yuva bharati voice of youth septemeer 2007 issue

8/2/2019 Yuva Bharati Voice of Youth Septemeer 2007 Issue

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Service to humanity is the highest form of worship -Swami Vivekananda

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VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PRAKASHAN

Founder Editor

Mananeeya Eknathji Ranade

Editor

Mananeeya P. Parameswaran

Editorial Office

5, Singarachari StreetTriplicane,Chennai - 600 005Ph: (044) 28440042Ema i l : [email protected]

Web:www.vkendra.org

September 2007Vol. 35 No.2

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Shravana-Bhadrapad 5109

CONTENTS

Editorial 4- PPPPP.P.P.P.P.Parameswaranarameswaranarameswaranarameswaranarameswaran

The Significance of Krishnavatara

- Swami Kr i shnananda- Swami Kr i shnananda- Swami Kr i shnananda- Swami Kr i shnananda- Swami Kr i shnananda 10

A Lesson for those in Old Age- Seema BurmanSeema BurmanSeema BurmanSeema BurmanSeema Burman 18

Light on Idol Worship 29

Vivekananda Kendra Samachar 34

Vivekananda Kendra Arunachal Pradesh 37Then and Now

- DrDrDrDrDr.K.K.K.K.K.Subrahmanyam.Subrahmanyam.Subrahmanyam.Subrahmanyam.Subrahmanyam

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3 YUVA BHARATI - September 2007


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Editorial

The Search for

Universal Brotherhood

Swami Vivekananda on 11 September

1893, in the World Parliament of Religions

held at Chicago gave a call for Universal

Brotherhood and placed forth the

principles for achieving universal

brotherhood. In Vivekananda Kendra this

day is celebrated as Universal Brotherhood

Day. This search for Universal Brotherhood

is going on since the beginning of the

development of human society.

The search for strife-less society, wasand is going on all over the world. It was

felt that the differences lead to clashes, so

if there is oneness then it can bring about

brotherhood. But this search for oneness

in the West led to insistence in uniformity

of god, declaring ones own god as the only

true god, whereas in India it led to the

principle that everything is true and valid

and is called differently as per the

evolution, situation or needs of the people.

Swami Vivekananda explains this in detail

in his speech The Mission of Vedanta

given at Kumbakonam. He says, We

observe in the histories of Babylon andamong the Jews an interesting religious

phenomenon happening. We find that each

of these Babylonian and Jewish peoples was

divided into so many tribes, each tribe

having a god of its own, and that these little

tribal gods had often a generic name.

The gods among the Babylonians were

all called Baals, and among them Baal

Merdoch was the chief. In course of time

one of these many tribes would conquerand assimilate the other racially allied tribes,

and the natural result would be that the god

of the conquering tribe would be placed at

the head of all the gods of the other tribes.

Thus the so-called boasted monotheism of

the Semites was created. Among the Jews


Vichitrasphuradratnamaalaakireetam

Kireetollasacchandrarekhaavibhuusham

Vibhuushaikabhuusham bhavadhvamsahetum

Ganaadheesameesaanasuunum tameede.

I extol that son of Lord Siva and the Lord of the attendants (of Lord Siva). He wears

the crown studded with a garland of shining gems of variegated colours. The shining

streak of the crescent moon adorns the crown. He has beauty as the only ornament.

He is the cause of the destruction of the cycles of birth and death.

- Ganesabhujangastotram.


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the gods went by the name of Molochs. Of

these there was one Moloch who belonged

to the tribe called Israel, and he was called

the Moloch-Yahweh In time, this tribe of

Israel slowly conquered some of the other

tribes of the same race, destroyed their

Molochs, and declared its own Moloch to

be the Supreme Moloch of all the Molochs.

And I am sure; most of you know the

amount of bloodshed, of tyranny, and of

brutal savagery that this religious conquest

entailed. Later on, the Babylonians tried to

destroy this supremacy of Moloch-Yahweh,

but could not succeed in doing so.

It seems to me, that such an attempt at

tribal self-assertion in religious matter

might have taken place on the frontiers of

India also. Here, too, all the various tribes

of the Aryans might have come into conflict

with one another for declaring the

supremacy of their several tribal gods; but

Indias history was to be otherwise, was to

be different from that of the Jews. India

alone was to be, of all lands, the land of

toleration and of spirituality; and therefore

the fight between tribes and their gods did

not long take place here. For one of the

greatest sages that was ever born found out

here in India even at that distant time,

which history cannot reach, and into whose

gloom even tradition itself dares not peep

in that distant time the sage arose and

declared, Ekam Sad Viprah Bahudha

Vadanti He who exists is one; the sages

call Him variously. This is one of the most

memorable sentences that was ever uttered,

one of the grandest truths that was ever

discovered. And for us Hindus this truth

has been the very backbone of our national

existence.Therefore the world is waiting

for this grand idea of universal toleration.

It will be a great acquisition to civilization.

Nay, no civilization can long exist unless

this idea enters into it. No civilization can

grow unless fanaticism, bloodshed and

brutality stop. No civilization can begin to

lift up its head until we look charitably upon

one another; and the first step towards that

much needed charity is to look charitably

and kindly upon the religious convictions

of others.

