Pujya Guruji, Dr.Vedavyas IAS, Ph.D., D.Litt, birthday this year was celebrated with lot of devotion in Hyderabad. Devotees from various USCEFI centers assembled in the conference community hall next to Sri Ramalayam in New Nallakunta, they all camped there for the night of 12th.

On 13th morning at 6 am, sunrise time, all devotees assembled and conducted prayers chanting with Sri Vekateshwara Suprabhatam, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Venkateshwara Ashtotaram, Narayana Mantram, Mahalakshmi Sahasranamam, Mahalakshmi Ashtotaram and Mahalakshmi Mantram. After breakfast, at around 9 am the gathering of all the Shakhas (USCEFI Centers) was addressed by Sri MVS Prasad(president USCEFI), Smt. Rani Samyukta Vedavyas (Ammagaru), gave the message about the day. She emphasized the need for all of us to work together for spiritual progress and also uphold to the ideals which Guruji Dr.Vedavyas IAS, Ph.D., D.Litt preached to all of us and lived the same throughout his life. The work of various centers was reviewed and the progress was recorded by Sri MVS Prasad.

At 10:15 am, an online/written test for Certificate Course on Vedavyasa Maharshi was conducted. The duration of the test was one hour. 52 members from various USCEFI centers participated in the test. The theme of the course was Life of Maharshi Vedavyasa. The content for the course is available in the book Vedavyasa Maharshi Divya Charitra, in Telugu, written by Dr.Vedavyas IAS, Ph.D., D.Litt, part of the book was also translated into English recently. In the other part of world, United States, similar test was taken by 10 Satsang members in Fremont, California. In all 62 members participated for this certificate course. The results were encouraging and this effort helps to disseminate the abundance of knowledge available in the books written by Pujya Guruji, Dr.Vedavyas IAS, Ph.D., D.Litt, to the community spread across the globe.

Towards the afternoon, food was served after Maha Nivedana. Two Busses were arranged for transportation of USCEFI members to the evening programme at Suraram by Sri Vishnu Kumar of Hyderabad center. Devotees first visited Gurustan in Jublee Hills where each one individually paid respects to Guruji and prayed for few minutes before leaving to Shirdi Sai temple. Devotees attended the Pooja and Archana and collected Prasadam.

The venue of the Birthday meeting was the ground floor hall of the Kalyana Mandapam in Suraram Temple complex. The chief guest Dr. Mudigonda Shivaprasad, special guest Dr. Hampaih, Chairman AP Bio-diversity board, Dr. Anandaramam, famous novelist and reputed scholar, along with the president of USCEFI Sri MVS Prasad and Vice President Sri GS Raju were invited on the dais. Sri Venkata Chalapati, secretary USCEFI, delivered the welcome address after children presented garlands and bouquet to the members of the dais. Ammagaru, Smt. Rani Samyukta Vedavyas, graced the occasion and sat through the proceedings on the Dais. She blessed the devotees with a special message for the occasion.

Dr. Mudigonda Shivaprasad explained what means to be a Parama purusha and the greatest contribution in the part of the Risihies was given by Pujya Guruji, Dr.Vedavyas IAS, Ph.D., D.Litt. Sri Ananadaramam explained as to how great Guruji’s contributions have been in the field of literature and Vedic subjects. Dr. Hampaih summarized what it is like to be to work for Indian culture which has been gradually recognizing importance and spread all over the world. Sri MVS Prasad explained about the Vedic Seminar in Bangalore and summarized the teachings of National education especially about the Gurukul system with all its benefits.

Towards the end of the programme Sri MVS Prasad, president USCEFI, distributed the certificates to all the 52 participants who took the test for Vedavyasa Maharshi Course. Certificates will be mailed to the participants from USA. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Sri. G.Hanumanth Rao of the Hyderabad Center.