Special Issue On Birthday of Swami Vivekananda

Special Issue on Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (12 January) & National Youth Day
RASHTRA CHETANA
Jan 18,2010
Volume -I Issue 9th
www.rashtrachetana.com
Email: rashtrachetana@gmail.com
They alone live who live for others, the others are more dead than Alive
- Swami Vivekananda
O God! Take us on the divine path of spirituality. You are omniscient. You
know how to overcome mãyã. Show us. Give us strength to battle against
mãyã, and make us victorious. O Paramãtmã! We bow to you again and
again. We bow to you’
(Ishãvãsya Upanishad: 18).

C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
1 Email: rashtrachetana@gmail.com
Index
Article Author Page

No
Editorial 3
Concluding Address - Chicago, Sept 27, 8

1893
Dasavatara In The Light Of Bhagvad Gita - Dr.Saroja Ramanujam 10

Vamanavathara
Atmano Mokshartam Jagathitaya Ca Dr.M.Lakshmi Kumari 12
Kapila Muni -- The Father Of Philosophy Swami 15

Samarpanananda
Bhakti & Marathi Saint Chinmay Rahalkar 20
25
27
Inspiring Story Anbu Cheliyan 29

CH E T A N A
Subhashithaani 32
Inspirational Quotes By Swami 34

Vivekananda
R A SH T R A
Shanti Mantra 40
EDITORIAL
"This is a world of good and evil. Wherever there is good, evil follows, but beyond and behind all these manifestations, all
these contradictions, the Vedanta finds out that Unity. It says, "Give up what is evil and give up what is good." What remains
then? Behind good and evil stands something which is yours, the real you, beyond every evil, and beyond every good too, and it is
that which is manifesting itself as good and bad. Know that first, and then and then alone you will be a true optimist, and not
before; for then you will be able to control everything. Control these manifestations and you will be at liberty to manifest the real
"you". First be master of yourself, stand up and be free, go beyond the pale of these laws, for these laws do not absolutely govern
you, they are only part of your being. First find out that you are not the slave of nature, never were and never will be; that this
nature, infinite as you may think it, is only finite, a drop in the ocean, and your Soul is the ocean; you are beyond the stars, the
sun, and the. They are like mere bubbles compared with your infinite being. Know that, and you will control both good and evil.
Then alone the whole vision will change and you will stand up and say, "How beautiful is good and how wonderful is evil!"
That is what the Vedanta teaches!

-Swami Vivekananda, London, 1896.
As we celebrate Swami Vivekananda's birthday we find that throughout his life and in all his works, one
theme is consistent in all his words and that is the theme of unity. Swamijis mission in life was to keep the Mother
India in her pinnacles of glory as Vishwa Guru. Even in those days of slavery, poverty and ignorance, Swamiji could
see the need of India for the sake of spiritual development of humanity. But in order to be relevant, useful to
humanity, India needed to wake up from the stupor of slavery, poverty and ignorance. Swami Vivekananda worked to
awaken the dormant spirit of India so that She becomes an able and strong vehicle to carry the spiritual thoughts to
the entire humanity. And the path to Mother's glory goes through the unity and the incessant efforts of her children!
The light of spirituality that India alone can give to the world is not just a speculative philosophy but the
spiritual thoughts and the spiritual vision that was realized, nurtured, protected, propagated and lived on the soil of
Bharat. There is an unbroken chain of many great souls, Rishis - known and unknown – who had worked for that, had
dedicated their life for that. We as Rishi Putras – the progeny of Rishis – have to work, dedicate our body-mind-soul,
our tana-mana-dhana for making this nation great so that She would be able to guide the world. The world too
expects this from India. The more the material development takes place, the more a man experiences the hollow
C H E T A N A
within, more he searches for the eternal amidst the ephemeral. The challenge is how to have both, the material and
spiritual in life, the well-being of the body and spirit.
R A S H T R A
Often times, when the current condition in India is
discussed, the general tone is that of pessimism. When asked
about the ancient culture and wisdom of India, most of the
fingers are pointed only as far as the benefits of yoga (only as
a physical exercise, not a spiritual one). When an Indian
describes his/her heritage, it is only in the context of
religious rites or superstitions. Behind all the age-old
diversity, is there a golden light which all of India can call as
its own? In India's past, several social evils, superstitional and
meaningless customs, continuous infighting were abound. All
these problems existed. But through all this drudgery, India
survived. When a ripe fruit from a tree falls on the ground, it
has to rot first, then from the seeds come out a tree, which is
larger than the older tree. Two millennia of foreign attacks,
both political as well as cultural, a thousand years under
essentially foreign rule and still India has not lost its
Indianness. Like the river Ganga, it accepted both good and
bad of those who came from outside, made them as one of
her own and continued with her timeless flow. This infinite
assimilation, this ability to accept and unite anyone who is willing to, this great flow of unity within the multitudinous
diversity is what makes India as a nation unique in the world. Even today, inspite of regional, religious or any other
types of differences, the common cultural thread binds India strong. Swamiji personified this very aspect of India and
urged his countrymen to rise over the petty differences and awaken the thought of unity.
Of course, no individual or society or nation is without a problem. The very fact that we live indicates that
we are facing challenges. But a person should be able to see the purpose of existence, the potentiality beyond the
existing problems. Though problems abounded, Swami Vivekananda focused on the positive strengths of India and
exhorted her to fulfill her purpose. This is the need of the hour. We should not just focus on the problems of India
but on the solutions. Solutions can never be prescribed from others’ perspective. But the solutions are always based
on our inherent strength. So we have to know what as a nation is our inherent strength and how do we enhance it.
C H E T A N A
For a nation to be powerful there have to be inner principles which are strength-giving. Depending on their
nature these principles give strength either on long term basis or short term basis. If the inner principles are shallow
but strength-giving then the nation becomes powerful on short term basis. We see many such nations in the history
which came on scene, ruled the world and are heard no more or are just surviving. If the inner principles are of
eternal dimension like the nature of the immortal soul then the nation becomes powerful on long term basis.
R A S H T R A
Whether shallow or deep these inner principles are worked out in the life of the people of that country, the strength
starts getting manifested in all fields proportionate to the strength and scope of those inner principles. Thus that
nation’s achievements are manifested in all fields.
India has such eternal inner principles that she became the richest nation for almost 1700 years in the history
of the humanity. This wealth was not at the cost of the other countries, by looting or exploiting them but it was the
result of the hard work, sharing with fellow beings, frugality, simplicity, respect to nature, understanding of
sustainable development. India is always known in the human history as the land of wisdom and even now continues
to be the land for spiritual solace. A foreigner described India as “Indians posses everything but are possessed by
nothing". But somewhere down the line may be because the Indian body and mind got engaged for centuries in
defending itself from the foreign invasions at various levels, the connection with the inner self got diminished. The
inner principles were almost forgotten. As the inner principles were forgotten the decay and degradation was set in.
Fortunately, these inner principles were not given up but

just were forgotten to some extent and thus India, though
subjugated, hungry, exploited continued as India. She did not lose Sister Nivedita on the contribution of
her soul. Though Jezia was to be paid, it was paid but the identity Swami Vivekananda says, “Others stood
was not lost. Though no education was possible still the mothers beside Swami Vivekananda, on the
and grandmothers kept the vision, the traditions alive through same platform as he, as apostles of
stories and rituals. Though enslaved, the rulers were not allowed particular creeds and churches. But it
to touch the religion, the inner soul of India. It was this India and was his glory that he came to preach a
her undying spirit that Swami Vivekananda saw in his wanderings religion to which each of these was, in
all over the land. He knew ‘India is not dead nor has she spoken his own words, “only a travelling, a
her last word’. He saw the dormant spirit, the fighting spirit, the
coming up, of different men and
staunch faith in one’s own tradition of the average Indian though
women, through various conditions and
reeling under famines and force of the British. Sitting on the mid-
sea Rock at Kanaykumari Swami Vivekananda worked to find the
circumstances to the same goal”.
solution for it. He decided to focus on the life giving principles of
the Hindu Nation. But to talk to his enslaved brethren he had to go
8000 miles all alone to a foreign land to conquer the hearts of the conquerors.
While talking at the Parliament of Religions he not only represented Hindu Dharma to them but also to the
Hindus. Sister Nivedita writes, “What Hinduism had needed, was the organising and consolidating of its own idea.
What the world had needed was a faith that had no fear of truth. Both of these are found here. Nor could any greater
C H E T A N A
proof have been given of the eternal vigour of the Sanatana Dharma, of the fact that India is as great in the present as
ever in the past, than this rise of the individual who, at the critical moment, gathers up and voices the communal
consciousness. …Of the Swami’s address before the Parliament of Religions, it may be said that when he began to
speak it was of ‘the religious ideas of the Hindus’, but when he ended, Hinduism had been created.”
R A S H T R A
Sister Nivedita on the contribution of Swami Vivekananda says, “Others stood beside Swami Vivekananda,
on the same platform as he, as apostles of particular creeds and churches. But it was his glory that he came to preach a
religion to which each of these was, in his own words, “only a travelling, a coming up, of different men and women,
through various conditions and circumstances to the same goal”. Later Dr. S. Radhakrishnan defines the Indian
concept of toleration in a beautiful sentence in his remarkable book (Eastern Religions and Western Thought, p.317):
“Toleration is the homage that the finite mind pays to the inexhaustibility of the infinite. The only way to worship an
infinite God is not to take a copyright on Him after your experience of
Him through your religion, but to accept and respect the spiritual
experience of other religions also, in the knowledge that the infinite is
inexhaustible. That attitude alone can make you not only tolerate
other religions but also to accept them with reverence. This is mature
Indian wisdom which alone can help to transform religions from
mutually weakening colliding units into mutually co–operating
dynamic units working for human betterment and world peace.”
The other point which Swami Vivekananda stressed was of

