Shri Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of the state-wide 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. The ceremony was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar and was attended by top ministers, seers and several youngsters. Shri Modi paid rich tributes to Swami Vivekananda and described the two year long celebrations as an endeavour to contribute towards society and the nation and at the same time enable the youth to understand Swami Vivekananda.
Speaking about Swami Vivekananda, Shri Modi said, “Swami Vivekananda’s aim was to serve Bharat Mata and to serve the Daridra Narayan. He did not do things for himself. When he went to USA, he showcased the true strength and identity of India in front of the world. It was Swami ji’s words ‘Sister and Brothers’ that demonstrated India’s values to the world.”
Shri Modi described Swami Vivekananda as a true visionary who leaves behind a monumental contribution to society and the nation despite the fact that he left us at the age of 49. Shri Modi recalled that Swami ji knew he would leave the Earth at the age of 49. Swami ji also said that leave aside all deities for 50 years and only devote yourself to Bharat Mata and exactly 50 years later India attained freedom. Likewise, Shri Modi said that the great Swami Vivekananda dreamt that India would once again become the Jagat Guru (leader of the world) and that the youth of India would be the drivers of this change. He added that Swami Vivekananda was always opposed to bad ritualism and bad practices in society.
During his speech, Shri Modi talked about how Gujarat celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda including Shri Modi’s Yatra, in which he covered the entire state and spread Swami Vivekananda’s message among the youth.
Narendra Modi addresses closing ceremony of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
On the youth of India, Shri Modi avowed that India is one of the most youthful countries in the world and that our youth can give a lot to the world. But, for that it is essential to consider our youth as our strength, Shri Modi added. In this regard, Shri Modi talked about the importance given by the Gujarat Government towards skill development initiatives for the youth. Shri Modi affirmed that the future does not lie in the number of degrees one holds but on the skill one has. He shared that the Gujarat Government’s Kaushalya Vardhan Kendras were awarded by the Prime Minister of India. He also said that he envisioned the India where the daughters are also equal participants in the journey towards Rashtra Nirman.
Shri Narendra Modi also released 2 books on the occasion. Shri Modi also presented prizes to several youngsters.
Vaikunta Ekadasi is an important festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January). Vaikunda Ekadesi festival is of great significance at the Tirupati Balaji Temple, Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Temple and at the Bhadrachalam Temple. In Kerala, it is known as Swarga Vathil Ekadashi. Next Vaikunta Ekadasi date is January 11, 2014.
The significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi can be traced back to the Padma Purana. The Purana indicates that Lord Vishnu took the form of ‘Ekadasi’ – female energy – to kill demon Muran. This happened during the month of Margazhi. Impressed by ‘Ekadasi,’ Lord Vishnu told her that whoever worships him on this day will reach ‘Vaikunta’ (heaven).
Like all Ekadasi days, devotees fast on this day and observe vigil the whole night. Some people indulge in meditation, Japa and singing of Hari Kirtan. Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day.
It is widely believed that the gates to the heaven open - the Gate of Vaikuntha - on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day. It is one of the most auspicious days in Lord Vishnu Temples in South India.
The ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to the heaven’ is opened on this day. This is the passage encircling the innermost sanctum of the Lord. Scores of devotees queue up to pass through the Gate of Vaikunta in the temples.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
nādhi-vyādhi-jarā-glāni-
duḥkha-śoka-bhaya-klamāḥ
mṛtyuś cānicchatāḿ nāsīd
rāme rājany adhokṣaje
SYNONYMS
na — not; ādhi — adhyātmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika sufferings (that is, sufferings from the body and mind, from other living entities and from nature); vyādhi — diseases; jarā — old age; glāni — bereavement; duḥkha — grief; śoka — lamentation; bhaya — fear; klamāḥ — and fatigue; mṛtyuḥ — death; ca — also; anicchatām — of those who did not like it; na āsīt — there was not; rāme — during the rule of Lord Rāmacandra; rājani — because of His being the king; adhokṣaje — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond this material world.
TRANSLATION
When Lord Rāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it.
PURPORT
All these facilities existed because of Lord Rāma's presence as the King of the entire world. A similar situation could be introduced immediately, even in this age called Kali, the worst of all ages. It is said, kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra: Kṛṣṇa descends in this Kali-yuga in the form of His holy name — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma. If we chant offenselessly, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are still present in this age. The kingdom of Rāma was immensely popular and beneficial.
Though all characters in Ramayana are noble, but my favorite one is our most handsome hero, the prince charming of Ayodhya, Shri Ram!
There are many noble exemplary characters in Shrimad Valmiki Ramayana, even beasts, birds, and demons in Ramayana are found to be noble, still the hero of Ramayana is Shri Ram, He is the noblest personality, the foremost among men, the most virtuous one the history ever seen.
