Sri Swamiji's message on Gi:tha:jyo:thi (2002-03)
As light dispels darkness, right knowledge eliminates human weakness and keeps him in action hence light “Jyothi” always represents right knowledge. Man born with “built in knowledge”. No one needs to inject knowledge from outside, all that one needs is removing of hurdles to bring forth his own knowledge .To put in practice this knowledge there are scriptures and scholars to guide. We call those scholars as our Gurus. A Guru like a sculptor removes unwanted part of stone and shows a beautiful sculpture from a raw stone and arrests unnecessary activities and makes a person useful to the society.
There are innumerable scholars, guides & seers who made attempts to light up the real knowledge in the human society through their writings, Lord Krishna occupies an unparallel and unique position as Jagat Guru (teacher of the world par excellence). His preaching to a despondent Arjuna amidst the war process is respected by the whole world as life saving drug not only to fight in war but also it reveals the truth of life, and as a key to how man can overcome the state of frustration and get success in one's mission. The preaching of Lord Krishna is called BHAGAVAD GITA and the truth seekers worship him as a model preacher. Bhagavat Geeta comprises of slokas in Sanskrit which touch all aspects of the life of people who belong to all walks of life. A few slokas are applicable for specific groups only, where as some slokas are commonly applicable to each and everyone in their day-to-day life. Man today is standing at the crossroads as how to justify his routine with the law of nature. Man is puzzled to justify his deeds in this morally degraded social structure. To build moral courage, mental strength and also to spread good morale values among the masses, the Bhagavat Geeta can show us the “Geeta Jyothi” a unique year long project being launched by Vikasa Tarangini in A.P. on Telugu New Year “ Chitra Bhanu” i.e. on April 13, 2002.
A list of 48 slokas were chosen from the Bhagavat Geeta, which can be learnt along with meaning. One sloka per week is the aim. Three self-assessment charts were also given. These charts are meant for self-evaluation of every individual. Each chart is spread over four months.
As the content is drawn from the Bhagavat Geeta it has divine power in it to effectively work on human beings to remove their weakness and generate courage, self confidence, devotion and patriotism to the practitioner .The real “JYOTHI” with in every heart will be Enlightened by filling the self-evaluation charts and with the chanting of slokas, one can fasten the life journey toward the goals of a powerful nation where people enjoy peace and brother hood by sharing their sorrows and joys with each other which creates a good understanding among them and benefits the society at large. Geeta Jyothi aims toward achieving this goal .
A message given to children spreads fast as they try to understand things fast so children will be involved in this project. Competitions at different levels will be conducted among the students from village to state level. An additional attraction will be a painting competition to draw 30 pictures from the Bhagavat Geeta .The children will be provided with clues to sketch the pictures.
“ Dharma Rathas will cover all the districts in A.P. They would cover 50 lakh families (two crore population approximately.) in the state. As they tour in villages, they touch all houses irrespective of caste, creed or religion and seek their participation. The Pracharaka in the ratham would invite each and everyone for Krishna puja and a Pratima (idols) would be presented to them to invoke interest of participation.
Bhajan and Kolatam groups (cultural activities) play a pivotal role in maintaining harmony among different sections of the village. A census programme will be conducted to collect data of such cultural activities in all the villages. Training would be provided in some Dharmika issues to make them feel responsible for all-round development of their villages. Each village wherever the Geeta Jyothi is conducted would be treated as Geeta gosti and such 108 villages would make a Dharma Kshetra .Six Dharma Kshetras will work in the state. The Geeta Jyothi commenced by the Grace of Goddess Padmavathi and in the presence of Lord Venkateshwara on Tirumala Hills on13th April, 2002 at 10.15 A.M. the birthday of Lord Ranganatha.
We shall visit at least one village in each district were all the 108 villages will be assembled to perform a massive Krishna puja and light ghee lamps and people take an oath to serve as an instrument for the development of their village and live in peace and harmony with fellow beings as service to God.
Vikasa Tarangini aims at imbibing two objectives in the hearts of people, one; “Serve all beings as Service to God”. The whole universe with different species is divine form of God. Serving and spreading automatically becomes His service. The second is “Worship Your Own - Respect All”. People worship different forms of GOD, only one God responds to all the calls, God does not belong to any religion, one needs to realize that the practices and worship are only a way to realize God. So one needs to confirm his own way of worshipping yet respect other ways. No one should be looked down or insulted. Vikasa Tarangini is taking up health awareness programs as part of Geetha Jyothi.
1) Dental Check up to cultivate good dietary habits.
2) Organise programmes to improve mental ability, for brighter careers.
3) Educate people about cleanliness, making surrounding inhabitable.
4) Special camps for women health care.
5) Veterinary camps to treat domestic animals and make people compassionate towards other species.
All the above camps would be held in all the Dharma Kshethras during the Geeta Jyothi period.
These programs though planned for one year, the need is to be done perpetually. Vikasa Taragini is extending an invitation to set the trend for all patriotic people and organizations to come forward and do their part as long as their resources permit. Vikasa Tarangini will continue this service. No doubt it is not one person or one organization's responsibility, but it is the duty of every citizen who loves the nation and Dharma. Our places are different and colony may be different, our size and profession may be different, our religion may be different, yet all of us are human beings fundamentally.
We are all children of this land belonging to a single God, so we have unbreakable relationship inseparable with each other. Let us try to share the sorrows of others, let us share our joys with others, and let us walk in unison for higher purpose than just mundane living.
Jai Srimannarayana!
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