The religions like Christianity and Islam

which are the further developments in

Semitic religion of Jews also followed the

same suit. Their search for unity became

exclusive saying their religion alone is

true. This exclusive approach led them to

work vigorously and violently to wipe out

any dissenting voice, idea or way of

worship. But though it all started with the

search for brotherhood or in the name of

brotherhood, actually instead of

brotherhood it led to more bloodshed. This

search for unity based on the person or

ideology is such an illusive thought that

even the variations in their own religion

are not tolerated. Thus the wars between

Catholics and Protestants or Shia and Sunni

continue. The universal brotherhood is

missing even in amongst these particular

exclusive religions. The conversion of each

other within the religion also goes on. The

Protestants want to convert the Catholics

and vice-versa. Once I had met a foreign

catholic Christian father who was working

for nearly 50 years in Ranchi area. I asked

him, why do you convert? He said, if I

have something good with me should I not



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share it with others. When I know that

believing in Jesus alone would give

salvation, it is my duty to tell that to

others. I asked him, but then why do you

convert the Protestants? They are

following the same Jesus. He said, They

have to take to Jesus through our Church

only. Swami Vivekananda says, I have

found out by experience that all evil comes,

as our scriptures say, relying on differences

and that all good comes from faith in

equality, in the underlying sameness and

oneness of things. People in the world can

be brought together only on the basis of

principles.

In many of the Christian countries they

do not allow the Church of the other

countries to work in their own country

though the god that they follow is the same!

For example, a Lutheran Church (of

Germany) cannot work in England.

Recently the Church authority were

worried over the conversion of Catholics

to Protestants in Latin America, though

the same Vatican spends millions of dollars

to convert others in Asia and Africa.

People cannot be brought together in the

whole world in the name of one god. Our

sages gave the principle to rally the people

around, Ekam Sad Viprah Bahudha

Vadanti. Once an Arunachali commented,

The Christian missionaries have divided us

not only as Christians and Non-Christians

but also in amongst Christians there are

divisions like Catholics, Baptists etc. So

they keep on fighting and converting each

other, whereas when we were not

converted we all used to celebrate our

festivals together, we used to even till each

others lands, help each other in building

their houses. Thus the forcing of exclusive

religion for universality, for brotherhood

has led to more bloodshed and hostility

than brotherhood. It is this internal strife

within exclusive religions which made

Swami Vivekananda say that It is in vain

we try to gather all the peoples of the world

round a single personality. It is difficult to

make them gather even round eternal and

universal principles. If it ever becomes

possible to bring the largest portion of

humanity to one way of thinking in regard

to religion, mark you, it must be always

through principles and not through

persons.

The brotherhood is possible only if each

one respects others religions, way of life

and do not resort to convert them to

destroy it. As long as such actions of

deriding others religions as false and

converting others by force or fraud

continue, there would be clashes and

restlessness. Diversity is the rule of nature.

But that need not lead us to differences if

we accept everything as legitimate and

valid for each other. This respect for all

traditions, cultures and religions alone

would bring universal brotherhood, would

help all the local traditions in the world to

survive. It is an admitted position that

there is no tradition outside the Hindu

tradition, which is founded on respect for

all traditions, cultures and religions. The

western and middle-eastern traditions are

smeared in blood. Thus the foundation for

Universal Brotherhood is in the Hindu

tradition which respects all the traditions.

In a convention organized for the Vanvasi



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communities of North-East India, Sri David

Frawley, a well-known American Scholar

said that Hindu is a common name given

to the local traditions in India. In a World

Congress at Delhi organized by Swami

Dayananda Saraswati for the non-

converting indigenous traditions of the

world, many leaders of indigenous

traditions from America, Africa etc. said

that, Our hope is in India, in one billion

Hindus, who have protected various

traditions over the ages.

The British historian E. P. Thompson

wrote, India is perhaps the most important

country for the future of the world. All the

convergent influences of the world run

through this societyThere is not a

thought that is being thought in the West

and East that is not active in some Indian

mind.

Only when the diversity is recognized,all can follow their traditions unhindered

and with respect to each other without

denouncing the others. If India dies, who

lives and if India lives, who dies! As

humanity seeks universal brotherhood, the

survival of strong India, India awakened

to her purpose of existence is very much

the need of the hour. Hindus have a great

responsibility in working towards this. The

Muslim and Christians in India are

fortunate for having been brought up in

the atmosphere of Universal acceptance in

India. Thus they have a great responsibility

of making their religions inclusive, by not

forcing it on others but respecting others

traditions and thus ushering in, the era of

Universal Brotherhood. India has a great

role to play to give social principles to the

world where each ones right to follow

their own tradition is gladly accepted and

each one is helped to strive for the spiritual

evolution on ones own line. India alone

has the philosophy and experience of

peaceful co-existence in the society.

Therefore, she would have to play her role

if this search of human society for

universal brotherhood is to succeed.

Nivedita Raghunath Bhide



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Significance of Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is the most

important vrata and utsava celebratedthroughout the country. The Padma,

Matsya and Agni puranas extol the

greatness of Krishna Janmashtami. When

there is Rohini nakshatra it is simply

Janmashtami. If a man observes fast on

that tithi, the sins committed in many lives

are destroyed. (Ref.Bhaavishyotara

Purana). The main items in Janmashtami

Vrata are:-Fasting; worship of Krishna;

keeping awake at night; uttering hymns of

praise; listening to stories about Krishna.

Glory of Lord Krishna

Scriptural Evidence:

The foremost Vaishnava scripture

Srimat Bhagavata proclaims Sri Krishna

as the Supereme Godhead.

While all these are the parts and

particles of the Supreme Being. Krishna is

He, the Bhagavan Himself. Krishna is thefull revelation of the Lord, while the others

come from age to age for the relief of the

world from the sufferings caused by

particular sets of Asuras.

