Chaitra Shukla 8, Vik. Samvat 2081, Yugabda 5126 : 16 April, 2024: SM 6002 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
BHAGWAN MAHAVIR JAYANTI: Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth
anniversary of the 24th Tirthankara Mahavir, who played a significant role in
preaching Jainism. Bhagwan Mahavir believed in and preached ahimsa or
non-violence, satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and
aparigraha (non-attachment).
2. SARSANGHCHALAKJI’S PROGRAMS: Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat has said, “We had wanted a temple
at the Ram Janmabhoomi for 500 years. Since last 30 years of this continued
Tapasya and 'samarpan' of people led us to the construction of the Ram temple in
Ayodhya.” The entire country was overwhelmed when the idol of Ram Lalla was
consecrated, Dr. Bhagwat said on April 11 while speaking at the inauguration of
the Dattaji Bhale Smruti Samiti Karyalaya at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar named ‘Samparpan’.
The karyalay includes a hostel for underprivileged students and will provide
them accommodation and many other livelihood skill training including Yoga.
3. JALLIANWALA BAGH MARTYRS ALWAYS INSPIRES - MURMU:
Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu expressed heartfelt tributes on April 13 to the
people who sacrificed their lives for the country in the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre and said that the spirit of patriotism of those martyrs will keep
inspiring the coming generations.
"I am sure that the spirit of patriotism of those martyrs will always inspire
the coming generations," Rashtrapati said in a post in Hindi on X. -GoTop
4. HINDU DHARMA, UNLIKE ANY OTHER RELIGION, IS
KNOWLEDGE-BASED AND NOT DOGMA-BASED – SWAMI VIGYANANAND: On April 2, the
Centre for Hindu Studies, University of Delhi, organised a thought-provoking
one-day National Conference on ‘Hindu Studies at the University of Delhi:
Understanding Hindu Dharma and Hinduness’. Professor Yogesh Singh, Vice
Chancellor of Delhi University, delivered inaugural address.
In Technical Session-I, Advocate Monika Arora shared her thought on the
intricate relation between Sanatan Dharma and the Constitution, while Professor
Nachiketa Tiwari from IIT Kanpur elucidated on ‘Jnana: The Foundation of Hindu
Civilization.’ Prafulla Ketkar (Editor of Organiser) talked about contemporary
Hindu Dharma.
In Technical Session-II, a historian and author Professor Kapil Kumar elaborated
on ‘Psyche of Hindu Resistance: Past, Present, and Future’. Chandru Ramesh, an
acclaimed author and researcher, shed light on ‘Mahabharata: A Myth or Itihasa’.
Balbir Punj, former MP, Rajya Sabha and a veteran journalist said in his
valedictory address that the pluralistic, secular, and democratic character of
Bharatiya people and Bharatiya nation came essentially from the tenets of the
Hindu Dharma. -GoTop
5. GANGA AARTI
HELD FOR FIRST TIME AFTER 75 YEARS AT KISHANGANGA CLOSE TO LOC: On April 10,
the serene banks of the Kishanganga River witnessed the resumption of the
age-old tradition of Ganga Aarti after a hiatus of 75 years. The sacred ritual,
conducted at the newly constructed Ghat near the Line of Control (LoC) in North
Kashmir’s Kupwara district, marked a momentous occasion for devotees and
pilgrims from across the country. The event, held for the first time since the
partition, attracted scores of faithful devotees who gathered to partake in the
spiritual ceremony.
6. NATIONHOOD COMES FROM COMMON SENSE OF HISTORY - DOVAL :
Nationhood is constituted by people who share a common sense of their
history and a common vision of their future, National Security Advisor (NSA)
Ajit Doval said as he released an 11-volume book series that charts different
phases of the history of ancient Bharat and its accomplishments. Addressing a
gathering at the launch event in New Delhi on April 9, the NSA said, “People who
have got a different sense of history, ‘if my hero is your villain’, you and I
cannot make a nation.”
7. HSS CELEBRATES VARSH PRATIPADA UTSAV: On April 13 HSS
Zambia celebrated Varsh Pratipada Utsav at Lusaka. HSS Senior Karyakarta
Nachiket welcomed all & requested dignitaries to light up the lamp. Students
recited different devotional shlokas, performed cultural dance & also showcased
group Yoga demonstration.
