1. FESTIVALS: Ratha Saptami, the seventh day of Magha Shukla Paksha, falling on
February 17 this year, is dedicated to Bhagwan Surya. The festival is of great
importance at the Tirumala
Tirupati Balaji
Temple. It is said that
the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
Bhagwan Surya is believed to ride a chariot driven by seven horses – this form
is worshipped during Rath Saptami puja and festival. A kolam or rangoli of Lord
Surya riding a chariot is made on the ground and worshipped in many places.
Another important ritual on the day is taking bath using Erukku leaves. This is
followed mainly in Tamil Nadu. This year, Swami Vivekanand Saardha Shati
Samaaroha Samiti has planned mass Surya Namaskars on this day. The program, to
take place all over Bharat and also around the globe, is expected to see a
count of several millions of suryanamaskars. MAHAKUMBH: More than 10
million people took the holy dip on Makar Sankranti, the first important
bathing festival of the 55-day Kumbh mela at Allahabad. The Makar Sankranti snan started
at 3am on January 14. Shahi snan by akharas is the mainstay of Kumbh. It was
Mahanirvani akhara nagas who took the first dip. They were followed by Atal,
Niranjani, Anand, Juna, Agni, Nirvani, Digambar and others.
Held once every 12 years, the event could see up to 100 million people come to
the point where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers
converge with the mythical Saraswati river. The festival has its roots in a tradition that says Bhagwan Vishnu wrested from demons a golden pot containing
the nectar of immortality. In a 12-day fight for possession, drops
fell on earth, in the cities of Allahabad,
Haridwar, Ujain and Nasik.
Every 3 years a Kumbh is held at one of these spots, with the festival at Allahabad considered the
holiest of them all.
2.
A proud Nation remembers a proud Hindu Swami Vivekananda: Swami
Vivekanand is best known for his inspiring speech beginning with “Sisters and
Brothers of America,” through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of
the World’s Religions in Chicago
in 1893. His 150th birth anniversary is being observed this year.
On January 11, people from
all walks of life assembled at Swami Vivekanand’s ancestral house in north
Kolkata early in the morning to pay homage. The Ramakrishna Math and the
Ramakrishna Mission at Belur in Howrah,
founded by Swamiji, marked the day with a special puja. A colourful procession
weaved its way through the city with children donning saffron robes and turbans
dressed up as little Vivekananda. A fibre-glass chariot mounted on a chassis
built on the theme “Shaswata Bharat” (Eternal India) has begun its year-long
tour through the state of West Bengal. A
four-day celebration was organised by the Ramakrishna Math in Baranagar with
the aim of empowering the youth through education, character-building and
infusion of self-confidence. This was the Math where Swamiji and his 13
brother-disciples lived in penury between 1886 and 1892 after the passing away
of Sri Ramakrishna. It was here again that Swamiji and his brother disciples
performed the formal ‘Viraja Homa’ before taking up the life of a monk and
conceptualised the idea of forming the Ramakrishna monastic order.
Inaugurating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee recalled for
Vivekananda's teachings and said that they need to be spread across Bharat and
the world with a full realisation of the powerful impact they have on the
people of Bharat. Rashtrapatiji quoted A L Basham, the renowned British
historian, and said about
Swami Vivekananda "in centuries to come, he will be remembered as one of
the main moulders of the modern world". Swamiji said about the social
responsibility of educated people that 'so long as the millions live in hunger
and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their
expense, pays not the least heed to them', Rashtrapati added. He also released
a set of commemorative coins and stamps on the occasion.
Mata Amrutanandamayi, Predident
of Swami Vivekananda-150 celebration commitee, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat and several other noted personalities graced
Swami Vivekananda-150 Jayanti Samaroh inauguration ceremony at Siri Fort
Auditorium in New Delhi
on January 11.
RSS Mega convention ‘Swami
Vivekanand Yuva Shivir’ began in Kolkata the same day, in which RSS Joint Gen
Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale addressed a gathering of 12,000 swayamsevaks. Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat delivered
the valedictory address on January 13.
The year long celebrations to
commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand were inaugurated on 12th
January by a massive ‘Shobha Yatra’ in Delhi in which more than 15,000 persons
belonging to various walks of life participated. The march started from Red
Fort and covered Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Lahori Gate, Novelty Cinema, Delhi
Railway Station and back to Red Fort (3.5 km). Thousands of residents of the
area, business establishments, religious organisations, academic institutions
etc. welcomed the Shobha Yatra by presentation of bouquets and spreading of
flowers petals, etc. The whole route was decorated with banners and welcome
gates.
