DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF DHARMA SANGHA BY SRI GOUTAM DHARMAPAL

[mrinalini]

                                                             DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION

                                                                                     OF

                                                                     DHARMA SANGHA

Dharma Sangha was established in Ahmedabad on 10^th October 1945, at Pushpakunja Society, Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, where eight Dharmapals under the leadership of Bandhu Dharmapal took their vows. Gautam and Sharad took their vows 3-4 days later after their arrival from Mumbai where they were held up due to flood in Narmada. Then on 16^th October 1945 Bandhu Dharmapal left for Calcutta as the first missionary of Dharma Sangha, as Calcutta was considered the heart centre of the New Age.

( The function began just at 10-00 am even though none of the invitees had arrived, with meditation for 5 minutes with the mantra –

Om Aim Hrim Shrim Maha-Sarasvattai Namah

After meditation Gautam Dharmapal began reciting the Seven Mantras invoking the Goddess Mahasarasvati - 4 from Rig Veda, 2 Pauranik Mantras and 1 Mantra from Chandi – the Dhyanamantra of Mahasarasvati – the destroyer of Shumbha and Nishumbha. )

By this time our friend Subhash Chandra Basu arrived. Arundhati phoned that she is unable to come. Gautam then read from the dairy – (rather Life sketch of Gautam – Vishnu ) translated in Bangla by Gauri giving a short resume of the First Dharmasangha gathering, vows by the Dharmapals with their former family names as well as the new Dharmapal names and their later history. Then Gautam described how the form of Sarasvati as divine mother appeared in the early morning of 8^th February 1954 – before the inner eye of Bandhu. It was a Sarasvati Puja – Vasanti Panchami day and a similar photo of Sarasvati was published in the Amrita Bazar Patrika of that very day. Then he told the whole story of the present picture of Ma Sarasvati that we have with us.

How the vision of Maha-Sarasvati appeared in the Dhyana Kalpana of Gautam on 21-04-2004 at Haridwar, Sri Aurobindo Yogamandir, was also narrated by him. Three artists have been assigned with the work of drawing the picture. We have to wait for the outcome!*

Gautam then read with some explanations the pamphlet “the Message of Dharma” by Bandhu Dharmapal.

At the end of the meeting some Shanti mantras which we generally recite at the end of our monthly veda-class were recited by Gauri Dharmapal.

1. Om Bhadram Karnebhih Shrunuyama devah…..
2. Om Shanno Mitrah, Sham Varunah…….
3. Om Madhu Vata Ritayate………..etc. and
4. Om pashyema Sharadah Shatam………..etc.

At the end of the meeting some refreshments were served by Rohini Dharmapal Banerjee and it was decided that from now on every year on 10^th October such a function will be organized at ‘Ritam’, 9/2, Fern Road. Incidentally it may be mentioned that 10^th October is the birth date of Bandhu Dharmapal.

Copies of the pamphlet “the Message of Dharma” with a 12 page – brief exposition of the same by Gautam  Dharmapal were distributed. Thanks to Apurva Dharmapal, son of Bandhu Dharmapal who had delivered to us a few copies of “ The Massage of Dharma” only a day before, though he could not come on 10^th October due to previous engagement.

*The picture of Maha-Sarasvati we have got now, thanks to an young artist Utpal Gain in 2008.