On April 7, HSS USA Buffalo Grove Shakha Chicago celebrated Varsh Pratipada
Utsav with grandeur. The cultural program included dance performance by the
girls and sevikas. Bala and kishore demonstrated Ghosh and also recited the
Hanuman Chalisa. One of the attractions in the event was Bal-Mela which featured
a wide variety of games based on Hindu themes.
Varsh Pratipada is also the birth anniversary of the Sangh founder Dr. Keshav
Baliram Hedgewar. In commemoration, HSS USA Cleveland Chapter, Sindhu Shakha,
paid tribute to the legacy of this day.
HSS Japan Shivaji Shakha Yokohoma celebrated the Varsh Pratipada and birth
anniversary of Dr Hedgewar.
HSS Nepal also celebrated Varsh Pratipada Utsav and the birth anniversary of
Doctorji with organising Path Sanchalan and Ghosh in full Ganavesh at Kathmandu,
Mahendra Nagar, Birganj, Butwal, Pokhara and at other places.
8. DARSHANA EXHIBITION 2024: Hindu Yuva collaborated
with the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre and Indian Heritage Cultural Centre to
hold the “Darshana Exhibition” at the Iowa State Capitol on March 28.
9. HSS GERMANY ORGANISED VEDIC SANSKRITI - UNIVERSAL
SANSKRITI: HSS Germany in association with Patanjali Yogpeeth Haridwar and
Consulate General of Bharat, Munich organised a special discussion program
"Vedic Sanskriti : Universal Sanskriti" on March 22 which was based on the
scientific aspects of Bharatiya culture, including Yoga, Ayurveda, health,
philosophy, Vedas, Upanishads, Geeta and Ramayana. Information about the ongoing
research work of Patanjali Yogpeeth on Yoga & Ayurveda was also shared. Rakesh
Kumar and Prof. Dr. Sadhvi Devpriya from Patanjali Yogpeeth Haridwar blessed the
occasion and emphasized the importance of Yog and Ayurvada in daily life.
10. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ATTACKS ON TEMPLES AND
HINDUPHOBIA INTRODUCED IN U.S. CONGRESS: Celebrating the contributions of
Hindus and Hinduism to the U.S., a prominent Indian-American Congressman has
introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning Hinduphobia,
anti-Hindu bigotry, hate and intolerance.
Recently, Bharatiya-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna,
Thanedar, Ami Bera and Pramila Jayapal had written to the Department of Justice
to request a briefing from them on the status of investigations concerning
incidents of vandalism at houses of worship across the country including at
Hindu temples. -GoTop
11. SIKHS IN CANADA OBSERVE APRIL AS HERITAGE MONTH:
With eight lakh Sikhs calling Canada their home, April is observed as Sikh
Heritage Month to celebrate the rich history and contributions of the community
there. There are about 27 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the
fifth-largest religion.
12. OVER 3.5 LAKH DEVOTEES VISITED ABU DHABI MANDIR:
Over 3.5 lakh devotees visited the first stone Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi within
a month of its opening for the public, according to temple authorities.
The iconic temple which was inaugurated on 14 February by Pradhan Mantri
Narendra Modi was opened for visitors on March 1.
13. BHARAT-NEPAL ALLIANCE ADVANCES SANSKRIT EDUCATION:
Recognising the importance of preserving and promoting Sanskrit education,
Bharat and Nepal have embarked on a collaborative journey. During the three-day
Nepal-Bharat International Sanskrit Conclave from March 27 to 29 in Kathmandu,
both Bharatiya and Nepalese scholars have decided to hold an International
Sanskrit Conference annually.
14. CHANDRAYAAN-3 TEAM HONOURED WITH JOHN SWIGERT JR AWARD:
Chandrayaan-3 mission team received the 2024 John L “Jack” Swigert, Jr.
Award for Space Exploration, a top award from the US-based Space Foundation.
This annual award honours a space agency, company, or consortium of
organizations in the realm of space exploration and discovery.
