Shri KARAN SINGH.
Shri KARAN SINGH.
Dr. Karan Singh’s speech.
On the occasion of Ved DarshanAcharya Swami Gangeshwaranandji Maharaj.
Ten days long Centenary Birth Celebrations from 8th to the 18th of January 1981.
Speech given on Monday 12 January 1981.
Chairperson Sir, Respected and Revered Sadguru Swami Gangeshwaranadji Maharaj , the Mandaleshwars present here, Respected Scholars and Sadhus, Mothers and Sisters.
You all must be wondering why an ordinary householder has been made to sit on the stage amongst the learned scholars and revered Maha Mandaleshwars !
Today, Swamiji are 100 years old and I am not even 50 years old as yet!
There is a secret which I would like to share with all of you at the outset itself so that people do not question why Karan Sigh has been invited to speak here!
I will tell you two or three things. First of all no work can be accomplished unless and until a representative from the Himalayas is also present!
The Poet Kalidas has described the Himalayas in his poem ‘KumarSambhavam’ and in the first Shloka itself he says—
Astutyatarsyam dishi Devatma Himalyo naam Nagadheeraj
Purvaparau Tayo Nidhi Vaghyaha stitatha Prithviya iv Maan dandaha
अस्त्य् उत्तरस्यां दिशि देवतात्मा हिमालयो नाम नगाधिराजः ।
पूर्वापरौ तोयनिधी विगाह्य स्थितः पृथिव्या इव मानदण्डः॥१.१॥
I belong the lap of Himalayas and I have come to you r Bombay city as a
representative of the Himalayas.
Secondly any great work or undertaking has to be blessed by the Brahmins.
Also it cannot be completed without the Adyabal.
The Vedic Mool Mantra is : अग्रतः चतुरो वेदाः पृष्ठतः।–
Agrataha Chaturo Vedaha Prishthataha
I am not talking about the four Varnas here! I am merely speaking about the
effulgence and the power that is represented. I hope to throw light on this aspect.
The third most important fact is that my mother with whom I had a close
relationship was very close to Swami Gangeshwarnanandji Maharaj.
In a way, I am here to offer obeisance on behalf of my mother to her Guru and in this way I offer my Shradhanjali to my mother. I am extremely happy to be here for this reason.
Our Swamiji Maharaj remarked and wondered why so many Sadhus have come to Bombay!
It is not a bad place actually. Yes, Bombay maybe a little bad and so are many
other cities actually! It may be bad but at the same time Bombay is a beautiful city also.
It is situated by the sea! Personally I have a great affinity for Bombay and have a close relationship with the city.
(Yuvraj Karan Singh with Maharani Taradevi Sahiba & Maharaja Harisinghji )
I was born abroad. My first darshan of Bharat Mata was that of Bombay.
My first school was in Bombay. I was married in Bombay. With the blessings
of the Lord we were blessed with two children and both are born in Bombay.
My dear father the late HariSingh ji stayed in Bombay and he passed away here only.
For all these reasons Bombay is a place of Pilgrimage for me – a Teerth Sthana.
It is a very beautiful co-incidence that we are celebrating Sadguru Swami Gangeshwaranandji’s Centenary Birth celebrations here only.
Several people’s Centenary Birth celebrations are celebrated but when the person Himself is there amongst us in flesh and blood and is giving us darshan , such a great man’s Shatabdi ( 100 years ) I think is a great boon to all Mankind.
I consider this as my great fortune. Swamiji is a jewel amongst Mankind, a great Mahatma who has spent His entire life in the propagation of the Vedas, not only
within the country but also all over the world.
Wherever the Bharatiya culture is still thriving, the name of Swami Gangeshwaranandji’s has spread! There are no two opinions regarding this!
It is most appropriate that so many great men have gathered here to applaud and honour this great person!
Mankind is now at a crossroads!
The ancient traditions are dying and the new traditions are not being formed or created and the present generation is divided and split between the past and the future! They seem to be hanging !
We seem to be suspended in mid air like the Trishanku between the sky and earth .
( The wordTrishanku has come to denote a middleground or limbo between one’s goals or desires and one’s current state or possessions.)
We are not getting any guidance—Marg Darshan. In Bharat corruption is spreading
in all its corners even though the country’s Mool Mantra is ‘Satyamev Jayate’!
Actually TRUTH is our friend and yet corruption is in all the four corners!
How can we get guidance if we find corruption in all quarters!
The guidance we seek can be only be got from our Samskriti ( culture). Just as
Ganga is flowing from the lap of the Himalayas since thousands of years
and rushing towards the ocean, our Bharatiya Samskriti too is continuously
spreading and encouraging us. Our Samskriti is the one that has kept this nation safe.
It shows a new way of life in spite of the several ups and downs.
Once again, the time has come when we need a new lease of life that will revive the consciousness amongst the people and we have numerous gems in our heritage!
I consider YOG as the most precious of all the GEMs available to us in our Samaskriti.
If we were to introduce or spread Bharatiya Samskriti in ONE WORD,that word
would be YOG .
There are several Mahatmas present here who can talk about Yog, therefore it is not appropriate that I speak on this subject.
The only contribution I would like to make on this topic is that in my humble opinion the meaning of YOG can be paraphrased in several ways and not just the षडदर्शन SHATDARSHAN. ( the 8 rungs of Yoga Sadhana).
YOG is that path that facilitates the meeting of the Atma with Parmatma. Our ancient Shastras have shown us four ways of attaining YOG.
The first is Jnan Yog and this path has its own Scriptures like Upanishads,
BrahmSutras etc.
Second is Bhakti Yog and we have the Shrimad Bhagwad elucidating it.
Third is Karma Yog and Bhagwat Geeta was just spoken about today.
Fourth is Raj Yog and Patanjali’s Yog Sutras are well known for this Yog.
All these are different paths but they nevertheless lead us to the same destination.
The purpose or aim is to get the Milan( Union ) of Atma with Parmatma.
In our life we have to practice YOG. I would make a humble request that everyone
should adopt all the four kinds of YOG and assimilate and synthesize them in their life.
Today Man needs Knowledge.
He has to develop the discerning ability, the Vivek to know the truth and the untruth!
Today Man also needs Bhakti or devotion.
Today’s Man must also make use of Raj Yog in some way or the other but the most important one is KARMA YOG.
Geeta says—
यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दन्ति मानवाः॥
Yatah Pravriti Bhutanam Yena Sarvamidam Tatam.
SvaKarmana Tambhrcya Siddhim Vindati Manavaha.
Until and unless we bring together the different YOGs and assimilate them as one the modern man cannot progress!
Let us all work for achieving this YOG. For such a great endeavor Maha Purush like Swami Gangeshwarnandji Maharaj who is present on this stage and adding to its glory, who is a Mandlaeshwar and a Great Man, may He give us His Aashirwaad today and always. This is my prayer and request to Him.
Shri KARAN SINGH.
