\Samvad

Shravana Krishna 14 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 1 6 July, 2023: SM 5008 (For Private Circulation only)


1. FESTIVALS: ADHIK MAAS 2. PROGRAMS OF SARASANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT
3. MIGRANT PAKISTANI HINDU DOCTORS FORUM'S PROGRAMME 4. RSS AKHIL BHARATIYA PRANT PRACHARAK BAITHAK
5. IBC CELEBRATED ASHADHA PURNIMA 6. GURU POORNIMA UTSAVS
7. MONTH LONG ‘DARSHANA’ EXHIBITION AT BARRON ARTS CENTER 8. BALA DARSHANA CONTEST CONDUCTED IN RAGHAV VIBHAG
9. HINDU HERITAGE CAMP CONDUCTED IN MOZAMBIQUE 10. SEWA AT IRELAND BRAHMAKUMARI CENTRE
11. HSS VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN JULY 4 CELEBRATIONS 12. HSS APPRECIATED TEACHERS NATIONWIDE DURING ITS GURU VANDANA EVENTS
13. SUKHMANI SAHIB PATH ORGANIZED BY HINDU SIKH UNITY FORUM IN CANADA 14. 41ST AAPI CONVENTION
15. 10000 PEOPLE RECITE BHAGAVAD GITA IN TEXAS 16. BHARATIYA COMMUNITY COUNTERED PRO-KHALISTANI PROTESTERS
17. GITA PRESS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 18. RSS ORGANISED SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES IN MANIPUR
19. BHARAT SENT 10,000 METRIC TONS OF WHEAT TO AFGHANISTAN 20. BHARAT’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY BUILT 700 MW NUCLEAR REACTOR STARTS OPERATIONS
21. BHAGWAN HANUMAN UNVEILED AS OFFICIAL MASCOT OF ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 22. UK PM HONOURS 101-YEAR-OLD SIKH WORLD WAR II VETERAN
23. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Article: TRADITION OF SRUTI, SMRITI AND SENGOL


1. FESTIVALS: ADHIK MAAS: Adhik Maas comes every three years and is a very special month in the Hindu calendar. This month is also called Mal Maas, Purushottam Maas, Malimmacha and Londa Maas.

In all the lunar months of the Hindu calendar, there is a single Sankranti point when the sun moves from one zodiac to another, and it happens only once during the entire span of the lunar month. All the lunar months without the Sankranti are marked as Adhik Maas, which is observed approximately every three years. In 2023, Adhik Maas starts on July 18 and ends on August 16. Since it falls in the Shravana Maas, it is also called Shravana Adhik Maas. No festivals fall in this month, and marriage ceremonies, housewarming ceremonies and other auspicious occasions are avoided during this time period. Some rituals of this month include Akhanda Deepa, where a lamp is kept lit throughout the month continuously, Naktha Bhojana, which is complete fasting during the day and taking just one meal at night and Vishnu Panchaka Vratha, which are five fasts during the month on Shravana Nakshatra day, two Ekadashis, Pournami and Amavasya.  -GoTop


2. PROGRAMS OF SARASANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: While speaking at a book release event in Pune on July 5, where eight volumes of the original Valmiki Ramayana were released, RSS Sarasanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that the world has so far failed to find answers to several questions and now thinks that Bharat can provide the solutions. He added that the work of national awakening is ongoing and the country needs intellectual Kshatriyas. Dr. Bhagwat also stated that protecting Dharma involves counteracting, enlightening, researching, and practicing.

On July 4, speaking at the release of a Marathi translation of the biography of RSS pracharak late Laxmanrao Inamdar, written in Gujarati by Narendra Modi and Rajabhai Nene decades ago, Dr. Bhagwat said that organising Hindus did not amount to opposition to Muslims and Christians. He added that the foundational thoughts of RSS are positive and Sangh's leaders have always opposed violence.  -GoTop


3. MIGRANT PAKISTANI HINDU DOCTORS FORUM'S PROGRAMME: On July 3, an event was organised in Ahmedabad by Pakistani-origin Hindu doctors and their families to thank the government for ensuring that such doctors got a permanent registration for practising in Bharat after clearing an exam from the National Medical Commission. The organisers announced that as many as 50 Gujarat-based Pakistani Hindu doctors, who were already awarded Bharatiya citizenship, have cleared the exam conducted a few months back.

