Amrit Vani: Perseverance to Usher in The New Era Amidst Crisis of The Present
(Translation of a discourse by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on the topic "Vishama Paristhitiyon Mein Navyuga Kī Taiyyārī")
Let us begin with collective chant of the Gayatri Mantra:
"Om Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ, Tatsaviturvareñyaṁ Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi, Dhiyo Yonaḥ Pracodayāt"
Sisters and Brothers,
Some of you might have heard the mythological legend of the elephant that was rescued by Lord Vishnu from the sharp jaws of a crocodile. The anecdote describes: A huge crocodile had caught one leg of an elephant when it was drinking water in a lake. The elephant tried hard to free itself from the clutches of the crocodile, but in vain. There was slippery mire at the base of the lake and the hold of the crocodile was so strong and tight that even the elephant's maximum force could not loosen it. In that helpless situation, the elephant implored through heart for God's help. Who else can help us except the Almighty when our strength exhausts, our efforts fail and there is no other sight of hope?
How does one call the Almighty? People often call Him, beseech His grace through prayers, devotional practices, yagya, anushthāna, etc. But what that elephant, captured inside the lake in the wild, could have done? He simply picked up a lotus flowing in the lake and held it in his trunk. Keeping the trunk upwards, he screamed loudly and called the Almighty. God Vishnu heard the intense imploration of his heart, realized his agony, and came running to save him. God Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra destroyed the crocodile's grab and rescued the elephant.
The status of mankind today is no better than the elephant in this allegoric legend. Only one leg of the elephant was in the crocodile's mouth. But what about the human beings today? We are captured under dreaded risks, challenges, obstructions, problems, complications and threats from so many directions, on almost all fronts of life! Most of these problems are self-created or self-invited.
As you might know, one of the major risks to sustenance of healthy life on the earth is the environmental pollution. Toxic emissions, harmful chemical wastes, radioactive radiation, nuclear waste, etc. have polluted our air and water. Excessive use of synthesized fertilizers and toxic dump is also spoiling the soil. Manufacture and use of explosives and other strategic appliances and weaponry, and piling up of nuclear, electronic and plastic garbage is adding to the environmental hazards.
Uncontrolled population growth is another grave threat that requires immediate attention and check. This is like a vicious cycle; the size of economically weaker sections is increasing alarmingly and further damaging the economy. Rising inflation and inflating financial deficit have shaken the domestic budgets of the middle-class. The economically poor are living in pathetic conditions.
Natural resources are depleting. Population explosion has raised many other complications, scarcities and challenges in terms of management of social equity, essential commodities like food and drinking water, inhabitation, land/space-crunch, fuel and energy, hygiene, and public health.
Disturbance of the ecosystem has invited wrath of Nature. Apart from the occurrence and threats of disastrous natural calamities like earthquakes and cyclones, rise in sea levels due to global warming, a dreaded immediate challenge faced by the world today is diminishing usable water-reserves, and irregular, or inadequate rainfall. Wells are drying up, water levels in the lakes, dams, and rivers are lowering down. Many parts of the world are frequently facing drought and famine-like situations.
What about the spark of racial or communal hatred? Has its fire been extinguished? It keeps disrupting social harmony, igniting the fire of riots, in one form or the other, every now and then. Sometimes it is triggered due to a dispute concerning a religious leader or some shrine, because of some political leaders, or even due to intercommunity marriage. The flames, heat and smoke of this fire often spread and give rise not only to visible casualty but also to hidden bitterness and malice of hearts. The situation is often brought under control only by harsh measures and swift action of the police and other security forces. However, the relief often turns out temporary.
Most dreaded is the threat of terrorism. This dragon seems to have captured the entire world in its tentacles. Who knows when and where there would be a shower of bullets, or a bomb-explosion that would destroy everything around? Ever-new, ever-intelligent and technologically advanced modes of terror attacks are being devised.
Is There a Silver Line of Hope?
From time to time, I have guided you on how you can help yourself, resolve the problems in your life on the personal, familial and social fronts. Our mission's publications and projects on social, national and global uplift and welfare have been constructively contributing towards our goal of Yug Nirman — ushering in the new era. Our approach emanates from spirituality and addresses the root-cause of the crisis faced by the world today.
The intensity and dimensions of the present crisis are such that it has virtually driven the world to the brink of a dead-end. It looks like the grace of Almighty alone can liberate and protect us from this disastrous situation. Surrounded by adversities and threats, our state is almost like the elephant in the scriptural anecdote. Like the elephant, we also will have to get the light (guidance) from the Supreme; we will have to beseech the help and support of that Ultimate Savior.
The Almighty, the absolute savior, will not let the 'devil' destroy His marvellous creation. The Purāṇas narrate several examples to reaffirm this certainty: whenever the daityas (demonic forces) attempted to overcome the devatās (divine powers), the latter beseeched His help and He indeed bestowed His savior grace — in the form of incarnation of Omnipotent goddess Durga in one era, Sita in another Age, or in the form of celestial weapons like Indra-Vajra, etc. God also blessed this land in the Vedic Age in the form of the holy river Ganga in response to the devout ascetic sādhanā of sage Bhagirath.
God always answers the prayers of (true) devotees. In these moments of crisis, if we call Him collectively from the depths of our hearts, our prayers will also be heard and His grace will rush to eliminate the darkness of the present and usher the dawn of a happy future. Today (in this discourse) I will tell you how we all can collectively call the Almighty.
(To be concluded in the next issue)
Note: Yug Nirman: Carving a new and bright era by personal, social and cultural transformation/reconstruction, thought-enlightenment, and spiritual elevation. Purāṇas: Hindu scriptures written in rhetoric and allegoric/fiction style for the masses.
"Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor their songs." — Nelson Mandela
"The brave man is not the one who has no fears; he is the one who triumphs over his fears." — Nelson Mandela
"I am the master of my fate and the captain of my destiny." — Nelson Mandela
"We are living in the interlude between two epochs. The 20th Century is passing into the 21st. The first phase of this transition is going to be a very turbulent period of human history. During this transition into the New Age, humanity will have to suffer at the same time that it holds a great hope for a better future." — Shriram Sharma Acharya