Articles

Janmashtami

Purnavtar Bhagwan Sri Krushna is the Charioteer for His Disciple, Arjun

Shravan Krushna Ashtami (24th August 2008)

Birth: I was born on the Rohini constellation on the midnight of Shravan Krushna Ashtami, when the moon was in the Vrushabh sign. Since I took birth in the Yadav clan, I am 'Yadav Purush'.

Purpose of the Incarnation: Whenever, O descendant of Bharat, there is a decline of Dharma (Righteousness), and the rise of adharma (unrighteousness), I manifest myself. Removing the gross and subtle obstacles created by the demons at the time of my birth and thereafter: When they learnt that I am going to take birth, the demons started troubling my mother (Devki) at a gross and subtle level to protect themselves. I removed 50% of the obstacles when I was in my mother's womb and the balance, I removed after my birth.

Why and what to do five-six days before Janmashtami?

A. Reason and importance of fasting: Before my birth, the demon Kans had created mayhem in the world. Since he did not give food to my mother, she had to fast. By this indirect fasting, she not only got a son (my birth) but Liberation too.

B. Benefits the seekers get by fasting with bhav (spiritual emotion) on this day:
1. When fasting is done with the bhav that 'the havoc in Kaliyug should come to an end and there be Divine consciousness everywhere', the seekers benefit upto 25% from the fasting.
2. The obstacles in the seeker's spiritual practice are removed and he attains necessary spiritual progress.
3. The gross body of the seeker does not remain stuck in gross matters and he reaches the next stage.
4. Waves of my Principle are attracted 20% more towards the seeker through the fasting.

C. Method of concluding the fast: Naivedya (Holy sacrament) should be prepared before the time of my birth. After my birth, the naivedya should be offered to me and then the fast should be concluded. This way the necessary Principles are created in the seeker.

D. Importance and benefits of chanting before and after my birth: Before my birth, since the atmosphere is already filled with more devotion and bhav towards me, the chanting done at this time further boosts the devotion in the devotees. After my birth, the proportion of Kshatra-vrutti (warrior-spirit) is more in the atmosphere, which gives fillip to the warrior radiance of the embodied soul. Hence, O seekers, to create both, the bhav and the radiance in you, chant my Name continuously for two days before and after my birth and thus derive maximum spiritual benefit. - Sri Krushna (Through the medium of Ms. Megha Nakate, 14th August 2005, 10.40 p.m.)

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Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore (7th May 1861 - 7th August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo religionist, visual artist, playwright, novelist, and composer whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He became Asia's first Nobel laureate, when he won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays on political and personal topics. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are amongst his best-known works.
His verse, short stories, and novels, which often exhibited rhythmic lyricism, colloquial language, meditative naturalism, and philosophical contemplation, received worldwide acclaim.

Tagore was also a cultural reformer and polymath who modernised Bengali art by rejecting strictures binding it to classical Bharatiya forms. Two songs from his canon are now the national anthems of Bangladesh and Bharat: the 'Amar Shonar Bangla' and the 'Jan Gan Man' respectively. In 1901, Tagore moved to Santiniketan (West Bengal) to found an Ashram. In 1915, Tagore received the knighthood from the British Crown. But as a mark of rebuke to the rulers, post the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, he renounced the title.

His exploration of biology, physics and astronomy impacted his poetry, which often contained extensive naturalism that underscored his respect for scientific laws.
Owing to his notable wander-lust, between 1878 and 1932, Tagore visited more than thirty countries in five continents; many of these trips were crucial in familiarising non-Bharatiya audiences to his works and spreading his political ideas. Tagore's last four years were marked by chronic pain and two long periods of illness. The poetry Tagore wrote in these years is among his finest, and is distinctive for its preoccupation with death.

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore died on 7th August 1941; his death Anniversary is still mourned in public functions held across the Bengali-speaking world.

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Subhashchandra Bose

Subhashchandra Bose

Subhashchandra Bose (23rd January 1897; presumed to have died 18th August 1945), known as Netaji (literally 'Respected Leader'), was one of the most prominent and highly respected leaders of the Bharatiya Independence movement.
He was born to an affluent Bengali family in Cuttack, Orissa in Bharat. In 1920, Bose took the Indian Civil Services entrance examination and was placed fourth. However, he resigned from the prestigious Indian Civil Service in April 1921 despite his high ranking in the merit list, and went on to become an active member of the Bharatiya Independence movement.

