Crucial to revisit roots, embrace core Hindu principles: love, compassion, harmony

A note on religious leaders' Satya Dharam Samvad in Haridwar:

***

In a groundbreaking gathering, more than 25 religious leaders including Swamis, Acharyas, Pujaris, Gurus, and Sadhvis from all over India convened to discuss the tenets of Hinduism on September 16th, 2023, in Haridwar, to discuss and discern the current trajectory of Hinduism. This brand new initiative, the Satya Dharam Samvad, was inspired to organize its first assembly in response to the December 2021 Dharma Sansad, where hate speech and calls for violence against the Muslim community contravened the essential principles of Hinduism. Religion is being used to incite riots among Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, etc. In the face of such hatred, Swami Raghavendra felt that something meaningful should be done in the present climate.

It is after consulting many sages and saints, that Matri Sadan and Satya Dharam Samvad jointly organized the Haridwar Dharma-Sansad 2023. In the coming months, Satya Dharam Samvad will interact with religious leaders in different areas of India in order to expose people who misinterpret religion and promote hate.

Swami Raghavendra, a prominent spiritual leader in attendance, said, "In these tumultuous times, it's crucial to revisit our roots and embrace the core principles of Hinduism – love, compassion, and harmony. We cannot let misguided interpretations take us off the path of our sacred hymns and scriptures."

Strongly rooted in Gandhian principles, the Satya Dharam Samvad serves as a beacon, aiming to connect individuals on a deeper human level. This initiative has been established to counter the rising atmosphere of Hinduphobia and to champion the message of unity and brotherhood across all castes and communities.

Korneshwar Swami, a respected cleric expressed "Hinduism is not about division; it's about unity in diversity. Today, more than ever, we need to remember that and work collectively to form a society that upholds the values of love over hate, and sees every individual as equal."

Acknowledging the complex nature of the challenges facing Hinduism, the conference delved into various aspects, from the misinterpretation of scriptures to the politicization of religious ideologies. Leaders emphasized the need for a more holistic understanding of the religion, calling for increased inter-faith dialogue and unity.

Mahant Rajendra Tripathi, a spiritual leader, said, "Those who spread hatred against a particular community in the name of organising Dharma Sansads are not Hindu priests but businessmen."

Sadhvi Chandrakala Sahib echoed this sentiment, stating, "While Hinduism is facing its challenges, it's our collective responsibility to ensure that its essence – love, compassion, and tolerance – remains untouched. Let's not be political Hindus; let's be spiritual Hindus."

The resolutions set forth by the Satya Dharam Samvad are clear and resonate with the core principles of Hinduism. By advocating for a victory of love over hate, championing human equality, promoting peace among all religions, and aiming for a casteless society, the initiative is setting a robust course for the future of Hinduism.

Drawing deeply from the revered teachings of Acharya Swami Ramanand and his disciple, poet Ravidas, the participants of Satya Dharam Samvad are galvanized with a resolute vision: to foster a casteless society. They embrace Ramanand's timeless wisdom, “No caste is asked, no one worships Hari, so Hari ka hoi,” underscoring that in the divine realm, all souls are equal. Inspired further by Ravidas's poignant prose — the leaders are committed to eradicating these divisive lines. Taking cues from the profound insights of such venerable figures, the samvad stands unwavering in its mission to champion unity, inclusivity, and the rich tapestry of teachings that call for love and understanding above all.

About Satya Dharam Samvad: Satya Dharam Samvad is a non-political organization working towards spreading the message of fraternity and compassion through engagement with religious leaders and authorities. Founded by compassionate Acharyas of the Hindu religion, the initiative seeks to foster peace, love, and harmony, especially in these challenging times.

Comments

Randa's bairagi said…

Good luck with your future endeavors.

22 September 2023 at 10:01

Towards 2024: Time for ‘We the People of India’ to wake up before it is too late

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India!

Eight years of empowering tribal communities through water initiatives in Chhattisgarh

By Gazala Paul* In the heart of Chhattisgarh, amidst the echoes of tribal life, a transformative journey has unfolded over the past eight years. The Samerth organization has diligently worked to elevate the lives of indigenous communities in the Kawardha district through the project, "Enabling Baiga Community to access safe drinking water."

