Service rendered by seeing Shiva in every living being is true worship: Swami Muktinathananda
Lucknow: The nine-day Swami Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations concluded today at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow, with a spiritually enriching programme marked by prayer, discourses, devotional music, and collective reflection on the timeless teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
The concluding ceremony began with a silent prayer at the Sri Ramakrishna Temple, followed by the chanting of the Shanti Mantra by the monks of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow. Floral tributes were offered thereafter, and devotional bhajans were rendered by Swami Ishtakripananda. A session of guided meditation was conducted under the direction of the Math’s President, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj, while the Guru Prarthana was sung by Swami Ishtakripananda.
An invocation song was presented by Swami Vishvadevananda of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, with tabla accompaniment by Swami Ramadhishananda. This was followed by a reading from the Vachanamrit by Udayaditya Banerjee, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Seva Samiti, Lucknow.
Delivering a discourse on the theme “Paths to God-Realisation,” Swami Akshayananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram, Prayagraj, emphasised that devotion, moral conduct, selfless service, meditation, and a sense of duty form the true means of attaining divine grace and inner peace. He noted that sincerity of heart, purity of action, and compassion in daily life are the simplest and most effective paths to God-realisation, inspiring ethical values and a positive outlook in society.
A reading from “Maa Ki Baatein” was presented by Rubina Banerjee of Sarada Sangh, Lucknow. Sukhad Ram Pandey, Advisor to the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Bhav Prachar Parishad, spoke on the relevance of Sri Sarada Devi in contemporary life, highlighting her ideals of simplicity, compassion, renunciation, and universal motherhood. He stated that Sri Sarada Devi’s life continues to inspire selfless love, patience, service, and inner purity.
Addressing the gathering, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, delivered a discourse on “Swami Vivekananda’s Call for Service to Living Beings through the Knowledge of Shiva.” He explained that Swami Vivekananda taught that feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, educating the ignorant, and alleviating the suffering of the distressed constitute the true worship of Shiva. He stressed that spiritual practice remains incomplete until the upliftment of the last person in society is achieved. This message, he said, strengthens the ideals of service, compassion, equality, and self-confidence.
The teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Muktinathananda noted, are especially relevant in today’s social context, where growing inequality and insensitivity call for a renewed commitment to serving humanity.
The youth conference concluded with a collective rendition of the concluding hymn “Shri Ramakrishna Sharanam”, led by Swami Ishtakripananda along with members of the Vivekananda Yuva Sangh, followed by the distribution of prasad among the youth. The spiritual conference was coordinated by Shri Hari Om of the Vivekananda Yuva Sangh, who also presented brief summaries of the speakers’ addresses and offered the vote of thanks.
In the evening, Devi Naam Sankirtan was held at the main temple under the guidance of Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj. Following the Sandhya Aarti of Sri Sri Thakur, a classical vocal recital was presented by renowned Lucknow-based singer Kunal Verma, accompanied on tabla by eminent Varanasi-based percussionist Gaurav Banerjee and on harmonium by Dinkar Dwivedi of Lucknow.
At the conclusion of the programme, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj felicitated all artists with angavastrams, calendars, spiritual books, saplings, and portraits of Swami Vivekananda, marking a dignified end to the Jayanti celebrations.
