VEDANTA SOCIETY OF PROVIDENCE
227 Angell St, Providence, RI 02906
Ph: 401-421-3960, email: vedantaprov@hotmail.com
website: www.vedantaprov.org, facebook: www.facebook.com/vedanta.providence
blog: www.vedantaprovidence.blogspot.com
A report on
Celebrations of 150 th Birth Anniversary
of
Report on Celebrations of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
at Vedanta Society of Providence
Vedanta Society of Providence observed the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda with a variety of programs (12 in all) starting
from September 11, 2011 to January 12, 2014. A brief synopsis of these programs along with picture illustrations is being given in this
brochure.
1. September 11, 2011 (Sunday): Universal Brotherhood Day at Brown University
Universal Brotherhood Day is observed every year to commemorate the foundation of Vedanta Society in Providence. This year it
was done in collaboration with the Brown University, Rhode Island Council of Churches and Rhode Island Voices of Faith at the Brown
University Campus to observe the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The day was a bit more poignant as it was exactly a
decade after the horrific tragedy of September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks.
The event started at 2:00 PM with walking meditation in a specially designed labyrinth with posters to promote peace and harmony. From
4:00 to 6:00 PM, various dignitaries spoke for a few minutes. The speakers included Swami Yogatmananda (Minister, Vedanta Society
of Providence), Rev. Janet Cooper-Nelson (Director of the Religious Life at Brown University), Ruth Simmons (President of Brown
University), Rev. Don Anderson (Executive Director of State Council of Churches), Rabbi Amy Levin (President of the State Board of
Rabbis), and Imam Farid Ansari (Muslim American Da’wah Center of Rhode Island). This event was conducted on the steps of Manning
Chapel where Swami Saradananda had given a lecture in 1896.
2. April 20 (Friday) - April 22 (Sunday), 2012: Inauguration Ceremony of the new Shrine-Chapel and 150th Birth Anniversary
Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda
April 20, 2012 (Friday), 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: A monastic conference with 23 monastic members (19 monks and 4 nuns) from North
America discussed various issues connected with the spreading of the message of Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta in contemporary American society.
April 20, 2012 (Friday), 6:00 - 8:00 PM: A public meeting to elaborate on Swami Vivekananda in relation to Sri Ramakrishna and
Sri Sarada Devi was held. Vedic chanting/singing by the students of Vivekananda Vidyapith (Wayne, NJ) marked the beginning
of the meeting. Swami Harinamananda (San Diego, CA) delivered a short discourse on Vivekananda: Voice of Sri Ramakrishna.
Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana (Ridgely, NY) gave a talk on Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. The discourses were interspersed
with devotional music and classical dances of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Swami Tathagatananda (New York, NY) delivered the
concluding benedictory remarks.
April 21, 2012 (Saturday), 7:00 AM: Ceremonial ribbon cutting by Swami Tathagatananda to inaugurate the new Shrine and
Chapel in accompaniment of Vedic chants by swamis/nuns, blowing of conch shells and singing of devotional songs by devotees.
April 21, 2012 (Saturday), 7:30 - 9:30 AM: Swami Prapannananda (Sacramento, CA) performed the special worship of Sri Ramakrishna with Swami Shantarupananda (Portland, OR) acting as the director.
Inauguration of new temple and celebration
of 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda
Special Worship
Poster exhibition
Monastic conference
Indian classical music concert
Fusion music concert
April 21, 2012 (Saturday), 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Symposium on Facets of Swami Vivekananda’s Message began with a devotional
song followed by discourses. Speaker and his/her respective topic was:
Swami Aparananda (Berkeley, CA) - Vivekananda and the necessity of spiritual life
Swami Bhaskarananda (Seattle, WA) - Swamiji’s Non-Dual Vedanta
Swami Yuktatmananda (New York, NY) - Swamiji: At Thousand Island Park
Swami Varadananda (Chicago, IL) - Vivekananda as Innovator
Swami Sarvadevananda (Hollywood, CA) - Swamiji’s new direction of Bhakti (devotion)
Swami Shantarupanananda (Portland, OR) - Vedantic Conception of Soul
Swami Ishtananda (St. Petersburg, FL) - Swamiji on Courage and Strength
Pravrajika Gitaprana (Ridgely, NY) - Western Women in Swamiji’s Work
Swami Kripamayananda (Toronto, Canada) - Swamiji’s Global Vision
Pravrajika Mukundaprana (San Francisco, CA) - Vivekananda’s Modern Approach
Swami Tattwamayananda (San Francisco, CA) - Swamiji’s Karma Yoga
Swami Atmajnananda (Washington, DC) - Swamiji as Poet
Swami Avikarananda (Seattle, WA) - Vivekananda in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
Swami Tathagatananda (New York, NY) - Concluding remarks
Swami Tyagananda (Boston, MA) - Vote of Thanks
April 21, 2012 (Saturday), 5:00 - 6:30 PM: The honoring of construction team began with a slide show of the different stages of
construction. The architect, contractor, their main staff and Vedanta Society’s construction-management team were then felicitated by
awarding mementos. Swami Tathatagananda later officially released the commemorative volume. William Kite, the architect, then
spoke about the special features of this construction. Swami Yogatmananda read a citation sent from the Governor of the state of
Rhode Island. The program concluded with a song to the Divine Mother.
