His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama is a personification of patience and perseverance. He spent over five decades in exile to preserve the Tibetan Identity.
A PROUD SYMBOL OF TIBETAN IDENTITY AND THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM
I want to pay my tribute to Tibetan exiles for the display of an undying spirit to preserve their identity and to pass this identity to the future Tibetan generations. I am particularly pained by the actions of South Africa and its refusal to issue a visa to H.H. Dalai Lama to participate in a Peace Conference which is planning to discuss ways of using a popular game like SOCCER to fight racism and xenophobia.
Rudra N. Rebbapragada, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.
Service Information:
Name: R. Rudra Narasimham/R. R. Narasimham;
Service Number: MS-8466/MR-03277K; Rank: Lieutenant/Captain/Major;
Branch: Army Medical Corps/Short Service Regular Commission/ Direct Permanent Commission(1969-1984);
A PROUD SYMBOL OF TIBETAN IDENTITY AND ASPIRATION FOR FREEDOM
SOUTH AFRICA – A PUPPET CONTROLLED BY COMMUNIST CHINA
South Africa is selected as the host of 2010 Soccer World Cup Games. The Soccer Organizing Committee has planned to host a Conference on March 27, 2009 to discuss ways of using soccer to fight racism and xenophobia. Nobel Peace Laureates Nelson Mandela, Archibishop Desmond Tutu, and F W de Klerk had invited H.H. Dalai Lama, a Noble Peace Laureate to join them in this Peace Conference. Communist China which is a big investor and trade partner of South Africa has openly opposed H.H. Dalai Lama’s trips to other countries. Beijing claimed that “We resolutely oppose any country’s government having official contact with the Dalai Lama….”. Succumbing to intense pressure from Communist China, South Africa has denied a visa to H.H. Dalai Lama and consequently the Peace Conference is indefinitely postponed. South Africa has failed to act as an independent, and sovereign nation. In yielding to Chinese pressure and refusing to issue a visa to H.H. Dalai Lama, South Africa has tainted its democratic credentials and like a puppet it acted in a subservient manner.
FIFTY YEARS IN EXILE – UNDYING QUEST FOR FREEDOM
Tibetans, young and old, including monks, nuns,, and children are planning to celebrate five decades of exiled life in 35 Tibetan settlements located in different parts of India. I had visited the LugSam Tibetan settlement at BYLAKUPPE in the KARNATAKA State of India. I had personally spoken to hundreds of Tibetan boys and had interviewed them individually. I spent nearly a month and lived at the BYLAKUPPE Tibetan settlement. The boys cherished a strong sense of Tibetan identity and had a remarkable passion to seek their freedom and regain their LAND. Tashi Wangdu of Bylakuppe has stated that Tibetans would present glimpses of the TIBET experience to people across India. Tibetan identity, culture, religion, language, songs, and folk dances will be showcased at year-long ‘THANK YOU INDIA’ Thanksgiving functions and Tibetans are hosting a four day festival from March 26. H.H. Dalai Lama is hosting an Thanksgiving function at New Delhi on March 31.
Sonam Dorjee, a 70-year old Tibetan who crossed over to India with H.H. Dalai Lama in 1959 has recalled his undying spirit in the following words : “Vicissitudes of life not withstanding, we have been able to bond together spanning two generations owing to our determination to keep the hope for a free and independent Tibet alive and carry on the struggle for returning to the homeland one day or other”.
Tibetans firmly believe that they belong to an ancient race, have unique identity, language, and traditions and they wish to pass this identity to future generations whatever be the price.
Human Existence-The Cosmic ConnectionHuman Existence-The Cosmic ConnectionHuman Existence-The Cosmic Connection
Water is vital to life. Water is the most common substance on Earth, but 97 percent of the Earth’s water is in the oceans and this water is too salty and is of no direct use to the terrestrial life. A vast majority of plants, animals and human beings depend upon the purified, fresh water that reaches the ground from the sky.
CELESTIAL MECHANICS – A DEVOTIONAL INQUIRY: I AM INVITING MY READERS TO USE THE VALID, SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLE OF INQUIRY CALLED DEVOTION TO ACCOUNT FOR CELESTIAL DYNAMICS. IN THIS PHOTO IMAGE, THE SUNRISE DESCRIBES A PURPOSIVE, GUIDED, AND GOAL-ORIENTED ACTION.