the freedom of the human soul to choose its own form and name of
God for worship. While explaining the concept of Ishtadevata, he
pointed out that the real development of human soul is possible only
in giving this freedom to its spiritual aspirations. He told, “Unity in
variety is the plan of nature, and the Hindu has recognised it. Every
other religion lays down certain fixed dogmas, and tries to force
society to adopt them. It places before society one coat which must fit
Jack and John and Henry, all alike. If it does not fit John or Henry, he
must go without a coat to cover his body.”
”The principle of potential
divinity of each soul is the
The principle of potential divinity of each soul is the grandest
grandest of all that India has to
of all that India has to give to the world. The real faith in this doctrine
made our ancestors go all over the world spreading Indian Culture. It give to the world. The real faith
was this faith and realisation of this great eternal truth that Hindus in this doctrine made our
expressed tremendous creativity, excellence in each field of life. It is ancestors go all over the world
this principle which we have to again make our living article of faith in spreading Indian Culture. It was
order to be able to guide the world. Swami Ranganathananda in his this faith and realisation of this
speech said, “Here is Vivekananda bringing to the modern West this great eternal truth that Hindus
Vedantic message of a profound and deep humanism based upon the expressed tremendous creativity,
divine spark in every human being, and presenting man’s education excellence in each field of life.”
C H E T A N A
and his life and work as the field to unfold that divine possibility. That
is Vivekananda’s message of human excellence for all children
everywhere. It will take time for humanity to be influenced by these ideas; but they are bound to produce their
effect, like delayed action bombs, for they are rational and human. …This century may be considered, so far as this
message is concerned, as the seed – time, while the next century can be expected to be the harvest time.”
R A S H T R A
Later when Swami Vivekananda came back to India to tell Indians the purpose of their life, India discovered
herself, her purpose of existence in the lectures of Swami Vivekananda. He strengthened India in her inner principles.
The advent of Swami Vivekananda marked the beginning of the rise of India. In India, starting with the work of
Swami Vivekananda and later, with the work of the stalwarts of the freedom struggle like Sri Aurbindo, Sister
Nivedita, Lokmanya Tilak, Gandhji and many others, inner principles got strengthened and we see the outer
expressions of strength and achievements in various fields since independence in spite of our not much thoughtfully
planning for the same. Today the achievements of India are in so many fields. However the expression of her
strength, her potentiality is neither complete nor to the fullest of her capability. But before the outer expression takes
place if the inner principles wither away or are forgotten and given up then the outer expressions of nation’s soul, the
achievements too would wither away. Therefore our work is to strengthen the inner core of our nation. The
celebration of Samartha Bharat Parva is for knowing the achievements of India, for paying our homage for those who
have lived and died for the sake of the nation; but more so it is for strengthening our Dharma, our cultural traditions,
our inner core.
This is the time to make aware of the youth of this country and to awaken their latent energies. As Swamiji
says, "...Out of the past is built the future. Look back, therefore, as far as you can, drink deep of the eternal fountains that are
behind, and after that, look forward, march forward and make India brighter, greater, much higher than she ever was. Our
ancestors were great. We must first recall that. We must learn the elements of our being, the blood that courses in our veins; we must
have faith in that blood and what it did in the past; and out of that faith and consciousness of past greatness, we must build an
India yet greater than what she has been...." The path in front of the youth is thus laid by him. Learn about the history of
India, understand her soul, and realize that the same soul resides in everyone of her sons and daughters and with the
impression of that glorious past, march towards the bright future.
It is with this confidence and inspiration that we start every new endeavour. The mission is also laid down as
told by Swami Vivekananda in his lecture on ‘The Mission of the Vedanta’, Teach yourselves, teach everyone, his real
nature; call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come,
and everything that is excellent will come, when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.
May we all rouse the sleeping soul within ourselves and work for the future of our great nation!
**************
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
"If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully
developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on
the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point
to India." - Max Mueller (German Scholar)
CONCLUDING ADDRESS - CHICAGO, SEPT 27, 1893
The World's Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped
those who labored to bring it into existence, and crowned with success their most unselfish labor.
My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and
then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this
enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to
smooth the friction of religions. A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks
to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter.
Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own
theory. But if any one here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the
destruction of the others, to him I say, "Brother, yours is an impossible hope." Do I wish that the Christian would
become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.
C H E T A N A
The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the
earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air,
the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant.
R A S H T R A
Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a
Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and
grow according to his own law of growth.
If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that
holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has
produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the
exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and
point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance: "Help and not
fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension."
************
C H E T A N A
"India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human

speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the
R A S H T R A
great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most artistic
materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!"
- Mark Twain (Writer, America)
DASAVATARA IN THE LIGHT OF BHAGVAD GITA
- VAMANAVATHARA
(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS ARTICLE)
Dr.Saroja Ramanujam,M.A.,Ph.D,Siromani in Sanskrit
C H E T A N A
Vamana was jnanasvaroopa, embodiment of jnana (knowledge). Without jnana wealth and power swell the pride as
could be seen in the case of Mahabali, who thought that he had everything and could give anything forgetting that all
he had was given to him by the grace of the Lord. He was a devotee but still his behaviour shows that even a devotee
could become inflated with pride if he forgets that everything belongs not to him but to the Lord only. When the
pride is destroyed by seeing that he could not give even the land measured by three feet, the devotion becomes pure
and the wisdom becomes all encompassing like Thrivikrama. The Lord rewards it by giving Himself, as He says in
R A S H T R A
Gita, jnaanee thu athmaaiva me matham aasThithaH sa hi yukthaathmaa maameva anutthamaam

gathim.(BG. 7.28/29) ; "The jnani is not different from Me. Being united in Me he attains the greatest status". He
gave Mahabali anutthmaam gathim, the highest state and also promised to be the gate keeper to Mahabali in his
abode in Patala.
Paarasurama
Parasurama represents the yogi who has rooted out inner enemies like kama and krodha, represented by the
adharmik kshathriyas. When rajas and thamas are destroyed satthva comes to the surface and this is denoted by
Parasurama giving the earth conquered by him to Kasyapa. The axe, paraSu of Parasurama signifies viveka
(discrimination) and vairagya (renunciation) by which rajas and thamas are conquered.
C H E T A N A
The Asvattha tree described in the Gita which is nourished by the sensual pleasures born out of desire, kama,
is axed by detachment, as said in the 15th chapter of the Gita, aSvattham enam suvirooDamoolam
asangaSasthreNa dhrDena Chithvaa (BG.15.3), cutting this asvattha tree which has deep roots with the weapon
of detachment.
R A S H T R A
(to be continued)
**************
Atmano Mokshartam Jagathitaya Ca
Dr.M.Lakshmi Kumari
“Shall India die? Then from the world all spirituality will be extinct; all moral perfection will be extinct; all
sweet-souled sympathy for religion will be extinct; all ideality will be extinct; and in its place will reign the duality of
lust and luxury as the male and female deities, with money as its priest, fraud, force and competition its ceremonies
and the human soul its sacrifice. Such a thing can never be.”
2013 – This year must be made a landmark in our country’s socio-spiritual life as this year would mark the
th
150 birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the great patriot
monk who injected a new life into our glorious Motherland and
inspired the freedom fighters to fight for our country’s freedom. Many a mahamantra has been
There is no aspect of Indian life untouched by him and no patriotic uttered by Swamiji, each with its
Indian who has not been inspired by his life and teachings. The own deep implications carrying its
celebrations of the year should centre round Swamiji’s life and own unique message for humans in
message which should once again be brought to the attention of
general and Indians in particular.
people at all levels, bringing into their lives a new spirit of
Yet the most outstanding among
patriotism and the ideals he emphasized as the ideals of our nation,
namely, ‘renunciation and service’. The lives of Indian people are them, which he himself chose to
getting more and more lustre-less in spite of all the affected adorn the emblem of RK mission,
external glaze and glamour imported through western ideas. The is atmano mokshartham
world weariness which is spreading throughout our national life is jagathitaya ca , for individual
dangerously carving away our nation’s socio-spiritual fabric. As a unfoldment and universal well-
result, all the hidden evil in human heart is sprouting out in various being.
forms and names. Swamiji’s meaningful words quoted above should
once again reverberate throughout the length and breadth of our
nation bringing a new vision to our youth, making their lives purposeful in the service of our motherland.
Many a mahamantra has been uttered by Swamiji, each with its own deep implications carrying its own
unique message for humans in general and Indians in particular. Yet the most outstanding among them, which he
C H E T A N A
himself chose to adorn the emblem of RK mission, is ‘atmano mokshartham jagathitaya ca’, for individual unfoldment
and universal well-being. This meaningful message, properly understood, holds great promise for revitalizing our
national life in this critical phase of our nation’s history.
What could be the source of Swamiji’s inspiration to choose such a remarkable ideal?
Watching his Master Sri Ramakrishna, so effortlessly transforming the highest ideals of Vedanta into simple
practical day to day philosophy, implanting the idea of Adwaita - Oneness – in the minds of those around him, Swami
R A S H T R A
Vivekananda wanted the very same idea to become the ideal of the Mission in his Master’s name to inspire people to
lead a life of renunciation and service leading to self unfoldment on one side and service of the people on the other.
This is the mahamantra which Swamiji effectively used to convert the antranga (close) disciples of Sree Ramakrishna,
who were getting too absorbed in self emancipation, neglecting the service of the Virat around them.
The authors of ‘The Life’ have recorded the
situation thus:
“Of the Swamiji’s numerous triumphs one of the