Speaking on the occasion, RSS Sarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale said that he is happy to be among the people who have again become citizens of Bharat. He added that CAA was an attempt to fast-track the process of granting citizenship to persecuted minorities of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that migrant Hindu doctors have made a successful journey from darkness to light.
 -GoTop


4. RSS AKHIL BHARATIYA PRANT PRACHARAK BAITHAK: The Akhil Bharatiya ‘Prant Pracharak Baithak’ of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh discussed ways to make RSS shakhas more aligned with their social responsibilities and encourage them to be more proactive. This annual baithak was held from July 13-15 in Ooty (Nilgiris district), Tamil Nadu.

During the baithak, serious concerns were expressed about the current situation in Manipur. Efforts were being made by the RSS swayamsevaks to create an environment of peace, mutual trust, and provide necessary assistance to the affected families in Manipur. The baithak also discussed the expansion of relief efforts for the affected people by the RSS volunteers. All sections of society were urged to contribute to fostering mutual harmony and establishing peace. Additionally, a call was made to the government to take every possible action for permanent peace and rehabilitation. 
The baithak reviewed the service activities conducted by Sangh for the people affected by recent floods in Mandi, Kullu, and other districts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. Immediate measures were considered. Updates on actions taken in various states during recent calamities were also shared with everyone.
The Sangh shakhas undertake various social and service activities according to their social responsibilities and the needs of the surrounding areas. The baithak included discussions on the details of such activities and the exchange of experiences. Plans were made to enhance the active involvement of each sangh shakha in this direction.
In the year 2023, a total of 105 Sangh Shiksha Varg were conducted, including the Sangh’s Pratham, Dwitiya, and Tritiya Varsha, with total participation of 21,566 shiksharthis from across the country. Among them, 16,908 shiksharthis below the age of forty years and 4,658 shiksharthis between the ages of forty to sixty-five years participated.
According to the data received in the baithak, 63,724 daily Shakhas of the Sangh are operating at 39,451 locations across the country, along with 23,299 Saptahik Milans (weekly gatherings) and 9,548 Masik Mandalis (monthly circles) at other places. The baithak also reviewed the future expansion of activities and the Shatabadi Vistarak Yojana (centenary expansion plan) of Sangh for the upcoming centenary year.
In the baithak, there was mainly a discussion on organisational matters.
 -GoTop


5. IBC CELEBRATED ASHADHA PURNIMA: The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrated Ashadha Purnima on July 3, as the Dharma Chakra Pravartana Divas at National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi, under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of Bharat. It is the annual flagship event of IBC on the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Purnima. The day marks Buddha's first teaching, after attaining Enlightenment, to the first five ascetic disciples (paƱcavargiya) on the full-moon day of Ashadha at ‘Deer Park', Rishipatana Mrigadaya in the present day Sarnath, near Varanasi.

The programme included Dhamma talk on the significance of Ashadha Purnima by His Holiness 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa and the special address by Minister of Culture and External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi. Many other dignitaries and patriarchs of Buddhist sanghas, eminent masters, scholars, and diplomatic representatives based in New Delhi participated in the event.
In a recorded message, Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu called upon the youth to learn from the teachings of the Buddha, to enrich themselves and immensely contribute to building a peaceful society, nation, and world. Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi described a lay person's journey to attain the level of a Bodhisattva and said that right actions can change our destiny.
 -GoTop


6. GURU POORNIMA UTSAVS: On July 9, swayamsevaks and sevikas of the Gandhiji Shakha - South East Zone of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Trinidad and Tobago, observed Guru Poornima Utsav. Hosted at the Chandrasekhar Vishnu Mandir in Rio Claro; the program consisted of bhajans, sangh geets and verses from the Ramcharitamanas.

Around 30 people including parents, well-wishers, and the community group ‘Friends in Dharma’ attended the event. HSS National Sanghachalak Deoroop Teemal delivered the Guru Poornima sandesh. Gandhiji Shakha was started in 1985 in Rio Claro on August 31 – the Independence Day of Trinidad and Tobago.
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Melbourne also celebrated Guru Pooja Utsav on July 9. Around 400 swayamsevaks and sevikas across various shakhas in Melbourne attended the event. The utsav included explaining the significance of guru via various programs like skit by kids as well as an insightful boudhik.
 -GoTop


