and mind. One of the most common and effective mudra is Gyana Mudra, that is touching the tips of fore finger with thumbs (Both the hands) to retain wisdom. As per the Vedas...Fore finger tips are "Vaayu" and Thumb tips are "Agni" for better knowledge an aspirants may go through the different books available at any of the Vkendra's branches in your city.

JAL NETI KRIYA : 

Here Neti means cleansing of nasal passages. So far there are only two types of Neti kriya practised in Vivekananda Kendra, one is Jal Neti and other is Sutra Neti (Here Jal is water and Sutra is Thread). JAL Neti kriya is practised using a small Neti pot (Photo attached) available in all the Ayurvedic and Herbal shops of repute. 

This kriya is practised pouring luke warm saline water into the pot. In this age old technique,  head is tilted to the left or right side and saline water is poured into the nostril and exit through the other nostril... and this has to be practiced with both the nostrils simultaneously one after another.

To be continued....  in part (7).….

(6) Yoga Siksha Shivir at Vivekananda Kendra - Kanyakumari, December' 2017.

Continuation of part (5).....

SURYA NAMASKARA......

Salutation to the Sun, it can be termed as a whole and complete yogic postures which need to be performed in rhythmic ways. There are a total of twelve postures in one round and same have to be repeated 12 times by chanting 12 lines of Vija (Seeds) mantras. One line of mantra should be followed by one round of "Surya Namaskara" (12) postures. This is one of the best yogic postures so far the world has recognised. We may say this is a complete yogic exercise.

PRANAYAMA.....

PRANAYAMA is a breath controlling technique and the basic pranayama was taught to all the participants where all the age group may participate and practice for good health as long as one wishes to. All the participants were taught the "Puroka" the inhalation "Rechaka" the exhalation process of Pranayama. Only "Kumbhaka" which is known as non-breathing state was not included in YSS. A few pranayama taught to us are listed below for aspirants knowledge ...

(1) Surya Veda Pranayama (Throughing an Arrow to the Sun) (2) Nadi Suddhi Pranayama (Cleansining of our Veins, Arteries and all nervous system)....(3) Chandra Veda Pranayama (As same as Surya Veda).... (4) Kapal Vhati (Contraction and Extraction of Belly) (5) Thoracic Breathing ...(6) Anuloma Viloma.. Those technique of inhalation and exhalation through both of our nostrils (7) Abdominal Breathing...(Taking the breath from our lower path of Belly) ...(8) Bharamari.,is a yogic art to being followed like the sound of Bees and it has it's own posture to pretend as if aspirants are searching for it's bee hives. Those postures detailed above may be had from the the Vivekananda Kendra Branch offices of India.