“BEING a Hindu, your duty is to take care of our religion, culture and country”, exhorted Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsh Vidya Gurulkulam, Chennai at Nagpur on Wednesday.
Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi celebrations of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) here at Reshambag ground the firebrand pontiff, who relinquished the mundane world for the seeking truth, called upon the RSS swayamsevaks to shoulder the responsibility of protecting and preserving Hindu culture and traditions for the welfare of the humanity.
In spite of his falling health the Swami, who travelled all the way from Chennai to Nagpur, said in his short but loaded address that Bharat was not just a geographical entity. It was a living organism. “It has culture, religion, and wisdom that make it a living organism. Our social customs, manners, cultural forms, religious rituals and practices and spiritual wisdom are all one right from the Himalayas to the seas,” he added.
He said that Bharat’s wisdom was enshrined in the Vedas and the common man here knew it very well. The Vedic Hymn “Ishavasyam idam sarvam” denotes this wisdom of our country, which any common Bharteeya understood in its right earnest, he said.
The Hindu culture saw presence of the divine element in all the creations in the universe, the Swami said adding that no culture in the world has this vision. Therefore, “India is a breathing, live organism; it is not just a geographical land mass”, the Swami said.
The people of this country have received this wisdom through customs and rituals which was a unique happening in the entire world, he said. “We have integrated the whole vision through our amazing religious, spiritual and cultural wisdom. No country has such a culture in the world. Hence this is to be preserved and protected,” the Swami said.
Drawing comparison between the carnivorous and herbivorous animals, the pontiff said that the carnivorous animals have to perform only one function that is killing any herbivorous animal to satiate its hunger and thrust. But the herbivorous animal performs two functions, i.e. to search for the food and water and at the same time save itself from the possible attack.
Similarly any human being has to perform an additional function of dealing with him, protecting and respecting his self because he is self-conscious. However, a Hindu is required to fulfill one additional function and that is to protect and take care of his country, religion and culture. Exuding confidence in the RSS swayamasevaks in whose company the Swami felt “very happy and assured”, Dayanand Saraswati said that they perform this function with full responsibility.
Earlier, Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghchalak Dr Dilip Gupta introduced the Swami who was later honored and welcomed with a floral garland by the RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat.
The Swayamsevaks took out an impressive route march marching to the tunes of the RSS Ghosh (band unit) in the areas adjacent to the Reshambag premises before the start of the program. At the start of the function RSS Sarsanghcha;lak and Swami Dayanand Saraswati performed ‘Shastra pujan’ (worshipping weapons) in a traditional way.
The swayamsevaks presented yogasanas, suryanamaskars, pyramids, vyayamyoga etc. in a very impressive manner.
