Tattva

Namaste,
Wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.

What better way to start the new year, than getting hold of the new edition of Tattva! In this edition, Neeraj is back with his series on Yoga Charcha. Shreyas has written an article on the brief history of Hinduism in Indonesia and what the future holds for the Hindus there. We also have a wonderful article on the philosophy of management as prescribed in the Bhagavad Gita, written by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired chief technical officer, Govt. of Kerala , India Make sure you do not miss any of these wonderful articles.

Vande Mataram!

Please visit http://www.hinduyuva.org/tattva-blog/2007/01/ to read the January 2007 edition of Tattva.

Pt. Upadhyaya (September 25, 1916 - February 11, 1968) is well known for his idea of INTEGRAL HUMANISM - the concept which is deeply embedded in Indian Psyche. While he was a student at Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1937. He dedicated himself to full-time work in the RSS from 1942. Deendayal Upadhyaya was a man of soaring idealism and had a tremendous capacity for organisation. He started a monthly Rashtra Dharma, a weekly Panchajanya and a daily Swadesh. In the field of politics and economics, he was pragmatic and down to earth. He visualized for India a decentralized polity and self-reliant economy with the village as the base. Read the rest of this entry »

To remind the reader, Yoga Charcha is an informal discussion of Yoga literature. In this article we try to explore the overview of Yoga and Yama as described by Patanjali. We refer to Swami Ramdeo’s ‘Yoga Sadhana via Yoga Chikitsa Rahasya’ and B.K.S. Iyengar’s ‘Light on Yoga’. Most people with even a passing interest in yoga would surely have come across the words ‘Ashtanga Yoga’. They refer to the eight limbs of yoga or the eight stages in the path of a yogi’s quest as written in Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutra’. Read the rest of this entry »

Mind is very restless, forceful and strong, O Krishna, it is more difficult to control the mind than to control the wind.

 ~ Arjuna to Sri Krishna

Introduction to the Gita:

One of the greatest contributions of India to the world is Holy Gita which is considered to be one of the first revelations from God. The management lessons in this holy book were brought in to light of the world by divine Maharshi Mahesh Yogi , Sri Sri RaviShankar and Swami Bodhanandji, and the spiritual philosophy by the great Adi Sankaracharya, the greatest philosopher of India and proud son of Kerala, and Sri. Srila Prabhupada Swami and humanism by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and Satya Sai Baba. Maharishi calls the Bhagavad-Gita the essence of Vedic Literature and a complete guide to practical life. It provides “all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level.” Maharishi reveals the deep, universal truths of life that speak to the needs and aspirations of everyone. Swami Chinmayanandaji preached and educated the people and Swami Sandeep Chaitanyaji continued the mission by keeping this lantern burning always knowing the wishes of the modern generations. Arjuna got mentally depressed when he saw his relatives with whom he had to fight.( Mental health has now become a major international public health concern). To motivate him, the Bhagavad Gita is preached in the battle field of Kurukshetra by Lord Krishna to Arjuna as a counseling to do his duty while multitudes of men stood by waiting. It has got all the management tactics to achieve the mental equilibrium and to overcome any crisis situation. Read the rest of this entry »

मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम् जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमताम् वरिष्ठम्।

वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥

manojavaṁ mārutatulyavegam jitendriyaṁ buddhimatām variṣṭham |vātātmajaṁ vānarayūthamukhyaṁ śrīrāmadūtaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye ||

Global reach of Hinduism:

One of the common misconceptions about Hinduism is that it is an India-specific religion. Indeed it is true that Hinduism and the Vedanta philosophy originated in India and even today a vast majority of the followers of the religion are Indians; emigration and migration in the last couple of centuries and the universal appeal of Vedanta have made people recognize the fact that it is a global religion with a worldwide following. Even historically, Hinduism was never an India-specific religion. Ancient Hindu idols have been discovered in places as far as central Asia. However, for a variety of reasons, Hinduism got erased from most of the places which lay to the west of India. But in Indonesia, where Hinduism flourished in style and in substance, it continues to maintain its presence even today – reminding us of its past glory and global appeal.

  Read the rest of this entry »

Materialistic pleasures were never the goals of Hindus. People used to be satisfied with what they had and within what they had, used to help others. Their hearts were filled with pure love, friendship and bhakti. The story of Sudaama, the best friend of Lord Krishna, stands as an outstanding example for this.

Sudaama and Krishna Bhagavan were good friends. The friendship started at their gurukulam with Shri Saandeepa. As always duty takes more priority than everything. Hence, after completing their studies they had to part. However, neither Krishna nor Sudaama could forget each other. Sudaama, knowing who Krishna really was, also had true devotion for him. Sudaama never was interested in earning lot of money or other such aihikechchas. Once after many years, not able to bear the separation from Krishna anymore, sets off to meet Krishna.

Read the rest of this entry »

Religious faith in the case of the Hindus has never been allowed to run counter to scientific laws, moreover the former is never made a condition for the knowledge they teach, but there are always scrupulously careful to take into consideration the possibility that by reason both the agnostic and atheist may attain truth in their own way. Such tolerance may be surprising to religious believers in the West, but it is an integral part of Vedantic belief.

-Romain Rolland (1866-1944)