Malaysia Jnana Yajna 2025

Preparations

The annual Jñāna Yajña is the foremost event in the SIRD Malaysia calendar. Preparations for the Yajña began three to four months ahead of the event. SIRD volunteers made sure every effort, whether outreach, maintenance, upkeep or replenishment of supplies, were all done with dedication and comprehensiveness expected of such an institution headed by Saints. Volunteers were all around to ensure no slip ups. In the Atithi Niketan (AN) having been added as an important facility and expected to be fully used during the event, extra effort was needed to ensure that everything there was in order. The Team ensured everyone was allotted a proper bed with facilities. Car parking arrangements were also made during their stay.

Arrival Day (Nov 13)

Poojya Swamiji and Ma Gurupriyaji arrived in the morning accompanied by Brahmacharini Namrata Swaroopa, Dr Aravindan and Praveen Kamath from Ashram. Dr. Simrat from Malaysia had gone to Ashram to accompany Poojya Swamiji and Ma on their journey. Bharat Govindani flew directly from USA and joined the team to care for Swamiji throughout their Malaysia stay. Amidst chanting of Guru-stotras and blowing of conch, Poojya Swamiji was garlanded by Dr Mahendran, and Ma by Punam-ji.

Guru Archana (Nov 14)

Pāda-poojā (Nov 14)

Smt. Rathi and Sri Unni Kannan performed Guru Archana on behalf of all devotees. Poojya Swamiji spoke about our immortal culture. He said, “We only need to know three aspects in life: The first is our Inner personality which consists of the mind, intelligence and ego. Second is the complex world, and third is the art and science of interacting with the world.”

Swamiji quoted Sage Ashtavakra who asks to hold on to five virtues: patience, straightforwardness, compassion, contentment and truthfulness. For contentment we only need the mind. Develop a temperament where you will always be pleasant, cheerful and contented. This is the sadhana.

At Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple (Nov 15).

Strengthening Inner Personality through Worship (Nov 15)

The first discourse, held at Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, was attended by 95 participants. Swamiji was received and garlanded by Sri Ganesan, President of Malaysia Hindu Sangam that looks after all the interests of the Hindu community at official levels. Ma was garlanded by Smt Saraswathy, a senior retired public servant who is also the benefactor of Kalvi Maiyam and SIRD.

Swamiji explained that human activity has four kinds and levels; bodily and sensory, oral, mental and intelligential. Inner personality refers to mental and intelligential levels.

If physical worship is given a value of 1, oral worship has a value of 10, mental worship has a value of 100 and intelligential a value of 1000. As such, intelligential enquiry is utmost important to strengthen the inner personality – to understand that God is at zero distance from us.

At Geeta Ashram Malaysia (Nov 18).

Bhagavad Gita – Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Nov 18)

This talk, based on Ch 5, organized by and held at Geeta Ashram, drew participation of about 120 devotees. Swamiji briefly ran through chapters one to four before delving into chapter 5 which addresses the dilemma between Renunciation of actions (Sannyasa) and performing action with the Yoga-attitude (Karma-yoga). True renunciation is not abandoning actions, but getting rid of the saṅga towards results. A person in this state acts without delusional clinging, seeing the Self in all beings, remaining unentangled by the material world, achieving inner peace and liberation. Real renunciation is not stopping actions but giving up selfish desires, hatred, and aversion towards unfavourable results.

Some new devotees from the audience started attending Swamiji’s discourses and satsangs at the SIRD premises. All other programmes were conducted in SIRD.

Breakout session with Poojya Swamiji in Satsang Hall (Nov 22)

Bhagavad Gita Residential Retreat (Nov 21 to 23)

The major programme was the residential retreat. There were 25 participants, of which half were young adults and eight from abroad. Most of them stayed in Atithi Niketan (AN) and were able to participate in all the programmes effectively.

‘Personal Fulfilment and Professional Excellence’ – Discourses based on Bhagavad Gita, by Poojya Swamiji (28-30 Nov)

In discussing personal fulfilment and professional excellence, we have to necessarily understand the human personality. Swamiji said, all experience and knowledge belong to the inner personality, namely mind, intelligence and ego. As such, inner mind, intelligence and ego are the ones to be dealt with to achieve both fulfilment and excellence, aimed at making mind and intelligence themselves more resourceful and refined, enriched and empowered.

