SingaSpeaks – Roar 47

SingaSpeaks A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 47 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 11 FEBRUARY 2017

IRO Hinduism Lecture – First of its Series

The Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore was the pioneering member in founding and formulating an InterReligious Organisation (IRO) for Singapore in 1949. Today, 10 major religions are represented in the IRO. The IRO is trying to build on the momentum already generated and continue to promote inter-religious peace and harmony. In its Series of Lectures on different Religions, the first was on Hinduism for the month of January 2017.

It was held at the Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Hall on Tuesday, 24 January 2017. 47 persons including IRO members and lay people attended this Lecture Event.

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Swami Vimokshananda welcomed the distinguished gathering and made introductory remarks about the Harmony of Faiths as depicted in the Ramakrishna Temple in Singapore. He pointed out how the Muslim patterns of Jharokha and Chajja are represented in the external architecture, the sanctum and its contiguous shrine of the Christian architecture, the domes signifying Sarnath Buddhist architecture with the significant display of the Hindu mantra AUM with three domes on the facade of the Temple of Hindu architecture. He then invited Sri Rustom M Ghadiali the President of the IRO who represents the Parsi

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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 47

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SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2017

IRO Hinduism Lecture – First of its Series

Zoroastrian Religion to speak a few words on the IRO. Sri Rustomji explained the useful role of the IRO especially in the modern context of Singapore and appealed to the people to join it as Life Members to foster the brotherly interrelation among different religions.

Swami Satyalokananda presented his lecture with multimedia tools. His topic was “Ramakrishna Mission and Harmony of Faiths”. He elaborated the ancient Vedic principles of Unity in Diversity

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and how these “acceptance” of seemingly contrary faiths percolated in the practice and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. The Swami also emphasised that true harmony for the modern day is possible only on the basis of Godexperience.

Sri K Keshavapany, a Hindu Council member of the IRO gave a befitting Vote of Thanks.

The respected leaders of different religions thereafter mingled freely and took delightfully the supper that was served to all.

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SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2017

Other Inter Religious Events A Renovated Cathedral

Happy Hanukkah!

This Jewish function, which fell on Christmas Eve this year, commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. Hanukkah is celebrated over a period of eight nights and days, and observed by kindling the

The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore. Many religious leaders were invited for the Christmas Celebration held there on 29 Dec. This Church was recently renovated wth many statues within and around restored to their original glory.

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lights on a nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah. The Swamis were warmly welcomed by the Rabbi Mordechai Abergel of The Jacob Ballas Centre, Singapore on that holy occasion held on 27 December. It was a pleasant evening when they met many of the religious leaders.

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SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2017

Thai Pusam evokes Tremendous enthusism Hindus have a large number of religious festivals. The essential purpose of holding a variety of celebrations is to make the human mind understand that Life itself a celebration. Moving from place to place in the process of doing a pilgrimage is again to make us understand that the power of God is every where.

The kavadi aattam, a tandava (or masculine form of dance), produces a feeling of joy in the dancer as well as the spectators.

What is Kavadi Chindu?

Kavadi chindu is a generic name for a variety of Tamil folk songs.

They are light compositions in Tamil, light only in the tunes, which could be sung even by One such celebration is Thai children but the words potent Pusam. Thousand of devotees with depth of meaning. They are of Lord Muruga who is otherwise popular for being simple, known as Skanda, Subramanya, emotionally satisfying and Kartik, throng the places where spiritually appealing. The songs He is worshipped. In the have stanzas but no pallavi, Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna, while anupallavi and charana divisions enumerating the God’s glory and mostly are in praise of Lord says that ‘ senaninamaham Subramanya and are steeped in Standing at 42.7 m (140 ft) high, the world's tallest statue of Murugan, a skandah’ – I am Skanda of the Hindu bhakti. The Kavadi Chindu relies deity, is located outside Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. warrior-chiefs. (Ch X – Verse 24) The statue, which cost approximately 24 million rupees, is made of 1550 heavily on folk music. In music cubic metres of concrete, 250 tonnes of steel bars and 300 litres of gold concerts Kavadichindu finds a paint brought in from neighbouring Thailand.

