Sudharma Sanskrit Daily Turns 40

     Sudharma, the only Sanskrit daily in the country (perhaps the only Sanskrit Daily Newspaper in the world today), completed 40 years of publication on July 19th, 2009 Sunday. Celebrations were held and many scholars were felicitated on the occasion.
     Swami Veereshanandaji Saraswathi of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram, Tumkur, exhorted the people to patronise Sanskrit and complimented Editor of Sudharma K.V. Sampathkumar for striving hard to keep the daily afloat despite the recession and lack of adequate advertisement support.
     Sudharma, which launched its Internet edition (http://sudharma.epapertoday.com) in the first week of August last year, has increased its readership base significantly. Mr. Sampathkumar said the number of hits during the weekends was very high (between 6,000 and 8,000 a day), while it was relatively low on weekdays. The current annual subscription fee is Rs. 250.
     Started in 1970 by Sanskrit scholar Kalale Nadadur Varadaraja Iyengar, Sudharma has a daily circulation of about 2,000 copies and is mostly circulated through post and has subscribers around the world especially in Japan and USA. K.V. Sampath Kumar, son of Mr. Iyengar, is the present editor of the daily.
     Published from Mysore, the only income generated by Sudharma is from the 250 rupees of annual subscription fee. It is the determination of K.V. Sampath Kumar and his love for Sanskrit language that is keeping Sudharma afloat.

Scientific Verification of Vedic Knowledge

    A vast number of statements and materials presented in the ancient Vedic literatures can be shown to agree with modern scientific findings and they also reveal a highly developed scientific content in these literatures. The great cultural wealth of this knowledge is highly relevant in the modern world. Techniques used to show this agreement include: - Marine Archaeology of underwater sites (such as Dvaraka) - Satellite imagery of the Indus-Sarasvata River system - Carbon and Thermoluminiscence Dating of archaeological artifacts - Scientific Verification of Scriptural statements - Linguistic analysis of scripts found on archaeological artifacts - A Study of cultural continuity in all these categories.

Anniversary Celebrations - 2009

    The 17th Annual celebrations of Ramakrishna-­Vivekananda Ashrama began on 26th January 2009. It was a week long celebration this year marked by a bhaktha sammelan, 2 teacher conferences, 3 youth conferences and culminating in Jeevantha durga pooja on 1st February 2009.
    The Bhaktha Sammelan was sanctified by the Holy presence of Revered Shri Swami Jitakamanandaji Maharaj, Head of RIMSE, Mysore. Revered Nirbhayananda Saraswathi Swamiji, President of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Ashram, Gadag-Bijapur, Shri Suresh Kumar - Minister : Law & parliamentary affairs, karnataka, Shri Krishna Bhat - Honourable District Sessions Judge - Tumkur, Shri Renukaprasad, Director of Avasarala Technologies, Bangalore and Shri Bhaskar - Managing Director of Advanced Micronic Devices, Bangalore inaugurated the sammelan. A Special Issue of "Viveka Deepthi" magazine, a bi-monthly magazine catering to the moral and spiritual needs of the people, was also released on this occassion.
    The second day of the program was inaugurated by Shri Dr. A.H Shivayogi Swami, MLC, Karnataka along with the holy presence of Rev. Swami Nirbhayanandaji.The 2nd day of the program was reserved for teachers of Tumkur district. Dr. H.N Muralidhar, lecturer in Kannada, Vasavi First Grade College, Bangalore spoke on the subject "Educational thoughts of Swami Vivekananda in the light of Modern challenges".Over 1400 teachers of the district benefitted on this day.
    The 3rd day of the program ( 28-01-2009 ) was for the future teachers - B.Ed and D.Ed students of Tumkur district.Program was inaugurated by Rev. Swami Prakashanandaji, President of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Ashrama, Ranebennur. Sister Aarathi Balasubramanium, Director of Shri Sharadadevi Aadhyatmika mandira, Bangalore spoke on the subject "Moral responsibility of future teachers". Shri G.R Satyamurthy, Director of Personality development research and training foundation (PDRTF) spoke on the subject "True education - Real teacher : Swami Vivekananda's view".The inspiring lectures were followed by Questions & Answers session.
    The 4th day of the program was for N.S.S students and Degree Students of Tumkur district. The program was sanctified by the Holy presence of Rev. Swami Yogeshwaranandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Yogashrama, Bangalore.Shri G.S Basavaraju, Ex-MLA of Tumkur inaugurated the function. Dr. R Balasubramaium, President of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement spoke on the subject "Rights and Duties from the perspective of Service". Shri Chakravarthy Soolibele, Noted Orator and columnist spoke on the subject "The Speciality of Indian Civilization".
    The 5th day of the program was yet another conference for teachers which was inaugurated by Revered Swami Jagadatmanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna-Sharadashrama, Ponnampete, Kodagu District. Dr. Gururaj Karjagi, Director, Academy for Creative Teaching spoke on the subject "The Social and National responsibility of a Teacher". Over 1500 teachers of Tumkur district benefitted from this conference.Rev. Swami Jagadatmanadaji Maharaj also spoke on the topic "The True meaning of Freedom & Rights".
    The final day of the program was for Pre-University students of Tumkur district.The function was inaugurated by Shri S Mallikarjunaiah, Former Deputy Speaker, Govt. of India. Dr. N.V.C Swamy, Former Director of IIT, Chennai spoke on the subject "The necessity of Values in the context of Modern Technological development".
    Over 7000 students and teachers received the Man-making & Nation building ideas in all these 6 days. Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha helped Ashrama organise these programs on all days.

