Vinoba Bhave (Marathi: विनोबा भावे),Vinayak Narahari Bhave (September 11, 1895 - November 15, 1982) often called Acharya (Sanskrit for teacher), was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan. He is considered as a National Teacher of India and the spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi.^[1]

Early life and background[link]

He was born in Gagode village in Colaba (now Raigad District of Mumbai State, Maharashtra) on September 11, 1895 into a pious family of the Chitpavan Brahmin clan. He was brought-up in Baroda. He was highly inspired after reading the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharat, Ramayan at a very early age. His father, Naraharishumbhurao Bhave was a devout Hindu and his mother, Rukmini Devi who died in 1918, was a great influence on him. In his memoir, Bhave states that, "there is nothing to equal the part my mother played in shaping my mind". Specifically, her devotion and spirituality.

His two brothers, Balkoba Bhave and Shivaji Bhave, were also bachelors devoted to social work.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a freedom fighter and a spiritual teacher. He is best known as the founder of the 'Bhoodan Movement' (Gift of the Land). The reformer had an intense concern for the deprived masses. Vinoba Bhave had once said, "All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts." In 1958, Vinoba was the first recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He was also conferred with the Bharat Ratna (India's highest civilian awards) posthumously in 1983.

Life[link]

Vinoba Bhave was born at Gagode in Kolaba district, Maharashtra on 11 September, 1895. His original name was Vinayak Narahari Bhave. His mother Rukmini Devi was a very religious person. At a very young age Vinoba was deeply interested in Mathematics. In 1916, on his way to Mumbai to appear for the intermediate examination, Vinoba Bhave put his school and college certificates into a fire. It was believed that Vinoba took the decision after reading a piece of writing in a newspaper written by Mahatma Gandhi.He was the father of "BHUDAN" andolan.

Association with Gandhi[link]

After a series of exchange of letters between Gandhi and Bhave, on 7 June, 1916 Vinoba went to meet Gandhi. Five years later, on 8 April, 1921, Vinoba went to Wardha to take charge of a Gandhi-ashram there. During his stay at Wardha, Bhave also brought out a monthly in Marathi, named, `Maharashtra Dharma'. The monthly consisted of his essays on the Upanishads. Over the years, the bond between Vinoba and Gandhi grew stronger and his involvement in constructive programmes for the society kept on increasing.

In 1932, accusing Vinoba Bhave of conspiring against the colonial rule, the British government sent him to jail for six months to Dhulia. There, he told the fellow prisoners about the different subjects of 'Bhagwad Gita', in Marathi. All the lectures given by him on Gita in Dhulia jail were collected and later published as a book.

Until 1940, Vinoba Bhave was known only to the people around him. Mahatma Gandhi, on 5 October, 1940, introduced Bhave to the nation by issuing a statement. He was also chosen as the first Individual Satyagrahi (an Individual standing up for Truth instead of a collective action) by Gandhi himself.

Controversy[link]

Death[link]

In November 1982, Vinoba Bhave fell seriously ill and decided to end his life by refusing to accept any food and medicine during his last days. He died on 15 November, 1982.

Career[link]

Freedom struggle[link]

He was associated with Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian independence movement. In 1932 he was sent to jail by the British colonial government because of his activism against British rule. There he gave a series of talks on the Gita, in his native language Marathi, to his fellow prisoners.

These highly inspiring talks were later published as the book "Talks on the Gita", and it has been translated to many languages both in India and elsewhere. Vinoba felt that the source of these talks was something above and he believed that its influence will endure even if his other works were forgotten.

In 1940 he was chosen by Gandhi to be the first Individual Satyagrahi (an Individual standing up for Truth instead of a collective action) against the British rule. It is said that Gandhi envied and respected Bhave's celibacy, a vow he made in his adolescence, in fitting with his belief in the Brahmacharya principle. Bhave also participated in the Quit India Movement.

Religious and social work[link]

Gandhi and Vinoba

Vinoba's religious outlook was very broad and it synthesized the truths of many religions. This can be seen in one of his hymns "Om Tat" which contains symbols of many religions.