Bose was elected President of the 'Indian National Congress' for two consecutive terms but resigned from the post following ideological conflicts with Mahatma Gandhi. He established a separate political party, the 'All India Forward Bloc' and continued to call for the full and immediate Independence of Bharat from British rule. He was imprisoned by the British authorities eleven times.

His stance did not change with the outbreak of the Second World War. At the outset of the war, he fled Bharat and travelled to the Soviet Union, Germany and Japan, seeking an alliance with the aim of attacking the British in Bharat.
Bose advocated the approach that the political instability of war-time Britain should be taken advantage of - rather than simply wait for the British to grant Independence after the end of the war (which was the view of Gandhi, Nehru and a section of the Congress leadership at the time). With Japanese assistance, he re-organised and later led the Azad Hind Fouj, formed from Bharatiya prisoners-of-war and plantation workers from Malaya, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, against British forces. With Japanese monetary, political, diplomatic and military assistance, he formed the Azad Hind Government in exile and regrouped and led the Azad Hind Fouj in battle against the allies at Imphal and in Burma.

At its height it consisted of some 85,000 regular troops, including a separate women's unit, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (named after Rani Lakshmibai) headed by Capt. Lakshmi Vishwanathan, which is seen as a first of its kind in Asia. Spoken as a part of a motivational speech for the Azad Hind Fouj at a rally of Bharatiyas in Burma on July 4, 1944, Bose's most famous quote was "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!" In this, he urged the people of Bharat to join him in his fight against the British. Spoken in Hindi, Bose's words are highly evocative.

His other famous quote was, 'Chalo Delhi', meaning 'On to Delhi!' This was the call he used to give the AHF armies to motivate them. 'Jai Hind' (or 'Glory to Bharat!') was another slogan used by him and later adopted by the Government of Bharat and the Bharatiya Armed Forces. Officially, Bose died in a plane crash over Taiwan, while flying to Tokyo on 18th August 1945. However, his body was never recovered. We pay obeisance to this invaluable and brave son of Bharat, who is still an inspiration to millions of Bharatiyas and is remembered with awe.

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Madan Lal Dhingra

Madan Lal Dhingra

Madan Lal Dhingra (1887 - 1909), was a Bharatiya political activist who studied in England. There he assassinated Sir Curzon Wyllie, a British official, which is hailed as one of the first acts of revolution in the Bharatiya Independence movement in the 20th century.

Madan Lal Dhingra was born to a prosperous Hindu family in the province of Punjab. His father was a wealthy civil surgeon. Dhingra's family were loyalists of the British, and disowned him after his expulsion from college in Lahore owing to his political activities.
Dhingra came into contact with noted Bharatiya political activists Swatantryaveer Savarkar and Shyamji Krishnavarma, who were impressed by Dhingra's perseverance and intense patriotism, and turned his focus to the freedom struggle. Savarkar believed in revolution by any means, and supposedly gave Dhingra arms training, apart from membership in the 'Abhinav Bharat Mandal'. He was also a member of 'India House', the base for Bharatiya student political activity.

During this period, Savarkar, Dhingra and other student activists were enraged by the execution of freedom fighters Khudiram Bose, Kannai Dutt, Satinder Pal and Kanshi Ram in Bharat. It is this event that is attributed by many historians as having led Savarkar and Dhingra to scheme of exacting direct revenge upon the British.

On the evening of 1st July 1909, a large number of Bharatiyas and Englishmen had gathered to attend the annual day function of the 'Indian National Association'. When Sir Curzon Wyllie, political aide-de-camp to the 'Secretary of State of India', entered the hall with his wife, Dhingra fired five shots right at his face, four of which hit their target. Failing to commit suicide by turning his pistol on himself, Dhingra was arrested after a brief struggle.

Dhingra was tried in the Old Bailey Court on 23rd July. He was sentenced to death. After the judge announced his verdict, Dhingra is said to have stated, "I am proud to have the honour of laying down my life for my motherland. But remember we shall have our time in the days to come." Dhingra was hanged on 17th August, 1909.
Dhingra was an inspiration at the time to revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Chandra-shekhar Azad.

