SWAHA Media Ltd. Launches ieRadioTT

On Saturday 13^th April 2019 at 12 noon, ieTV’s sister station, ieRadio, was launched to provide uplifting, soul-stirring and inspirational radio programming. ieTV, the first local cable station in Trinidad and Tobago, was acquired by SWAHA Media Ltd. on May 29^th 2017 with Pundit Maniedeo Persad as the Managing Director. ieRadioTT.com was launched with a live broadcast from SWAHA Sri Raam Dhaam on the auspicious occasion of Raam Navami, the anniversary of the manifestation of Sri Raam on earth. Here are excerpts from Spiritual Leader of Sri Raam Dhaam, Pt. Maniedeo Persad’s service at this event:

After acquiring ieTV two years ago, we have created ieRadio which begins its broadcast with the name of Sri Raam from SWAHA Sri Raam Dhaam. Through the grace of Sri Raam we continue to experience success as an organisation.

Sri Bhagavan advised the Devtas that Bhagavan is everywhere and in moments of difficulty we call to Him and He goes to our rescue. Glory, all glory to You, O Bhagavan, O Protector, O Benefactor of the cows and the Brahmins, O Slayer of Demons, O Blessed Consort of Lakshmi, glory to You. O Guardian of the universe, mysterious are Your ways. Let He, who is benevolent in nature and compassionate, shower His grace on us all. O Mukunda, O Divine Being, Sri Raam, Sri Krishna, who resides in all hearts, Supreme Bliss personified, omnipresent, unknowable and beyond all the senses, whose acts are holy and who is beyond the reach of maaya, glory to You.

O Bhagavan, Consciousness and Bliss personified, we meditate upon You night and day, as the sages have done. Free us from our bondage, O Lord. Grant us success. We know neither devotion nor worship. You who disperse the fears of this universe and delight the mind of sages, bless us. The Lord, the Supreme Divinity, we, in fear, pain and suffering, appeal to You, bless us.

Devotees, a voice emanated saying, “Fear not. In time I will be born as the son of King Dasharath and Kaushalya.” When it was time for the appearance of Sri Raam, Tulsidasji says, “The position of the sun, the moon, the zodiac signs, the position of all the planets, the day of the week and the lunar month, all of these turned propitious because of Sri Raam’s appearance. Full of delight was all creation, animate and inanimate, for the birth of Sri Raam is a source of all joy.”

Tulsidas writes that it was on the 9^th day of the bright half of the sacred month of Chaitra. The sun was at its meridian, neither too hot nor cold. It was a holy time which gave rest to the whole world. A cool, soft and fragrant breeze was blowing. The Divine Beings were exhilarated and the sages were full of enthusiasm. The woods were full of blossoms, the mountains were resplendent and from every river flowed a stream of nectar.

The Devtas, who realised that Bhagavan intended to appear at this time, went to Ayodhya and, from a distance, they bowed to the Supreme Divinity. The sky, the earth, the entire universe resounded with the sounds and expressions of joy from the hearts of devotees. The gracious Lord, who is compassionate to his devotees and their Benefactor, appeared on earth. The thought of His marvellous form, which stole the hearts of the sages, filled the mother with joy. His body was as dark as a cloud, the delight of all eyes. In His four arms he bore His characteristic emblems, the sankh, the discus, the club and the lotus. Adorned with jewels and a garland of flowers and endowed with large eyes, He was an ocean of beauty.

Joining both her palms, His mother said, “O Infinite Lord, how can I praise You? The Vedas as well as the Puranas declare you as transcending maaya, beyond attributes, above knowledge and beyond all measure. He who is sung by the Vedas and the holy men as an ocean of mercy and bliss and the repository of all virtues, the Lord of Lakshmi Maataa, revealed Himself for my good. The Vedas proclaim that every pore of your body contains multitudes of universes, brought forth by maaya. That such a Lord stayed in my womb staggers even the men of wisdom.

The Lord reminded her of her previous birth when she had asked that she should have a son who was God. He said, “There is none like Me. There is none second to Me. So, to fulfil your desire, I shall be your son.” She asked that she might love Him as her own child. Bhagavan then removed the knowledge He had given to her from her mind and she only saw a child whom she recognised as her son. He gave up His superhuman form and indulged in the childish pranks that are dear to a mother’s heart. The All-Wise Lord of Immortals assumed the form of an infant and began to cry.

Tulsidasji says that they, who sing this and who listen to this episode, attain the abode of Vishnu Bhagavan. Devotees, Bhagavan manifested because God loves us. In our hour of need, He will come into our lives, He will play with us, He will protect us and He will save us from all calamities. Each of us in our own lives faces challenges and difficulties. This appearance of Sri Raam is a reminder to each of us that Bhagavan Sri Raam is with all of us and is aware of our lives and our challenges.

As we conclude this part of our celebration, the reading of the Ramayan, this doha summarises the reason for Bhagavan’s manifestation. Ask Sri Raam to manifest in your heart and your entire being as we perform his worship.

“For the sake of the Brahmins, for the sake of the cows, for the sake of the Devtas, for all holy beings, devotees, the Unmanifest Lord takes a form. He transcends maaya. He is not born because of karma, like you and I. He is born of his own will and He comes to protect us.

“O, my heart, sing praises of Sri Raam, who absolves the greatest fears due to the cycle of life and death and whose eyes, mouth, hands and feet are like newly blooming red lotus.

“I bow to Sri Raam, whose beauty cannot be compared with that of Cupid, Kaamdev, whose appearance is beyond any measure, whose body is like a newly formed dense blue cloud, whose yellow robes are shining like lightning on his cloudlike body, whose beauty is gleaming and who is the consort of the daughter of Janak.

“Sing praises of Sri Raam who is the friend of the poor, who is the Lord of the Sun, who is the dear one of Raghu, who is like a cloud of happiness, who is like a moon for Kaushalya and who is the dear one of Dasharath.

“Sing praises of Sri Raam, who has a beautiful crown on his head, who is adorned with ear hoops, who has a beautiful coloured mark or teelak on his forehead, who has expanded and beautiful arms decorated with ornaments, who has long hands reaching his knees, who holds a bow and arrow and who defeated Khar and Dushan in a fierce battle.

“Tulsidas says this: Sri Raam, the enticer of Shiv, Shesh or Sheshnaag and saints, reside in my lotus-like heart and destroy the evils generated by desire. May Sri Raam, together with beloved Janaki, Bhaiyya Lakshman and Sri Hanumanji be forever enshrined in our hearts.”