Vinoba observed the life of the average Indian living in a village and tried to find solutions for the problems he faced with a firm spiritual foundation. This formed the core of his Sarvodaya (Awakening of all potentials) movement. Another example of this is the Bhoodan (land gift) movement started at Pochampally on April 18, 1951, after interacting with 40 Harijan families. He walked all across India asking people with land to consider him as one of their sons and so give him a one seventh of their land which he then distributed to landless poor. Non-violence and compassion being a hallmark of his philosophy, he also campaigned against the slaughtering of cows.

Vinoba Said "I have walked all over India for 13 years. In the backdrop of enuring perpetuity of my life’s work, I have established 6 Ashrams. Although I have accomplished a lot, one of the achievements “Baba” would like to be remembered, is for establishing these Ashrams. Hence, 6 geographical sites were chosen. 3 in the three corners of India and three in the middle, on the lines of Adi Shankara.

1) Samanvay Ashram Bodhgaya Bihar 2) Bramh Vidya Mandir Paunar Sewagram, Maharashtra 3) Prasthan Ashram Pathankot Punjab 4) Visarjan Ashram Indore Madhya Pradesh 5) Maitri Ashram Sino-India border Assam 6) Vallabh Niketan Bangalore Karnataka

Literary career[link]

Vinoba Bhave was a scholar, thinker, writer who produced numerous books, translator who made Sanskrit texts accessible to the common man, orator, linguist who had an excellent command of several languages (Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sanskrit, Kannada), and a social reformer. Shri Vinoba Bhave called "Kannada" script as "Queen of World Scripts" - "Vishwa Lipigala Raani". He wrote brief introductions to, and criticisms of, several religious and philosophical works like the Bhagavad Gita, works of Adi Shankaracharya, the Bible and Quran. His criticism of Dnyaneshwar's poetry as also the output by other Marathi saints is quite brilliant and a testimony to the breadth of his intellect. Vinoba Bhave had translated Bhagavad Gita into Marathi. He was deeply influenced by the Gita and attempted to imbibe its teachings into his life, often stating that "The Gita is my life's breath".^[2]

Some of his works are :
1.The essence of Quran
2.The essence of Christian teachings
3.Thoughts on education
4.Swarajya Sastra
A University named after him, Vinoba Bhave University,which is located in Hazaribagh district there in the State of Jharkhand spreading knowledge to many. Vinoba Bhave had established 7 Ashrams and the 7th is Vinobaniketan in Kerala on 1954.

Vinobha Bhave and Land Donation Movement[link]

In 1955, Great saint of India Vinoba Bhave had started land donation movement. He took donated land from rich Indians and gave to poor free of cost for making houses and living. He got more than 1000 villages in the form of donation for poor Indians. Out of these, he obtained 175 donated villages just in Tamil Nadu.^[3]

Later life and death[link]

Vinoba spent the later part of his life at his ashram in Paunar, Maharashtra. He controversially backed the Indian Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, calling it Anushasana Parva (Time for Discipline).

He fell ill in November 1982 and decided to end his life. He died on November 15, 1982 after refusing food and medicine for a few days. The then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi cut short her visit to attend the funeral of Brezhnev and came back to attend the funeral of Vinoba Bhave.

Criticism[link]

V. S. Naipaul has given scathing criticism of Bhave in his collection of essays citing his lack of connection with rationality and excessive imitation of Gandhi. Even some of his admirers find fault with the extent of his devotion to Gandhi. Much more controversial was his support, ranging from covert to open, to Congress Party's government under Indira Gandhi, which was fast becoming unpopular.