Bhagawan Vyasa declares in Bhagavad

Gitas Gita Dhyanam, Slokas 5 and 8, that

Sri Krishna is the Jagadguru, who is source

of Supreme Bliss:-

I salute Lord Krishna, the

world teacher, the son of Vasudeva,

the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura,

the supreme bliss of Devaki.

I salute that Madhava, the

Source of Supreme Bliss, whose

grace makes the dumb eloquent and

the cripple cross mountains.

In Bhagavata, Lord Krishna is praised

as the sovereign Godhead, who isworshipped by Brahma, Rudra, Indra,

Maruts, and praised by Vedas, Sankhya and

Upanishads, whose vision Yogis get in

Dhyana and whose end is not known in

Suras and Asuras!

Another great authoritative scripture,

Sri Brahma Samhita unequivocally

declares:-

Krishna is the Supreme, Godhead andis Eternal, Blissful spiritual body. Govinda

is the origin of all. He has no other origin.

He is the prime cause of all causes.

The entire fifth chapter of Sri Brahma

Samhita describes Lord Krishna as the

The Significance of Krishnavatara

Swami Krishnananda



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Sole Supreme Godhead with unrivalled

spiritual body of super excellent charm.

The formless, Nirguna Brahman is merely

a penumbra of the transcendental, blissful

Krishna. The other deities are merely

emanations of Lord Krishna of Goloka.

Bhagawad Gita also makes this fact very

clear. He is the Father, Mother and

Dispenser. There is nothing higher than

him. He exhorts us to renounce all other

dharmas and take refuge in him alone.

One may refer to other scriptures like:

Garga Samhita, Brahma Vaivarta Purana;

Uddhav Gita; Sri Ananda

Vrindavanachampu; Sri Gopalachampu

etc., to confirm the fact that Lord Krishna

is the Suprme, ultimate Godhead.

Realisation of Saints and Philosophers

Great Saints and Philosophers have also

realized the Glory of Lord Krishna.

Sri Ramanujacharya Thou art my mother

and thou art my father too; Thou art my

friend and teacher too; Thou art the

knowledge and wealth; Oh! Lord of Lords,

Supreme, thou art everything in my life!

Adi Shankaracharya :

1. Oh! Dul l-wi tted , worship

Govinda, worship Govinda, worship

Govinda; when the last moments of

death approach, and grammatical

recitations like Duhrung Karane will

not save you.

2. I remember chi ld Mukunda

always; who is lying on the banyan

leaf, with his, lotus foot in his lotus

mouth, put in by his lotus hand!

Sri Vallabhacharyas Madhurashtaka

Sweetness Incarnate :

Sweet are his lips; sweet is the face; Sweet

are his eyes; sweet his smile;

Sweet is his heart; Sweet is the gaint;

Sweet is everything of the great Lord of

Mathura.

Sri Kulasekharas Mukundamala :

Victory, Victory to the Lord, the Darlingof Devaki;

Victory, victory to Lord Krishna the

effulgent light of Vrishni race;

Victory, victory to the Lord of dark cloudy

tint; with soft limbs;

Victory, victory to Mukunda, the reliever

of Earths burdens!

Sri Haridasa - Sole Refuge :

To me bereft of all hope; Depending always

on others;Full of sin and weak,

Sri Krishna is my sole refuge.

Sri Vedanta DesikaAbode of Mercy :

Thou, all merciful, are alone my protector;

you curb my sins and also forgive them.

Sri Madhvacharya Worship

Vasudeva, Imperishable Brahman :

Actions dedicated to Vasudeva, become at

once imperishable; All the miseries perish

by uttering the name of Vasudeva.

Sri Rupa Goswamin Grant me

steadfast faith:

O Lord of all the worlds, I seek not wealth,

nor servant nor women fair nor poems;

Grant me devotion to Thee, birth after



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birth; one pointed devotion to the Lord of

Mine!

Sri Madhusudhan Saraswati (great

advaitic philosopher) Nothing

Higher than Krishna :

I know no tattwa higher than Krishna;

whose hands carry the flute; whose lips are

smeared with butter; who wears Pitambara

and whose lips resemble Aruna Bimba

fruit; whose face is beautiful like a full

moon and eyes are like lotuses!

Renowned bhaktas like Gopis of

Vrindavan, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,

Surdas, Meerabhai and Narasimha Mehta

had realized the glories of Lord Krishna,

through the path of devotion. In the

present times, Hare Krishna Movement

is vigorously spreading all over the world,

through the efforts of ISKCON, founded

by Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Mysteries of three aspects of Lord

Krishna :

The great mystic and saint, Mahamati

Prannath has revealed the mysteries of

three aspects of Lord Krishna, in his

Magnum Opus Kulzam Swarup (or

Taratmya Vani or Taratam Sagar),

consisting 14 books, and containing nearly

18,000 verses. Today about 2 million

followers of Mahamati Prannath, called

Pranamis (or Sundersaths) practice his

teaching of Krishna Bhakti. He hasadvised the devotees to worship the

Aksharatita, Poorna Brahman,

Purushottama Lord Krishna. At the

Krishna Mandir at Panna a 3-year rigorous

training course in Kulzam Swarup is

available, for ardent devotees.

Mahamati Prannaths tumultuous life(16181964 A.D.) is full of inspiring and

heart rending incidents. Here we will see

two remarkable incidents:-

1. Daring attempt to enlighten

Aurangzeb (1679 A.D.) :

Mahamati Prannath wanted to enlighten

Aurangzeb about the Unity of all religions

so that he may cease to persecute the

Hindus. To accomplish this hazardous task,

Mahamati and his chosen 12 disciples

(including two Muslims also) camped in

Delhi and Anupsahar for 16 months. A

letter in Persian script was written to

Aurangzeb. The appearance of Imam Mehdi

and the Day of Judgment was explained

and the real meaning of Islam and the

qualities of a real Muslim were elucidated.