Swamiji explained that at the end of Bhagavad Gita dialogue, Arjuna said that his inner being was restored with stability, poise and harmony and he was ready to fight not only one but a score of Mahabharata wars, if necessary. That is the stability Bhagavad Gita can deliver to anyone.

‘Daily Practices to Become Happy and Contented’ – Discourses by Ma (November 25 – 27)

Ma said that by reflecting on the teachings and purifying the mind with noble qualities, we shift from the changing body-mind to our true, changeless Self. This clarity brings natural strength, contentment, and joy that do not depend on external situations.

Drawing from Viveka-cūḍāmaṇi, Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, Ma stressed that realization comes through steady practice – purifying the mind, increasing sattva-guṇa, re ducing rajas and tamas, and nurturing noble qualities. Just as in every pursuit, even in spirituality we must have the will and wish to practise. Ma then compassionately guided us into practical sadhana to refine the mind, increasing sattva-guṇa and reducing rajas and tamas.

Q&A with Poojya Swamiji (Nov 16)

Q&A sessions (Nov 16, 19 & 20)

Q&A sessions with Poojya Swamiji and Ma were very enlightening. The highest truths were discussed and explained in a practical manner. Poojya Swamiji explained in depth about Consciousness, our real Self, as well as the role of rituals and religious practices. Quoting ślokas from Viveka- cūḍāmaṇi, Ma emphasized the real meaning of devotion, and how to always remain connected to the Lord within.

Kalvi Maiyam initiative of SIRD.

Kalvi Maiyam Interactions

On Nov 16, twenty-seven Kalvi Maiyam children with their parents had a joyful and fulfilling session with Poojya Swamiji and Ma. The children have significantly improved in their academic performance after joining Kalvi Maiyam classes. They exhibited self-confidence and enthusiasm to move ahead and face challenges. A wonderful Prize Giving Ceremony took place to celebrate the special achievement of every Kalvi Maiyam child, with each receiving a trophy, certificate and schoolbag from Swamiji and Ma. The trophies were sponsored by a well-wisher, and the shop owner supplying the trophies was touched to hear about Kalvi Maiyam and the children.

Poojya Swamiji spoke both in English and Tamil, encouraged the children to aim at higher and higher performance. Ma also interacted and spoke to the children, emphasizing that the habit and culture of sharing is very important for the inner growth and expansion of children and parents alike. Selfishness should be detected every time and dropped with discreet resolve.

Swamiji and Ma appreciated the service of the 30 loving and caring voluntary teachers, and encouraged SIRD to grow further with Kalvi Maiyam. They had so much of joy seeing the children this time after one year. Ma had felt so moved by the children that she expressed her wish to give them dresses. Many devotees came forward to contribute, and just a day before the event, a team of volunteers went shopping and returned with thoughtfully selected dresses beautifully packed in boxes. On Nov 28, Poojya Swamiji presented each child a dress and dry-fruit prasada, while Ma gave each child chocolate prasada, offered by two of the overseas devotees.

Other Satsangs

During this Jñāna Yajña, there were many formal and informal satsangs. Despite the strenuous travel, Poojya Swamiji started the first satsang right after he arrived at SIRD, and held another vibrant satsang after dinner the same day! Swamiji wanted all to understand that “our mind produces the world, not the other way”. The mind obliterates all interactions that happen during the day, at the end of the day during sleep, a full testament for its capacity.

Swamiji and Ma also met many of the old devotees who came to see them. It was extremely touching to see how lovingly they dealt with Datin Leela Menon, Dr Damo, Jeyabalasinghamji and his wife Gnanes. Swamiji personally helped Jeyabalasinghamji into his car, held Dr Damo’s hand until he entered the lift.

A fulfilment not felt before

Despite age and bodily constraints, Poojya Swamiji was full of vigour, and the discourses and interactions were done in a threadbare manner without restraint. We did observe the rapt attentiveness and appreciation of the participants in those sessions.

The retreat sessions were highly elevating, and from the feedback of participants, we came to know it was beyond their expectation. Many of the participants, in fact, extended their stay to attend the remaining discourses held in SIRD premises.

I have been involved in almost all the Jñāna Yajñas in the past, but I found this 2025 Jñāna Yajña an exhilarating event. The content and depth of the messages, and the harmonious participation of devotees and volunteers were indeed something to cherish.

Jai Guru!