Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Aarya samaj aur isake sansthapak स्वामी दयानंद सरस्वती:

आर्यसमाज

आर्यसमाज का आधिकारिक ध्वज
आदर्श वाक्य/ध्येय: कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम्
कुल अनुयायी

संस्थापक

उल्लेखनीय प्रभाव के क्षेत्र
भारत
विश्वव्यापी

धर्म
हिन्दू धर्म
पाठ्य
सत्यार्थ प्रकाश
भाषाएं
संस्कृत, हिन्दी
आर्य समाज एक हिन्दू सुधार आंदोलन था जिसकी स्थापना स्वामी दयानंद सरस्वती ने १८७५ में बंबई में मथुरा के स्वामी विरजानंद की प्रेरणा से की थी।[१] यह आंदोलन पाश्चात्य प्रभावों की प्रतिक्रिया स्वरूप हिंदू धर्म में सुधार के लिए प्रारंभ हुआ था। आर्य समाज में शुध्द वैदिक परम्परा में विश्वास करते थे तथा मूर्ति पूजा, अवतारवाद, बलि, झूठे कर्मकाण्ड व अंधविश्वासों को अस्वीकार करते थे। इसमें छुआछूत व जातिगत भेदभाव का विरोध किया तथा स्त्रियों व शूद्रों को भी यज्ञोपवीत धारण करने व वेद पढ़ने का अधिकार दिया था। स्वामी दयानन्द सरस्वती द्वारा रचित सत्यार्थ प्रकाश नामक ग्रन्थ आर्य समाज का मूल ग्रन्थ है। आर्य समाज का आदर्श वाक्य है: कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम्, जिसका अर्थ है - विश्व को आर्य बनाते चलो।

प्रसिद्ध आर्य समाजी गणों में स्वामी दयानन्द सरस्वती, स्वामी श्रद्धानन्द, महात्मा हंसराज, लाला लाजपत राय, भाई परमानन्द, पंडित गुरुदत्त, स्वामी आनन्दबोध सरस्वती, पंडित वन्देमातरम रामचन्द्र राव, स्वामी अग्निवेश, बाबा रामदेवआदि आते हैं।

अनुक्रम [छुपाएँ]
१ सिद्धांत
२ आर्य समाज के दस नियम
३ आर्य समाज और भारत का नवजागरण
३.१ हिन्दी-सेवा
४ आर्यसमाज का योगदान
५ संदर्भ
६ वाह्य सम्पर्क सूत्र


सिद्धांत
आर्य शब्द का अर्थ है श्रेष्ठ और प्रगतिशील। अतः आर्य समाज का अर्थ हुआ श्रेष्ठ और प्रगतिशीलों का समाज, जो वेदों के अनुकूल चलने का प्रयास करते हैं। दूसरों को उस पर चलने को प्रेरित करते हैं। आर्यसमाजियों के आदर्श मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम राम और योगिराज कृष्ण हैं। महर्षि दयानंद ने उसी वेद मत को फिर से स्थापित करने के लिए आर्य समाज की नींव रखी।आर्य समाज के सब सिद्धांत और नियम वेदों पर आधारित हैं। आर्य समाज की मान्यताओं के अनुसार फलित ज्योतिष, जादू-टोना, जन्मपत्री, श्राद्ध, तर्पण, व्रत, भूत-प्रेत, देवी जागरण, मूर्ति पूजा और तीर्थ यात्रा मनगढ़ंत हैं, वेद विरुद्ध हैं। आर्य समाज सच्चे ईश्वर की पूजा करने को कहता है, यह ईश्वर वायु और आकाश की तरह सर्वव्यापी है, वह अवतार नहीं लेता, वह सब मनुष्यों को उनके कर्मानुसार फल देता है, अगला जन्म देता है, उसका ध्यान घर में किसी भी एकांत में हो सकता है।