Lord BrahmA proclaimed in Shrimad Valmiki Ramayana ― no one else other than Shri Ram, the foremost among men, can be the worthy of all the fame, the eulogies, the praises and the poems!
आदिकाव्यमिदं राम त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
नह्यन्योऽर्हति कव्यानां यशोभाग् राघवादृते। [Valmiki Ramayana]
Lord BrahmA prayed to Shri Ram: Oh, Raghava! The Aadi-Kavya (the first epic poem Ramayana) is entirely based on your illustrious life and exploits. You are the one who is glorified everywhere in the first and foremost among poems, Ramayana! And None other than You can be worthy of all the fame, eulogies, praises and poems!
Shri Ram is the one who attracts everyone effortlessly by his virtues, even his enemies are seen falling in love with him [some got attracted in his beauty, some in his virtues] .
चन्द्रकान्ताननं राममतीव प्रियदर्शनम् ।।
रूपौदार्यगुणैः पुंसां दिष्टिचित्तापहारिणम् ।।
[VR 2.3.38B-39A]
With a moon-like face, Shri Rama is an extreme delight to look at. By His form (रूप), qualities (गुणैः) and generosity, He steals the vision and hearts of all the men and women!
Shri Ram is the most attractive, the most beautiful, the most virtuous, the most Valiant, the most compassionate, the most merciful, the most fit to be taken shelter of in all the worlds, the supreme refuge for everyone, the Dharma-personified (the embodiment of Dharma), the protector of whoever surrenders to him and his people, the most truthful, the possessor of the most beautiful and noble character and extremely mild disposition, and the mine of infinite auspicious qualities. If the word Purushottama becomes real in anyone, then he is Rama alone! Is there any such hero like Shri Ram? Simple answer is No. No other personality or divinity can come close to Shri Ram in any manner, Shri Ram is the culmination of all the best virtues and qualities.
त्यक्ता जीर्णदुकूलवद्वसुमतिर्बद्धोऽम्बुधिर्बिन्दुवद्
बाणाग्रेण जरत्कपोतक इव व्यापादितो रावणः ।
लंकाऽपि विभिषणाय सहसा मुद्रेव हस्तेऽर्पिता
श्रुत्वैवं रघुनन्दनस्य चरितं को वा न रोमांचति ।। (रसतरंगिणी, ७।२१)
Who left the kingdom, Just like discarding an old cloth, without any regret;
who stormed whole ocean like a mere drop;
by the tip of an arrow, who killed Ravana akin to an old Pigeon in front of him;
Who gave instantly the golden kingdom Lanka in hands of Vibhishana as like mere gifting a ring,
So who would not be thrilled upon listening such illustrious exploits of Lord Rama?
If there is any deity who is fit to be Ishta of all the worlds, then He is Shri Ram alone, none else.
||SitaRam||
Killing of Vali by Shri Ram is one of the most misunderstood episodes of Ramayana, people say it is a controversial topic after seeing some portrays and pictures where it is usually shown Shri Ram hiding himself behind trees kills Vali, so people raise questions and doubts why did Shri Ram kill Vall by hiding himself from his vision, but I must say this is not controversial at all but very much straight forward, there is no such reference in Valmiki Ramayana anywhere that Shri Ram hid himself behind tree(s) or kept him out of vision from eyes of Vali before piercing Vali through his arrow.
Why Shri Ram killed Vali and how?
We shall see first how Shri Ram killed Vali:
1. People often translate पराङ्मुख वधम् कृत्वा paraa~Nmukha vadham kR^itvaa = one facing away [from you,] killing him.. as by hiding himself from Vali,
Ram killed him. But it is not a good translation Para~Nmukha means just Vali who has diverted attention [from Shri Ram here] was fighting with
Sugriva. So no where it is written Ram hid himself to Kill Vali.
त्वम् नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रथितः प्रिय दर्शनः |
पराङ्मुख वधम् कृत्वा को अत्र प्राप्तः त्वया गुणः |
यदहम् युद्ध सम्रब्धः त्वत् कृते निधनम् गतः || ४-१७-१६
"You are a renowned prince with pleasing looks.. but, which kind of death I am getting now, that too when I was in the commotion of conflict with another, alas, that ignoble death is owing to you, and what merit is achieved by you in this undertaking of yours to kill someone who is facing away from you... [VR 4.17.16]
This is the accusation of Vali on Shri Ram.
It means when Vali was engaged with somebody else, why did shri Ram kill him? It doesn't mean Vali didn't see him and Vali was not aware about the vow of shri Ram that he will eliminate Vali, the foe of his friend Sugreeva. Vali was well aware of Shri Ram's friendship with Sugreeva.
2. Another proof is Shri Ram killed Vali by arrow which directly pierced his chest. So it means Shri Ram killed him when he was facing Shri Ram!
