April 15 2007

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Name of Convention: Kumbh Mela Session on: A Congregation of Hindu Leaders Venue: Columbus, OH, USA Date: 15 April 2007

In this video, The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism HDH #Nithyananda​ Paramashivam explains to the delegates the meaning of Kumbh Mela and its purpose. Among those present were Hindu leaders in USA and the mayor of Ohio, USA. The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism also announces the inauguration of Anna Mandir in Ohio, which serves free vegetarian Sattvic food to all.

Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest gathering in the name of faith, a Hindu pilgrimage in which seekers from all over the world gather to bathe in the sacred river of the location of the Kumbh Mela. The Kumbh Mela happens every third year in turn at Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain. An Ardh Kumbh Mela (one that happens every sixth year in the 12-year cycle) is held at Haridwar and Prayag in turn. Every 12 years is the Maha Kumbh, the last of which was held in 2013 in Prayag. The rivers at these four places are the Ganges at Haridwar, the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati at Prayag, the Godavari at Nasik, and the Shipra at Ujjain.

This massive peaceful congregation of people from all walks of life traverses the journey from their cities, towns and villages to get the spiritual experience of a lifetime, like none other. Kumbha Mela has historical, social and above all spiritual significance. It is the oldest festival that happens on planet earth and has been held for over 12,000 years. There are inscriptions and records to show that historically more than 1000 Kumbh Melas have taken place. It is the largest and non-permanent city in the world that comes to life every four years with 10s of millions of people.

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Transcript:

(0:15)

(Mantra chanting)

(04:12)

Sadāshiva samārambām shankarācharya madhyamām Asmadācharya paryanthām vande guru paramparām I welcome you all with My love and respects. We are honored and blessed to have all of you here. We are so happy that you all came and graced the occasion. Now we will have a formal welcome address by our Seattle organizer.

(04:42)

Organizer: Nithyanandam everybody. Welcome to Anandeshwara - Dhyanapeetam Anandeshwara temple. We are very happy that you all graced this occasion. A special welcome to the Mayor of Delaware City…. So we are various organizations…. Before I start there, the forecast for today was rain, possible snow and all these things. I don't know where they all went! 😀 Actually Sevakananda, he told SWAMIJI that the forecast is this and all He said is, ‘I will take care of it.’ Now we are presented by various organizations. Here in Columbus - Iskcon, Chinmaya Mission. We heartily welcome Iskcon representative her grace Ma NihyaDevi Mataji. She is direct disciple of Swami Prabhupada Himself. Sri Swamiji represented our Kumbh Mela in Las Vegas for Chinmaya mission. And here for Chinmaya Mission in Columbus we have Pranav Tripathi. And Swaminarayan Temple’s we have Praful Shah, we welcome you. Sri Sai temple we have Mr. Vaidi Rao, we welcome him. Mr. Rao is one of our strongest supporters just like everybody else. And he actually requested SWAMIJI from 2003 attend when we visited the Sai temple. I was pleased that Ramesh Ramani is representing a Devi temple…. And Rameshji has always been a prelude for all the needs in the central Ohio area. Praveshan of Indian association is parent organization for all the cultural associations in central Ohio, on behalf of Praveshan of Indian Association we welcome Niranjan Patel. He is the president of Praveshan of Indian association. A Telugu association has always been sending all the emails for visiting Anandeshwara-Anandeshwari temple. On behalf of Telugu association I invite the president of Telugu association Madhu Pranay. Mani are you here? Is Mani here from Tamil sangha? Dr. Jana Palliappan…. our SWAMIJI is I believe still known as Kumbhagal Swamigal. So I am very glad that Dr. Pallna here. I will hand over to SWAMIJI.

(9:05)

Swamiji: I welcome you all. So nice to have you all here. Kumbha Mela is the oldest function happening on the planet earth. Still now, that is the largest gathering of the human being on the planet earth. Last Kumbh Mela which was held in January in the Allahabad in India attracted ninety million people. Nine crore people gathered, ninety million gathered just for one reason - faith. Faith and just for one reason-devotion. Ninety million people gathered. That is the largest gathering recorded in the human history. This last Kumbha Mela is the largest gathering recorded in the human history.

