National Flower of India- THE LOTUS

Among the various flowers of Indian sub-continent, the flower Lotus is regarded with divinity and grace. Often, Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi are associated with the flower lotus. Even Lord Siva, who wanted to escape the wrath of the Lord Saneeswaran, morphed himself into the shape of a bee and took asylum inside a lotus. Buddhists regard this flower as a sacred one.

Lotus symbolizes purity, beauty, majesty, grace, fertility, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity. They are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow in shallow and murky waters. Some blue colored flowers are also sighted. These flowers enjoy a warm sunlight and intolerant to cold weather. Hence they cannot be seen blossoming in the winter. The floating leaves and flowers have long stems, which contains air spaces to maintain buoyancy.

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The plant is having various uniqueness attached to it. Though the large leaves of the plant are floating on the surface of the water, even a drop of water is not accommodated on top of the leaves. Perhaps, they are teaching the human beings, to lead a life of non-attachment and avoid the worldly pleasures.

Depending upon the level of water in the tank, the stems will rise. In this fashion, it is guiding the human beings to rise upto the situation leading to a genuine elevation in their lives. As the world famous 'Thirukural' says,

"Vellathanayathu malar neetam manthartham
ullath thanyathu ouyarvu"

signifying, in relation with the water level of a tank, the stem will rise. In the same way, depending upon their ambitions and thoughts, human beings can elevate themselves in their life.

In Indian religious epics, references of lotus are made, in relation with eyes and feet of divine persona. For instance "Kamala Kannan" referring Lord Krishna with the contextual meaning, a person having eyes with the color of the pink lotus. Also, it is coupled with the feet of deities. "Kamala Patham" means lotus feet implying the feet of the god. "Charan Kamala Patham" implying, submit oneself in totality, at the lotus feet of the god.

National Fruit of India-THE MANGO

The fruit Mango,of the tree Mangifera indica, is one of the most widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. This juicy, delicious fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D. In India there are hundreds of varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours etc. Mangoes, have been cultivated in India since time immemorial. The famous Indian poet Kalidasa sang its praises.King Alexander relished its taste, as did the Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang. Akbar, the Moghal emperor planted over 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, known as Lakhi Bagh(India).

National Flower of India- THE LOTUS

Among the various flowers of Indian sub-continent, the flower Lotus is regarded with divinity and grace. Often, Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi are associated with the flower lotus. Even Lord Siva, who wanted to escape the wrath of the Lord Saneeswaran, morphed himself into the shape of a bee and took asylum inside a lotus. Buddhists regard this flower as a sacred one.

Lotus symbolizes purity, beauty, majesty, grace, fertility, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity. They are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow in shallow and murky waters. Some blue colored flowers are also sighted. These flowers enjoy a warm sunlight and intolerant to cold weather. Hence they cannot be seen blossoming in the winter. The floating leaves and flowers have long stems, which contains air spaces to maintain buoyancy.

The plant is having various uniqueness attached to it. Though the large leaves of the plant are floating on the surface of the water, even a drop of water is not accommodated on top of the leaves. Perhaps, they are teaching the human beings, to lead a life of non-attachment and avoid the worldly pleasures.

Depending upon the level of water in the tank, the stems will rise. In this fashion, it is guiding the human beings to rise upto the situation leading to a genuine elevation in their lives. As the world famous 'Thirukural' says,

"Vellathanayathu malar neetam manthartham
ullath thanyathu ouyarvu"

signifying, in relation with the water level of a tank, the stem will rise. In the same way, depending upon their ambitions and thoughts, human beings can elevate themselves in their life.

In Indian religious epics, references of lotus are made, in relation with eyes and feet of divine persona. For instance "Kamala Kannan" referring Lord Krishna with the contextual meaning, a person having eyes with the color of the pink lotus. Also, it is coupled with the feet of deities. "Kamala Patham" means lotus feet implying the feet of the god. "Charan Kamala Patham" implying, submit oneself in totality, at the lotus feet of the god.

National Tree of India-THE BANYAN TREE.

THE BANYAN TREE-Called the Indian fig tree( Ficus bengalensis) grow over a large area. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches. Because of this characteristic & longevity, the Banyan tree is considered immortal & sacred and is an integral part of the myths and legends in India. Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of village life and the village council meetings under the shade of this huge shade-giving tree.