Awards[link]

In 1958 Vinoba was the first recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.^[4] He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1983.^[5]

Bibliography[link]

• Geeta Pravachane (in all Indian languages)
• Vichar Pothi (in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and also translated into English by Vasant Nargolkar.)
• Sthitapragnya Darshan (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati also translated in English)
• Madhukar (collection and compilation of his articles written over the years (before freedom was achieved.)
• Krant Darshan (as no. 4)
• Teesri Shakti or The Third Power (his views on political life of the nation)
• Swarajya Shastra (his political treatise)
• Bhoodan Ganga - in 9/10 volumes, (in Marathi, Hindi) collection and compilation of his speeches from 18 April 1951)
• Manushasanam, (his selections from Manusmruti,
• Moved By Love: The memoirs of Vinoba Bhave

Quotes[link]

• "All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts."
• "Peace is something mental and spiritual. If there be peace in our (personal) life, it will affect the whole world"
• "Jai Jagat! — Victory to the world!"
• "It is a curious phenomena that God has made the hearts of the poor rich, and those of the rich poor."
• "What we should aim at is the creation of people power, which is opposed to the power of violence and is different from the coercive power of state."
• "A country should be defended not by arms, but by ethical behavior."
• "We cannot fight new wars with old weapons."
• "When a thing is true, there is no need to use any arguments to substantiate it."
• "There is no need for me to protest against the government’s faults, it is against its good deeds that my protests are needed."
• "Do not allow yourself to imagine that revolutionary thinking can be propagated by governmental power."
• "I beg you not to adopt any "go slow" methods of nonviolence. In nonviolence you must go full steam ahead, if you want the good to come speedily you must go about it with vigor. A merely soft, spineless ineffective kind of nonviolence will actually encourage the growth of the status quo and all the forces of a violent system which we deplore."

See also[link]

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Gandhism
• Lanza del Vasto

References[link]

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Further reading[link]

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External links[link]

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Morari Bapu (Gujarati: મોરારી બાપુ, Hindi: मुरारी बापू; real name Moraridas Prabhudas Hariyani born on September 25, 1946^[1] in Talgajarda is a popular Hindu kathakaar (preacher), who has been giving 9 day-long sermons (kathaas) in both Gujarati and Hindi all over the world—including in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea, and on an airplane travelling the world—since the mid-1970s.

To date, he has conducted over 700 kathaas, most of them based on the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas and other such works about Rama as well as Gopigeet which has the gopis of Vrindavan singing of the glory of Krishna.

Biography[link]

Morari Bapu, complete name Moraridas Prabhudas Hariyani was born on September 25, 1946 on auspicious day of Shivratri in village Talgajarda near Mahuva, Gujarat, to Prabhudas Bapu Hariyani and Savitri Ben Hariyani, in a family of six brothers and two sisters. He is born in a family following religious traditions called Vaishnav Bava Sadhu Nimbarka Parampara (lineage). He became to be called as "Bapu" (meaning Father or elderly person) lovingly by people. .^[2] .^[3] His grandfather, Tribhovandasji was a great Ram Bhakta (devotee of Sri Rama) and used to make young Morari memorize five verses of the Ramcharitamanas each day, on his way to school and back. Further, he at young age was also encouraged via letters from his paternal great grand father, Mahamandleshwar Vishnu Giriji Maharaj, who was head of "Kailas Ashram" at Rishikesh, to be proficient in the Bhagvat Gita and the Vedas.^[4][5]

Morari Bapu has started his career as a primary school teacher in near by village to Talgajarda, he worked for several years, side by side he was doing Ram Kathas.

Media[link]

• Ram Katha by Morari Bapu. (Audio and Video)[1]

Currently available:-

1. Katha No. 668 - Manas Shraddha
2. Katha No. 667 - Manas Mallikarjun
3. Katha No. 648 - Manas Amarnath
4. Katha No. 623 - Manas Sadguru
5. Katha No. 571 - Manas Kak Bhusundi Ramayan

Further reading[link]

• Ramayana: Rāma, Gāthā in Different Versions, by Avadhesh K. Singh. Published by D.K. Printworld, 2007. ISBN 81-246-0416-9.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website of Morari Bapu (IIRamII.net)
• Morari Bapu in Jerusalem