The emperor was urged to follow the path

of truth and guide the world in the right

direction. The real meaning of JIHAD is to

wipe out the satanic instincts within onesmind. Aurangzeb was impressed with the

message and wanted to meet Mahamati.

But, the Mullahs misled him and the

dialogue was prevented. Aurangzeb

regretted this lost chance and uttered these

last words on his deathbed I dont know

why I came into this world? I could not

fulfil my aim in life. The Lord came to my

door but I did not recognize Him. The last

sentence refers to Mahamati Prannath.

(Ref: Jadunath Sarkars History of

Aurangzeb; Vol.5; Page 210)

2. Mahamati initiates Maharajah

Chhatrasal (1683 A.D.) :

Mahamati gave a clarion call to all Hindu



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Kings to unite and fight the atrocities of

Aurangzeb.

The great Bundela King and heroic

warrior, Maharaja Chhatrasal was highly

inspired by Mahamatis teachings and

became his ardent disciple. Swamiji

presented him a sword and covered his

head with a scarf and blessed thus: You

will always be victorious. Diamond mines

will be discovered in your land and you will

establish an ideal Kingdom at

Bundelkhand (1680 A.D.). MaharajaChhatrasal was victorious in his numerous

battles with Mughal armies.

Diamond was discovered and mined

near Panna. A veritable, prosperous Rama

Rajya was established at Bundelkhand

with capital at Panna. Chhatrasal became

a terror to Aurangzeb. People of different

religions lived in harmony and peace in his

Kingdom.

Mysteries of Krishna Leelas Revealed :

Mahamati revealed the mysteries of

three distinct aspects in Lord Krishnas

leelas, which explains certain apparent

anomalies in his life:

1. Vaikunta Vishnu Aspect :

This is a lower aspect with lesser

powers of Chaturbhuja Vishnu of Vaikunta,

seen during the major part of his

incarnation, from the time of his 18 battles

with Jarasandha to his last leelas at

Dwaraka. Akrura had darshan of this

Vishnu aspect, while dipping in Yamuna.

But here also for a brief period, when

he delivers the famous Bhagavat Gitasermon to Arjuna at the battlefield of

Kurukshetra, the Avesh of Aksharatita

Purushottama (The highest power of

Supreme, Transcendental Brahman)

manifests in him, and enables him to reveal

deeper mysteries of Akshara Brahman,

Aksharatita Brahman (Purushottama) and

Kshara Brahman (lowest aspect).

This supreme power is withdrawn, when

the sermon was over.

As Vishnu Avatar, Sri Krishna, used

various weapons in battles with

Jarasandha, Banasura, Narakasura,

Paundraka, Salva, Dantavaktra and

Sambara.

MAHAMATI PRANNATH BLESSES

MAHARAJA CHHATRASAL



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Ultimately he witnesses the destruction

of Vrishni Race, due to the curse of Rishis.

Then, he is felled by the arrow of the

hunter, Jara and departs to Vaikunta. In his

last sermon to Uddhava (known as

Uddhava Gita), he advises him to go to

Badrikashrama, wear barks of trees, live

on roots, and do severe tapasya. The higher

mysteries regarding Purushottama,

Aksharatita Brahman and Akshara

Brahman are not revealed in Uddhava

Gita, because here the sermon is given byVaikunda Vishnu Avatara, Sri Krishna (and

not by Purushottama, Aksharatita

Brahman, who was speaking in Bhagavad

Gita).

2. Akshara Brahman Aspect :

This aspect of Krishna Avatara, though

considered lower to Supreme Aksharatita

Brahman, is an unimaginable, mighty

power, manifested during the critical 11days (7 days in Vrindavan and 4 days in

Mathura). As per direction of cruel King

Kamsa, Krishna and Balarama, accompany

Akrur to Mathura. Witness how the young

boy, Krishna kills the fearsome, mighty

elephant Kuvalayapeeda with bare hands

(using no weapons). Next he kills the giant,

invincible Wrestler Chanura and his

associates like Sala, Tosalaka with

effortless ease! Thereafter, Krishna caught

the mighty Kamsa by hair and threw him

on the arena killed him and dragged him

along the ground. The entire assembly

stood and hailed his victorious feats. All

these miraculous feats were accomplished

with bare hands, using no weapons at all!

Earlier, Krishna had transformed hunch-

backed, royal maidservant, Trivakra into a

most beautiful damsel, by giving a pull at

the Chin. But, after he liberates from

prison, his parents, Vasudeva and Devaki;

and removes the cow-herd dress, bathes

and dons princely attire, this Avesh of

Akshara Brahman is withdrawn to Akshara

Dhama. Now, Yogiraj Krishna does leelas

like restoring the dead son of his guru,

Sandeepani Rishi. Vishnu Avatara leelas

start with the 18 battles with huge armies

of Jarasandha. He calls for his weapons like

discus from Vaikunta. He beheadsSishupala with the discus (Prakata Vani of

Mahamati; Sl.5558). Sanat Kumar

Samhita, (35/51), throws light on this

mystery; The killer of Kamsa was Vasudev,

Sri Krishna and not the son of Nanda.

Action performed in Dwaraka were from

God Vishnu, the Lord of this world, who

is partial manifestation of Vasudev

Krishna.

