Shravana Krishna 14 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 1 6 July, 2023: SM 5008 (For Private Circulation only)
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.
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.
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, 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.
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 (pañcavargiya) on the full-moon day of Ashadha at ‘Deer
Park', Rishipatana Mrigadaya in the present day Sarnath, near Varanasi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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
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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.
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
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