Phalgun Krishna 11 Vik. Samvat 2079, Yugabda 5124 : 1 6 February, 2023:SM 4022 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
HOLI (8th March this year) is a festival of colours that celebrates the
triumph of good over evil, good harvest, and fertility. It starts with lighting
the bonfire in the evening of Purnima in Falgun month as Holika Dahan or Choti
Holi and the following day is called Holi. On the day of Holi people play with
colours with their friends and families. Holi is also known as Phaguwa in
Bhojpuri, Ukkuli in Konkani, Panguni Uthiram in Tamil, Jajiri in Telugu and Dol
Jatra in Bengali.
2. PROGRAMS OF SARSANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on 14th
February said that ‘good countries’ of the world have multitude of ideas, and
one ideology or one person cannot make or break a country. He was speaking at an
awards function organised by the Rajratna Puraskar Samiti in Nagpur. Speaking of
the Bhonsle family, the former royal family of Nagpur, he said it was connected
with the RSS from the time of the Sangh's founder K B Hedgewar. While
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded `Swarajya' (sovereign state) and freed
southern Bharat from atrocities during his time, East and North Bharat were
freed from atrocities by the rule of the Nagpur Bhonsle family, he said.
On 5th February speaking at the 647th birth anniversary programme organised by
Ravidas Samaj Panchayat and Vasudha Charitable Trust at Ravindra Natya Mandir,
Prabhadevi in Mumbai, Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that to our Creator, we are equal
and there is no caste or sect. 
3. ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN BHARAT ARE HINDUS: SHRI HOSABALE:
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale said on 1st
February that all people living in Bharat are Hindus because their forefathers
were Hindus and though their methods of worship and eating habits may be
different, but they all have the same DNA.
4. TRADITIONS AND SENTIMENTS EMANATING FROM KASHI, AYODHYA,
MATHURA AND SARNATH UNITE ALL BHARATIYAS: On February 12 Rashtrapati
Droupadi Murmu while addressing a civic reception hosted in her honour by the
Uttar Pradesh government at Lok Bhavan in Luknow said that the traditions and
sentiments emanating from Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Sarnath unite all
Bharatiyas in one thread.
5. 200TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI:
Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations
commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, at
Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi on 12th February. He also released a logo
for commemoration. Upon arriving at the venue, the Pradhan Mantri walked past
the panorama and live representations of Arya Samaj and also offered Ahuti Arpan
in the ongoing Yagya. Later on, he handed over the LED Mashal to youth
representatives as a symbolic carry forward of the spark ignited in this
programme and reinforcing the messages of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati to the
rest of Bharat and the world.
Emphasizing that lots can be learnt from the Maharishi’s personality, the PM
Modi narrated the story of an English officer who came to meet Maharishi and
asked him to pray for continuous British Rule in Bharat to which Maharishi
fearlessly replied, “Independence is my soul and the voice of Bharat”. The
Pradhan Mantri said that innumerable freedom fighters, institution builders and
patriots took inspiration from Swami Ji and gave examples of Lokmanya Tilak,
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Veer Savarkar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Hardayal,
Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and other freedom fighters. He also gave
examples of Mahatma Hansraj, Swami Shraddhanand, Bhai Parmanand and many other
leaders who found inspiration from Maharishi. Governor of Gujarat Acharya
Devvrat, Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Smt Meenakshi
Lekhi, President of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Daram Pal Arya were present on
the occasion among others.
-GoTop
6. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH NEW ZEALAND: On 3rd February,
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh New Zealand Yuva toli carried out seva activity at
Wesley Primary School where ARK Collective is running the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) supported center. 10 karyakartas worked in different groups.
The Yuva toli set a great example of responding in time of need and putting
others needs before their own by changing their schedules to carry out the sewa.
