Itihas Divakar - January 2013
Editorial
Miraculous Power in a Sacred Expression
Swami Vivekananda, filled with the knowledge of India and nourished by spiritual power, addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893, with the words "Sisters and Brothers of America." As soon as he spoke, an unprecedented, electric atmosphere permeated the assembly. Upon hearing these words, the audience leaped up with applause, and for some time, the hall resonated with thousands of claps. This effect was not just due to the words of the address, but even more so, it was the impact of the sacred expression from the inner self of Swamiji's Vedanta-proven Vedic voice. In this sacred expression, the brilliant flame of miraculous power manifested its divine light directly in the World Parliament of Religions.
Swami Vivekananda is a great, epoch-making figure in the glorious tradition of Indian history. He spread the divine light of India's spiritual knowledge, history, and tradition throughout the world and provided a strong foundation for the feeling of global brotherhood, enveloped in human values. Swamiji was born on the land of India 150 years ago, on the seventh day of the dark fortnight of the month of Magha, Kaliyugabd 4964, Vikrami Samvat 1919, Shaka Samvat 1784, corresponding to January 12, 1863. Therefore, this year, from January 12, 2013, to January 12, 2014, it has been decided to celebrate Swamiji's sesquicentennial birth anniversary on a large scale. On this occasion, Itihas Divakar presents this Swami Vivekananda Sesquicentennial Jayanti Special Issue, dedicated at the feet of Swamiji, as we strive to fulfill our duty to the best of our ability. It is our humble aspiration that the national consciousness follows the ideals of Swamiji.
Swamiji's call, expressed in his Vedantic voice, is a guiding path to achieve the goal on the path of action – Uttisthata! Jagrata!! Prapyavaranibodhat!!! Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.
India's History and Culture
By Swami Vivekananda
The ancient history of India is filled with the divine enterprise, marvelous efforts, boundless enthusiasm, indomitable collective power, and above all, extremely profound thoughts of a god-like race. If the word 'history' is taken to mean only the stories of kings and emperors, their fluctuating fortunes due to lust, anger, and addictions, and the changing picture of society due to their good or bad efforts, then it must be said that this kind of history does not belong to India. However, all of India's religious texts, poetic works, philosophical treatises, and various scientific books, with every word and line, are thousands of times more clearly singing the praises of the progressive development of that great, intellectually gifted, and vast society—a society driven by hunger, thirst, desire, and anger, attracted by the thirst for beauty—which, from the dawn of civilization, took refuge in various ideas and followed diverse paths to attain this state of glory, far more than books describing specific male figures like kings.
Our sacred India is the holy land of religion and philosophy. It is here that great saints and sages were born, this is the land of renunciation and sacrifice, and it is here, and only here, from time immemorial to the present day, that the door to the highest ideals of life has been open for humanity.
I have traveled in Western countries and have mingled with many different races in various nations, and I have felt that every nation and every race certainly has one or more specific ideals – a significant ideal that circulates throughout the life of the nation; we can say that this ideal is the backbone of the national life. But the backbone of India is not politics, nor is it military power, nor commercial supremacy, nor even mechanical power. It is religion—only religion is our all, and we must preserve it. Spirituality has always been the treasure of India.
