'Dharmishta Mithran' means one who adheres to and stands firm on Dharma or ethics as well as one who pacifies the hunger and thirst of everyone in our daily life. As an N G O, established in Chembur  Mumbai  on 22nd November 2001, with the munificent blessings of His Holiness Poojyashree Jayendrasaraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam,based upon the tenet of 'Santana Dharma',  Dharmishta Mithran is the first of its kind in Mumbai, in terms of the obsequies,Aparakriyas and Shradham, performed by the Karta in honor of the departed souls.

Keeping abreast, the need for such an organization in a big city like Mumbai, a group of Samaritans coined a name'Dharmishta Mithran'and formed an apolitical organization with the veteran shri V G Parameswaran alias Muthumani at the helm,  in consonance with the Kanchi Seer's principle,' selfless service to humanity'! 

The basic purposes with which the organization has been incorporated are, to perform  obsequies, Aparakriyas and Shraadham for the weal of the departed souls in an organized manner at the specially constructed centers at Jai Ambe Nagar and Shraadham at the newly acquired premises at  Raj Darshan Residency Pinjarepole in  chembur  Mumbai. MIithran has a team of dedicated volunteers and a batch of select priests for the purpose who perform the rites and rituals quite methodically and economically. The volunteers are well known for their dedication alertness, alacrity and readiness to work round the clock in times of urgent necessity. Mithran, by now the pride of Mumbai, has made many amazing strides in the past in different dimensions. It has undertaken other charitable activities as well as certain essential services like education, annadanam or poor feeding, marriage, health care, Ambulance service, legal services to citizens, police security, refrigeration facility to preserve a  body under special circumstances, at reasonable rates etc. Mithran also releases a quarterly organ, an official publication viz, 'Ananda Mithran' to update the members, of  the periodical developments, besides articles and write-ups of spiritual nature. Similarly, Mithran is also campaigning for increasing the life membership so as to create an awareness among the people about the importance of such spiritual services. It is also conducting  Satsang, Yoga-veda classes apart from their usual activities to inculcate an awareness of the importance of  spiritual involvements.It is apt to quote here the Kanchi Seer's words' conducting such spiritual services is tantamount to performing an Aswamedha Yaga'. 

Today, Mithran has grown like a Colossus,  say, a mighty  mammoth organization under the able stewardship of Shri V G Parameswaran alias Muthumani, with many colorful  feathers on its cap and having covered many laudable milestones in its committed journey. 

As customary, Mithran conducted its Annual day celebrations at the Sidhivinayagar temple Chedda Nagar Chembur, on the 26th and 27th of November 2015 with the usual rituals performed elaborately. Prior to this, a compendium in Tamil and English on Apara kriyas and  Shraadham, authored by the renowned  Mumbai-based  spiritual writer shri. P. R. Kannan, was released by Shri K. R .  Shreeram,(son of late shri Chakyar Rajan) honorable Judge, High Court Mumbai, on 19th November 2015 during a function,- the Sahasradina Sathabhishekam celebrations of H.H. Poojyashree Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi  Kamakoti Peetam -held at the Mysore Association Hall Matunga, Mumbai, organized by the Bhajan Samaj  Matunga,  Mumbai. The august  presence and  bountiful blessings of the Swamigal have always been the motivating forces  behind Mithran's all round impetus! 

The captioned book,  published and sponsored by Dharmishta Mithran,  is, no doubt, a unique  breakthrough in the field of spiritual formalities  such as Aparakriyas and Shraadham intended for the departed souls. While leafing through the voluminous book, one can imagine the amount of pains taken by the author to compile the information and present in both Tamil and English with equal verve, simplicity and mastery. Shri P. R. Kannan deserves kudos and compliments galore! 

According to Vedas, every individual has to redeem three types of debts(rhunams), which are duties, in another sense,  once born in this world. ( Katam and Katamai) They are: 

1)Deva rhunam - debt to God  for bestowing us  human birth and all fortunes on earth.

2)Rhushi rhunam-debt to the rhushies or sages for giving all Vedas and Upanishads 

to the world. 

3)Pithru rhunam- debt to our parents for giving birth  to us and undergoing all types of hardships and miseries for bringing up and educating us, encountering untold financial stress and making many sacrifices. They repose many hopes and expectations  on us. They also teach us all ethics and sense of devotion to God. Parents  should also ensure to impart spiritual knowledge to their children. Debt indirectly implies one's duty to parents not only when they are with us, but also when they are no more.  

So, one has to discharge all these earthly debt-laiden duties for living a sin free, compunction free,  contented life. Hence the importance of  acquiring knowledge in Vedas.  

As a sequel to the above, an important event that took place in the same month was that on 22nd November 2015, our worthy Chairman, Shri V G Parameswaran -Muthumani-was honored with the prestigious title' Dharma Raksha Mani', by H H. Poojyashreee Jayandra Saraswathi Swamigal, as a rich tribute for the laudable services being  rendered by him for the past three decades in the spiritual field. It is worth mentioning here that shri. V G Parameswaran is well known for his exceptional qualities of executive leadership, administrative acumen, dedication, steadfastness and organizing capacity in the social service circles. With his vast experience in the field of Bhajan(he is respected as a good Bhajan singer too) Namasankeertanam and other areas of Satsang, he is able to play a yeoman's role in the uplift of spiritualism in Mumbai. 

Mumbaites  can now, heave a sigh of relief, as there is an organization here to cater to such  a dire need or fundamental purpose, in our life. Even people from far and wide, as well as, those Brahmin diaspora settled abroad come down to  Mumbai in search of Dharmishta Mithran to perform the sacred rites like Aprakriyas and Shraadham at a convenient place, with all facilities under one roof, quite systematically and economically  under the able guidance of learned priests. 

Incidentally, it needs special mention that  the yearly Bhajanotsavam, organized by  Namasmaran , Bangalore was held at Mudaliyar Sangam Bangalore, on 1st November 2015 as a part of Guruvandanam in the presence of H. H. Poojyashree Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, which was attended by Shri V G Parameswaran- Muthumani- the worthy Chairman of Dharmishta Mithran, specially invited,  as a mark  of reverence and admiration, for the Bhagavatha Kainkaryam done for the past three decades. 

Now, let us have a peep into the awards and accolades  Mithran has bagged  from various organizations and social institutions, by virtue of their sterling performances and spirit of dedication over the years:

1)Anushakti Nagar  Kamakoti  Kainkarya  Sabha  Mumbai

2)Brindaban Seva Sangam Thane

3)Hari Hara Puthra  Bhajan Samaj  Chembur  Mumbai

4)Rotary Club Of North Mumbai

5)Bhajan Samaj Garodia Nagar Mumbai

6)Sukrutha Brahman Chembur  Mumbai

7)Ayyappa Vishnu Temple Pawai  Mumbai  and

8)Shri Siddhi Vinayak Trust, Chedda Nagar Mumbai.

While Dharmishta Mithran is basking in the glory of it's brilliant strides,  achievements and cluster of awards and accolades,  let us earnestly hope that Mithran will strike many more milestones in the years to come especially in the arena of social and charitable services extended to the needy. Let us not forget the quotable quote of Late Shri Chakyar Rajan (the Ghatkopar- Mankhurd Link Road has been named after him)-

'Mithran is not only a friend of those dear departed, but also of the living'!

 

And, of course,  Mithran has always been living up to  this lofty ideal!

                

          

(To know more about Dharmishta Mithran please visit their website :-

dharmishtamithran.ngo@gmail.com )

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(By Thodupuzha K Shankar : Mob. Nos.. 09820033306/08286869171-

Email- thodupuzhakshaar@gmail.com)