Gayatri Chetna Center aims to impart spiritual education

NEW JERSEY: August 29 and 30 marked the ritualistic opening of the Gayatri Chetna Center (GCC) in New Jersey in the presence of the patron heads of All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) and Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyala (DSVV), Dr. Pranav Pandya and Shailbala Pandya.

This center built at a cost of nearly $3 million, spread over a 22,000 sq ft area on a five acre lot in Piscataway will serve as the headquarters for all Gayatri Chetna Centers across North America, and will serve the needs of the Gayatri parivar followers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Gayatri parivar has over 80,000 followers in North America and some 4 million followers in India.

At a press conference held on the center's premises prior to its grand opening, Dr. Pandya who is based at the Shantikunj center in Hardwar, India, said it would be a unique institution that will provide a source of spiritual development through the awakening of Gayatri Consciousness. "Simple living and high thinking is the mantra" that would be taught through the center's many activities, Dr. Pandya said.

"This will not be a traditional temple like so many others all over the US," Dr. Pandya said. "It will not be just about murtis, artis and poojas. It will be far beyond that and will strive to change society spiritually."

Dr. Pandya, who practiced cardiology in Ohio, US in the mid-70s, says he shifted gears to his current vocation as he realized the need for spirituality in today's world.

The center will also perform many rituals of Indian culture such as yagya, sanskars with parallel explanations of the scientific basis of these rituals.

There will also be regular yoga and pranayam classes, spiritual education classes based on the study of ancient scriptures such as the Vedas, Upanishads and the Gita.

The GCC will also house a library and book store where the complete works of the founder of AWGP, Pandit Shriram Acharya will be available as also books in various languages on spirituality, self-development and scriptures.

Dr. Pandya said that an important of the center's activities would be the annual youth camp that helps participants deal with peer pressure, time management, self-confidence and all round personality development.

Dr. Pandya said he was in consultation with at least six American universities to collaborate with his university, the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyala, which is recognized by the Government of India and follows a curriculum approved by India's University Grants Commission. "The effort would be to disseminate Indian culture and spirituality scientifically," he said.

Trained workers from Shantikunj will be regularly sent to the NJ center to train priests and teach followers about the many Hindu rituals

The center also hopes to reach out non-Indians through relevant workshops and camps. "We have already conducted such workshops in the Bay Area and in Syracuse, NY which were attended by several non-Indians," Dr. Pandya informed. The pran pratishtha of the Gayatri, Hanuman and Ganesh idols was performed in the presence of hundreds of devotees on Aug 30.

India Post News Service