January: To a new dawn; To new HOPES

Greetings,

“While for some, endings bring joy, hopes and promises; some feel an unfillable vacuum. It all depends on our perspective, how do we wanna see the new beginnings”

Quotes or thoughts, they are simply a concise version of many experiences, knowledge, wisdom, beliefs, values, sometimes feelings, and sometimes a blend of all or one or two. We have seen many personalities sharing their 'piece of thought' with the world in order to inspire or motivate people for a greater good; and at times to warn or caution them from the hazards of social evils that could lead men towards their own destruction.

I too, have been sharing/posting quotes on my social  profiles, in order to inspire or motivate, sometimes to provoke a thought, and sometimes to add a perspective. Yes, quotes do help in gaining and making perspective to shape our thought process, for better. And the above stated quote that I scribed on the occasion of new-year, indeed adds a perspective, an outlook. What has happened, good or bad is a past, hence 'look-forward' as we have the key to the future; let's shape it for GOOD.

While we are here talking about perspectives, 2018 started with a big political shift, thankfully with a good intent. President of the United States, Donald Trump, following to his anti-terrorism agenda, took a bold step by suspending the monetary aid to Pakistan. 

{Image Courtesy: Republic}

This unprecedented move ended the hypocritical "counter-terrorism" aid (in billions of dollars), which fruited nothing but destruction. Now, a lot has been said about Mr. Trump, questioning his sanity; but such a move tells us, that, may be he's doing things in a unhypocritical sense that is not going down well, with some.

In September 2017, the nation was jolted with the heartrending Ryan School Murder. I discussed the unfortunate incident in my November blog, trying to reason the rationale that resulted in innocent Pradyumn's death. In January, as the month progressed, a similar incident took place in Brightland School, Lucknow that clearly depicts, there's something wrong with our system, in OUR system.

In order to avail school holiday, a class seven girl stabbed a class one boy, endangering his life. Try to imagine the excruciation of the boy, the pain that his parents went through; and all this happened, for a day off. Where are we heading? The increasing communication gap between parents and children has caused insecurity in the latter's minds. This insecurity or desperateness or sometimes fear, when a child is not much/more attached to his parents, results in such deplorable events and they will only increase, until we start to reconcile, to bridge the gap.

Passed month January had some festivals like every year and some significant occurrences; we would like to mention a few:

Makar Sankranti: Also celebrated as Uttarayan/Maghi/Pongal/Bihu/Khichdi/Lohri, the festival is celebrated throughout the nation varying with slight regional differences and names, but with similar festivity. Sankranti is the symbol of joie de vivre, celebrated with utter enthusiasm. The day is celebrated in reverence of the Solar deity, Surya Dev/Sun, who’s the powerhouse of our solar system, signifying the beginning of harvest season and the Northward movement of Surya Dev, hence known as Uttarayan with a fresh breeze in the atmosphere. This is the only festival that surprisingly falls on the same Gregorian date (January 14).

Basant Panchami: Also also known as Vasant Panchami is a spring festival coming every fifth day of Magh month of Indian calendar, occurring in the month of January/February. The festival is celebrated pan India with variances, in reverence of two deities, Devi Saraswati and Kaamdev; yes, lady of knowledge & wise, and lord of love & sexuality. While In many regions, people worship Saraswati, Bhagwati of learning, arts & music. Devotees visit to her temples, play music, while parents sit down with their children, initiate them into writing letters of alphabet or study together; some regions mark this day as the festival of Kaamdev, the Hindu deity of love. Vasant Panchami, hence is also termed as Indian Valentine day, as couples get together this day to celebrate the changing season, bringing freshness in their lives.

Major festival falling in February:

Maha-Shivratri: most prominent Shaiv-festival celebrated jubilantly by the devotees all over the world in veneration of Bhagwan Shiv. Shivratri falls on every luni-solar month of the Hindu calendar, coming on 13th night/14th day of Phalgun, every February/March; before the arrival of spring, marking Maha Shivratri which means "the Great Night of Shiv". A remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life. The festival is observed by remembering Shiv and chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, non-violence, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiv.

Now let's talk about a festival that's celebrated Pan-India in unison, 26th of January, Republic day. The day our constitution same into effect completing India's transition towards becoming an Independent Republic. It is this day, that grants all citizens of India parity, to chose their life with free will.

But sadly, this republic day, the same constitution was challenged when a young man was gunned down, to death. His only offence, he was a part of the Tiranga-Yatra and sang 'Vande-Matram', which the members of a certain community couldn't tolerate. For those who allege intolerance in our nation, this is 'intolerance' that needs to be identified without any hesitation and biased vision.

My purpose here is not to create another 'hate-post' against certain sect/community, because no country/religion is perfect and good/evil reside everywhere, take the Karni-Sena for instance. The anarchy they are responsible for is similar to the situation that erupted in Kasganj. They never cared about Rajput honor or pride, they just shaped their personal motives, and some political (the reason why their protest ended straight after Rajasthan by-polls).

So, who's to blame any particular community, or all religions. The answer is, WE. No religion preaches hate/bias, but since they are imperfect (the fact that they are man-made), few individuals take advantage of it, and our ignorance pays the price.

So what's the resort, Dharm. Indeed it is, as it is directed by vaidas i.e. by the ONE, and hence preaches no bias but Karma, we need to understand:

• The day we will know our heritage and start acting rational will be the day of awakening.
• The day we will start questioning will be the day we will start getting answers and there will be sentience.
• The day our coming generations' minds will be nurtured with genuineness, will be the day there will be no one left in anarchist groups.
• The day we will stop giving in to ill political-motives, will be the day when there won't be any fire/destruction in name of religion.

No scripture teaches bias/hate/discrimination, but since I have studied Valmiki Ramayan (yet), I will talk from that context only. There ain't a single instance I came across that depicted, casteism, sexism, discrimination; even the royalties were subjected to trial in case of being guilty. There are many episodes that validate Shri Ram's transcendence, his excellence on rajneeti (the way of righteous). He never discriminated among the classes, instead, during his exile he unified the classes and cultures and extended the ambits of Aryavart for a better society.

Every answer lies in our legends, all we need is to study them, to observe them and believe in them, and then there will be a society of the learned, the civilized that will harbor no ill will.

Before signing off, I would like you to look at this image:

{Image Source: vina.cc}

A mere glance at the image above and the names that will strike, Shri Ram & Hanuman, probably some old carvings discovered, somewhere in Indian region. But the answer is bewildering, the above carving sources from Silemania, Iraq, around 6000 year old.

Fascinating, isn't it. The carving is claimed to be of Ram Sin (Sin - Moon God, i.e. Ram Chandra), longest ruling monarch of Mesopotamia. There's even mention of Bharat Sin and Lakhamar, which can be perceived as Bharat & Lakshmarn. Although, in Ramayan, there's no such mention of Shri Ram ruling that region during his reign, but since he successfully accomplished the 'Ashwamegha-Yagya', his sovereignty was accepted everywhere and thus the above image from Iraq makes sense.

I recently published my blog post that recounts the journey of Sugreeve's army to western, for Devi Sita's search, and the locations mentioned are astounding as they cover Iran, Iraq, and even Greece as well as why there's a resemblance between Indra & Zeus. Curious? Do visit:

http://srirom.blogspot.in/2018/01/sugreeves-intelligence-west.html

Like I say, truth is always incontrovertible. See you next month.


'सियाराम'



[Visit my website: www.srirom.in to access my social profiles]