Acharya's blessings....

Acharya's blessings...

My son Vishnuchittan, will be a teenager in a couple of months. He is studying in class 8 of the renowned Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School. His moorings are certainly right as he getting the best support in academics and extra- curricular activities.
Nestled among the lanes of Matunga in Mumbai is the Sri Vedanta Desika Sampradaya Sabha. Established in 1950s it propagates Vaishnava Sampradayam, especially the teachings of Sri Vedanta Desikan. It also strives to preserve and promote our ancient culture and traditions.
For the last 9 years the Desika Sabha has been organising a residential summer camp to initiate children into the teachings of Sri Vedanta Desikan and Vaishnavism.
Vishnu was enrolled in this camp for the first time 8 years ago. I still remember his discomfort and hesitation in going there and staying back by himself. He used to invent all kinds of child- like excuses as a means to escape from there. On our affectionate insistence he used to settle down within a few hours each day after I left. Such was the charisma of the guru Shri. U.Ve. E.S.Mukundachaariyaar as a mentor to the children. Simple, unassuming, full of enthusiasm totally devoted to the cause, it would be difficult to believe that he was once a professor in the College of Engineering at Shegaon in Maharashtra.
On retirement from teaching he has settled at Hyderabad and has devoted himself to the cause of propogating Vaishnavism in an interesting and scientific manner specially among children. It is he who popularised the concept of summer camps in order to inculcate values and keenness for ancient vedantic scripture and traditions. Though this may sound didactic , moralistic and heavy for children of that age, as a Guru, he is able to generate the interest and sustain the attention of children due to his innovative and endearing methods of imparting knowledge. He also has a team of enthusiastic aunts, uncles and students to keep the children's inquisitiveness engaged. Such is the charm that I now find Vishnu wanting to go there year after year for the last 8 years. His excuses have disappeared and to my surprise I found him willing to travel by himself today to the summer camp which is now in progress at Vashi. I wonder what has driven him. He had the option of going for a movie with his friend but he chose to go to to the guru which certainly portrays the level of interest generated by the guru. It also displays his desire to be with children who are younger than him at the satsang and mentor them into this learning.
The summer camp is open to all and not only for Tamilians or South Indians.
It's not about religion or community but about the teachings of Sri Vedanta Desikan who was one of the most brilliant gurus, philosopher, poet, devotee of Vaishnavism. He was the follower of Sri Ramanuja and lived a life of abstinence totally devoted to Lord Narayana. He knew several languages like Tamil, Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit and has composed over 100 works which include, 5 poetic works, 1 drama , 28 devotional poems, 13 philosophical works,
10 commentaries, 32 treatises on different subjects and 24 poems in Tamil.
His works have touched on all aspects of life and have been a source of inspiration to many.
The Sri Vedanta Desika Sampradaya Sabha has been instrumental in introducing many children like Vishnu to this great philosophy from which they have been able to imbibe the spirit of divinity. The methods of imparting knowledge used by Guru Mukundan include performing arts like story tellling , singing, performing skits and dance which kindle the creativity of the children. It is energizing to see the children sing and dance to devotional hymns and bhajans of vitthala. Children love the tempo and fervour. Outings to nearby parks and yoga are included to keep them fit and agile. They are also taught shlokas composed by various Acharyas which sharpens their diction and memory. The aura of the shlokas pulsates their being throughout the day bringing in positivity and countering negativity effectively and chanelising their thoughts. At the end of the camp it is extremely satisfying for parents to see how well their children have been groomed.
Indian philosophy has all elements providing strength for life and living beyond existentialism. It is for us to be torch-bearers for the future generations. Rather than becoming agnostic or ritualistic it is important for us to endeavour to fathom the teachings and philosophy of our revered acharyas.
In this day and age it is common place to idolise and lose the true essence of our rich culture and heritage. All our saints and seers have left behind great ideas and thoughts for posterity. It is for us to imbibe those noble thoughts into impressionable minds so that they derive strength from it.
Summer camps like these have been great enablers. My mind was filled with gratitude to God that we were a part of this glorious tradition, for Mukundan Swami and his team who are facilitating this noble cause and with love for those children whose minds were getting kindled and blessed by our Acharyas.....

P.S. The summer camp is now in progress till tomorrow 30th April 2018 at
BAPS Swaminarayan Kala Kendra , Juhunagar, 38, Frerol Rozario Marg, Sector 10, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400703, Near mini seashore,
Land mark- Near Fortis Hospital
Link for kendra; https://g.co/kgs/BNjpr2