National Bird of India-THE PEACOCK

Peacock is a large and majestic bird. It has got a long and beautiful tail. Both the peacock and the hen have crest. But the crest of hen is smaller in size. The main body of the cock is mottled brown in color. Especially, the metallic green color found on the lower neck is very attractive. Though peacocks are beautiful looking birds their calls are loud and coarse.

They move in-groups and they are normally spotted in the forests, villages and nearby fields. They are shy in nature. It feeds on lizards, snakes, grains and insects. The hen lays a maximum of five eggs, which are in pale cream color.

The significance of peacock is attached to cultures of India, Far East, Ancient Persia, Greek and Christian. In Hinduism, the image of the god of thunder, rains and war, Indra, was depicted in the form of a peacock. In south India, peacock is considered as a 'vahana' or vehilce of lord Muruga. The figure of peacock is painted in various Islamic religious buildings. In Christianity, the peacock was also known as the symbol of the 'Resurrection'.

In India people believe that whenever the cock spread its tails in an ornamental fashion, it indicates that rain is imminent. In a way it is partly true. At the sight of dark clouds the bird outspreads its tail and starts dancing in rhythmic fashion. Most of the folklore including Bharatha Natyam has got special dancing poses for the peacock dance.

National Animal of India-THE TIGER.

The magnificent Tiger Panthera tigris (linnaeus), the national animal of India, is a rich-colored well-striped animal with a short coat. The combination of grace, strength, power has earned the tiger great respect and high esteem. Indian tigers are famous all over the world and one of the main attractions for the lovers of wild life. They are the crowning glory and the light of the Indian wild life.

Tough, muscular, majestic tigers roam about the Sunderbans of Bengal "burning bright in the darkness of the night." The natives of the forest worship the tiger as the deity that gives them honey and wax. The Sunderbans are their main habitat for their thick forests of Sunder trees. They feed on fish, cattle and sometimes human beings. The man-eaters are the most dreaded of all wild beasts. It is a common belief that a tiger does not harm anyone who has offered prayers to him. Tigers are fast runners, excellent swimmers and their eyesight is strong.

To check the dwindling population of tigers in India, which came down to just 1,827 in 1972, massive conservation program was initiated in April 1973, known as the 'Project Tiger'. This project aims to maintain a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values. Since then, the tiger population has shown a gradual increase and the census of 1989 puts the tiger population of the country at 4,334. So far, 19 tiger reserves have been established in the country under this project, covering over 29, 716 sq. km. forest area

National Animal of India-THE TIGER.

The magnificent Tiger Panthera tigris (linnaeus), the national animal of India, is a rich-colored well-striped animal with a short coat. The combination of grace, strength, power has earned the tiger great respect and high esteem. Indian tigers are famous all over the world and one of the main attractions for the lovers of wild life. They are the crowning glory and the light of the Indian wild life.

Tough, muscular, majestic tigers roam about the Sunderbans of Bengal "burning bright in the darkness of the night." The natives of the forest worship the tiger as the deity that gives them honey and wax. The Sunderbans are their main habitat for their thick forests of Sunder trees. They feed on fish, cattle and sometimes human beings. The man-eaters are the most dreaded of all wild beasts. It is a common belief that a tiger does not harm anyone who has offered prayers to him. Tigers are fast runners, excellent swimmers and their eyesight is strong.

To check the dwindling population of tigers in India, which came down to just 1,827 in 1972, massive conservation program was initiated in April 1973, known as the 'Project Tiger'. This project aims to maintain a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values. Since then, the tiger population has shown a gradual increase and the census of 1989 puts the tiger population of the country at 4,334. So far, 19 tiger reserves have been established in the country under this project, covering over 29, 716 sq. km. forest area

The National emblem

The National emblem is a symbol of contemporary India's reaffirmation of its commitment to world peace and goodwill.

The National Emblem of India is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh State. The Lion Capital was erected in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where Lord Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation..

It is symbolic of India's reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill. In the original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on a abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).

In the state emblem adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel appears in relief in the center of the abacus with a bull on the right and a horse on the left and the outlines of the other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted.

The four lions (one hidden from view) - symbolising power, courage and confidence - rest on a circular abacus. The abacus is girded by four smaller animals - guardians of the four directions: the lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south and the bull of the west.The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. The motto 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the emblem in Devanagari script means 'truth alone triumphs'

Jana-Gana-Mana

(Thou Art the Ruler of All Minds)
The Indian National anthem, composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on 24 January 1950. It was first sung 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress. The complete song consists of five stanzas. The lyrics were rendered into English by Tagore himself.

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF INDIA " Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha
Dravida Utkala Banga
Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga
Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga
Tubh Shubha Name Jage
Tubh Shubha Ashisha Mange
Gahe Tubh Jaya Gata
Jan Gan Mangaldayak Jay He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Jaye He ! Jaye He ! Jaye He !
Jaye,Jaye,Jaye,Jaye He "

Translation of The national anthem- Jana Gana Mana In English

Thou are the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny.

The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujurat and Maratha. Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal.

It Echoes in the hills of Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.

They pray for your blessing and sing thy praise. The salvation of all peaople is thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.



The Jana Gana Mana was composed by Shri Rabindranath Tagore and first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress on December 27th, 1911. It was adopted as the National Anthem of India on 24th January, 1950 by the Constituent Assembly. The first stanza( out of five stanzas) of the song forms the National Anthem.

Mera Bharat

Mera Tiranga

Vande Mataram And Its Meaning

vande maataraM and its Meaning:

vande maataraM sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM sasyashyaamalaaM maataraM
shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM
koTi koTi kaNTha kalakalaninaada karaale koTi koTi bhujai.rdhR^itakharakaravaale abalaa keno maa eto bale bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM
tumi vidyaa tumi dharma tumi hR^idi tumi marma tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire baahute tumi maa shakti hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti tomaara i pratimaa gaDi mandire mandire
tvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM sujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM shyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM dharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM


Meaning:
Mother, I bow to thee! Rich with thy hurrying streams, bright with orchard gleams, Cool with thy winds of delight, Dark fields waving Mother of might, Mother free. Glory of moonlight dreams, Over thy branches and lordly streams, Clad in thy blossoming trees, Mother, giver of ease Laughing low and sweet! Mother I kiss thy feet, Speaker sweet and low! Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands And seventy million voices roar Thy dreadful name from shore to shore? With many strengths who art mighty and stored, To thee I call Mother and Lord! Though who savest, arise and save! To her I cry who ever her foeman drove Back from plain and Sea And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law, Thou art heart, our soul, our breath Though art love divine, the awe In our hearts that conquers death. Thine the strength that nervs the arm, Thine the beauty, thine the charm. Every image made divine In our temples is but thine. Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen, With her hands that strike and her swords of sheen, Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned, And the Muse a hundred-toned, Pure and perfect without peer, Mother lend thine ear, Rich with thy hurrying streams, Bright with thy orchard gleems, Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair And thy glorious smile divine, Lovilest of all earthly lands, Showering wealth from well-stored hands! Mother, mother mine! Mother sweet, I bow to thee, Mother great and free!

Vande--- Maatram

Quest For God

Quest For God (Continue till next heading comes.....)

O'ver hill and dale and mountain range,
In temple, church, and mosque,
In Vedas, Bible, Al KoranI had searched for Thee in vain.
....................

Like a child in the wildest forest lostI have cried and cried alone,
"Where art Thou gone, my God, my love?The echo answered, "gone."
And days and nights and years then passedA fire was in the brain,
I knew not when day changed in night

The heart seemed rent in twain.I laid me down on Ganges's shore,
Exposed to sun and rain;With burning tears I laid the dust
And wailed with waters' roar.
I called on all the holy namesOf every clime and creed.
"Show me the way, in mercy, yeGreat ones who have reached the goal.
"Years then passed in bitter cry,Each moment seemed an age,
Till one day midst my cries and groans

Some one seemed calling me.A gentle soft and soothing voice
That said 'my son' 'my son',That seemed to thrill in unison
With all the chords of my soul.

I stood on my feet and tried to findThe place the voice came from;
I searched and searched and turned to see Round me, before, behind,Again, again
it seemed to speakThe voice divine to me.
In rapture all my soul was hushed,Entranced, enthralled in bliss.
A flash illumined all my soul;
The heart of my heart opened wide.O joy, O bliss,
what do I find!My love, my love you are hereAnd you are here,
my love, my all!And I was searching thee -From all eternity you were there

Enthroned in majesty!From that day forth, wherever I roam,
I feel Him standing byO'ver hill and dale, high mount and vale,
Far far away and high.

The moon's soft light,
the stars so bright,The glorious orb of day,
He shines in them; His beauty - might -Reflected lights are they.
The majestic morn, the melting eve,The boundless billowing sea,
In nature's beauty, songs of birds,
I see through them - it is He.When dire calamity seizes me,
The heart seems weak and faint,
All nature seems to crush me down,With laws that never bend.
Meseems I hear Thee whispering sweetMy love, "I am near", "I am near".
My heart gets strong. With thee, my love,A thousand deaths no fear.
Thou speakest in the mother's layThou shuts the babies eye,
When innocent children laugh and play,I see Thee standing by.

When holy friendship shakes the hand,
He stands between them too;
He pours the nectar in mother's kissAnd the baby's sweet "mama".
Thou wert my God with prophets old,All creeds do come from Thee,The Vedas, Bible, and Koran boldSing Thee in Harmony.
"Thou art," Thou art" the Soul of soulsIn the rushing stream of life."Om tat sat om."
Thou art my God,My love, I am thine, I am thine.
- Swami Vivekananda

This was part of the letter written by Swamiji on Sep. 4, 1893 to Prof. J.H. Wright of Boston who introduced Swami Vivekananda in the Parliament of Religions.

Hold Yet A While

Hold yet a while, Strong Heart,Not part a lifelong yokeThough blighted looks the present, future gloom.And age it seems since you and I began ourMarch up hill or down. Sailing smooth o'erSeas that are so rare-Thou nearer unto me, than oft-times I myself-Proclaiming mental moves before they were !Reflector true-Thy pulse so timed to mine,Thou perfect note of thoughts, however fine-Shall we now part, Recorder, say ?In thee is friendship, faith,For thou didst warn when evil thoughts were brewing-And though, alas, thy warning thrown away,Went on the same as ever-good and true.- Swami Vivekananda

The Living God

THE LIVING GOD He who is in you and outside you,
Who works through all hands, Who walks on all feet,
Whose body are all ye, Him worship,
and break all other idols! He who is at once the high and low,
The sinner and the saint, Both God and worm,
Him worship — visible, knowable, real, omnipresent,
Break all other idols! In whom is neither past life Nor future birth nor death,
In whom we always have been And always shall be one,
Him worship. Break all other idols! Ye fools! who neglect the living God,
And His infinite reflections with which the world is full.
While ye run after imaginary shadows,
That lead alone to fights and quarrels,
Him worship, the only visible! Break all other idols!(Written to an American friend from Almora, 9th July 1897.)- Swami Vivekananda

The Song Of The Free

The wounded snake its hood unfurls,The flame stirred up doth blaze,The desert air resounds the callsOf heart-struck lion's rage. The cloud puts forth it deluge strengthWhen lightning cleaves its breast,When the soul is stirred to its in most depthGreat ones unfold their best.Let eyes grow dim and heart grow faint,And friendship fail and love betray,Let Fate its hundred horrors send,And clotted darkness block the way.All nature wear one angry frown,To crush you out - still know, my soul,You are Divine. March on and on,Nor right nor left but to the goal.Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,Nor body, mind, nor he nor she,The books do stop in wonder muteTo tell my nature; I am He.Before the sun, the moon, the earth,Before the stars or comets free,Before e'en time has had its birth,I was, I am, and I will be.The beauteous earth, the glorious sun,The calm sweet moon, the spangled sky,Causation's law do make them run;They live in bonds, in bonds they die.And mind its mantle dreamy netCast o'er them all and holds them fast.In warp and woof of thought are set,Earth, hells, and heavens, or worst or best.Know these are but the outer crust -All space and time, all effect, cause.I am beyond all sense, all thoughts,The witness of the universe.Not two nor many, 'tis but one,And thus in me all me's I have;I cannot hate, I cannot shunMyself from me, I can but love.From dreams awake, from bonds be free,Be not afraid. This mystery,My shadow, cannot frighten me,Know once for all that I am He.
- Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda's Poetries

To My Own Soul

Hold yet a while, Strong Heart,Not part a lifelong yokeThough blighted looks the present, future gloom.And age it seems since you and I began ourMarch up hil1 or down. Sailing smooth o'erSeas that are so rare-Thou nearer unto me, than oft-times I myself-Proclaiming mental moves before they were !Reflector true-Thy pulse so timed to mine,Thou perfect note of thoughts, however fine-Shall we now part, Recorder, say ?In thee is friendship, faith,For thou didst warn when evil thoughts were brewing-And though, alas, thy warning thrown away,Went on the same as ever-good and true.
- Swami Vivekananda

COPYRIGHT REGISTEREDUNDER ACT XX OF 1847Published byPresident Advaita AshramaMayavati Pithoragarh Himalayas

Light

I look behind and afterAnd find that all is right,In my deepest sorrowsThere is a soul of light.

- Swami Vivekananda

Poetry of Vivekananda

"All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.
- Swami Vivekananda