greatest was the conversion of his Gurubhais from
individualistic to the universal idea of religious life in
which public spirit and service to fellowmen occupies
prominent place. Up to this time the ideal of the monks
of the Math was, to strive for personal Mukti and
realization of the Supreme Atman by severe penance and
meditation, remaining as much as possible aloof from the
world and it cares and sorrows, according to the
prevailing Hindu idea, sanctified by tradition, and
sanctioned by the sages and the seers from the Vedic
period down to the present day. But with the appearance
of the Swami among them a new order of things was
inaugurated …..The age demanded, he said, that they
should carry the new light unto others, that they
themselves should show by their example how to serve
the poor, the helpless, and the diseased, seeing God in
them, and that they should inspire others to do the same.
The mission of his life, he said, was to create a new order
of Sannyasins in India who would dedicate their lives to
help and save others.”
“The proposition, though grand and inspiring,

was to them too revolutionary and staggering. How could
they suddenly change at another’s bidding their precious
religious ideal to which they had given their lives, for one
which apparently went against their whole nature and
training? With them the struggle was hard and long. But
who could resist the Swami?”(The Life, pp 507 – 508)
In one of the most recent biographies of Swamiji

C H E T A N A
*the author adds: “It was most ironical that ‘converting’

his own brother-monks to the Vedanta as a feeling of
Oneness with all living beings, and hence to the
realization that true renunciation was not a selfish seeking of one’s own salvation but involved a passionate concern
with their suffering, should have been considered as one of Swami Vivekananda’s ‘greatest triumphs’. That he had to
first remove from their minds the limited notions of the greatest concepts of Indian philosophy and their application
R A S H T R A
to life was ironical no less.”
In fact Swamiji’s ideal caters to both aspects. Atmano mokshartham points to the central ideal of Hindu
religion, where the goal of life is identified as total liberation through self realization. All the great teachers without
exception have bequeathed this ideal to the posterity. Swamiji also endorses this as the Supreme Goal of Life and
points to the necessity of every ‘potentially divine soul’ working it out in its own way through work, worship,
psychic control or philosophy. But what has made it more glorious and relevant for all times to come is the idea of the
phrase ‘Jagathitaya ca’, which is a direct outcome of Sri Ramakrishna’s assertion that “Manava seva is Madhava seva”
and hence service to humanity must become an essential ingredient of all human efforts, especially those meant to
please Gods. Needless to add, this also very much substantiates Sree Krishna’s observation that his devotees should
visualize Him not only within themselves but also in everything around them.
The actions we do – thoughts, words and deeds should never lead to contraction or tension in human mind
but must result in its expansion which is a pre-requisite for happiness, peace and sense of well-being. Ego, likes and
dislikes, selfish motivations, excessive desire for fruits of actions,
etc. pollute our actions and are the obstacles preventing expansion
of mind. Individuals, filled with tension within and spreading The actions we do thoughts,
tensions all around, what service can they render to the society? words and deeds should never lead
On the contrary, when one transcends selfish motivations to contraction or tension in human
and his/her work borders on Nishkama karma, bereft of any mind but must result in its
personal interest, such deeds automatically lead to Lokasamgraha or expansion which is a pre-requisite
Jagathita. It is the Nishkama karma which is being carried out at for happiness, peace and sense of
infinite levels by infinite beings that essentially provides the links well-being. Ego, likes and dislikes,
which hold together the web of the great Cosmic Yajna of the selfish motivations, excessive
Universe. From the smallest bacterium to the mightiest of galaxies
desire for fruits of actions, etc.
yonder there in the space – all have their allotted work which is
pollute our actions and are the
being carried out desirelessly. And the result is this magnificent
Universe. obstacles preventing expansion of
mind.
At the outset the ideal carries the message of one’s Self
Realization as the prime goal of life leading to liberation from the
clutches of worldly pursuits. After liberating oneself what is he supposed to do – ‘muktascha anyan vimochayet’ –
the liberated should help others to liberate themselves. That is the Jagathita he has to practise. As Ganga flows down
from the very heights of Himalayas bringing fresh water and nourishments to the plains – so should the realized soul
work for the welfare of the humanity making himself a good example of renunciation and service. This ideal is to be
implanted in thoughts, words and deeds. One can mold oneself into such an ideal only if he has realized that the Self
within him is the Self everywhere. If there be any error in his understanding he would turn into a conceited selfish
being, self motivated, looking for opportunities for self projection. Today’s society is full of such people who, posing
themselves as great - as politicians, teachers, social workers and so on - exploit the poor and the ignorant. Once the
C H E T A N A
purpose of life gets linked to Self realization, then only all the other life activities – mental, intellectual or physical fall
in line and get integrated with the Ultimate Truth. Again, once the central core of one’s awareness is the Ultimate
Truth within, then all that he does would not only carry the lustre of Truth but they will automatically result in the
welfare of the society. As a result a wonderful remolding of character occurs as all good qualities automatically find a
place in such a being. Step by step he moves onward in his evolution – from human to the divine. A society where
such a dharmic ideal becomes the norm of living there will nothing else be, but peace, contentment and happiness.
R A S H T R A
Sree Krishna emphasizes this when he tells Arjuna “Swadharme nidhanam Sreya”.
Hidden in Swamiji’s ideal is another great lesson - one must start with oneself, enlightening oneself and then
should he move on to ‘others’. Later Swamiji further emphasized it with his advice, “Be and make” with special
reference to teachers. Unfortunately everyone thinks himself or herself perfect and neglecting the first injunction,
waste their time in improving the society. Of course, some good would come to the society even with such good
actions but the results will not be long lasting and without a proper living ideal to follow, conditions would soon
deteriorate and situation worsen. The individuals do not get any enlightenment or inspiration which leads to decay in
Dharma and the loosening of the subtle web of interdependence. Interdependence based on the Truth of Oneness is
what makes the society strong and sustaining, contributing to the welfare of all its components.
The Slogan offers yet another great possibility. It is a wonderful measuring rod for the individual to assess
the true worth of his own actions. After a little sincere pondering following execution of a work, if one finds no
tension but a sense of well-being and expansiveness within, it is surely an action in the right spirit of yajna. One must
also see that every action leads to the well-being and peace of those around. This double assessment at every step by
everyone would help to keep the society on the path of Dharma, on the path of Spiritual Evolution. That is the best
way in which we can give to Swamiji’s soul searching question “Shall India die?” the answer he himself emphatically
gave ” Such a thing can never be.”
*****************************
*Ref: Chaturvedi Badrinath: Swami Vivekananda - The Living Vedanta, pp.191.Penguin Books 2006
"Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern
times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to
another...But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war
trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in
a deluge of blood..... Each word of power had to be followed by the groans
of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many
other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully
existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist... Even
C H E T A N A
earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the
gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have
marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing
behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never
been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we
R A S H T R A
live....!"
- Swami Vivekananda
KAPILA MUNI -- THE FATHER OF PHILOSOPHY
- Swami Samarpanananda
The first teacher of any evolved creature is his mother. So, if ever a mother accepts her own son as her
teacher, then that son has to be really great. Although such a thing rarely happens, particularly in the field of
spirituality, it does happen, and Kapila, the son of Devahuti, is a luminous example of this. His mother became his
first disciple, and in later times he came to be known as the Father of Philosophy. His simple life, coupled with his
erudition on Samkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, and Bhakti schools of thoughts makes him the greatest among sages.
Unlike many other sages of Vedic times, Kapila is more historical and human. Even Acharya Shankara
accepts his identity and greatness as the teacher of Samkhya philosophy. Various lores, traditions and writings show
the impact of the sage on the Indian psyche.
Kapila's father was a great sage Kardama, and his mother was Devahuti. The legend is that Devahuti,
although a Divine personality, was too infatuated with the trappings of the world. Out of sheer passion to enjoy life,
she requested her sage husband to make it possible for her to do so in a spectacular fashion. The sage obliged.
Devahuti was now able to experience such enjoyments as were not possible even for the gods to enjoy. However,
C H E T A N A
Kardama left everything, including his weeping wife, and went to perform tapasya, after their son Kapila was born.
This giving up was in accordance with an earlier agreement between the couple.
Kapila is believed to be a born Siddha, a man who has attained perfection, even before his birth. He was a
spiritual prodigy from his early childhood, and he soon took to performing unwavering tapasya. The hard spiritual
labour bore fruits, and Kapila attained the Highest goal while quite young. He was now ready to engage himself in the
welfare of the humanity by meditating on the Universal Self, and also by teaching, preaching, instructing and guiding
the spiritual seekers. The divine providence was such that his own mother, Devahuti, became his first disciple. She
R A S H T R A
had been disillusioned with all kinds of enjoyment after the departure of her husband, that made her long for eternal
peace and joy that comes only to the spiritually illumined and liberated. With this foremost desire in her mind, she
approached her son to instruct her in the ways of God. Kapila the son, agreed to be Kapila, the teacher to her mother.
Kapila then taught his mother the Samkhya system of philosophy
(which later became jnana Yoga), the Yoga system of sadhana, and the Bhakti
way of Spiritual Realisation. These three vital aspects of Hindu spiritual
tradition were first propounded and explained in detail by Sage Kapila only.
The later philosophers, saints and poets developed these ideas into fully
grown systems, which continue to play essential roles in Hindu system of
thought even today.
While preaching his mother about the importance of devotion to
the Lord, Kapila said, "The glory of the Lord is always worth singing, for His
glories enhance the glories of His devotees. One should therefore meditate
upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and upon His devotees. One
should meditate on the eternal form of the Lord until the mind becomes
fixed." (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.28.18)
Devahuti felt so illumined and blessed by the instructions of her
own son that she prayed to him, "I believe, my Lord, that You are Lord
Vishnu Himself under the name of Kapila, and You are the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman! The saints and sages, being freed from all the disturbances of the
senses and mind, meditate upon You, for by Your mercy only can one become free from the clutches of the three
modes of material nature. At the time of dissolution, all the Vedas are
sustained in You only."
According to a story of the As instructed by her son, Devahuti began to practice Bhakti yoga
Puranas, king Prithu once and soon became detached from her divinely attractive home, and even
milked the Earth to extract all from her own body. Her mind always fixed on God, she soon became
that was noble in it. The Earth liberated from material bondages, attained samadhi, and finally became one
took the form of a cow and with the Supreme.
allowed different beings to This unusual feat by Kapila got him the highest status that can be
drink her milk to get what each accorded to a person in Hinduism -- he was accepted as one of the twenty-
one of them wanted on behalf four incarnations of Lord Vishnu in the Bhagavata Purana. Actually, the
of their tribe. At that time doctrine of incarnation of the Puranas is a unique concept. According to the
Kapila, on behalf of the siddhas, Vedantins, there is an Eternal God (Isvara) who is the Lord of all, while the
milked her of the yogic powers Buddhists and the Sankhyas believe only in a God who was earlier a man,
like anima (power to become but became God through spiritual practices. The Puranas reconcile these
small), garima (power to two positions, and proclaim that the Perfected person is nothing but the
Nitya Ishvara (Eternal God), who with the help of His own Maya takes up
become huge) etc. It is only due
C H E T A N A
that form. It is this concept of avatara that is current in Hinduism even

