Silent revolutions against ‘castism’ from AP

GHHF Dalits successfully performed Satyanarayana Puja on large scale in Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh

“I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear. But those who worship me with love live in me, and I come to life in them.” Bhagavad Gita, 9:29.
 
More than 3000 thousand Dalits participated in performing Samoohika Satyanarayana Temple in the premise of Sri Khadri Lakshmi Narayana Temple on March 4, 2013.  It was scene to be seen and experienced. The organizing committee worked hard to make sure all the arrangements were up to the par. A number of people volunteered to make sure that all the puja items are properly arranged for the families to sit and perform Satyanarayana Vratham. More than 4000 people from the nearby villages came to witness this unprecedented occurrence and supported the event with enthusiasm, commitment and passion to create the communal harmony.
 
            As many of us aware that many lower caste people have not been allowed to even enter the Temples and denied their right to worship their chosen Gods and Goddesses. Unfortunately even the villages planned segregating the people based on the caste system creating more and more divisions in the community. Traditions and customs in the villages have even reinforced the rigidity of the divisions based on caste. Scriptures have been misquoted to reinforce the superiority of one cast over the other.  Bhagavad Gita recognizes the importance of the character, behavior and manners as more important than the caste system. Lord Krishna says, that it is not the birth that counts… but the conduct that is more important.  Every human being must be judged by ones conduct, character and demeanor and not the birth.
 
            In fact, one should remember the initial creation of Brahma as described in Mahabharata:
 
ekavar?ama idama purva? visvama asida yudhisthira      
karmakriyavisesena caturvar?yama pratisthitama
 
            It means, the whole world was originally of one class but later it became divided into four divisions on account of the specific duties.
 
            In Shanti Parva, Sage Bharadwaja explains the four orders of human beings (varna system) and how the system was created. “The bodies of all men emit sweat, urine, faces, phlegm, bile, and blood. How then can men be distributed into classes? Of mobile objects the number is infinite; the species also of immobile objects are innumerable. How then, can, objects of such very great diversity be distributed into classes?”
 
            Sage Brigu also stated that,”There is really no distinction between the different orders. The whole world at first consisted of Brahmanas. Created equal by the Creator, men have in consequence of their acts, become distributed into different orders.”
 
            Sri Pujya Paripoornananda Swamy of Sri Peetham, Punya Cultural Trust of Kadiri and Global Hindu Heritage Foundation / SaveTemples organization represented by the Brand Ambassador jointly coordinated the Samoohika Satyanarayana Puja with a mission to bridge the gap between the different castes, remove the wedges that cause discrimination and create harmonious relations among all people irrespective of their birth. It was a huge success. Adi Shankara worshipped Chandala as Siva and believed that every Jiva is Paramatma.  Similarly Sri Madhvacharya said that manava seva is madhava seva – serving human being is like serving God himself. Sri Ramanujacharya taught Naraynamantra to every body by saying all human being are the kin of God.  Swami Vivekananda also followed the footsteps of these great saints with the conviction that unity among all sections of Hindus is the solution to multitude of problems facing the society.
 
            Swami Paripoornanada spoke about the need to bring unity among all groups of people. He said that Every Hindus is a relative of Bhagavan.  He is born in the lineage of dharma (righteous conduct).  Speaking on the occasion at Sri Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, he observed that due to ignorance of the essence of Hindu principles, many people feel that SCs, BCs, STs cannot enter the Temples. We all have to advocate that our Hindu dharma treats all sections of the people as equal. In fact Sri Swami mentioned that his Ratha Yatra to bring all sections of Hindus to bring back into the lap Mother religion started in Kadiri. Hence the Satyanarayana Puja was initiated here to make all sections of people feel part of the whole, rather than separated by different sections.  This event is just a beginning. If we have to receive the eternal blessings, we all should worship five Gs – Ganga, Gomata, Gita, Guru and Gopuram and protect the. These five items provided education for children, wisdom for the elderly and shelter for the needy. It is the utmost responsibility of every Hindu to protect Hindu Temples.There is no discrimination in the Temples based on caste, religion and sects. He gave an example of Amaranth where people visit the Temple with no caste barriers. The kind of activity we have conducted here in Kadiri to bring different sections together will be repeated in about 200 cities across the State.
 