This statement was said just before he died at the gallows:
"I believe that a Nation held down by foreign bayonets is in a perpetual state of war. Since open battle is rendered impossible to a disarmed race, I attacked by surprise. Since guns were denied to me I drew forth my pistol and fired. Poor in health and intellect, a son like myself has nothing else to offer to the mother but his own blood. And so I have sacrificed the same on her altar. The only lesson required in Bharat at present is to learn how to die, and the only way to teach it is by dying ourselves. My only prayer to God is that I be re-born of the same mother and I re-die in the same sacred cause till the cause is successful. Vande Matram!"
His Jayanti falls on 17th August. We pay obeisance to this invaluable son of Bharat, who is an inspiration to millions of Bharatiyas.

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CPM's hatred for Hindus!

CPM workers brutally thrash Swami Ramanathanand!
Bhopal - The CPM workers brutally thrashed Swami Ramanathanand of 'Gurushakti Seva Sangh' from Kerala's Thiruvalla village, and dragged him onto the road. They tore his clothes to shreds and snatched his briefcase containing documents of his Ashram and cash worth Rs. 2000. (This is the philosophy of CPM workers who resort to any means, right from attacking to destruction of those who they do not approve of or do not like, instead of opposing them in a democratic way! Isn't there anyone in the country who can stop the brutality of the CPM workers? - Editor)

The CPM goons kept beating the Swami for hours in front of the Police; but the Police were mute spectators. The Swami was admitted to a hospital. The 'Gurushakti Seva Sangh' had sent Swami Ramanathanand to the tribal area of Chinnaparakudi for the spread of Spirituality and social work. His spiritual discourses had a great impact on the tribals and they were able to get rid of their addiction to alcohol, drugs etc. A drastic reduction in the sale of liquor, and the resultant drop in revenue infuriated the CPM goons. (In Hindu Dharma, drinking alcohol is considered to be one of the five great sins on earth; whereas the Marxists look at it as a good means of collecting revenue for the Government! Undoubtedly, the CPM is hell bent on turning the subjects into a bunch of drunkards and bringing chaos to the state! - Editor) To teach the Swami a lesson, about 300 CPM workers under the leadership of a local leader thrashed him. The leaders of 'Hindu Aikya Vedi' have demanded that the culprits be arrested.

Leftists propagate communism and atheism through textbooks - alleges Congress!
Kozhikode (Kerala) - The Congress, which is the opposition party in the Kerala Assembly, has alleged that the Leftist Democratic Alliance Government is propagating communism and atheism through textbooks and has demanded that the textbooks be withdrawn immediately. (At the same time the Kerala Congress should also compel their brethren at the Centre to withdraw the books of NCERT, which has embarked on destroying the Bharatiya history and culture through their textbooks on history and social sciences! - Editor) (Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')

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Hindu temples insecure under Congress rule in Goa!

Idols of Nandi, Tulsi in a Shirvai temple vandalised!
Quepem (Goa) - Some unknown persons vandalised the idol of Nandi and a Tulsi plant in the Someshwar temple of Shirvai last month. The interesting fact is that the vandals did not touch the donation box and the bell in the temple, which makes it clear that the sole intention of the culprits was to vandalise the idol. (Since the vandals spared the donation box, the Police cannot give the oft-repeated excuse that this was an act of a thief or an insane person. Everyone is aware of the community of idol-breakers. The Police should take cognizance of this and they may get some clue leading to the real culprits; else this case will also meet the same fate as of the hundreds of such cases during the last five years. - Editor)

A spokesperson for the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti strongly condemned the sinful vandalism and demanded that the Government act promptly and arrest the culprits. He said that the incidence of idol breaking in Hindu temples is on the rise and the Government should wake up to take stern action to prevent such incidents. (Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')

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'SIMI' teaching lessons in terrorism to students!

Nagpur (Maharashtra) - It has been revealed that the Muslim Organisation SIMI, banned in Bharat, is slyly but systematically teaching lessons in terrorism to school students in the city through the medium of its 'Shahin Force'. Some lady teachers are also allegedly involved in the clandestine activities of SIMI.

According to Police sources, there are a few lady teachers who are agents of SIMI and are actively engaged in preparing the students to become agents of SIMI. These teachers encourage the students to observe the Islamic code of conduct and undertake training to become Jihadis. They distribute literature amongst the students, to turn them towards Jihad. They also provoke the students by showing them movies full of gory violence. In the process of selection of students for the purpose of Jihad, preference is given to the intelligent and the scholarly. The selected students are then sent for advance training, in the use of fire arms and weapons, said the Police.