Space Foundation CEO Heather Pringle said, “Bharat’s leadership in space is an
inspiration to the world”. He added, “The pioneering work of the entire
Chandrayaan-3 team has again raised the bar for space exploration, and their
remarkable lunar landing is a model to us all. Congratulations and we can’t wait
to see what you do next!” -GoTop
15. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:
Dineshmani Dubey - Thailand. -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: One who is virtuous and wise, just and merciful, is a
true human. - Bhagwan Sri Ram. -GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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BHARAT : CULTURAL CONTINUUM AND THE BEAUTY OF INHERENT UNITY
The definition of a nation is
different from that of a country. Bharat is not just a country, a piece of land,
a geographic territory that is merely confined to a state that is self-governed
politically, but it is a living nation intellectually, ethnically, spiritually,
esthetically, ethically, historically, linguistically, scripturally,
philosophically, artistically and scientifically. The word nation comes from old
French nacion, meaning a place of origin. The same principle is adopted by a few
countries in the name of bhumiputra.
Himalayas, an abode of the divine, king of mountains, stands on the earth (Bharat)
as a symbol of its pride, in the north, with seas on both its sides- the East
and the West. It is said in Vishnu-purana that the nation (varsham) that lies
North of the ocean and South of the snowy mountains (Himalayas) is called Bharat.
The people who live there are descendants of Bharat.
उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य:
हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षि णम् । वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम: भारतीयत्र संततिः ।।
It is identified as a nation created by the divine in a Sanskrit Subhashita –
हिमालयं समारभ्यया वत् इंदु सरेावरम् | तं देवनिर्मितं देशं हिंदुस्थादु स्थानं
प्रचक्षते ||
Meaning that its span starts from the Himalayas and extends up to Indu Sarovaram
(Indian Ocean) and it is a nation created by the divine called Hindustan.
Bharat as a Rashtra has preserved all the fundamental components of nationalism
that have remained unfragmented. Over millennia, people developed their own
languages in various parts of Bharat but the mother of all Indian languages is
Sanskrit. There are a variety of scripts, but the mother is Brahmi. A known
English scholar Monier Williams wrote, “India though it has … 500 dialects, has
only one sacred language, and only one sacred literature, accepted and revered
by all adherents of Hinduism alike, however diverse in race, dialect, rank and
creed. That language is Sanskrit and that literature is Sanskrit literature… .,”
Bharat as a nation is identified by its distinct culture developed by the rishis
and munis sitting on river banks and intensely meditating. They did not share
any fixed ideology but left it to develop on internalisation of the philosophy
of life.
A nation is a piece of land bound by political boundaries, nationalism is an
emotion where everyone has patriotic feelings for a certain country; they love
their motherland, have faith in the traditions of their fore-fathers; they
aspire for its all-round development, those people become its identity, they
live a life aiming at higher values, they respect its heritage, and cultural
symbols built over centuries, they feel connected with their history and feel
pain for painful moments and rejoice with joyful. Their country is their sacred
land. The foundation of their culture is the same. People imbibe a collective
approach towards nation, it does not matter whether they are living in huge
palaces or straw-huts. Nationalism is their Dharma. The land is sacred and
adorable through pilgrimages. Let us ponder over the idea of nationalism written
by some visionaries.
Nationality is a corporate sentiment … … relating to a definite home country. It
springs from a common heritage of memories of great achievements and glory or of
disaster and suffering. (Prof. Hole Combe) …. A common language and literature,
common customs and consciousness … … (Burgess) … … a common civilization gives a
sense of unity, a common heritage of memories is history.. … (Blunsky) We Hindus
are indigenous children of the soil always from time immemorial and are natural
masters of the country. Here we have compiled our imitable Vedas, reasoned out
our philosophy of the Absolute… …built our sciences and arts and crafts .. ….
Here we … … flourished and prospered – a great nation of a great race –
propounded the one religion …. … and built up a culture… (MS Golvalkar, We,
Our Nationhood Defined: pg. 13)
The word nation consists of certain distinct notions fused indissolubly into a
whole, which stands so long as its components exist in unison. (MS Golvalkar,
We, Our Nationhood Defined: pg. 21)
Bharat has an unbroken distinct identity as a nation for millions of years.
While several other countries either never could fulfil all the required
pre-requisites or components of being a nation or they lost one or the other
element. Let us look at the nationalism of a few countries which became
fragmented due to several reasons. Egypt has lost its native identity. They are
the people who built huge pyramids along the river Nile. They had built abodes
of their own adorable Gods around 2000 BC. The amazing statues at Abu Simbal
temple which were consecrated by the first rays of Sun twice in a year.
Collapse of : The civilisation and culture of the Greeks was destroyed.