3. Though Vali's attention was not towards Shri Ram as he was fighting with full attention with Sugriva, still before piercing his chest Shri Ram was in direct war with Vali, may be from a distance, but it was a direct combat.
Here is the proof:
क्षिप्तान् वृक्षान् समाविध्य विपुलाः च शिलाः तथा |
वाली वज्र समैर् बाणैर् वज्रेण इव निपातितः || ४-१९-१२
"Shattering trees and massive boulders that Vali hurled at him (Rama) with thunderbolt like arrows Rama felled Vali as if by thunderbolt."
It means Vali saw Ram, he hurled massive boulders and trees at him, he attacked shri Ram .. and then Ram felled all those trees and massive boulders and then he pierced the chest of Vali directly, it is possible in direct face to face combat only.
4. Now coming to why did he kill Vali? for what reasons?
It is very simple to understand why Shri Ram killed Vali.
- it was completely under Shri Ram's jurisdiction to eliminate all evil doers in his kingdom. So he eliminated Vali who raped the wife of Sugriva, who was like a daughter for Vali.
इक्ष्वाकूणाम् इयम् भूमिः स शैल वन कानना |
मृग पक्षि मनुष्याणाम् निग्रह अनुग्रहेषु अपि || ४-१८-६
Ram answered Vali - "This earth with its mountains, woods, and forests, even along with the authority to condone or condemn the animals, birds, and humans on it belongs to Ikshvaku-s. [VR 4.18.6]
Hence Ram being the scion of Ikshvaku eliminated Vali with his arrow.
तस्मिन् नृपति शार्दूल भरते धर्म वत्सले |
पालयति अखिलाम् पृथ्वीम् कः चरेत् धर्म विप्रियम् || ४-१८-१०
While that Bharata, the kingly-tiger and a patron of virtue, is ruling the earth in its entirety, who is there to conduct himself in an unacceptable way to morality on it? [VR 4.18.10]
ते वयम् मार्ग विभ्रष्टम् स्वधर्मे परमे स्थिताः |
भरत आज्ञाम् पुरस्कृत्य निगृह्णीमो यथा विधि || ४-१८-११
Abiding in our own pre-eminent righteousness, and even abiding by the order of Bharata we punish him who deviated from the path of morality, according to custom. [VR 4.18.11]
So Ram killed Vali to establish the morality in his kingdom. It was immorality on the part of Vali to keep the wife of his younger brother as his own wife. Vali was putting a bad indecent immoral example in front of people of his kingdom, so Shri Ram eliminated him to establish the Dharma and morality in the society which is the duty of king or the king's representative.
☼ Shri Ram specifically mentioned the reason why he killed Vali:
तत् एतत् कारणम् पश्य यत् अर्थम् त्वम् मया हतः |
भ्रातुर् वर्तसि भार्यायाम् त्यक्त्वा धर्मम् सनातनम् || ४-१८-१८
"Realise this reason by which I (Sri Ram) have eliminated you (Vali)... you misbehaved with your brother's wife, forsaking the perpetual tradition.
अस्य त्वम् धरमाणस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
रुमायाम् वर्तसे कामात् स्नुषायाम् पाप कर्मकृत् || ४-१८-१९
"While the great-souled Sugreeva is still alive, you with your habit of sinful acts have lustily misbehaved with Sugreeva's wife Ruma, who should be counted as your daughter-in-law.
Vali raped the lady who was like a daughter for him, the wife of his own brother! He had habit of such sinful ghastly acts, hence there was no sin in eliminating such a rapist demonic element in any manner. Shashtra says there is no sin in eliminating the one who lustfully indulges with his daughter, or with his sister, or with the wife of his younger brother. So It was a pure righteous action (Dharma) on part of Shri Ram to punish and eliminate such evil doer Vali.
- Shri Ram acted as Sugreeva's elder brother as well as friend and master, so Ruma became the daughter of Shri Ram! Hence Shri Ram had all rights to punish the one who raped Ruma.
सुग्रीवेण च मे सख्यम् लक्ष्मणेन यथा तथा |
दार राज्य निमित्तम् च निःश्रेयसकरः स मे || ४-१८-२६
Shri Ram told Vali: My association with Sugreeva is as good as that with Lakshmana, nevertheless it betided with an understanding to regain sugreeva's wife and kingdom, and he will give succour to me.
So Sugreeva was like younger brother of Shri Ram, hence Shri Ram had to free Ruma by eliminating the one who raped her. This was justice to be done, Shri Ram did pure justice to Ruma and Sugreeva as well as on Vali by punishing him for such immoral act.
☼ Shri Ram had promised Sugreeva to bring justice to him at the time of befriending with him. Afflicted Sugreeva from Vali's injustices, surrendered to Shri Ram, If Shri Ram will not help the afflicted one, then who would help in this whole cosmos?