to Kapila, the father of yoga, today.
that the yogis attain various
powers. On the other hand, Kapila is exemplified in Gita by Lord Krishna
as the best among perfect beings, "Of the trees I am the banyan, of the
divine sages I am Narada, of the gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among
siddhas (perfected beings) I am the sage Kapila.'
R A S H T R A
According to a story of the Puranas, king Prithu once milked the Earth to extract all that was noble in it.
The Earth took the form of a cow and allowed different beings to drink her milk to get what each one of them wanted
on behalf of their tribe. At that time Kapila, on behalf of the siddhas, milked her of the yogic powers like anima
(power to become small), garima (power to become huge) etc. It is only due to Kapila, the father of yoga, that the
yogis attain various powers.
Samkhya of Kapila: Although Kapila was the first one to popularise Yoga and Bhakti, he is more famous
as the father of Samkhya. When it comes to a systematic philosophical system, the Samkhya philosophy is the most
ancient philosophy of India, and also of the world. Not only that, it is the very foundation of all accepted systems of
philosophy (Darshanas) in India, and according to Swami Vivekananda, Vedanta is its logical outcome only.
According to Samkhya, there are two realities, Purusha
(consciousness), and Prakriti (matter). Prakriti is made up of three
qualities (sattva, rajas and tamas), which stay in balance when there is Samkhya is the first philosophy to
no creation. When the time for creation comes, this balance is show that the manifested state is the
disturbed, which results in evolutes like Cosmic mind (mahat), Ego
effect, and the finer state its cause,
(Ahamkara), five subtle elements (mahabhuta), five gross elements
(tanmatras), sense organs (indriyas), and the mind. These twenty-four while destruction means going back to
principles (tattva) constitute the world as we understand. Since mind its cause. By accepting that the cause
is inert, consciousness is also treated as insentient (jada) in Samkhya. and the effect are same, Hindu
This outlook that the real consciousness lies only with the soul, is
philosophy took a great leap forward.
shared by Vedanta and also by most of the Indian philosophical
systems.
By saying that consciousness does not belong to mind,
Kapila gave birth to Indian brand of psychology. According to this,
mind is also matter, and acts like a conscious entity simply because it
is lighted up with the reflected consciousness of the soul. True
individuality of a person does not lie with mind, but with the soul.
However, unlike Vedanta, Samkhya believes in the existence of many souls. When these souls get
entangled with Prakriti, they experience dualities like pleasure and pain, but when they start panting for liberation,
they come out of Prakriti as its masters, and these freed souls become Gods. According to Samkhya, the God spoken
of in the Vedas is one of these free souls only. Beyond them there is no eternally free God.
Samkhya is the first philosophy to show that the manifested state is the effect, and the finer state its cause,
while destruction means going back to its cause. By accepting that the cause and the effect are same, Hindu
philosophy took a great leap forward.
Kapila and Makar Sankranti: Maharishi Kapila is also associated with the importance of Makar Sankranti
and with the bringing down of Ganga from the heaven.
C H E T A N A
King Sagar of Ayodhya, an ancestor of Rama, had performed the Aswamedha sacrifice for ninety-nine times.
He now wanted to perfrom it one last time so that he could become the king of gods, Indra. This made Indra worried
and jealous, and so he kidnapped the horse and hid it in the hermitage of Kapila Muni. Sagara had sixty thousand sons
who set in search of the lost horse and ultimately found it in the ashrama of Kapila. They concluded that Kapila was
the thief, and so insulted him abundantly. Enraged at the humiliation, Kapila burnt them to ashes.
When Kapila was prayed by the descendants of these princes to be forgiven, and redeemed from the curse,
Kapila replied that only Ganga, brought down from the heaven, could redeem these souls. Bhagirath, a descendent of
R A S H T R A
Sagara, finally succeeded in bringing down Ganga from the heaven and made it wash the ashes of his ancestors to the
ocean. Bhagirath performed tarpan (last rites) with the Ganga water for his ancestors and had them liberated from the
curse on Makar Sankranti day. To commemorate the event, a very big Ganga Sagar Mela is organised every year on this
day at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean, where a temple dedicate to Kapila Muni also exists.
Essential Teachings: Sage Kapila was essentially a teacher of mukti. In Mahabharata, he says, "Those who
lead a life of domesticity are certainly auspicious and acquire excellence of every kind. They are unable, however, to
enjoy the bliss that attaches to Renunciation."
'Acts only cleanse the body. Knowledge, however, is the highest end (for which one must strive). When all
faults of the heart are cured (by acts), and when the mind gets established in knowledge, then benevolence,
forgiveness, tranquillity, compassion, truthfulness, and candour, abstention from injury, absence of pride, modesty,
renunciation, and abstention from work are attained. These constitute the path that lead to the spiritual realisation.
'When one is completely cleansed of the impurities of lust and greed produced from the false identification
of the body as "I" and bodily possessions as "mine," one's mind becomes purified. In that pure state he transcends the
stage of so-called material happiness and distress.'
Kapila Muni wanted every spiritual aspirant to differentiate between the matter and the spirit. His
enumeration of the twenty-four principles was to help an aspirant distinguish between that which was Real, and that
which was transient.
Swami Vivekananda paid his tribute to Kapila by saying that 'The influence of Kapila is everywhere seen
throughout the world. Wherever there is a recognised system of thought, there you can trace his influence; even if it
be thousands of years back, yet he stands there, the shining, glorious, wonderful Kapila. His psychology and a good
deal of his philosophy have been accepted by all the sects of India with but very little differences. "(Complete Works,
3.327)
*********************
C H E T A N A
"If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living
R A S H T R A
men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the
dream of existence, it is India!"
- Romaine Rolland (French scholar)
रा चेतना
BHAKTI & MARATHI SAINTS
Chinmay Rahalkar
Once Shwetaketu asks his father the proof of the fact that origin of everything is Brahma. His father asks him to
bring a fruit of a tree. Shwetaketu does that.
“Can you tell me what is inside the fruit?” His father asks him.
Shwetaketu opens the fruit and says “there are tiny seeds”
“Can you tell me what is inside these seeds?”
Shwetaketu bursts the seeds and finds nothing.
“And yet from nothing this whole tree emerges. Because you see you have to believe that seeds are the cause of it,
even though you don’t see anything inside the seeds. Similarly, this whole world is in front you. So, you have to
believe the cause of this is Para-Brahma.” (Chandogya Upanishad 6.12)
This faith, this belief is Bhakti.
In Bhagwad Geeta Shri Krishna says
सवर्धमार्न्पिरत्यज्य मामेकं शरणं ोज।

अहं त्वा सवर्पाप्योभ्यो मोक्षियंयािम मा शुचः॥ (१८.६६)
(Relinquish everything, surrender to me. I will free you from all the trappings, do not despair). Thus immersing
ones’ own self completely in devotion of god is practicing Bhakti Yog.
C H E T A N A
The Bhakti (भ ) tradition is often, inappropriately so, called as Bhakti movement. It wasn't started by an
individual to achieve political goal for it to be called as a movement. It is a tradition that stretches back for more than
thousand years. It is one of the three Yog to achieve Moksha. (मोक्ष) The concept of Bhakti is ingrained in Sanatan
philosophy. It has been mentioned in Ved as well as in Bhagwad Geeta. In fact, whether one decides to follow Karma-
Yog (कमर् योग) or Jnyan-Yog, ( ान योग) Bhakti forms the base for the seeker. The belief, that at the end of it, the
assimilation with saguna, (सगुण) sakaar, (सकार) vyatka ( य ) and chaitanya (चैतन्य) Brahma (ॄ ) is possible is
R A S H T R A
necessary.
Karma-Yog and Jnyana-Yog are inherently difficult paths to tread on. Majority of masses does not possess
necessary intellectual rigor or discipline. But that does not mean they cannot achieve Moksha. Bhakti provides the
path to Moksha.
Shri Krishna says
अ े ा सवर्भूतानां मैऽ: करण एव च।

