VOLUME 1 l ISSUE 11
DECEMBER 2016
H I N D U
S WAYA M S E VA K
S A N G H
Balagokulam AZ Times H I N D U D H A R M A F O R K I D S, T E AC H E R S & PA R E N T S
DIABETES AWARENESS WALK & 13th Annual Charity Walk 2016
WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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Disclaimer
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Contents DECEMBER 2016
Diabetes Awareness Walk 13th Annual charity walk Diwali Picnic & MatruBhojan
KID REPORTERS HINDUISM Q & A Yoga pose of the month person of the month story health tips
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HSS & Balagokulam’s Events Diabetes Awareness Walk (On Nov 19, 2016) Diabetes Awareness Walk was organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Sewa International and Indian Women Empowerment Forum on Nov 19th in Thunderbird Convention park, Phoenix. Around 70 participants enjoyed Morning Yoga session, Free Sugar check, Hiking, Kids Interviewed adults with Video Recording and mouth watering Snacks.
Diwali Picnic & MatruBhojan (On Dec, 2016) Diwali Picnic & MatruBhojan with ASU Students.More than 100 people came together and had fun games, activities and delicious Lunch
13th Annual Charity walk (On Dec 4, 2016) Indo-American Foundation of Arizona Ekta Mandir & Community Center 13th Annual Charity walk & Diabetes Awareness Walk in collaboration with Sewa International USA - Phoenix and Indian Women Empowerment Forum (IWEForum.com) . The Walk was Inaugurated by Vice Mayor of Phoenix Kate Gallelo in the presence of Dignitaries from Indian community leaders and Bhutanese Community In Arizona Leaders on December 4th, , 2016 (SUNDAY)
Events
DIABETES AWARENESS WALK ORGANISED BY
INDIAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM SEWA INTERNATIONAL USA - PHOENIX HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH
Diabetes Awareness Walk was organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Sewa International and Indian Women Empowerment Forum on Nov 19th in Thunderbird Convention park, Phoenix. Around 70 participants enjoyed Morning Yoga session, Free Sugar check, Hiking, Kids Interviewed adults with Video Recording and mouth watering Snacks.
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WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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Events : DIABETES AWARENESS WALK
DIABETES AWARENESS WALK By HSS
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Events : 13TH ANNUAL CHARITY WALK
13TH ANNUAL CHARITY WALK By IACRF
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L Indo-American Foundation of Arizona Ekta Mandir & Community Center 13th Annual Charity walk & Diabetes Awareness Walk in collaboration with Sewa International USA - Phoenix and Indian Women Empowerment Forum (IWEForum.com) . The Walk was Inaugurated by Vice Mayor of Phoenix Kate Gallelo in the presence of Dignitaries from Indian community leaders and Bhutanese Community In Arizona Leaders on December 4th, , 2016 (SUNDAY) WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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Events : DIWALI PICNIC & MATRUBHOJAN
DIWALI PICNIC & MATRUBHOJAN By HSS
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Diwali Picnic & MatruBhojan with ASU Students.More than 100 people came together and had fun games, activities and delicious Lunch
WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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Events : DIWALI PICNIC & MATRUBHOJAN
WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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Kid Reporters
National symbols of
Bharat (India)
One day I was wondering what is the significance of Dhwaj (Flag) is? Then my mind started thinking on important symbols any country has. I started discussing with my father and here I am. Ended up with wealth of knowledge about Bharat. WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
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SOME OF THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ARE:
No other flag or anything can be placed higher than the flag. Not even flowers or garlands.
FLAG OF BHARAT NATIONAL EMBLEM OF BHARAT A flag is a must for all nations and millions have sacrificed their lives for it. A flag represents an Ideal and has great strength. Every country has its own flag that is unique and has deep meaning. In the national flag of Bharat the top row is of Saffron color. It is the symbol of strength and courage. The middle strip is white. It means peace and truth. This layer has a wheel with 24 spokes or lines and is called Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in color. It shows the richness, growth and holiness.