(10:03)

Our traditional masters, Vedic masters created this concept of Kumbha Mela for various reasons: one, it has got social purpose, social reason. All of us gather and share our views, ideas, opinions and create a deep friendliness amongst us, create a beautiful positive feeling amongst us. It is a place where we share our ideas, where we meet with each other, where we share our friendliness, where we share our respect and love. It is a great occasion to share our respect and love. The Indian Kumbha Mela attracts one lakh organizations. Hundred thousand organizations come, represent, share ideas, share love, share food. One more information I want to give, ninety million people gathered, not a single restaurant. No restaurant. Food is not sold. All ninety million people were supplied food freely. This one lakh organizations which gathered took the responsibility of sharing food. This shows the great tradition, culture of sharing love, sharing care, sharing ideas.

(11:28)

Our great masters have created Kumbha Mela, first reason, social reason-sharing. The second reason, an important reason, reminding again and again that life is not just for outer world. There is some purpose beyond the car and the bank balance and the house which you own. There is some purpose beyond all these things. Just to remind the common human beings, the life has got higher purpose. You may call it as experiencing God, experiencing Krishna, experiencing Shiva, experiencing whatever name you may call but there is a higher purpose. You may call it as Enlightenment, Nirvana, Atma jnana, whatever name you may call, there is a higher purpose for the life. Just to remind there is a higher purpose this Kumbh Mela is organized. Third important thing, so many people gather and pray to the Divine, create a positive thought that naturally creates a positive energy field which affects the whole society in a positive way.

(12:49)

There are so many scientific evidences, scientific researches which prove, if a group of people pray or meditate in the center of a city, the whole city crime rate comes down. At least one hundred research reports you can see in the websites. The transcendental meditation group has done such a lot of researches how they prove the crime rate of a city comes down if people gather, pray or meditate. So this is the main purpose why Kumbha melas have been organized by our great Masters. When ninety million people gather and pray, create a peaceful thoughts, the thoughts affect the collective consciousness and so much of positive energy is radiated.

(13:39)

Recently I read a research report by a Japanese doctor, Emoto. He proves how our thoughts directly affects the water. In different rooms he keeps same chemical quality water, goes to each room and chats a particular word. In some room, he creates negative words like war, terrorism, anger. He goes to another room and creates positive words like peace, silence, bliss. He goes to third room and creates the words related to Buddhist literature and after few days, he freezes that water and photographs. He says the quality, not only the photograph, even the quality of the water changes by the word he utters. The words on which he uttered the negative words, the water on which he uttered the negative words, they looked like a ghost black and the water on which he created positive words, they look like a diamond - shining, bright. The words on which he created the Buddhist words, Buddhist Dhamma Sutras, they looked like Buddhist temples. Not once or twice, he did three hundred times this research. He proves very clearly how our thoughts can directly affect the water.

(14:56)

If one person’s thought can affect and change the quality of one tumbler water, ninety million people creating positive thoughts, naturally the whole river will become Amrita, nectar. That is why we call during Kumbha Mela, the whole river becomes Amrita, nectar. Understand, now hundreds of you have gathered for one purpose- world peace, peace in the individual life and in the planet earth. So you all have gathered. All our prayers, this whole river will become nectar, Amrita and radiate positive energy. So much of chantings of Mahamantra, Krishna namam, so much of meditations, so much of prayers, so much of Vedic chanting, so much is happening. All our positive thoughts, all our positive energy will naturally bless this whole Ohio, this whole country. God Bless America! Thank you

(16:07)

Organizer: I request Her Grace Malathi Devi Mataji to say a few words. On behalf of Chinmaya Mission, I request Mr. Malhoti to say a few words. Hari Om, Respected Swamiji, Mr. Mayor and devotees, this weekend is no doubt a very pious and important weekend for Columbus. I moved to Columbus almost twenty five years ago. There were no temples, no religious facilities, no spiritual facilities and after twenty five years, Columbus have been blessed not only with Swamiji but temples- Swaminarayan, Jain center, Nithyananda Foundation’s Shiv Temple and Chinmaya Mission. So, Columbus community deserves this credit along with Swamijis who have collectively participated and supported all these different activities. All of our past may be different but our ultimate goal is same and that's what we are living towards. So at this occasion as Swamiji was mentioning that Kumbha Mela is caring, sharing and positive thoughts. So let's use the positive thoughts that are generated here and not only benefit the humanities but let's start with the community we live in and try to serve the community we live in and then grow globally. Thank you very much. It’s my honor to be part of this celebration. Pranam. Thank you. Organizer: Praful on behalf of Swami Narayan temple Praful: Swaminarayan Swamiji and everybody, Yogi Divine society and Hindu Swaminarayan Temple is extremely fortunate to have You and seek Your blessings. We are all touched by Your gracious presence and Your simple kindness to be in our Temple and make us as the first base for the padyatra and You have already mentioned that everything boils down to sharing and loving each other. Lord Swaminarayan, some 226 years ago was born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh named Chapayya and he, at a tender age of like eleven years, he started the padayatra. He traveled the length and breadth of India from the Himalayas in search of five distinct words: Jeev, Ishwar, Maya, Brahman and ParaBrahman until he came across a small town lodge in Gujarat, western part of India and he was satisfied with the answers. Since then he made a space. Our fifth spiritual successor His Divine Holiness Hariprasad Swamiji also is carrying a worldwide reform and his own Mantra is that whether one becomes spiritually harmonious or not, “Oh Swamiji, make me one, O Lord, make me one,” and again it is we are extremely honored to have You in the vicinity. Thank You for choosing this as a base and together we will work for the same cause of loving and sharing. I again thank you, everybody. Organizer: I request Mr. Y.V.Rao to say a few words on behalf of Sai Temple

