Karma and Dharma
Noble men would feel that if they faced problems and sufferings, it may be due to their misdeeds, and if any good thing happened, it would be because of God's blessings. A doubt arises whether the fruit of the action is due to our performance or granted by God. All our deeds are to be aimed at satisfying God, and if He is pleased, He will extend His blessings. He will not give at random. It depends on our attitudes and beliefs. In the churning of the milk ocean, the celestials indulged in it with the sole aim of rendering service to God, while the Asuras tried to overpower God. Hence, He chose to give nectar to the celestials.
Dharma has several meanings and explanations, and in this context, it refers to 'Sastras', which define a set of rules and regulations to be followed. The Lord says that the Vedas and the Sastras are His commands (Sruthi Smruthir mamaivagnya). By following the prescribed codes of conduct, people can derive His blessings and reach the realm of His abode.
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
What Bhagat Singh's ‘Why I Am an Atheist' taught me about my own belief
'It is cowardly to seek shelter in the idea of God.' The words struck me, not just for their audacity, but because they were written by Bhagat Singh, the revolutionary I had long revered as a fearless martyr. They appear in Why I Am an Atheist, his now-iconic essay, penned from prison in the final months of his life. To me, Bhagat Singh had always been a nationalist hero, not someone who would so boldly challenge faith. At first glance, the essay felt almost abrasive, a vain, unabashed dismissal of everything religion holds sacred. I scowled at what I perceived as Bhagat Singh's complete ignorance towards faith. What I as a believer considered to be a safe haven, the 'Shaheed-e-Azam' dubbed a mental crutch. But as I read more deeply, something unexpected happened: my mind, shaped by years of belief, began to stretch in ways I had not thought possible. After reading Why I am an Atheist and his other works, there was one thing I knew for sure: Bhagat Singh was not the man we came to know through the rosy lunettes of told history. Before he knew that he was a freedom fighter, the 23-year-old revolutionary knew that he was an atheist, writing words that could make any firm believer of God look inward. The textbook version of Bhagat Singh bears little resemblance to the man he believed himself to be. History books portray him as a fiery revolutionary figure, determined to free India from British rule. They recount his acts of defiance and his ultimate sacrifice, but rarely do they pause to examine the ideas that shaped him. His convictions, his intellect, and his inner conflicts are often lost beneath the weight of nationalist iconography. The essay introduced me to the mind of a 19-year-old man who was not just driven by the sentiment of boyish rebellion amid the freedom struggle, but one who questioned power and sought logic. Bhagat Singh was not a man of fiery speeches but of precise words, he did not shout at you from the page, but spoke gently of his firm convictions until he faced death head on – without fear, without prayer, without illusion. One of the most human moments in Bhagat Singh's collected writings is a letter he wrote to his father, Kishan Singh from jail. With his fate already sealed and death only months away, Bhagat Singh responded to his father's well-intentioned plea for clemency to the British authorities not with gratitude, but with sharp disapproval. It was the kind of defiance one might expect from any principled 23-year-old, but in Bhagat Singh's case, the stakes were unimaginably high. He saw his father's final attempt to save him not as love, but as weakness. 'Treachery,' he called it, refusing to compromise his convictions, even in the face of death. 'Father, I feel as though I have been stabbed in the back. Had any other person done it, I would have considered it to be nothing short of treachery. But in your case, let me say that it has been a weakness – a weakness of the worst kind.' An outburst of this extent was something I never thought I would witness from the legendary Bhagat Singh. What books and movies portrayed was a sepia-tinted image of a great man who made the ultimate sacrifice. However, after reading this letter, I saw him as a 23-year-old man mocking his father's choice as a parent, convinced that he knows better. In his letter to his father, Bhagat Singh angrily asserted that the last-ditch attempt to save his life diminished its purpose. He said he always wanted to be completely indifferent to the trial, saying that a politician should only defend himself from a political standpoint and never think about the legalities. Reading this letter was the first time I saw Bhagat Singh as a son and as a man with emotional depth. The essay, penned within the walls of Lahore Central Jail beneath the shadow of his looming execution, was his response to his fellow comrades in arms, including Batukeshwar Dutt, who questioned his lack of faith and thought he became an atheist because of his vanity. In his essay, Bhagat Singh explains that his atheism did not stem from vanity or superiority, but from realism, critical thinking, and lack of fear. Reading his essay, I came to the realisation that Bhagat Singh never viewed God as an evil idea, he was only against unconditional devotion. Bhagat Singh neither feared the consequences of his actions, nor did he fear death. He wrote that in his final days, after pondering for days, he chose not to pray. Most of faith is driven by the fear of what comes next, he explained, saying that once the noose is around his neck, he knows that his existence and his soul will cease to be. He said that as opposed to popular belief, he did not become an atheist after he gained recognition as a revolutionary. Despite being raised by an Arya Samaji grandfather and a Sikh father, Bhagat Singh questioned faith since he was a young boy when he was unaware of the depth of the atrocities happening under British rule. He looks back at difficult times in his life where he had the option to fall back on faith to spend his days in peace, but chose not to. This was not because of his ego but because he did not want to be trapped in a false narrative of fear and the promise of Divine rescue. For him, belief in God was not always about devotion, it was often about fear. Fear of the meaningless, fear of suffering and fear of death. He saw that people chose faith as a comfort, and the outward display of religion was only to make one feel centred in a chaotic world, filled with the unknown. One thing that resonated the most with me was that he did not challenge belief itself, but the involuntary reflex to believe without thinking. His atheism was not driven by anger, but by a refusal to be comforted by illusions. As a believer, Bhagat