3. Aksharatita Brahman, PurushottamaAspect :

This supreme power of Purushottama,

Aksharatita Brahman manifested in

Krishna, for only 11 years and 52 days of

his boyhood in Gokul and Vrindavan (called

Vraja Leela and Kishore Leela). This

Purushottama Krishna, the Supreme

Godhead, the fountainhead of all other

deities, is to be worshipped. Vallabacharya

worshipped Balakrishna while Sri

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu worshipped

Kishore Krishna. Witness the unimaginable

power of child Krishna, despatching the

terrible Putana to the Golokadhama,

sucking the prana out of her breasts. He

playfully dispatched mighty asuras like



13/26

Kakasura, Sakatasura, Trinavarta,

Vatsasura, Bakasura, Vyomasura, Agasura

and Pralambasura. He subdues the most

poisonous, terrible, Kaliya Nag, by dancing

on its heads. When the child Krishna

yawned, Yashoda saw the entire universe

within his mouth. Vrajeshwar Nanda sees

the whole universe in his mouth, when he

discovers that the child has hidden the Holy

Saligrama in his mouth! Lifting the

mountain Govardhana, with his finger is a

mind-boggling miracle! Mahamati

Prannath exhorts the devotees to worship

this Purushottama. Lord Krishna, with

Ananya Bhakti! Bhagavata, III/2/26,

elucidates this mystery thus; The Life of

Krishna up to eleven years of his age is a

profound mystery. Alamdar Samhita, VI,

114 makes this point crystal clear. Krishna,

the Supreme, performed his sport, for

eleven years and fifty two days and

thereafter withdrew his force to his abode.

Do you know Me?Do you know Me?Do you know Me?Do you know Me?Do you know Me?

1. I am the forerunner for Sri Rash Behari Bose and Sri Subhas Chandra Bose, in

organising an Indian Army abroad to strike against the ruling Britishers at

home.

2. I started the Indian National Volunteer Corps during the First World War, gave

military uniform, disciplined them, and engaged them in the war.

3. I popularised the Slogan Jai Hind so much, that it got stuck to my name.

4. I have a unique connection with September. I was born on September 15th,

1891. I formed the International Pro-India Committee at Zunich in September

1914.

5. On September 22nd, 1914, I rocked the British empire by spearheading a German

Submarine Emden. The bombing spree made Britishers flee Madras.

6. On September 16th, 1966, my ashes were brought to India, 32 years after my

death. Unique isnt it? If you are still cluelessturn to Page No. 31



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Older people grumble that nobody pays

attention to them. A mind that is not trained

to be spiritual feels lonely in old age. But

those who develop affinity with live souls,

love to feed them and look after them. This

gives us a happy connection with existence.

Those who build up their love for God or

a guru establish a relationship with their

favourite deity. The satisfaction of such a

relationship is soothing for the mind, body

and spirit. With changing times, rules too

are changing. Children find elders a nuisance

and neglect or abuse them. Gurus now advise

the old not to relinquish their property to

their children as long as they are alive.

In a true case a retired man distributed

his three floors to his three sons after his

wife died and lived with the eldest son. One

day the son complained that his brothers

were not contributing to the fathers food

A Lesson for those in Old Age

Seema Burman

and an arrangement was reached that each

sons family would cook food by turn. The

arrangement soon fell apart. The father

started going to a nearby dhaba. His friends

got together and hatched a plan. One day

he gathered his sons and gave them tickets

for a vacation. When they returned, a builder

was waiting for them to take away their

belongings as the house had been sold and

their father had left without leaving behind

any address.

The biggest mistake we all commit is of

getting attached to people and possessions.

When discarded by our loved ones, we are

saddened. That is why saints ask us to devotemore time to spiritual attainment. Sri

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said that the best

way to live life is like a caretaker. A caretaker

is not attached to possessions. When worldly

things are snatched from him, the caretaker

remains calm and unconcerned.

(Courtesy - The Indian Scouter)

Published and printed by N Viswanath on behalf of Vivekananda Kendra

from 5, Singarachari Street, Triplicane, Chennai-5. at M/s. RNR Printers

and Publishers, 8, Thandavarayan Street, Triplicane, Chennai-5.

Editor: P Parameswaran.



15/26


16/26

to him and carry out his orders. He is

provided with security and good

accommodation. After his tenure as minister,

he contests on election again. This time, the

people do not vote for him as before, he

becomes a common man. The special

privileges and the authority of a minister are

not his any longer.

People like us, by our votes, cause this

ordinary man to become a minister and then

we revert him to his earlier state. Likewise,

in response to the devotees Aavahana,

invocation, the Lord specially graces an idol

and the idol then becomes holy. Having

accepted the devotees worship, the Lord

withdraws His special presence in response

to the devotees request; the idol loses its

sanctity.

An idol in a temple may have originally

been a part of a rock on a hill; people might

have walked over that rock and may haveeven urinated on it. A sculptor fashions what

is an ordinary rock into a beautiful idol by

chiselling it. Even then it does not become

holy. It, however, becomes sanctified when

it is duly consecrated in a temple. Thereafter,

people worship it. The very sculptor, who

earlier delivered hammer blows to it,

prostrates before it and does not so much

as touch it.

Friend: Why did you make reverentialofferings to the idol during your worship?

After all, it did not even move a millimetre

to accept anything.

Worshipper: When a venerable guest

comes to our house, it is in our holy tradition

to receive him with honour. He is offered a

seat and his feet are washed. He is fed.

Devotees see in the idol not just mud or stone

but the living presence of God. They hold

that God does accept what is offered to Him,

though the idol itself does not stretch out

its hand to take what is given. That is why,

in the course of my worship, I offered God

a seat, just as I would, to a holy one who

comes to my house. Then, I offeredPadyam,

water to wash His feet. Subsequently, I fed

Him; this was my offering ofNaivedyam.