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Guru Nanak ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ
A rare Tanjore style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak Dev is in the centre.
Born	15 April 1469 Nankana Sahib (now in Punjab, Pakistan)
Died	22 September 1539 Kartarpur, (now in Pakistan)
Ethnicity	Punjabi
Parents	Father: Kalu Mehta Mother: Mata Tripta

Guru Nanak ^[1] (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; Hindi: गुरु नानक, Urdu: گرونانک [ˈɡʊɾu ˈnɑnək] Gurū Nānak) (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539 at Talwandi (present-day Pakistan)) was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

The Sikhs believe that all subsequent Gurus possessed Guru Nanak’s divinity and religious authority, and were named "Nanak" in the line of succession.

Early life[link]

Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469,^[2] now celebrated as Prakash Divas of Guru Nanak Dev, into a Hindu Khatri family in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talwandī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan.^[3] Today, his birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan. Some are of the opinion that 20 October is his enlightenment day rather than his birthday. His father, Kalyan Chand Das Bedi, popularly shortened to Kalu Mehta,^[4] was the patwari (accountant) of crop revenue for the village of Talwandi in the employment of a Muslim landlord of that area, Rai Bular Bhatti.^[5] Guru Nanak’s mother was Tripta Devi and he had one elder sister, Bibi Nanaki who became a spiritual figure in her own right.

Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan

Nanaki married Jai Ram and went to his town of Sultanpur, where he was the steward (modi) to Daulat Khan Lodi, the eventual governor of Lahore. Guru Nanak was attached to his older sister, and, in traditional Indian fashion, he followed her to Sultanpur to live with her and her husband. Guru Nanak also found work with Daulat Khan, when he was around 16 years old. This was a formative time for Guru Nanak, as the Puratan Janam Sakhi suggests, and in his numerous allusions to governmental structure in his hymns, most likely gained at this time.^[6]

Commentaries on his life give details of his blossoming awareness from a young age. At the age of five, Guru Nanak is said to have voiced interest in divine subjects. At age seven, his father, Kalu Mehta, enrolled him at the village school as was the custom.^[7] Notable lore recounts that as a child Guru Nanak astonished his teacher by describing the implicit symbolism of the first letter of the alphabet, which is an almost straight stroke in Persian or Arabic, resembling the mathematical version of one, as denoting the unity or oneness of God.^[8] Other childhood accounts refer to strange and miraculous events about Guru Nanak witnessed by Rai Bular such as a poisonous cobra being seen to shield the sleeping child’s head from the harsh sunlight.

Biographies[link]

The earliest biographical sources on the life of Guru Nanak recognised today are the Janamsākhīs (life accounts) and the vārs (expounding verses) of the scribe Bhai Gurdas. The most popular Janamsākhī were allegedly written by a close companion of the Guru, Bhai Bala.^[9] However, the writing style and language employed have left scholars such as Max Arthur Macauliffe certain that they were composed after his death.^[10]

Bhai Gurdas, a purported scribe of the Gurū Granth Sahib, also wrote about Guru Nanak’s life in his vārs. Although these too were compiled some time after Guru Nanak’s time, they are less detailed than the Janamsākhīs. The Janamsākhīs recount in minute detail the circumstances of the birth of the guru. The Janamsakhis state that at his birth an astrologer, who came to write his horoscope, insisted on seeing the child. On seeing the infant, he is said to have worshipped him with clasped hands and remarked that "I regret that I shall never live to see young Guru Nanak as an adult.” he is the only one in the world can give you anything which you ask with ≥{{}}

Sikhism and travels[link]