Singh's words were deeply uncomfortable to read. My mind understood the logic but was constantly in a frenzy to counter his words, to no avail. His essay made me ask myself – how much of my own faith is authentic, unaffected by fear or habit? Though somewhat offended at first, Bhagat Singh's atheism did not shake my belief, only illuminated it. His words made me realise that maybe I have always been somewhat of a sceptic. While I have never been a person who spent long hours at a temple or in a prayer, I did not spend those hours questioning the logic of faith either. For me, religion was always more about my memories than the metaphysics. My faith lives in the Diwali pujas I prepared for with my mother, the diyas I carefully placed across the house as my sister painted Lakshmi Charan near our front door, the crackle of Holika Dahan fire as we circled around it as a family. My faith was never built through theology, but through ritual, repetition and love. But now, Bhagat Singh's words made me question how much of a believer I actually was. Atheists have always been perceived as pessimists, mostly driven by rebellion, but such was not the case with Bhagat Singh. His version of atheism cuts through with precision of a scalpel. He chose to live, fight and die without Divine assurance, a clarity which is rare in most believers. Bhagat Singh's atheism did not make me feel threatened, but challenged me in the best way. He made me aware of the quiet spaces where the line between faith and fear blur. My faith found a room for thought and growth in this atheism. He made me understand that the essence of belief is not blind comfort: it is to have conviction without compromise.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Centre for Hindu Studies to begin at Doon Univ in Aug
Dehradun: The 'Centre for Hindu Studies' will start operations at Doon University this month, officials said on Friday. The centre aims to deepen understanding of Indian knowledge traditions among youth through multidisciplinary study, research, and training in subjects such as philosophy, history, literature, sociology, art, and architecture. State education minister Dhan Singh Rawat urged officials to expedite formalities during a recent review meeting at the university. "The centre will serve as an important platform for preserving, analysing, and disseminating Indian spiritual and philosophical traditions. It will encourage understanding of Hindu traditions, texts, and philosophy and will promote Indian research methodologies for teaching and research," he said. The centre will offer a four-year undergraduate course covering metaphysics, discourse on religion and duty, debate traditions, Ramayana, Mahabharata, leadership and organisational behaviour. Postgraduate studies will focus on Hindu philosophy, society, literature, religion, and leadership skills. Rawat added that the centre will bridge modernity and tradition, preparing citizens and leaders with moral and cultural awareness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The minister said that after Banaras Hindu University, Doon University will be the second institution in the country to formally study Vedas, Puranas, and Indian philosophy. However, 17 other universities, including Delhi University and JNU, offer similar courses, said a senior faculty member at the centre. Prof HC Purohit, dean of the school of management and students' welfare, has been appointed coordinator of the centre. He said that admissions are open until Aug 8, after which classes will begin. "The course framework was finalised in June. The MA course has 20 seats, and a guest lecturer roster has already been prepared," he said. During the meeting, the minister also reviewed the progress of Dr Nityanand Himalayan Research and Study Centre and the MSc Urban Development Management program. He instructed departmental officials and university administration to make the research centre more student-friendly and to develop the university as a centre for excellence.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Ekadashi in August 2025: Date, Parana Time, Puja Rituals and Significance
Ekadashi holds a great religious and spiritual significance among Hindus. This day is considered as an most auspicious day to worship Lord Vishnu with pure intentions and dedication. This day falls every month on 11th day of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. Ekadashi observers get rid of all the problems if they observer this fast with sincerity. Here, we are going to give you full details about Ekadashi observances in the month of August so that you can check the timings and follow accordingly: Ekadashi in August 2025 : Date and Time Shravan Putrada Ekadashi: Date and Time (Shukla Paksha) Ekadashi Tithi Begins - August 4, 2025 - 11:41 AM Ekadashi Tithi Ends - August 5, 2025 - 01:12 PM Parana Time - August 6, 2025 - 05:45 AM to 08:26 AM Parana Day Dwadashi End Moment - August 6, 2025 - 02:08 PM Aja Ekadashi 2025: Date and Time (Krishna Paksha) Ekadashi Tithi Begins - August 18, 2025 - 05:22 PM Ekadashi Tithi Ends - August 19, 2025 - 03:32 PM Parana Time - August 20, 2025 - 05:53 AM to 08:29 AM Parana Day Dwadashi End Moment - August 20, 2025 - 01:58 PM Ekadashi in August 2025: Significance Ekadashi is one of the most auspicious day according to Hindu Scriptures. This day holds an immense religious and spiritual significance among Hindus. On this sacred day, devotees of Lord Vishnu observe fast and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu with pure intentions and devotion. It is believed that Lord Vishnu is known to be the remover of all obstacles. The devotees who observe this fast with deep faith and good thoughts, get rid of all the sufferings including their past karmic deeds or sins which they might have done knowingly or unknowingly. They can get a place in the abode of Lord Vishnu after their demise. Ekadashi in August 2025: Puja Rituals Wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath before starting their puja rituals. Clean the house and puja room and offer Arghya to Lord Surya before worshipping. Take a wooden plank and place an idol of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi or Shree Yantra, a symbol of Maa Lakshmi. Invoke the idol by chanting mantras of Lord Vishnu and then recite the particular Katha and offer bhog prasad, fruits, sweets, panchamrit and tulsi dal to Bhagwan Shree Hari and spend their day chanting Shri Krishna Maha Mantra. Visit Vishnu temple and worship him by offering Tulsi Mala and in the evening people can eat fruits and other vrat meal. Those who observe rigorous fast, they break on Dwadashi Tithi at the time of Parana. Mantra Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaye..!! Achyutam Keshvam Krishna Damodaram Ram Narayanam Janaki Vallabham..!! Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare..!!