Suppose a guest proves unworthy of the

respect that is shown to him by misbehaving

with a female in the hosts house or by

pilfering costly items. It is likely that the host

will hand him over to the police. In the case

of God, there is no possibility of His ever

proving unworthy of the devotees worship.

Hence, devotees never discard the idol they

worship in the middle of the Puja.

Friend: On Vinayaka Chathurthi day,

Ganesha is worshipped in many places at the

same time. Which idol does He chose to

specially abide in? What influences His

choice?

Worshipper: All idols wherein God is

properly invoked become sanctified.

Wherever there is a drop in pressure, air

rushes there. Likewise, God, who is

everywhere, specially occupies all the idolswhere He is worshipped, regardless of the

number and the location of such idols.

Friend: In some places, the food that is

offered is very small in quantity and in

others, it is very large. Is not the former



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insufficient for a deity and the latter

excessive?

Worshipper: No. In the Vedas, it is said

that the offering gets modified in accordance

with the wishes of the Devata to whom it is

offered. What is important is that if a devotee

were to resolve to offer a certain number of

Modakas, say 1000, in a Ganapathy Homa,

that is the number he must offer. He should

not think, This is too much for Ganesha to

eat, and offer less. Actually, the Lord needs

nothing but accepts and becomes sated with

whatever is offered by a worshipper with

devotion.

(Source: Edifying Parables of His

Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava

Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal, Sri

Vidyatheertha Foundation, Chennai.)

Rameswaram is immortalized in theRamayana. From Dhanushkodi, just close

to it, Hanuman and his army bridged the strait between India and Lanka (now Sri

Lanka), where Sita was held captive by Ravana. After Rama had recovered Sita,

and on his return to the mainland, he is said to have set up with due ceremony a

Shiva-lingam at Rameswaram. It is around this symbol of Shiva that the great

temple of Rameswaram is built; and to it pilgrimage is made from all parts of

India. The Rajas of Ramnad have from ancient times had dominion over Rameswaram

and Dhanushkodi. To this fact they owe the title Setupati, or Lord of the Bridge;

meaning that they control the approach to Ramas bridge, or more correctly, cause-

way, which, as mentioned, extended from Dhanushkodi to Lanka.

Source- The Life of Swami Vivekananda :

By His Eastern and Western Disciples

God send us a Setupati now

Answer to the Questions on Page 15is Jai Hind Champakaraman Pillai



18/26

One of the subjects of study and interaction

for Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture

[VKIC] since 2003 has been the contribution

of Srimanta Sankaradeva to the nation. Thestudy has been formulated with the objective

to understand, adapt and apply his vision to

the contemporary scenario.

As a logical sequel to the Sattra Darshan

programme organised in New Delhi last

November, VKIC under its Sanskriti

Anveshakforum has started an Interactive

series on the Vision of Srimanta

Sankaradeva. The details are given

subsequently.

First Session: 23 May 2007

Topic: Srimanta Sankaradeva and

Bharateeyata

Moderator: The interactive session that

followed was moderated by Prof A C

Bhagawati, former Vice-Chancellor of

Arunachal University and Member of the

VKIC Research Council.

Margdarshak: Pujya Shri Narayan Ch

Goswami, Sattradhikar Prabhu of Sri Sri

Natun Kamalabari Sattra, Pujya Shri Karuna

Kanta Kalita, Padadhikar Bap of Srimanta

Sankardev Sangha and Pujya Shri Bhadra

VKICs Sanskriti Anveshak Forum

Interactive Sessions on the Vision ofSrimanta Sankaradeva

Krishna Goswami, President of Assam Sattra

Mahasabha.

Sailent points from the Margdarshan:

Sankaradevas religion and philosophy

was based on the Puranas and the

Bhagawatam. It was he who ushered in

the Bhakti movement in Assam with his

innovations incorporating the local

nuances.

Through his literary writings and

creations in the form devotional songs,nritya, ankiya-nat (plays), crafts,

paintings, he took the essence of the

Indian scriptures, Upanishads, the

Ramayana and the Mahabharata to the

common people.

He went on to praise the greatness of

India in his writing. Examples of this can

be found in the Sankaradeva Bhagawat,

Bhakti Pradip and Uttarakanda

Ramayana.

Sankaradeva had repeatedly said that

India is the source of all religions and

science and technology. He had tried to

communities together to live in harmony

maintaining strong bonds of love

VK Samachar



19/26

thereby actualising the concept of Sutre

Manigana Evaand laying down the

approach towards a harmonious society.

References were made to the various

compositions of the Mahapurusha and

that the neo-Vaishnava movement in

Assam can show the way as to how to do

away with our differences and intolerance

and perceive Lord Narayana all around

us. This attitude will lead to mutual trust

and understanding thus leading to

harmony amongst communities.

The Mahapurusha emphasis of

working amongst the downtrodden in the

society: Even today following the

footsteps of the Mahapurusha if all work

to strengthen the downtrodden sections

of our society there will be harmony

amongst all.

The Mahapurusha delegated

organisational responsibility to Govinda

from the Garo community, Narottam from

the Naga community and Paramananda

from the Mising community so that all get

habituated to work for collective welfare.

On both the Sanskriti Anveshaksessions

Mananeeya Shri Dipok Kr Barthakur,

Chairman VKIC presided over the

function and while delivering the welcome

address spoke about the work of the

Institute in general and particularly about

our work on the Sattra Institution of

Assam and the purpose of this series of

Interactive session.

