\SAMVAD  श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Magh Krishna 6, Vik. Samvat 2076Yugabda 5121: 16 January 2020

1. FESTIVALS: MAHASHIVRATRI 2. VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI AND DWADASI FESTIVLAS
3. VHP PLEDGES TO BUILD A CULTURED, STRONG AND INDEPENDENT BHARAT 4. HINDUTVA OFFERS SOLUTION TO ALL THE PROBLEMS
5. BHARAT STRONGLY CONDEMNS VANDALISM AT GURDWARA NANKANA SAHIB IN PAKISTAN 6. CENTURIES OLD MANUSCRIPTS IN SILCHAR RETELL OUR EPICS
7. PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS CELEBRATED ACROSS GLOBE 8. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH SURYA NAMASKAR YAJNA 2020
9. PM MODI PAYS TRIBUTE TO SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AT BELUR MATH 10. 133 PILGRIMS FROM PAKISTAN VISIT JAGANNATH TEMPLE
11. SEEING IS BELIEVING, SAW NORMALCY IN DAILY LIVES: VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR ON J-K VISIT 12. IN NAVAL LANDMARK, TEJAS LANDS ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER INS VIKRAMADITYA
13. HINDU ORGANISATIONS PROTEST OUTSIDE PAK HIGH COMMISSION 14. BHARATIYA DIASPORA HELD RALLIES ACROSS THE WORLD IN SUPPORT OF CAA
15. IIT ROPAR INSTALLS UNIQUE INDUS VALLEY INSPIRED PILLARS 16. BHARATIYA AMERICAN REP. RO KHANNA AND CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REP. JOHN LEWIS PEN ESSAYS FOR GANDHI ANTHOLOGY
17. SAVITRIBAI: WHO STARTED GIRLS' SCHOOL 171 YEARS AGO 18. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT
PEJAWAR SWAMI WAS KARMA YOGI, GNANA TAPASVI

1. FESTIVALS: MAHASHIVRATRI : MahaShivratri, the thirteenth night of Phalgun Krishna Paksha, falling on February 21 this year, is the wedding night of Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati. Bhagwan Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya, or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Many also say that Maha Shivaratri was the day when Shiva drank poison churned out of Kshirsagar during Samudra Manthan. The festival is principally celebrated by offering Bilvapatra, the leaves of the Bel Tree, to Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all-night-long vigil. On Maha Shivratri, "Om Namah Shivaya", the sacred mantra of Shiva, is chanted throughout the day in Shiva temples. Special Puja is held at homes and temples. The festival is also principally celebrated in Nepal and Mauritius in a big way. --GoTop

2. VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI AND DWADASI FESTIVLAS: Nearly 2 lakh devotees took part in the Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Dwadashi festivities at the Tirumala Temple this year, which is a bit higher than last year. On the eve of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, also known as Mukkoti Ekadashi, lakhs of devotees beelined to the Bhagwan's abode and took to fasting. On Dwadashi, the temple conducted the most revered 'Chakrasnanam' fete at the Srivari Pushkarini located adjacent to the Tirumala Temple on the morning of January 7. Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated at Fremont temple, USA: Vaikuntha Ekadasi was celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm in Fremont Hindu temple on 6th January. As part of the celebrations, the deities were decked up with colourful flowers imported from Bharat. The temple premises echoed with chanting of Vedic mantra by devotees as the ceremony of Uttara Dwara Darshanam unfolded in the temple. --GoTop

3. VHP PLEDGES TO BUILD A CULTURED, STRONG AND INDEPENDENT BHARAT: Addressing the meeting of the Central Management Committee and the Board of trustees of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkaryavah Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi on December 27, said that we should be empowered, cultured, awakened, gentlemanly, self-respecting, honorable and full of scientific temper. There should be such active Hindus who are able to lead the world by building a flawless organized power.
On the second day of the meeting, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad resolved to create a strong and self-supporting Bharat. Expressing concern over the increasing rape and crimes against women in the country, a comprehensive action plan was also prepared to stop these incidents. In the second resolution, passed on the status of women in Bharat, VHP stated that parents, academics, saints, social organizations, media, entertainment & advertisements world will have to come forward with a wide-ranging campaign to stop the increasing crimes against women and change their attitudes towards safety of women. --GoTop

4. HINDUTVA OFFERS SOLUTION TO ALL THE PROBLEMS: Hindutva is the name of liberty, wisdom and strength to raise independent questions. The absence of liberty to raise questions is non-Hindutva. Different ways of worship and sects flourished in Bharat with full liberty. It happened because of the spiritual feeling,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr Krishna Gopal while releasing a book, ‘Hindutva for the Changing Times’, written by national convener of Prajna Pravah J. Nandakumar on January 2 in New Delhi. The function was presided over by former chairman of ICCR Dr Lokesh Chandra.
Dr Krishna Gopal further said that what connects all the people in Bharat despite so much diversity of dress, food, climate, languages, etc is spirituality. Even an illiterate person living in a very remote area knows the basics of the dharma or the duties. He knows anyone knocking the door should not go back hungry. This spiritual philosophy of Bharat provides the solution to all the problems that the people in the world are facing.
J. Nandakumar said, there are deliberate attempts to defame the word Hindutva and Hindus. He said the ‘breaking brigade’ is trying to push the nation into civil war. Hindus are facing grave threats in West Bengal and Kerala. He alleged that those who are instigating violence in the name of NRC and CAA are the trained intellectuals of Kerala. What has been written in the book ‘Hindutva for the Changing Times’ is based on the facts. The book was introduced by Organiser editor Prafulla Ketkar. Dr Ravikant Mishra from Nehru Memorial Library was also present. --GoTop