इसके अनुसार दैनिक यज्ञ करना हर आर्य का कर्त्तव्य है। परमाणुओं को न कोई बना सकता है, न उसके टुकड़े ही हो सकते हैं। यानी वह अनादि काल से हैं। उसी तरह एक परमात्मा और हम जीवात्माएं भी अनादि काल से हैं। परमात्मा परमाणुओं को गति दे कर सृष्टि रचता है। आत्माओं को कर्म करने के लिए प्रेरित करता है। फिर चार ऋषियों के मन में २०,३७८ वेदमंत्रों का अर्थ सहित ज्ञान और अपना परिचय देता है। आर्य समाज का मूल ग्रन्थ हैसत्यार्थ प्रकाश एवं अन्य माननीय ग्रंथ हैं - वेद, उपनिषद, षड् दर्शन, गीता व वाल्मीकि रामायण वगैरह। महर्षि दयानंद ने सत्यार्थ प्रकाश में इन सबका सार दे दिया है। १८ घंटे समाधि में रहने वाले योगिराज दयानंद ने लगभग आठ हजार किताबों का मंथन कर अद्भुत और क्रांतिकारी सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की रचना की।

मान्यताएं
ईश्वर का सर्वोत्तम और निज नाम ओम् है। उसमें अनंत गुण होने के कारण उसके ब्रह्मा, महेश, विष्णु, गणेश, देवी, अग्नि, शनि वगैरह अनंत नाम हैं। इनकी अलग- अलग नामों से मूर्ति पूजा ठीक नहीं है। आर्य समाज वर्णव्यवस्था यानी ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य व शूद्र को कर्म से मानता है, जन्म से नहीं। आर्य समाज स्वदेशी, स्वभाषा, स्वसंस्कृति और स्वधर्म का पोषाक है।

आर्य समाज सृष्टि की उत्पत्ति का समय चार अरब ३२ करोड़ वर्ष और इतना ही समय प्रलय काल का मानता है। योग से प्राप्त मुक्ति का समय वेदों के अनुसार ३१ नील १० खरब ४० अरब यानी एक परांत काल मानता है। आर्य समाज वसुधैव कुटुंबकम् को मानता है। लेकिन भूमंडलीकरण को देश, समाज और संस्कृति के लिए घातक मानता है। आर्य समाज वैदिक समाज रचना के निर्माण व आर्य चक्रवर्ती राज्य स्थापित करने के लिए प्रयासरत है। इससमाज में मांस, अंडे, बीड़ी, सिगरेट, शराब, चाय, मिर्च-मसाले वगैरह वेद विरुद्ध होते हैं।

आर्य समाज के दस नियम
मुख्य लेख : आर्य समाज के नियम
१. सब सत्यविद्या और जो पदार्थ विद्या से जाने जाते हैं, उन सबका आदिमूल परमेश्वर है।

२. ईश्वर सच्चिदानंदस्वरूप, निराकार, सर्वशक्तिमान, न्यायकारी, दयालु, अजन्मा, अनंत, निर्विकार, अनादि, अनुपम, सर्वाधार, सर्वेश्वर, सर्वव्यापक, सर्वांतर्यामी, अजर, अमर, अभय, नित्य, पवित्र और सृष्टिकर्ता है, उसी की उपासना करने योग्य है।

३. वेद सब सत्यविद्याओं का पुस्तक है। वेद का पढना – पढाना और सुनना – सुनाना सब आर्यों का परम धर्म है।

४. सत्य के ग्रहण करने और असत्य के छोडने में सर्वदा उद्यत रहना चाहिये।

५. सब काम धर्मानुसार, अर्थात सत्य और असत्य को विचार करके करने चाहियें।

६. संसार का उपकार करना इस समाज का मुख्य उद्देश्य है, अर्थात शारीरिक, आत्मिक और सामाजिक उन्नति करना।

७. सबसे प्रीतिपूर्वक, धर्मानुसार, यथायोग्य वर्तना चाहिये।

८. अविद्या का नाश और विद्या की वृद्धि करनी चाहिये।

९. प्रत्येक को अपनी ही उन्नति से संतुष्ट न रहना चाहिये, किंतु सब की उन्नति में अपनी उन्नति समझनी चाहिये।

१०. सब मनुष्यों को सामाजिक, सर्वहितकारी, नियम पालने में परतंत्र रहना चाहिये और प्रत्येक हितकारी नियम पालने सब स्वतंत्र रहें।