The March was blessed by
Poojya Amma Ma Amritanandmayi, Dr. Pranav Pandya of Gayatri Parivar, Shanta
Atmanand of Rama Krishna Ashram, P Parmeshwaran of Vivekanand Kendra, Kanya
Kumari, Pramila Tai Medhe, Swami Vivekanath of Valmiki Samaj, Swami Raghawanand,
Swami Ritambhranand and many other prominent religious and social dignitaries
participated in the Shobha Yatra.
A large number of tableaux depicting
various aspects of life and message of Swamiji (like Awake Bharat & and
Awaken the World, Rock Memorial, Rama Krishna Paramhans, Chicago lecture, etc) participated in the
March. The Yatra was joined by a large number of students, business
organisations, farmer associations, labour unions, women organisations,
cultural groups, diverse religions groups, artists, etc.
In
Kolkata, Vivekananda Yuva Utsav was hosted by the State to celebrate Swami
Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary at Salt Lake
Stadium. "The honest, idealistic youth should be the country's driving
force," Mamata read out from the oath in the name of Swamiji and the
spectators repeated after her. In a well-choreographed spectacular performance,
Tollywood star Dev, dressed as Swamiji in his characteristic saffron robe and
turban, led a group of 150 kids who too donned the costume of the spiritual
leader, while compositions of Tagore and DL Roy reverberated in the background.
Noted Scientist Dr Kasturi
Rangan & RSS top functionary V Nagaraj addressed a gathering of 20,000+ at
Puttur near Mangalore on January 12.
In Jayanagar of Bangalore,
Vivekananda-150 procession inspired the public, RSS Pranth Pracharak Mukund,
ex-DGP Shankar Bidari, Actor Aniruddh addressed the gathering.
In more than 2800 colleges of
Karnataka, Swami Vivekananda 150 Jayanti celebrations were held reaching the
Young Bharatiyas meaningfully on National Youth Day. Special
Vivekanda Quiz was organised in colleges of Bangalore in which nearly 400 students
participated.
In Guwahati, two cultural
processions were taken out, in which about 4,000 people took part. Moreover, about
150 students, who participated in the procession, were dressed like
Vivekananda. While attending the inaugural function, the pro-vice chancellor of
Tezpur University, Amarjyoti Choudhury, said,
"I appeal to all sections of people, especially to the youths, to respond
to the ideals of Swamiji, who dreamt for a vibrant and
strong Bharat. Swamiji's ideal could be the panacea of all ills and I hope that
a new Bharat will emerge if we follow his clarion call."
The celebrations were also
held in all other parts of Bharat and across the globe with great devotion and
fanfare.
3. I'm proud to be a Bihari,
says Mauritius
rashtrapati: Mauritius Rashtrapati
Rajkeswur Purryag turned emotional and broke down a number of times while
remembering his forefathers who sailed to an alien island some 150 years ago to
work in the sugarcane fields there. He arrived in Wajidpur, Patna on January 6 along with his wife
Aneetah Purryag and a few ministers to associate himself with his roots. Paying
tributes to his great grandfather Lakshman Paryag, who went to Mauritius,
and his brother Chawwa, who stayed back here, he said, "Their memory is embedded in my
blood. My forefathers went to a distant place but kept Bihar
and Bharat alive in their hearts."
Purryag said the relations between Bharat and Mauritius are
not those of two nations but those of two brothers. Villagers Mahesh Prasad
Nonia and his brother Ganesh are related to the Mauritius president. They touched
Purryag's feet and presented him with a silver casket containing the village
soil, a branch of paddy and a dhoti.
4.
Diaspora meet ends: 11th Pravasi
Bharatiya Diwas, the annual Bharatiya diaspora meet, concluded in Kochi on January 9 with Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee
giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to 15 distinguished persons —
including Mauritius Rashtrapati Rajkeswur Purryag — and organisations. Inaugurating
the valedictory session of the meet, Rashtrapati Mukherjee urged the community
of Non-Resident Bharatiyas to extend help to Pravasis in distress. He said that
the contributions of the Bharatiya diaspora to the country’s development were
praiseworthy. Over 2,000 delegates from
45 nations participated in the meet.
