JETUSA launches Prajna chapter

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JETUSA launches Prajna chapter

With the blessings of HH Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar

Swamiji, Prajna Learning Center (a wing of JET- Jeeyar Education Trust) launched

its Houston chapter on the occasion of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s birthday

during Deepavali function on November 14. The celebrations took place at

Campbell Elementary School in Sugar Land. Prajna’s mission is to spread

knowledge and introduce Vedic scriptures, Epics, and Vedic traditions/festivals.

 

Deepavali celebrations consisted of spiritual, educational and cultural programs

that involved attendees of all ages. The program began with an in-depth

discourse on the significance of the Deepavali festival including the narration

of Naraka Chaturdasi and Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana.

 

After the discourse the program was specially designed to encourage children.

Sanskrit slokas (Sri Krishna-ashtakam and Hari-ashtakam) and bhajans were

chanted and sung by the Prajna children between the ages of three and seven.

 

To commemorate the birthday of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji which also falls on

Deepavali day, one young boy (Akhil Ganti) was costumed as Swamiji and was asked

to cut a homemade egg-less-cake which was later distributed to all as prasad.

All who attended were requested to not blow out candles on birthdays henceforth.

Underscoring the significance of light as a representation of knowledge, life,

and goodness, those present were asked to remove candles from birthday cakes in

the future and set them aside instead of blowing them out inauspiciously. A

request was made to all attendees to pass this important message on to friends

and relatives.

 

This portion was also marked with a few devotees’ recitation of the Pallandu,

Pallandu (prayer of the Dravida bhakti saint Sri Vishnu Chitta) singing the

mangala slokas for the Lord and Acharyas, signifying the devotees concern for

the welfare of God and the world.

 

The program continued with a beautiful dance by children depicting the raas-lila

of the gopikas with Lord Sri Krishna in Brindavan. Subsequently, one of the

highlights of the evening’s program was a short skit presented by a small group

of children. They enacted killing of the evil demon Narakaasura by Lord Sri

Krishna accompanied by His consort Satyabhaama. The participants in this skit

were Jonathan Varghese, Pooja Patel, Julie Varghese, Aparna Konde, Devina

Donthi, Sravya Prabu, Vikram Prabu, Prabu Muraghan and Kishan Patel.

 

Another enjoyable part of the program was games for all who attended - children

and adults. The evening came to a close with a hot, sumptuous, homemade prasadam

provided by various enthusiastic volunteers. Prajna’s activities unofficially

commenced on Vijaya Dasami day (Dussera) at a devotee’s home with Semi Tree (Sri

Lakshmi Narayana) puja, bhajans, and an enactment by children killing the

10-headed demon Ravana by Lord Sri Rama.

 

Prajna is now offering classes in Houston and Sugar Land areas to all ages

starting from 4 years old kids to grownups. Prajna will be opening up classes at

Clear Lake and The Woodlands shortly. For more information on Prajna classes

call Geetha at 281-808-2159.

 

Prajna classes are currently being conducted by Neela Ramanujadasi, a senior

sishya (disciple) of HH. Jeeyar Swamiji of Seethanagaram (JET) ashram, AP.

Current syllabus for Prajna classes consists of Slokas with meanings for

children, youth and grown-ups, moral stories from Puranas and Vedic scriptures.

Currently, Bhagwad Gita is being chanted and explained in English in the evening

(tele-bridge) phone classes. For more information please visit

www.jethouston.org or call 281.808.2159.