            Sri Swamiji also mentioned that Hindu religion always embraced only peaceful means and never known to use violent means in its history. He said it is the responsibility of every Hindu to help the victims of the bomb blasts that inflicted people in Hyderabad. In response to this request, Dr. Ghazal Srinivas on behalf of GHHF, M. S. Parthasarathy, Vishnuvardhana Reddy and others liberally donated for the cause of helping the Hyderabad victims.Sri Swamiji mentioned that he will appoint a Special Committee to raise one dollar from each person in Andhra Pradesh and donate eight crores to the victims of Hyderabad blast to indicate that all people are behind them and they are not forgotten. The money raised through this effort will be donated on April 21, 2013.
 
            Another interesting event to remember is the participation of about 175 Bhajana Mandalis (organization) from nearby villages.  More than 2500 people of these Mandalis attended the Puja. These Mandali singers went around the four streets of the Kadiri Temple singing songs loud and to their hearts creating spiritual vibrations engulfing the entire Temple area. Swami Paripoornanada blessed each Mandali with a musical instrument.
 
            Dr. Ghazal Srinivas briefly explained the mission of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation and Save Temples initiative and how we are affiliating with Swami Paripoornananda Swamiji. GHHF is committed to the casteless society and we will endeavor to initiate activities to promote the harmony among different sections. He also entertained the assembled people with his scintillating songs and the need to develop religious and spiritual mend set. He talked about the significance of Gomata. All Gods and Goddesses reside in different parts of Cow. We all need realize this truth and worship Gomata daily to reap the blessing of Gods who reside in her.  
 
            Sri Ramachandraiah, the Minister for Endowments, made proper arrangements from Annavaram Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Temple to provide Satyanarayana Swami medallion that has Vaikunta Narayana Yantram on one side and the image of the Lord on the other side. Three Priests also came from Annavaram and brought Utsav Murthi to perform the puja. Punya Cultural Trust provided all other items such as akshatulu, turmeric powder, Kumkum, beetle leaves, beetle nuts and other Nava graha puja items. Special Prasadam was provided for the occasion. Following the Puja,Mahaprasadam was served to as many as 7000 people.
 
            The effort was great success due to the tireless efforts of Sri Sivakumar (EO), Sri Seshadri (Event general secretary), Sri M S Parthasarathi (BJP leader), Sri O. Viswam (Event Coordinator), Sri Hariprasad (Ex-chairman of the Temple), Sri Vishnuvardhana Reddy, Sri Uttama Reddy, Sri Anjaneyulu, Sri Gangadhar, Sri Ram, Sri Nagendra and many others attended the function.
 
YouTube Presentation:  

            To grasp the magnitude of the event, please click at the link to watch the function in three parts in YouTube:
 
Samoohika Satyanarayana Vrathas in Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Kadiri Part 1
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u1p0DSevPY
 
Samoohika Satyanarayana Vrathas in Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Kadiri Part 2
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDe1y1SWVuE
 
Samoohika Satyanarayana Vrathas in Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Kadiri Part 3
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaVU1TeyL3g
 
 
Picture Gallery:
 
https://plus.google.com/photos/110953636481636917028/albums/5851738942372248225?authkey=CKG_5qPAsoLa6wE
 
 
News Paper Coverage (05.03.2013)
 
Andhra Jyothi
http://andhrajyothy.com/pdffiles/2013/mar/5/Atp/ananthapoor16.pdf
 
Andhra Bhoomi
http://www.andhrabhoomi.net/content/b-563
 
Eenadu
http://epaper.eenadu.net/pdf/2013/03/05/20130305b_006104008.jpg

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