This gory truth came to light during an intensive interrogation of some SIMI activists who were apprehended from various parts of the country. It was disclosed that SIMI was making vigorous efforts to clandestinely implement the selection process in various areas of Nagpur. (Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')

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Snapshots

Enemy all around!

Militants using cell phones of VIP's in J&K
Jammu (J&K) - "Militant commanders used cell phones of 51 persons, including a former MLA, for their conversations with Pak-based headquarters and other commanders in Jammu and Kashmir. They are under the scanner", said a top official of an intelligence agency who did not wish to be named.

"It is a serious issue that the ultras are using mobile network-centric communication to carry forward their messages and tasks, particularly on the mobiles of important people, including village heads and sarpanchs", he said, adding that a detailed report has been prepared in this connection including the mobile numbers used by the militant commanders. Besides, Hizb commander Farooq Naik, intelligence sources have identified commanders of Lashker-e-Toiba, Hizb, JeM and HMPPR who have used mobiles of high profile people. They said the report also contained names of owners of the cell phones that were used by the militants.

"This is an issue that is confronting the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir now", the top official said. "Use of VIP's numbers can pose a high level of security threat to top leaders and VVIP's of the country, as militants have the capability to trigger mobile phone explosions through a simple call", he said.

Pakistan's proxy war - Bombing of Bharatiya Embassy in Afghanistan
Kabul (Afghanistan) - The car bomb suicide attack, the deadliest in Kabul since 9/11, marks the culmination of the decade-long Bharat-Pakistan covert pincer war in Afghanistan. The Pakistan ISI-sponsored strike is the clearest signal that the gloves are off: Islamabad is reasserting the concept of strategic depth in Afghanistan and challenging interloper Delhi's foray into its legitimate sphere of influence. The suicide attack, taking out the defence attaché , the political counsellor and ITBP guards comes after three successful strikes against Border Roads Organisation personnel this year in north-west Afghanistan.

The suicide scenario is chilling as there is no antidote to those willing to die. Bharat has so far not fallen on the Jihadi suicide path, but the suicide bomber has reached our doorstep. The diplomatic mask is likely to fall in the run up to the Assembly election in Jammu & Kashmir later this year. Our intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies have to brace up for the new war which must be fought in Afghanistan - and if necessary in Pakistan.

New property law will hit Bangladesh's Hindu minority
Dhaka (Bangladesh) - The caretaker Government has been cautioned against promulgating a law that will encourage land grabbers to illegally seize properties belonging to minority Hindus, accelerating a process that has been on since Bharat's partition in 1947. (Ref: www.HinduJagruti.org )

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Revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad branded as Extremists in a 12th standard textbook!

New Delhi - A history textbook of the 12th standard of a National Open University has described some revolutionaries of the Bharatiya freedom struggle, including the great revolution-aries Bhagat Singh and Chandra-shekhar Azad as 'extremists'. (By taking this anti-national step, the National Open University has insulted not only the great revolutionaries but all the nationalist citizens of Bharat too. This is a deliberate attempt to create disrespect for the revolutionaries in the young minds of the students. The University needs to be condemned in no uncertain terms! - Editor)

The aforementioned history textbook of the University was published in July 2007. The revolutionaries have been introduced on pages 170 and 171. In the introduction itself, the revolutionaries have been mentioned as 'extremists'. Mr. Jagdish Mukhi, opposition leader in the Delhi Assembly has demanded that the highly objectionable matter be removed immediately. (In the first place, why should such a situation arise where an opposition leader is compelled to make such a demand? Why does the Government not think it fit to eliminate the matter on its own? - Editor)

The matter has also been brought to the notice of Minister for Human Resources, Mr. Arjun Singh and the Chairman of the education board Mr. MC Pant through a letter.
(Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')

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Karma Yoga

Karma: Thy right is to work only; but never to the fruits thereof. Be thou not the producer of the fruits of (thy) actions; neither let thy attachment be towards inaction! - Srimadbhagvad Gita 2.47

1. Introduction
The word 'path of Action' or 'Karmayog' conjures images of social workers, charity workers and volunteers.
However, Karmayog is not:
a. Work done by social workers, charity workers and volunteers, as charity work by most of these is done at an emotional level or for publicity or fame. Hence, it does not constitute Karmayog in the real sense of the word.
b. Doing one's day to day duties, one's job properly and honestly, does not translate into one's spiritual growth.

