Epics of the World Festivals of the Month

www.bhavanaustralia.org Let noble thoughts come to us from every side - Rigv Veda, 1-89-i Christmas in India Epics of the World Festivals of the month Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “The whole world is but one family” Life | Literature | Culture Dec 2010 | Vol 8 No.6 | ISSN 1449 - 3551 Human Rights Day The tremendous irreparable damage and loss of Treaties and Guidelines valuable human lives in the Second World War shook the whole planet! Besides myriads of All governments across the world are liable to priceless lives lost, the world witnessed probably uphold, express, and guarantee the basic human the most macabre human rights violation during rights in all its purity by means of laws in the forms the time. The war was a wakeup call in a way, for of law, general principles treaties, primary the entire human race. In 1945, the founding transnational laws, and other international laws. member countries of the then newly established United Nations, join hands to draft many solid laws While the focus of the Universal Declaration to promote and protect the primary human rights remained the same of safeguarding human rights, of its citizens. In 1948, after a lapse of 3 years, the wherever its violations occur, the economic, social, combined efforts of these counties paid off in the cultural, and political changes in all these years has form of proclamation of “Universal Declaration of created the requirement to have a new network of Human Rights” by United Nations’ General instruments and tools in place. In the wake of the Assembly. This was the declaring which economic meltdown faced by almost all the entire established that respect for human rights and countries, the UN High Commissioner for Human human modesty “is the pillar of freedom, peace and Rights (OHCHR) conducted convention and justice in the world.” Thereafter in 1950, the UN seminars to discuss the human rights violations on called on all member States and organizations marginalized populations in various member around the globe to commemorate World Human nations. It has appealed the countries to do Rights Day on 10th of December every year. everything possible by all means to ensure that the current slowdown does not affect the fundamental Human Rights rights to work, food, housing, health, education and social security of the people. Human rights are interlinked and interdependent rights inherent to all human beings without any What we should do! discrimination of any nationality, ethnic origin, sex, religion, language, or cast and creed or any other The UN has streamlined many methods through status, as stated by the UN. The 60th Anniversary of which the Day could be utilized as an opportunity “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” was observed to create and inculcate an awareness and assist in 2008. To celebrate this eventful year, the UN floated protect our community and beyond. General a yearlong campaign during which all its country campaigns like distribution of hand notes based on members revitalize the vision of the Declaration in the human rights or as SMS messages, or conducting a form of commitment to universal modesty and justice meeting or publicizing the real-life stories of and not to be viewed as a wish-list or luxury. activists, or submitting petitions to complement 2 | Bhavan Australia | Dec 2010 the rights of an organization or body in our area, all authorities to prevent conflicts at their level, through these could be a great option and opportunity to respect for human rights and policies toward celebrate the Day in a fruitful way. However, the big sustainable progress and for eliminating poverty. support has to come from the government! The Human Rights Council In the genre of human rights, UNESCO works to promote and display human rights research; to The Human Rights Council is an individual advocate education in human rights; to take action independent entity. It supports the work of and combat against all kind of discrimination at rapporteurs, working bodies, and representatives regional, national and international level; to via its Special Procedures Division and the promote coordination among all actors and social Research and Right to Development Division that networks; and to advocate democracy. aims to develop the integration of human rights principles and standards, including the rights to UNESCO development; whereas the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division assists the work of UNESCO consolidates awareness, works as a country-mandates. catalyst for regional, national and international promotion in human rights and nurtures History is the witness to all our combined efforts to coordination with all actors and social networks. protect the fundamental rights of human being, but UNESCO tries to detect the obstacles hampering without the contribution of each and every the full execution of human rights: the individual we cannot reach the target of viewing a repercussions of nationalism, discrimination unbiased planet where every individual is free to against minorities, religious intolerance, and other take his own decisions on his own sweet will, forms of discrimination arising from technological irrespective any kind of pressure from any corner progress or from illness such as HIV and AIDS. of society and system. In 2002-2003 UNESCO developed a strategy for an Source: www.altiusdirectory.com international program on democracy. This strategy is cooperated by the International Centre for Human Sciences at Byblos in close coordination with the Democracy and Development International Panel. UNESCO advocates and conducts research on new form of violence and promotes regional plans for human protection by enhancing links with local Dec 2010 | Bhavan Australia | 3 Chairman Epics of the World raja-vidya raja-guhyam pavitram idam uttamam pratyak savagamam dharmyam susukham kartum avyayam This knowledge is the king of all wisdom, the king of all that is confidential. It is the purest and the topmost and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization it is the perfection of all religion and everlastingly joyful to perform. Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 2 Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita on the battlefield of Kuruksetra in 3102 BC; just prior to the commencement of the Mahabharata war. This date corresponds to 1700 years before Moses, 2500 years before Buddha, 3000 years before Jesus and 3800 years before Mohammed. Thus the eternal knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita has not been influenced by Buddhism, Christianity, Hebrewism or Islam. A number of knowledgeable Indologists endorse the date 3102 BC based on the fact that this was the year when the Pandava King Yudhisthira ascended the throne and was coronated as Emperor of the Earth. Also according to the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II, the Battle of Kuruksetra took place in 3102 BC with Lord Krishna reciting the Bhagavad-Gita before its commencement. As well precise information of the positions of the constellation at the commencement of the Battle of Kuruksetra have been given in the great historical epic Mahabharata itself, which is based on the 26,920 year astronomical cycle known as the precession of the equinoxes which is the time it takes our solar system to revolve around the central sun. Bhagavad-Gita is the very essence of Mahabharata. The Bhagavad- Gita literally translates as the Song of God! It was originally revealed in the classical language of Sanskrit spoken on the Indian sub- continent. It was first translated into English in 1785 by Charles Wilkins. It was translated into Latin in 1823 by Schlegel, into German in 1826 by Von Humbolt, into French in 1846 by Lassens and into Greek in 1848 by Galanos. By now it has been translated into all the major languages of the world such as Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Portugese, Arabic, Hindi and Bengali. Many great and notable individuals from modern times as well as bygone eras have read the Bhagavad-Gita and have extolled its universal message. Albert Einstein stated that when reading the Bhagavad-Gita he thinks about how God created the universe and then everything else seemed so superfluous. Mahatma Gandhi stated that the Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanity to dedicate mind, body and soul to purity. Dr. Albert Schweizer stated that the Bhagavad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested in all actions. 4 | Bhavan Australia | Dec 2010 Sri Aurobindo stated the Bhagavad-Gita has a new message for every age and every civilization. Herman Hesse stated that the wonder of the Bhagavad-Gita is its beautiful revelation of life’s wisdom which has made philosophy blossom into religion. Ramanuja has stated that the Bhagavad-Gita reveals the goal of the all the Vedic scriptures. Aldous Huxley stated that the Bhagavad-Gita is the most comprehensive statement of perennial philosophy. Madhvacarya has stated that the Bhagavad-Gita is apauruseya which means divine origin and eternal. The knowledge found within the Bhagavad-Gita is incomparable. It gives specific information regarding the purpose of human existence, the immortality of the soul and our eternal relationship with God. This applies to each and every one of us without exception. Without realization of our divine relationship with the God it is impossible to establish our eternal relationship with Him. This divine relationship is our natural constitutional position and birthright of every human being. Many of us have been taught by our religions that God is to be feared. Many of us have been taught that this life is found only once and after this life there is nothing more. Others have been taught that after death one goes to heaven or hell. Still others have been taught that it is possible for the soul to be possessed. Some of us believe the possibility of reincarnation and others among us cannot fathom what is true and what is false.

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