िनमर्मो िनरहं कारः समद:ु खसुखः क्षमी॥ (१२.१३)
सन्तु ः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढिन यः।

मय्यिपर्तमनोबुिध्दय मे भ : स मे िूयः ॥ (१२.१४)
(One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free
from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and
engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me—such a devotee of Mine is
very dear to Me.)*
Bhakti Yog is emotional connection with Supreme Being. The relation is intensely personal. On the surface
it may look easier than Jnyana Marga or Karma Marga but it is extremely tough. Because not only one has to let go
ego but also the feeling of Self and then throw one's own at the mercy of supreme being. Logic or rational has no
place in this realm. Faith that Chaitanya exists and pure devotion will pave road towards assimilation with Supreme
Being is necessary. The differentiating factor between loving your beloved and loving Supreme Being is that the
devotion towards Supreme Being is not dualistic in nature. The feeling of “I am thee” is important. Meerabai never
felt she is separate from Shri Krishna. She was one with him.
मय्यवेश मनो ये मां िनत्ययु ा उपासते।
ौध्दया परयोपेताःते मे यु तमा मता:॥ (१२.२)
(Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and
transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect.)*
Such intense devotion gave rise to numerous poems, Bhajan (भजन) and Abhanga (अभंग). The prominent feature of
Bhakti tradition is that devotion was expressed in native language rather than in Sanskrit. There are numerous
beautiful renderings in Sanskrit. Especially the poems of Adi Sri Shankaracharya (आ ौी शंकराचायर्) are
melodious and fill the heart of Bhakta (भ ) with bliss. But Sanskrit was never widely spoken and thus majority of the
C H E T A N A
population could never enjoy the rich literature. Saints changed this picture. They shared their devotion with masses
in native language and opened doors for them to worship on personal level. And Suddenly, Shri Krishna – the
primary god of devotion for Bhakti community wasn’t merely a legend of Mahabharata but rather a friend, a sakha.
(सखा) In Maharashtra, Sant Dnayneshwar's (संत ाने र) ‘ovi’ (ओवी) (a form of Marathi poems) gave rise to
the language of Marathi in 12th century. Bhaavartha-Deepika, (भावाथर् िदिपका) his commentary on Shri Bhagwad
Geeta has so many apt and wonderful metaphor, simile, or personification that it is considered as mother of Marathi
R A S H T R A
literature. Even after eight hundred years, the expression is still fresh and the thought is so clear that Marathi mind
still carry imprints of it. The language is so sweet that it’s compared with love of mother.
The tradition is at once a religious movement that provided simpler path of Moksha to masses and also, a
political and social movement that stemmed the disintegration of the society. It is widely believed that Bhakti
tradition started in Southern India at around 5th or 6th Century AD. But it took a big leap by covering rest of the India
after 10th century. Of this tradition the lineage of saints in Maharashtra holds special place for two reasons. One, the
tradition started by Sant Dnyaneshwar in 12th century continued uninterrupted till about 18th century creating
galaxy of individuals like Sant Namdeo, (संत नामदे व) Sant Ekanath, (संत एकनाथ) Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant
Ramdas Swami (संत रामदास ःवामी). In the dark ages that descended on the society during medieval times, these
sages shone bright on masses keeping the hope alive and illuminating their wretched lives with devotion. And second,
it cut across the caste barrier. Only Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Ekanath and Sant Ramdas Swami came from Brahmin
background. Sant Tukaram (संत तुकाराम) was a Vaishya. Sant Gora Kumbhar (संत गोरा कुंभार) was a potter
while Sant Chokha Mela (संत चोखा मेळा) was a Mahar - an untouchable. It even cut across the gender barrier.
Sant Mukta bai, (संत मु ाबाई) younger sister of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Janabai (संत जनाबाई) features
prominently among them.
The orthodoxy was reaching nadir at that time alienating masses from devotion. But the diverse backgrounds
of Marathi Saints reduced the burden of orthodoxy by breaking the conventions and opened a channel straight to
God. Through their own examples they showed that one doesn't need to be born in privileged background to achieve
moksha. One doesn't have to be learned in scriptures nor is it needed to be versed in philosophy. The philosophy of
loving Shri Krishna without wanting anything in return and loving him beyond the Shad-ripu that rule our mind and
our body, is an equally respected path in realizing Moksha .
The Bhakti sampradaay (i.e. Bhakti community) was established by Saint Namdeo, a contemporary of Saint
Dnyaneshwar in Marathi heartland around Pandharpur. He established the Vaarkari (वारकरी) sampradaay. The word
Vari (वारी) in Marathi means to go to religious place. And devotees who do such visits regularly are called Vaarkari.
Sant Dnyaneshwar in his short life span started going around the villages singing melodies praising Shri Krishna
through abhanga (Marathi devotional songs). Saint Namdeo used to accompany him. After Sant Dnyaneshwar took
samadhi at the tender age of 21, Sant Namdeo continued the tradition. After him, though, there was a dark period in
Marathi history full of gory violence purported by Muslim kings as well as nauseating infighting between Maratha
chieftains. Sant Eknath in 16th century reignited the passion of Vaarkari. The procession of walking to Vithoba temple
in Pandharpur singing Abhanga came to known as Vaarkari and to this date it's followed with same fervor.
A manifestation of Shri Vishnu (ौी िवंणु) – Vithoba (Vitthal) (िव ठल) of Pandharpur is the main deity of
these saints. He is dark in color and always depicted standing on a brick along with his consort Rukmini (Rakhu-mai).
Each and every one of the saints has been blessed with Vithoba’s company. The story of Vitthal standing on a brick
goes like this – Pundalik was a great devotee of Vithoba. So God decided to grace him with his presence. But when he
knocked on his door, Pundalik was busy taking care of his parents. And although he knew god himself is at the door,
C H E T A N A
he didn’t stop what he was doing but threw a brick for God to stand. The devotion was pure and yet the Dharma of
taking care of his aged parents took the precedence. God was so impressed that he decided to stand on the brick along
with Rukmini to honor Pundalik.
There are numerous such legends of Vitthal honoring his devotees or rescuing them from calamities. Sant
Gora Kumbhar (a potter) was so engrossed in singing Bhajan during his work that he accidentally dumped soil on his
toddler son suffocating him to death. Gora Kumbhar was inconsolable and cursed himself for killing his own son. The
R A S H T R A
legend has it that Vitthal appeared personally to return Gora Kumbhar’s son.
Sant Dnyaneshwar’s (who is the patron saint of the tradition) commentary on Bhagwad Geeta is so
encompassing that the work ushered Marathi society into age of enlightenment. The ability to transfer rich philosophy
and knowledge of Sanskrit into Marathi suddenly opened new doors. The saints who followed him used this tool to
comment on various social facets. From morality to social ills like caste system, from exhorting youth to be physically
strong to environmental protection, Marathi saints covered it all. Sant Tukaram Maharaj revered next to Saint
Dnyaneshwar in the tradition, was specifically prolific in his thoughts. He was especially concerned about plight of
general populace. He emphasized that helping poor and downtrodden is equivalent to working for god and says that,
that should be the criteria for identifying sages and great souls.
जे का रं जले गांजले त्यासी म्हणे जो आपुले।

तोिच साधु ओळखावा दे व तेथेिच जाणावा॥
(One who calls poor and downtrodden as his own is a real a sage and in whom the God resides)
He also emphasized that god resides right in your heart rather than in a temple. The avyakta swaroop is
painted as a deity in the temple but unless you feel the warmth of Bhakti in your heart the idol is merely a statue.
दे व दे हात दे हात, का हो जाता दे वळात ।

तुका सांगे मूढ जना, दे ही दे व का पहाना ॥३॥
(God resides in heart, why are going to temple? O Fool, search your heart for God)
Though language went through seminal change from the days of Sant Dnyaneshwar to Sant Ramdas, the
thought never strayed away from lucidity, clarity and practicality. The central deity for most purposes stayed Shri
Krishna and commentaries usually revolved around Bhagwad Geeta.
Vaman Pandit, in his commentary on Bhagwad Geeta, Yathaartha Deepika complains to Shri Krishna about various
interpretations of Bhagwad Geeta among intellectuals and that he doesn't like any of them.
परी अजी भगवंतजी। या किलयुगामाजी॥

जो तो गीताथर् योजी। मतानुरुप॥
कोण्या िमसें तरी कोणी। गीताथर् अन्यथा वाखाणी॥

मज नावडे ती थोरांचीिह करणी । काय करुं जी भगवंता॥
C H E T A N A
(My dear God, in Kaliyuga everyone keeps coming up with new interpretations of Geeta. Some are critical while
some say great things about the book. I don’t like any of these so called scholarly interpretations. Please help me,
what should I do?)
This Abhanga perhaps shows the profundity of devotion where a devotee is talking directly to god and asking
for his help. It reinforces the view that god will come running for his devotee if the devotee is completely
immersed in Bhakti.
R A S H T R A
Apart from enlightening masses Bhakti movement played an instrumental role in another aspect. The Islamic
invasion was creating havoc from 9th century onwards and with fall of Prithviraj Chauhan of Kannoj in 12th century,
Delhi finally succumbed to Islamic invaders. The results were wanton destruction of all social institutions, especially
of temples by invaders. Moreover, the forced conversions and mass killings in the name of religion had
psychologically debilitating effect on Hindu society. Most of the other civilizations perished facing Islamic invasions
but miraculously Hindu society not only survived but thrived under such religious zealotry. There were numerous
uprisings as well as political stalemates that played important role but the positive effect of Bhakti tradition on the
masses is without a question instrumental. None of the Marathi literature mentions invasion or persecution. Nor does
it talk about methods of defending against such calamity. There is a school of thought that actually perceives this as a
weakness. They argue that saints turned their faces away from the pain and instead of rallying masses, made them high
on the opium of religious ecstasy. The truth can't be farther than this. Although there are few instances of Saint
Tukaram Maharaj and Saint Ramdas who were in close touch with Chhatrapati Shivaji, majority of the saints stayed
away from political centers. They quickly figured out the insidious nature of the invaders. But more than that the
saints realized that the protection can still be achieved by making masses stronger from within. The subtlety of Saints
efforts all most concealed their work and results that they achieved look more like a miracle. It took hundreds of
years and tens of enlightened souls to achieve the goal. The society needed strong faith not only in surviving the
onslaught but also in the traditions, cultural heritage and illustrious history. Saints gave that faith to them. The Shakti
needed strong support of Bhakti. Saints provided that. The unwavering Shraddha they had in Para-Brahma and
incessant efforts these saints put in to spread that Shraddha among masses helped rapidly disintegrating society find its
feet.
Famous historian Shri Jadunath Sarkar in his book on Chhatrapati Shivaji says that Maharasthra alone boasts
luminaries who ably handled sword as well as pen. He was specially talking about the forward thinkers that
Maharasthra produced in 19th and 20th century along with the great warriors it produced in Marathi houses. We can
safely that both these traditions have their roots in the Maratha Saint tradition. The latter day Marathi philosophers,
reformist, military as well as political leaders based and derived their work from thoughts of Sant Dnyaneshwar and
Sant Tukaram.
The Bhakti sampradaay is still vibrant and vigorous with activities in modern India. The work of Sri Ramdeo
baba and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is helping millions of people in various facets of life. The movements, based solidly on
Bhakti, started by late Sri Panduranga Shastri Athavle (Swadhyay movement) or Swaminarayan Gurushri tradition is
spreading the pollens of social work among youth. There are numerous other examples and working towards
betterment of masses. The aim is spiritual as well as social welfare of the community. The goal is to create physically
as well as mentally strong individual.
The goal’s still long way and needs tremendous hard work and dedication. But with such an inspiring past, the
tradition is only to grow stronger and richer.
Notes:
* Source: Taken from www.bhagwad-geeta.us

C H E T A N A
************
R A S H T R A
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
*************************
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Krishna Bharadwaj
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Utho jaago vir yuvayon janani tumhe pukar rahi
Bharat ki Gaurav gatha tumhe lalkar rahi
Swami ji ke pryas ko nirathak na jaane do

Jab tak toot nahi jaati janjeere
Anvarat sangharsh ko chalne do
Kya huaa aisi aajadi ka

Jisme apnon ke hi gulaam hue
Pal pal ghut kar jeevan jeen a
Doosron ke hi mohtaaj hue
Kab tak dasata ka dansh jhelenge

Samprabhuta per aaghat praano ki kimat per bhi na hone denge
Apni bharat maa apni sanskriti ko hamne hi kyon bhula diya
Pashchim ki kalushit shaily ko jeevan main hamne kyon apna liya
Ho raha bhayankar vish vaman bharat ki rag rag main

Kab tak bhtkenge ham aashayon ke bhanwar main
Kathin ho raha yajna aaj swami ji ka
Kyon nahi ho raha yuva aaj apno hi ka
Vijayi bhav ka aashish bhi tab tak sakar nahi hota

C H E T A N A
Karmathta ka bindu bhi jab tak aakar nahi leta

Aao karain ek pran aaj
Karma yog ki jyoti ko viswa bhar mai fala denge
Gyan yog ki ganga ko vishwa bhar mai baha denge
R A S H T R A
Swami ji ke swarnim swapn ko sakar kar denge
Utho jaago vir yuvayon janani tumhe pukar rahi

Bharat ki Gaurav gatha tumhe lalkar rahi
INSPIRING STORY
Anbu Cheliyan
There is a beautiful story about a woman in India. She lost her needle in her house. She was too poor to afford a light
in her house, so she went out of the house and was searching it in the streets. A gentleman inquired from her what
she was doing. She said that she was searching for her needle? The gentleman asked, "Where did you lose the
needle?" She said, "In the house." He said, "How unreasonable it is to search in the street a thing which was lost in
the house!" She said that she could not afford a light in the house and there was a lantern in the street. She could not
hunt in the house, she had to do something, so she must hunt in the street.
This is exactly the way with the people. You have the Heaven within you; and yet you are searching pleasures in the
objects in the streets, searching that thing outside, outside in the objects of the senses.
(by Swami Rama Tirtha from Lecture delivered on December 17, 1902, in the
Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, U.S.A.)
The walls that imprison them are mental, not real.
A bear paced up and down the twenty feet that was the length of his cage. When, after five years, the cage was
removed, the bear continued to pace up and down those twenty feet as if the cage were there. It was. For him!
Anthony de Mello, S.J.

C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Motivational Story:
THE CHAINED ELEPHANT
As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by
only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime,
break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
C H E T A N A
I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to
get away. "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at
that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They
believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."
R A S H T R A
I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't,
they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because
we failed at it once before?
It has been said throughout history that what ever you believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the
poor elephant and go through your life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developed years ago. Take
charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deserve the best!
Moral
Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.
It is also our belief that determines how much of our potential we will be able to tap. So you better examine some of
your beliefs minutely. For example, do you believe that you can excel in whatever you do? Do you believe you are
bad in mathematics? Do you believe that other people don't like you? Do you believe life is full of problems? What are
your beliefs about people?
No belief is right or wrong. It is either empowering or limiting. A belief is nothing but the generalization of a past
incident. As a kid if a dog bit you, you believed all dogs to be dangerous. To change a particular behavior pattern,
identify the beliefs associated with it. Change those beliefs and a new pattern is automatically created.
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Subhashithaani
Source: The Mundaka Upanishad
Sloka
satyameva jayate n n ta
satyena panth vitato devay na |
yen kramanty ayo hy ptak m
yatra tat satyasya parama nidh nam ||
Meaning:
Truth alone triumphs; not falsehood.

Through truth the divine path is spread out by which
the sages whose desires have been completely fulfilled,
reach where that supreme treasure of Truth resides.
Truth is more than truth-speaking. Truth is the symbol of perfection, a representation of the Divine Being.
Adherence to truth means embracing the universal nature of the Reality. Therefore, truth wins victory
everywhere. Truth is the essence of the Universal movement consisting of evolution and involution.
Untruth is negative, whereas truth is positive. Through Truth the consciousness blossoms into more
C H E T A N A
expanded experience, but untruth attempts to stifle consciousness altogether and disallows the expansion of
consciousness causing, at the same time, the hardening of individuality.
It is Truth through which the divine way or the life of spiritual striving is spread before the aspiring
individuals. The universe as a spiritual organism to be striven for, is brought into the consciousness of the
individual through the practice of Truth. Truth is in fact the eye of the individual aspiring for the realisation
of its Absolute nature. The sages got a vision of this Truth because they were absolutely free from such
R A S H T R A
defects as deceit, delusion, fraud, pride, vanity and falsehood. They found the consummation of their
desires and aspirations in this Absolute Truth. They became first desireless and then sought the Truth.
Desire breeds falsehood, and desirelessness gives rise to Truth. Truth enables one to attain the Supreme
Treasure which is the Absolute Truth.
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Inspirational
Quotes By
Swami
Vivekananda
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Vivekananda'sQuotes (Source: http://www.vivekananda.org/)
"I am the thread that runs through all these pearls," and each pearl is a religion or
even a sect thereof. Such are the different pearls, and God is the thread that runs
through all of them; most people, however, are entirely unconscious of it.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you." This
is the one great duty, this is renunciation. Live for an ideal, and leave no place in
the mind for anything else. Let us put forth all our energies to acquire that which
never fails--our spiritual perfection. If we have true yearning for realization, we
must struggle, and through struggle growth will come. We shall make mistakes,
but they may be angels unawares.
“Comfort” is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being
“comfortable.”
“Face the brutes.” That is a lesson for all life—face the terrible, face it boldly. Like
the monkeys, the hardships of life fall back when we cease to flee before them.
“I do not want to get material life. I do not want sense-life but something higher.”
That is renunciation. Then, by the power of meditation, undo the mischief that has
been done.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything else shall be added unto you.”
This is the one great duty, this is renunciation. Live for an ideal, and leave no place
in the mind for anything else.
“The earth is enjoyed by heroes”—this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero. Always