The Indian Cultural traditions recognize the Sun as the Cosmic Father, and He is often described as provider of great rains and as a friend of waters that flow across the land. Earthly existence is simply impossible without this harmonious relationship between the Sun and the living creatures.
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms.
The Concept of Monotheism: “ONE AND ONLY ONE GOD”
The concept of Monotheism is fundamentally flawed. I understand that this concept originated in India and spread to other nations. Apart from members of ‘Arya Samaj’, Sikhs, and other followers of Vedic rituals, it gained more attention among the followers of Prophet Muhammad.
Firstly, the LORD God Creator has not given to the man the ability to directly experience God’s existence. The human mental experiences of all kinds are conditioned by Fundamental Forces such as the Gravitation. Man has the ability to subjectively and objectively experience his own living condition and not that of God. The speculative nature of the Theory of Monotheism becomes apparent when we verify the Theory by finding its correspondence to an external reality. You may search the entire physical world, you will not find the One and Only One God of your imagination. That God is an idea, a mere mental percept without any correspondence with an external Object. You cannot find One and Only One God in the ‘Transcendent’ Realm for man is conditioned. Man cannot cross the boundaries of the Physical or Immanent Realm. In fact, the One and Only One God of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Vedic Hindus, and Sikhs are not the same. However, I want to make it clear that I admire the Bhagats and their traditions of Devotional Worship of God. The issue is not that of accepting or rejecting the Vedas or Gurbani. The Man arrives in the world all alone. The Man departs from the world all alone. Bhagat Kabir communicates this problem of Individualistic Existence because of the separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms. The Man cannot hope to ride on the shoulders of his Guru, Master, or Teacher. The man who departs from this world has to reach his Final Destination using his own effort, actions, or “KARANI.” Even, the Guru has to reach his Final Destination using his own effort, actions, or “Karani.” No exceptions to this rule.
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms.
THE GODS OF MONOTHEISM
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms.
Monotheism is a term that was introduced in an effort to study religions. It is described as a religious belief that only one God exists. This belief in a single and transcendent God contrasts particularly with Polytheism which is described as a belief in many gods.
Such oversimplification may conceal the true identity of the Gods of Monotheism. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the principal Monotheistic religions. The demarcation between these faiths is very easy to determine and it is not so easy to establish their common ground. Dogmatic differences or differences in articles of faith must be explicitly recognized.
The identity of the Divine is not represented merely by the philosophical speculations about God’s essence but by the God whom men worship in all the acts of piety which comprise the rituals of religion.
If you consider the dogmas of religion; the articles of religious faith-based solely on divine revelation, you would conclude that the Gods of Monotheism live in different Heavens. There is no chance that the God of children of Israel, The Holy Trinity (Father, Jesus, the Holy Ghost/Spirit), and the God of Ishmael could coexist in the same transcendent or immanent realm.
The doctrinal differences are too many. There are very serious differences on matters such as salvation, the nature, and mission of the synagogue/church/masjid, the places of their worship, its rituals and sacraments.
The Monotheist concept of religious belief has not nurtured the concept of shared humanity that is united in religious brotherhood.
The desire to assert the dominion of the one and only true God has often lead to violence and intolerance. Historically, Monotheists have killed to gain theological as well as political dominance. The Gods of Monotheism have caused far more wars and conflicts than the many gods of Polytheism.
The adherence to an ABSOLUTIST thesis that only my God is God has resulted in a strict demand for intolerance of others holding different creeds. The Israelites practiced the worship of one God without denying the existence of other gods and the Torah also instructs them to act decently toward one another. The trinitarian creed of Christianity sets it apart from other religions.
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms.
The Islamic interpretation of Monotheism is more literal and uncompromising than that of any other religion in the world. ‘TAWHID’ or oneness of God is the foremost article of the Muslim faith. Muslim belief is based upon the unity of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad. To bestow Allah’s indivisible reality upon another god is considered by Muslims to be a lie, and stands as the only sin which Allah will not forgive. The Holy Book of Quran mentions that to attribute divinity to a created entity is the only unpardonable sin.
The only point of agreement amongst Monotheistic religions is that of their hatred of idols. Polytheism is not an acceptable choice and it is considered as a form of Atheism. Idolatry ranks as perhaps the most common topic in the Bible and Quran.