आर्यसमाज आर्य समाज और भारत का नवजागरण
आर्य समाज ने भारत में राष्ट्रवादी विचारधारा को आगे बढ़ाने में महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान किया है। इसके अनुयायियों ने भारतीय स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में बढ-चढ कर भाग लिया। आर्य समाज के प्रभाव से ही भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कांग्रेस के भीतर स्वदेशी आन्दोलन आरंभ हुआ था।आर्य समाज ने हिन्दू धर्म में एक नयी चेतना का आरंभ किया था। स्वतंत्रता पूर्व काल में हिंदू समाज के नवजागरण और पुनरुत्थान आंदोलन के रूप में आर्य समाज सर्वाधिक शक्तिशाली आंदोलन था। यह पूरे पश्चिम और उत्तर भारत में सक्रिय था तथा सुप्त हिन्दू जाति को जागृत करने में संलग्न था। यहाँ तक कि आर्य समाजी प्रचारक फिजी, मारीशस, गयाना, ट्रिनिडाड, दक्षिण अफ्रीका में भी हिंदुओं को संगठित करने के उद्देश्य से पहुँच रहे थे। आर्य समाजियों ने सबसे बड़ा कार्य जाति व्यवस्था को तोड़ने और सभी हिन्दुओं में समानता का भाव जागृत करने का किया।

हिन्दी-सेवा
आर्य समाज से जुडे लोग भारत की स्वतन्त्रता के साथ-साथ भारत की संस्कृति, भाषा, धर्म, शिक्षा आदि के क्षेत्र में सक्रिय रूप से जुडे रहे। स्वामी दयानन्द की मातृभाषा गुजराती थी और उनका संस्कृत का ज्ञान बहुत अच्छा था, किन्तु केशव चन्द्र सेन के सलाह पर उन्होने सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की रचना हिन्दी में की। दयानंद ने सत्यार्थ प्रकाश जैसा क्रांतिकारी ग्रंथ हिंदी में रचकर हिंदी को एक प्रतिष्ठा दी। आर्यसमाज ने हिन्दी को 'अर्यभाषा' कहा और सभी आर्यसमाजियों के लिये इसका ज्ञान आवश्यक बताया। दयानन्द जी वेदों का की व्याख्या संस्कृत के साथ-साथ हिन्दी में भी की। स्वामी श्रद्धानन्द ने हानि उठाकर भी अनेक पत्र-पत्रिकाओं का प्रकाशन देवनागरी लिपि में लिखी हिन्दी में किया जबकि उनका प्रकाशन पहले उर्दू में होता था।

आर्यसमाज का योगदान
आर्य समाज समाज-सुधार, शिक्षा एवं राष्ट्रीयता का आन्दोलन था।
भारत के ८५ प्रतिशत स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी, आर्य समाज ने पैदा किया।
स्वामी जी ने धर्म परिवर्तन कर चुके लोगों को पुन: हिंदू बनने की प्रेरणा देकर शुद्धि आंदोलन चलाया।[२]
स्वामी दयानंद ने हिंदी भाषा में सत्यार्थ प्रकाश पुस्तक तथा अनेक वेदभाष्यों की रचना की।[३]
सन् १८८६ में लाहौर में स्वामी दयानंद के अनुयायी लाला हंसराज ने दयानंद एंग्लो वैदिक कॉलेज की स्थापना की थी।
सन् १९०१ में स्वामी श्रद्धानंद ने कांगड़ा में गुरुकुल विद्यालय की स्थापना की।
सत्यार्थ प्रकाश:

सत्यार्थ प्रकाश


सत्यार्थ प्रकाश
लेखक महार्षि दयानंद सरस्वती
देश भारत
भाषा हिन्दी
सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की रचना आर्य समाज के संस्थापक महार्षि दयानंद सरस्वती ने की। यद्यपि उनकी मातृभाषा गुजराती थी और संस्कृत का इतना ज्ञान था कि संस्कृत में धाराप्रवाह बोल लेते थे, तथापि इस ग्रन्थ को उन्होने हिन्दी में रचा। कहते हैं कि जब स्वामी जी १९७२ में कलकत्ता में केशवचन्द्र सेन से मिले तो उन्होने स्वामी जी को यह सलाह दे डाली कि आप संस्कृत छोडकर हिन्दी बोलना आरम्भ कर दें तो भारत का असीम कल्याण हो। तभी से स्वामी जी के व्याख्यानों की भाषा हिन्दी हो गयी और शायद इसी कारण स्वामी जी ने सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की भाषा भी हिन्दी ही रखी।