5. BHARAT STRONGLY CONDEMNS VANDALISM AT GURDWARA NANKANA SAHIB IN PAKISTAN: Bharat strongly condemned vandalism at the revered Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and called upon the neighbouring country to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community there. The External Affairs Ministry said members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan have been subjected to acts of violence at the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji. "Strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in desecration of the holy Gurdwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community," it said. --GoTop

6. CENTURIES OLD MANUSCRIPTS IN SILCHAR RETELL OUR EPICS: Maulana Abul Kalam Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIS) Kolkata has entrusted Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee, former Head, Department of Bengali in Gurucharan College with responsibility of recreating old manuscripts preserved in a British era school of Silchar in South Assam. The hand written manuscripts on varied subjects were collected by some teachers between the period 1910 and 1940 from South Assam. The manuscripts in Bengali discovered by the research team of Dr Bhattacharjee are on Ramayan, Mahabharat, Purana, Gita, Vaishnava Literature, Mangal Kabya, Pachali, Yoga Shastra, Occult Science and Miscellaneous. The Sanskrit manuscripts on Mahabharat, Vyakaran, Smriti Shastra and Karma Kanda were also found. There are also some fragmented manuscripts. The study has revealed that the manuscripts are two hundred years old. But, the oldest manuscript is on Smriti Puran which has been copied in 1688.
The manuscripts are invariably the treasure-trove of knowledge. They reveal the nature of education, profound knowledge of Sanskrit and Bengali of the enlightened section of society of the time. Dr Sujit Kumar Ghose, Chairman, MAKAIAS, Kolkata, said, “The most systematic and analytical works on manuscripts by Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee and his team will open a new vista and horizon of knowledge in Assam, besides creating outreach for further studies.” --GoTop

7. PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS CELEBRATED ACROSS GLOBE: 16th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas was celebrated with grand ceremonies by Bharatiya embassies in different countries. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year on January 9. The occasion commemorating this day is that Mahatma Gandhi returned to Bharat from South Africa on January 9, 1915.
In Bangladesh, High Commissioner of Bharat Riva Ganguly Das addressing a large number of expatriate Bharatiyas said that the government attaches high priority to provide services to the diaspora community living in various countries.
In a live video session with 8 foreign missions of Bharat spread over all the continents, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar lauded the role of the Bharatiya diaspora for the countries where they live as well as for Bharat in various fields. Quoting Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi he said that the Bharatiya diaspora is the living bridge of Bharat with the world. Outlining government initiatives for the diaspora community Dr. Jaishankar said facilitating easy travel with passport, visa and OCI services and providing security to work, travel and live abroad were its priorities.
In Beijing, the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas event saw huge participation by enthusiastic Bharatiya diaspora in China. Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Vikram Misri said, there are various initiatives put in place by government to connect Pravasis more closely with their motherland to get benefitted from their knowledge and expertise. Bharatiya community also presented some cultural programs during the event and showcased the activities taken up by them round the year. Bharatiya Consulate in Dubai also celebrated Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas. Consul General Vipul addressed the Bharatiya expats who had gathered in large number on the occasion. --GoTop

8. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH SURYA NAMASKAR YAJNA 2020: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) announced the 14th annual "Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon" or "Surya Namaskar Yajna". Each year Hindus worldwide celebrate January 14th as Makar Sankranti – a day that marks the change of season as the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn or Makar. To mark this occasion, HSS has organized the "Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity" Yogathon from January 18th to February 2nd, 2020. The 2-week event aims to create awareness about Yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Surya Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in 10-steps that, along with easy breathing techniques, can provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind.
HSS initiated this health awareness project in 2006. Since its inception, participants from 40 states actively took part via various Yoga Centers, community organizations, schools and colleges regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, have participated and collectively performed over 4 million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle.
During the 2019 Health for Humanity campaign: 900 students from two elementary schools in San Antonio and 714 students from South Carolina elementary school actively participated in SNY program. In 2-week event, 828,586 Surya Namaskars were performed by 11,254 participants across the US. HSS volunteers also conducted a Surya Namaskar workshops at 156 locations. This year also, HSS invites community groups, Yoga centers, schools, university students, and individuals across all states of the US to participate in Health for Humanity Yogathon. This program is open to people of all ages, gender, and races. Details of this event, training resources and advertising aids are available on this web site. For questions or suggestions, at email “sny@hssus.org” or 973-500-8HSS (8477). Join the event on our facebook page and share it with your friends and families! --GoTop

9. PM MODI PAYS TRIBUTE TO SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AT BELUR MATH: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi on 12th January paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary at the Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. Modi, who became the first Pradhan Mantri to stay overnight at the Math in neighbouring Howrah district, visited the temple of Swami Vivekananda early morning to pay respect to the spiritual leader. He also visited the main temple building and paid tribute to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. --GoTop

10. 133 PILGRIMS FROM PAKISTAN VISIT JAGANNATH TEMPLE: A group of 133 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan visited the Shree Jagannath Temple on January 4. The pilgrims included 70 male, 50 female, and 13 children. “It was a long-cherished desire to have darshan of Lord Jagannath. We got the visa with much difficulty. We thank the Bharatiya government for facilitating our visit,” said a devotee from Pakistan. --GoTop

11. SEEING IS BELIEVING, SAW NORMALCY IN DAILY LIVES: VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR ON J-K VISIT: Vietnamese Ambassador to Bharat Pham Sanh Chau, who was part of a delegation of envoys undertaking a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, said on 10th January that he witnessed a "normalcy in the daily lives of the people" during his trip to the region. "I want to say that it was a very worthwhile trip. Seeing is believing. That has us to have a fuller picture of the situation here," Sanh Chau said. "My observation is that we see normalcy in the daily life of the people, which is a very positive sign," the envoy said, adding that his interactions with different groups in the region felt him that they are "very happy with the current situation."
Pham was part of a delegation of 15 foreign envoys from different countries visiting Jammu and Kashmir to see first-hand the efforts made by the government to normalize the situation after the revocation of the state's special status in August last year. The delegation, which includes envoys from the United States, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Morocco, Fiji, Norway, Philippines, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, and Guyana, visited Jammu and Kashmir on 9-10 January. During the visit, they met political leaders, civil society members and seniors Army officials in Srinagar and were briefed about the security situation in the region. --GoTop

12. IN NAVAL LANDMARK, TEJAS LANDS ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER INS VIKRAMADITYA: In a major landmark for indigenous Bharatiya aviation, the naval version of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) landed for the first time on an aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, on 11 January. This takes Bharat into a select group of nations — the US, UK, Russia, France, and China — that have developed aircraft capable of landing and taking off from the severely constrained confines of an aircraft carrier deck, which is barely 200 metres long. “After completing extensive trials on the shore-based test facility (SBTF), the naval version of LCA did a successful arrested landing onboard INS Vikramaditya at 1002 hrs on January 11. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar conducted the maiden landing,” stated a defense ministry release. --GoTop

13. HINDU ORGANISATIONS PROTEST OUTSIDE PAK HIGH COMMISSION: A large number of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, Hindu Manch and many other Hindu organizations' workers, on January 7, staged a massive protest outside the Pakistan High Commission against the atrocities on Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan and also attack on Shri Nankana Saheb.
Addressing the workers, VHP working president Alok Kumar said Shri Nankana Saheb is as holy for us as Macca and Madina are for the Muslims. The attack on Shri Nankana Saheb loses our patience. Kumar further said the hatred lies in the social mindset of Pakistan. It is not against the Hindus and Sikhs alone, it is also against the Ahmadiyas, Sunnis and Shias. Zonal organizing secretary Mukesh, Delhi Prant president Kapil Khanna, working President Vagish Issar joined the protest. --GoTop

14. BHARATIYA DIASPORA HELD RALLIES ACROSS THE WORLD IN SUPPORT OF CAA: Member of the Bharatiya Diaspora held events in several cities across the United states including Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Silicon Valley, New York, Atlanta, London, Manchester, Birmingham in UK and Netherlands, Germany etc. to express their support for the amended Citizenship Act. Terming the act as a historic step taken by the Bharatiya government, the diaspora united in multiple cities, primarily to create awareness about misinformation being spread about the purpose of the CAA. --GoTop

15. IIT ROPAR INSTALLS UNIQUE INDUS VALLEY INSPIRED PILLARS: The Indian Institute of Technology-Ropar has installed four pillars inspired by the Indus Valley Civilization. Standing at 41 feet, they also have the distinction of being the tallest contemporary stone-carved pillars in Bharat. The institute is situated on the banks of the river Sutlej and Punjab and the pillars stand at the entrance. The project has been envisioned as a homage to the intellectual progress and excellence achieved in the land of Rupnagar, which houses the new IIT campus and stands over the roots of the Indus Valley Civilization. The pillars, which took over a year to complete, is one of the largest works employing bas relief carving outside the sphere of temple carvings. --GoTop

16. BHARATIYA AMERICAN REP. RO KHANNA AND CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REP. JOHN LEWIS PEN ESSAYS FOR GANDHI ANTHOLOGY: Bharat’s Ministry of External Affairs on December 23 released an e-book, “What Gandhi Means to Me: An Anthology,” featuring essays from several former and current heads of state, as well as Bharatiya American Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia. The e-book can be read in its entirety at mea.gov.in. It includes essays from several prominent civil rights activists, including Namibia’s Dr. Sam Nujoma, and Poland’s Lech Walesa. Former United Nations General Secretary Ban ki Moon contributed to the anthology, as well Antonio Guterres, the current UN Secretary General. The e-book commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth year. In his foreword to the book, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said, in part: “Gandhian thought provides solutions that retain abiding relevance in addressing global challenges like terrorism and climate change. Gandhi believed in harmony & brotherhood and living in harmony with mother Nature .” --GoTop

17. SAVITRIBAI: WHO STARTED GIRLS' SCHOOL 171 YEARS AGO : Hailed as a pioneer in women's education, Savitribai Phule and her husband, social reformer Jyotirao Phule started what is believed to be Bharat’s first school for girls in Pune 171 years ago.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi was among those who paid tributes to this remarkable woman on her birth anniversary on January 3. Savitribai and her husband were instrumental in setting up an organization ‘Satyashodhak Samaj' (Society of Truth-seekers), which championed progressive ideas, denounced the dowry custom and encouraged marriage without exchange of dowry. --GoTop

18. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Saumitra Gokhale. Samyojak Vishwa Vibhag is touring Zambia and South Africa and will tour to New Zealand. S Rajendran sahsamyojak and Shyam Parande, Secretary, Sewa International will tour Malaysia. Dr Ram Vaidya, sahsamyojak reached Bharat from Kenya.
Visitors: Amit Nandlaskar - Australia, Vasu Yogi -Germany, Dr Dinesh Chawla, Brahma Rattan Agarwal - USA

FOOD FOR THOUGHT; The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful. - Swami Vivekananda --GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
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PEJAWAR SWAMI WAS KARMA YOGI, GNANA TAPASVI
S. GURUMURTHY
He was one of the leading lights of the Dharma Samsad of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which was in the forefront of the Ram Temple movement at Ayodhya. Yet no secular, liberal politician would dare call him a Hindu bigot or communal. He was a founding leader of the Go-Raksha movement for protecting and saving cows. No Leftist would say he was semi-barbarian as Karl Marx referred to the tradition of cow worship in Bharat.
Virtually standing alone in the spiritual fraternity he dared the frightening Emergency and dictatorship in 1975 and published a protest letter declaring, “As long as my Dharmic activities are not affected, I am even ready to serve a prison sentence.” The Emergency regime would not touch him.
When some Hindu sects demanded minority status, he declared, “if all Hindu sects demand similar status, only Muslims will be majority in the country.” No liberal or secular would object to his truthful statement. This was Vishwesha Theertha of Pejawar Mutt known to millions of his followers and multi-millions across Bharat and the world as Pejawar Swami who attained siddhi on Sunday morning. How is it that he was perceived and treated differently when he
took positions that conflicted with highly powerful opinions or persons? To answer in one word: penance, tapas as the ancient Hindu tradition would put it.
The 33rd acharya in the Guru parampara to lead the Pejawar Mutt, Vishwesha Theertha became a sanyasi and later after the prescribed training, its head. He adorned the position with such dignity and character that he became the icon of not just the philosophical peer Mutts of the Madhwa tradition but for all such and similar traditions all over Bharat. In a spiritual life spanning over 80 years from the age of seven, during which he had seen 1,000 full moons (Chandra darshan), which is regarded as a great landmark in the life of sanyasin. He lived the life of a true celibate, a harmless and ideal sanyasi — unattached to fame, power and position, including his own.
It is comparatively easy in the ancient Hindu tradition to become and be a sanyasi giving up all power and possession. But it is difficult to be a sanyasi and head an institutions with power and possession and safeguard and accrete both, yet not be enamoured of it. It is relatively easy to be detached, but impossibly challenging to be detached in attachment. It calls for a spiritually perfected technique and disciplined state of mind of a Karma yogi to achieve detached attachment.
On how to achieve detached attachment, Sri Ramakrishna Pramahamsa gave the example of how one should apply oil on the hands while peeling a jackfruit to avoid getting stuck in the sticky residue. Gnana yogis like the Pejawar Swami practiced Karma yoga, doing one’s duty without getting attached to the outcome. That was how he was handling the Pejawar Mutt without being affected or attached to it. This is the discipline of Karma yoga in a Gnana yogi. The Pejawar Swami was Gnana tapasvi who practised Karma yoga.
A gnani in service of the needy
The general perception is that a Hindu gnani keeps off the society and its contemporary needs. Pejawar Swami was a gnani with a difference. He was in the streets, in heat and cold, to help the society and inspired millions to contribute for the cause he appealed for. Swamiji constructed 150 homes for those rendered homeless when a terrible cyclone hit Hamsaladeevi area in Andhra Pradesh.
When Latur was hit by earthquake, he contributed immensely for the rehabilitation of the devastated people. He instituted the Janakalyan Nidhi for providing relief for the poor and the downtrodden. For him everything was Sri Krishna. He built a 50-bed hospital, Krishna Chikitsalaya, for the treatment of the poor and the needy. He also built an orphanage, Sri Krishna Sevadhama. He founded an Ayurveda college to impart training in traditional Bharatiya health science.
Despite being a traditionalist rooted in a spiritual and ritual heritage that goes back thousands of years, which could distance people mentally from the modern world, he actively promoted contemporary education and knowledge. He established science, arts and commerce colleges in Siddapura and a primary school and a pre-university college as a model institution in his birth place of Ramakunja. These institutions are his symbolic efforts to inspire those deep rooted in tradition not go ignore the contemporary world and needs.
Saints like Pejawar Swami are millennial seers in the tradition of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maharishi Aurobindo, Ramana Maharishi and Kanchi Mahaswami, to mention a few, who are born from time to time, as Sri Krishna says, to guide the people who are being swayed by contemporary compulsions back to the roots -- the eternal or sanatana dharma. (The author is a commentator on political and economic affairs)https://www.newindianexpress.com/ 30th December 2019 --GoTop

\SAMVAD  श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Pausha Shukla 6, Vik. Samvat 2076 Yugabda 5121: 1 January 2020


1. FESTIVALS: VASANT PANCHAMI: When winter comes, can spring be far behind. Vasant Panchami, the 5th day of Magha Shukla paksh, falling on January 29 this year, is the harbinger of the King of all seasons Spring. The festival is particularly observed by Hindus in Bharat and Nepal. In southern states, the day is called Sri Panchami. On the island of Bali and among the Hindus of Indonesia, it is known as "Hari Raya Saraswati" (great day of Saraswati). It also marks the beginning of the 210-day long Balinese Pawukon calendar. 
Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and all arts. The festival also celebrates the agricultural fields' ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which Hindus associate with Saraswati's favourite color. People dress in yellow saris or shirts, share yellow colored snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then eat yellow cooked rice as part of an elaborate feast. Kite flying is a popular event on this day in north Bharat as well as in the region around Lahore, Pakistan.--GoTop

2. LIGHTING OF KARTHIGAI DEEPAM: Lakhs of Devotees witnessed lighting of Karthigai Deepam at Tiruvannamalai at 6 pm on December 1. The fire was lit by devotees in more than five-foot-tall ‘Kopparai’ (cauldron or vessel used for lighting) filled with ghee and camphor, atop the 2,668-foot-high hill. The 10-day Brahmotsavam of Sri Arunchaleswarar Temple began with the puja followed by lighting of Bharani Deepam at the temple at 4 a.m. 4,000 to 5,000 people were allowed inside the temple for Bharani Deepam. Despite the cloudy conditions and smog, lakhs of devotees thronged to the temple town. Prior to the lighting of the Maha Deepam, an idol of Vinayakar was taken out in a procession followed by those of Murugar, Arunachaleswarar, Unnamulaiamman, Chandikeswarar and Ardhanareeswarar. Annadhanam was arranged at many places for the purpose of feeding devotees from far and near. --GoTop

3. SANGH WORKS FOR DESH VIJAY THROUGH DHARMA VIJAY : MOHAN BHAGWAT: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat addressed a massive public gathering at the Saroornagar stadium, Hyderabad on the evening of 25th December 2019 on occasion of the Sarvajanika Utsav of `Vijay Sankalp Shibir’. Nearly 25,000 people attended the public meeting, among them over 8,500 swayamsevaks drawn from all the districts of Telangana. The swayamsevaks were attending a 3-day camp in Bharat Engineering College at the outskirts of Hyderabad. Shri Bhagwat said that this camp is named as Vijay Sankalp. Swayamsevaks work for the development and success of the nation, without any selfish motive and without taking any credit, name or fame. They struggle and strive round the clock and yet sing the glory of Bharatmata with a smile on their lips. He said Bharat always stood for Dharma Vijay which is achieved thru saatvik methods and service orientedness, by selflessly working and serving society with affection and oneness towards all. Padmashri BV Mohan Reddy, of Cyient Technologies, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said our moral values, education, women empowerment, integrity, trust and responsibility will have to be instilled in the society, especially younger generation to build a great Bharat. --GoTop

4. NEED TO CONNECT EDUCATION WITH SAMSKARS: RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhayyaji Joshi stressed the need to connect education with the internal and external samskars. Addressing a function organized by ‘Swa’-Roopwardhinee at Abha Saheb Garvare College auditorium, Pune on December 3, he recalled the memories of the founder of the ‘Swa’-Roopwardhinee Kishabhau Patwardhan. Bhaiyyaji said Wardhinee has been working for the upliftment of neglected sections of the society for the last 40 years. Noted scientist R.A. Mashelkar presided over the function.  --GoTop

5. FORMER RASHTRAPATI PRANAB MUKHERJEE DELIVERS SECOND ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE MEMORIAL LECTURE:Former Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee has said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's innate qualities as an orator and moderator greatly influenced the Bharatiya political scenario. The memorial lecture was organized under the banner of India Foundation. Delivering the second Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on December 16, Mr Mukherjee said as a democrat, Vajpayee was one of the few leaders who thought of every angle before taking any decision. He said Vajpayee ensured steady growth of the Bharatiya economy at an average rate of six per cent. --GoTop

6. “VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL WAS THE OUTCOME OF NATIONAL CONSENSUS”: RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat appealed to the countrymen to visit the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari and try to know the service activities being undertaken as per the dreams of Swamiji by Vivekananda Kendra.  In a video message, aired as part of 50 years of the Memorial, Shri Bhagwat said: “Vivekananda Kendra is a spiritually oriented service mission working on Swami Vivekananda’s twin objectives of man making and nation building. 
He said the present generation may have some information about the Rock Memorial but it does not practically know the history behind its creation. What is significant to know about it is that this work was done with full consensus of the country. --GoTop

7. HINDU TEMPLE CONSECRATED AFTER EXTENSIVE RENOVATION: The Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Chinatown in Singapore held a consecration ceremony on December 14. The event, conducted every 12 years, marks the re-energizing of the 94-year-old temple and the Deity within. The ceremony also marked the end of seven months of renovation and maintenance works that cost about US$738,000. About 15,000 people stood in the rain to observe the ceremony, decked in brightly colored ponchos against the dreary sky.--GoTop