say, “I have no fear.”
A few heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men and women can do more in a year
than a mob in a century.
A tremendous stream is flowing toward the ocean, carrying us all along with it;
and though like straws and scraps of paper we may at times float aimlessly about,
in the long run we are sure to join the Ocean of Life and Bliss.
Above all, beware of compromises. Hold on to your own principles in weal or woe
and never adjust them to others’ “fads” through the greed of getting supporters.
Your Atman is the support of the universe—whose support do you stand in need
of?
Above all, beware of compromises. I do not mean that you are to get into
antagonism with anybody, but you have to hold on to your own principles in weal
or woe and never adjust them to others “fads” thought the greed of getting
supporters.
Vivekananda'sQuotes
Change is always subjective. All through evolution you find that the conquest of
nature comes by change in the subject. Apply this to religion and morality, and
you will find that the conquest of evil comes by the change in the subjective alone.
That is how the Advaitic system gets its whole force, on the subjective side of
man.
Change is always subjective. To talk of evil and misery is nonsense, because they
do not exist outside. If I am immune from all anger, I never feel angry. If am
immune from all hatred, I never feel hatred. Come out into the broad light of day,
come out from the little narrow paths, for how can the infinite soul rest content to
live and die in small ruts?
Come out into the universe of Light. Everything in the universe is yours, stretch
out your arms and embrace it with love. If you every felt you wanted to do that,
you have felt God.
Delusion will vanish as the light becomes more and more effulgent, load after load
of ignorance will vanish, and then will come a time when all else has disappeared
and the sun alone shines.
Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage.
Desire, want, is the father of all misery. Desires are bound by the laws of success
and failure. Desires must bring misery. The great secret of true success, of true
happiness, is this: the person who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish
person, is the most successful.
Do any deserve liberty who are not ready to give it to others? Let us calmly go to
work, instead of dissipating our energy in unnecessary fretting and fuming.
Do not go for glass beads leaving the mine of diamonds. This life is a great chance.
What, seekest thou the pleasures of the world? He is the fountain of all bliss. See
for the highest, aim at that highest, and you shall reach the highest.
Do not hate anybody, because that hatred which comes out from you must, in the
long run, come back to you. If you love, that love will come back to you,
completing the circle.
Do you think these sannyasi children of Sri Ramakrishna are born to simply to sit
under trees lighting dhuni-fires? Whenever any of them will take up some work,
people will be astonished to see their energy. Learn from them how to work.
Don't look back—forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and
infinite patience—then alone can great deeds be accomplished.
Vivekananda'sQuotes
Anything that is secret and mysterious in these systems of yoga should be at once
rejected. The best guide in life is strength. In religion, as in all other matters,
discard everything that weakens you, have nothing to do with it.
Are great things ever done smoothly? Time, patience, and indomitable will must
show.
Are you unselfish? That is the question. If you are, you will be perfect without
reading a single religious book, without going into a single church or temple.
As body, mind, or soul, you are a dream; you really are Being, Consciousness, Bliss
(satchidananda). You are the God of this universe.
As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from God, fear
remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One, fear goes; of what
can we be afraid?
As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to
keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies; then you and I become separate.
As soon as you know the voice and understand what it is, the whole scene
changes. The same world which was the ghastly battlefield of maya is now
changed into something good and beautiful.
Astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind;
therefore as soon as they are becoming prominent in our minds, we should see a
physician, take good food, and rest.
Avoid excessive merriment. A mind in that state never becomes calm; it becomes
fickle. Excessive merriment will always be followed by sorrow. Tears and laughter
are near kin. People so often run from one extreme to the other.
Be a hero. Always say, “I have no fear.” Tell this to everyone—“Have no fear.”
Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as
long as there is any life in you. Even though you know you are going to be killed,
fight till you “are killed.” Don’t die of fright. Die fighting. Don’t go down till you are
knocked down.
Be not afraid, for all great power throughout the history of humanity has been
with the people. From out of their ranks have come all the greatest geniuses of the
world, and history can only repeat itself.
Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. Be perfectly resigned,

perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do any true work. No eyes can see the
real forces; we can only see the results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it
is His business.
Vivekananda'sQuotes
After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more
advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is
neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are
chains--one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither
happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the
nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it;
only wash away the dross and see it.
All is the Self or Brahman. The saint, the sinner, the lamb, the tiger, even the
murderer, as far as they have any reality, can be nothing else, because there is
nothing else.
All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind; the infinite
library of the universe is in our own mind.
All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do
not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as
most of us do nowadays. Stand up and express the divinity within you.
All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The gulf between God and
human beings is thus bridged. Thus we find how, by knowing God, we find the
kingdom of heaven within us.
All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The gulf between God and
me is thus bridged. Thus by knowing God, we find that the kingdom of heaven is
within us.
All truth is eternal. Truth is nobody’s property; no race, no individual can lay any
exclusive claim to it. Truth is the nature of all souls.
All who have actually attained any real religious experience never wrangle over
the form in which the different religions are expressed. They know that the soul of
all religions is the same and so they have no quarrel with anybody just because he
or she does not speak in the same tongue.
Always discriminate--your body, your house, the people and the world are all
absolutely unreal like a dream. Always think that the body is only an inert
instrument. And the Atman within is your real nature.
Always discriminate—your body, your house, the people around, and the world are
all unreal like a dream. Always think that this body is only an inert instrument.
And the Atman within is your real nature.
Anything that brings spiritual, mental, or physical weakness, touch it not with the
toes of your feet.
Vivekananda'sQuotes
Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then
acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.
Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or her heart. But
the intelligent ones are those who can convert every work into one that suits their
taste.
Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good;
every action that retards it is evil.
Every individual is a center for the manifestation of a certain force. This force has
been stored up as the resultant of our previous works, and each one of us is born
with this force at our back.
Everything must be sacrificed, if necessary, for that one sentiment: universality.
Experience is the only teacher we have. We may talk and reason all our lives, but
we shall not understand a word of truth until we experience it ourselves.
Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All
the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this
evil spirit of fear.
Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness. All the negative
thoughts and ideas that are in this world have proceeded from this evil spirit of
fear.
Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before
you, and out of that will come great work.
First get rid of the delusion “I am the body,” then only will we want real
knowledge.
Freedom can never be reached by the weak. Throw away all weakness. Tell your
body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith
and hope in yourself.
Give up all desire for enjoyment in earth or heaven. Control the organs of the
senses and control the mind. Bear every misery without even knowing that you
are miserable. Think of nothing but spiritual freedom.
Go on saying, “I am free.” Never mind if the next moment delusion comes and
says, “I am bound.” Dehypnotize the whole thing.
God is merciful to those whom He sees struggling heart and soul for realization.
But remain idle, without any struggle, and you will see that His grace will never
come.
Shanti Mantra
Source: --Aitareya Upanishad
om van me manasi pratishthita mano me vaci

pratisthitamaviravirma edhi vedasya ma anisthah srutam
me ma prahasih anenadhitenahoratra nsandadhamritam
vadisyami satyam vadisyami tanmamatatu
tadvaktaramavatu avatu mamavatu
vaktaram-avatu vaktaram
aum santih santih santih harih om
Meaning:
O Almighty Lord! My speech is well established in my mind. My mind is well established in my speech. O Lord,
please empower me to grasp and preach the Vedas. May I never forget Your teachings. Only by knowing You are
with me am I able to maintain my days and nights. I shall always only follow You. May You protect me. My dear
Lord, please protect me and my preceptor. O my dear Lord, please protect me and my preceptor and all those
around me!
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
• Swami Samarpanananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission since 1980. His online blog can be found
at http://samarpanananda.blogspot.com/
• Dr. M Lakshmi Kumari was born in Kerala in 1936. She obtained her Masters in Botany from Travancore
University, PhD. In Botany from Madras University and did her post-doctoral studies from Ukrainian
Academy of Sciences, Kiev. USSR (1968-1970). She joined the Vivekananda Kendra, founded by Ma.
Eknathji Ranade and was unanimously elected as its President after his death in 1984 – a position she held
until 1995. She is also the founder and Chairman of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation – an
organization started by Vivekananda Kendra at Kodungallur, Trissur District, Kerala. She is a prolific writer
and has written extensively for the Vivekananda Kendra Patrika, Yuva Bharati and several other cultural and
spiritual magazines in English and Malayalam. She represented the Vivekananda Kendra at the World
Parliament of Religions at Washington, Chicago and Calcutta in 1993, at Cape Town, South Africa in 1999,
and at the World Hindu Conference, at Durban, South Africa in 1995. She is also involved in various
educational activities, including Sandeepani Gurukulam and Sandeepani Shashi Vihar, where Sanskrit
education is imparted to students in the ancient gurukul style.
• Dr. Saroja Ramanujam holds numerous qualifications including a doctorate in philosophy based on her
research on Sri Ramanujacharya’s Shri Bhasya, a Siromani in Sanskrit, based on her research on Advaita
Vedanta. In addition, she holds degrees in mathematics, economics, and philosophy and received the gold
medal of University of Madras. She has written extensively on a wide variety of subjects including Sanatana
Dharma, various philosophies and Indian culture. Her posts on Sribhashya of Ramanuja, Virodhaparihara of
Vedanta Desika, Raghavayadhaveeyam of Venkatadhvari, Yadhavabhyudhaya of Vedanta Desika and
Translation in English of SriLakshminarayanahrdhyam are made into e -books in the website
sundarasimham.org and ahobilavalli.org. She has also written several commentaries on Bhagavad gita,
Thiruppavai, Gopalavimsathi of Vedanta Desika, Bajagovindam of Sankara and finished the commentary for
first 100 namas from Vishnusahasranama, Balakanda of Valmikiramayana and skandha 1 of
Srimadbhagavatham.
• Anbu Cheliyan is a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Trinity and Swami Vivekananda moderator of
Swami Vivekananda and Inspiring stories communities. Works as Software Egnineer with IBM, Bangalore
C H E T A N A
• Ailachary Vasunandi Ji Spreading the knowledge of spiritualism since more than 30 Years & had written
more than 150 books on spiritualism & Jainism. His articles are also published regularly on magazine “Sri
Satyarthi Prakashan” & “Sri Sri Satya Bodh”.
For more detail, please Visit www.vasunandi.com