7. MONTH LONG ‘DARSHANA’ EXHIBITION AT BARRON ARTS CENTER: After visiting the ‘Darshana’ exhibition at the Woodbridge Library last year, the Barron Art Center (BAC) Director offered to host the exhibition for a month in June/July 2023. The BAC building hosts musical performances, lectures and an ever-changing display of art produced by nationally renowned artists. The Woodbridge Township Cultural Arts Commission chaired by Dr. Dolores Capraro Gioffre with support from Mayor John E. McCormac sponsored the ‘Darshana’ exhibition from June 26 to July 30. Preparations started two months prior to the event with BAC and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh teams coming together to plan the inauguration day and the weekend events. BAC sent invitation cards through USPS to more than 4000 people. They also printed posters to be placed at different locations. HSS team decorated the heritage building of BAC for the inauguration.

Isha Vyas, Division Head of Middlesex County Office of Culture and Heritage inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp. Mayor McCormac presented to HSS the proclamation for Hindu American Heritage. Along with the month-long poster exhibition, a few other attractions from Hindu culture included classical and folk dance, music, puppet show and fun photo booths on some weekends.  -GoTop


8. BALA DARSHANA CONTEST CONDUCTED IN RAGHAV VIBHAG: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA launched Bala Darshana - a 10-week speech contest for children in the age group 5 to 12 years. The program aims to develop their public speaking and leadership skills while learning about the Hindu civilization, its heritage and contributions.  Each week, a new topic or concept relevant to Hindu Dharma is introduced to three age categories.

Three shakhas in Raghav Vibhag, Charlotte, conducted the Bala Darshana contest. The topics for each bala/shishu participant were assigned a week in advance. Some shakhas even organized pre-contests/mock contests by pairing up two kids with one tarun karyakarta. These virtual contests allowed for practice and feedback, ensuring the participants were well prepared. Each child's speech was recorded and shared with their respective parents to witness the child's progress and be part of their journey in the contest.
The final contest took place during a boudhik session, with parents serving as the audience. The results would be declared at a later date, and trophies would be distributed during the Vijayadashami utsav.
 -GoTop


9. HINDU HERITAGE CAMP CONDUCTED IN MOZAMBIQUE: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Maputo, Mozambique, conducted the Hindu Heritage Camp on July 1-2 at Salamanga. This was the fourth HHC in a series which started in 2017. 102 students aged 8 to 16 participated in it. 16 volunteers conducted the activities which included games, yoga and shloka recitation. Most of the volunteers were participants in a previous HHC.

In the concluding function, karyavah of HSS Mozambique Mayur Manchu said that HSS activities built patriotic personality with subtle understanding of sense of responsibility towards the community.  -GoTop

 
10. SEWA AT IRELAND BRAHMAKUMARI CENTRE: A team of swayamsevaks from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Ireland made a purposeful impact at the Brahmakumari centre in Dublin with their service. On June 24, they cleaned the place and painted the interior rooms and external walls.

The team managed to complete the job to meet the expectations of the centre. In a message, the centre head sister Catherine said that the vision, zeal and enthusiasm of HSS swayamsevaks to take on a project and bring many willing hands to lighten the task in a loving, egoless, humble and utter professional way is admirable.  -GoTop

 
11. HSS VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN JULY 4 CELEBRATIONS: Hindu Americans and volunteers of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA participated and volunteered in the Independence Day celebrations all over the country on July 4. In North Carolina, over 100 HSS volunteers walked in the 4th of July parade, a few playing traditional Hindu and American patriotic tunes on their band instruments.

In Texas, HSS was recognized as ‘Friends of the Event’ at a city-organized Independence Day fest. In San Jose, HSS volunteer families participated in the ‘Red and White Parade’. Young children in ethnic outfits walked holding the American flag and posters on yoga and spirituality. Attendees of the nationwide HSS youth and leadership development camps at multiple locations celebrated July 4th by hoisting the Star - Spangled Banner and singing the national anthem.  -GoTop


12. HSS APPRECIATED TEACHERS NATIONWIDE DURING ITS GURU VANDANA EVENTS: During May and June, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA (HSS) organized Guru Vandana events across the nation to honor teachers and their contribution to society. More than 1000 academicians, including teachers, principals, and superintendents from over 60 school districts, were appreciated during these events, attended by more than 6000 attendees comprising students, parents, and other invitees. In a typical event, the children presented a cultural program where Sanskrit shlokas were recited, honoring the Guru.