2. So what exactly is Karmayog?
Before we go into the details of Karmayog, let us understand a few basic concepts.
2.1 Law of Karma
As per the science of Spirituality, every action or deed that we perform earns us some fruit. The fruit is in the form of a merit or demerit depending on whether it is a good or bad deed respectively and a give-and-take account with the person or persons involved in the act.
a. Merits give us happiness and demerits give us unhappiness proportional to the intensity of the good or bad deed we did.
b. Nobody can escape from the fruits of his actions.
c. If the fruits of our actions are not enjoyed or suffered in this very birth (and this happens in most cases), then we have to take another birth to undergo them. In such cases we have to wait till circumstances are conducive again on Earth region for us to undergo them. That is till such time that other people with whom we have to complete our give-and-take account, are also there on Earth and the times on Earth are also conducive for the type of life we have to undergo.
d.It is understandable that one would not like to undergo the results of demerits. However, why would one not want the results of merits? One of the reasons we should not want merits is that, in the course of enjoying the fruits of our merits either in this or subsequent births, we would do further deeds which would then incur further merits or demerits. This would trap us in an endless cycle of life and death as a result of the incomplete give-and-take account with people.
e. In the present times on Earth, when the level of Dharma (Righteousness) has gone down, the level of demerits with which we are born and the possibility of gaining further demerits during the course of our life are quite high. Hence, the life of a spiritually average person is filled with more unhappiness than happiness; we get sucked into a vortex of perpetual unhappiness with comparatively lower periods and lesser intensity of happiness.

2.2 Kriya or Kruti
Kriya are those actions of ours that do not result in either merits or demerits. Generally speaking these are our unintentional and involuntary actions like blinking, sneezing etc.

2.3 Karma
'Karma' literally means action or deed done with intent. However, it may be noted that these are not limited to just physical actions like walking, talking, smiling etc. but includes all actions of the 5 sense organs, 5 motor organs, mind and the intellect. From a spiritual perspective, Karma refers to those actions that result in merits or demerits. Even actions done without intent, e.g. unintentionally bumping into someone while walking on the road do earn us a demerit if the bump causes the other person some harm. But 80% of the extent of demerit earned depends on the intent.(Please note that the word 'Karma' is not syno-nymous with Karma as in destiny.)

2.4 Akarma-karma
This is the pinnacle of spiritual growth or the highest possible level achievable as per Karmayog, which is possible only in the case of spiritually evolved people above the 80% spiritual level. However, the process of actions becoming akarma-karma (Nonaction-action) starts at a 80% spiritual level and become absolute only at the 100% spiritual level. Here, even voluntary/ intentional actions like helping others happen as 'kriya'. Examples of 'akarma-karma' type of deeds are the actions of these spiritually evolved people, when in complete communion with God. In this state, as they have lost all body consciousness (refers to going beyond the consciousness of all the bodies, viz. physical, mental, causal and supracausal bodies), the fruits of their actions do not belong to them. Also, as these highly evolved people are so merged with God, whatever deed happens through them, happens only as per God's wish. Thus, all their actions are basically non-actions.

The importance of attaining this state or level is that thereafter the person is set free from the trap of the fruits of his actions. As people at this advanced spiritual level cease to identify with their 5 senses, mind and intellect, they not only do not generate merits or demerits but also are freed from their entire destiny and sanchit (accumulated give-and-take account). Hence, they are liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

3. Definition of Karmayog
The path of spiritual practice that provides guidance on:
a. Why we do actions or deeds?
b. Why our actions or deeds trap or bind us?
c. How to do actions or deeds without getting trapped in their fruits?
d. Which actions or deeds liberate us from the bond of Maya, i.e. cycles of birth and death?
e. What is the importance of performing actions even after attaining the state of Liberation?
f. And bestows Final Liberation (Moksha) is known as Karmayog.

4. Some other definitions of Karmayog
a. Doing actions or deeds in a manner that will result in spiritual growth or Liberation or God-realisation.
b. Doing all our actions or deeds, even the so called material or worldly actions, in such a way that no new impressions are created in our mind, thereby freeing us from the trap of bond of these impressions.
c. Doing all deeds or actions as per Righteousness, without any attachment and without any expectation of the fruits of our actions.
d. Doing all actions or deeds with the clear experience that I am not doing it, but God or the power running the Universe is doing it, i.e. doings actions without 'doership'. In simple terms doership means thinking that we are performing the actions, not God.
(One may think that giving up of doership would result in irresponsible behaviour or lack of efforts. However, we must understand that Karmayog advises us to make all efforts as if everything is in our hands, but to think of the fruits of these actions, as if nothing is in our hands!)