Mauritius Rashtrapati Purryag
was the chief guest of the meet, which was formally inaugurated by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh on January 8. Others who were awarded the Pravasi
Bharatiya Samman included Gurusharan Singh Chhatwal from Germany for science and Rasik Vihari Joshi of Mexico for
literature. Gilbert Canabady Moutien from Reunion Island and Mohammad
Karuvanthodi from Saudi Arabia received the Samman for business while Patricia
Mario Rozario of UK got it for music and Narendra Ramakrishna Kumar for
healthcare and Subash Razdan from USA and Ismail Ebrahim from South Africa were
given the award for public service.
Satendra Kumar Singh from New Zealand, Australia India Society of
Victoria, Bava Pandalingal from UAE, Ashokd Vaswani from Guinea, Bharatiya Doctors’ Forum,
Kuwait and Tan Sri Ravindran
Menon from Malaysia
received the awards for community service.
5. NEED MORE opportunities to younger
generation: Modi: Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on January 9, Bharat which has largest number
of youth population, should give them more opportunities and 'dream big'. Addressing
delegates of the Gujarat state session at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Kochi through video
conferencing from Ahmedabad, he described the younger generation as 'Yuva
Sampath. "We should make them masters. We should provide them better work
environment, make changes in rules and regulations, change our priorities, if
needed, to ensure this," Stating that contribution of women in the
agriculture sector was immense, he said "We need to make more efforts for
women's empowerment. Fifty per cent of Bharat's population comprises of the
fairer sex. If we can utilize their services to the maximum we can reach
greater heights, he said.
The state was giving lot of thrust for
infrastructure including development of power sector, gas grid, optical fibres,
24x7 uninterrupted power supply and as many as 18,000 villages had internet
facility, he said.
6. A Hindu moment for (USA) Congress: Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, the first Hindu ever elected
to the Congress, took her oath of office on the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad
Gita on January 3. Raised by a Hindu mother and a Catholic father in "a
multiracial, multicultural, multifaith family," Gabbard was exposed as a
child to both the New Testament and the Bhagavad Gita. As a teenager, she
embraced a Hindu identity and took the Gita as her guide.
Gabbard said that Gita
teaches her to try "to maintain her equilibrium in either success or
failure." She "found great
comfort and shelter in the Bhagavad Gita's message of the eternality of the
soul and God's unconditional love."
7. DR. Mohan Bhagwat
urges RSS workers to eradicate social evils: Dr. Mohan Bhagwat urged the RSS workers to
come forward to bring about a positive change in the society and eradicate
social evils.
Addressing a huge congregation of RSS workers ‘Pranth Ekatreekaran’ at
Vivekanandpuram in Indore
on January 6, he said: "Society needs heroes,
who possess character and strong emotional bond with people and win their
confidence to change the society for betterment without selfish interest."
Shri Bhagwat said: "Our independence
came after a lot of struggle. Leaders sit in the Parliament in different groups
and oppose each others' ideologies. But society needs brotherhood."
He said: "You all know that Bharat's
border is unsecured and porous. Bharat does not harbour enmity against any
country. However, the countries that are against us are trying to weave a web
from all sides."
“China does not want Bharat to make
progress and grow. It does not want Bharat to take a leading position in Asia,
while Pakistan
is known for its ill-will and enmity (towards Bharat) for no reason,” he told.
Shri Bhagwat
said: "Many countries had vanished in a span of 50 years. However, India
is surviving despite all odds and problems. No one has got powers to eliminate
us." He added that only Hindutva could save the country from all its woes.
8. 58th national conference of ABVP: “Youth have the potential to change
the system. They have done it in the past and can do again,” said RSS
Sarkaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi, while speaking at the concluding ceremony of ABVP’s
58th national conference in Patna
on December 29. Shri Joshi also presented Prof. Yeshwantrao Kelkar Yuva
Puraskar to Dr Prasad Vaman Deodhar of Maharashtra
for his outstanding contribution in rural development. Dr Devdhar has
contributed in development of biogas promoting the use of bio-agriculture.
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi was present on the occasion.
The national conference was
organised at the premises of Jaiprabha Blood Bank, where a makeshift city was
created after former RSS Sarsanghachalak KS Sudarshan. The main auditorium was
named after Bal Apte Nagar. More than 3000 delegates from 28 states participated
in the conference. Prior to the inauguration of the conference a grand
procession was taken out in the city from Jaiprabha Blood Bank to historic
Gandhi Grounds.
Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi further
said the present economic policy is slowly destroying the coutnry’s economy.
The blind use of fertilisers, pesticides and hybrid seeds is not only adversely
affecting the health of millions, but is also eating out the rural market
economy, which depends on indigenous way of agriculture. He also expressed
concern over the negligence of villages and focusing on urban areas only for
development. He said without the concentration on village economy the country
cannot register the desired growth. He said Bharat will have to return to its
villages.
Sushil Modi stressed the need
that students’ organisations like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad should
work for initiating systemic change in the country.
RSS Sahsarkaryavah Suresh
Soni said without understanding Swami Vivekananda it is wrong to think of
balanced growth of the country. He called upon the youth to donate some of
their time for society during this 150th birth anniversary of the great Bharatiya
saint.
9. Akhil
Bharatiya Adhibakta Parishad meet: The
problems of North East as evident today emanate from the faulty policies of
Britishers but sadly the current Bharatiya government is only furthering the
divisive policies of the British Raj.
These views were expressed by a distinguished panel
comprising Dr Krishna Gopal, RSS Sah-Sarkaryavah, Joydeep Roy, Senior Advocate
Supreme Court and Anuradha Paul, Advocate. The panelists put forth their views
on the topic “NorthEast and East—Legal perspective” in the three-day national
conference of Akhil Bhartiya Adhivakta Parishad at Bhubaneshwar.
While Dr. Krishna Gopal presented a genesis of the Assam problem, Anuradha Paul expressed grave
concern that Bangladesh
is becoming a safe haven for radical insurgent groups. She also took strong
exception to a former BSF chief’s statement where he had advocated legalizing
the cattle smuggling across the Bharat-Bangla border. Joydeep Roy, Advocate
Supreme Court of Bharat said strong steps need to be taken to bring people from
Andaman closer to the Bharat mainland. There is an urgent need to inquire that
the 572 islands that are part of Andaman island chain are actually with Bharat.
The Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad is the largest
organization of lawyers in the country. With the motto of ‘Nyaya Mama Dharma’
it is working all over the country.
10.
$100 million worth Hindu temple built near Hollywood: One
of the biggest Hindu temples in the US,
built at a whopping cost of $100 million near the Hollywood city in Los Angeles, has become a
major draw for its grandeur and environment-friendly design, since its
inauguration. The 68th Swaminarayan temple
of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan
Sanstha (BAPS) has been built using 35,000 pieces
of meticulously hand carved Italian Carrara marble and Bharatiya pink sandstone.
BAPS said that it is first earthquake-proof Mandir in the world and is expected
to last for 1,000 years.
“The Mandir and Cultural Center
will indeed be a place that Chino Hills can be proud of for so many, many
generations,” Chino Hill Mayor Peter Rogers said, at the temple’s inauguration
on December 23.
Using cutting edge technology
to protect it from earthquakes, the temple encompasses five pinnacles, two
large domes, four balconies, 122 pillars and 129 archways. The 6,600
hand-carved motifs depict a mosaic of tales of inspiration, devotion and
dedication, along with historical figures from Hinduism. The Mandir also uses a
solar power system to generate electricity and reduce adverse effects on the
environment.
11. Shrikant Joshi
is no more: Senior Sangh Pracharak and the man who is credited with
reviving the Hindusthan Samachar multilingual news agency, Shrikant Joshi
passed away in Mumbai on January 8 following a cardiac arrest. He was 76. He
was cremated in Mumbai the same day at Dadar crematorium. His nephew, Narendra
Joshi, performed the last rites.
Born
on December 21, 1969 at Devrukh village in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra
Shrikantji did BA from Mumbai
University. He also
worked in Life Insurance Corporation for some time, while doing graduation.
Later, he became a Sangh Pracharak in 1960 and was first posted in Nanded.
After working in Maharashtra for some time, he, in 1963, was sent to Assam, where he
worked continuously for 25 years, till 1987.
When
the work of Swami Vivekananda rock memorial began in 1969, Shrikantji
contributed while staying in Assam.