स्वामी जी पूरे देश में घूम-घूमकर शास्त्रार्थ एवं व्याख्यान कर रहे थे। इससे उनके अनुयायियों ने अनुरोध किया कि यदि इन शास्त्रार्थों एवं व्याख्यानों को लिपिबद्ध कर दिया जाय तो ये अमर हो जाय। सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की रचना उनके अनुयायियों के इस अनुरोध के कारण ही सम्भव हुई। सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की रचना का प्रमुख उद्देश्य आर्य समाज के सिद्धान्तों का प्रचार-प्रसार था। इसके साथ-साथ इसमें इसाई, इस्लाम एवं अन्य कई पंथों/मतों का खण्डन भी है। उस समय हिन्दू शास्त्रों का गलत अर्थ निकाल कर हिन्दू धर्म एवं संस्कृति को बदनाम करने का षडयंत्र भी चल रहा था। इसी को ध्यान में रखकर महर्षि दयानन्द ने इसका नाम सत्यार्थ प्रकाश (सत्य + अर्थ प्रकाश = सही अर्थ को सामने लाना) रखा।

अनुक्रम [छुपाएँ]
१ सत्यार्थ प्रकाश का प्रयोजन
२ सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की संरचना
३ बाहरी कड़ियाँ
४ संदर्भ


[संपादित करें] सत्यार्थ प्रकाश का प्रयोजन
समाजसुधारक स्वामी दयानंद सरस्वती की इस रचना (सन् 1875) का मुख्य प्रयोजन सत्य को सत्य और मिथ्या को मिथ्या ही प्रतिपादन करना है।

यद्यपि हिंदू जीवन व्यक्ति और समाज, दोनों को समक्ष रखकर चलता है, तो भी हिंदुओं में प्राय: देखा जाता है कि समष्टिवादी की अपेक्षा व्यक्तिवादी प्रवृत्ति अधिक है। ध्यान में मग्न उपासक के समीप इसी समाज का कोई व्यक्ति तड़प रहा हो तो वह उसे ध्यानभंग का कारण समझेगा - यह नहीं कि वह भी राम या कृष्ण ही है। फिर उन्नीसवीं शती में अँगरेजी सभ्यता का बहुत प्राबल्य था। अँगरेजी प्रचार के परिणामस्वरूप हिंदू ही अपनी संस्कृति को हेय मानने और पश्चिम का अंधानुकरण करने में गर्व समझने लगे थे। भारतीयों को भारतीयता से भ्रष्ट करने की मैकाले की योजना के अनुसार हिंदुओं को पतित करने के लिए अँगरेजी शिक्षाप्रणाली पर जोर था। विदेशी सरकार तथा अँगरेजी समाज अपने एजेंट पादरियों के द्वारा ईसा का झंडा देश के एक कोने से दूसरे कोने तक फहराने के लिए करोड़ों रुपए खर्च कर रहे थे। हिंदू अपना धार्मिक एवं राष्ट्रीय गौरव खो चुके थे। 144 हिंदू प्रति दिन मुसलमान बन जाते; ईसाई इससे कहीं अधिक। पादरी "रंगीला कृष्ण", "सीता का छिनाला" आदि सैकड़ों गंदी पुस्तिकाएँ बाँट रहे थे। इन निराधार गह्र्य लांछनों का उत्तर देने के स्थान में ब्राह्म समाजवालों ने उलटे राष्ट्रीयता का विरोध किया। वेद आदि की प्रतिष्ठा करना तो दूर रहा, पेट भर उनकी निंदा की।

स्वामी दयानंद ने आर्यसमाज और सत्यार्थप्रकाश के द्वारा इन घातक प्रवृत्तियों को रोका। उन्होंने यहाँ तक लिखा, स्वराज्य स्वदेश में उत्पन्न हुए (व्यक्ति)....मंत्री होने चाहिएँ। परमात्मा हमारा राजा है...., वह कृपा करके .....हमको राज्याधिकारी करे। इसके साथ ही उन्होंने आर्य सभ्यता एवं संस्कृति से प्रखर प्रेम और वेद, उपनिषद् आदि आर्य सत्साहित्य तथा भारत की परंपराओं के प्रति श्रद्धा पर बल दिया। स्वसमाज, स्वधर्म, स्वभाषा तथा स्वराष्ट्र के प्रति भक्ति जगाने तथा तर्कप्रधान बातें करने के कारण उत्तर भारत के पढ़े लिखे हिंदू धीरे-धीरे इधर खिंचे चले आए जिससे आर्यसमाज सामाजिक एवं शैक्षाणिक क्षेत्रों में लोकप्रिय हुआ।