The people of India are ridiculed and are scoffed at because of their conceptions of God as anthropomorphic. Indians are verbally assaulted every day by Christian Evangelists for worshiping inanimate objects and historically, Indians were punished for being patrons of idolatry.
In an effort to wipe out idolatry from India, numerous temples were destroyed and about 60 to 80 million people were killed between 1000 and 1525 CE.
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms.
Psalm 115, verses 4 to 8 from The Old Testament Book of Psalms, illustrates the hatred of idols:
“But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them…”
THE INDIAN CONCEPT OF GOD WORSHIP
The Vedic Scripture of Shukla Yajurveda in its final chapter of ‘Isha Upanishad’ (Ishavasya Upanishad), verses 12-14 recommend the worship of the Divine in its Immanent (manifest, visible phenomenal forms) and it’s Transcendent (unmanifest, invisible, Absolute) forms.
“Into deep darkness falls those who follow the immanent. Into deeper darkness fall those who follow the transcendent. By the worship of the Manifested, one end is attained; by the worship of the Unmanifested, another.
Thus we have heard from the wise men who taught us this. He who knows at the same time both the Unmanifested and the Manifested, he crosses over death through knowledge of the manifested and attains immortality through the knowledge of the First Cause.”
A HYMN FOR INVOCATION OF PEACE:
The Gods of Monotheism. The Fundamental Separation of the Transcendent and the Immanent Realms. The Invisible or the Unmanifest vs The Visible or the Manifest Fundamental Dualism.
THAT (the Invisible or Unmanifest Absolute) is WHOLE, WHOLE is THIS (the Visible or Manifest Absolute); what has come out of WHOLE (the Invisible) is also WHOLE ( the Visible). When the WHOLE is taken out of the WHOLE, the WHOLE remains WHOLE (it remains unaltered).
OM! PEACE, PEACE, LET PEACE ALONE PREVAIL.
Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. JACOB’S PILLOW-PILLAR STONE MARKS THE SITE AS ‘BETHEL’, THE HOUSE OF GOD. WHERE IS THE HOUSE?
The Story of Jacob:
Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House? The Story of Jacob.
The story of Jacob is described in the Book of Genesis, the first Book of Old Testament. He was the son of Issac, the grandson of Abraham, and the twin brother of Esau. He was named Jacob as he came out with his hand grasping his older twin brother Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26). Jacob was the father of the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. Jacob gets the name Israel after a spiritual struggle at Jabbok.
Jacob was given the name Israel after he withstood a spiritual struggle at Jabbok (Genesis 32:22-30). Jacob literally wrestled with God who came down in the form of a man. The name Israel is derived from the words ‘SARA’ meaning TO STRUGGLE, WRESTLE, and ‘EL’ meaning God. El is one short form of ‘ELOHIM’, the name used for God.
JACOB’S DREAM AT BETHEL
Jacob received his older brother’s blessing from his father and then flees to Laban in Haran to escape from his brother’s anger. His dream at Bethel is narrated in Genesis, chapter 24, verses 10-17:
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. Jacob’s Dream at Bethel.
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and He said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Issac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying….” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House?
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called the place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. He had further taken a vow stating that the stone he had set up as a pillar would be God’s house.
THE HOUSE OF GOD AT MOUNT MORIAH
In Judaism, Mount Moriah is also known as the ‘TEMPLE MOUNT’, and is the most venerated as the holiest spot on Earth. After liberating Jews from a life of slavery in Egypt, at Mount Sinai, God enters into a ‘New Covenant’ and He appears in the form of fire before Moses and other elders.
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. WHERE IS THE HOUSE?
The Book of EXODUS, chapter 25, verses 8-9, God asks the Jews: “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make the Tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you…”
God set up Laws for the Israelites mostly regarding holiness and worship. The Old Testament Book Leviticus, Chapter 16, verse 34: “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you; Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” The Children of Jacob (the son of Issac, and grandson of Prophet Abraham) need a House for God of Israel.
The Ark of the Covenant was where God manifested His presence on earth and the Ark went ahead of the Israelites wherever they traveled. The Ark was only housed in a tent for many long years and King David could only erect an altar for God (Book of 2 Samuel, chapter 24:25). The opportunity to build a House for God in His Name was given to Solomon, the son of King David.