Regretful: Kapil Dev retired not leaving Indian cricket with integrity he upheld

By Harsh Thakor Kapil Dev scaled heights as an entertainer and a player upholding the spirit of the game almost unparalleled in his era. In his time he was cricket’s ultimate mascot of sportsmanship On his day Kapil could dazzle in all departments to turn the tempo of game in the manner of a Tsunami breaking in. He radiated r energy, at a level rarely scaled in his era on a cricket field. Few ever blended aggression with artistry so comprehenisively. Although fast medium, he could be as daunting with the ball as the very best, with his crafty outswinger, offcutter, slower ball and ball that kicked from a good length. Inspite of bowling on docile tracks on the subcontinent, Kapil had 434 scalps, with virtually no assistance. I can never forget how he obtained pace and movement on flat pancakes, trapping the great Vivian Richards in Front or getting Geoff Boycott or Zaheer Abbas caught behind. No paceman carried the workload of his team’s bowling attack on his shoulders in his eras muc

Critical factors that determine, contribute to the success and effectiveness of NGOs

By Rohit Rakshit Over the last few years, I have been fortunate to work with numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across various states in the country. This experience has allowed me to gain insights into their diverse areas of work while also enabling me to analyze the key attributes that contribute to the success of a good NGO. According to my observations, the following are the critical factors that determine the effectiveness of an NGO.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

Raising temperature of frozen foods by 3 degrees from -18°C to -15°C can slash carbon emissions: Study

By Payel Sannigrahi Frozen food temperatures could be changed by just three degrees to save the carbon dioxide emissions of 3.8 million cars per year, research suggests.

Odisha leadership crisis deepens: CM engages retired babus to oversee depts' work

By Sudhansu R Das Over decades, Odisha has lost much of its crop diversity, fertile agriculture land, water bodies, employment potential, handicraft and handloom skills etc. The state has failed to strike a balance between the urban and rural sector growth; this leads to the migration of villagers to the urban areas leading to collapse of the urban infrastructures and an acute labor shortage in rural areas. A large number of educated, skilled and unskilled Odia people have migrated to other states for higher education, quality jobs and for earning livelihood which plummet the efficiency level of government departments. Utmost transparency in the recruitment and promotion in the state government departments will improve governance mechanisms in the state. "No near and dear one approach" in governance mechanisms can only achieve inclusive growth for the state on payment basis. This is a moral hazard. When so many educated young people seek employment outside the

1982-83 Bombay textile strike played major role in shaping working class movement

By Harsh Thakor On January 18th, 1982 the working class movement commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Textile Workers Strike that lasted for 18 months, till July 1983. It was landmark event that played a major role in shaping the working class movement. With more than 2.5 lakh workers from 65 textile mills joining in this strike for almost two years, this strike became one of the most significant strikes in terms of scale and duration All democrats should applaud the mill workers’ united battle, and their unflinching resilience an death defying courage continues to serve as a model for contemporary working-class movements. Many middle class persons harboured opinions that the Textile workers were pampered or were a labour aristocracy, ignorant of how they were denied wages to provide for basic necessities. The Great Bombay Textile Strike is notably one of the most defining movements in the working class struggles in Post-independent India. Bombay’s textile industry flourished in

20% of Indian businesses have no emission plan in place despite climate emergency: Report

By Jag Jivan New research underlines urgent need for strategies and transition plans to combat climate change, remain successful and meet stakeholder expectations.

TERI researchers outline ways for robust, equitable and flexible outcome at COP28

By Sanya Hans Researchers at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) launched two crucial policy briefs ahead of the much anticipated 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) scheduled from November 30 to December 12, 2023 at Dubai, UAE. Former climate negotiator, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, a Distinguished Fellow at TERI emphasized, “Adaptation is an imperative and absolute must in present times for the Global South. COP28 needs to make the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) integral to climate commitments and action”. “Climate change demands that energy use must be sustainable; the development imperative of the Global South demands it to be inclusive, just and fair," Mr Puri added. Outcome on GGA will be a key determinant for the success of COP28 The policy brief titled ‘Road to Dubai and The Global Goal on Adaption’ reviewed the discussions around the GGA framework to provide perspectives on what could be a robust, equitable, and flexible outcome of the GGA process at CO

Search This Blog