Rai Bular, the local landlord and Guru Nanak’s sister Bibi Nanaki were the first people who recognised divine qualities in the boy. They encouraged and supported him to study and travel. Sikh tradition states that at around 1499, at the age of 30, he had a vision. After he failed to return from his ablutions, his clothes were found on the bank of a local stream called the Kali Bein. The townspeople assumed he had drowned in the river; Daulat Khan had the river dragged, but no body was found. Three days after disappearing, Guru Nanak reappeared, staying silent. The next day, he spoke to pronounce, "There is neither Hindu nor Mussulman (Muslim) so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God's path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman and the path which I follow is God's."^[6] Guru Nanak said that he had been taken to God's court. There, he was offered a cup filled with amrit (nectar) and given the command "This is the cup of the adoration of God's name. Drink it. I am with you. I bless you and raise you up. Whoever remembers you will enjoy my favour. Go, rejoice of my name and teach others to do so. I have bestowed the gift of my name upon you. Let this be your calling." From this point onwards, Nanak is described in accounts as a Guru, and Sikhism was born.^[11]

Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres, the first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh, and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad, Mecca and Medina on the Arabian Peninsula.^[12]

Guru Nanak crossed into Arunachal Pradesh and visited most of the part. First while going to Lhasa (Tibet) he passed through Tawang after crossing from Bhutan and entered Tibet from Samdurang Chu. He returned from Lhasa and went to the famous monastery Samye and entered Pemoshubu Menchukha in Arunachal Pradesh. He meditated for some time at this location. From Menchukha he went back to Tibet, brought the residents of Southern Tibet and got them settled in Menchukha. Thereafter through Gelling and Tuiting he proceeded to Saidya and Braham-Kund, before entering the state of Assam again. Guru Nanak is the founder of the Sikh religion.

Personal life[link]

Guru Nanak was married to Mata Sulakhni at about 16 years of age.^[6] His marriage to her took place in the town of Batala. The marriage party had come from the town of Sultanpur Lodhi. The couple had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Chand.

Succession[link]

Guru Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as the successor Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad, meaning "one’s very own" or "part of you". Shortly after proclaiming Bhai Lehna as his succesor, Guru Nanak Dev died on 22 September 1539 in Kartarpur, at the age of 70.^[13]

Teachings[link]

Guru Nanak’s teachings can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, as a vast collection of revelatory verses recorded in Gurmukhi.

From these some common principles seem discernible. Firstly a supreme Godhead who although incomprehensible, manifests in all major religions, the Singular "Doer" and formless. It is described as the indestructible (undying) form.

Guru Nanak describes the dangers of the Egotism (haumai- "I am") and calls upon devotees to engage in worship through the word of God (Naam, implies God, the Reality, mystical word or formula to recite or meditate upon (shabad in Gurbani), divine order (hukam) and at places divine teacher (guru) and guru’s instructions)^[14] and singing of God’s qualities, discarding doubt in the process. However, such worship must be selfless (sewa). The word of God, cleanses the individual to make such worship possible. This is related to the revelation that God is the Doer and without God there is no other. Guru Nanak warned against hypocrisy and falsehood saying that these are pervasive in humanity and that religious actions can also be in vain. It may also be said that ascetic practices are disfavoured by Guru Nanak who suggests remaining inwardly detached whilst living as a householder.

Through popular tradition, Guru Nanak’s teaching is understood to be practised in three ways:

• Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
• Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
• Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)

Guru Nanak put the greatest emphasis on the worship of the Word of God (Naam Japna).^[14] One should follow the direction of awakened individuals (Gurmukh or God willed) rather than the mind (state of Manmukh- being led by Self will)- the latter being perilous and leading only to frustration.

Reforms that occurred in the institution and both Godhead and Devotion, are seen as transcending any religious consideration or divide, as God is not separate from any individual.

See also[link]

• Life of Guru Nanak through Pictures

References[link]

External links[link]

• Guru Nanak Dev Ji
• First Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji
• Singh, Kirpal (First edition March 2004). "Janamsakhi Tradition - An Analaytical Study". globalsikhstudies.net. http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/pdf/janamsakhi.pdf. Retrieved 29 November 2010. 
• Guru Nanak by Jyotsna Kamat
• http://www.youtube.com/user/GAGANJAKHU#p/u/14/MdPutY2H3ko
• http://www.sikhnugget.com/2010/09/new-documentary-on-guru-nanak.html
• Shree Guru Nanak Dev Quotes in English and Hindi