Their ancestors built a glorious culture, produced great poets and philosophers,
Aristotle, a student of Plato and Plato whose teacher was Socrates.
They worshipped Zeus, Apolo, Athena, Athens, Delfi, temples, academies, glorious
history, but it is now all gone. They wrote Iliad and Odissi like chronicles.
The first University Academies established by Plato in the fifth century BC are
in ruins after being destroyed in the fifth century AD, their libraries at
Alexandria were burnt down. Greek Professors of Constantinople were thrown out.
Memories of their ancestors went into amnesia. Their religion in Greece is
finished. National heritage could not survive. Thus, their nationhood is
fragmented.
Nationalism is Fragmented: In Iran, Islam was forcefully established. But
Iran did not lose its language. They still wish to cherish the memories of their
ancestors but unfortunately either they are faded or forgotten. Often, they
hesitate to revisit the stories of their cultural achievements. Their heritage
is destroyed. Today they have a short memory and think that the invaders were
their own ancestors. Thus, their Nationalism is fragmented.
Let us talk about North America, which has a history of three-four centuries.
People from several countries reached there, occupied the land, and became its
citizens. The largest number was from Britain. So, English became their
language, and Protestant their religion. Samuel P Huntington wrote books like
Who Are We and Clash of Civilizations. They raise questions about the elements
of American nationalism. The idea began to develop gradually during the 19th
century. There are people of different ethnicities like Russian, Chinese,
Indians, Japanese, Polish and so on. They contributed as Americans for
nationalism by the 20th century. A new term was created as ‘American Creed’. It
contains ideas of thousands of thinkers and says, “I believe in the USA as a
government of the people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are
derived from consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign
nation of many sovereign states, a perfect union, one and inseparable,
established from those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for
which American patriots sacrificed their lives - and fortunes.’
Fragmented Nations: Czechoslovakia was divided into two; forming two
countries – Czech and Slovakia on the basis of different ethnicities. The wall
between East and West Germany was pulled down for the sake of German identity.
China as a country comprises many ethnicities because of its policy of
expansionism. North and South Korea are not in a position to be united. Look at
Israel. It is a Jewish nation. It had lost its homeland but had preserved their
language. When they were persecuted and were enthused by the pride of their
language and ethnicity, they began to migrate to Palestine strategically and
finally on May 14 in 1948 declared statehood. In Bharat the national cultural
identity is based on the same principles and social collective consciousness.
Rising above the daily needs of survival, our ancestors created a treasure of
literature, built temples, enshrined deities, focused on understanding the self,
meditating on complex issues of life and truth. Acharyas all over Bharat aspired
to reach the highest, explored avenues of science and spirituality, established
schools of philosophy and composed treatises which are equally important for the
whole of the nation.
One of the components of our nationalism is Sanskrit because the entire
monumental literature from Vedas onwards is the common heritage of the nation
extending from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Gujarat to the easternmost part of
Arunachal Pradesh. Literature has been created in all the regional languages,
but their foundation is similar thought values. Sanskrit texts are written in
various Indian scripts like Sharada in Kashmir, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali
and so on. The whole of Bharat has nurtured the same ethical values, esthetical
expressions and approaches, the eternal and all-pervading philosophy of life.
Every Indian worships the sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sindhu,
Narmada, Krishna and Kaveri. They are the source of life carrying pure waters
for all without discrimination.
A former Prime Minister of England, Ramsay MacDonald wrote in the foreword of
the book Fundamental Unity of India by Radha Kumud Mukharjee, Hindu at any rate
from his tradition and his religion regards India as the outwards embodiment as
the temple- nay, even as the goddess mother of his spiritual culture. India and
Hindus are organically related as the body and soul. He made India his symbol of
culture … … He filled it with his soul … … … In his consciousness it is his
greater self. Bharat for all Indians is a temple, a divinity prayed as Bharat
Mata.
We, the nationals of India, built temples all over and enshrined the divine.
Across the country our sages taught us meditation, contemplation, transcendence,
gave us various sciences equally to all the parts, we shared our narrative
literature, we lived with the same ought values, social ethics, political and
national thinking.
The twelve Jyotirlingas denote Bharat as one nation. These are Shaiva places of
pilgrimage for everyoneBhimashankar in Maharashtra, Grishneshvar near Aurangabad,
Kashi Vishwanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas,
Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra
Pradesh, Nageshvar near Dwarka, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Ramanathaswami in
Tamil Nadu, Somnath in Gujarat, Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath
Jyotirlinga in Bihar.
