Paush Krishna 14 Vik. Samvat 2078, Yugabda 5123 : 1 January, 2022:SM 3019 (For Private Circulation only)
1.
FESTIVALS: MAKAR SANKRANTI is a
harvest festival dedicated to Surya Bhagwan. It is observed each year on the day
(January 14) the Sun enters Capricorn zodiac. Makar Sankranti is also known as
Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi (preceded by Lohri) in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal
Pradesh, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Maghe Sankranti (Nepal), Songkran (Thailand),
Thingyan (Myanmar), Mohan Songkran (Cambodia), and Shishur Sankrat (Kashmir).
2. PROGRAMS OF SARSANGHCHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat was the keynote
speaker at the ‘Godavari Sangamam’ programme held on December 26 in Palakollu,
West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The program was attended by 12,736
swayamsevaks. On the occasion, he said that attending the Sangh Shakha every day
will make a positive change in our lives and enhance the qualities of
swayamsevaks. Head of the Nagarjuna Construction Company Shri Alluri Venkata
Narasimha Raju was the Chief Guest and Kshetra Sanghachalak Shri Doosi
Ramakrishna and Prant Sanghachalak Shri Nagareddy Hari Kumar Reddy were also
present on the occasion.
On December 20, Dr Bhagwat met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at
McLeodganj in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
-GoTop
3. SOUL OF BHARAT IS HINDU — DATTATREYA HOSABALE: While
addressing a kutumb prabodhan program at Dr. MPS School in Sikandra, Agra, Uttar
Pradesh on December 23, RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale said that the
identity of Bharat is that of Hindu Rashtra and the soul of Bharat is also
Hindu.
4. BHARAT CELEBRATED SWARNIM VIJAY DIWAS: On December
16, Bharat celebrated the 50th anniversary of Swarnim Vijay Diwas - its victory
over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to redrawing of the political map of
South Asia.
Four Vijay Mashaals, which were taken to various parts of Bharat during the last
one year - including villages of the awardees of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir
Chakra of the 1971 war - were merged into the eternal flame of National War
Memorial in Delhi by Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi. The event was attended
by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs.
5. NEED TO INDIANISE EDUCATION SYSTEM: VENKAIAH NAIDU:
Rishiwood University, which aims to prepare leaders in the coming generations
for social impact and nation-building, held its inauguration ceremony on
December 18 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. On the occasion, Uprashtrapati Shri M.
Venkaiah Naidu called for Indianising the education system based on Bharat’s
great wealth of ancient wisdom, knowledge, traditions and heritage. Suggesting
that the colonial education system has created an inferiority complex and
diffidence in people, he called for a value-based transformation in the
education system, as envisioned by the National Education Policy 2020.
6. MAHAMANA MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA UTILIZED SCIENCE TO FIGHT
AGAINST THE BRITISH: On January 26, an event was organized by Mahamana
Malaviya Mission to commemorate the 160th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna
Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at NDMC convention center in Delhi.
7. RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH PRAHAR DIWAS: On the
occasion of Vijay Diwas - Bharat’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 - Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh organized Prahar Diwas across its shakhas on December 16.
8. SURYANAMASKAR MAHAYAGYA: MYANMAR: Sanatan Dharma
Swayamsevak Sangh, SDSS Myanmar is conducting a round the year Suryanamaskar
Mahayagya from July 21, 2021 to July 20, 2022. During the first 21 weeks of this
nationwide drive, 555 registered swayamsevaks and sevikas organised
Suryanamaskar Mahayagya at different places and participants performed more than
5 lakh Suryanamaskars.
9. SE SAMBHAG PRATHAMIK SANGH SHIKSHA VARGA : USA - The
South East Sambhag of USA conducted the Prathamik Sangh Shiksha Varga (SSV) from
November 25 to 28. 43 shiksharthis from all 4 vibhags of the sambhag
participated in the SSV along with 14 shikshaks and 4 prabandhaks. Shiksharthis
were divided into 4 ganas based on their age and gender. All the shiksharthis
got trained in shareerik activities - niyuddha, samata, danda, yogchap, shikshan
vidhi, acharpaddhati and ghosh (vamshi). Boudhik activities included chintan
satra, boudhiks, charcha, samvad etc. Planning started 5 weeks before the SSV
dates. A week before the varg, shareerik e-abhyas varg was conducted to review
the syllabus with shikshaks. Boudhik team also conducted separate calls for
charcha, samvad, prarthana and boudhik with the assigned shikshaks. This
resulted in the smooth execution of the varg and left a positive imprint in the
minds of the shiksharthis. -GoTop
10.
HSS UK: 5 YEARS OF UK PARLIAMENT WEEK PARTICIPATION:
5 years ago Finchley shakha held the only UK
Parliament Week (UKPW) activity by any Hindu organisation in the UK.
Swayamsevaks and sevikas of this shakha - aged 9 to 90 - and three local members
of parliament became a springboard for the success story of Hindu Swayamsevak
Sangh HSS UK at UKPW. In 2018, nine shakhas and in 2019 six shakhas took part in
UKPW. In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, 39 shakhas took part in the virtual
UKPW. After a slow start in 2021 there are 46 registrations and 34 activities
were conducted in hybrid format.