(20:02)

Our Arunachala Shiva, Param Pujya Paramahamsa Nithyananda Swami and all our revered guests, pranams. Shri Sachhidanand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai. I don't know what to say after hearing everyone. I am a lay person to speak the truth but let me say a few things about our Swami which I heard, which I believe. Our Swami is no one else but Arunachala Shiva and also a life of Ramana Maharshi, Shirdi Baba and Satya Sai Baba all are intertwined. The moment Ramana Maharshiji left his physical frame, Sathya Sai Baba was delivering a lecture. At that very split second, he stopped the lecture and told he has merged in me or merged in the Divine Light. I believe, everybody believes, Swamiji believed our Swami is nothing but a reincarnate of Ramana Maharshi. And Sathya Sai Baba has said that he is there for transformation of humanity, not to eliminate humanity and wars. The transformation comes through the transformation of human hearts. We cannot win a war, we cannot change the terrorism or anything but we can change and bring peace by following three things of our Swamiji, transformation of the human heart. That is what Sathya Sai Baba said and here, Columbus is a very, very blessed place that all the spiritual centers are here. We need the leadership of Swami in the transformation of not only Columbus, the entire Ohio together. All of us put together, all the organizations will not only rock Ohio but we are going to rock The United States and rock the entire world. Now I will be very brief. We got our Sri Sai Baba Temple Society of Ohio. We got our temporary Mandir. We have over three hundred members plus, maybe three to four hundred. We got two pairs doing regular bhajans and regular services and everything. I don't want to take anybody's time. So I will be very brief. With humbly we request You to visit our mandir and bless all of us. We belong to Your army. You are in the forefront leader. Organizer: Ramesh Ramani is representing Devi Temple. He will deliver a few words.

(23:24)

Ramesh Ramani: Thank you to Swamiji. I never been attend for Kumbh Mela in my life. This is the first time. As Swamiji mentioned for everybody is equal for the Kumbha Mela, everybody is praising the Lord. God is always bless us. It was Lord Shiva I saw here Anandeshwara. He is a anugraha for Lord Shiva to each everyone of us. Because of the Swamiji I heard, someone also told me last week, Swamiji is mentioning for one year ago in Columbus they are having a Shiva temple. Today He is enlightened. Because of the Swamiji can do. The words we called in Sanatana Dharma: Daiv Adhinam jagat sarvam Mantra heenam tu devatham daivam manushya rupena. God always coming through the human to do certain work like humanly it is not possible. That was with God's grace from the human being like Swamiji is ready for the wonderful organization here and Swami also is here invoked Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva also Srishti, sthiti, samahara- the three kind of work he do. His fourth work is also, he is doing Anugraha, the blessing is coming from the Lord and the Swami is really wonderful. I have to be very honorful to kumbha mela. Swamiji is inviting me and then each one of you get the blessing from Lord Shiva. I have come from Hindu temple of Datur. In our temple is twenty two years ago, few doctors they donated some land and then they have a Balaji temple. It is a very beautiful but all of you knows. We want to improve this year or next year Pooja hall and then extension of our temple also. So Swamiji is also bless. With the blessing from the Lord and then we will do our work best. And all of us, we need for god's grace. When we all coming to the temple you can put all the ego outside and peacefully come inside and then pray the lord. That is the one purpose for all humanity we need. I am not a good speaker in public, you know. That was Lord Shiva also. His Anugraha and then when he have samarthya also. In Yajurveda, 44th chapter in the samhita and then the 22nd chapter is Rudra prashna. We have a true rajasa and some money we will put in the pocket or in the bank or some safe place. In our Rishi Munis in our Sanatana Dharma everybody is gathered. What is the benefit of humanity is only for repeat the same name of Lord Shiva. That was called the Panchakshari mantra Om Namah Shivaya. There is the same name we put in Veda Mantra is scanning for the chamak. That was in the Vedas also is four Vedas- Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva. In the Yajurveda, in the madhyamagam for twenty second chapter rudra Krishna and then he put for the Namah Shivaya mantra. Swamiji did here. When he came, I saw the Shiva and Parvati. I am very blessed. Thank you, Swamiji.

(27:54)

Organizer: Not only spiritual and religious organizations were supportive for our efforts to bring Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari to Columbus, Ohio and our social organizations as well were very helpful and supportive. Federation of Indian associations Ravinder Patel has worked with us, through help for publicity and other things. So I request Mr.Patel to address. Ravinder Patel: Welcome to Ohio, Swamiji and Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much and all the devotees, thanks for coming and joined these events. My first start is Jai Shri Krishna everybody and Hare Krishna, Om Namah Shivaya The second thing I would like to know about on 17th Tuesday right here from the governors office global relation. A met goal is going to be here to see the Swamiji here as well as to see the temple, you know and everybody would like to join on Tuesday the 17th. On behalf of the Federation of Indian National Association, I like to thank everybody and welcome to Ohio Kumbh Mela. Thank you very much

(29:30)

Organizer: Telugu Association has been very helpful as I told you before in spreading out the world about our temple and Dhyanapeetam. So on behalf of Telugu Association I request Madhu to speak. Madhu: Thank you, sir. I just shortly said my name is Madhu Nandita and I am a trustee. Madhu Bengali is the vice president and the president Vancekoro is not here. So anyway, I just want to tell some few... I am very practical man by the way. So, Swamiji visited when I was president in 2005. Swamiji visited our Ugadi function exactly from 2 years, 3 years from now in 2005. So Swamiji gave a five minute lecture on that day. He said, “Forget your past. Forget your past and think about the future. Then you can live happily”.... something like that. I didn't get it. To be honest with you at that time, I didn't get it. I was like, “What? Forget past? Forget past means basically we will learn from past and then move on. That's what it should mean,” and Swamiji is saying forget past, I could not understand. Since then the things happened in my life for the past two or three years, everyday probably for the past one year are so, I have been thinking, “Yeah, we should forget past. Then only I can move on.” He is so practical. He is so practical, I couldn't understand it actually. I mean He had only five minutes or ten minutes of time on that day. Since then I have been re-analysing those things. If you think on, keep on remembering the stuff which happened to you, which you think if this would have happened this way, it would have been nice or if I would have done this, it would have been nice. If you keep on thinking those things you can never move on. You can never move on in life. That's what I understood at the end of the day. Swamiji is great. Like I can tell you from my practical experience. You have to see those meditations. I have not been into those meditations yet but with five minutes of His lecture I could understand so much. I can't imagine I get into those meditations how I will be like. So, it is wonderful to have Swamiji in Ohio and it is a pleasure to meet You, Sir. Thank you very much for your time.

(31:53)

Organizer: I apologize for the confusion in the name. If you can get that from five minute lecture from Swamiji, Swamiji is here for four days! So please… as I told you, Kumudam has been very helpful in bringing Swamiji into the public. So not only he helped in India, now he has been helping, he has been very supportive. He has promised that it is going to be another expansion from Rajapala. I don't know what happened to Rajapala. Everytime I see him, he talks nothing but Swamiji. So I request Bala to say a few words. Bala: Om Shanti. Nice to be here. All my friends of Ohio, I just want to say one thing that how fortunate all of us are today to be in the presence of one of the greatest spiritual giants that India has ever produced! As you all know India has been a cradle of spiritualism for centuries and some of the greatest spiritual giants have come from India and have taken the message to the entire world and we have starting with Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Ramana Maharshi. I can go on and on and these are all people who have shown how India has the gap, spiritual thought the entire world looks up to and I think in the same scale, I hold Swamiji and the fact that each of us in this room are able to get the vibrations by being in His presence. I think we will be able to tell our children and grandchildren how fortunate we have been being in His presence and as this is a wonderful occasion, thank you very much Swamiji, for honoring this occasion.