Devotees from all over Bharat throng these places. Remains of a deceased person,
i.e. a devotee from Tamil Nadu, may be taken to be immersed in the sacred Ganga
and water from Ganga to be carried to Rameshwaram. A pilgrimage is not complete
until we go to Kedarnath in the North and Rameshwaram in the South.
Hundred and eight divya deshams, temples dedicated to Bhagvan Vishnu are spread
throughout the country, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari. ”Divya” means
“divine” and “Desam” indicates “place” (temple). The temples dedicated to
Bhagavan Vishnu, are called Sthalams in the works of the Tamil Azhwars (saints).
Similarly, there are 18 Shakti Peethas and Pancha Bhoota lingams, the five
elements of nature in south India, dedicated to Shiva. Everywhere the abode of
Shiva is Kailash mountain. Adi Shankara established four mathas in the four
directions of Bharat- Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam in Karnataka, Jyotir Matha in
Uttarakhand, Kalika Matha in Dwarka in Gujarat and Govardhana Matha in Puri in
Odisha. Ramanuja and Madhavacharya spread Vaishnava bhakti across India.
Ramanujacharya, a South theologian and philosopher, was born in Sriperumbudur
and died in Srirangam. At the age of ninety he went to Kashmir on foot to get a
copy of Brahma Sutras written by Bodhayana, the immediate disciple of Vedavyas,
because it was required to write Sri Bhashya. All over Bharat Bhagavan Vishnu
and Devi Lakshmi are worshipped together because Vishnu is the sustainer of the
world and its sustaining is not possible without financial strength. The three
commentaries written by Ramanujacharya hold pan-Indian value- Vedartha-samgraha,
Sri-bhashya and Bhagavad Gitabhashya. Madhvacharya studied most of the shastras
like the Vedas, Puranas, Gita, Brahmasutra, Mahabharat and Upanishad.
Divine knowledge and spiritual progression are key to India’s identity as a
nation. The teachers are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara. Alwars are known for
their devotion to Vishnu. The word means drowned in the sea of divinity. There
are 12 saint poets known for their devotion. Among them Andal was from Shri
Ranganatha. She is adored as a gopi in Vrindavan. She was a daughter of
Vishnuchitta, a saint, a yogi and a poet in the land of Pandyas called Perialwar
meaning great Alwar. His poems are written in praise of Krishna as an infant and
boyhood. His daughter’s mind was occupied by her passions for the divine. She
went through a symbolic marriage with Shri Ranganatha, Vishnu in his temple at
Srirangam as Meera was wholeheartedly devoted to Krishna in such a way that she
accepted him as her husband, and had refused to marry anyone. Tiruppavai, a set
of Tamil hymns, were composed by the poetess saint Andal. It is said to be Vedam
Anaithukkum Vithagum, meaning its seed is in the Vedas. The essence of the Vedas
are hidden there like a tree in a seed.
Ramayan and Mahabharat are the most outstanding epics of our nation. Over
thousands of years different versions were created in various parts of India and
even beyond its political boundaries. It is an impossible task to compile and
bring out a single edition using all of them as there are more than 300 versions
of Ramayan. It has percolated deeply in many spheres of our lives. Similarly
Mahabharat has around 1,000 versions in India and beyond. Its main plot is the
same but there are differences in various versions also. Moreover, there are
abbreviated and oral versions, and special versions created for theatre and by
strolling minstrels.
Historically, we are nationals of Bharat when our heart bleeds for the
challenging times, the time of
invasions, destruction and genocide. When our head is high reading the glorious
history, the achievements of our forefathers, they feel proud for being a
cultural leader of the world. We feel proud of the policymakers like Chanakya,
the valorous history of Vikramaditya, the knowledge of Rishi Kapila and Kanada,
the grammar of Panini, the bravery of Shivaji, Durgavati and Lakshmibai, the
great cities like Kashi, Mathura, Kanchi, Takshashila, Ayodhya and Puri.
Bharat has preserved its distinct unfragmented identity as a nation, lying at
its core to unite it, over millennia and will continue to do that.
https://organiser.org/2024/04/11/231973/bharat/grasp-key-features-of-bharatiya-rashtriyata/
-GoTop
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