Thai Pusam is celebrated on the place at the tail end among the day of the Pusam star in the Tamil anywhere from a minimum of a week ‘tukkadas’. The ‘mudugu’ or the quick month of Thai, which falls between to the recommended 48 days. rhythmic tempo is a distinctive aspect January and February. Devotees in of ‘kavadi chindu’. The songs are Kavadi dance their colourful clothes come in meant to be sung by people who families and express their brimming The bearers of Kavadi dance along carry the kavadias as an offering. joy keeping of course to the rules of the route they travel to reach the This charming variety of Tamil folk temple. Those accompanying them song was composed and popularized the sacred nature of the festival. break out in song or chant mantras. by Annamalai Reddiar. He was born As the lead singer renders the songs, at Chennimalai in Tirunelvelli District What is Kavadi?

The grand ritual of this festival is to usually drawn from the kavadi chindu, of Tamil Nadu. A person of vivacious carry Kavadi. What is Kavadi? It is an a collection of songs specifically personality, he is stated to have led a arch (made of wood or iron) on a written for kavadi carrying, others in reckless life and had spiritual wooden base. Peacock feathers and the group pick up the chorus or transformation by developing bhakti colourful flowers are used for its simply shout “Vel, Vel” at the end of to Lord Muruga and died in his young decoration. In it, is placed a picture of each line. age of twenty-six.

Lord Muruga. Two pots, usually filled with milk, are hung at both ends of The twists and twirls done vigorously Mythology this wooden base. The devotee by the Kavadi dancers so as to Thai Pusam signifies the day Lord carries this Kavadi on his shoulders balance the kavadi on thieir Muruga received the Vel (spike) from to the temple, which is usually shoulders keeping to the beat of the His parents Siva and Parvati. perched on a hill, where the milk is mridangam (drums used in Karnatak According to Skanda purana, Lord poured over the statue of Lord music) and the melody of the Subramanya used this Vel to Muruga within the temple’s sanctum nadasawaram (a conical wind vanquish Tarakasur.

The demon instrument) is a scene of delight to sanctorum. The Kavadi is carried symbolizes ego, action and its fruits after the observation of austerities the onlookers. The more experienced and also ignorance. The weapon Vel like fasting, sleeping on the mat dancers show their artistry by shifting cleaves these three limitations and spread on the floor, eating only the kavadi over their shoulders, head frees the soul from bondage. Union vegetarian meals etc lasting and chin without using their hands. with Muruga is the ultimate result.

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SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2017

88th Annual General Meeting The Eighty-eighth Annual General Meeting of the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore was held as per the provisions of the Organisation’s Constitution. 56 members attended the AGM. Vedic Peace prayers were chanted by Swami Satyalokananda.

The members stood in silent prayers for those members whom the Ramakrishna Mission lost during 2015-16.

Details of the activities of the past year were read out by Swami Vimokshananda in his Presidential Address.

The meeting was

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conducted by Sri Surendra Abhyankar, the Secretary.

All the members were earlier given the printed Annual Report that contained a full audited Statement of Accounts

and Reports of the Mission General, Boys’ Home, Sarada KG School and WINGS Counselling Centre.

Important tasks like electing a new Advisory Committee, electing the

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Chartered Auditors and electing the Legal Advisors were completed in time.

Sri S M Arumugam, a senior member gave a Vote of Thanks. He expressed the m e m b e r s ’ satisfaction in witnessing several developments including a number of monks from overseas visiting the Ashram and regular classes on scriptures being held at the Centre.

Swami Satyalokananda did the closing prayers.

Swami Jitamanasananda took care of the event management of the AGM with a few volunteers.

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179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org