A local chief guest shared their thoughts with the audience, followed by a teacher appreciation ceremony. This event included a cultural program at several places. Some children developed innovative skits reflecting great personalities from Bharat and the U.S. All these events were organized by local HSS centers and planned and coordinated by teenage children and their families. In some places, HSS collaborated with the local townships to involve the school district. Teachers and attendees were impressed by students’ passion and level of involvement and acknowledged how this event introduced them to Hindu culture and its all-inclusive philosophy.  -GoTop


13. SUKHMANI SAHIB PATH ORGANIZED BY HINDU SIKH UNITY FORUM IN CANADA: The inaugural Sukhmani Sahib Path, organized by the Hindu Sikh Unity Forum in Canada on July 8 at Oakville Gurudwara, aimed to foster unity and collaboration among like-minded Hindus and Sikhs, united by a shared history, culture, and heritage. The event was successful in achieving its objectives despite attempts to pressurize the Gurudwara committee into canceling the gathering. Around 170 members of the Hindu-Sikh community gathered to participate in the prayers.

The event witnessed the presence of distinguished elected representatives and prominent community members, including Senator of Canada Leo (Leonidas) Housakos and Mayor of Oakville Rob Burton.
The Path was followed by Kirtan and brief speeches emphasizing the significance of the initiative as a much-needed effort in promoting harmony and understanding. The initiative is a positive step towards strengthening bonds and promoting mutual respect among Hindus and Sikhs in Canada.
 -GoTop

 
14. 41ST AAPI CONVENTION: The 41st annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention and Scientific Sessions concluded on July 9 at the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, PA, with Dr. Anjana Samadder assuming charge as the new President of AAPI. The convention was held under the major theme ‘True and Total Health is the Wellbeing of Mind, Body, and Spirit’.

Venkaiah Naidu, former UpRashtrapati of Bharat, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of giving back to one’s motherland and nurturing one’s physical and mental well-being. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the gathering, sharing insights on stress management through yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation. Several distinguished individuals were honored during the convention. M.D., Managing Director of Akkad Holdings and Executive Servant Leader at J & B Medical, received the AAPI Presidential Healthcare Leadership Award 2023.  -GoTop


15. 10000 PEOPLE RECITE BHAGAVAD GITA IN TEXAS: On Guru Purnima, July 3, as many as ten thousand people recited Bhagavad Gita at the Allen East Center in Texas.

This collective recitation of religious text is marked as one of its kind event in the United States to date. As reported by news agency PTI, the event named ‘Bhagavad Gita Parayan Yagya’ was organised by Yoga Sangeeta Trust America and SGS Geeta Foundation.  -GoTop


16. BHARATIYA COMMUNITY COUNTERED PRO-KHALISTANI PROTESTERS: Pro-Khalistani elements had announced to hold rallies outside Bharatiya Missions in the UK, US, Canada and Australia on July 8. This was followed by posters threatening the Bharatiya ambassadors to Canada and the US, as well as the consulate general in Toronto.

Members of the Bharatiya community holding the Tricolour gathered outside the Consulate to protect their diplomats and the consulate office and unitedly countered the pro-Khalistan protest in Canada’s Toronto.
The Bharatiya diaspora raised slogans like “Bharat Mata ki jai”,“Vande Mataram” and carried placards written “Khalistani are not Sikh”, and “Canada stop supporting Khalistani Canadian terrorists”. A member of the Bharatiya diaspora, Anil Shiringi, said that they support the Bharatiya Consulate and will stand up against any Khalistani threats.
 -GoTop


17. GITA PRESS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS: Gita Press, established in Gorakhpur in 1923 with the concept of not-for-profit, is the world's largest publishing center of Hindu religious books in terms of language and number. Then Rashtrapati of Bharat, Ramnath Kovind, had inaugurated the centenary celebrations of Gita Press on June 4, 2022.

On July 5, 2023, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations and released the Chitramaya Shiva Purana Granth. Speaking on the occasion, he said that an institution like Gita Press has a national character as it connects Bharat and strengthens Bharat’s solidarity. He added that Gita Press is a living faith that has always enriched social values and shown the path of duty to people.   -GoTop


18. RSS ORGANISED SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES IN MANIPUR: As part of the relief and service work during the ongoing violence in the state, a team of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Manipur Prant and Seva Bharati, Manipur visited the affected areas of Bishnupur district. During the visit, the team also met with the family members of violence victims Ningombam Ibomcha, Haobam Ibocha and Naorem Rajkumar of Khoijumantabi and handed over Rs 10,000 along with essential commodities to the next of kin of each victim.