Kallubalu:Gurupoornima was celebrated

on 30th July 2007 with different programmes.

Guru Sloka and Hanuman Chalisa

competitions were conducted for students,

teachers and for parents, separate elocution

competition on the Significance of Guru

was organized for parents and well wishers.

On this auspicious day Justice C. N. Ashwath

Narayana Rao was the chief guest and he

distributed the prizes and two Govt school

toppers of SSLC(class X) were facilitated

during the function.

R T Nagar:Dr Jayaprakash Zilla Karyavagh

of RSS was the chief guest for the vibrant

programme organized during

Gurupoornima. Two different Govt school

teachers who excelled in their carrier were

felicitated during the programme. Different

schools performed cultural programme,

followed by Prasad distribution. Around 300

people attended the function.

Three Yoga satras were organized during

July and August -2007, in which 65

participants benefited. One Yoga Satra was

conducted for 15 days from 26th July for the

officials of Kuthiramukh Ore Company, in

which 25 employees attended. During the

camp, one day non residential camp was

orgaized for them. Regular Bhajan Sandhya,

Samskar varga, Swadhyaya varga.



20/26

On 29th July, Guru Poornima a day dedicated

to the entire lineage of Gurus was celebrated.

On this auspicious occasion, a current

Vivekananda Kendra Patrika (Vol.35 No.2) on

the theme Sri Guruji a living example of

Spiritual Nationalism was released by Sri

K.Suryanarayan Raoji, a close associate of

Ma.Eknathji and All India Working Committee

Member, RSS.

Sri D.Bhanudasji, General Secretary,

Vivekananda Kendra, also graced the occasion.

In his keynote address, he spoke on the concept

of OM and the significance of the Vedas in our

day-to-day life.

Dr.Rukmini Bai, Gynaecologist, received the

First Copy from the honourable Chief Guest.

The Chief Guest, in his address, recalled thathe had also participated in the function of the

Inaugural issue of the Vivekananda Kendra

Patrika way back in 1972.

He narrated some of Gurujis life experiencesto the audience. He also said that how Guruji

(Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkarji) was deeply

involved in the service of his Master, Swami

Akhandananda, unmindful of his food, sleep,

etc.

During his talk, he advised the younger

generation, to read the two books of Swami

Vivekananda namely, (1) Lectures from

Colombo to Almora and (2) Rousing Call toHindu Nation (published by Vivekananda

Kendra), through which one can render service

for the downtrodden in a better manner. He

also lauded Sri Gurujis efforts of translating the

Swamijis Chicago speeches into Marathi.

He concluded advising the younger generation

to always think what we have contributed to

the Nation rather than what the Nation has done

to us.

Sri L.Madhavan, Nagar Sanchalak, presented

a memento to the chief guest on the occasion.

A large gathering attended the programme.

Baripada

Guru Poornima was celebrated at two placeson 29th and 30th July. Sri Nirmal Kumar Das,

Retd.Deputy Secretary Govt. of Orissa, spoke

on the significance of the day. On 30th the

function was held at Duttas Residential College.

Prof.Gangadhara Behera of Seemanta

Mahavidyalaya, Prof.Anil Kumar Kar, Nagar

Pramukh, Prof. (Retd.) S.Patnaik, NagarSanchalak, were the speakers on the occasion.

Prof.B.Sahu, Principal of the Institute, presided

over the function. There was a good gathering.

CHENNAI



21/26

Arunachal Pradesh, the land of rising sun,

is a hilly State of 83,743 sq. kms. surrounded

by China, Myanmar and Tibet. The

temperature here varies from place to place.Itanagar, the capital, has a minimum

temperature of 9.5 degrees and maximum of

30.9 degrees Centigrade. Its forest covers

68,847 sq. kms (82.21% of the total area),

with thick jungles and varieties of wild life.

It is populated by about 11 lakhs of peace

loving and innocent people. Their needs are

few and are met from local sources be they

construction materials, cooking utensils,

clothes.

The State has only two seasons summer

and winter. It rains most of the time and in

summer the rivers will over flow, unlike in

other parts of the country where the rivers

dry up or the water flow diminish.

Vivekananda Kendra started its work here

in 1974. At that time it was a Union Territory

of five districts Tirap, Siang, Lohit,

Subansiri and Kameng. These are names ofthe major rivers of the State. Shri K.A.A.

Raja was the Lt Governor

The interior places could be reached only

after several days trekking or by helicopters

of the Indian Air Force and messages could

be sent only by wireless or by runners.

Pasighat, considered the only developed

town in the State, could be reached eitherby train from Silapathar or by boat crossing

the mighty Brahmaputra from Dibrugarh

which took 7 to 8 hours. Silapathar and

Dibrugarh are in Assam. There was only one

college - Jawaharlal Nehru College at

Pasighat. The State had 11 English medium

Higher Secondary Schools with CBSE

syllabus and a few middle and primary

schools situated in interior places.

Vivekananda Kendra, established in 1972,

started training Jeevanvrati in 1973. One of

the Kendras objectives is to Serve Man Serve

God - Arta Vipanna Seva. It was keen to work

in remote areas, particularly in Arunachal

Pradesh. The Government was in need of

trained teachers for its schools. This was a

welcome opportunity and Kendra sent a

number of trained Karyakartas (Jeevanvratis)

and selected teachers to work in government

schools.

The Karyakartas thus sent were able to

gain first hand knowledge of the State and

its people. Kendra became popular because

of their good work.

