Bhubaneswar: The first annual memorial function, celebrating the life and legacy of Swami Chetanananda Saraswati, was held at Sri Sri Nigamamnanda Yogashram in Visuddhananda Nagar, Syampur, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
Born in Digapahandi village of Ganjam district and educated at Samanta Chandrasekhar College, Puri; Benaras Hindu University and University of California, Davis, professor Chakrapani Mishra as Swami Chetanananda was known prior to taking sanyas rose to the position of Dean of Research in OUAT. On retirement from a distinguished academic career, he followed the path of monkhood and took sanyas from Srimad Swami Visuddhananda Saraswati.
For the last two and a half decades, he has been guiding the spiritual lives of countless disciples while building many institutions for spiritual and social pursuits. In the function organised in his memory, his younger brother Dr Nilakantha Mishra welcomed the guests and rendered a beautiful violin and piano recital.
The young and upcoming dhrupad maestro of Odisha Mukund Dev performed Naad Yog based dhrupad recital accompanied by Nishant Singh on the pakhawaj.
Prof Prafulla Kumar Mishra, former vice-chancellor and renowned Sanskrit scholar, spoke on the uniqueness of Indian tradition of guru for spiritual enlightenment citing the example of Swami Chetanananda. Ma Kalyanmayee Saraswati, a sanyasin disciple of Chetanananda Saraswati and Dr Shantanu Kumar Rath spoke at length about Swamiji’s life and work.
Well known young vocalist from Odisha Sniti Mishra joined online from Mumbai to sing spiritual poems of poet Baikunthanath Patnaik from her album Muka Bhagaban.
The guests were felicitated by Ma Amrutamayee Saraswati with gift plants from Bakul Library. Satyamadhaba Mohapatra started the proceedings with chanting of the Vedas and Ramaballabh Mohapatra conducted the event.
The programme was organised by Swamiji’s family before his sanyas and youngest son Dhanada Kanta Mishra offered a vote of thanks. It was live cast through Zoom and Youtube and attended by family members, friends, disciples from India and abroad.
Many Odisha-based disciples attended the program in-person, and the program ended with Jai Guru sankirtan led by Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati. Earlier in the day, the children of Adruta offered prayers.
