Larry Janiak Collection

The Dedication Day Ceremony of the New Temple - The Vivekananda Vedanta Society - Chicago 1966

Transcript (Download)

Om Vivekajanam Dhanimagnatittam Vivekadhanayikavinodashilam Vivekabhasarvamaniyakantyam Viveknandam Satgadam namami Welcome friends.

We now present the dedication ceremony of the new house of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago.

This is the new building of the Society.

The building is situated on South Hyde Park Boulevard, terminating to the south the Science and Industry Museum.

This museum was the nucleus of the World's Fair in connection with the Columbian Exposition of 1893.

On the morning of the dedication day, September 7th at 5 .30, the visiting swamis and the devotees assemble in the chapel to witness the morning Vespers service for Sri Ramakrishna.

Swami Vashananda, head of the Chicago Center, is performing the service.

This was followed by chanting from the apprentices and other hymns.

Sri Ramakrishna's statue, cast in bronze, is on the pedestal.

The Vespers are performing the service.

At 8 .30 that morning, regular worship began.

Here we see Swami Shradhananda of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, and Swami Vandana Nanda of Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hollywood, and the brahmacharis of the Chicago Center, busy in the preparation for the worship.

One by one ingredients are being brought by the boys, the Swami Vandana Nanda.

The puja has begun.

Swami Satprakashnanda of the Vedanta Society of St.

Louis is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Offerings are made to various deities and are taken back to the slalom.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

The swamis are seated on the platform watching the worship.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

As the worship is in progress, Swami Satprakashnanda of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hollywood, takes a seat on the platform with the harmonium and sings one hymn in praise of Sri Ramakrishna.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Fire worship is being performed for the first time in Chicago, and hence the devotees are very curious to see the worship.

One by one, oblations are offered in the fire.

It creates a very deep and spiritual atmosphere.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda is reading the Chandi.

Swami Satprakashnanda of St.

Louis.

Swami Hrithikshananda of Seattle, Washington.

Swami Pravitra Nanda, head of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Swami Sarvagrananda of Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Boston.

Swami Sharananda of Vedanta Society of Northern California.

Swami Vandana Nanda of Vedanta Society of Southern California.

Swami Shastrananda of the same center.

Swami Vashananda then concluded the proceedings.

Mrs.

Moolayamapati played two pieces of instrumental music on sitar and delruba.

She played the instrument of the Lord.

She played the instrument of the Lord.

She played the instrument of the Lord.

Mr.

Moolayamapati, the chairman of the executive committee of the society, was thanking the swamis in the gathering, requesting them to go to the open lawn in the backyard of the building to join the buffet.

Mr.

Moolayamapati, the chairman of the executive committee of the society, was thanking the swamis in the gathering, Here they are, all enjoying the wonderful preparations made by the women devotees of the center.

Under the leadership of Mrs.

Moolayamapati.

As a part of the dedication ceremony, on Sunday the 11th September, 1966, a symposium of religions was arranged.

Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Unitarianism were represented by leaders of the respective groups.

The program began at 7pm in the chapel with an invocation chant by Swami Vashananda, the chairman for the function.

In his introductory speech, he is referring to this meeting as the 73rd anniversary of the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893.

The speakers are being introduced and then requested to speak about their faith.

Rabbi Cohn representing Judaism.

Reverend Eddis speaking on behalf of Unitarianism.

Reverend French representing Christianity.

Mohammed Abu Sharif who spoke on Islam.

Reverend Souther speaking on behalf of Buddhism.

Swami Sharmananda speaking on Hinduism.

Identifier
F.2013-01-0043
Date Of Production
1966
Abstract
"This documentary film by Larry Janiak and Steve Rose records the day-long ceremonies during the dedication of the new Vivekananda Vedanta Society Temple in Chicago. Many Ramakrishna Order Swamis from other centers in the United States from India were in attendance for the special ceremonies. The "Homa" fire service and the "Arati" chanting worship service are included in the film. The soundtrack is Indian raga music and Vedic chanting." — Larry Janiak
Description
This film is a documentary of the dedication of the Vedanta Society's new temple in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood in September 1966. Begins with a shot of the exterior of the building, located on South Hyde Park Boulevard, with the sun rising behind it. Inside, we see Swami Bhashyananda (leader of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago at that time) leading a morning service. The footage of the service and other ceremonies of the day is intimate, with close-up views of all of the activity of the puja: flowers placed in vases, burning incense, food offerings, the quiet ringing of bells, texts that are being read, and the faces of the participants. According to the narration, many of the participants at the dedication were leaders from other branches of the Vedanta Society: from San Francisco, Hollywood, St. Louis, Seattle, New York, and Boston. About 5 minutes from the end, musicians begin to play on the sitar and dilruba, and the camera drifts through the space, taking in images of status, woodwork, photographs, and flowers, as those assembled begin to walk to the back yard of the building for a big buffet reception. The camera keeps drifting, over the heads of the people, over the tables of food and the candles, drinks in hands, the textures of midcentury dress fabric, and people waiting their turn for the punch bowl.
Run Time
0:24:48
Format
16mm
Extent
900 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Documentary
Form
Short
Subject
Religions
Religious services
Related Collections
Larry Janiak Collection

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago

Main Credits
Janiak, Larry (is filmmaker)
Rose, Stephen (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers
Bhashyananda, Swami (is participant)

 
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