Yuvaka Sangha 4th Anniversary

    The 4th anniversary of "Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha", a youth forum running under the auspices of Ramakrishna-­­Vivekananda Ashrama, Tumkur, was celebrated on 1st of February, 2009 in the evening. Bhajans and cultural events from the youths of the sangha marked the anniversary celebrations.
    The Anniversary was inaugrated by Rev Swami Jagadatmanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, Ponnampet.Prize Winners of Badukalu Kaliyiri Exam 2009 for Ded Students were felicitated on this occassion.Also the prize winners of District Level Debate Competion for High School Students and District level Speech competition for college students were felicitated.
    The members of Yuvaka Sangha performed a play called "Karuna Gange".The drama was based on the historic encounter of Angulimala and Bhagawan Buddha.

Jeevantha Durga Pooja - 2009

    Holy Mother Sri Saradadevi's Birthday is observed as "Jeevantha Durga Pooja" every year in Tumkur Ashram.About 175 women from slum areas are invited to the ashram and literally worshipped as Holy Mother Sri Saradadevi. All women are fed sumptuously, given rice, gram and new cloths. A free medical camp is arranged for them on that day.Free medical check-up is done by philanthropic doctors and free medicines are distributed.
    The program was sanctified by the Holy presence of Revered Swami Jagadatmanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishana Sharadashrama, Ponnampet.Dr. S.R Leela - well know educationist and M.L.C - Karnataka, Shri Gautamkar, Commisioner of Central Income Tax - Bangalore, Shri Kishanlalji Kothari - Minister, School for the preservation of Cows, Shri Suresh Kumar - Managing Director - NEYCER Electricals Private Ltd., Shri Naragundakar - Additional Commisioner of Central Income Tax - Tumkur, Shri Ramdas - Noted Lawyer and Social worker - Davanagere and Shri Lakshman Das - well know Harikathe artist were present as chief guests during the occassion.

Debate & Speech Competitions 2009

    Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha, a youth forum that runs under the guidance of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Ashrama, had organised a district level debate competition for High School students on January 24th and and a district level Speech competition for College students on January 25th on the occassion of the 147th birthday of Swami Vivekananda.
    The Debate competition was inaugurated by Sri O Anantharamaiah, Vice-Chancellor of Tumkur University and Sri Krishna Bhat, Honourable Sessions Judge, Tumkur.The subject for debate was "Visual media is detrimental to Students' achievements".110 students from 55 schools covering 7 taluks of tumkur district participated in the competition.
    Yuvaka Sangha had also organised District Level Speech Competition for College students of tumkur district on 25th January 2009 which was inaugurated by Sri C.V Keshavamurthy, Director of Hi-Point.About 52 students from 52 colleges across tumkur district had come to participate in the competition.The topic for the competition was "Citizens' irresponsibility is the root cause of our current national tragedy".
    Prof. B.G Lalitamma, Prof. Chandranna, Prof. Shivaraj and Sri Ranganath were invited on both the days as Judges for the competitions.All the participants were given certificates and books as consolation prizes.Prizes for winners were distributed on 1st February 2009 on the occasion of 4th Anniversary of Yuvaka Sangha.
The winners for 2009 competitions are as follows:
Debate
1.     Lakshmish Hegde, Vidyaniketan High School, Tumkur.
2.     Chi Maddappa, Shri Siddalingeshwara High School, Siddaganga Mutt.
3.     Kumari Nolambarani, Vivekananda High School, Tumkur.
    The Rolling Shield went to Shri Siddalingeshwara Residential High School, Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur.

Speech
1.     Kumari Rashmi C, Kalpataru Pre-University college, Tiptur.
2.     Kumari Lavanya C, Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Tumkur.
3.     Chi Harsha P.S, Saptagiri P.U College, Tumkur.
4.     Chi Manjunath K.P, Government P.U College, Gubbi.
5.     Kumari Nirmala C, Siddaganga Women's Degree College, Tumkur.
6.     Chi Shivakumar, Government P.U college, Koratagere.
    The Rolling Shield was bagged by Kalpataru P.U College, Tiptur.

International Leadership Conference, Seoul

International Leadership Conference held in Seoul, Korea ( October 13-17, 2007 )

    Rev. Swami Veereshananda Saraswathi was invited to attend the International Leadership Conference held in Seoul, Korea from October 13-17, 2007, on the theme: “Providing Vision and Leadership at a Time of Global Crisis”. Ambassadors, senior diplomats, government officials, spiritual leaders, academicians, and representatives of civil society attended this 3 day conference.