8. BHARAT BEYOND ARYAN INVASION MYTH: Prajna Bharati and Indic Academy organized a day-long national seminar for academics, writers and intellectuals `Bharat beyond Aryan Invasion Myth’ on 7thDec at ISB, Hyderabad. Author and professor Dr Joydeep Bagchee presented a brilliant analysis on the `Historical context of the early origins of Aryan Invasion Myth’, and how German Christian theologists like Schlegel brothers, Christian Lassen mischievously created the Aryan-Dekhanistic divide and also postulated that Aryan homeland is Caspian sea and later positioned it towards Bactria. Keynote speaker, author Dr Michel Danino from IIT Gandhinagar spoke about the eight approaches thru which the Aryan Invasion Theory can be unraveled. Dr Shrikant Talageri and Dr Koenraad Elst speaking on `Linguistics and Comparative Mythology’ explained the various false theories constructed over the mythical `Aryan homeland.’
Dr Vasant Shinde of Deccan college elaborated on the Sindhu-Saraswati basin and what the DNA analysis of Rakhigarhi reveals. Dr Premendra Priyadarshi gave a presentation on Genetics evidence, tracing the lineages of trees. Dr Ashok Aklujkar from British Columbia university, Canada said that systematic neglect of good publications like `Aryan problem’ and total silence on wider evidence refuting the AIT is unpardonable and unethical. J Nandkumar, National convenor, Prajnapravah in the valedictory session stated that, it is necessary to discuss AIT as it is dividing and destroying the nation. The seminar was attended by historians, scholars and a large number of students.--GoTop

9. PIO LAWMAKERS OF UK TAKE OATH ON BHAGAVAD GITA: UK lawmakers Alok Sharma and Rishi Sunak took oath on the Bhagavad Gita while swearing in as members of the parliament in the new House of Commons on December 17. Alok Sharma is a minister in the British cabinet, Rishi Sunak is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Alok Sharma, 52, was born in Agra and was elected for the fourth time from Reading West. He is serving as the Secretary of State for International Development since July 2019. Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton, Hampshire and was re-elected the third time from Richmond, Yorkshire.--GoTop

10. ‘BHARAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO TIBET’—LOBSANG SINGEY: Lobsang Singey (76) was just 18 yrs old when he came to Bharat from Tibet as refugee with Dalai Lama walking for nearly 3 months in the Himalayan region. He was member of the Voluntary Freedom Fighter Force in Tibet. This Tibetan guerrilla outfit fought Chinese rule and played a key role in the Dalai Lama's escape to Bharat in March 1959.
In 1964, he joined the Special Frontier Force, fought the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. SFF team was very much instrumental in liberation of Chittagong Hill tract areas from the mighty Pathans of Pakistan Army. Rest of his service was always in the Bharat Tibet border posts, which, he says, gave him an opportunity to see his motherland Tibet on the other side every day. Lobsang was also part of the joint exercise with US army. An excellent Paratrooper Lobsang says he has done paratrooping for more than 95 times. And was also the bodyguard of Dalai Lama for a short span.
Now Lobsang who is single leads a retired life in the refugee camp along with friends and spends most of his time in praying and doing social work. His words….”Bharat has given so much to Tibet….Hum BharatkeliyeJaanbhidega…(We will give our lives for Bharat...).”
--GoTop

11. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VEDIC MATHEMATICS: Mathematicians from Bharat and abroad attended the three-day International Vedic Mathematics Conference in Delhi on December 22-24. The conference was jointly organized by Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani and Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, New Delhi. The emerging dimensions of Vedic mathematics and applications in research works based on science, technology and social science were discussed in detail in the conference. Delegates from various universities and other academic institutions of national and international reputation presented their research papers on various topics related to Vedic Mathematics in the conference. The conference was graced by Swami Nischalananda Ji Maharaj-Shankaracharya of Puri Math. University Vice Chancellor Professor RK Mittal said that the knowledge we have about human welfare is drawn from the Vedas. 
Dr. Himanshu, who came from United States as a keynote speaker, said that without good mathematics, the task of calculation is impossible. Atul Kothari, National Secretary of the Nyas said that “Vedic mathematics is a system of calculation based on Vedas and Bharatiya philosophy. Because of the uncomplicated methods of Vedic Mathematics, its popularity and acceptance is increasing all over the world. --GoTop

12. BHARAT ANNOUNCES RELIEF FOR OCI CARD HOLDERS: The holders of the Overseas Citizens of Bharat or OCI cards, who are either below 20 years or above 50 years of age and have renewed their passports, can continue their travel to Bharat till June 30, 2020 subject to their carrying both the old and new passports along with OCI card as per the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry office memorandum on the matter. --GoTop

13. REVIVE OLD TRADITIONS TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT: “The degradation that we see in environment around us today is because we have abandoned many of our ancient sanskars. Once we used to follow 44 sanskars in our life but today they have been reduced to hardly 15-16 and many people do not know their significance. We need to revive those old traditions and sanskars and also ensure that the Western items should not infiltrate in our traditions and festivals,” said Acharya Mahmandaleshwar Swami Avadheshanand Giri while releasing the environment special issue of ‘Mangal Vimarsh’ in New Delhi on December 7. Swami Avdheshanand Giri pointed out that in 2004, drinking water on the earth was 2.00 per cent which today remains only .75 per cent. “If we fail to change our habits and take the corrective steps on war footing, we would not survive long,” he said adding that today the biggest problem in the world is not terrorism but uncontrolled consumption. Veteran BJP leader Dr MM Joshi also stressed that we should change our habits otherwise we should be ready to perish. Noted economist Dr Bajrang Lal Gupt stressed on defining the traditions in new context.--GoTop

