Dharma in Action - Steering Towards Sustainable Future

The journey of life is eternal, with no beginning or end of a timeline, and we continuously scoll from one dimension to another. At this moment in human history, we are facing a global crisis of an unprecedented scale. Our planet's resources are being extracted and exploited to such an extent that the very existence of life on Earth is now threatened. This impulsive action towards nature is deviating us from the path of Dharma, which upholds order and balance in all forms of life.

Across the globe, people are experiencing the effects of climate change which is manifesting in the form of devastating storms, severe droughts, earthquakes, floods, and raging wildfires. The calamities are not limited to environmental issues but also moral ones, challenging us to introspect and realign our actions with the principles of Dharma. The essence of Dharma calls for a collective awakening, asking us to realign our path towards sustainable and compassionate living.

PM Modi's Anushthana for Ram Mandir and Shaping Vision for Bharat

The next 25 years is a period of Amritkaal for Bharat. As people's leader, Prime Minister Modi is taking significant steps in shaping the direction of Samarth, Sashakt, Jagadguru and Atmanirbhar Bharat which is prosperous with the foundation of efficient governance structures. This is an embodiment of Raj Dharma – the ruler's duty to govern with rightful living and justice.

The establishment of the Ram Mandir serves as a manifestation of seeing Dharma in action. This temple is not just a structure of civilizational value; it symbolizes Dharma in action, reflecting the principles of good governance and ethical leadership.

Anushthan to Establish Dharma

For Dharma to be properly established, proper anusthana is required to set up a stable base to invoke the deity or manifest the higher self to accommodate the Paramatma within.

The ongoing 11-day Anushthana by our Prime Minister, which involves certain kinds of fasting and his journey from Sagar to Sarayu before Pran Pratishtha Diwas, lays a solid foundation for the divine presence and higher consciousness to dwell within our nation. His visit to Dhanuskodi and performance of rituals at Arichal Munai, the starting point of Rama Setu, sets a powerful example for every leader in our Rashtra to follow their dharma and bring anushthana into their daily lives.

Reflecting on our history, we find inspiring examples of Anusthana. Yogi Hariharnath, the first guru in my guru-parampara and also the guru of Swami Mukundarāja, who wrote Vivek Sindhu - the first Marathi Sahitya Granth, did 12 years of Pāshupat-vrat, which was an Anusthana that led to the formation of Swayambhu Chaityaneshwar lingam. Similarly, the ritualistic journey of devotees undertaking a 'feri' (walk) around the Trymbakeshwar temple, located at the foothills of Brhamagiri, the origin of the Godavari river, reinforces the significance of such practices. These Anusthanas are more than rituals; they are powerful acts of dedication and purification, setting the stage for Dharma to manifest in its truest form.

Ram Rajya- Swadharma to collective dharma

In today's era, we have inculcated practices that emphasize towards following swadharma - dharma concerning about oneself, but it is also essential that we broaden our perspective and look beyond to understand our collective dharma.

The Ram Pratishthapan in Ayodhyanagari after 500 years is not just a historic event but a symbolic initiation of 'Ram Rajya' - a rule of good governance that invokes this spirit of practising collective dharma without any discrimination among caste, clan, communities, and religion.

Rama's life symbolizes the importance of upholding values, and fundamental ethics and his efforts to ensure the welfare of his Praja, always willing to sacrifice his self-interests over a larger cause and dealing with adversities with equanimity to uphold the rule of Dharma.

When questions were raised about whether Pratishthana should occur without the completion of the entire temple structure, it sparked criticism in community, validating the pran-pratistha of vigraha. The lack of conviction was then reduced by shraddha and bhakti of the people. This reminded me of the similar challenges faced by Sant Tukaram, who wrote abhangas and made path of bhakti accessible to those who were devoid of access to temples. The dharmacharyas in the kshetra questioned his adhikara and then authenticity of his abhangas, which made him appear in the court and then prove it. He sat on a shila for 13 days and drowned of all his abhanga in river Indrayani. Those 13 days of continuous sitting was nothing but an anushthana, which transformed the shila/ rock into a pilgrimage site for all the warkaris sect.

Ram Mandir is a similar consequence of the efforts of the people who fought for its reestablishment and it is that bhakti that gives shakti and bal to this process of pran pratistha and serves as the best example to see Dharma in Action, where will of the state and aastha of bhaktas forms a resonance and shapes this event.

See the video of Ram Lalla vigraha divya darshan below:

Order of Dharma

As we witness the transformative effect of actions rooted in Dharma, we also realize their potential in addressing the pressing issues of our times like increasing crime rate, lack of food security, terrorism and global wars, killing and exploitation of animals, human trafficking, mass protests to destabilize the ecosystem and cause chaos in society, pandemics etc. To tackle these issues, a strong foundation built on the right teachings, practices, and propagation can serve as a backbone in our collective effort to restore balance and harmony in the world.

In conclusion, the principles of Dharma, when put into action, have the power to create a ripple effect, extending their impact far beyond the immediate context. They offer a blueprint for sustainable living, and ethical leadership, for a harmonious future. As we move on this path, let us draw inspiration from all the rishis and gurus who guided our civilizational journey and bow down to the Maryada Purushottam, Shri Ram embracing Dharma not just in rituals but in every aspect of our lives.

From the Social Media Vault:

Listing down some amazing resources that can be helpful for you to understand and gain multiple perspectives about Dharma:

1. Understanding Swadharma by Swami Chinmayananda

2. PM Modi's message on Prana-Pratishtha of Ram Mandir -

3. Rajarshi Nandy ji on Devata Anushthana Shashtra -

4. What Stops Ram-Rajya in India -

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