(34:06)

Organizer: Now I am very proud to introduce our special guest, Mayor of Delaware City Windrow Wilston to address us. Mayor: Thank you. My name is Window Wheeler. I am the mayor of Delaware. And it's been a pleasure to be here today. This is the second time that I have had the pleasure to participate in these kinds of activities. And I was here with the opening of the Yogi Divine Society temple on the… also in Delaware. And it is a pleasure to be here again today to welcome you to the city of Delaware and the great honor that you bring to these group of people in this temple … The one thing that when we started here in front I came around the back and purchased the sprinkling of the water and the water is the basis of all life and the water that runs through here come from many miles north of Delaware and flows through Delaware. Delaware has been blessed with much water. And that’s one of the great things of life and we provide water here from Delaware not only to our city but Columbus and many other communities around that area. I was reading a book earlier on your life. I was saw the portion on blessing of the children. That is where we need help to change our world with the blessing of children. And raise them up in the faith or all our faiths whatever might to be bring on the spiritualism we need from Christ or whatever name we call it. We all have the calling, we are glad to have you all here today, welcome all the out of town guests, I have been able o talk to people here from New Jersey, California. I remember when we had Yogi Vaina Society opening… and people from all over the world. We are proud of us . we welcome people there and all over the world so there must be proud us here and welcome you to the Delaware community. Organizer: Our Swamiji will address the …. Swamiji: Thank you. No words to express our gratitude. We are really honored and blessed to have all of you. It’s really.... Let Me be open. Let Me make few statements. You see, somehow unfortunately these spiritual people don't get together. I think our Vedic masters know this truth. That is why they created the Kumbha melas. That is why they created the Kumbha melas. Kumbha melas are like a place, everyone has to see each other, everyone has to share a smile, everyone has to share a hug, everyone has to share few words, few thoughts, everyone has to stay together. So naturally, this sharing will create more love and peace and relationship.

(38:04)

Last year we started bringing that same concept of Kumbha Mela to US. In Los Angeles, we organized a Kumbha mela where hundreds of organizations and thousands of people participated and this year again in Ohio, really we are blessed and honored that so many organizations, spiritual organizations and social organizations came here and blessed the occasion, graced the ceremony and we give a heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Mr. Mayor for receiving us, hosting us in his city…. Just let us carry these three thing, the purpose of Kumbha Mela- caring and sharing and next thing, remembering there is a higher purpose in the life. You may call it as Enlightenment or having experience of Krishna, Shiva, Rama, Christ or Buddha or Allah, whatever name you may call it, higher purpose for life and third important thing, whenever you gather to do some spiritual activity, faith based activity, so much of positive energy radiates. So just try again and again to gather and to radiate the positive energy so that not only this state or this country, whole world is blessed.

(39:31)

So, from today we are starting three activities emphasizing on these three ideas: one, carrying and sharing. We are opening a vegetarian satvik kitchen to all, anybody who comes, any day will be given vegetarian satvik food in this place. We call that as ‘Anna Mandir,’ serving food. We run thirty Anna Mandirs around the globe, giving food to the visitors and devotees in the Ashrams and mobile Anna Mandirs giving food to the children, poor and needy in villages and schools and colleges. So now today we have added one more Anna Mandir. We opened this Anna Mandir. We welcome and request all of you to enjoy the vegetarian food which will be shared as a ‘prasad’ which is symbol of love and care. See, the serving of food, not only the person who gives, person who receives also shows that I am interested in taking from you. Understand, it is not that people who receive don't have food. They also show their love and their care. They say, “Yes, we are happy to receive food from you.” By accepting the food they accept being a guest. They accept that “Yes, I am ready to be your guest.”

(40:59)

So in the serving of food, both share their love and care and the second idea, for higher purpose of life. From today, we start running regular meditation programs everyday evening which will be giving an introduction about the higher purpose of life. Everyday there will be Nithya Dhyan meditation and satsang. From today, the program starts. The third idea, important idea- gathering for a spiritual cause, gathering to create positive energy. Every sunday, every weekend, we will have gathering for spiritual purpose to create positive energy, to create peace and bliss in every individual's life and on the planet earth. So let you all carry these three ideas and I thank all of you for being here, each and everyone of you for contributing this positive consciousness and this whole positive energy. Now we will have few minutes of chanting and end the program. I thank you all. Let us all pray to the ultimate Divine. Let us all achieve and radiate the Eternal Bliss- Nithyananda. Thank you

(42:23)

Chanting mantras Swamiji distributes prasad and blesses all the leaders

(50:33)

Photos Of The Day:

01-KumbhaMela-Columbus