5. Benefit to seekers of other paths of spiritual practice
Even seekers following other paths of spiritual practice like the paths of Meditation or Devotion benefit in their spiritual practice if they complement their regular spiritual practice with Karmayog.

Destiny and the rule of Give-and-Take
Many events in our lives are destined, beginning with our birth and the family that we are born into. One is born into a family, where conditions are conducive to undergo one's destiny and where one has significant give-and-take account with each member of the family. The law of Karma is infallible. It is something like Newton's third law of motion, which states, 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'. Throughout our lives we are either settling an old account or creating a new one. If the account cannot be settled in this birth it is carried over to the next. We are not consciously aware of the give-and-take accounts generated in our previous births. So we see how Spirituality can be useful to even those of us who have absolutely no spiritual aspirations whatsoever and only wish to be immersed in worldly pursuits. Even for those worldly relations to be fruitful, they need to be insulated from destiny.

(Ref: www.SpiritualResearchFoundation.org )

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Rakshabandhan (Rakhi)

Shravan Pournima (16th August 2008)

1. History
A. Goddess Lakshmi made King Bali (from hell) her brother, by tying a rakhi on his wrist and thus freeing Narayan (Her husband). This was the day of Shravan Pournima.
B. The Bhavishya-Puran, states that Rakshabandhan was originally meant for Kings. A new custom of tying rakhis began from the historical ages.
2. Emotional importance: The sister is supposed to tie a rakhi on the brother's wrist. The emotion in this is that the brother should become prosperous and he should protect his sister. More important than the tying of a rakhi by a sister to her brother, is a man getting a rakhi tied from a young woman. Thereby, attitude towards young ladies and women, specially of the youth and men changes.
3. Tying the rakhi: A wristband is made with a small bundle of rice grains, gold and white mustard seeds tied together. This is known as a raksha or a rakhi.

Meaning: The raksha (wristband) that bound the all powerful (Mahabali) and Lord of generosity (Danavendra) King Bali, I shall use it to bind you too. O raksha, do not get displaced!
4. Prayers: A sister should pray for her brother's prosperity and a brother for his sister's protection. They should both pray to God that, "let there be efforts from both of us for protection of the Nation and Dharma."
5. Stop denigration of Deities occurring through the medium of rakhis: Nowadays rakhis are decorated with 'Om' or pictures of Deities. After use, these rakhis are discarded. This actually amounts to denigration of Deities and Dharma and the one who does this incurs sin. To prevent this, immerse rakhis in flowing water after use.
(Sanatan Sanstha has made sattvik rakhis. Contact us for your requirement - See Pg. 11.)

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Nagpanchami

Shravan Shukla Panchami (6th August 2008)

1. History: Emperor Janmejay who performed sarpyadnya (the sacrificial fire of snakes) was appeased by Sage Astik. When Janmejay told Him to ask for a boon, Sage Astik asked for the cessation of sarpyadnya. The day on which Janmejay stopped sarpyadnya was Shravan Shukla Panchami.

2. Greatness of snakes
A. Sheshnag supports the Earth on His hood. He lives in Hell and has a hundred hoods with a diamond on each. He evolved from the tama component of Lord Vishnu. At the end of every kalp (a day and night of Lord Brahma), Lord Vishnu relaxes in the great ocean on the body of Sheshnag. In the Tretayug when Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Ram, Sheshnag incarnated as Lakshman, His brother. Lord Krushna incarnated in the transition period between the Dwaparyug and Kaliyug. At that time Sheshnag incarnated as Balram, His brother.
B. The day Lord Krushna slew the serpent Kaliya in the bed of Holy river Yamuna, was Shravan Shukla Panchami.
C. In the Holy Bhagvadgita Lord Krushna while narrating His greatness states, "The supreme amongst serpents is 'Anant', that is me."

3. Nine types of serpents are: Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma-nabh, Kambal, Shankhapal, Dhrutarashtra, Takshak and Kaliya - these are worshipped. As a result, fear of serpents is overcome and poisoning by venom is prevented.

