AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Sri Swamiji visited Switzerland from 19th to 26th July 2007. Sri Swamiji arrived from Avignon to Berne town in Switzerland and proceeded to Flueli Ranft village. This area is where Sri Swamiji had earlier visited to Gwatt and Hasliberg in earlier years. Sri Swamiji was received by the Datta Yoga Center members of Switzerland and Germany. In the evening, Guru Puja was performed and Kakadarati performed. Flueli is a small village about 80 minutes from Luzern city. It is on a hill and is famous for the presence of the church of Brother Nicholas. He lived in the 14th century and is considered as the patron Saint of Switzerland. Couple of years ago Sri Swamiji had visited the church of Brother Nicholas and had offered prayers there.

 

On 20th, Sri Swamiji visited the Satsang Hall in Hausen am Albis near Zurich city. Nahusha welscomed Sri Swamiji to the Satsang room. Two Pranayamas were performed by devotees in the sacred presence of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji spoke and said that Satsang is important and that one should make an internal assessment about the improvement in quality of life and goodness. If there is no progress, then one should seriously think if it is good for him to attend Satsang or not.

 

Later, Sri Swamiji visited Jecklin music store. It was here, way back in 1988, Sri Swamiji was gifted with a Roland synthesizer, which Sri Swamiji uses even today for the healing music concerts world wide.

 

On Saturday 21st, Music for Meditation and Healing program was held in Casino Kursal auditorium in Interlaken city. The auditorium was ornate, grandly decorated and beautiful. The decoration on the stage was refined yet glorious. The program began at 6.30 pm with Mr. Hans Burgener, who organised the program, giving the welcome and introduction speech. Mr.Hans Imesch, who installed Sri Swamiji's music in dozens of telephone cabins all over Switzerland, lit the lamp and inaugurated the concert. Sri Agastya Seikritt, organizer of the first concert in 1987, gave flower garland to Sri Swamiji.

 

The music that flowed was heavenly and soul lifting. Sri Swamiji chose to play Hamsanadam Raga (Bhajan - Peethe Peethe) and Raga Vanaspati (Ilalo Kalalo). Sri Swamiji played the Mahabharata tune brilliantly and the 700 seat auditorium, which was full, thoroughly enjoyed every note that was created by Sri Swamiji's divine hands. Sri Swamiji moved around the auditorium during the THANI Avarthana blended with violin interplay. Ms. Esther Vimala Kaegi gave the Edel Weiss plant from high Alps Mountain and a quartz crystal from the area to Sri Swamiji. Mr. Hans Burgener and his wife Margrit Burgener gave gifts to musicians and honored them.

 

The concert was covered in the news paper ""Jung Frau Zeitung". Click here to see the news clipping

 

The 90 minutes drive back from Interlaken to Flueli was through a powerful storm, the lightening strikes lighting up the Swiss mountains and the rains lashing all across.

 

On Sunday, July 22nd, more than 500 people attended the Sri Chakra Puja and Homa. After the Puja, children came in a small group, offered flowers and Arati and welcomed Sri Swamiji. It was such a beautiful sight. Children with the shy and innocent faces facing Sri Swamiji, who they generally encounter at homes through the photos kept by parents. Later, Ueli Gasser, a long term devotee of Switzerland presented a CD titled "Jewels of Sound and Speech"- which has excerpts from Sri Swamiji's 18 visits to Switzerland spanning from 1976 till the last visit to Gwatt in 2005. Shabari gave brief overview of the visits which co incided with the celebration of Switzerland Datta Yoga Center's 20th Jubilee celebration. Sri Swamiji then spoke and Blessed the audience and said that Switzerland has a special place in His heart. The new CD can be ordered on the Datta Yoga Center - Switzerland web site. (www.dyc.ch)

 

It should be noted here that the entire arrangements, the manner in which the program was conducted was brimming with professionalism and punctuality, two traits the Swiss are famous for. The stage decoration, the back projection of images related to Brother Nicholas and Datta Peetham, Puja arrangements etc etc., were all wonderful. One could learn a lot from the Swiss organizational expertise.

 

Before Homa Purnahuti, Sri Swamiji gave name to a Swiss child as Anne Annapurna.

 

In the afternoon, the Datta Yoga Center of Switzerland celebrated its 20th Jubilee. Switzerland Datta Yoga Center was the first registered center in Europe. Shabari led through the celebrations that started with the beautiful Bharata Natyam dance by Sarah Gasser. Later, a photo slide show of Sri Swamiji's various visits to Switzerland was shown for which, Heiner Greider & Nagesha Portmann gave commentary. The slide show was released as a CD and is available in the Swiss Datta Yoga Center's web site - (www.dyc.ch).

 

Later, the 2007 Nada Brahma video was screened. The audience were mesmerized by the beautiful photography. Prasad explained the history of the audio and video recordings in the 2007 Nada Brahma video.

 

From 23rd July, a three day seminar on sacred text of Guru Geeta started. Sri Swamiji on 23rd, 24th and 25th July gave six lectures on Guru Geeta and Guru Ashtaka. Sri Swamiji spoke about the important 70 Shlokas of Guru Geeta.

 

On Monday evening, Smt. Manini Steiger gave a short lecture on Brother Nicholas who lived as a hermit in Flueli village during 14th century. Later, Mr. Pascal, a devotee gave a mind boggling magic show for one hour. He called Swami Manasa on stage for assistance and their performance left everyone rolling on the floor with laughter.

 

On tuesday evening, Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans. Along with the Ashrama musicians, Mr.Hans Greider on Saxophone, Ueli Gasser on bass guitar and Ulf Manu on guitar played with Sri Swamiji. The improvisation of music as Jazz notes on Saxophone of Bhajans Shambho Mahadeva, Om Aim Hreem Shreem, Dance tune, Pahi Pahi Gajanana were played. Before the Bhajans, Antje Fritz spoke about the social projects undertaken by Datta Peetham in India.

 

On Wednesday, 25th July 2007, Ms. Vedavati of Mysore Ashrama gave a violin recital guided by Sri Jaitra Varanasi, Sri Swamiji's violinist. She played nine compositions admirably.

 

Sri Swamiji lectured on 70 selected Shlokas of Guru Gita in the morning sessions and also chanted the Guru Ashtaka.

 

In the evening, a send off program was planned. First, there was String Quartet by a group called PAUSE. They played popular classical melodies. Later, Agastya Seikritt spoke about the children camp he conducted parallel to the Guru Geeta program and how he was amazed at their simple ways of thinking, camaraderie and love for Sri Swamiji. Prizes were given to sports competition winners. Benjamin won prize in Table Tennis and Table football. Nicola won prize in football.

 

The entourage members were honoured by the Datta Yoga Center, Switzerland.

 

Sri Swamiji was offered Vastram, Flower Mala, Crown and a statue of Brother Nicolas. Then the lights in the hall dimmed and the stage curtain closed for a short while. And when the stage curtained opened, the stage too was dark except for the 16 candles kept around Sri Swamiji's chair which lit Sri Swamiji like a jewel shining. The Bhajan group chanted the Guru Ashtaka and at the end there was a impromptu meditation by the entire audience ..... just by seeing Sri Swamiji sitting crossed legs and closed eyes. The curtains closed................. Sri Guru Datta

 

Sri Swamiji left for Canada on 26th July 2007 at 9 AM from Zurich's Kloten Airport. The Datta Yoga Centers of Switzerland and Germany had made the week long visit of Sri Swamiji to the land of Brother Nicholas an amazing and unforgettable experience. The love and adulation they have for Sri Swamiji is pure and palpable.

 

Good Bye Europe

Hello Canada