The Art Of Living Deepotsav Celebrations In Presence Of Gurudev At Ahmedabad

Karnataka, India
13th of Nov 2012

Gurudev’s Diwali message: “Light the lamp of knowledge, burst the crackers of stress, distributes the sweets of words and feelings”

13 Nov 2012, Ahmedabad: In presence of H. H. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, the Founder of The Art of Living Foundation, Ahmedabad was fortunate to be part of the MahaLaxmi Homa, divine Satsang.

Deepotsav Celebrations organized by The Art of Living at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad on the Dipawali day 13 Nov’12, was a majestic confluence of more than 30,000 people from all over the world. In Shri MahaLaxmi Homa conducted in the holy presence of Gurudev the pundits–scholars invited from Ved Vigyan Mahavidyapeeth Bangalore Ashram chanted the vedic hymns and ancient shlokas and the stadium was enveloped by the celestial mantras. The gathering bathed in these mantras and were then enthralled by the melodious devotional songs sung by the renowned singers of The Art of Living.

Dipawali is the festival of lights and is known across the world as a symbol of victory over good, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

The innumerable villages in India are still devoid of light, electricity has not reached them. There is inconvenience in the life of thousands of villagers hence H. H Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji has initiated a “Light a Home Project”. The volunteers have begun the campaign in Rural India to bring light in each home through solar energy. These lamps will be economical and pollution free. “The yuvacharyas” are specially trained in the villages to make this project a success.

To initiate “Light a home project”, more than 30 thousand devotees congregated at Sardar Patel stadium.
It was a breath taking view; the entire stadium was illuminated by the light as though thousands of stars had descended.

The Art of Living Foundation (India), made a benchmark today by making an attempt to enter in the Guinness Book of World Records. More than 30,000 people lit thousands of candles at a single time at Sardar Patel Stadium, Amdavad, today on 13th November under the category, ‘The most candles lit simultaneously at a single venue’. It was followed by an aarti to goddess of wealth and prosperity :Sri MahaLaxmiji.

It is noteworthy that the Art of Living previously has also entered in the Guinness Book of World Records under the category, ‘The largest buffet consisted of 5612 different dishes in an event.’ on November 2, 2010.

Showering the blessings and wishes for Dipawali and the New Year Gurudev said,

“Light the lamp of knowledge, burst the crackers of stress, and distributes the sweets of words and feelings. In each and every house create an atmosphere and ensure that no one should remains unhappy. We should lit lamps in our inner self and we are filled with enthusiasm and renowned energy to move ahead.

In ancient times ‘havan’ was performed with 108 different herbs. We perform the Shri MahaLaxmi Homa hence we invoke the subtle energy and gather the Divine powers. Gurudev further said: When everyone celebrates a festival together it is a “yagna”, the fruit of this yagna benefits on a large scale, the ‘yagna’ that is performed together here will spread light in countless villages of India. We send our children abroad to study why not provide the best facilities available here and anywhere in the world to our youth, hence provide these and both ancient and modern kind of education, Sri Sri University in Orissa spread in 200 acres and with 150 different faculties is started with the same goal.

Love for our country and God are two sides of a coin that means to love god means to love his creations, we should be sensitive towards the environment and society. On this pious day Laxmi that is wealth and prosperity is showered on each one of us, some people have locked Laxmi abroad , it’s our duty to toil and get her back. It is as though the innocent Goddess Laxmi has blessed few and they in turn have locked her, the “Nar Narayan” that is the commoners should free her. Let us pledge for the betterment of our country and we are automatically benefitted.

One experiences knowledge, it is not limited to simply reading it from scriptures and epics. There are three perceptions of knowledge: sensory, intellectual and transcendental. When we give importance to the the third level that is transcendental the intuitive knowledge benefits us the most. This is one of the Astha Laxmi, that is VidyaLlaxmi. Gods are found living in our consciousness and they can be invoked by mantras. So one must chant mantras. All our desires are fulfilled but it is important to have clear thoughts and words and positive desires. Everyone must practice yoga and meditate, those who don’t must begin today.

Awards were given by The Art of Living to the yuvacharyas, youth leaders, who worked relentlessly in the villages of Gujarat. Gurudev said there are many unemployed youths and lots of opportunities for those who are willing to work.

Thus the celebrations aimed at Devipuja, togetherness and sharing hence the ideas of respect to the Divinity in the universe, gather the totality and share everything given by the Lord.