[संपादित करें] सत्यार्थ प्रकाश की संरचना
सत्यार्थ प्रकाश में चौदह अध्याय (समुल्लास) हैं। इसमें इन विषयों पर विचार किया गया है - बालशिक्षा, अध्ययन अध्यापन, विवाह एवं गृहस्थ, वानप्रस्थ, संन्यास राजधर्म, ईश्वर, सृष्टि उत्पत्ति, बंधमोक्ष, आचार अनाचार, आर्यवर्तदेशीय मतमतांतर, ईसाई मत तथा इस्लाम। इसकी भाषा के संबंध में स्वयं लेखक ने सन् 1882 में यह लिखा - जिस समय मैंने यह ग्रंथ बनाया था, उस समय.....संस्कृतभाषण करने....और जन्मभूमि की भाषा गुजराती होने के कारण मुझको इस भाषा (हिंदी) का विशेष परिज्ञान न था। इससे भाषा अशुद्ध बन गई थी। इब...इसको भाषा-व्याकरण-अनुसार शुद्ध करके दूसरी बार छपवाया है।
स्वामी दयानंद सरस्वती:


Friday, July 23, 2010

The Most of Indian saints list

Mata Amritanandamayi
Swami Dayanand Sarawati
Maharshi Yogi

Shri Shri Ravishankar
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Ramdev

Sahajananda Swami
Swami Sahajand Saraswati
Ramanujacharya

Madhvacharya
Swami Raghavendra
Ramana Maharshi

Baba Loknath
Chanakya
Swami Parijnanashram

H H Shankarashram- I Swamiji
Swami H H Parijnanashram II
H H Shankarashram- II Swamiji

His Holiness Swami Keshavashram
Swami Vamanashram
Swami Krishnashram

His Holiness Swami Pandurangashram
Swami Anandashram
Swami Parijnanashram III

Shrimat Sadyojat Shankarashrama
Swami Chidananda Saraswati
Swami Nigamananda

Ramana Maharishi
Swami Sivananda Saraswati
Swamiji A .Parthasarathy

Abhinavagupta
Acharya Koshoreji Vyas
Annada Thakur

Baba Sheikh Farid Shakarganj
Basaveshwara
Bhagat Sain

Bhagwan Das
Eknath
Guru Har Krishan Ji

Guru Hargobind Ji
Guru Ramdas Ji
Hazrat Inayat Khan

J. Krishnamurti
Khwaja Ghulam Farid
Laleshwari

Mahamandaleshwar
Maharajashri
Meher Baba

Nachiketa
Namdev
Neem Karoli Baba

Nimbarka
Pandit Satlal Siboo
Parsava

Pujyapada Ayodhya Dasji
Ram Singh Baba
Sri Morari Bapu

Sri Prahlad Chandra Brahmachari
Sri Swami Brahmanand Maharaj
Sri Swami Krishnanda Saraswati

Sri Yukteshwar
Swami Agnivesh
Swami Anand Ji Maharaja

Swami Chinmayananda
Swami Divayanand Ji Teerth
Swami Jinendra

Swami Jitatmananda Maharaj
Swami Kral Babji
Swami Lakshman Joo

Swami Mast Ram Jee
Swami Nand Lal Ji
Swami Ram Tirth

Saint Ramlinga Swamigal
Swami Ramanand
Swami Shraddhanandaji

Swami Tapovan Maharaj
Vaishnavacharya Goswami
Vamakhepa

Vashishta
Ved Vyas
Yajnavalkya

Guru Nanak
Ramakrishna Paramahansa
Swami Sri Bharati Krisna Tirthaji

Osho
Pandit Shraddha Ram Phillauri
Baba Ram Singh

Baba Dayal Das
Mirabai
Vallabhacharya

Kabir
Tukaram
Sathya Sai Baba

Srila Prabhupada
Sri Chinmoy
Swami Jyotirmayananda

Swami Muktananda
Swami Rama
Swami Rama Tirtha

Amar Das
Chaitanya
Ramananda

Tayumanavar
Ramalinga Swami
The Pandharpur Pilgrimage and the Pandharpur Saints

Adi Shankaracharya
Swami Ramakrishnananda
Alvars

Nayanmars
Sankaradeva
Nayanaar

Ramanuja
Swami Akhandananda
Swami Shivananda

Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c. 350–283 BCE) and other names are Kautilya and Vishnugupta