प्रतिज्ञा च मया दत्ता तदा वानर संनिधौ |
प्रतिज्ञा च कथम् शक्या मत् विधेन अनवेक्षितुम् || ४-१८-२७
"I (Sri Ram) gave a promise to Sugreeva at the time of befriending him in the presence of vanara-s, and how is it possible for my kind to dishonour a given promise? [VR 4.18.26]
☼ ☼ MOST IMPORTANT: ☼ ☼
When Vali put arguments that He is mere an animal, not suitable to be eaten by Human [and same time Animals don't follow the Vedic-Dharma], then why did Shri Ram kill him, an animal, as animals don't follow the Vedic-Dharma?
Then only to answer him... Shri Ram told if you are thinking yourself as beast, then still there is no sin in eliminating a beast by a prince in hunting. It is never like Ram treated Vali as beast, but to satisfy his anger, Shri Ram answered as per the Dharma of a Kshatriya.
यान्ति राजर्षयः च अत्र मृगयाम् धर्म कोविदाः |
तस्मात् त्वम् निहतो युद्धे मया बाणेन वानर |
अयुध्यन् प्रतियुध्यन् वा यस्मात् शाखा मृगो हि असि || ४-१८-४०
Shri Rama told Vali: In this world even the kingly sages well-versed in virtue will go on hunting, and hunting is no face to face game, as such, oh, vanara, therefore I felled you in combat with my arrow because you are a tree-branch animal, whether you are not combating with me or combating against me. [VR 4.18.40]
So it was just for countering Vali's logic that he is animal so when he forcibly established physical relation with the wife of his brother Sugreeva or if he is habitual of such lusty acts, still he should not be expected to follow decent moral conduct and virtues of society.
So after seeing all these Pramanas, it is very much evident that Shri Ram killed Vali because there were suitable.
Which is the holiest city for all Hindus?
Which are the other divine cities?
1) Ayodhya the birth place of Lord Rama is the Holiest city for all Hindu-s. All Hindu-s in their lifetime must visit at least one time this divine city of god.
See what Goswami Tulsidas says:
बंदउँ अवध पुरी अति पावनि। सरजू सरि कलि कलुष नसावनि॥
-मैं अति पवित्र श्री अयोध्यापुरी और कलियुग के पापों का नाश करने वाली श्री सरयू नदी की वन्दना करता हूँ।
Means- Goswami ji says "I reverence the exceedingly holy city of Ayodhya (Shri Rama's birth-place) and the river Sarayu (flowing beside it), which wipes out the sins of the Kali age."
2) There are 7 divine cities which bestow Moksha to Jiva-s. They are:-
Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kasi Kanbchi Avantika |
Puri Dvaravati chaiva saptaita moksadayikah || (Narada Puran Purva-Bhaag 27.35)
i) Ayodhya,
ii) Mathura,
iii) Maya (Haridwar),
iv) Kasi,
v) Kanchi,
vi) Avantika (Ujjain), and
vii) Dwarika Puri
all these seven puries (cities) bestow moksa (emancipation) on human beings.
So the first name taken is Ayodhya, the holiest in whole universe and also known as "Vishnoh Paramam Padam" means the Supreme abode of Rama (Maha-Visnu).
Then on 2nd place is Mathura the birth place of Lord Krsna.
Among all these cities, Ayodhya is mentioned in Veda-s as the divine city of Brahman (Shri Rama) and whoever knows this city becomes immortal like Vishnu, like Brahman himself.
Though all these seven cities are supremely divine yet Ayodhya is far more superior than rest all others. Whatever a merit one can achieve it by living for a Kalpa (an aeon) in Mathura, that merit one can easily achieve just by a sight of Ayodhya.
|| SitaRam SitaRam ||
Pay Just 60 Percent now and Rest on possession plus get 12 percent assured return on paid amount till offer of possession. SUSHMA Green Vista is a modern residential community designed as a nurturing refuge from the bustle of the city. A refreshing oasis where residents enjoy peace of mind comforts of home and blissfully serene environment.
SUSHMA Green Vista located in SUSHMA SQUARE, Zirakpur has a spacious area of 1,276 sq ft. These two bedroom apartments are a delight for people who aspire to live in luxury. The sprawling living room, intimate bedrooms, an all purpose utility store, scintillating bathrooms and spacious modular kitchen, all are hallmarks of SUSHMA Green Vista apartments. Even the landscaped garden in the project is created for you to open upto nature and rejuvenate yourself every day.
Walled Complex to facilitate 24 Hours gated Security
Earthquake Resistant RCC Framed Structure
Maximum green area.
Modern Elevators with Gen-Set Back-Up
Arrangement for 24 Hours Water Supply
Well-Planned Individual Car Parking
Modular kitchen
Complete wood work in rooms
G+11 Multistory Apartments
Club Facility
Wi-Fi Zone