He mobilised people from the entire North-Eastern region for that national
yajna. He also played a key role in starting the educational activities among
Vanvasis of north-east through Vidya Bharati. He started establishing contacts
with the Seng Khasi leaders and with their help he expanded the Sangh work in
Meghalaya. He got permanent Sangh Karyalayas in Guwahati, Manipur, Agartala,
etc, established.
In
1987, he was entrusted the task of assisting the then RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri
Balasaheb Deoras. In 1994, Balasahebji relinquished the responsibility; Shrikantji
continued to assist him till he breathed his last in 1996. Later, from 1997 to
2004, he was Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh and since 2004 he was a member of
the RSS National Executive.
In
2002, he started the work of reviving the Hindusthan Samachar multilingual news
agency, which had been closed down in 1975 following the government pressure.
Today, the agency has offices in almost all regions of the country and its work
in different Bharatiya languages is highly admired.
12. TRIBUTES
to Dr. S R Rao, who passed away on January 3 at Bangalore. Dr. Rao was a doyen of Archaeology
and every Bharatiya felt proud of him for the extraordinarily diligent work in
Marine Archaeology and archaeological excavations he had done in Dwaraka and
Lothal and his dedication to understanding Bharatiya heritage and culture. He
also had carried out excavation work at north Gujarat’s
Siddhpur based Rudramahal site amid protests of local Muslims. He had
discovered a mandir within the structure of converted mosque. The world of
scholarship misses a very eminent scholar.
13. 6th Vibrant
Gujarat summit
concludes: The sixth Vibrant Gujarat
business summit concluded at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar on 12th
January with Chief Minister Narendra Modi calling upon all the corporate
honchos and the delegates from 121 countries to come here again for the next
summit to be held in January 2015.
As
in the opening ceremony, the concluding function too was marked by business
leaders and foreign envoys singing paeans for Modi’s able leadership qualities
and culture of implementation.
Prominent
among those who spoke highly of Modi included Tata Group’s new chairman Cyrus
Mistry, Torrent Group’s Sudhir Mehta, Pankaj Patel of Zydus Cadila and
Ministers from several countries. Thailand’s
Ambassador Pisan Manawapat announced that a direct flight would be started by
Thai Smile Airlines between Ahmedabad and Bangkok
from April this year.
Modi
said that earlier Vibrant Gujarat summits have successfully accomplished the
task of branding Gujarat as an attractive investment destination, but this one
has created a bonding with the outside world — a priceless asset.
“Bonding
is greater than branding,” Modi declared at the Mahatma Mandir convention hall
packed with business leaders, foreign diplomats and trade representatives from
as many as 121 countries across the globe.
Recalling
that some of the foreign delegates are attending the Vibrant Gujarat summits
year after year since 2003, Modi said that the event has created new
ambassadors of Bharat in these 121 countries as they would now on talk nicely
about Bharat whenever any reference comes up.
The
event has been held in Gujarat, but the
foreigners would remember visiting Bharat, said Modi emphasising that the
delegates would go back with a different idea about the country this time. He
said that such global meets are a step forward towards realising Swami
Vivekananda’s dream of Bharat becoming the world leader one day, a goal which
can be achieved by the country’s youth. It was for the first time in the world
that people from 145 universities from all over the world met under one roof
for discussions on knowledge sharing, Modi said about the meet held on the
side-lines of the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Giving details about the summit,
principal secretary Maheshwar Sahu said that the number of MoUs signed this
time has gone up to 17,719 as against 8,380 signed during the 2011 summit.
14. 314 return to Hinduism in Andhra: 139 Christians from 34 families from 4 villages of
Damaracherla and Neredduchela mandals returned to Hinduism in a Paravartan
Ceremony held at Nalgonda of Andhra Pradesh on December 30, 2012. Another 175
practicing Christians returned back to Hinduism at Palakonda of Srikakulam
District. The Paravartan (a religious programme where the converted people
returns to Hinduism) ceremonies were organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Lockets
of Lord Hanuman, framed photos of Lord Rama, and new cloths were distributed to
them. There was a Sah-Pankti Bhojan (having food together in a mass, without
caste-creed barriers).
15. CONFERENCE OF HEADS & CHIEFS OF ALL JATI
& JANAJATI OF ODISHA: The two day conference of 1500
Mukhias of all Jati and Janajati of Odisha, arranged by Jati Janajati
Sanskrutika Samaroha Samiti ended with much enthusiasm on 30th December’2012
at Rastrabhasa Prachar Samiti field, Bhubaneswar.