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. WHERE IS THE HOUSE?
Book of 1 KINGS, chapter 8, verse 13, Solomon declares: “I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” The site selected by God for the establishment of the Holy Temple in His Name also is considered to be the spot where creation of world began, and Adam the first man was created here. Abraham brought his son Issac for sacrifice at this place. The Jewish tradition known as ‘Midrash’ also claims that Jacob had a dream and had erected a monument and declared it as the House of Holy One. God had pushed that rock with His right foot and the rock had become the ‘Foundation Stone’, the ‘Corner Stone’, and is also known as the ‘Key Stone’ of Solomon’s First Temple. The Temple of God stands over a stone identified by Jacob as the ‘gate of heaven’.
BETH-EL – THE HOUSE FOR GOD OF ISRAEL. WHERE IS THE HOUSE?
When Solomon dedicated this Temple to God in 957 B.C., God entered His House in the form of a cloud.
GOD OF ISRAEL’S DWELLING PLACE
Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House?Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House?Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House?
Psalm 115, song 2-3 says:
Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God? “
Our God is in heaven;
He does whatever pleases Him.
Bethel – The House for God of Israel. Where is the House?
“I have indeed built a magnificent Temple for you to dwell forever.” The remnants of Second Temple stand mutely at a place known as Gate of Heaven. The children of Israel need a House for their God.
“I have indeed built a magnificent Temple for you to dwell forever.” The remnants of Second Temple stand mutely at a place known as Gate of Heaven. The children of Israel need a House for their God.“I have indeed built a magnificent Temple for you to dwell forever.” The remnants of Second Temple stand mutely at a place known as Gate of Heaven. The children of Israel need a House for their God.
Propagation – Is that a Fundamental Right?Saligrama Sheila – The Physical Manifestation of the Supreme LORD as a personal deity. Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
The Tradition of Saligrama Shila Worship:
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
The black stone known as Saligrama (Shaligram) Shila (rocks bearing Ammonite fossils) obtained from the river bed of the Himalayan river Kali-Gandaki is believed to be the physical, personal manifestation of the Supreme Lord and His devotees lovingly worship His idol.
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
This tradition is related to the story of a pious lady by the name of VRINDA and her reincarnation as a plant known as ‘TULASI’. The leaves and the flowers of ‘TULASI’ are used in the worship of the LORD and ‘TULASI’ plant is also worshiped with great devotion and hence ‘TULASI’ adorns several Indian homes.Tulasi,Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum, Holy Basil is known to Indians for thousands of years and is very often used in the Indian traditional medicine of ‘AYURVEDA’.
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
The Indian scripture of Bhagavad Gita, chapter 10, verse 10 describes the Infinite Glories of the Ultimate Truth, Lord Krishna speaks to the Pandava prince Arjuna:
“tesam satata yuktanam bhajatam priti purvakam
dadami buddhi yogam tam yena mam upayanti te.”
tesam-priti-purvakam-bhajatam: to those devotees who worship Me with love
satata-yuktanam: and who are constantly aspiring for My association
dadami: I bestow
buddhi yogam: the intelligence, understanding, and insight
yena: by which
te: they
upayanti: can come
mam: unto Me.
To those devotees who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I bestow the spiritual intelligence, understanding, and insight by which they can come unto Me.
The Ultimate Reality, the Supreme Absolute Truth exists beyond man’s reasoning powers and it is not possible to understand the Supreme by speculating and by argumentation. However, through devotional service rendered with love the Lord could be pleased and as an act of special mercy He reveals Himself to His devotee.
Worship of other Gods:
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
Indian thinkers have stated that, “Truth is one, though the sages know it as many”. Indians tolerate other religious practices and do not prohibit the worship of other Gods. Ideas that originated outside the Land of India specifically prohibit the worship of other Gods and condemn other religious practices. For example, the Holy Bible, the Old Testament, the Book of Exodus (chapter 20, verses 3-5), and the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 5, verses7-9) state the folowing :
“you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.”
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
Holy Bible and other scriptures like Quran specifically prohibit the Indian traditions of the worship of ‘Saligrama Shila’, and of idols used by Indians for their devotional worship of Lord God Creator.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
This is a United Nations Treaty based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and India has ratified this treaty. Amongst other things the Article 18, para3 of the treaty states :
“Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subjected only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.”