14. BHARATIYA FIRM GETS GLOBAL CLIMATE AWARD: Infosys became the first Bharatiya firm to receive the UN Global Climate Action award in the carbon neutral category at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 25) held in Madrid, Spain."We won the award for carbon neutral program, which delivers innovative actions that address climate change and help drive progress on sustainable development goals, such as gender equality, health and economic opportunity," the Bengaluru based IT behemoth said. The 12-day COP was being held since Dec. 2 in the Spanish capital by the United Nations. The UN honors achievements in combating climate change through its Climate Action awards every year.--GoTop

15. UNSUNG HEORES HONOURED ON ‘SEVA DINA’: Hindu Seva Prathisthan (HSP) observed ‘Seva Din’ to educate the people about social activities and to honour the unsung heroes who are involved in selfless sewa activities. The Seva Din started with a ‘Sevathon’, a walk in the city in the morning which was attended by the general public and noted personalities from all walks of life. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya also took part in the Sevathon. Later, a cultural event and a ceremony to honour the achievers in social service were held at RV Dental College. Popular Kannada cine star Jaggesh was the chief guest. Saphala Nagaratna of Belgaum, Kamegowda of Matavalli and Geeta from Bengaluru were honoured for their service to the society. Nagaratna is founder of Ashraya Foundation which works for HIV positive girls post-adolescence. 82-year-old Kamegowda, himself built 14 Keres (ponds) in Kundinibetta near Malavalli in Karnataka. Geeta, a Divyang herself, has helped Divyang people stand on their own through various self-help projects.--GoTop
 
16. KHALSA CARE FOUNDATION KEEPS COMMUNITY SMILING: Each December, Khalsa Care Foundation holds a Sharing is Caring Carnival which is eagerly anticipated by the neighboring community. This year, it held at Pacoima, California on December 14 and drew an estimated 4,200 adults and supplies were earmarked for 800 plus needy families who received a bag each of food, toys and clothes. Among other things this time included a bicycle donated by members of the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division.--GoTop

17. RASHTRATI, PM PAY TRIBUTES TO VAJPAYEE: Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind and Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to former Pradhan Mantri and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 95th birth anniversary. A prayer meeting was held at Sadaiv Atal--the memorial to Vajpayee-where several Union Ministers also paid their humble tributes. BJP veteran L K Advani, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Speaker Om Birla and members of Vajpayee's family were amongst those who paid their tributes amid the playing of hymns and devotional music. Vajpayee was born in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He died on August 16, 2018 at AIIMS in New Delhi. The memorial was dedicated to the nation in December last year. ‘STRATEGIC’ ROHTANG TUNNEL RENAMED ATAL TUNNEL: Speaking at an event held on December 25, to name the underground motor passage after former Pradhan Mantri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pradhan Mantri Modi said the project is very important for the country. “Rohtang Tunnel, connecting Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Ladakh, will now be known as Atal Tunnel. It will help in promoting tourism in the region,” he said. The historic decision to build the tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken in 2000 when Vajpayee was the Pradhan Mantri. The 8.8-km-long tunnel will be the world's longest above an altitude of 3,000 metres and will reduce distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometers. --GoTop

18. HINDU UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA - REJUVENATION CAMPAIGN: Dharma Civilization Foundation has made a commitment to raise a seed fund of $ 1 Million in support of the Hindu University of America (HUA), in Florida. In 2018, DCF raised over $ 400,000. Now DCF is eager to raise $ 600,000 more to reach its milestone of Phase-I, as early as possible and wants to achieve the Phase-II target of $ 6 Million by the end of 2020. DCF’s efforts in this direction may be known by clicking on the following link:
https://dcfusa.z2systems.com/np/clients/dcfusa/campaign.jsp?campaign=15&&secureIdCustomer=1& Checks may be written in favor of Dharma Civilization Foundation and mailed to the following address:19010 Tribune Street, Porter Ranch CA 91326. DCF is a 501(c)3 charitable public foundation and the donations will be fully tax deductible.--GoTop

19. PEJAWAR SWAMY VISWESH TEERTHA SWAMIJI PASS AWAY: Sri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji passed away on 29th December at Pejawar Matha in Udupi. He was 88 years old. Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji has been closely associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad since its beginning in 1964. He was also the vice-president of the VHP for many years. Swamiji who was associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for long said that he would surely see the Ayodhya dispute being resolved in his time. He strived for 'Samarasya' and initiated visits to Dalit colonies in Mysore and other parts of the state in order to send a message against untouchability and bring Hindu unity. Swamiji also been closely associated with all the Sarsanghachalaks of RSS right from Guruji Golwalkar. Passing away of Swamiji has been condoled by everyone in the country irrespective of political affiliations and ideology. Pradhan Mantri Modi in a condolence tweet said Sri Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji will remain in the hearts and minds of lakhs of people for whom he was always a guiding light. RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi paid their tributes to Swamiji.--GoTop

20. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN:Pravas: Dattatreya Hosabale sahsarkaryavaha RSS will return Bharat after finishing his Kenya tour. Vishwa Vibhag samyojak Saumitra Gokhale will tour South Africa and nearby countries. Visitors: --GoTop
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: There are three kinds of devotees. The inferior devotee says, "God is out there" and thinks God is different from His creation. The mediocre devotee says, "God is antaryami, the inner guide who dwells in everyone's heart;" thus the mediocre devotee sees God within. But the superior devotee sees that God alone is everything, for He has become the twenty-four cosmic tattvas. That devotee finds that everything, above and below, is filled with God. - Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) --GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
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BALASAHEB DEVRAS GAVE RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH THE MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL IMPETUS VIRAG PACHPORE
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has become the centre of attraction today because of the changed socio-political scenario since 2014 general elections. The RSS today is praised or trolled for political moves. But the social service projects numbering over 1.5 lakh being silently conducted across the length and breadth of the country are often neglected. The impact of these service projects is now visible in almost all spheres of the social, economic and political life of the Bharatiya society.
It was undoubtedly the dynamic leadership of the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS, the late BalasahebDevras who gave the much needed social impetus to the organization. It was during the birth centenary celebration of RSS founder Dr K B Hedgewar in 1989 that Devras announced to launch 5000 service projects and started a new department of Sewa Vibhag in the Sangh.
Over the years, this Sewa Vibhag has expanded its activities touching all the spheres of Bharat’s social life encompassing the remote and inaccessible areas taking the message of love and affection to the hitherto neglected populations of the country. The various RSS inspired organizations like Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, Vidya Bharati, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, BharatiyaKisan Sangh, Sewa Bharati, and so on, they all made tireless efforts to take the fruits of development to these hapless and neglected, deprived sections of the society and bring them at par with others in the Bharatiya society.
Balasaheb Devras had the distinction of reaching to the top post in the RSS hierarchy starting from the bottom. He came in electrifying and inspiring contact of RSS founder Dr Hedgewar who identified the spark in him and groomed him to shoulder bigger and bigger responsibilities in future. Starting as a Swayamsevak, he rose to be the Sarsanghchalak – the friend, philosopher and guide of the organization.
Born in 1915 on December 11 at Nagpur Balasaheb started going to the RSS shakha since 1927 when he was in his teens. Dr Hedgewar appointed him as in charge of ‘Kush Pathak’ in the Mohite Shakha. He was a brilliant student and an ace kabaddi player.
Balasaheb was open hearted from his very childhood. He was dead against the outdated and time-barred rituals and customs. He had friends across all castes and they freely used to come to his house and dine with him. He convinced his mother to accommodate them and treat them as she treated him and his siblings. Though she came from a traditional background later on she agreed with him and changed herself.
Balasaheb completed his degree in law and joined the ‘Anath Vidyarthi Gruh’ to teach the students there much against the wishes of his father who wanted him to become an ICS officer. He was given the responsibility as ‘Karyawah’ (Secretary) of Nagpur RSS. He became a full time ‘Pracharak’ (organiser) of RSS in 1939 and was sent to Bengal. But he was called back to Nagpur following the death of Dr Hedgewar.
The RSS was banned by the Nehru Government using the alibi of Gandhi murder in 1948. The RSS was falsely implicated in this case and to get the ban lifted, RSS opted for massive ‘satyagraha’. Balasaheb was the one who was handling the underground controls of this unique event. He contacted eminent personalities, explained to them the position of RSS and sought their active support in getting the ban cancelled. 
Later Balasaheb was made ‘Sarkaryawah’ (General Secretary) of the RSS with his headquarter at Nagpur. He consolidated the RSS network in Nagpur during this period and also in other provinces of Bharat. He introduced the Q & A sessions with an intention to increase inquisitiveness of swayamsevaks.
Following the demise of second Sarsanghchalak M. S. Golwalkar alias Sri Guruji, Balasaheb became the head of the organization. His leadership was put to test by the 1975 internal emergency and subsequent ban on RSS by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. That was a shameless assault on Bharat’s democratic ethos. The RSS under the leadership of Balasaheb fought with this and converted this difficulty into an opportunity by throwing the Congress out of power and restoring the democracy. He was incarcerated in Pune’s Yerwada Jail during the emergency but handled the situation from within the jail. He was a diabetes patient but in spite of that he continued to lead the organization till 1994.
Due to falling health he decided to step down and appointed Prof Rajendra Singh alias RajjuBhayya as his successor. In the RSS history this was the first such transition which was conducted so smoothly and sans any difficulty.
During his over two-decade leadership, Balasaheb added new dimensions to the Sangh work. He successfully implemented the bifocal vision of RSS Founder Dr Hedgewar to make RSS more people oriented and service-centred organization. He played a pivotal role in expanding the various social service initiatives launched during the tenure of Sri Guruji. Balasaheb deputed senior pracharaks to these organizations and expanded them all over the country. Against the background of Meenakshipuram conversion incident, all these organizations had played a major role in events like Ekatmata Yatra, Sriram Temple movement, etc. in presenting a united and organized expression of Hindu society and social psyche. Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister of Bharat in 1996 and that was the dream fulfilled for Balasaheb who was in Pune then and battling with life. Expressing happiness was his last reaction after which he left for heavenly abode on June 17, 1996. -www.newsbharati.com (11-Dec-2019) --GoTop