This emblem was adopted from Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath was adopted as the National Emblem of Bharat on 26 January 1950, the day India became a republic. In original, there are four lions, standing back to back. Below it the sculpture of elephant, a horse, a bull and a lion separated by wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. The amazing part is, it is carved out of a single block of polished sandstone. NATIONAL ANTHEM
The National Anthem of Bharat JanaThe center wheel called as Dharma Gana-Mana, was composed by Sri Chakra means wheel of the law. It was Rabindranath Tagore. My mother told adopted from Sarnath Lion Capital which me that Rabindranath Tagore was one was made by the great Maurya Emperor of the Noble prize winner for literature. Ashoka. I understand that it is very prestigious honor. I asked my mother to sing the Like in our shakha we respect the Dhwaj anthem for me and she did. It is very and doesn’t allow it to touch the floor, melodious and touching. I am writing all national flag has the same respect. It it is very down our national understand that prestigious honor. Ianthem asked my here. mother to sing the anth cannot be knowingly touched shethe did.floor. It is very melodious and touching. I am writing down our national anthem It can be hoisted in some places like schools, colleges, hospitals, government जन गण मन अधिनायक जय हे , भारत भाग्य वििाता। places etc. but not everywhere. पंजाब सिन्ि गुजरात मराठा, द्रविड़ उत्कल बंग। We cannot use the flag for publicity or profit making. One interesting fact about flag is it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, without caring for the weather. WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
National Song
विंध्य हहमाचल यमुना गंगा, उच्छल जलधि तरंग। ति शुभ नामे जागे , ति शुभ आशीष मागे। गाहे ति जयगाथा।
जन गण मंगलदायक जय हे , भारत भाग्य वििाता। जय हे , जय हे , जय हे , जय जय जय जय हे ॥
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NATIONAL BIRD
NATIONAL FLOWER
The Peacock is the National Bird of Bharat. It is a very colorful. It has a fan-shaped crown of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender blue neck. The male is more colorful than the female with a shiny blue breast and neck. The belief system in Bharat is when the peacock dances with its feathers spread out, it invites rain.
The Lotus Flower is National flower of Bharat. The Lotus Flower symbolizes divinity, richness, wealth, knowledge and enlightenment. Well I don’t know what “enlightenment” is. But my father said I will know in this life. He is sometimes a mystery to me. But I will learn. Anyways.
My father said it is in a way partly true. At the sight of dark clouds the bird outspreads its tail and starts dancing in rhythm. NATIONAL ANIMAL National Animal of Bharat is the Tiger. It has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes. It is the symbol of grace and strength, and power. We all know about Tiger. Don’t we? WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
I think I know why it is considered as so holy. It grows in mud but the flower and leaves are always floating on the water. I remember Swami Vivekanand’s quote – Be in this world, but not of it. Like the lotus flower whose roots are in mud but which always remains pure. This is so nice. Its seeds, leaves and stems are edible and seeds are also used for curing mushroom poisoning. Lotus Flower is sacred and offered to Gods and Goddesses NATIONAL SONG This is another epic in the history of Bharat. The song Vande Mataram, is our National Song. It was composed in Sanskrit by Sri Bankimchandra Chatterji. It was a source
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she did. It is very melodious and touching. I am writing down our national anthem here. जन गण मन अधिनायक जय हे , भारत भाग्य वििाता।
पंजाबfighting सिन्ि गज रात मराठा, द्रविड़ उत्कल बंग। on the novel. Someday ु for of inspiration to the people was made based विंध् हहमाचल यमुना गंगा,I’ll उच्छल जलधि ग। freedom from Britishers. Itयhas an equal watch thisतरं movie. I asked my father if status with National Anthem. hearमागे the। song. He played the song ति शभ भ ु नामे जागे , ति Iशcan ु आशीष and I felt as adrenaline in my blood. It गाहे ति जयगाथा। The song was a part of Bankimchandra’s is wonderful. Here is the song if anyone जन गण मंगलदायक जय हे , भारत भाग्य वििाता। most famous novel Anand Math. My wants to read and learn it. जय हे , जय हे , जय हे , जय जय जय जय हे ॥ mother said that the Anand Math movie National Song
National Song In Sanskrit: िन्दे मातरम ्।
In English: Vande Mataram!
िुजलाम ् िुफलाम ्
Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja
मलयज शीतलाम ्
shitalam,
मातरम ्।
Vande Mataram!
शस्यश्यामलाम ्
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
िन्दे मातरम ्।
Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayaminim,
शुभ्रज्योत्स्ना
Phullakusumita drumadala
पुलककतयासमनीम ्
shobhinim,
फुल्लकुिुसमत
Suhasinim sumadhura
द्रम ु दलशोसभनीम ्
bhashinim,
िुहासिनीम ्
Sukhadam varadam,
िुखदाम ् िरदाम ्
Vande Mataram, Vande
िुमिुर भावषणीम ्
Mataram!
मातरम ्।।
Mataram!
Meaning: I bow to thee, Mother, richly-watered, richly-fruited, cool with the winds of the south, dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother! Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight, her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom, sweet of laughter, sweet of speech, The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss.
िन्दे मातरम ्।
By my queries about national symbols I learnt a lot about our Bharat. National Bird Dhanyavad to my parents for giving me so many good information.
Pravaksh Gupta (Vivekananda Shaka)
WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
Jai Hind!
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Q&A
Hinduism Volume 11
Hinduism is the oldest religion of this world. During the period when people in other areas were hunting down animals, the great Hindu sages, holy men and Kings were leading their people in virtuous life by chanting the vedas, carrying out great yagas (yagna) and medical research in Sittha, Ayurveda and also in astronomy.