Propagation – Is that a Fundamental Right or Freedom?
The word propagation means the spreading of ideas from one person or one place to another person or place. Propagation aims at converting people to another opinion. Propagation attempts to alter people to adopt another point of view. Countries like Greece and Malayasia specifically prohibit propagation of religious ideas. Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Association, and Freedom of Speech are not the same as Freedom of Propagation. Propagation involves destroying the ability of people to think for themselves and it aims at converting people to change their ideas and practices. Propagation creates tension, disrupts social harmony, contributes to a breakdown of public order, and is not conducive to maintaining public safety. Propagation is unwanted violation of the Fundamental Rights of others, and propagation is unnecessary interference of the Fundamental Freedom of Religion of others. Propagation results in the destruction of the Right to practice religion and to worship God according to one’s choice. Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
Since, propagation is not a Fundamental Right or Freedom, and because propagation is counter productive, we need an amendment of PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
A PICTURE OF INDIA’S GRIEF OVER JIHADIST ATTACKS IN MUMBAI
TERROR ATTACKS ON INDIA :
Recent news reports are stating that the terror attacks on India have not seen its end and they are predicting the possibilities of more attacks similar to the Mumbai carnage on November 26, 2008. “India will continue to face a serious jihadist threat from Pakistan-based terrorist groups, and neither Indian nor U.S. policy is likely to reduce that threat in the near future”, said Angel Rabasa, lead author of the study and a senior Political Scientist with RAND, a non-profit think tank based in Santa Monica, California. According to RAND, the other extremist groups in Pakistan will find inspiration in the Mumbai attacks and there can be more attacks from groups with high body counts and symbolic targets.THE CONCEPT OF JIHAD :The term Jihad in Arabic means struggle and is often viewed as a religious duty. A person engaged in Jihad is called a ‘mujahid’, the plural is ‘mujahideen’. The Mumbai attackers identified themselves with the name of ‘Deccan Mujahideen’. The aim of Jihad includes the expansion and defense of the Islamic State and warfare against non-believers. Jihad ideology has historically inspired the conquest of non-Muslim population and the transformation of civil society which is viewed as corrupt, arrogant, and disobedient. The Holy Book of Quran, Surah 25, verse 52 states : “Therefore, do not obey the disbelievers, and strive against them with this, a great striving”. The objectives of armed warfare include uprooting unbelief and establishing supremacy of God, through Islam, in the world.”And fight them on until there is no tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere.”
THE HISTORY OF JIHAD IN INDIA :
Sir Jadunath Sarkar, a historian, and former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University had contended that several Muslim invaders waged a systematic Jihad against Indians. Sultan Mahamud of Ghazna(present day Ghazni city,Afghanistan) conducted more than twenty Jihadist attacks on North India between 1001 and 1027. In particular the records kept by al-Utbi, Sultan Ghazni’s secretary in the ‘Tarikh-i-Yamini’ document several episodes of bloody campaigns. Persian historian Ferishta records that Sultan Ghazni wants to “root out the worship of idols from the face of all Hindustan(India)”. He looked upon the destruction of temples as an act of Jihad. Mahamud Ghazni specifically directed his campaigns to temple towns of Nagarkot, Thanesar(1011), Mathura(1018), Kannauj(1019), Kalinjar(1023), and Somnath(1024). He had also destroyed temples at Varanasi, Ujjain, Maheshwar, Jwalamukhi, and Dwaraka. Mahmud Ghazni was of Turkic origin but had patronized the use of New Persian language and gave employment to writers such as al-Biruni, and Ferdowsi who gave detailed descriptions of the enormous booty and idols brought back to Ghazni city. Asaru-L-Bilad, a 13 th century geographer also described in great detail the destruction of Somnath. Apart from his regular troops, Mahmud Ghazni had assistance from 30,000 volunteer horsemen who had participated in the Jihad. To resist the attack on Somnath, Ghogha Rana at the age of 90 sacrificed himself and his clan. There are no census documents but after an analysis of all historical documents, historian K.S.Lal had estimated that about 2 million people died during Sultan Ghazni’s attacks on Indian temple towns.Similarly, Sikandar Lodhi of Delhi earned the epithet of ‘But Shikan’- the destroyer of idols. Babur the founder of Mughal empire in India in 1527 ordered a JIHAD against Rajputs at the battle of KHANUA. He had encouraged his men to fight the infidels and asked them to become either a Ghazi(soldier of Islam) or a Shaheed(Martyr of Islam). The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb waged Jihad against Hindus as well as Shia Muslims whom he identified as heterodox. In South India, the Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar came under repeated attacks of annual Jihad which had started in 1501 and each attack included destruction of temples. In the historical Third Battle of Panipat(January 1761), Ahmad Shah Abdali declared a Jihad against the Marathas. Estimates from historical documents indicate that about 60 to 80 million people in India died between 1000 and 1525 CE.INDIA’S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE :Indian traditions have clearly established the rules of warfare. A ‘JUST WAR’ or ‘DHARMA YUDDHA’ is a duty and is an obligation of the Ruler. We believe in the principles of protecting all non-combatants. They should not be touched or harmed in any manner. We recognize the right of self-protection, self-defense, and self-preservation. When an enemy attacks you, it would be an act of cowardice if the enemy is not engaged in a battle. In the context of defending people against Jihadist attacks, we are not only defending our territory, our property, our personal lives but also we are defending our right to think for ourselves and cherish the ideas and values that are important to our existence. We have a fundamental right to worship as we please and safeguard the traditional way of life. Since Jihadist attack is actually a war against our fundamental right to practice religion, the propagation of ideas of Jihadist warfare should be prohibited and violators should be punished. The term Self-Defense means defense of one’s rights, beliefs, and existence. The Right to defend oneself with whatever force is reasonably necessary against actual or threatened violence is universally recognized by Law. Self-Defense is a natural, inborn instinct. A National Entity has a Right and also a Duty to defend itself from attacks sponsored by an enemy or an Enemy State. The act of Self-Defense could be expressed in several different forms; a retaliation involving the use of military force, economic and trade sanctions, diplomatic sanctions, imposing travel restrictions, and other punitive or defensive actions as needed.
Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham,
Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,
YAGNA, A VEDIC RITUAL OF SACRIFICE-‘HOTREE’ OR ‘YAGNA PERFORMER’ OFFERS ‘HAVIS’ TO FIRE(LORD AGNI)
THE UNIVERSE AS GOD’S BODY
The word ‘omnipresent’ is defined as present everywhere at the same time. The property of being present everywhere is one of the Divine attributes. In western theism it has attracted less attention and the idea of ‘omnipresence’ is explained in a bit unclear way. In Judeo-Christian, and Islamic Cultures, God is not immersed in the substance of creation even though He is able to interact with it as He chooses. They tend to the view that God is in “HEAVEN”, and that God is above and outside of all creation. They explain ‘omnipresence’ in terms of His ‘ESSENCE’ as He is present to all as the cause of their being, His ‘POWER’ as all things are subject to His power, and His ‘KNOWLEDGE’ as He constantly watches all that goes on in the world and all things are bare and open to His eyes and hence He is naturally present in every aspect of the natural order. Whereas Indian thinkers tend to believe that a thing is said to be substantially or essentially in that place in which its substance is. Hence, people in the Land of India traditionally hold the view that God is related to the universe as though it is His body. The entire creation is seen as a manifestation of the Supreme Person. The theory of transcendent(exists apart from material universe) and immanent(actually present throughout the material universe)’omnipresence’ explains the meaning of the word ‘BRAHMAN’, the Ultimate Reality. Indian people reflect this belief in their worship of creation, and the idea that God is immersed in the substance of His creation could be recognized as a core value, the foundation upon which the Cultural traditions of India are established over thousands of years of their continued existence. The rituals of temple worship and the Vedic rituals of Yagna always include aspects of Worship of Creation and the Scriptures reveal that the Gods also Worship Creation to the same extent and the Indian way of life could be stated as a quest for unity with the Divine.