-GoTop
7. RELIEF WORK IN TURKEY: Over 36,000 people have died
since the earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6. According to the
United Nations, the quake might have left over 5.3 million homeless. Sewa
International, with the combined efforts of the partner organizations like Sewa
Canada, Sewa Europe, DSV Global Transport, Sewa USA, and ISKCON is providing
relief to the survivors. Sewa International and Food For Life (ISKCON Turkey and
Hungary) volunteers arrived in Antakya, in Hatay province, Turkey, on 12th and
14th February and to set up cooking stations that served 800 -1200 hot
vegetarian meals, snacks and tea to survivors of the earthquake. 
NDRF said that their team, in a joint operation with AFAD (Disaster and
Emergency Management Authority) of Turkey, pulled out a 6-year-old girl alive
from the rubble of a collapsed structure in Nurdagi town of Gaziantep province
and also retrieved 8 dead bodies from the debris till now. External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar gave details about the sixth plane for Turkey and said
that it carried rescue personnel, essentials and medical equipment for
earthquake relief efforts reached Turkey. Turkey's Ambassador to Bharat Firat
Sunel has described 'Operation Dost' as a "very important operation" and
demonstrated the friendship between the two nations.
-GoTop
8. THAIPUSAM : MASSIVE CROWD IN BATU CAVES MALAYSIA: In
Kauala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Thaipusam festival was celebrated on a grand scale
across the country on 5th February after two years of muted celebrations due to
the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sri Subramaniar Swamy Mandir in Batu Caves was a sea
of people, with thousands of devotees carrying 'kavadi' and 'paal kudam' (milk
offerings) to pay homage to Bhagwan Murugan. 
9. 108 BUDDHISTS FROM REPUBLIC OF KOREA TO WALK FOR OVER
1100 KM ON A 43-DAY PILGRIMAGE: On 6th February Apurva Chandra, Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, announced that 108 Buddhists from
Republic of Korea will walk over 1,100 kms over 43 days as part of walking
pilgrimage being organized by Sangwol Society of South Korea. The pilgrimage
aims to increase friendship and collaboration between the two countries.
10. HUNDREDS ATTEND OPENING OF SWINDON'S NEW HINDU MANDIR:
On 12 February Swindon's new Hindu mandir’s opening comes nearly 18 months
after Swindon's previous mandir closed in October 2021 following safety
concerns. The Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre will occupy two floors in Regent
House, with the mandir sitting on the second floor.
11. IT WAS MY ‘DHARMA’ TO TAKE OVER AS UK PM: RISHI SUNAK:
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has spoken of his motivation behind
taking on the top job at 10 Downing Street in the wake of intense political
turmoil last year as his “dharma”.
“For me it’s about duty. There’s a concept in Hinduism called dharma, which
roughly translates into duty and that’s how I was raised. It was about doing the
things that were expected of you and trying to do the right thing,” he replied.
The 42-year-old, who swore his oath of allegiance on being elected member of
Parliament in the House of Commons on the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, has often spoken
about his Hindu faith giving him strength.
-GoTop
12. ‘PAINED BY RISING HINDUPHOBIA': CANADIAN MP RAISES
ATTACK ON BRAMPTON MANDIR IN PARLIAMENT: Two days after a prominent Hindu
mandir in Brampton, Gouri Shankar Mandir, was vandalised with anti-Bharat
graffiti, Bharatiya-origin Member of Parliament in Canada, Chandra Arya,
condemned the attack and raised the issue of 'hate-crime' in the Canadian
parliament on 1st February. "Hindu Canadians are deeply pained by the rising
Hinduphobia in Canada," Arya said in the Canadian parliament. Calling it an
"alarming trend," he called upon Canada to stop rising hate-crimes against
Hindus. The Bharatiya Consulate General in Toronto also condemned such act of
vandalism on 31st January 2023.
-GoTop
13. IN A FIRST, ROAD CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN UDHAMPUR:
In a huge development in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the
construction of road under Thanoa Panchayat began under a Centre-sponsored
scheme.