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Q: Who is the founder of Hindu religion? Normally a philosopher/ prophet comes up with a system revolutionary or at least that did not exist before for that set o followers. Accepting the new system disciples and other people start following the religious system and for the new religion that person is the founder. In case of Hinduism. The system existed from time unmemorable. Hindu scriptures talk about things that happened at periods of time, whose specified count is much much higher than the period well known to history scholars of current time. (yuga, manvantara, kalpa etc.) Even the scientific excavations show the existence of well-developed worship, at very early periods. (For example excavations in ancient towns of harappa and Mohenjo daro reveal the ancient worship of pashupati, shiva linga - the Hindu God Shiva.) There were, of course, very many philosophers who came up with new systems. However given the wide spectrum of Hinduism, its accommodativeness towards new ideas and philosophies all the new changes made it a healthy religion that does not get stagnant. People used their discretion to find the suitable paths through the wisdom of one or more philosophers and there was a real diverse system. So, there is No Single (Human) Founder for Hinduism and it existed from time unexplored, as a religion.
Q: Is there an evil force against God ? God is the Almighty and Supreme. So how can there be anything good or bad against It ? WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
If the good things are the creation of God and bad things of some other evil force, will the gravitational force of the earth be attributed to God or the other force, as it is vital good element for us to live at the same time kills somebody who falls down from a high-rise building! In the system made by God, normally one gets to enjoy the good or bad things based on what have been their inclinations and the actions they made because of that. (This is called karma). There is no evil (satan type) against God. In fact atharva veda puts it very clearly, “na dvitIyo na tR^itIyashchaturtho nApyuchyate na pa.nchamo na ShaShThaH saptamo nApyuchyate nAShTamo na navamo dashamo nApyuchyate ya etaM devamekavR^itaM veda� There is none second to It, neither third not even fourth. There is none fifth to It, neither sixth not even seventh. There is none eighth to It, neither ninth not even tenth. It is the only Supreme. This is to be known. The concept of good and bad things is at a lower level and that too in a different way than strictly good and evil. The divines called devas are the protectors and the essentials who support the worlds. For example, air, sun, moon, water, fire etc. Those who disrupt the life supporting mechanism are the daemons called asuras. The conflicts between the two often arise and the Hindu epics talk in detail about them. However it should be kept in mind that as specified in purANas all the devAs are not the perfect beings and the asuras the worthless evils. Source : http://shaivam.org/
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Yoga Pose of the Month
Merudandasana Merudandasana is an asana that requires balance and flexibility. The name comes from the Sanskrit, merudanda, meaning “spine,” and asana, meaning “pose.”
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How to do Sit with your legs outstretched on both the sides. Slowly lean backward and balance your body. Inhale and raise your legs upward, keeping the spine straight. Raise both your arms and hold the fingers of both your legs. While you do this, try and stretch the legs as wide as possible. Hold this position for 15-20 minutes while you breathe slowly. Release and slowly get your arms and legs down.
Don’t do Avoid doing this asana if you have undergone a surgery. Do not perform if you are suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure. Merudandasana opens up your hips and stretches the back of your legs. It helps to tone and strengthen your abdominal organs, especially the liver. It helps to strengthen the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The asana alleviates any pain and stiffness in your upper and middle back and makes it more flexible. This posture promotes the functionality of your glands. It helps to improve your balance and concentration. WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
Benefits Improves balance, focus and concentration Opens the hips and back of the legs Stimulates the abdominal organs, improving digestion Strengthens the core muscles and back Improves overall flexibility Stretches the spine
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Person of the month read, through his literary campaign. He graduated from Presidency College in Arts and later obtained a degree in Law from the University of Calcutta and became Deputy Collector just like his father. He was into government service for thirty two years and was later made the Companion, Order of the Indian Empire (1894). His literary interest was always alive but he discovered it further when he started publishing his Bengali romantic novels.
His famous novels include Kapalkundala (1866), Mrinalini (1869), Chandrasekhar (1877), Devi Chaudhurani (1884), Anandmath (1882), etc.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay Composed India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’. (1838-1894)
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a famous Bengali poet, writer and journalist. He was the author of Anandamath containing the National Song of India - Vande Mataram. He is credited with initiating the cultural resurgence of Bengal by giving its people intellectually refreshing material to
He also published a monthly literary magazine called Bangadarshan in which he published novels, stories, humorous sketches, historical essays, informative articles, religious discourses, literary criticisms and reviews. Bankim inspired a number of prominent Indian personalities with his work and ideas—Bipin Chandra Pal decided to start a patriotic journal in 1906, by the name of Vande Mataram, after Bankim’s song and Lala Lajpat Rai also published a journal of the same name. Bankim was married when he was just eleven years old. His wife was only five years old then. He was twenty two when his wife died, which is why he got married again. His second wife was Rajlakshmi Devi. They had three daughters together. He passed away on 8th April 1894. Source: http://www.hinduhistory.info/
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Story
Aruni and Upmanyu Who is a hero?
