Aim for Seva: Chhatralaya
AIM for SEVA is an integrated community development programme reaching out to tribal children across India. The aim of this program is providing access & enhancing the quality of education, providing life skills and an environment that is conducive to learning- AIM for SEWA Free Students Homes (FSH). An FSH is an activity centre, a classroom and a learning institute put in one, empowering children to learn by providing them a place to live close to their schools; with a clean environment, nutritious food, schooling needs, value based education, extra-curricular activities and much more. So that they don’t just keep up with the rest, but lead a life-ready childhood to contribute to their family, society and the country as a whole.
Chhatralaya
With the Blessings and inspirations of Pujya Swamiji and under the able guidance of Swami Brahmaparananda Saraswati, Jaipur Chatralaya began with 30 children as a model Chatralaya for underprivileged/vanavasi children of remote areas of Rajasthan in July 2008. Presence of a temple where nitya puja and abhishekam are part of their daily routine. The chanting of mantras/stotrams has been stressed upon by Swamiji as a result of which the boys now chant, all the Stotrams, entire Bhagawad Gita, Vedic chanting, Vishnu Sahastranamam, Narayana Kavacham, Hanuman Chalisa etc.. Swamiji has taught them many Bhajans too.
The children who could not even utter one word of Hindi, are today so confident with ability to do entire parayanam with a Divine glow and are truly appreciated by all those who come and experience the Bliss! They have an Indian dress-code in the Chatralaya and maintain “a shikha” and have a proper schedule from waking up to lights off. Daily yoga and games are also part of their routine; They truly are model of cooperative and harmonious co-existence and with Pujya Swamiji’s Blessings, they shall be enlightened citizens of India. In the true Gurukula tradition, all the boys after their yoga and a bath, perform abhishekam to Omkareshwara Shiva with great devotional fervour and has become an inseparable part of their lives. The imposing Lingam with the backdrop of saparivara Sambaparameswara forms fulfilling sight when these pure hearted children do collective chanting and abhishekam. They pick flowers from the Chhatralaya nursery and sting it into a garland and two boys by turns perform the puja each day which lasts about 45 minutes.