Fortunate Are Those Who Are Blessed With Devotion

Since the inception of our enriched culture, we have been in the practice of worshiping GOD along with His choicest devotees which is known as Yugal Upaasana (Dual Worship). The entire ‘Bhakti Movement’ in India is based on Yugal Upaasana where the devotee plays a vital role.

In Swaminarayan Faith, such a choicest devotee is considered as abode of God. The Bhakti Yog of ‘Bhagwad Gita’ says that a state comes where the devotee becomes one with God and God surrenders Himself to the devotee.

Satyam House was given an opportunity to celebrate ‘The lives of great devotees’. Here, the question arises ‘why should students celebrate this value?’ The Founder and President of Atmiya Vidya Mandir – P. P. Hariprasad Swamiji strongly believes in the alignment of Hands, Head and Heart. This lofty goal can only be achieved through Bhakti; intense love for God accompanied with the glory and magnificence of God.

Throughout the week, the combined endeavour of teachers and students of Satyam House managed to create devotional vibrations in the hearts of students and teachers. The videos, presentations and prayer talks based on lives of the great devotees like Meerabai, Gnaneshwer, Shabari, Rohidas, Bal Bhaktas like Dhruv, Prahalad and devotees of P. P. Hariprasad Swamiji, gave an insight to the students about what devotion is and how could one imbibe that quality.

The week’s Saturday came up with a new vision of devotee through Samvad. The samvad was about one of the great devotees of Lord Swaminarayan – Param Bhakt Jinabhai. The samvad performed by the students, not only reflected the service of this great devotee and his devotional heart, but also demonstrated the boundless love of Lord Swaminarayan towards his real devotees. The last scene of the drama where Lord Swaminarayan himself shoulders the body of Bhakt Jinabhai for his funeral rites left every one spellbound.  One could literally experience the enlightening words of the great devotee (and poet: આદ્ય કવિ) Narsinh Mehta:

પ્રાણ થકી મને વૈષ્ણવ વ્હાલા, હરનિશ એને ધ્યાવું રે,
તપ તીરથ વૈકુંઠ-સુખ મેલી, મારા વૈષ્ણવ હોય ત્યાં જાવું રે ...

(Dearer than life is my devotee to me, he is ever in my heart; I leave behind all the pilgrimages, austerities and joys of Vaikunth, just to be where he is!)

Every participant was heartily involved and enthusiastically engaged in giving his best. Teachers played a vital role behind the curtain. The play created a current of devotion via a spectacular presentation and performance by the students.

Written by: Chirag Bhatt

Inter House Table Tennis Competition 2012-13

The Inter-House Table-Tennis competition was organized at Atmiya Vidya Mandir as a 3 days event, from 19th July, 2012 to 21st July, 2012. As per the Indian tradition the event was initiated by the Poojan of Thakorji. The instructors encouraged the disciplined environment, which was sincerely followed by the participants throughout the event. All the participants from the four houses (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram, Suhradam) actively participated and displayed a wonderful sportsman spirit during the event.

The competition was held dividing the students into two different groups and the scoring was done through the Point system.

1. Junior Group (5th ,6th ,7th)
2. Senior Group (8th,9th, 10th)

The junior group played two events:
1. Individual event
2. Team event

Whereas the senior group played three events:
1. Individual event
2. Doubles event
3. Team event

The points distribution for the tournament was as follows:
1st Position – 10 Points
2nd Position – 8 Points
3rd Position – 6 Points

Results of the Junior Group Team Event (5th ,6th ,7th)

1st Place: - Sundaram (10 Points)
1. Deep J. Patel
2. Sarweshwar Modi
3. Parth Jasoliya
4. Shivam Patel

2nd Place: - Suhradam (8 Points)
1. Jigar Parekh
2. Vinamra Patel
3. Dev P. Patel
4. Dev M. Patel

3rd Place: - Satyam (6 points)
1. Krutarth Patel
2. Smit Lad
3. Keval Rohit
4. Pranit Chodhary

Results of the Junior Group Individual Event (5th, 6th, 7th)

1st Place: - Dev P. Patel (Suhradam)
2nd Place: - Deep J. Patel (Sundaram)
3rd Place: - Jigar B. Parekh (Suhradam)

Results of the Senior Individual Event (8th, 9th, 10th Std)

1st Place: - Harsh L. Sarda (Satyam)
2nd Place: - Vishesh S. Mistry (Shivam)
3rd Place: - Jil H. Patel (Satyam)

Results of the Senior Doubles Event

1st Place: - Harsh L. Sarda / Jil H. Patel (Satyam)
2nd Place: - Vishesh S. Mistry / Krutarth J. Patel (Shivam)
3rd Place: - Amit M. Pandey / Prashant S. Gupta (Suhradam)

Results of the Senior Team Event

1st Place: - Shivam House
1. Vishesh S. Mistry
2. Krutarth J. Patel
3. Uttam P. Italiya
4. Pavan Patel

2nd Place: - Satyam House
1. Harsh L. Sarda
2. Jil H. Patel
3. Denish Patel
4. Bonny U. Patel

3rd Place: - Suhradam House
1. Prashant S. Gupta
2. Amit M. Patel
3. Dinal L. Patel
4. Raj H. Chitania

Overall Results:

1. Satyam House (40 Points)
2. Suhradam House (36 Points)
3. Sundaram House (34 Points)
4. Shivam House (30 Points)

Compiled by: Chirag Sir

English and Hindi Poems by Students

(Please right click on the poem image(s) and select "Open in new window" for bigger size)

Science Competition 2012-13

It was 14 July 2012 when all the students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir, from grade one to ten enthusiastically gathered in the school assembly hall to witness the inter house science competition.

There were four categories of participants. Grades one and two; grades three and four; grades five, six and seven and, grades eight nine and ten.

The participants from grades one and two took part in the picture and video based quiz in which they answered questions based on their everyday experiences.

A scientific process or scientific method requires observations. The teams of grades three and four presented a drama each on a different scientific concept. Four dramas were presented, one from each house (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram and Suhradam). The topics were:

• Satyam House : Body Parts
• Shivam House : Importance of vitamins
• Sundaram House : Plants and animals are dependent on each other.
• Suhradam House : Solar family.

Based on their observations of the drama(s), respective members of the house from grades three and four attempted a set of questions for their house after the dramas.

Grades five, six, and seven participated in a three rounds quiz with multiple choice questions (MCQ) based on their grade levels and everyday experiences.

Finally, house teams from grades eight, nine and ten also participated in a quiz in which they were posed questions which required them to apply their knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology. The questions gave them opportunities to think about their strengths and weaknesses whilst giving them a realistic perspective of Science.

Throughout the event, the audience also actively participated in the competition. They too were asked questions and gifted chocolates as reward for their correct answer.

As is the nature of any competition, the results were the most awaited part through out. It turned out to be quite a thrilling finish eventually with the first and second houses separated only by half a point!

The results were as follows:
First: Sundaram House
Second: Suhradam House
Third: Satyam House 

Compiled by: Anand Sir