R A S H T R A
• Chinmay Rahalkar is staunch devotee of Sanatana Dharma, actively participates in the discussion in
Hinduism Vidyarthi Seva Prakalpa communities has been part of the editorial team of Rashtra Chetana from
the beginning and professionally working with State Street Bank in Boston.
• Sh. Krishna Bharadwaj devotee of swami ji, is working an engineer in Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Ltd, Delhi. & also an active member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Delhi.
******************
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Feedback
We have been extremely fortunate to have several eminent authors contributing to this issue, for which we
are very grateful to them. We look forward to several more contributions from them in the future.
The basic thought behind Rashtra Chetana is make the young minds aware about the history and culture of
India, and to inspire them to work for her future. With this objective in mind, we kindly urge you to read the issue,
as well as forward the same to your friends or acquaintances.
The aim of any new beginning can only be constant improvement towards perfection and this is possible with
feedback from those for whom the endavour is undertaken. Hence we would also like to hear your comments,
suggestions, thoughts or questions about the issue. These can be directed to rashtrachetana@gmail.com . If you
would like to regularly receive the future issues of the same, please
drop a line about it as well.
Hoping the efforts behind this magazine will be blessed by one and all,
Hari Om!
Rashtra Chetana Team.
||Satyam vada, dharmam chara||

"Speak the truth, follow the path of righteousness".
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti!
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Reader Comments
48 Friday, 13 November 2009 12:52

SISHIR
a silent love story...
Why Do We Shout In Anger? (Must Read) , amritam
47 Friday, 13 November 2009 12:28

SISHIR
The right thought itself is enough to lead you to the right path
a beautiful thought , amritam
46 Wednesday, 11 November 2009 11:21

SISHIR
Its said that through experience you will learn and through experience i have felt it....
The Way to Control your EGO , Rashtra
44 Friday, 23 October 2009 14:37

Nithin Kumar
why
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS , Administrator
42 Saturday, 17 October 2009 08:55
Vineetha
Wow Hari...u did it again....great article...quite expected of u too...Great truths expressed clearly and
powerfully....Keep it up and post more...can u put this in ur blog too?
Vini
Time Will Teach You , Administrator
41 Thursday, 15 October 2009 20:11
yatendra Kumar
such type of inspirational stories really encourage our life...
good work.....
Tiger and the Fox , amritam
40 Wednesday, 14 October 2009 04:32
C H E T A N A
Ankur Agrawal
amazing story sudhakar ji
EXCELLENCE , amritam
38 Monday, 28 September 2009 14:47
rekha
Excellent so true..
R A S H T R A
37 Sunday, 27 September 2009 13:28

Ramasubramanian S Iyer
Excellent, good story to impress people and send a message of love..
Om Tat Sat.
Ram
36 Saturday, 19 September 2009 14:46
Richa
Hi Harikrishnan..
its awesome read..

keep up the good work..
looking forward to read more from you :)..
35 Monday, 14 September 2009 07:36
chakkiar
Hai Hari...
its great...!
realy a good job!
keep going to enlighten the people surround U
regards
chakkiar
34 Wednesday, 09 September 2009 07:19

chikkannaswamy vm
The Wooden Bowl , amritam
31 Monday, 10 August 2009 10:43
Aniruddha Mahendrakumar Talnikar
Be honest with your parents, please. This is true that we have to accept the people who inconvenience us or make us
feel uncomfortable, but on the other hand that "soldier remove one son from his parents life".Son is not
inconvenience to his parents or make them feel uncomfortable.
ACCEPT PEOPLE AS THEY ARE , amritam
30 Saturday, 25 July 2009 17:16

sree
falling at His is the only solution.....
" Sarva Dharman Parityajam, Maamekam Saranam Vraja" is what He said in Holy Gita
Allow me to embrace your Lotus Feet !! , amritam
C H E T A N A
29 Friday, 24 July 2009 15:11

Onkar
Let us remember Swamiji's words: "There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is
improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing. Hence, in the Ramakrishna Incarnation the acceptance
of a woman as the Guru, hence His practicing in the woman's garb and frame of mind,* hence too His preaching the
motherhood of women as representations of the Divine Mother."
R A S H T R A
13. Hence it is that my first endeavour is to start a Math for women. This Math shall be the origin of Gârgis and
Maitreyis, and women of even higher attainments than these
Awakening the Matruchetana , Dr. M Lakshmi Kumari
28 Wednesday, 22 July 2009 10:05
Rag
I am blessed to know her personally as a wonderful devotee... :-) My hearty best wishes :-)
Allow me to embrace your Lotus Feet !! , amritam
27 Tuesday, 21 July 2009 06:16
Renu
Great!
This too will pass. , amritam
26 Tuesday, 21 July 2009 06:11
Renu
Wonderful poem..especially these lines ..
"...God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed.."
Thanks for sharing it.

Stay Blessed!
When I Asked God for Strength ! , V P Singh
25 Monday, 13 July 2009 15:43
Shrinath
An excellent story...Hats off to the writer..:)
This too will pass. , amritam
24 Monday, 06 July 2009 13:28
Anil Babu
Known about this from Dr. T.P. Sasikumar, very essential & useful
About Us , Administrator
23 Friday, 03 July 2009 13:25
prafesh
thanks
Why We Shout When In Anger , amritam
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A
Message of Rashtra Chetana
Let us join hands to make a strong chain and work together to build a powerful nation - as a land of people
empowered by unity, morality, values, knowledge, learning & understanding. Let us come together to discover the
lotus of knowledge, which stays in the heart of Mother India. For ages, this great mother of ours has been ill-treated
by those who came from outside and didn't understand her divinity and purity. Let us raise her once again to her
eternal throne as the spiritual guide and master of the world. Let us unite all Indians staying geographically within
India, as well as those staying even outside the borders of the land and bring them together to worship the Mother.
Let us make our nation proud with our work. This is the divine dream of Rashtra Chetana.
C H E T A N A
R A S H T R A

Special Issue On Birthday of Swami Vivekananda

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Special Issue On Birthday of Swami Vivekananda

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Special Issue on Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (12 January) & National Youth Day

mãyã, and make us victorious. O Paramãtmã! We bow to you again and

again. We bow to you’

(Ishãvãsya Upanishad: 18).

Article Author Page

Concluding Address - Chicago, Sept 27, 8

Dasavatara In The Light Of Bhagvad Gita - Dr.Saroja Ramanujam 10

Atmano Mokshartam Jagathitaya Ca Dr.M.Lakshmi Kumari 12

Kapila Muni -- The Father Of Philosophy Swami 15

Bhakti & Marathi Saint Chinmay Rahalkar 20

Inspiring Story Anbu Cheliyan 29

Inspirational Quotes By Swami 34

That is what the Vedanta teaches!

Fortunately, these inner principles were not given up but

The other point which Swami Vivekananda stressed was of

"India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human

- Mark Twain (Writer, America)

Gita, jnaanee thu athmaaiva me matham aasThithaH sa hi yukthaathmaa maameva anutthamaam

“Of the Swamiji’s numerous triumphs one of the

“The proposition, though grand and inspiring,

In one of the most recent biographies of Swamiji

*the author adds: “It was most ironical that ‘converting’

to life was ironical no less.”

that form. It is this concept of avatara that is current in Hinduism even

- Romaine Rolland (French scholar)

BHAKTI & MARATHI SAINTS

“Can you tell me what is inside these seeds?”

Shwetaketu bursts the seeds and finds nothing.

This faith, this belief is Bhakti.

In Bhagwad Geeta Shri Krishna says

सवर्धमार्न्पिरत्यज्य मामेकं शरणं ोज।

Shri Krishna says

अ े ा सवर्भूतानां मैऽ: करण एव च।

सन्तु ः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढिन यः।

मय्यवेश मनो ये मां िनत्ययु ा उपासते।

ौध्दया परयोपेताःते मे यु तमा मता:॥ (१२.२)

जे का रं जले गांजले त्यासी म्हणे जो आपुले।

दे व दे हात दे हात, का हो जाता दे वळात ।

परी अजी भगवंतजी। या किलयुगामाजी॥

कोण्या िमसें तरी कोणी। गीताथर् अन्यथा वाखाणी॥

* Source: Taken from www.bhagwad-geeta.us

Swami ji ke pryas ko nirathak na jaane do

Kya huaa aisi aajadi ka

Kab tak dasata ka dansh jhelenge

Ho raha bhayankar vish vaman bharat ki rag rag main

Vijayi bhav ka aashish bhi tab tak sakar nahi hota

Karmathta ka bindu bhi jab tak aakar nahi leta

Swami ji ke swarnim swapn ko sakar kar denge

Utho jaago vir yuvayon janani tumhe pukar rahi

The walls that imprison them are mental, not real.

Anthony de Mello, S.J.

THE CHAINED ELEPHANT

Source: The Mundaka Upanishad

Truth alone triumphs; not falsehood.

“The earth is enjoyed by heroes”—this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero. Always

Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage.

Be a hero. Always say, “I have no fear.” Tell this to everyone—“Have no fear.”

Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. Be perfectly resigned,

Everything must be sacrificed, if necessary, for that one sentiment: universality.

om van me manasi pratishthita mano me vaci

For more detail, please Visit www.vasunandi.com

||Satyam vada, dharmam chara||

48 Friday, 13 November 2009 12:52