Who is a hero? You may say Superman or Batman. But they are not real. So who are the real living heroes? Our Hindu scriptures show us that real heroes are those who listen to their parents and guru and follow their agna (commands). Two such heroes were Aruni and Upmanyu.
jungle. The guru told them not to take any food and not to eat anything from the jungle. Aruni and Upmanyu obeyed their guru’s command.
A few days passed, and the guru wondered how they were surviving without eating. The guru asked them, and Upmanyu replied, “We drink the cow’s Aruni and Upmanyu went to milk when we get hungry.” Rishi Dhaumya for knowledge. Pleased with this response, In those days, young students he then commanded them not had to search for a guru. Once to drink the milk. Aruni and they found him, they would Upmanyu did not take any food, officially move away from home, eat anything from the jungle, and into their guru’s ashram. nor did they drink the cows’ They would do exactly what milk. But when they became their guru asked them to do. In hungry, they begged for alms return, the guru taught them and ate what they collected. everything from maths and When their guru found out they science to God and religion. had begged, he gave them yet another agna. Now they could One day, the guru decided not take food, eat from the to test Aruni and Upmanyu’s jungle, drink milk from the cows faith. He told them to take the or beg for alms. ashram’s cows to graze in the WISHESH DIGITAL | DECEMBER 2016
For three or four days, Aruni and Upmanyu tolerated their hunger. Finally, they could no longer stand the hunger. They ate some berries. However, the berries were poisonous, and the boys became blind. As they walked on blindly, they fell into a well. The guru became worried when the boys did not return to the ashram. He decided to go out and look for them. He called out their names and the boys answered from the well. The guru helped them out, and was pleased with their obedience and devotion. He was happy that they had followed his every agna. So, he asked the doctor of the gods, Ashwinikumar, to restore their eyesight. Aruni and Upmanyu are real heroes because their guru was pleased with them. We can all become heroes like Aruni and Upmanyu. How? By following Pramukh Swami Maharaj’sagna. Swamishri will never ask us to follow such difficult agnas. However, he does ask us to bow down to our parents, do puja daily, and study sincerely at school, which aren’t hard to do at all. So if we do want to become true heroes, we must do what Bapa asks. You can be a hero, too!
Source : kids.baps.org
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Health Tips
AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF
WALKING BAREFOOT Walking barefoot, has come a long way, even in the last few decades. We are not talking ages, centuries, and eons ago, when bare was the norm, body, feet and soul. Even during the counterculture movement of the sixties, walking barefoot was considered slapstick and rebellious. With more and more investment in scientific research, on the particular subject, it is developing into somewhat of a trend, with people removing their footwear even on the treadmill. Read on ahead, and enlighten yourself regarding the benefits of walking barefoot i.e., without your shoes. BENEFITS OF WALKING BAREFOOT INCREASES AGILITY OF THE BRAIN The whole phenomenon of walking without your footwear is known as earthing. Through the process, we absorb, free electrons from the ground that are very beneficial for the NERVOUS SYSTEM.
The endocrine system is a group of glands in our body that secretes specific hormones directly into our blood stream. IMPROVES THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM The endocrine system is a group of glands in our body that secretes specific hormones directly into our blood stream. IMPROVED BLOOD CIRCULATION The added electrons in the system, is highly efficient in reducing the viscosity of the blood. IMPROVED POSTURE Feeling the ground with your barefoot increases the core strength of your body. An Increase in core strength would, strengthen your legs, abdominal region, and spine, one step at a time. HAPPY FEET Going shoeless and walking on the naturally soft ground, is just a mega cool statement. It is incredible. Source : www.healthspectra.com
NAMAMI GANGE INTEGRATED GANGA CONSERVATION MISSION
THE RIVER, ITS POLLUTION AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO CLEAN IT ‘Namami Gange’, or National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is a $3.0 Billion ambitious coordinated river cleaning program launched by Government of India in 2014. NMCG projects focus on creation of sewage treatment plants and related infrastructure for stopping pollution caused by domestic/industrial sewage, and pious refuse.
Sewa with IDF-OI is soliciting philanthropic funds from Overseas Indians to fund ‘Namami Gange.’
Sewa International P.O. Box 820867 Houston, TX 77282-0867 Phone: (708) USA-SEWA EMAIL: NG@SEWAUSA.ORG WWW.SEWAUSA.ORG/PROJECTS/NG
India Development Foundation of Oversees Indians
LET US CLEAN UP GANGA
DONATE NOW!
Donations will be 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt
www.sewausa.org/Donate
wishesh digital
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
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