Swami Vivekananda
(January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902) Swami Vivekananda was born in Shimla Pally, Calcutta on 12 January 1863, and was given the name Narendranath Datta. He was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishnaand the founder of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda was the Hindu missionary to the West.He is considered a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yogain Europeand America and is also credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a world religion during the end of 19th Century. Vivekananda is considered to be a major force in the revivalof Hinduism in modern India.He is best known for his inspiring speech beginning with "sisters and brothers of America", through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religionsat Chicago in 1893.
Vivekananda was a renowned thinker in his own right. One of his most important contributions was to demonstrate how Advaitin thinking is not merely philosophically far-reaching, but how it also has social, even political, consequences. According to Vivekananda, a important lesson he received from Ramakrishna was that "Jiva is Shiva" (each individual is divinity itself).This became his Mantra, and he coined the concept of daridra narayana seva - the service of God in and through (poor) human beings. If there truly is the unity of Brahman underlying all phenomena, then on what basis do we regard ourselves as better or worse, or even as better-off or worse-off, than others? - This was the question he posed to himself. Ultimately, he concluded that these distinctions fade into nothingness in the light of the oneness that the devotee experiences in Moksha. What arises then is compassion for those "individuals" who remain unaware of this oneness and a determination to help them.
Swami Vivekananda belonged to that branch of Vedanta that held that no one can be truly free until all of us are. Even the desire for personal salvation has to be given up, and only tireless work for the salvation of others is the true mark of the enlightened person. He founded the Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission on the principle of Atmano Mokshartham Jagat-hitaya cha (for one's own salvation and for the welfare of the World).
Visit of Indian Prime Minister to Bhutan
Visit of Indian Prime Minister to Bhutan- Date of issue : 17 December 2008
Bhutan Post issued a Miniature Sheet to mark the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Bhutan commemorating the Indo-Bhutan Friendship & Coronation and Centenary Celebration 2008. This is the First stamp issued on Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India.
Courtesy - Pradip Jain, Patna - E-Mail : philapradip@gmail.com