RSS in association with Seva Bharati is running a Model Relief Center at Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Skill Development Center (RBSDC). With an aim to impart skills while staying at relief camp and support their livelihood post-violence, skill development and self-employment activities are being conducted in the camp on different job roles by Institute of Bioresources Sustainable Development and Central Agricultural University.  -GoTop


19. BHARAT SENT 10,000 METRIC TONS OF WHEAT TO AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan continues to grapple with the extreme food crises. Bharat has donated 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the landlocked country.

It reached the Herat city of Afghanistan on July 4, United Nations World for Food Programme (UNWFP) said in a tweet. "Wheat donated by the Government of #India @MEAIndia @dpa_meato @WFP arrived in Herat where it was milled for distribution to hungry families across #Afghanistan." UN WFP stated in the tweet. Last month, the Bharatiya government had sent another 20,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan using Iran's Chabahar port, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. Earlier, another wheat assistance delivery of 40,000 tons was carried out through Pakistan's land border. Bharat shows its dedication to promoting the stability and prosperity of Afghanistan by widening the channels for aid distribution, as per Khaama Press.  -GoTop


20. BHARAT’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY BUILT 700 MW NUCLEAR REACTOR STARTS OPERATIONS: On June 30, the first indigenously built 700MW Nuclear Reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat has started and ignited its commercial operations, which is a landmark achievement of Bharat in civil nuclear power. This is an achievement of Bharat under the “Make In India” initiative.

“With great pleasure, this is to inform that our first indigenous 700MW, the KAPP-3, has become commercial on June 30, 2023, at 10 AM”, a senior KAPP official said.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is planning to build sixteen 700MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors across the country and has granted financial and administrative sanctions for the same.
 -GoTop


21. BHAGWAN HANUMAN UNVEILED AS OFFICIAL MASCOT OF ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS: On the 50th anniversary of the Asian Athletics Association, Bhagwan Hanuman, one of the most sacred deities in Hinduism, has been unveiled on July 11 as the official mascot of the Asian Athletics Championships 2023.

The continental event began on July 12 in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The Asian Athletics Association released the news about the official mascot on their website while stating their reasoning behind the logo. They wrote, “Hanuman exhibits extraordinary abilities in (Bhagwan) Rama’s service, including speed, strength, courage, and wisdom ... Hanuman’s greatest ability is, in fact, his incredibly staunch loyalty and devotion.”  -GoTop


22. UK PM HONOURS 101-YEAR-OLD SIKH WORLD WAR II VETERAN: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has honoured Rajindar Singh Dhatt, one of the last surviving Sikh soldiers who fought in the Second World War with a ‘Points of Light’ honour at a UK-India Week reception at 10 Downing Street.
Dhatt, 101, was recognised on June 28 for his service and his work in running the ‘Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association’ to help bring together British Bharatiya war veterans.

Dhatt, based in Hounslow in southwest London since 1963, was born in pre-Partition Bharat in 1921. Dhatt joined the British Indian Army during the Second World War and excelled up the ranks, being promoted to Havildar Major (Sergeant Major) in 1943.
“It is an immense honour to receive this recognition from the Prime Minister, to whom I would like to extend my deepest appreciation for acknowledging the importance and impact of the ‘Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association’,” said Dhatt.
 -GoTop


23. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa Vibhag Sah Samyojak Anil Vartak is travelling to South Korea, Japan and Thailand. Visitors: Dr Jashubhai Patel, Dr Amit Desai, Sajal Kaushik - USA, Aastha Chaddha - UK 
 -GoTop

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Knowledge leads to unity, but ignorance to diversity.” — Swami Ramakrishna
 -GoTop

JAI SHRI RAM
----
TRADITION OF SRUTI, SMRITI AND SENGOL
Sachidanand Joshi

Perception and inference are valid sources of knowledge in the Indian traditions and so must be respected