One of the greatest figures of wisdom and knowledge in the Indian history is Chanakya. He is estimated to have lived from 350 - 283 B.C. Chanakya is touted as the "Pioneer Economist of India". Chanakya was the adviser and Prime Minister of Emperor Chandragupta. Chanakya was a professor at the University of Takshila (located in present day Pakistan) and was an expert in commerce, warfare, economics, etc. His famous works include Chanakya Neeti, Arthashastra and Neetishastra. Read this biography of Kautilya that covers his interesting life history.

Chanakya is also known by the name of Kautilya and Vishnugupta as is mentioned in his text. His famous work called Arthashastra is a classic example of statecraft and politics and is read in Europe even today. It basically consists of the principles of politics and how the state works. An able ruler has to be a ruthless leader to make sure that the state works smoothly and efficiently. The legends associated with Chanakya are very interesting and provide a testimony of his greatness.
Legends:
    Chanakya
  • When Chanakya was born he had a full set of teeth, which is a sign that he would become a king or an emperor. But since he was born in a Brahmin family, it was considered inappropriate. Thus, his teeth were broken and it was predicted that he would make another person a king and rule through him.
  • Even as a child, Chanakya had the qualities of a born leader. His level of knowledge was beyond children of his age.
  • Chanakya was thrown out of the court of King Nanda as he was a blunt man and spoke his mind clearly. Chanakya swore he would take revenge.
  • Chanakya comes across Chandragupta as a young child. Even at that age, he was a born leader and showed the qualities of an able Emperor. He was the guiding force behind Chandragupta and the vital person who made him an able Emperor.
  • Chanakya adds poison in little amounts daily in Chandragupta's food in order to make him immune to poison, lest some enemy tries to poison him.
  • However Chandragupta was unaware about this and once gave a little food to his wife who was in the ninth month of pregnancy. She didn't survive but Chanakya cut open her belly and took out the baby.
  • This baby grew up to become an able emperor named Bindusara. He had a minister named Subandhu who did not like Chanakya. He told Bindusara that Chanakya had killed his mother.
  • Without assessing facts, Bindusara confronted Chanakya. On knowing the whole story, he felt ashamed at his hasty actions and begged for forgiveness. He asked Subandhu to go and apologize and make Chanakya come back.
  • Subandhu was very cunning and on the pretext of going to apologize to Chanakya, he killed him. Thus, ended the life of a great person like Chanakya just because of political rivalry.
  • http://intelindia.com/mahabharat/synopsis_chanakya.htm 


Daivajna Varāhamihira(505 – 587)

How Varaha Mihira got his name "Varaha."

http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://historicalrama.org/northpole.jpg&imgrefurl=http://historicalrama.org/dateevents.html&h=771&w=915&sz=55&tbnid=OIcGFk8VzCa8oM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=147&prev=/images%3Fq%3DVarahamihira&hl=en&usg=__3Gzw4GEvSCKXtwN4XoWBmpaY2Ps=&sa=X&ei=pI5JTJGjL4qXrAeAmfysAw&ved=0CCUQ9QEwBg

 

The importance of Varaha Mihira warrants a brief biographical sketch. The date of Varaha Mihira is controversial, some say circa 100 BC others 500 AD. The date is unimportant for presenting an episode from his biography. The following adumbration from Life of Varaha Mihira, by Suryanarian Rao gives many salient qualities of Varaha Mihira.

Mihira was a Brahmana, the son of Aditya Dasa, from the region of Avanti, near present day Ujjain, in Western India. He was instructed in astrology by his father and was a devout worshipper of Surya Narayana, that is, Krsna who manifests as the Sun. By performing severe austerities to please Surya Narayana, Mihira got blessed with knowledge of ganita, hora, and samhita.

Mihira was one of the Nine Gems, navaratna, in the court of the great king, Vikramaditya of Ujjain. He was greatly honored by the king for his vast learning and correct predictions. Once, after the birth of the King's son Mihira was asked to make predictions about the prince's future. Going into meditation after studying the chart Mihira "observed that a serious and irremediable danger beset the path of the longevity of the royal child and that he would be killed by a varaha, or boar, on a particular day in a certain month of his 18th year and no human remedies could save the prince from the jaws of death."