The 3-km long road is funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) which will enhance connectivity for the locals. A road will
be established between Khubani village and Tarmara village in Panchayat Thanoa
of Udhampur district, J&K. Being built at a cost of Rs 6 crore 39.10 lakhs road
will benefit a population of 2,000 people across four wards of Thanoa and other
adjoining areas. There have been several developments taking place under the
Centre-sponsered scheme. Locals of the tribal area in Tethan in Dooru block,
Anantnag district of south Kashmir were ecstatic after electricity reached their
village.
-GoTop
14. LCA TEJAS OF NAVY MAKES MAIDEN LANDING & TAKE-OFF FROM
AIRCRAFT CARRIER INS VIKRANT: In a major milestone to boost "Atmanirbhar
Bharat" in the Bharatiya Navy, the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
Tejas, named as LCA Navy, made its maiden landing and take-off from Bharat's
first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 6th February. The Bharatiya
Navy said, "A historical milestone by Indian Navy as Naval Pilots carry out
landing of LCA (Navy) onboard INS Vikrant." Further, it added, "It demonstrates
India’s capability to design, develop, construct & operate Indigenous Aircraft
Carrier with indigenous Fighter Aircraft." Notably, the carrier has a capacity
for around 45 aircraft.
15. STONE-AGE CARVINGS FOUND IN ARAVALIS IN GURUGRAM:
The trove of history that the Aravalis hold has widened with the latest
discovery of stone carvings that archaeologists say date back to the Paleolithic
period or the Stone Age.
The petroglyphs discovered in Badshapur Tethar village of Sohna include
graffiti, and hand and footprints of humans and animals engraved on quartzite
rocks. The site is atop a hillock and just 6km from Mangar, where cave paintings
believed to be from the same period were discovered in 2021. The carvings,
however, seem to be older, experts said. The Paleolithic era spans from about 25
lakh years to 10,000 BP (before present, the carbon dating marker that
archaeologists use with 1950 treated as the base year). Spread across a 2km
radius, the latest site was discovered recently by Sunil Harsana, an ecologist
and wildlife researcher. On 5th Febraury a team of archaeologists confirmed that
the rocks indeed dated back to the Paleolithic period. In 1986, stone paintings
were discovered in Anangpur area of Faridabad. A total of 43 sites were traced
then, prompting researchers to start surveys of the area.
-GoTop
16. BHARAT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT TO BHUTAN FOR 3RD
INTERNATIONAL INTERNET GATEWAY: On 31st February, Bharat announced its help
for the development of Bhutan’s third international internet gateway. According
to the Embassy of Bharat in Bhutan, the government will facilitate a
concessional rate to reduce the cost of the gateway’s operations. “As part of
the expanding Bharat-Bhutan digital partnership, the Government of India is
pleased to support the Royal Government of Bhutan for the establishment of the
third international internet gateway for Bhutan. In this regard, India will be
facilitating a concessional rate to bring down the cost of operations of the
gateway. The gateway is expected to enhance redundancy, connect remote pockets
of Bhutan, increase internet bandwidth, and reduce the cost of internet
connectivity for users,” said the Bharatiya Embassy in Thimphu.
-GoTop
17. 12TH WORLD HINDI CONFERENCE HELD IN FIJI: The 12th
World Hindi Conference was held in Nadi, Fiji from 15th to 17th February.
The event was organised by the External Affairs Ministry, Government of Bharat
and the Government of Fiji. The aim of the event was to promote Hindi as a
global language. Fiji’s recognition of Girmit Day is significant as it reflects
the tremendous difficulties faced by Bharatiyas that came to Fiji through the
indentured system.
On 15th February the External Affairs Minister of Bharat, Dr Subrahmanyam
Jaishankar said that the fact that Fiji marks the day is humbling as the
sacrifices made by those that travelled miles from their homeland will always be
remembered. He said that the commemoration of Girmit Day is also a decision that
has strong cultural resonance as such steps express our sense of mutual respect
and understanding and has a deep impact on strengthening international
cooperation.