The home minister of Revered
Dalai Lama Smt. Dalma Gayari addressed the meeting as chief guest and said that
there is no caste among the Tibetians and they believe only in humanity. Famous
social activist Dr. Krushna Gopal, being the chief speaker said that we will
vow to-day to fulfill the dream of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and carry on
his un-finished task.
The All Bharat joint
Organising Secretary of Dharmajagaran Samiti Rajendra said that the place where
Hindus have become minority in our country is prone to unrest and the demand
for separation from Bharat starts to culminate there. Sudarsan Nayak, IAS said
that every Janajati has it’s own pride and speciality. Research should be made
on that to bring these into light for rest of the people.
President of the Samiti Sri
Arun kumar Panda, the Sr. Journalist addressed the huge gathering and passed
five resolutions - 1) Tribals shold not be treated as a subject of exhibition
for tourists, 2) Tribal dance should be given classical status, 3) Janajati
Mukhias should be recognized by the government, 4) Illegal cow transportation
and cow slaughter should be banned, 5) Converted tribals should not be given
reservation.
16. Include saints’ teachings in curriculum:
Advani: The Union and State
governments should take the lead in including the teachings and ideals of great
saints and seers like Ram Krishna Paramhansa, Narayana Guru, Dayananda
Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda in the curriculum to enhance the education
standards and spiritual quotient of posterity, Bharatiya Janata Party leader
L.K. Advani has said.
Inaugurating the pilgrimage
session of the 80th Sivagiri pilgrimage at the Sivagiri Math at Varkala, near
here, on December 31, Shri Advani said that once the teachings of such eminent
men became part of the curriculum, it would help develop selfless patriotic men
of outstanding character. Spiritual quotient did not relate to any particular
religion, but meant the ethical and moral standards of an individual and one’s
capacity to control emotions. Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust president
Swamy Prakasananda delivered the pilgrimage message. A. Sampath, MP; Varkala Kahar and Jameela
Prakasam, MLAs; and Varkala municipal chairman K. Suryaprakash also spoke on the ocasion.
17. Assam’s
khol players set new record: In a bid
to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, close to 15,000 khol players
(traditional players of khol or the drums) on January 6 played together at
Titabor in Assam’s
Jorhat district. The 15-minutes performance by the 14,833 khol players on
January 6 entered the Bharat Book of Records and the organisers said that they
would send the video recordings of the whole event to the Asia Book of Records
and the Guinness Book of World Records for the much coveted Guinness
recognition.
The 14,833 khol players
gathered in Titabor since on January 5 from various places of the State. Clad
in traditional Satriya dress — white dhotis with white cotton tops, chadors and
white turbans — the players made it a scene. The khol, which is also known as
‘Mrdanga’ is a terracotta two-sided drum used in Northern and Eastern
Bharat for accompaniment with devotional music. While in Assam during 15th century, Vaishnavite saint
scholar Sankardev used khol in his plays and performing activities for
spreading his devotional activities, the instrument is also found to be in use
in some devotional music of Manipur and West Bengal.
18. Sant Sammelan AT CHENNAI: Congregation of Saints and Sadhus was held at Chennai
on 5th Januaey . Hundreds of Sadhus and saints of Tamilnadu
participated in the convention. Ashok
Singal, International Advisor VHP along with Raghava Reddy, International
President of VHP participated in the congregation. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swami of Kanchipuram
Mutt presided over the convention. Addressing the gathering Shri Ashok Singhal
said “Ours is a spiritual country. The real identity is the essence of our
spirituality within. India is not the
real name. Bharat is the real name. The new model of social life is of western
culture which has been thrusted upon us by Britishers”.
Five Major resolutions on ‘No
Masjid will be allowed in temple city of Ayodhya’, to enact anti-conversion
laws’, ‘to put an end to caste conflicts’, ‘Prohibition of Cow Slaughter’,
‘Protect Sacredness of Holy River’ were passed.
The congregation strongly
condemned the article published by ‘The Hindu’ denigrating Swami
Vivekananda.
19. SHRI VISHWA
NIKETAN: Visitors: Mani Shastry,
Prashant Mishra - USA,
Ma. Dr. Balmukund Bhala – UK Teyasuvi Shukla – Thailand Pravas: Shri Ravikumar sahasamyojak
Vishwa Vibhag would leave for his pravas to Singapore
and Australia.