A HYMN TO SEEK PROTECTION FROM THE CREATOR
Yaa srushti srashtu raadyaa vahiti vidhihutam, yaa havi ryaacha hotree
The act of Creation Worship defines Indian Identity. All other Cultural Traditions that are existing in India proceed from this foundational principle. Indians seek their well-being, prosperity, happiness and eventually salvation through acts of worship. The foreign forces that occupied and ruled India tried hard to take away this Right to Worship as per our belief that God is immanent. We need to recognize the Right to Worship Creation as a Fundamental Right. Citizens while they are free to profess their religion , should not be free to ‘PROPAGATE’ a religion or idea which basically interferes with a Fundamental Right. No person could have a Fundamental Right to PROPAGATE at the expense of denying and devaluing other core values. To that extent, we should seek an amendment to PART III, Article 25 of the Constitution of India which deals with Freedom of Religion. The Constitution of India must recognize the Worship of Creation as a Foundational Principle of the Land of India and hence should be considered a Fundamental Right and should prohibit PROPAGATION of religion which infringes upon this Core Value. Such an amendment is vital to defend the Freedom of Religion as religious doctrines of Islam and Christianity are opposed to the idea of divinity of all created objects. These religious faiths divide humanity into two categories; the believers, and the non-believers. They also further express the claim that they possess a divine sanction to punish or modify the beliefs of the non-believers. In the global community, the adherents of Hindu religious faith are only a minority and they need special protection to defend the Right to Freedom of Religion.
LEAP OF LORD HANUMAN – PRUDENCE IS INDISPENSABLE TO A GOOD LIFE:
This New Year’s Day of the Year 2009, I have resolved to seek strength, intelligence, and practical wisdom to overcome my shortcomings and to get over the pain and misery caused by my blemishes. Prudence is indispensable to a good life. Lord Hanuman before His legendary leap across the Sea, looked at the Sea carefully, evaluated the challenging task, offered prayers before undertaking the task, demonstrated the practical value of prudence. A simple mortal being like me has no choice other than that of using prudence in every action that I may undertake.
Dr R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,
The Temple of Lord Somnath speaks of the Power of Creation vs the Power of Destruction.
THE TEMPLE OF LORD SOMNATH IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE POWER OF CREATION OVER THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION.
This entry is dedicated to the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister.
THE POWER OF CREATION vs THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION: This story is a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Independent India who initiated the task of rebuilding historic Somnath Temple.
THE SHRINE ETERNAL:
Somnath Temple is in the ‘Prabhas Kshetra’, near the seaport city of Veraval in Junagadh District, Kathiawar Peninsula of Saurashtra , on the shores of Arabian Sea,the western coast of Gujarat, India. This holy place of pilgrimage is a place of great antiquity and recent excavations there have revealed a settlement dating from about 1500 B.C. As per Indian traditions, the place is of significance as it is considered as the place from where Lord Krishna departed from this world. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Shiva and He is known by the name of SOMNATH or the Lord of the Moon. The present temple as it exists today is known as ‘Kailash Mahameru Prasada and is built-in CHALUKYA style of temple architecture. The site lied in a state of ruin for centuries and the decision to rebuild it was made by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during his visit on 13 November, 1947. The temple was inaugurated on December 1, 1951 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Republic of India. He had remarked that, “The Somnath temple signifies that the power of creation is always greater than the power of destruction”. The temple symbolizes the enduring fame of Sardar Patel who during the first three years of Indian independence after 1947, had served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Information, and Minister of States. He was considered as practical and decisive. He was the architect of the Indian Union and his greatest contribution was the achievement of the peaceful integration of over 535 princely states into the Indian Union. The principality of Junagadh, and the princely State of Hyderabad had initially resisted the offer to join the Indian Union. Having failed in his attempts to join Pakistan, the Nawab of Junagadh fled away from the country. Mr. Bhutto,( the father of Mr. Z.A. Bhutto, who served as Pakistan’s Prime minister) acting in his capacity of the ‘DEWAN’ of the court of Junagadh, had invited Lord Mountbatten to accept the accession of Junagadh to India. In the State of Hyderabad, a militant movement called the Razakars was launched seeking independence but Sardar Patel restored peace in September 1948 and the ruler Nizam had accepted the terms of accession to the Indian Union. This part of Indian history and the integration of princely states into Indian Union has again become relevant after the enemy’s brutal attack in Mumbai which I had mentioned in my previous entry. The enemy had described himself as ‘Deccan Mujahideen’, and the media reports indicate that the enemy had specific designs to gobble Junagadh, and Hyderabad apart from encouraging insurgency in the border State of Kashmir. The enemy’s intentions will force us to defend SOMNATH in Junagadh District which is resurrected after repeated attacks over centuries.