Recently, India witnessed the establishment of the historic ‘Sengol’ in her new building of the parliament. The ceremony verily is the demonstration of our civilisational journey and re-discovering the ancient tradition once practised. The ‘Sengol’ is not a symbol of power, or lustre that is passed on from one generation to another rather it envelops a much wider connotation with deep philosophic meanings. The ‘Sengol’ as a concept is deeply rooted in the idea of ‘Aram’ - the Tamil equivalent of ‘Dharma’. Saint Tiruvalluvar, in his timeless ‘Thirukkural’, sings the glorification of ‘Sengonmai’ as ‘rule with justice’, which is one of the most precious achievements of the Indic civilisation.
The ‘Sengol’, or the Staff or the Sceptre, is the foundation or support of all virtues and ethics essential for the state. The establishment was a moment of joy, pleasure, and pride for most of us. But some people doubted its grandeur and importance and also questioned its historicity. Being ignorant of our rich indic tradition of ‘Sruti and Smriti’, such people sought the justification of this entire ceremony. To understand the significance of Sengol, it is necessary to sweep over the tradition of Sruti and Smriti.

One of the distinctive features of India is her preservation and dissemination of knowledge for almost five thousand years at least. India bestows utmost importance on knowledge, and that is why India is known as a ‘knowledge culture’. This knowledge tradition is beyond the boundaries of any spatiotemporal relationship (desatita and kalatita) as well as continuous (nirantara).
The entire outlook of Indian knowledge tradition is an interplay of Sruti and Smriti. There is a very intricate relationship between Sruti and the Smriti. The Brihaspati Smriti perceives these two as the two eyes for the men of wisdom and deprived of these two, one may lose their path and fall.
Since the Vedas are transmitted orally and are perceptible to the auditory sense, it is termed Sruti. It means ‘learning by hearing’ which is the primary revelation at the beginning of creation.’ This revelation was ‘seen’ by the primaeval seers; on the other hand, Smriti means ‘recollection’ and is the collective term for all other sacred literature which is considered to be secondary to Sruti (Van Buitenen, 1974. Revelation is the inner visualisation of the true nature of various entities and their attributes. Vedic seers acquired this revelation through a progressive self-culture (atma-sanskara). Sruti statements are considered infallible and hence are authoritative.
In his book ‘Freedom at Midnight’, Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins remind us of the above-mentioned ritual that happened at sundown on 14th August 1947 in Delhi. This pious ritual ended with chanting 11 verses of Kolaru Pathigam - a Tamil text – to instil good thoughts in mind.
Indian philosophical tradition accepts Sruti as the only means of Dharma. Sruti as well as Smriti are regarded as valid means of knowledge. Sruti provides a firm foundation for all knowledge traditions, and practices. Regarding the validity of Smritis, the Mimamsa School of philosophy presents an enriching argument by saying that “if the Smriti writers knew a certain action that should not be done, how could they declare it to be one that should be done, and thus mislead the contemporary society? One may argue that some sort of memory of the Sruti provides the necessary foundation for Smriti writers to codify some acts. But such memory is also not possible in the absence of some previous perception. The Smritis cannot be solely based on memory because memory demands previous cognition or experience. Continual of some sort of cultural memory also does not authenticate them. On the other side, the memory of the Vedas is not authenticated merely by its unbroken tradition but by the fact that the Vedas are perceptible to us during its recitation. In the case of Smriti , no such prior cognition is available to support their theories and practices.
Indian tradition accepts Smriti as reliable based on inference (anumana) which is a valid source of knowledge. The reason behind such inference is the fact that ‘the agent is the same’, i.e., the author of the concerned Smriti and the performer of the acts prescribed by the Sruti are the same individual. It is also quite reasonable to accept that knowledge of Sruti texts is remembered, while certain Sruti texts and their wordings may be now lost. Different philosophical schools answer this question differently. The Mimamsa School assumes that Smritis are derived from Vedic texts now forgotten or inaccessible to us currently. In this way, Smriti, through inference, becomes the source of valid knowledge.
Perception and Inference, thus, are valid sources of knowledge in the Indian culture. Amidst the looming controversies surrounding the tradition of ‘Sengol’, its cultural validity can be significantly proven through the institutional memory that rests with the Adheenams of Tamil Nadu. In the present context, the tradition of handing over Sengol as a symbolic transfer of power is an inalienable cultural embodiment of the Sruti-Smriti tradition of ancient India. Its reiteration in modern India and symbolic placement in the new Indian parliament signifies the cultural awakening and echoes the civilisational idioms in the 21st century. (The author is member Secretary IGNCA) (The Pioneer, 14 July 2023)
 -GoTop


No comments: