Meaning of Dadhiici: March 05 observance + 5 more

Baba

Meaning of Dadhiici: March 05 observance

Namaskar,

The day of Dadhiici Divas is upon us: March 5. This occasion holds tremendous significance as dharmic sadhakas laid down their lives for the great cause of Ananda Marga ideology. This is a day to honor all those who sacrificed; it is also a time to remember the unprecedented dedication it took to establish Ananda Marga ideology. It is about the rise of bhagavad dharma on this earth. The first letter addressed the historical background of Dadhiici Divas along with how the day should be celebrated.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Here following is a brief explanation of how the concept of dadhiici is unique and unlike traditional religious terminology. That is followed by a list of all the great dadhiicis in our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha.


Dadhiici does not mean martyr

The terms 'dadhiici' and 'martyr' are not the same thing. That is why Baba has specially given the occasion as “Dadhiici Divas” and not 'Martyrs Day' or 'Shahiids Day' etc. Because the term dadhiici bears a unique & special significance.

Baba says:
"When Christians die for Christendom, they are called martyrs;
When Muslims die for Islam they are called shahiids;
When My children sacrifice their life for the ideals of Bha'gavat Dharma,
I call them Dadhiicis." - 5 March, 1967

In Ananda Marga, our concept of dadhiici has absolutely no relation with the Christian term martyr. Because Christian martyrs are only fighting for their selfish and narrow-minded Christian interest such as in the Crusades and religious wars. Those martyrs did not sacrifice their lives for the welfare of one and all, i.e. bhagavat dharma. In contrast, in our Ananda Marga, those dadhiicis sacrificed their lives for the upliftment of the entire humanity. So none should be confused that the greatness of the term "dadhiicis" is similar to the dogmatic Christian concept of "martyr." Rather these two titles are worlds apart.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

1. Baba’s teachings of Ananda Marga are pure and blemishless. They espouse the high ideals of neo-humanism are beneficial for all of humanity, and regard one and all as the children of Parama Purusa. Those who sacrificed their lives for this great ideology are called dadhiicis. Those dadhiicis sacrificed their lives for the upliftment of the entire humanity.

2. Those who sacrificed their lives for the dogma of the bible are called martyrs. Those martyrs sacrificed their lives for their dogmatic Christian faith, not the upliftment of the entire humanity. Those martyrs did not sacrifice their lives for the welfare of one and all

3. The term "dadhiicis" is not similar to the term "martyr." Rather these two titles are worlds apart.

Note: During the Crusades, they were fighting for the domination of their religion and their parochial beliefs which only benefit their own followers. They regard others as heathens and curses beings etc. 


Special point about Dadhiici

As we know, often is the case in India, freedom fighters who died for India are known as ‘shahiid’, which is an Arabic word. The common Hindi or Sanskrit term – dadhiici – is not usually used. But that is wrong. Freedom fighters who died for India did not die for Islam. In His discourse Baba make this point quite clear.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Those brave warriors who take part in the Islamic religious wars (jeha’dd) are called muja’hid in Arabic. Those muja’hids who give up their life in battle are called shahiid. Those who are victorious in battle are called ga’jii (if they live, ga’jii; if they die, shahiid). Similarly, those who give up their life in the Christian religious wars (crusades) are called “martyrs”. By what logic then do we call those brave progeny who give up their life for their country or for any other great cause shahiid? Instead, we can use the word dadhiici for them because Mahars’i Dadhiici sacrificed his life for the welfare of others. He did not lose his life in a jihad, zihad or crusade.” (1)

In His above Baba guideline, Baba clarifies the meaning of the term shahiid and makes an explicit distinction between (a) those fanatics who die for the limited agenda of their dogmatic religion and (b) those great souls – dadhiicis – who selflessly sacrifice their lives for entire society.


List of Dadhiicis in Ananda Marga

Here following is a list of some of the brave and courageous WTs and Margiis who have sacrificed their lives for the mission:

On 5th March 1967: Ananda Nagar

• Ac Abhedananda Avt
  
• Ac Saccidananda Avt
  
• Bharat Kumar
  
• Prabhash Kumar
  
• Avadhesh
  

They sacrificed their life at Ananda Nagar.

• Shrii Bhagawat Panday (Ghazipur) was killed by communists.
  

On 28th August 1969:

• Brother Shrii Ravi Sarkar was killed by communists at Coochbehar where he sacrificed his life.
  

During the communist attack in 1970:

• LFT margii Shrii Ramdhan was burned to death by communists in the Patna Ananda Marga school.
  

Bhagalpur 1972

• Ac Tyageshvarananda Avt: Bhagalpur interrogation police killed him while in jail (1972). The police arrested him on false charges and they killed him while he was in their custody.
  

1973 - 78 Protests of Poisoning Marga Guru

• In protest of Baba's poisoning, those who self-immolated and sacrificed their lives - including Ac Divyananda Avt, Ac Dineshvarananda Avt, Ac Atulananda Avt, and 5 others - during the struggle when Baba was in jail. This includes in protest of Baba's poisoning, Didi Asitiima’s  self-immolation on 14th June 1978 of where she poured gasoline all over her body and lit herself on fire in a park in Manila, Luneta Park, Philippines in protest of Guru’s incarceration etc.

👉 Ac.' Divyanandji- 9th April, 1973 at Patna

👉 Ac.' Dineshwaranandji- 24th April, 1974, Old Fort, New Delhi

👉 Ac.' Atulanandji- 11th Dec, 1974, Patna

👉 Brahamcharini Shanti Ac.'- 2nd October, 1977, Geneva, Switzerland

👉 Brahamcharini Uma Ac.' & Ac.' Lokesh Brahamchari- 8th February, 1978, Berlin, Germany

👉 Ac.' Gagan Brahamchari- 17th February, 1978, Dallas, Texas, USA

👉 Brahamcharini Asitiima Ac.'- 14th June, 1978, Manila, Philippines

Massacre of 30th April 1982 at Bijon Setu (Kolkata) in broad daylight. The following dedicated workers were murdered by communist goondhas:

• Avtk Ananda Praceta' Ac
  
• Ac Adhishivananda Avt
  
• Ac Bhaveshvarananda Avt
  
• Ac Krpashivananda Avt
  
• Ac Artasevananda Avt
  
• Ac Subashwarananda Avt
  
• Ac Venketashwarananda Avt
  
• Ac Kamaleshananda Avt
  
• Ac Girishananda Avt
  
• Ac Prashivananda Avt
  
• Ac Shomnath Brc
  
• Ac Mukul Brc
  
• Ac Virendra Brc
  
• Ac Subrat Brc
  
• Ac Dhruvajyoti Brc
  
• Ac Jagamohan Brc
  
• Shrii Ram Raghubar Agrawal of Jaipur
  
• Etc: The list is long
  

To all these dadhiicis I pay my deepest salutations.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Vyankata

~ In-depth study ~

More about dadhiicis

Some wonder if all our Wts killed by communists / government agencies etc are dadhiicis. First then we have to remind ourselves of Baba's definition of dadhiici.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Sadguru Baba says, "When My children sacrifice their live for the ideals of Bha'gavat Dharma, I call them Dadhiicis."

Based on the above definition, we can readily decide the matter. Here is the formula:

#1: Ananda Marga is bhagavad dharma.
#2: Those communists killed Ananda Margiis because they were following bhagavad dharma.
#3: So anyone killed because they were following bhagavad dharma is treated as sacrificing for bhagavad dharma.
#4: Those dharmikas did not leave or give up Ananda Marga; rather they preferred death.
#5: According to the aforementioned definition, those killed by communists for being an Ananda Margii are all dadhiicis. #6: If they were not on the path of Ananda Marga they would not have been killed.
#7: If anyone sacrificed for the cause of bhagavad dharma then they are a dadhiici, regardless of any other degrading behaviour they may have displayed in their personal life.
#8: Nowadays if anyone is killed in the struggle to establish margii rights or for the integrity of Baba's scripture etc then they are a dadhiici.

Final conclusion: All those standing for the ideals of Ananda Marga are dadhiicis. That includes those Wts murdered by communists etc.


Margii who survived 1982 massacre

Shrii Vanshidhar Parikh of Jaipur was riding in the same taxi as Shrii Ram Raghubar Agrawal on that fateful date of 30 April 1982. Vanshidhar Parikh was beaten mercilessly but not killed as those attackers identified him as a family man. Although Raghubar Agrawal was also a family man, but since he had long hair and a long beard, those communists attackers mistook him for a sannyasi and murdered him.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


How to observe the day

Dadhiici Divas is known as a day of great dedication and sacrifice for the lofty ideal of Ananda Marga ideology. It can be celebrated with due respect and regard in the following way:

(A) Half-Day Fasting
(B) Dharmacakra
(C) Slide Show: History of Struggle for Dharma in Ananda Marga
(D) Story-telling for Children
(E) Debate
(F) Poetry Readings
(G) Dance - Drama: Teach and Educate New People
(H) Talk: Review of spread of bhagavad dharma and recounting the efforts of those who sacrificed.
(I) Exhibition

Note: This is part of our ongoing series for this upcoming observance, Dadhiici Divasa, on 05 March. Links to earlier letters are appended below.

---

Special Note: 

Baba did not conduct a general darshan with all people gathered around where He just talked about farming. Rather, Baba's talks on farming occurred in a much more informal setting. For instance, during His garden walks Baba would often talk about plants and the natural world, and on many occasions Asiimananda was there with his notepad and writing down what Baba was telling. In addition, there was the program where margiis and Wts were bringing plants from around the world to Baba, and on those occasions also Baba often told about those plants and other farming ideas etc, and here again Asiimananda would regularly be present to write down Baba's words and take notes. Sometimes, in His room Baba called Asiimananda to dictate farming notes.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

So this is one source of information for the Ideal Farming book. Secondly, in the Shabda Cayanika series, Baba would address a wide breadth of topics including those related with plants, soil, fruit trees, farming etc. So these are the two chief sources of info on this topic.

References
1. Varna Vijiana, Disc 21

*        *        *

The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Filled with bliss

"Kabe játrá holo shuru, bhúle gechi se kathá..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0699)

Purport:

My Parama Purusa, I do not remember that auspicious day when my spiritual journey started. I have completely forgotten the moment when my voyage towards enlightenment began. Since many lives slowly You have been calling me. By Your grace, my radius gradually reduced. Now I am close to my Supreme desideratum. On the path of sadhana so many thorns have pierced my feet. Innumerable obstacles came and created hindrances in my forward movement. Those miseries and the pain have faded away. Now my mind is filled with bliss. 

Parama Purusa, on the journey towards You I crossed the burning desert and faced so much torture. I encountered fiery blazes while other times I was drenched by heavy rain, thunder, and storms. But You always gave me the requisite strength - bringing me close to You. On the way, the beauty of so many spring seasons has come, and I became intoxicated with that charm. In Your attraction, in Your sublime pull, I sang the song of kiirtan with heartfelt bhakti and longing. In my pilgrimage of bhakti, sometimes the dark and other times the refulgence has come and gone. Steadily, by Your grace, I have reached close to You, under Your shelter. Baba, You filled my heart with prema.

My Supreme Entity, in my special trek of intuitional practice, so many resplendent autumns came and gave me joy, and I sang  songs full of earnestness. Yet on numerous cold nights I shivered during my mystical expedition. In springtime, there was an abundance of flowers. With love, I danced and wept for You, in Your memory. 

Due to not getting You, I sobbed; in that misery, I could not maintain my normal life. Still, I continued looking for You, watching the path of Your arrival. O’ my most adorable One...

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Inherent defect of religions

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Some philosophies have taught their own [religious or caste] communities, “The members of this community are the favourite children of Parama Puruśa – others are cursed and unwanted.” Due to this defective teaching the people of one community have even considered the destruction of the members of another community as an act of virtue, and stained the stony altar of human society with the blood of innocent people. In the blood of these innocent victims, the blind adherents of such defective philosophies have taken a holy bath of “liberation”. What a horror!” (1)

In the above paragraph, Sadguru Baba is referring to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. A study of history shows that so many crusades were done where believers of other religions were persecuted and killed. Because this is written in their religious texts, this was the standard practice for hundreds of years with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Thousands upon thousands of followers of other religions were butchered. This was commonly done in the past by Jews and Christians. Today, only Islam is still doing this.

In these religions, virtuous acts like helping others, camaraderie, and other things written in their scriptures were directed towards followers of their same faith, not for others. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “By providing such a distorted interpretation of dharma, they have deliberately prevented people from gaining a correct understanding of dharma, and thus they have betrayed humanity in the most inimical manner. They have taught people to view each other with suspicion.” (2)

Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 14)
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 14)

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Higher posts must not be given to degraded wts

Please read Baba’s following teaching which gives a clear indication about the type of leadership needed in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. We should question whether XYZ type of persons can be the leader - whether that be on the village, regional, sectorial, or global level - or are special qualifications needed? If so what are those traits and characteristics required of a leader. All these answers and more are addressed in Guru’s below teaching. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “A rśi [sage] has said: Samamantreńa jáyate iti samájah [“Society is the collective movement of a group of individuals who have decided to move together towards a common goal”]. That is, whether people are pápii or tápii [sinners or victims], thieves, criminals, or characterless individuals, they are so only superficially; internally they are filled with the potential for purity. The principal object of the sadvipras is to explore and bring this potentiality into play. They will accord human value to everyone without exception. Those who have done hateful crimes must be punished, but sadvipras will never hate them, or put an end to them by depriving them of food, because sadvipras are humanists. The pandits puffed up with vainglory could turn their attention to their books instead of attending on the ailing non-Hindu Haridas, but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu found it impossible to remain indifferent to him. He took Haridas in his arms and nursed him carefully, and thus showed respect to human value.”

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “However, when the question of social responsibility arises, it must be considered with great care. Irresponsible people cannot be entrusted with social responsibility, because those who shoulder social responsibility will have to lead humanity on the path of development, and correct the ways of sinners. If they themselves are of evil mentality, it will not be possible for them to discharge their social responsibility. It has been said: “The collective body of those who are engaged in the concerted effort to bridge the gap between the first expression of morality and establishment in universal humanism is called society.” So social responsibility should be entrusted to those who are capable of discharging it creditably. If moralism is the starting-point of the journey of society, then those who are at its helm must be moralists. And since society aims to establish universalism, those people must be universalists. And if the gap between moralism and universal humanism is to be bridged, spiritual sádhaná is a must, so those people must practise rigorous sádhaná. Their philosophy of life must be, “Morality is the base, sádhaná is the means, and life divine is the goal.””

“This great responsibility must never be entrusted to those who are themselves criminals. Unless and until such people correct themselves, they will not be given any social value, though in no way will they be denied human value. At present social value is given importance, but those who are selected to discharge social responsibility do not possess the aforesaid qualities. They have occupied their posts on the strength of their money or on the basis of patronage, but this has not resulted in any collective welfare. That is why there is an instruction in our social scripture:”

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Do not be misled by anyones tall talk. Judge merit by seeing the performance. Remember, whatever position one is in offers sufficient opportunity to work. One whose character is not in accordance with Yama-Niyama should not get opportunity [[to become]] a representative.… to [[vest]] an incompetent person with power means to push society towards destruction knowingly and deliberately.”

“The sadvipras will install qualified persons in power, and the social order which will be evolved by virtue of their leadership will give due importance to one and all. In this new society based on Neohumanism, everyone will find their life worth living. All will regain their lost positions of honour.” (1)

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Social Values and Human Cardinal Principles

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Poison of party politics

Prout philosophy states, “Honest and benevolent individuals should carefully steer clear of party politics. The question may arise, In the absence of party politics, will honest individuals succeed on their own in forming governments or in serving the state? Is there any necessity for organized endeavour? In answer to this question I will say that those who are honest, who really want to promote human welfare, and who believe in a world government and the ideals of Ánanda Parivára [a blissful, universal family], must possess the spirit of mutual cooperation. They may form themselves into boards exclusively for the purpose of rendering social service collectively (and not for fomenting politics), but it will not be proper for such boards to contest elections.”

“People should cast their votes for deserving human beings – not for the lamppost holding the party ticket.”

Prout philosophy states, “To further the interests of the party, party politics may publicly oppose something which is often secretly encouraged. Communalism, provincialism, casteism, etc. – none of these are considered bad for the sake of party interests. The only identity of human beings is that they are humans – living beings. Party politics strives to keep people oblivious of this fact – it tries to pulverize the psychic wealth of human beings under the steamroller of party interests.” (1)

Note: Around the globe wherever there is democracy, people are making wrong choices in their elections. In theory, particular leaders are elected; but in practice no leader is elected. They are not leaders - they are party agents. And they favour their party when making laws etc. That is what Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar is talking about here. For instance, in the US elections, voters of the democratic or republican party  vote for anyone on the party ticket. They are giving their vote to the lamppost holding the party ticket.

Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #27

 == Section: Important Teaching ==

Are ayurveda & allopathy enough?

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "There was a time when diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medicines were not very difficult because diagnoses were based on three constituents of the body – air, bile and phlegm – with blood as a fourth constituent. But increased physical and glandular complexity has led to a corresponding increase in the number and complexity of diseases. So to what extent can this method of diagnosis be useful to a doctor? Is it not simply guesswork to prescribe medicines for a particular disease when the medicine is prescribed for the disease but the disease is diagnosed according to the bodily constituents?" (1)

Thousands of years ago when ayurveda was founded the human body was not as complex as it is today. So the system to diagnose disease was based merely on four properties: air, bile, phlegm, and blood. Now, however, due to the increasing complexity of the human body things have changed. Ayurveda is no longer as useful as it once was. So one should not depend fully on ayurveda as it cannot cure everything.

Ananda Marga advocates the practice of having all pathys under one roof because no pathy can cure everything. For example, allopathic medicines do not kill diseases, rather those medicines are taken lifelong. Whereas another pathy may offer a medicine that actually cures the disease. In that case, that other pathy should be used. Yet, allopathy may be very useful for diagnosing a patient and performing certain surgical procedures etc.

Allopathic medicines do not kill diseases

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “Disease is caused by negative microvita. When people take allopathic medicine to cure a disease, the medicine disturbs the ecological balance of the body because more negative microvita get concentrated at the point of the disease. Allopathic medicines do not kill diseases – diseases die by their own natural death. Although the medicine may check the disease, the increased concentration of negative microvita can overcome the effect of the medicine. In fact, the increased concentration of negative microvita caused by allopathic medicines creates many new types of diseases, and due to this, two or three new diseases are presently being created every decade.” (2)

Ultimately, when a patient is admitted to a hospital then teams of doctors will decide which pathy is best for treating the patient. Each pathy has its own specialty. For more about this read the subsection - “Methods of medical treatment” - in the chapter “Various Occupations”.

Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Various Occupations
2. Microvita in a Nutshell, Some Guidelines for Commencing Microvita Research

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings to Read

Dadhiici Divas: special remembrance of 5th March

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2014/02/upcoming-event.html

Story: fight for Ista Baba

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/06/story-on-protest.html

Baba story: safe during calamities

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/07/baba-story-who-is-safe-during-calamities.html

Colour festival: inner spirit + 3 more

Baba

Colour festival: inner spirit

Namaskar,

With spring festival (vasantaotsava) approaching on 04 Mar 2026, all are aware that sadhakas are primarily interested in spring festival for its inherent spiritual meaning. Verily, the practice of Guru puja is deeply linked with the inner spirit of spring / colour festival.

While holi / spring festival is celebrated by the general public in quite a raucous manner in India, we should focus on how this festival is to be observed according to Ananda Marga teachings.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Baba story

Those days, on this occasion, we used to reach before Baba at the Baba’s Quarters, and He would graciously give a short discourse about spring festival. Then the bhukti pradhan would put forth a request to Sadguru Baba to offer colours unto Him. Baba was always gracious and approved the request. He would remain seated on His grand seat, and one by one the sadhakas in the room would approach Baba and apply a tiny pinch of dry, coloured powder on His feet. A pot was placed beneath His feet to collect the powdered dust that fell towards the ground. Generally, there were 20 - 30, and sometimes close to one thousand people, in Baba’s Quarters hall for the occasion. Though in the later years around 1986 - 1990, there were larger gatherings. When all those present had completed applying the colour to Baba’s feet, then kiirtan and Guru puja were done. Often Baba would give His varabhaya mudra blessing. Finally, the bhukti pradhan would pick up the pot containing the colour that had fallen beneath Guru’s feet, and those sadhakas who wished could come and apply a small amount to their forehead or wrap some in a small piece of paper to take back to their family.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In the end, some would go outside and run around and play with the various others or their own powdered colours that were commonly available in the market. Though sentient sadhakas generally preferred not to participate in this external ritual or social affair.


The science behind colour festival

The main spiritual facet of colour festival is that it is connected with our practice of Guru puja. The chief benefit is internal, and there is no need for any type of external display. Parama Purusa is colourless, meaning He has no bondage. In contrast, every jiiva is bound as their unit mind is coloured by various desires and attractions etc. In Guru puja, the practice is to offer the colours of the mind to Parama Purusa and become colourless.

The only difference between jiiva and Shiva is that of bondage. Jiivas are bound, and Parama Purusa is not. The offering of physical colours is purely symbolic. The main thing is clearing oneself of one’s psychic colours, i.e. attachments of the mind. So running around and playing with colours is exclusively for the social realm. There is absolutely zero spiritual benefit of any external display. So this letter is about colour festival and how as Ananda Margiis we should approach this occasion.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Ananda Marga spring / colour festival

   Ananda Marga samaj shastra says, "Those of the same age will play with colours and flowers among themselves in the morning of the full-moon day. The youngsters will offer the same at the feet of the elders, and the initiate at the feet of his a'ca'rya. (But the elders will not offer colours and flowers to the youngsters.)"
   "Then, in the afternoon, all will perform collective Iishvara Pran'idha'na and Varn'a'rghyada'na (using a'viir [coloured powder] or flowers of colours of their own choice). At the end, all will play among themselves with this a'viir or these flowers without distinction between young and old, initiate and a'ca'rya. Do not offer these colours or flowers at anybody's feet. But if, while people are playing, they do touch anybody's feet, that should not be considered wrong, in A'nandamu'rtijii's opinion. (Men and women should not exchange colours and flowers with each other.) Finally, there will be a collective meal.”
   "The following day, continue merry celebrations at your residence and have a procession with ta'n'd'ava dance in the afternoon. Continue collective merry celebrations in the evening." (1)

Guru Puja means the offering of our mental colours to Guru. Guru Puja is also termed as Varnarghyada'n-- the offering of colours. And how one ideates during Guru Puja is highly important. Using the various tanmatras in our Guru Puja helps greatly in this process.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Shiva

Note 1: The coloured powder applied to Baba’s feet was not permanent and one could easily brush off 99% of it and then a touch of water would remove any residue. So it was a very simple process to remove that coloured power. It was not messy, wet, or oily etc.

Note 2: Because all those in the streets were throwing colour and soiling the clothes of all passerbyers, it was very difficult to move around that day, especially in the morning hours. That is why so few were in attendance at the Baba Quarters, but in Tiljala it was different.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Mythological roots of spring / colour festival

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "In Indo-Aryan mythology there is mention of a king named Hiran'yakashipu. His sister, Holika, was a woman of violent nature. She was a cannibal. (You should note that she was a cannibal, not homivorous. A human eating another human is called a cannibal, whereas an animal eating human flesh is called homivorous. Holika was a cannibal, whereas a tiger is homivorous). The people out of anger burnt Holika alive the night before the full moon, and to celebrate this occasion, they arranged a festival of joy which was called Holikadahana (the burning of Holika). That is why even today in northern India particularly in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, this Holi festival is Celebrated." (2)


Real spirit of colour festival or offering of colours

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "'By surrendering all the colours of my mind to You, I want to become colourless.' This surrender to the Supreme Consciousness propels human beings towards Him. So this colour festival is not merely an outward play; it is a psycho-spiritual phenomenon. This very psycho-spiritual phenomenon is operating behind the process of varn'a'rghyada'na (offering of colours):'Oh Lord, make me colourless so that I may move towards You without any hesitation'." (3)

Ananda Marga ideology says, "The main object of the Spring Colour Festival (Vasantotsava) is not playing with external colours; it is meant to offer Him the colours of different objects which have dyed the mind. When this practice of offering your own colours -- your own attachments, becomes natural and easy, you will then merge in Him. Then you will have no need for any colour, for you will become colourless -- you will go beyond the reach of any colour. Your unit-ego will become one with the Cosmic Ego. Whichever way you look you will see only Him in His ever-surging glory." (4)

References
1. Caryacarya - 1, Social Functions and Festivals
2. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Spring Festival
3. Neo-humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Inner Asset, '99 Edn, p.29
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour

*        *        *

The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Charm of divinity

"Kato tapasyá pare, tumi esecho, dhará diyecho..." (Prabhat Samgiita #2836)

Purport:

Parama Purusa, I have been waiting so long for Your auspicious arrival. Finally, after so much penance like practicing sadhana, asanas, pranayama, dhyana, upavasa, japa, service and following Your do’s and don'ts for ages, now You have come to me. Baba, it is so blissful to see You so close, and You allowed me to hold Your feet. Having You in such an intimate way, my heart overflows with bliss. For so many ages You gave me hope of Your impending arrival and made me shed so many tears while waiting for You in longing. After countless days and nights, and such a long time, You have come, fulfilling Your promise. Because of You, heaven has descended down on this dusty earth today. It is Your mercy.

Baba, I could not even dream that You would ever come so near, nor imagine that one day You would allow me to bask in Your supreme refulgence, and that You would colour my mind in Your colour. That which I could not envision has happened: The sweetness and charm of divinity has descended. Mohan, the most captivating One, today You have come and lifted me up onto Your lap. You have become mine and made me Yours. This is Your causeless krpa on me.

Baba, the reality is that You always play Your supernal liila. You never listen to any prayer or any of my requests. Even after hundreds and hundreds of attempts, I could not sway or melt Your heart - nor get You to sit by me. Then in the end, by Your own sweet will You have come, saturated with the pollen of prema. You allowed me to hold Your feet and made me understand that this is Your karuna' - Your infinite compassion.  

Baba, You are grace personified; with Your own countless attributions You bless everyone…

About Prabhat Samgiita #2836: 

This song teaches us that initially the bhakta thinks that Parama Purusa has come in his close proximity due to his own long penance and deep sadhana; but later on the sadhaka realises that Parama Purusa did not come due to the sadhaka’s long penance and sadhana, but rather because of His causeless grace. Sadhakas do not get anything by their own efforts. They receive everything by His loving kindness. In the realm of sadhana His grace is everything. Human beings do sadhana just to please Him; and, without His causeless krpa, nothing is possible.

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

How religions keep their grip on the masses

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Religions sometimes survive for a long time, even though they are full of dogma. This is because they know how to twist their teachings to deny the truth and adapt to different circumstances. Their purpose is to secure the interests of a special, privileged class. Some religions have also survived because they have associated themselves with God-centred ideas, although they are not God-centred. They make some dogmatic propositions about God an important part of their teaching, and on this basis they sentimentalize the minds of the people. These sentiments penetrate deeply into the human psyche."

"The main weapons of dogma-centred philosophies are:
1) The propagation of stories, myths and parables to create superiority complexes;
2) The propagation of stories, myths and parables to create inferiority complexes;
3) The propagation of fear complex and inferiority complex amongst the people, especially the shúdras."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "All religions use these three types of complexes to inject superiority complexes, inferiority complexes and fear complexes into the minds of the people. They propagate parables, myths and stories to inject complexes into people’s minds. Is it not a fact? All religions are based on dogma – they are not based on logic – and they propagate their dogma through stories, myths and parables. All religions propagate that “My God is the only true God. Other Gods are false gods.” When some religions claim that their god is the only true God, it is an example of a dogma-centred proposition. All world religions are based on such dogma-centred theories."

"Take the case of Hindu myths. The authors of Hindu mythologies say that the Brahmans are born from the mouth of Parama Puruśa, the Kśatriyas from the arms, the Vaeshyas from the trunk and the Shúdras from the feet." (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18 The Excellence of God-Centred Philosophy

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Noble work & animal welfare

  Ananda Marga philosophy states, [The nature of a good person is]:  “Alas, what suffering an animal has to bear at the hands of cruel humans! But the animal is absolutely innocent. It is not a born enemy of the human being that if a person does not kill it, it will kill the person, just as a tiger or an insect does. I shall continuously make efforts to see that human beings refrain from such cruel acts of violence.” If one sees someone doing noble work, as a result of which the progress of the world is accelerated and the path of human welfare is widened, then one should think: “The noble work of this person will remain written in letters of gold in human history. I shall give my full support to this person in their noble endeavours...I shall help them in every possible way.”
   "If one sees a person engaged in deleterious activity, then one should think: “On account of the pernicious activities of this person, people are going to the dogs, this person is striking at the root of long-cherished austerities, forbearance, benevolence, and so on. I shall never support such misdeeds.”" (1)

In His above teaching, Baba guides us that one must not remain silent and watch the wrongful and harmful treatment of animals. A good person will come forward and oppose acts of violence against those innocent creatures. Nowadays in the state of Maharashtra (India), there is a ban on the slaughtering of cows and the sale of beef. Certain people have rallied around and recently passed legislation to ensure innocent cows are not subjected to the travesty of the slaughterhouse. Instead, their lives are being protected. 

While this is certainly a positive development, the same protection and care has not been extended to other animals such as sheep, chickens, and goats etc which are commercially raised, butchered, and sold at the marketplace in Maharashtra. So those activists are prone to partiality. They protested and fought to protect cows, but not these other innocent creatures. If they were true neo-humanists they would not have differentiated between cows and other animals. They would have protected them all. So while there is one positive point, but, on the other hand, there are many negative ones. After all, saving creatures is certainly a kind of positive development in right direction.

All in all, this is very similar to a scene which occurs in Bengal. Some naive bystanders may think that Bengali idol worshipers have great appreciation for the art and sculptures which those artists and sculptors created. Because those worshipers show tremendous reverence for those sculpted idols. But that is not the case. Those idol worshipers do not care about the aesthetic beauty of those sculptures. The proof is that when their rituals are completed those worshipers throw those sculptures into the water. 

In the same way, we should not naively think that those activists in Maharashtra are pouring their heart out for all animals. Rather they have their own personal, narrow agenda related with cows. All other animals may be skewered and slaughtered. So their protests are grounded in dogma, not neo-humanism. 

In Him,
Buddhi Priya’

Note: These following states of India have also banned the slaughtering of cows: Haryana, New Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. 

Reference:
1. Shabda Cayaniká Part 4, Disc: 27

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Shame on those who exploit by linguistic sentiment

Prout philosophy states, “The problem of language is affecting the human society like a chronic disease. Ignorance of the proper meaning of different languages has made the confusion worse. Language is a medium of expression. There are six stages in the process of expression. The seed of expression is called Parashakti and lies in the Muládhára Cakra (or basic plexus). In the Svádhisthána Cakra (or fluidal plexus), a person mentally visualises the expression. The mental vision of one's expression is called Pashyanti Shakti. In the Mańipura Cakra (or solar plexus) this mental vision is transformed into mental sound which is called Madhyamá Shakti. The person now wants to express that feeling. This endeavour to express the feeling is called Dyotamáná Shakti. It works between the navel area and the throat. In the vocal cord it transforms an idea into language. This is called Vaekharii Shakti. After Vaekharii it is transformed into actual spoken language and is termed Shrutigocará. Thus linguistic differences are manifest only in the sixth stage of expression. In the first five stages there is no distinction or variation in the expression. A great deal of inter-community conflict could be checked if linguists and the mischief-mongers who create language disputes knew this fundamental fact. In essence, it is ignorance that brings untold miseries to humanity. It is a great folly on the part of prakrti to create so many languages, but diversity is the law of nature." (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings to Read

Dadhiici Divas: special remembrance of 5th March

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2014/02/upcoming-event.html

Story: fight for Ista Baba

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/06/story-on-protest.html

Baba story: safe during calamities

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/07/baba-story-who-is-safe-during-calamities.html