Amar Krishna Paul
(Amar Krishna Paul is a Freelance Journalist from Guwahati. Feedback may be emailed to akpnet@yahoo.co.in)
PART-II
(Continued from yesterday)
A few years ago, a Delhi-based news magazine carried a big story of a topper in Indian Administrative Service (IAS). In the news feature, the topper claimed that he could pass out the most prestigious IAS examination of the country by reading the Gita everyday. He viewed that a person who would read the Gita regularly would be free from fear, depression, restless nature of mind, etc. According to him, one could ensure mental peace, physical fitness and overall stability simply by reciting the verses of ‘the song book of God’ in the early morning.
He urged all young students who are aspirants to IAS examination to read atleast one verse daily. The Gita magnifies the reader who read it by heart. It is very useful to improve personality as well as the level of self-confidence to face any sort of challenges.
Generally, the viva and personality test of IAS examination are very tough. A good number of board members pose a wide variety of questions to a particular candidate. Someone may ask question on family background, someone on honours paper at the degree level, someone on current national and international topics, etc. The candidate needs to reply all the questions at a time. This is done to verify how he or she can handle a situation. Only a regular Gita reader can face such a situation very tactfully, according to the IAS topper.
Most importantly, the Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi on Feb 26, 2019 unveiled the world’s biggest Bhagavad Gita, running into 670 pages and weighing 800 kg, at the ISKCON temple in South Delhi’s East of Kailash.
“With an artistic touch of 18 exquisite paintings and an innovative elegant layout, the book has been printed in Milan, Italy, on YUPO synthetic paper so as to make it untearable and waterproof,” the ISKCON said.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that it is indeed a special occasion to unveil this magnificent Bhagavad Gita. He said this unique book will become a symbol of India’s knowledge, to the world.
He recalled that Lokmanya Tilak had written the “Gita Rahasya,” while in jail, in which he explained in a simple way, Lord Krishna’s message of Nishkam Karma. He lauded the efforts of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupadaji, in raising global awareness about this epic.
The PM echoed that the Bhagavad Gita can always be our guide when we face a dilemma in life. Recalling a famous verse from the Gita, he said that the divine force is always with us, as we fight against the enemies of humanity. He said the Gita inspires one, to service of the people and the nation.
Meanwhile, he had gifted the Bhagavad Gita to both the Japanese Emperor Akihito and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He said that when two great men meet, they exchange gifts. He had, too, taken a great gift from India to hand over to Japanese PM and the Emperor of Japan. This gift is the Bhagavad Gita. For him, only the Gita is the best gift. According to him, there is nothing greater than the Gita with the people of the world as gift. So, he did present the Gita to US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and its Emperor as well.
Precisely, in the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna says to warrior Arjuna that Krishna, the fountainhead of everything, resides in the core of hearts in all living entities. He directs all of us to do the right actions and rational work. Sad to say, very few follow the divine instructions coming out from the core of hearts before performing a big job which can affect many general masses either positively or negatively.
More recently, a noted ISKCON spiritual leader at Mayapur, West Bengal, the international headquarters of ISKCON, said that the reddish rays of the dawn-lit Sun around the Krishna Consciousness Movement had been seen throughout the universe for over 50 years and, glad to say, very soon the torrential waves of Krishna Consciousness would be flooded in every village, town and city of the entire globe.
His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami set up ISKCON in the USA to propagate the holistic mission of his spiritual master Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad to preach the holy name of the Lord in the English speaking countries. With the help of uninterrupted devotional service unto the lotus feet of Krishna and regular chanting of the holy name of the Lord he did turn the hippies of US into happy people during early 1970’s. Little by little, the Krishna Consciousness Movement reached far and wide.
That is, ISKCON, known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a worldwide confederation of more than 400 temples and runs 100 vegetarian restaurants and a wide variety of community serving projects. In the meantime, a Tribal Care Initiative has been introduced in order to enlighten the tribes of India about the rich culture of Krishna Consciousness Movement. Especially the tribes of Northeast India are being taught about the supreme science of Krishna and practised Krishnatarian way of life. As “Books are the Basis” is the guiding principle of Krishna Consciousness Movement, all tribes of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam are given away a wide range of books on Krishna philosophy and literature. ISKCON centres are distributing thousand copies of spiritual books like The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is throughout the entire world to usher in a new era of hopes, peace and prosperities among the common masses. Reading these books and assimilating the essence of these books, thousands of ethnic people of Assam have already changed their lives on a positive note. For further details, one may visit Sri Sri Rukmini Krishna Temple, Mount Hare Krishna, South Sarania, Ulubari, Guwahati, Assam.
To conclude with Shri Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, “The Gita guides us in resolving the dilemmas and struggles between right and wrong that exist within every human being. What is right and what is wrong? What should we do and not do? Answers to these questions emerge from the Gita.... The message of the Gita is relevant for all times to come. From an ancient society based on agriculture to a society based on commerce and industry, and now to a knowledge society – the message of the Gita has been everlasting.” (Concluded)