April 21, 2012 (Saturday), 7:30 - 9:00 PM: A Hindustani (Indian classical) music concert by Debapriya Adhikary (vocalist), Samanwaya Sarkar (sitar) and Nitin Mitta (tabla) was held.
S. Ishtananda
S. Tyagananda
S. Bhaskarananda
S. Tathagatananda
S. Yuktatmananda
S. Kripamayananda
S. Sarvadevananda
S. Tattwamayananda
S. Harinamananda
S. Shantarupananda
S. Varadananda
P. Gitaprana
P. Mukundaprana
S. Aparananda
S. Avikarananda
S. Atmajnanananda
April 22, 2012 (Sunday), 9:30 AM - 12:00 noon: In a symposium on East Meets West, five speakers, each a highly regarded expert
in his or her respective field, participated. This program was organized to emphasize the role of Vivekananda as the bridge between the
east and the west. Each lecture was followed by a lively Question & Answer discussion.
Dr. Pratibha Shah (Ayurvedic physician) on Ayurveda, Swami Chetanananda (St. Louis, MO) spoke on Vedanta Philosophy: A
Bridge Between East and West, Marc Rossi (Professor at Berklee College of Music, MA) expounded The Universality of Music and
the Connection between East and West, Gita Desai (documentary filmmaker and yoga advocate), spoke on Hatha Yoga, Swami
Atmarupananda (Trabuco Canyon Monastery, CA) spoke on East Meets West: Meditation. Swami Yogatmananda thanked all the
participants.
S. Chetanananda
S. Atmarupananda
Dr. P. Shah
M. Rossi
G. Desai
April 22, 2012 (Sunday), 3:00 - 4:00 PM: A fusion music concert, delightfully combining the elements of Indian and Western music,
was presented by the band Garuda, led by Bruno Radberg.
April 22, 2012 (Sunday), 5:00 - 7:30 PM: The final program was an Interfaith Prayer/Music Meeting that featured the words, prayers,
and blessings of representatives from various religions, as well as expressions of music. Swami Tyagananda (Boston, MA) presided
this meeting. Rev. Janet Cooper-Nelson (Chaplain & Director of Religious Life at Brown University, RI), Rabbi Alan Flam (Associate
Chaplain, Brown University and a Fellow, Swearer Center for Public Service, Providence RI), Father Edward St.-Goddard (Holy Family
Church, Woonsocket RI), Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson (Executive Minister, RI State Council of Churches), Rev. Ian Taylor (Minister and
Leader, Concordia Center for Spiritual Living, Warwick RI), Rev. Rebecca Spencer (Senior Minister, Central Congregational Church,
Providence RI), Nancy Barta-Norten (Sufi teacher), Jennifer Vest (Rhode Island Indian Council, RI), Rev. James Ford (Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church and Zen teacher), Cyrus Mehta (Zoroastrian Group,), Amritpal Singh (Sikh “Sabad”, MA), Jain Center of
Greater Boston (Jain Prayers, MA), Klezmer music, Cheryl Brooks (Christian Science Teacher, Attleboro, MA), Jaya Morrill (Song:
Prayer of St. Francis), Taposh Taluqdar (a Sufi song), Swami Prapannananda, and Premasananda (Nigerian religion). Swami Tathagatananda gave benedictory remarks, reminding everyone that God is Love, God is everything, the one ground of Existence. Swami
Yogatmananda then extended a final thanks to all.
Rev. D. Anderson
Fr. E. St. Goddard
Rev. J. Cooper-Nelson
Rev. I. Taylor
Rev. R. Spencer
J. Vest
Rev. J. Ford
C. Brooks
N. Barta-Morten
A poster exhibition depicting Swami Vivekananda’s tour in America and selected quotations from his lectures was held throughout these
three days. Around 250 people participated in each of the programs on the three days of Inauguration ceremony and 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda.
3. September 09, 2012 (Sunday): Universal Brotherhood Day
An interfaith symposium on theme Science and Religion: Conflict and Resolution was held at Vedanta Society from 5:00 to 7:00 PM,
in the honor of Swami Vivekananda, who called for the science and religion to shake hands. The program began with a welcome address
by Swami Yogatmananda followed by a short reading from a lecture by Swami Vivekananda. The various speakers were:
Rabbi Amy Levin (Temple Torat Yisrael, Cranston/East Greenwich RI), Father Edward St. Godard (Holy Family Parish, Woonsocket
RI), Dr. Bal Ram Singh (Physical Biochemistry professor at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth MA), Imam Farid Ansari (MuslimAmerican Da’wah Center, Providence RI), Professor Mathew Zimmt (Chair of Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence
RI), Swami Tyagananda (Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Boston, MA)
The talks were interspersed with songs/music. About 120 people attended the program and a sumptuous dinner was arranged by India
Museum and Heritage Society.
Rabbi A. Levin
Fr. E. St. Goddard
Prof. M. Zimmt
Imam F. Ansari
Prof. B. Singh
4. April 17, 2013 (Wednesday): A special lecture on Swami Vivekananda
As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Philip Goldberg, the celebrated author of ‘American Veda’
spoke on What Does Vivekananda Mean to America from 7:15 to 8:40 PM to about 55 attendees.
P. Goldberg
5. June 01, 2013 (Saturday): A day long spiritual retreat
Swami Atmajnanananda, the resident Minister of Vedanta Center of Greater Washington DC, gave a retreat on Vivekananda’s Song
on Samadhi.
S. Atmajnanananda
6. June 02, 2013 (Sunday): Dhrupad music concert
In view of Swami Vivekananda’s emphasis on Dhrupad style of
Indian Music, an Indian classical music concert of Pt. Uday Bhavalkar, a Dhrupad-maestro vocalist from India, was arranged.
Pt. U. Bhavalkar
7. July 11 (Thursday) - July 14 (Sunday), 2013: Vivekananda Day at International Congress of Vedanta at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA
Swami Yogatmananda organized a special Vivekananda Day at the International Congress of Vedanta hosted by Center for Indic
Studies, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA. Besides Swami Yogatmananda, Swami Tyagananda and many scholars participated in the conference.
S. Yogatmananda
8. July 28, 2013 (Sunday): Special Service at Village Church, Annisquam, MA
Vedanta Societies in Providence and Boston in collaboration with the Annisquam Village Church (where Swamiji gave his first lecture
in the USA) arranged a Special Service at the Annisquam Village Church on Sunday July 28, 2013 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. About 220
devotees, congregation members and well-wishers attended the program.
A sitar recital, short talks by Swami Yogatmananda (Providence, RI), Swami Tyagananda (Boston, MA), and Minister Rev. Deirdre
White (Annisquam Village Church, MA) was followed by music by the choir of Annisquam Village Church and Vedanta Society devotees. Other programs were: Vivekananda in Annisquam, a skit performed by the Annisquam students of Schola Cantorum, a poem on
Vivekananda composed by a Church patron, unveiling of the plaque honoring the visit of Swami Vivekananda in Annisquam in the front
lobby of the Church, a short video on Vivekananda in America and dinner.
Rev. D. White
Skit
S. Yogatmananda
Music concert
S. Tyagananda
Annisquam Church, MA
Plaque
9. August 09 (Friday) - August 11 (Sunday), 2013: Young Adult Residential Retreat
Seventeen young adults (ages 17 to 29) gathered at Vedanta Society for the first residential young adult retreat from Friday, August 09 (6:00 PM) through Sunday, August
11 (1:00 PM). The topic was What We Need To Learn From Vivekananda. The program comprised of readings, meditation and guided meditation, one hatha yoga session, karma yoga (work duties), and discussion groups.
10. September 08, 2013 (Sunday): Universal Brotherhood Day
The theme for interfaith symposium this year was Swami Vivekananda and Interfaith Movement in USA. Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson
(Chaplain, Brown University, Providence, RI), Father John Sullivan (La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, MA), Prof. Jeffery Long (Religion
and Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA) and Swami Yogatmananda spoke on this occasion to over a 100
devotees. John Schlenk, the well-known composer and singer, along with guitarist Peter Travisano and a group of singers, presented
songs about Vivekananda. Anuradha Tata presented a beautiful Bharatanatyam style dance on Vivekananda.
Rev. J. Cooper-Nelson
Fr. J. Sullivan
J. Schlenk
Prof. J. Long
11. September 29, 2013 (Sunday): Special lecture on Swami
Vivekananda
Swami Atmavidyananda (Hollywood, CA) presented Oratorios
on Vivekananda (music & commentary) on September 29, 2013
(Sunday) from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
12. January 12, 2014 (Sunday): Special lecture on Swami
Vivekananda
Vivekananda and Spiritual Renaissance was the topic of the lecture given by Rabbi Rami Shapiro on January 12, 2014 (Sunday)
from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Rabbi Shapiro is an author of many books on
mystic Judaism and he is an initiated devotee of Vedanta Society.
S. Atmavidyananda
Rabbi R. Shapiro
This was the concluding program of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda that spanned over two years including
12 major programs.