Dr Jaishankar’s is in the country for the first time to attend the 12th World
Hindi Conference and heads the first foreign ministerial delegation to visit the
country after the formation of a new coalition Government.
Apart from his engagements at the conference, the External Affairs Minister held
bilateral meetings with the new Fijian leadership. On the occasion, External
Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar along with President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame
Maivalili Katonivere released a postal stamp in Nadi, Fiji on February 14.
-GoTop
18. BHARAT, NO. 1 AMONG 110 NATIONS FOR INCLUSIVITY
MEASURES TOWARDS RELIGIOUS MINORITIES: According to the Centre for Policy
Analysis' (CPA) inaugural assessment on global minorities, Bharat has been
ranked as number one among 110 nations for its inclusivity measures towards
religious minorities. Notably, the Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA) is a
research institute, having its headquarters in Bharat's Patna. Among 110
nations, Bharat has the highest level of religious minorities acceptance,
followed by South Korea, Japan, Panama, and Maldives, Afghanistan, and Somalia
are at the bottom of the list, with the UK and the UAE coming in at positions 54
and 61, respectively, the report said.
Bharat's minority policy is based on an approach that emphasises diversity
enhancement, according to the CPA report. Apart from that, Bharat's Constitution
contains specific and exclusive provisions for the advancement of religious
minorities in culture and education. According to the report, there are no
explicit provisions for the promotion of linguistic and religious minorities in
any other Constitution. The report highlights how, unlike many other nations,
there is no restriction on any religious sects in Bharat.
-GoTop
19. WORLD'S FIRST CLOUD-BUILT DEMO SAT MADE BY BHARATIYA
FIRM: JANUS-1 satellite that rode on Isro's new mini-rocket SSLV-D2 and
reached its orbit successfully on 10th February is the world's first satellite
fully conceived, designed and manufactured using an Bharatiya company's
end-to-end cloud platform.
20. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT : It must be known that bad conduct leads to misery and
good conduct to happiness. Hence it is the duty of everyone to acquire goodness
for the sake of worldly enjoyment as well as salvation. – Shiva Purana
1.13.58
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
---
INFINITE AND ETERNAL
Dr David
Frawley (Vamadeva)
Shiva Mahadev, perhaps the most
enduring Hindu Devata, is difficult for many people, particularly in the Western
world, to imagine, much less to understand. The reality of Shiva is hidden in
mystery, transcendence, enigma and paradox that cannot be confined to
definitions, ideologies or beliefs. Shiva presents to us a vast yet indefinable
reality beyond the mind and its limited perspectives of time, place and person.
Shiva’s complex symbolism, and the depths of Shaivite psychology and philosophy
is meant to break down the hubris of the dualistic mind and the conflicts it has
created in its efforts to control the world.
Shiva has a multidimensional existence at all levels of the universe, from our
dense physical world to all the lokas of the cosmos and ultimately to the
supreme Brahman beyond all possible manifestations. Everything in essence is
pervaded by Shiva, who is like boundless space and light.
Today, under the domination of the machine, our thinking and perception is
becoming ever more linear, superficial and lacking in depth perception, trapped
inside the screen of our shifting thoughts and biased opinions. This makes Shiva
even harder for us to perceive and we tend to reduce him to one level only, as
if He were but a physical from or mental image. Yet Shiva remains as the
inscrutable power to take us beyond our preconceptions, conditioning and
expectations. We live in the immutable reality of Shiva but with our inner eye
closed as if we were our own reality, when we are but a transient play of
artificial desires and borrowed imaginations, not seeing the real universe in
which we truly life, which is full of the wonder of Shiva.
Mahayogi Shiva
All Yoga asanas reflect Shiva’s natural movement, which is a dance of stillness
leading to the Tandava, which dissolves all that is merely outward or apparent
into the fire of pure consciousness. Samadhi is Shiva’s natural state of
awareness, untainted by thought, which holds the fullness, untainted by thought,
which holds the fullness of bliss, Purnanada. His state is Nirvikalpa, beyond
any formations, conclusions of imaginations of the mind.
Shiva is perhaps the most enduring Hindu Devata or that of the entire world,
such an ancient stone formations reveal on every continent, as the sacred
mountains, pyramid, obelisk, cosmic tree, pillar and the great Shiva linga, used
to recognise and worship his supreme power to ascend over everything by the
steadiness of his own being and fearlessness.
Shaivite Yoga Traditions
Shiva represents the main Vedic deities going back to the oldest Rigveda and its
Rishi mantras. As Trinayana, his three eyes are the Sun (Surya), Moon (Soma) and
Fire (Agni), the three main devatas of the Rigveda. Indra is his lighting form.
Shiva is called Rudra in the Vedas, the maker of sound and thunder, but he is
also Soma, the nectar of immortality, with which Rudra (who is also called Agni)
are often combined. He is dramatically lauded in the famous Rudram chant of the
Krishna Yajurveda, which resonates though all Shiva temples even today,
thousands of years later.
The older Shaivite Vedic Yoga was based upon Rudra and his forces as the Rudras
or Maruts, with Vishnu as Evayamarut and Indra a Marutvan. Maruts
as the great Vedic Rishis who were Mahayogis and could travel freely over the
Earth, its mountains and seas, and through all the lokas.
In the Mahabharata and before, Shiva is called Pashupati, which connects
to the Pashupata Yoga attributed to the Rishi Lakulish Pashupati is not just the
lord of animals, he is also the lord of ruler of what is seen, the seer of all.
Later, Shaivism developed as the Shaivite Nath Yoga of Gorakhnath and Matsyendra
Nath, which included Hatha Yoga and Siddha Yoga. Yet Shiva and the Nath Yoga are
mentioned by Adi Shakara, who knew their secrets as well. Adi Shankara was Shiva
in manifestation as Dakshinamurti.
Most Yoga historically has been a Shaivite Yoga, yet not in any sectarian sense.
Often it is Vishnu who teaches Shiva like Matsyendranath to Gorakhnath. It is
Shiva who teaches Yoga to Parvati, his Shakti. Yet it is Parvati who holds the
Yoga Shakti that brings about all transformations compared to which Shiva is but
a silent, immobile witness in pure transcendence.
Shiva has his special forms, forces and expressions throughout nature. Shiva on
Earth is first of all the mountain. All mountains in all countries are forms of
Shiva. In the atmosphere, Shiva is thunder and lightning which sets in motion
the seasons, life and movement through the winds and pranic forces. In the sky
beyond is Shiva as both the Sun and Moon, our prime luminaries. He rules over
the Nakshatras of Mrigshira (Soma) and Arda (Rudra), which
mark what is called the constellation of Orion in western traditions, and the
place of Osiris and immortality for the ancient Egyptians. Immorality is only
possible when we return to our Shiva nature of silence, stillness, solitude and
yet all encompassing Being, Consciousness and Bliss.
AWAKENING TO THE REALITY OF
SHIVA
In India today there is a great revival of Shiva Bhakti, epitomized by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s devotion to him, with the renovations of His temples in
Kedarnath, Kashi and Ujjain. As Shiva is Mahakala, the lord of time in Ujjain, a
new Shiva Yuga is slowly emerging for all.
Mahashivaratri is the sacred time of the Hindu year to worship Shiva Mahadev and
draw in his awareness which takes us beyond all ignorance, duality, sorrow and
death. The night of Shiva is the day for all the Devatas, the time of inner
light which is self-illumining beyond all horizons.
May Mahashivaratri awaken you to your eternal Shiva nature! Om Nama Shivaya!
(Organiser, February 19, 2023)
-GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN samvadnewsletter@gmail.com http://shrivishwaniketan.