Vivekananda KendraArunachal Pradesh Then and Now



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withdrew its karyakartas and some teachers

from the government schools and posted

them to VKVs. A central office -

Vivekananda Kendra Shiksha Prasar Vibhag

- was also opened at Dibrugarh (Assam) with

Jeevanvratis to manage the schools. These

seven residential schools were exclusively

for the boys. In the initial stages, Karyakartas

as teachers had to go from village to village

with the help of the local administration and

the village Gaon to select students for

admission to the schools. With difficulty, 30

boys were selected. But it became hard to

convince the villagers to allow their wards

to stay in the hostels. The children were not

afraid of the forest or the wild animals and

would occasionally run away to the jungle.

The teacher karyakartas with the help of the

locals had to search and catch them and

again bring them to the school. Some times

the children would run away with whatever

their tiny hands could lay on. They knew how

to reach their homes. .

They are sharp and smart and quick to

learn whatever, curricular or co-curricular,

is taught. The daily routine started at 0430

hrs and ended at 1900 hrs. In the north-east

Sun rises and sets very early. So getting up

at 0430 was not difficult. These close-to-

nature children are adepts in singing,

dancing, acting, and painting. Their

pronunciation of Sanskrit is faultless and they

could speak any new language fast and

correctly. They are agile and learnt

gymnastics, band music etc, a number of

patriotic songs and also some chapters of

Bhagwat Gita.

Non-vegetarian food was supplied from

time to time. Kendra did not want to wean

them away from their natural food habits.

During local festivals celebrated in the

schools they had opportunities to exhibit

their varied talents to compose songs and

present skits.

The first rally of 7 Vidyalayas was

organized in 1978 at Naharlagun (Itanagar).

The Lt Governor and many officials, who

watched the cultural programmes presented

by the tiny tots, appreciated them very

much. This programme showed to the

parents and the public how Vivekananda

Kendra was imparting the man making

education to their children. This was a

landmark in the annals of VKVs in the State.

The year 1979 was declared World

Childrens Year. To celebrate this,

Vivekananda Kendra Shiksha Prasar Vibhag

(Arunachal Pradesh) organized the second

rally at VKV Roing on the Universal

Brotherhood Day in September. Thirty

students from each Vidyalaya took part in

different events - sports, games, and

competitions. Mananeeya Eknathji was

present on the last two days. This highly

successful and meaningful event is now a

regular feature of VKVs.

The Kendra organizes annual orientation

and subjectwise camps for the teachers of

VKVs.

The popularity of VKVs for boys made the

public to raise a question: Our boys are

getting educated but what about our girls?



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S A K T H I S U G A RS L I M I T E DS A K T H I S U G A RS L I M I T E DS A K T H I S U G A RS L I M I T E DS A K T H I S U G A RS L I M I T E DS A K T H I S U G A RS L I M I T E DA PACE SETTER FOR RURAL PROSPERITY

SAKTHI SUGARS have enriched the springs of rural life by contributing over Rs.170 crores as sugar-

cane price annually to over thirty thousand farmers and generating gainful rural

employment to over one lakh families in the primary, secondary and tertiary

sectors.

SAKTHI SUGARS have engineered a breakthrough in sugarcane production with

innovative technology and the farmers have achieved a successive increase in the yield of

sugarcane to over 45 tonnes from 28 tonnes to earn an additional income of Rs.12,000/- per acre.

SAKTHI SUGARS have modern distilleries at Sakthinagar and Haripur to produce superior

quality of Industrial Alcohol (Neutral Spirit & Rectified Spirit). With the

Bio-methanisation process, the biogas generated from the distillery effluent serves as avaluable fuel for the boilers while endeavouring a pollution free environment.

SAKTHI SUGARS have an Effluent Treatment division to provide Turn-key projects to the

various distilleries to endeavour a clean environment in the country.

SAKTHI SUGARS have Cogeneration Divisions to produce electricity at (a) Sakthinagar and (b) Sivaganga

Sugar Factory campus with a capacity of 32 M.W. and 5.5 M.W. (Incidental Cogeneration respectively)

SAKTHI SUGARS have Soya Processing facilities to produce protein rich edible grade Soya Flour, Soya

Bite and Soya Oil to fight protein deficiency from our midst.

SAKTHI SUGARS have promoted a number of rural development programmes viz. (1) Sakthi Higher

Secondary School, (2) Sakthi Institute of Technology, (3) V.M.Kailasam Hospital with a chain of mini

PHCs, (4) Voluntary Health Services--Leprosy Hospital, etc.

SAKTHI SUGARS spread sweetness to millions of homes with her superior quality white crystal sugar.

SAKTHI SUGARS stand poised for greater strides in the years to come.

SAKTHI SUGARS LIMITEDA PACE SETTER FOR RURAL PROSPERITY

Head Office : 180, Race Course Road, Coimbatore : 641 108.

FACTORIES :

SOYA UNIT SAKTHI AUTO COMPONENT LTD.,

Marchinaickenpalayam, Mukasipallagoundenpalayam,

Ambarambapalayam Post, Perundurai Taluk - 638 056.

Pollachi Taluk - 642 103, Tamil Nadu. Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

Unit -I Unit - II Unit - III

Regd. Office: Sugar Factory & Incidental Sugar Factory & Distillery,

Sugar Factory, Distillery Cogeneration Plant, Haripur Village,

& Cogeneration Plant, Kannariruppu Mathur, Korian P.O.- 759 013.

Sakthinagar - 638 315. Padamathur - 623 560. Dhenkanal DistrictErode District Sivagangai Tk.Sivagangai Dt. Orissa

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu

yuva bharati voice of youth septemeer 2007 issue

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