Having learnt of this danger to his son from his most reliable of court astrologers, Vikramaditya consulted with Bhatti, his Chief Minister. It was decided that a special palace would be constructed with stupendous walls 80 feet high. Ten thousand elite troops would patrol both inside and outside the property as well as in the palace. Such careful watch was taken of the palace that not even a cat or rat could enter the compound what to speak of a wild boar. Every precaution was taken and the prince was under constant guard and practically under house arrest, he was not allowed to leave his compound for any reason. In fact he was ensconced on the seventh floor and not allowed to go to a lower floor. The precautions were so thorough that they boasted that the prince may die but certainly not by the agency of a varaha.

After such security measures were put into place Mihira was asked if he would like to reconsider his former prediction. He emphatically stated that there was nothing that could save the boy. As the date grew near he was again asked to reconsider, and again gave the same reply. Tension began to mount, not so much for the sake of the boy but for the reputation of Mihira. His detractors thought that Mihira's reputation exceeded his ability, and though the boy might die, the possibility of it be caused by a boar was so remote that Mihira would be publicly disgraced. Even his friends, who had implicit faith in him and knew of his great abilities, had doubts as to how his prediction would be successful, because it was impossible for even a rat to move about undetected in that palace.

On the fateful day Vikramaditya held court. Reports were brought to him every hour on the safety and health of the Prince, now 18 years old. All the chief pandits were assembled as well as the navaratnas, the nine greatly learned men, of the King's court. The whole city was waiting for the result of Mihira's prediction. Would it come true or not? The time of death had been fixed at 5:00 PM in the afternoon. The King, though a great admirer of Mihira, was beginning to doubt Mihira's abilities. With a condescending smile he addressed Mihira, did he still want to maintain his previous prediction that the boy should be killed by a wild boar this afternoon. Did any new calculation possibly change his mind, would the child just die, this was possible, but death by a wild boar would be impossible. The King suggested that Mihira gracefully back down from his former stance, without losing face. The King vowed that if the impossible happened he would give Mihira the highest honor and bestow on him the golden and be-jeweled Royal ensign or emblem, the Varaha, wild boar, that was currently on his crown and transfer it to Mihira's head-dress and that for posterity he would henceforth be given the title Varaha Mihira. Everyone applauded the King.

All eyes focused on Mihira. He rose and gave a speech in which he deprecated his own learning, that unfortunately no great rishis such as Vasishta were present to reverse the karma of the Prince. He took a vow that if his prediction failed he would never practice astrology again, he would never enter the court of the king, and indeed, would leave Ujjain altogether and go deep into the forest to practice tapasya, austerities, till his last day. But Mihira stated that indeed the death would come true as predicted, there could be no thwarting of fate and the Prince would be killed by a boar. He then calmly sat down.

In the afternoon at 2:00 PM the King again convened his court. Senior military commanders came every half hour with news of the Prince. He was hale and hearty. Everything was going smoothly. The King had given orders that the guard be on the highest alert and was confident that no harm could befall his son. But Mihiracarya was totally calm, how could this be so, in only a few hours his prediction would be proven wrong, yet he was still placid. Time went on, a half hour after the appointed time of death a guard reported that there was no disturbance in the Prince's palace. Mihira calmly told the King that the boy had already died at the appointed time and they should go see for themselves. Just then another guard came to report that all was still peaceful in the palace. On the way to the palace other guards confirmed that all was quite and calm at the palace. It was now about 6:00 PM and the King told Mihira that his prediction must have been wrong because nothing at all wrong had been reported, he couldn't believe that his officers were liars.

Mihira replied: "Victorious Monarch! the prince has died at the hour, minute, and second, I have named and none of your watchmen has noticed it. It is a sad event no doubt but it has happened and your son is lying dead in a pool of blood, unnoticed by his watchmen and personal companions, and you will see the truth of my prediction. Let us go and examine."

On entering the palace they noticed on every floor that peace and calm prevailed. On the 7th floor they found a dozen or so of the Prince's friends engaged in assorted games such as chess. When the Emperor made inquiries about the Prince, they all replied that he had been playing with them a little while ago and that he was quite hale and hearty and that he had just gone out to take some air on the open terrace of the 7th floor.