Dr. Sadanand Sapre sahasamyojak would return after his pravas to Mauritius, South
Africa and Kenya.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: There are many incompetent gurus, and that a true guru should
understatnd the spirit of the scriptures, have a pure character, and be free
from sin, and should be selfless, without desire for money and fame. -- Swami Vivekanandda.
JAI SHREE RAM
Difference in meaning of ‘Bharat’ and India and
marriage as a sacrament and contract
Justice
Dr. M. Rama Jois
It is really surprising that statements of
Mohan Bhagwat on the above matters are being misinterpreted. The first
statement when Bhagwat pointed out that rape takes place in ‘India and not
‘Bharat’, he only meant that women are worshipped as mother in Bharat as is
evident from the words used in the convocation address to students in
Taittiriyopanishad as ‘Matru Devobhava’ to wit mother is God incarnate who
provides everything and gives protection to her children. Thus, women in Bharat
is ‘Poojya Vastu’ [object of worship] whereas under western materialistic life
style when Bharat becomes India she becomes ‘bhoga vasthu’ i.e., object of
sexual pleasure and therefore rape or sexual onslaught on women takes place
there which is a stark truth.
There such a difference between ‘India’
and ‘Bharat’ is pointed out by greatest historian of the 20th century Dr. Radha
Kumud Mukherjee as early as in 1954 in his book titled “Fundamental Unity of
India” thus : The name Bharata Varsha is not a mere geographical expression
like the term ‘India having only a physical reference. It has a deep historical
significance symbolising a fundamental unity.
The Rig-Veda, one of the oldest literary
records of humanity, reveals conscious and fervent attempts made by the rishis,
those profoundly wise organisers of Hindu polity and culture, to visualise the
unity of their mother-country, nay, to transfigure mother earth into a living
deity and enshrine her in the loving heart of the worshipper.
Respect for womanhood has been the most
cherished value of Bharat from times immemorial and therefore the very
mentioning of that word conveys that feeling which may not be the position when
the word India
is used which at present is more influenced by western materialistic life
style.
Then coming to the second statement of
Mohan Bhagwat, he was only pointing out that marriage in Bharat is sacrament
and not a contract which can be revoked or severed at any time according to the
choice of husband or wife as the case may be. As far as the status assigned to
women in Bharat, what he meant was the same as the eminent
English author Kerry Brown in her celebrated book ‘Essential Teachings of
Hinduism while answering the adverse comments made against the verse in Manu
Smriti where it is said that at every stage of the life of a woman, it is the
responsibility of males as father or husband or sons as the case may be, to
protect her having regard to the fact that she is a woman. No answer or
argument can be more forceful as made by Kerry Brown at para 238 of her book
thus:
In Hinduism a woman is looked after not
because she is inferior or incapable but, on the contrary, because she is
treasured. She is the pride and power of the society. Just as the crown jewels
should not be left unguarded, neither should a woman be left unprotected. No
extra burden of earning a living should be placed on women who already bear
huge responsibilities in society; childbirth; child care, domestic well being
and spiritual growth. She is the transmitter of culture to her children.
Marriage and family life have always been
an integral part of spiritual growth, not a means of self-gratification. It is
the second stage in the four stages of life leading to perfection, following
that of the celibate student and preceding retirement and full renunciation.
Therefore, the romantic view of marriage is not accepted. The couple are spiritual
partners, each supplementing the other as they proceed towards the ultimate
goal. Marriage is lived in a spirit of discipline, duty and service.
No one not even those who are opposed
towards RSS can deny that RSS respects every woman as equal to mother and
marriage as a sacrament and a permanent bond as declared in Manu Smriti that “Mutual fidelity and love is the Dharma to
be observed by husband and wife throughout their life”. [Manu Smriti.9-101]
I have been in RSS since when I was aged
13 years and I am fully conversant with the principles and ideals of RSS and no
amount of misinterpretation can mislead me or those who know what is true about
RSS.
What Mohan
Bhagwat meant was that these fundamentals or basic structure of Bharatiya
family life which constitute the foundation of our National life should be kept
intact not withstanding the important role of women in every sphere of National
activity at present. -- January 7, 2013 (Justice M RAMA JOIS
is a Member of Parliament, Former Chief Justice and Governer)
