SARASWATI JAYANTI 2013
Radha Krishna Foundation
Happy Saraswati Jayanti, the Appearance Day of goddess Saraswati. Vasant Panchami, another name of this festival, is celebrated on February 14th this year.
Today I would like to dedicate this blog to my dear friend, Panditji Jagmohan Persaud, who is celebrating his birthday today. He is an excellent teacher, singer, creative soul and my inspiration when writing blogs connected with Gandhi and The Ramayan.
Mother Saraswati is the consort of Brahma, the Creator. She is the goddess of wisdom, education, sciences, music, the arts and speech. She is the creative power of Brahma. Wisdom and knowledge are needed in the spiritual realms and in our every day lives. Without them we are not able to function as human and spiritual beings.
On Saraswati Jayanti the goddess is dressed in yellow garments. Those worshipping Her on this day wear yellow clothing as part of their worship. On this great day children are taught their first words. Reading and writing are encouraged on this day.
On January 18, 2013 Pandit Jagmohan delivered a katha on The Ramayan on the importance of education. Ram, the eldest prince, and his brothers received education in all subjects, secular and spiritual. His father, King Dasharath, and his mother, Queen Kausalya, made sure this was a priority. Education should be a priority of all parents.
Education is so important for the empowerment of girls and women. Without it they can not obtain skills, so that they can achieve independence to determine their life path in a career. Education also is important in becoming a human and spiritual being. Ethics and morality come from a good, rounded education. An educated female can have more choices in careers inside and outside the home. Education allows her more choice in choosing a life partner when she marries. She can marry the man she loves because she can financially support herself. She does not have to worry about marrying a man because of financial considerations.
From my own life experience, I will give examples of how my parents, just like King Dasharath and Queen Kausalya, encouraged my education. My father encouraged my independence and paid for my college education. Of course, I earned money through work study, delivering newspapers and waiting on people in restaurants, but he paid for the majority of costs. He was instrumental in my development in all these aspects of earning income. Although he is now in the afterlife, he comes to me sometimes in dreams to give his wisdom and approval. My mother helped us whenever we needed help with school work. Because I learned how to read and write before attending first grade, I was ahead of other children in the language arts. She read books to us before we attended school, which is so important in obtaining those language skills. She was our spiritual teacher (guru) in how she conducted herself in the world. Your mother is your first guru and Divine Shakti on Earth. She is very much like Saraswati Ma, the goddess of wisdom, arts, sciences and music. My mother excelled in all the creative and intuitive arts and encouraged my intuitive and creative abilities given to me by the goddess. These creative and intuitive aspects are very much a part of the wisdom of Saraswati Ma.
Let's look at a foundation which encourages education. In June of 2011 the Radha Krishna Foundation was founded in Guyana. Their mission empowers and inspires youth to achieve their goals in primary, secondary and college education. Their programs are connected with obtaining school supplies, uniforms and books. Access to the creative arts, sports, health, community and extra-curricular and vocational skills is also part of the foundation's work. Scholarships for colleges and universities are promoted for the youth. Their website is www.rkfglobal.org and their phone number is +592-651-2663. You can goggle them on facebook, also.
The Corentyne area of Guyana is the focus of the foundation. Jeevan Jyoti is its youth arm, which is comprised of 100 youth, ages 5-18. They are establishing Community/Humanitarian Centers which offer Hinduism, Music, Hindi, Yoga, Meditation, Computers, Creative Arts and more.
Some of the activities of the foundation include: establishing summer camp in 2012, visiting the Albion orphange, starting a lunch program in October 2011, having a yagna, establishing a library, launching a sports club and celebrating Vasant Panchami 2012.
In December of 2012 the foundation started an outreach program for widows, seniors and single parents. A meal was served and food hampers were given out along with some money. Future programs will continue according to people's interests.
On December 25th Dr. Jhagroo gave a tour of the Skeldon Public Hospital for members of the foundation. On December 28th the foundation donated hot/cold water fountains and arranged for development of a continual supply of 10 water bottles per month.
Also in December the foundation's first Public Safety Initiative happened at 11 pedestrian crossings from Crabwood Creek to #63 Village. These crossings were repainted by older youth of Jeevan Jyoti.
On January 12, 2013 the foundation had a meeting and presentation by Pandit Krishna Sharma. The meeting was to inspire and empower the youth at the Bleheim Mandir at Leguan, Essequibo, Guyana.
It was because of my friendship with Panditji Jagmohan that I learned about this foundation which empowers youth. He is an inspiration to the youth of Guyana. His inspiring katha on Mother Sita inspired my presentation on January 18th, where I presented highlights of Her life. It was as though Mother Saraswati came through to inspire me on that day. Panditji Jagmohan's series of kathas on The Ramayan followed and were a great inspiration to us all. Panditji fits this quote very well from The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 7:18): "I regard the person of knowledge to be My very self; self-disciplined. This person holds Me to be the highest way!" On this Vasant Panchami I want to wish you wisdom and insight of Saraswati Ma, besides wishing a very Happy Birthday to Panditji Jagmohan Persaud. May Saraswati Ma always inspire and bless him every day.
JAI SHRI SARASWATI MA! JAI SHRI PANDITJI JAGMOHAN! JAI SHRI RADHA KRISHNA FOUNDATION!
Radhapriestess