4. Worship: On this day, figures of navnag (nine cobras) are drawn with turmeric or red sandalwood (also known as rakta-chandan) on a wooden seat and are worshipped; they are offered naivedya of milk and parched rice. The navnag comprise the nine major groups of pavitraks. Pavitraks are the subtlemost Divine particles.
Implied meaning: All living organisms in the world are attuned to the functions of the world. By worshipping cobras on the day of Nagpanchami, God is performing actions through them. This is the broad view to be understood. - H.H. Parashram Pande Maharaj, Sanatan Ashram, Devad, Panvel.

On the day of Nagpanchami, every lady-seeker should pray that God bestow righteous intellect, power and strength on every youth for the establishment of the Divine Kingdom!

Spiritual benefits of Nagpanchami
Worshipping a serpent ritualistically on the day of Nagpanchami amounts to:
1. Appeasing the Serpent Deity.
2. Worshipping Lord Shiva in a gross form, that is sagun form. So the frequencies of Lord Shiva present in the atmosphere on the day fetch benefit for the embodied soul for the next 364 days. - Sri Krushna (Through the medium of Ms. Megha Nakate, 2nd August 2005, 4.05 p.m.)

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Gurupournima celebrations all across the World, in a Divine Atmosphere!

A section of the seekers during the Gurupuja at Ramnathi, Goa

Spiritual Discourse in progress at Bhandup, Mumbai

Visitors view the Exhibitions at Ramnathi in rapt attention

Ramnathi (Ponda, Goa) - One of the important features of Bharatiya culture is the Guru-disciple tradition. Sanatan Sanstha and related spiritual Organisations, who have taken a vow to serve the Nation and Dharma (Righteousness), which they consider is the true service unto the Guru as per the present times, celebrated Gurupournima on a grand scale at 195 places throughout the world, in an atmosphere filled with bhav (spiritual emotion) and chaitanya (Divine consciousness). The response from the curious in Spirituality was spontaneous and warm.

The Gurupournima celebrations went off well in 14 states in Bharat and 7 countries - United States of America, Canada, England, Australia, UAE, Germany and Serbia in their respective native languages. The celebrations commenced with the worship of Sage Vyas and then the image of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj (Source of Inspiration for Sanatan Sanstha) was worshipped.

This was followed by educative guidance by eminent personalities on 'Importance of protecting Dharma', 'Present condition of the Nation and Dharma and unifying Hindus' and 'Present condition of the Hindus and the remedies'. At all the venues of the celebrations, boards were erected imparting education on Dharma. Besides the exhibitions on various subjects mentioned below (in the box on the left), guidance on Bal-sanskars was also provided. The ardent Hindus present for the function enthusiastically visited the stalls. However, the centre of attraction was the skit presented by the child-seekers on protection of the Hindu culture.

A galaxy of Saints, eminent Hindu leaders, office bearers of Hindu Organisations, as well as officers from the Army graced these celebrations. At certain places in Uttar Bharat, Gurupournima was celebrated against heavy odds; for example in Samastipur (Bihar), where more than 200 locals and seekers attended the celebrations, there was heavy flooding due to torrential rains, roads were inaccessible and the local transport system had collapsed. Yet, by Guru's grace, the attendees were able to make it to the venue. (Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')

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Importance of pride for the National language!

1.Pride for the National language is an important factor in the task of Nation-building. It is directly related to pride for the Nation.
2.If the National language survives, then Dharma will survive. If Dharma survives then the Nation will survive. Only then will we be inclined towards traditions and culture and will be enthusiastic about Dharmacharan (conducting our daily affairs according to Dharma). - A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 23rd December 2006, 7.35 p.m.)

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Bhagwan Sri Krushna

Special Features and Mission
Krushna was an Absolute Incarnation (Purnavtar); actually it is the Lord Himself; hence the Incarnation possesses all the characteristics of the Lord. Two special features of Lord Krushna are enumerated here.
1. Elders heeded His advice: He was close even to people who were much older to Him. At the age of just seven Sri Krushna did not allow the milkmaids to go to Mathura because He did not want people to touch the money procured by selling milk to the evil Kans. Since then, the elders began to heed His advice and He lived up to their faith.

2. Bestower of spiritual experiences
A. Once the gopas (cowherds) said to Yashoda, "Krushna has swallowed mud." So, she asked Krushna to open His mouth. When He opened it, she saw the entire Universe in it. This example illustrates how an Incarnation carries out its mission even in childhood.
B. On a moonlit night in autumn, He performed raskrida with the gopis (wives of the cowherds) in Gokul. At that time they experienced Brahmanand (Supreme Bliss). In response to a question 'How devoted should one be?' the Naradbhaktisutra says, 'Like the gopis of Vraj. Krushna Himself sent His good friend Uddhav to the gopis to teach him what devotion meant.