11. HINDU SEVAI SANGAM MALAYSIA RELIEF WORK: On 16
December, a tropical depression made landfall on the eastern coast of Peninsular
Malaysia, bringing torrential downpours throughout the peninsula.
12. SEWA VOLUNTEERS HELP TORNADO VICTIMS: On December
10, 2021, a violent tornado moved across Western Kentucky, USA, producing severe
to catastrophic damage in numerous towns, including Mayfield, Benton, Dawson
Springs, and Bremen. Volunteers of Sewa International and Hindu Swayamsevak
Sangh HSS USA travelled to the epicenter of the damage in Mayfield and visited
AME church, Scientology Ministries and Mayfield Fairgrounds.
13. BLOOD DONATION DRIVE BY HSS JAPAN: Hindu
Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Japan regularly organizes blood donation drive at various
locations in Japan, twice a year. Last year due to COVID-19, demand of blood
increased more than ever.
14. HINDU COMMUNITY IN MADAGASCAR HELPS FIGHT DROUGHT:
On December 22, The Hindu Samaj Association of Antananarivo donated 25 tonnes of
rice and 10 tonnes of beans to fight drought in Madagascar.
15. NATIONAL MEETINGS OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS:
AKHIL BHARATIYA ADHIVAKTA PARISHAD: National
Council Meeting of Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP) commenced with
Lightning of Lamps and rendition of National Song Vande Mataram on December 25
at Bhagyanagar.
VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD: The meeting of Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (VHP) Board of Trustees and Governing Council was held in
Junagadh, Gujarat from December 24-26. Around 350 officials and saints attended
the meet.
SANSKAR BHARATI: The Akhil Bharatiya General
Assembly of Sanskar Bharati was held in Karnavati, Gujarat on December 4-5. More
than 225 members and workers of Sanskar Bharati from across the country attended
the meet. Noted painter Vasudev Kamat was unanimously elected as the National
President of Sanskar Bharati. Educationist and culturalist Dr Hemlata S. Mohan,
renowned violinist Shri Mysore Manjunath and actor Shri Nitish Bhardwaj were
nominated as Vice Presidents.
AKHIL BHARATIYA VIDYARTHI PARISHAD: The 67th
National Conference of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad was held in Jabalpur
from December 24-26. 655 delegates were present at the event and more than
70,000 students participated virtually.
16. UK HINDUS TO GET FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT CREMATORIUM:
The proposal to create the first purpose-built crematorium for Hindus in the UK
has been approved, fulfilling the community’s long-standing wish to be able to
bid a dignified farewell to the departed with traditional rites.
Over 2,000 signatures of support were received for the proposals, with Lord
Jitesh Gadhia and Bob Blackman MP speaking in favour of the application during
the appeal process. -GoTop
17. ‘DURGA PUJA IN KOLKATA’ ON THE REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY: In an important announcement, the
Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the
Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th
session being held at Paris, France from December 13 to 18.
18. FARMING RETURNS TO LOC AFTER 20 YEARS: Farming
along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Hira Nagar sector in Jammu & Kashmir was
discontinued 20 years back because of heavy firing from the Pakistani side.
19. DRDO CONDUCTS MAIDEN LAUNCH OF NEW GENERATION
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
successfully conducted the maiden flight test of indigenously developed
surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’, from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the
coast of Odisha on December 22. The mission has met all its objectives. The new
missile followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory and reached the
designated target with high degree accuracy, validating the control, guidance
and mission algorithms.
20. BHARAT TOPS MEDAL TALLY AT JUNIOR SCIENCE OLYMPIAD:
Six Bharatiya students have pushed team Bharat to the top of the medals table at
the 18th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) 2021, held in Dubai, UAE,
from December 13 to 20.
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors: Dr. Yashwant Pathak - USA, Anggraini Utari, Krishna Hari - Sanskrit students from Indonesia. -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In life and in death, in happiness and in misery, the
Lord is equally present. The whole world is full of the Lord. Open your eyes and
see Him. - Swami Vivekananda.
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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TIME TO DEVELOP A MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT OF HINDU TEMPLES
It is time we developed a model for management of Hindu temples wherein the greater responsibility is vested in the Hindu citizens and institutions.
Kashi is an ancient city, “older than history,
older than tradition, older even than legend” as American writer Mark Twain
described it. Sage Vyasa had compiled the Vedas sitting on the banks of river
Ganga in this holy city. The Pandava brothers had visited this city founded by
Lord Shiva. Skand Purana gives elaborate description of this holy city. From
Buddha, to Shankara to Guru Nanak - every spiritual leader had his footprints
etched on its sacred soil.
The Vishwanath temple is utmost sacred, a “Jyotirlinga” Lord Shiva in the form
of a radiant light - considered by millions as a “crossing place” - Tirtha -
“between this world and the ‘far shore’ of the transcendent Brahman” as eminent
American scholar Diana Eck puts it.
The temple had witnessed destruction repeatedly during the iconoclastic
invasions of Muhammad Ghori, Sikandar Lodhi and finally Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb’s
destruction also saw a mosque rising over the ruins of the ancient temple.
Like a sphinx, the temple had bounced back to life after every demolition. Raja
Man Singh and Raja Todar Mal, the two generals in Akbar’s court, were credited
with rebuilding the temple towards the end of the 15th century. After
Aurangzeb’s destruction, Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar, the ruler of Indore and
Maharaja of Jaipur had attempted to restore it unsuccessfully in the middle of
the 18th century. Finally, Malhar Rao’s daughter-in-law and the famed ruler of
Indore, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar had succeeded in rebuilding the temple next to
the mosque in 1780.
Since then, this magnificent temple has been serving the seekers
uninterruptedly.
People of all faiths, from world over, come to Kashi seeking spiritual bliss.
Famed poet Ghalib was there proclaiming that Kashi was “the Kaaba of Hindustan”.
“Ibadat khana e naqoosian ast - hama na kaaba e Hindustan ast”
(This is a place of worship where people make music from conch shells; This
truly is the Kaaba of Hindustan), he said.
Allama Iqbal had found in Ganga the pride of our civilisational caravan.
“Ai aab rooy e Ganga, woh din hain yaad tujhko, utra tere kinare jub karavaan
hamara?”
(O Ganga, our very pride is bound with you; Do you remember our caravan, which
rested on your banks forever?), he wrote.
Who can forget the soothing tunes of Ustad Bismillah Khan’s mesmerising shehnai
in the temple precincts!
Medieval Islamic iconoclasm had subjected many temples to vandalism. Most sacred
among them were in Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya. Ayodhya temple was handed back
through a judicial process recently, where a magnificent temple is coming up.
Demands for restoration of the remaining two also come up consistently from
Hindus. Like the Holocaust-deniers in the West, there are iconoclasm-deniers in
India too. Historian K N Panikkar had come up with the whitewashed narrative
that Aurangzeb’s destruction of Vishwanath temple had “political motives”, while
B N Pande peddled the bizarre theory that Aurangzeb had done it out of rage
because the temple priests had
kidnapped and dishonored a Hindu princess of his entourage in the basement
“beneath Lord Jagannath’s seat”. Proof? Certain manuscript in the possession of
an unknown Mullah of Lucknow. Neither the manuscript nor the Mullah ever
surfaced. In fact, history shows that Aurangzeb had never traveled to the East
and never visited Varanasi. Moreover, the entry in Masir-i-Alamgiri, the court
chronicle of Aurangzeb, on September 2, 1669 categorically states: “News came to
court that in accordance with the emperor’s command his officers had demolished
the temple of Vishwanath in Benaras”.
In response to these negationist narratives of the ‘eminent historians’, some
insist that the historical wrongs must be avenged in the same way. In 1740s,
Raja Malhar Rao had attempted to remove the mosque and build the temple exactly
on that location. But the intervention of Nawab of Avadh had prevented it.
Should that 18th century path be applied in the 21st century? In the case of
Ayodhya, none had supported the demolition in 1992, although it paved the way
for a resolution three decades later. Babri was a non-functioning mosque
structure under which a functioning temple had existed. Also, after the Babri
demolition, a Places of Worship Act came into existence, which prohibits raising
of any other such disputes.
In such a scenario, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s path of restoring existing
temples - from Dwarika to Char Dham to Kashi - to their pristine glory, while
waiting for an amicable moment to resolve other issues, could be a reasonable
approach.
Gandhi was in Varanasi in February 1916 for the foundation laying ceremony of
the Benaras Hindu University. Anguished at what he witnessed during a visit to
the Vishwanath temple, he poured out his heart saying: “Is not this great temple
a reflection of our own character? I speak feelingly, as a Hindu. Is it right
that the lanes of our sacred temple should be as dirty as they are? If even our
temples are not models of roominess and cleanliness, what can our
self-government be?”.
Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar had not been able to replace the mosque but built a
glorious temple in the vicinity. What we had done to that temple in just a
century’s time calls for urgent introspection. It needed the resolve of Prime
Minister Modi to bring back its order and glory after 240 years. Gandhi had
suggested that the temples must be transformed into “abodes of holiness,
cleanliness and peace” immediately after independence. What happened to many
temples was just the opposite.
Hindu temples are the abodes of spiritual solace for the entire humanity.
Managing them in a pristine and tranquil manner requires an important reform.
The British had introduced endowment laws taking over the control of the temples
and their assets. Those laws continued after independence with governments
having total control over Hindu religious establishments. Besides being grossly
discriminatory, these laws also go against the secular credentials of the Indian
state.
It is time we developed a model for management of Hindu temples wherein the
greater responsibility is vested in the Hindu citizens and institutions. (https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion-columns/story/develop-model-management-hindu-temples-1891795-2021-12-24)
-GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN samvadnewsletter@gmail.com http://shrivishwaniketan.