Sai Yuvak - Guru Poornima Issue 2010

Sri Sathya Sai Vedic Choir,

Orissa

Sri Sathya Sai Vedic Choir, Orissa
The Avatar of this age Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given the clarion call to the entire humanity to cherish and foster Veda for Loka Kshyema. Revival, propagation and fostering this most ancient scripture of the earth have been one of the important missions compelling Parambramha to descend on earth. To give shape to His noble mission the Sai youths of Odisha have taken vow to practice and teach Vedas through the nook and corner of the state. With this mission a group of Vedic scholars (both existing and prospective) has been formed almost one year before (July 2009) and was named ‘Sai Vedic Choir’. The prime objective of the group was to:
Form a dedicated team of Vedic scholars who would visit all Samithis and Bhajan mandalis and impart training at every remote corner of the state. Invite Vedic scholars from outside the state to impart rigorous training to the master trainers. Enable Bal Vikas Gurus to teach veda to the students as veda has been included in B.V syllabus. Form a group of scholars to chant Veda in His Divine presence at Prashanthi Nilayam.
The Group has a state level co-ordinator and district level coordinators to assess, plan and evaluate the progress of Vedic Chanting in the state.
Participants during 1st State level Vedic Choir programme	Vedic Pandit Sj. Madan Ray of Sikkim & his team imparting training
Since the formation the Sai Vedic Choir has been relentlessly toiling to attain the objective by organising training camps at State level, district levels and Samithi level. Two state level training programs have been organised one in Cuttack on 26^th and 27^th December 2009 and another at Titilagarh on 10^th and 11^th of July 2010. Both the training programs have been tremendously responded under the guidance of learned Vedic Pandit Sj. Madan Ray of Sikkim. The first visit of Sri Ray in December 2009 has created the true vibration of Vedic chanting in the soil of Odisha. Sri Ray has elaborately dealt with the chanting techniques, proper pronunciations, use of intonations etc. Over 200 scholars of the state attended this.

State President Inaugurating Book on Inner Significance of Vedic Prayer and releasing audio CDs on vedic prayer


Exhibits on Vedic Deities
The second state level training program again chaired by Sri Ray in July 2010 was based on advanced teaching aids and specifically chanting of Sri Rudram was emphasised upon. Over 250 participants from all over the state attended this program.


2^nd State Level Sai Vedic Choir programme at Titilagarh, Balangir
During the two days long training, the presence of Bhagwan was felt by one and all. The Sacred hymns of Sri Rudram chanted collectively by hundreds of devotees have melted the rain God to pour intermittently. Such rains as revealed by the locals were never witnessed in a dry land like Titilagarh. Again a pair of new kerchiefs placed on Swami’s throne spread the smell of fragrant Bibhuti even for long time after the program was over. Apart from these two mega events on Veda in the state, there have been so many Vedic training programs conducted by the master trainers in the different districts, Samithis and Bhajan mandalis including Bhadrak, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Balasore, Nuapada, Ganjam districts etc. District Vedic Choir Group of Angul District has been inaugurated on 11.04.2010 in Sai Chhaya Complex (Thermal Sai Temple) to reinforce the State Vedic Choir Group as per the decision taken by State Organization. About 65 members joined the programme. The Training was imparted in three modules. A) Theory Class.I, covering the significance of Vedic Chanting and the thought behind formation of Vedic Choir Group with power point presentation by Brother R.R. Sar. B) Theory Class.II, by Brother Dr. Gangadhar Kar, who covered the correct pronunciation of alphabets by help of exhibits showing the Sanskrit pronunciation and diacritic guide and intonations and other technical aspect of correct chanting. C) Practical class: Sister G. Sumitra of Nalco Samithi led two practical class on pre.lunch and post lunch sessions. The following decisions were taken to take the full benefit out of the practice session.
It is felt that the smaller the group the larger the benefits. Hence it is decided to divide the attendees in to 4 or 5 groups and the master trainers who attended the training at Cuttack will lead the groups in future practice classes. All the attendees must have their personal copy for recitation. An error free Oriya script hand out will be provided to the members. The practice class will be done in rotation at different venue. Chanting covered in practice class should be chanted at before Samithi Bhajan regularly. BV Students and other interested person of the hosting Samithi can join the practice class.


Sai Vedic Choir programme at Angul



Sai Vedic Choir programme at Balasore
The constant chanting of Vedas by the youths of Odisha has given them enough synergy and encouragement to conduct themselves in a righteous path, to bring unity in the state and to bring world peace as a whole.


Sai Vedic Choir programme at Bhadrak
The members of Sai Vedic Choir offer themselves at His lotus Feet and pray sincerely to be allowed by Bhagwan to chant veda in the very divine presence of "Veda Purusha" Himself.