Sri Krushna's Sudarshan chakra (discus)
1. The word sudarshan chakra is derived from two words - su and darshan. Thus, sudarshan means the vision (darshan) of which is auspicious (su). The word chakra is derived from 'chruhu' which means movement and 'kruhu' which means to do. Thus, chakra means that which is mobile. Of all weapons this is the only one which is constantly in motion.
2. Special features
A. Krushna usually holds the sudarshan chakra on His little finger, while Lord Vishnu holds it on His index finger. However, when aiming it at something / somebody, Sri Krushna too would take it on His index finger.
B. After the release of the sudarshan chakra, the enemy is annihilated and it returns to the holder.
C. Even after releasing it, it remains within the control of the holder.
D. It travels along the path of 'zero resistance' and can reach anywhere within a moment.
E. When an obstruction is posed by the enemy, the speed of the sudarshan chakra increases.
F. It is soundless.

A great philosopher
The philosophy preached by Sri Krushna is given in the Gita. This philosophy has shown the appropriate admixture of attachment and detachment. He has accepted Karmayog (the Path of Action) according to the Veds, Path of Knowledge according to the Sankhya philosophy, suppres­sion of the tendencies of the subconscious mind according to the Path of Yog and sanyas (renunciation) according to the Vedant, but has opposed the view that each one of them is the ultimate by itself as proposed by them. He balanced the appropriate signifi­cant part of each one harmoniously and created a new doctrine based on actions devoid of expectations or results. In the Bhagvadgita, He has mainly preached how one should carry out one's duty. The scrip­tures decide what the duties should be, but He has explained in depth how to execute them well. In the Bhagvadgita. He has narrated to Arjun how to convert attachment to detachment and vice-versa and how man should execute his duties.

The Guru
Krushna eliminated Arjun's doubts by narrat­ing the Gita to him verbally and imparting him with spiritual experiences, which were beyond words. During the Bharatiya war, Krushna adopted the Dnyanmudra (mudra of knowledge).

Queens and Wives
Rukmini was Sri Krushna's chief Queen. His seven other Queens were Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravin­da, Satya, Bhadra and Lakshman. These eight Queens represent the eightfold Prakruti. The implied meaning is that the eight Principles are within the control of Sri Krushna. Krushna 'married' the 16,000 princesses imprisoned by Narkasur after freeing them, so that they could be accepted by the society. Actually, the 16,000 princesses represent the 16,000 nadis (spiritual energy flow channels) in the body. Marrying them means activating them.

Radha
Like Sita, She too was born out of a sankalp (resolve). Radha is the manifest form of devo­tion unto Lord Krushna.
1. Futility of misinterpre-tation of the Radha-Krushna relationship: Radha's priti (spiritual love), that is devotion unto Krushna has been misinterpreted as 'love in the Radha-Krushna relationship'. Its futility will be realised if one learns of Krushna's age at that time. When Krushna left Gokul permanently, He was only seven years old; thus His relationship with Radha was only during the period when He was three to seven years old!
2. Radha, the Blissful Energy: Radha was the Blissful Energy. She never intervened when the Lord bestowed someone with worldly things, because Her Incarnation was meant for spiritual emotion generated from devotion. Hence, that bhav (spiritual emotion) is referred to as Radhabhav. The Radhabhav (spiritual emotion of Radha) refers to the Adnya chakra. The implied meaning in this is, when a worldly person or a Guru merges into Krushna while carrying out worldly transactions or preaching to disciples respectively, they descend to the level of the Adnya chakra.
This stream of spiritual emotion progressing upwards, is the progress of the devotee towards Self-realisation.

The flute
The sound of the flute means the anahat sound. This sound had mesmerised all the gopis. So one will realise how highly spiritually evolved they were. When leaving Gokul, Krushna gave His flute to Radha and never played it again. Thus, He made sure that She constantly obtained Purnatva (the spiritual experience of Absoluteness), which is superior to the anahat sound.
(For more on the subject, refer to Sanatan's Holy texts - 'Krushna and 'Vishnu and His Incarnations'; available at Sanatan's stalls and satsang centres)

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