Mihira said: "The Prince must be lying dead in a pool of blood caused by the injuries of a boar, and if you go to the terrace you will be shocked to find him dead as predicted by me. This wonderful prediction is not mine. My knowledge is too humble and too limited to make such inconceivable and surprising predictions. I have made all my predictions under the guidance of Surya Narayana. Could such predictions inspired under His grace ever fail?"

They all went to the terrace and saw with horror and sorrow the Prince lying dead on a cot in pool of blood. He was disfigured by the iron hooves of the artificial boar-the Royal Emblem-that was attached to the flag staff. Everyone was thrown into simultaneous gloom and ecstasy by the successful prediction. Vikramaditya awarded Mihira with the Royal Emblem and he was hence forth called Varaha Mihira.

The Prince's death had transpired in the following way. At about 4:00 PM, the Prince, who had been playing with his friends, began to feel a sort of oppression in his chest and giving over his cards to a nearby friend asked him to play in his place. He then rose without complaint and went out to the terrace. A tall flag staff, emblem of Royalty, rose high in the air, it had an artificial boar attached to its top.

As this emblem of royalty was affixed to all important turrets and towers of all the Emperor's palaces no one took any notice of them. Near the flag staff was a cot with soft cushions for the Prince to take rest whenever he felt fatigued. The Prince feeling tired while playing games with his friends came to lay down in the cool air. At 5:00 PM precisely, a very strong gust of wind knocked loose the iron boar. This fell down onto the Prince who was lying on his back. The hooves struck severely against his breast and stomach and the tusks struck his head and mouth. The Prince lost copious amounts of blood and died immediately. The mattress on the cot absorbed the sound of the crash so no one heard it fall. And as the Prince would often go to the terrace, and as the game was very absorbing, no one noticed the Prince's absence.

Spiritual Life the Root of Accurate Predictions

This incident from the life of Varaha Mihira shows the great accuracy that can be attained in astrology if the astrologer is properly trained and performs his spiritual practice and gets the divine blessings. Varaha Mihira lived to be 80 years old, there are many other histories involving him. His son Prithuyashas, was also a great astrologer. His son wrote Horasara, a important classic in natal astrology, and Shatpancashika, a text on Prasna. Varaha Mihira was very terse in his own writings, but Horasara is meant to give more explanation of what Varaha Mihira was teaching.
http://varahamihira.blogspot.com/
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Varahamihira.html
http://www.astrojyoti.com/varahamihirainfo.htm

Sir Isaac Newton(4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727)

http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/newton/summary.html

Newton Isaac Newton was born in the year of 1642, and died in 1727. He was most famous for his three laws of motion, but was also known for other major discoveries in math and science. He compiled most of his work into a masterpiece of science called the Principia. Newton was known to be arrogant, so his book was written almost exclusively for the elite and rich. Some people claim that only 50 people in history have been able to understand his style of writing. Despite his arrogance, he truly was a father in the field of science. At the age of 18, he had devised a new system of mathematics called Calculus, and developed three laws which resulted in a new way of understanding motion.. All of this happened at his farm while the Black Plague swept across England. In the Principia, Newton claimed to have "discovered" gravity when an apple fell on his head. But, many now believe that this was just a story told by Newton, and that in real life, he discovered gravity through thinking - not seeing.
If you want more information on Newton or other scientists, visit one of the following web pages: A very comprehensive and detailed account of Newton and his works:

http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/newton.html

http://www.astec.gov.in/sci_tech/arya/centres.htm

http://www.aryabhatta.net/

Sir Isaac Newton(4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727)

Name: Isaac Newton, Sir
Birth Date: December 25, 1642
Death Date: March 20, 1727
Place of Birth: Lincolnshire, England
Place of Death: Kensington, England
Nationality: English
Gender: Male
Occupations: scientist, mathematician                                                                                                                            

Pythagoras of Samos (560BC - 480BC)

"Through Vibration comes Motion

Through Motion comes Color

Through Color comes Tone"
Pythagoras was a Greek religious leader and a philosopher who made developments in astronomy, mathematics, and music theories. He moved to Croton (a city in southern Italy) and started a religious and philosophical school there. He had many followers called the Pythagoreans. The works of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans can not be separated because the school in which they worked in was restricted to secrecy. The most important idea of the Pythagoreans was that most things could be understood through math, which was important to math and science development. Pythagoras or his students proved the converse theorem, though it was used much earlier in Egypt.