THE HISTORY OF SOMNATH:
Jyotirlinga Temple at Somnath is mentioned in Hindu prayers in praise and worship of Lord Shiva:”Saurashtra dese visadeti ramye, Jyotirmayam Chandra Kalaa vatamsam, Bhakti pradaanaaya Krupaa vateernam, Tam Somanaatham Saranam prapadye.”Somnath, the confluence of three rivers, River Sarasvati, River Hiranya, River Ilanki and Kapila is mentioned in ancient Hindu Scriptures known as Rig Veda.LORD SOMNATH TEMPLE-THE SHRINE ETERNAL – TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF CREATION OVER THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION.
Somnath finds its mention in the ancient text of RIG VEDA. It is associated with the holy names of GANGA, YAMUNA, and SARASWATI, popularly known as ‘TIRTH DHAM’ where Indians traditionally offer worship by a practice described as ‘River Worship’. The ancient river of Saraswati may have merged into the Sea at Somnath apart from smaller rivulets known by the names of Hiranya, Kapila and Ilanki. The place is extensively described as a place of pilgrimage and its importance is narrated in the ancient texts of ‘SKANDA PURANA’, ‘BHAGAVATA PURANA’, and ‘SHIVA PURANA’. Lord Shiva in His radiant form known as ‘Jyotirlinga’ resides at Twelve different places in India and Somnath is listed as the first place of residence of ‘DWADASA JYOTIRLINGA’.Tradition claims that the original Temple of Somnath was built by Lord Moon, and was later built by King Ravana of Lanka who is a central figure in the story of Indian epic poem of RAMAYANA. The SINDH area of the Indian subcontinent came under Arab conquest in 7th century A.D. The Somnath Temple built by the YADAVA kings of Vallabhi of Saurashtra around 649 A.D. was destroyed in 725 A.D. by the Arab governor of Sindh. The Pratihara King Nagabhata II rebuilt it in red stone. Between 1001 A.D. and 1027 A.D. , the road to conquest of India was prepared by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna( modern GHAZNI in Afghanistan) who conducted more than twenty raids into North India. His raids were mainly for plunder. They revealed the wealth of India and demonstrated the vulnerability of India to military attacks. During one of his raids, in 1024 A.D. , marching across India’s Thar Desert, Mahmud of Ghazna had plundered and destroyed the Somnath Temple. The amount looted was estimated at 20 thousand, thousand ‘Dinars’. The enormous treasures found at Somnath have been a theme of wonder for all who have written on that conquest. The Paramara King of Bhoj of Malwa, Solanki King Bhima of Anhilwara/Patan between 1026 A.D. and 1042 A.D. rebuilt the Temple. By 1297/98 A.D. , Gujarat was conquered by Ala-ud-Din Khalij, Sultan of Delhi and the Temple was razed.Solanki King Kumarapala built a Temple of stone and this was destroyed again in 1394 A.D. For the last time, the Temple was destroyed in 1706 A.D by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the site remained in ruins till India’s independence in 1947. The rebirth of the Temple on December 1, 1951 demonstrates the vitality of the Indian spirit.
SOMNATH – THE POWER OF CREATION OVER THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION. MUGHAL EMPEROR AURANGZEB DESTROYED SOMNATH TEMPLE AND IT WAS A ‘JIHADIST’ ATTACK.SOMNATH TEMPLE – THE POWER OF CREATION OVER THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION. EMPEROR AURANGZEB PERSECUTED HINDUS, SIKHS, AND JAINS FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.SOMNATH TEMPLE – THE POWER OF CREATION OVER THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION. A PHOTO IMAGE OF SOMNATH TEMPLE IN 1869.
Lord Somanatha is dwelling in His great splendor in the Province of Saurashtra. May this Lord Somanatha who is full of radiance, and the crescent-shaped Moon shines in His matted hair, with His extreme compassion grant me a great sense of devotion with which I would seek my protection and let Him be my refuge.
Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B,Sc, M.B.B.S.,
Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,
M.B.B.S., Class of April 1970.
The Power of Creation vs the Power of Destruction. A tribute to Sardar Patel.
Whole Dude - Whole Spirituality 