NinaaadSaptak: March 2023

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Aum Ashram San Antonio Inauguration

Published with permission from https://www.aumashram.org/ Aum Ashram San Antonio. Copyrights to reprint stay with Aum Ashram San Antonio.
Aum Ashram San Antonio, Texas, USA. Jan 22nd, 2023

San Antonio’s Indian community witnessed one of the largest gatherings of its kind at Aum Ashram’s inaugural ceremony. 500+ guests RSVPed. Between 800-850, guests blessed the event. Pooja, Performances, Messages and Blessings, and Lunch were the main highlights of the program.

POOJA AND HOMAM

Honorable Priests Sri K.V. Krishna Swami Bhattar and Sri Ramalinga Sastry Lanka from Hindu Temple of San Antonio conducted the pooja based on Vedic and dharmic principles. At the shubh muhurat of 5:04 am, pradakshina of Aum Ashram and Aum School classrooms and offices were performed. It was followed by Kalash sthapana. The Pradhan kalash sthapana included Mata Sarasvati-Bharmaji, Shiva-Parvati, and Lakhmi-Narayan. The Ganeshji Kalash was used for poorna kumbham. Kalash, Dravyams, and a dozen Bhagwan photo frames were part of pradakshina. Pradikshna was followed by Ganesh Pooja, Punyavachan, Navagrah Pooja, Vastu Pooja, and Ashtotaram. Next Ganapati Homam, Navarih Homam, Vastu Homam, and Sarasvati Homam were performed. Fulltime lifelong volunteers Digant Dash and Venkat Raghav conducted Yagya at the center homam along with the priests. This was followed by PoornAahuti and Aashirvachanam. Mantra ucchaaran, Aarti, and Pradakshina were conducted around Krishna’s Moorti where a Gaushala will be established. Next, community Havan was led by Gayatri Parivaar. More than 100 community members gathered around 24 Havan kunds for 2 hours. This concluded the main Pooja Samaroh. On the last Homan homage, everyone present swore to inculcate one good habit. Gaytri Parivaar concluded their event by serving sweet delicacies.

Aum Ashram event followed eco-friendly principles; the hot breakfast prepared at Aum Ashram kitchen and chai was served in steel thalis and glasses. Chai was donated by Sai Temple saisanantonio.org

CULTURAL PROGRAM

The event started with the lighting of the lamp by Arun Kankani. Presided over by world-renowned Hindi Poet - Abhinav Shukla and Medha Hedge. Kids from over 22 local organizations (Temples, as well as language, music, and dance-based schools), led well-coordinated song and dance sequences. The cultural part of the program started with Aum Ashram’s in-house Aum School kid's performance. Their performance can be seen here. Next followed performances by Marathi school (SAMS), Hindi Patashala, BAPS, ISKCON, Kalalaya Dance, Astha Ke Saath, Balgokulum, Basavakoota, Samskrita Bharathi, Telugu school, Rachana music school, Kaveri Natya yoga, Sangeeth Bharathi, Bengali Chandrika, Chinmaya mission, Telugu Buddy, Children Sankirtan, Kannada Pathashala, Arthi School of Dance, Yog Sadhana, Shakha Ghosh and was concluded by Jain group. Medha Hedge, Kavi Abhinav, and Dr. Mohan Ram recited their self-composed poetry reflecting the mission and vision of Aum Ashram.

BLESSINGS AND MESSAGES
Sewa International a 501(c)(3) Hindu faith-based, nonprofit service organization is active in twenty countries and has over 40 chapters in the USA. Its President Arun Kankani honored the podium with a motivational message.

Chinmaya Mission established in 1953 has 300+ centers worldwide. Swami Shivatmananda gave his blessings. Swami ji can be reached shivatmananda@chinmayamission.com

Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) is the first yoga university outside India focused on graduate yoga education and research. President Sri Srinath reinforced the importance of Yoga in our daily lives.

PRASADAM

The celebrations concluded with the serving of homemade prasad. Lunch Prasadam, based on Ayurvedic guidelines, was prepared and served by the Ashram volunteers.

AUM SCHOOL

The Ashram is the home for 5-weekday full-day Aum School also offers After school, multiple part-time and seasonal camp opportunities for kids ages 1-13. Personalized classroom and campus tours were conducted by Aum School Teachers and Director - Vaidehi Shukla, throughout the event. Admissions are currently open.

Aum Yog Sadhna volunteers shared details about several ongoing free/donation-based Yoga classes and Annual Teacher-Training held for all ages and experience levels. Sanskrit and Hindi Schools and Balagokulam volunteers shared details of their programs which welcome kids, teenagers, and adults alike. Each holds age-appropriate events/classes over weekends at Aum Ashram.

AUM ASHRAM
Aum Ashram; the first of its kind in the USA, is the home of Education, Spirituality, and Yoga. It’s developed on a 3.8 acre land among age old Bamboo and Oak Trees. Close to 30 organizations participated or presided in various capacities. Over half a dozen local organizations including HSS, SEWA, Samskrit Bharati, Hindi Pathshala, Aum Yoga Sadhna and over 4 dozen independent community members donated countless hours, materials, and expertise towards making it a success. Multiple teams such as the Pooja, food, decoration, setup, stage management, booth management, and logistics teams collaborated for weeks and months ahead to make the event a success. The inauguration ceremony which lasted over 10-hours shall remain a memorable one for San Antonians for years to come.