Indian theme on foreign stamps..

 

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda (1863 -1902)  was the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is considered a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the "Western" World, mainly in America and Europe and is also credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century. Vivekananda is considered to be a major force in the revival of Hinduism in modern India. He is perhaps best known for his inspiring speech which began: "Sisters and Brothers of America," through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.

Vivekananda arrived in Colombo on 15 January 1897 and received an ecstatic welcome. Here, he gave his first public speech in East, India, the Holy Land. From there on, his journey to Calcutta was a triumphal progress. He traveled from Colombo to Pamban, Rameshwaram, Ramnad, Madurai, Kumbakonam and Madras delivering lectures. People and Rajas gave him enthusiastic reception. In the procession at Pamban, the Raja of Ramnad personally drew the Swami's carriage.

On way to Madras, at several places where the train would not stop, the people squatted on the rails and allowed the train to pass only after hearing the Swami. From Madras, he continued his journey to Calcutta and continued his lectures up to Almora. While in the West he talked of India's great spiritual heritage, on return to India the refrain of his 'Lectures from Colombo to Almora' was uplift of the masses, eradication of the caste virus, promotion of the study of science, industrialization of the country, removal of poverty, the end of the colonial rule.These lectures have been published as Lectures from Colombo to Almora. These lectures are considered to be of nationalistic fervor and spiritual ideology. His speeches had tremendous influence on the Indian leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Bipin Chandra Pal and Balgangadhar Tilak.

Sri Lanka issued the stamp on 15th Jan 1997 to mark 100 years of his visit to Colombo.

- Kenneth Sequeira,

Email : kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com 

P.O Box 2718, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on Swami Vivekanada in 1963 and 1993.

 

 Date of Issue : 17 January 1963

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Swami Vivekananda : Centenary of Chicago Address

Date of Issue : 11 September 1993

 

Customized stamp on Swami Vivekanada from Malaysia

 

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (1863-2013), Ramakrishna Mission Malaysia observed the release of the ‘Arise, Awake!’customized postal stamp on Aug 2.The stamp takes inspiration from the holy man’s famous quote “Arise, Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached”.

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Anna - a Symbol of Gandhian Philosophy…

 

 

The impact of Mahatma Gandhi on the world has been extraordinary. His use of non-violent resistance in leading India to freedom inspired many leaders like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, and set an example for freedom movements throughout the world. As a pioneer of the philosophies of Satyagraha, and Ahimsa, Gandhi's life is an example of unfaltering commitment to non-violence even in the most extreme situations. In today’s scenario Anna’s movement is the best example of using  non violent attitude as the most effective  weapon to fight against corruption .

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. - Mahatma Gandhi

Though the great  Mahatma Gandhi  died long before , but his philosophy of non violent movement has still potential to change any thing in the world at present too when whole of the world is running fast to get more and more weaponry power for survival and success .

India’s freedom struggle history says that it was the only Mahtma Gandhi’s quit India non violent movement which forced Britain to succumb . It is said that when Mahtma Gandhi launched his non violent movement against British agent rulers in India , a Britain agent in India wrote a letter to his English mentor in which he sought suggestion that “ how to kill a loin non violently” . In his letter he clarifies, that they are in fix how to deal with the non violent moment launched by Indian leader Mahtma Gandhi . The point that it is very difficult for any even cruel regimes to attack on the peaceful people . And Anna Hazare has proved it again in the country which faces sever criticisms from various quarters for its involvement in human rights violations .

Very few social activists have captured the attention of Indians across the globe as Anna Hazare did during his “fast unto death” over the issue of the Lokpal Bill. Hazare, a Gandhian by belief, outlook and practice, has become the face of India’s fight against corruption.

Mahatma Gandhi – The Pride of India

The Satyagraha launched by Anna Hazare is a form of non-violent protest by the public led by an individual against an unpopular policy of a ruling party.The Satyagraha is a weapon of civil disobedience and was used very effectively by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. Part of the civil disobedience is the weapon of a fast.This can be till death or for a specified period. Credit must go Mahatma Gandhi who perfected this concept and used it effectively against the British rulers.

Anna Hazare uses satyagraha in its most purest form to get the government to act against corruption.Gandhi demonstrated to a World, weary with wars and continuing destruction that adherence to Truth and Non-violence is not meant for individuals alone but can be applied in global affairs too.Gandhi’s vision for the country and his dreams for the community as a whole still hold good for India.

 

Gandhi’s principles are fundamentally humane and shall always be the need of mankind.

 

People of this generation have not seen mass movements led by Gandhi . We have read about them in history books and drawn inspiration from their heroic tales. Today, we have an opportunity be a part of the new August Revolution spearheaded by Anna Hazare, aimed at making India a corruption free society. Let’s grab that chance.

 

Body Tattoo on stamps..

 

 

Date of Issue : 4 August 2011

Here is new set of stamps from Papua New Guinea featuring a very new topic which has not usually much featured on world stamps so far.The set includes 4 stamps and two souvenir sheets. Probably this this is the first set that I came across on tattoos an d wish to give a detailed Post on these stamps. Tattoos are no longer just an art form of the elite or associated with societal deviants. People of all ages and from all walks of life are finding their own special meaning in tattoos.Today, tattooing has reached a new popularity and has become a part of fashion .

 

      

History of Tattoo

The history of tattoo goes back over 5000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations from the Polynesian word 'ta' which means striking something and the tahitian word 'tatau' which means 'to mark something'. Tattoos are created by inserting colored substances beneath the skins surface using sharp pin-points.

 

 

According to history, the first tattoo was probably created by accident. Presumably, someone had a wound, and with a charcoal stained palm/hand may have rubbed in some of the substance into the wound in the process, and after the wound had healed, the substance trapped beneath the skin layer was still seen.

Tattoos today

Today, people wear tattoos for various reasons ranging from cosmetic, sentimental/ memorial, religious, magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups, including criminal gangs but also a particular ethnic group or law-abiding subculture.

To others, tattoos have served as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talismans, protection, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures. Tattoos may show how a person feels about a relative  or about an unrelated person.

Body Tattooing in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, endowed with diverse cultures, customs and over seven hundred distinct languages is also home to body tattooing. Like with other Pacific islanders, varying from shapes sizes and shades, tattoos stand to play significant roles in respective tribes. They can be found on different parts of the body (male and female) depending on their significance. Whole-body tattooing is common in Gulf and to most of the Papuan coastal areas.

A hand tattoo from Kairuku, Central Province

Some are done as an indication of maturity while others represent tribal identity, self pride, magic qualities and or other reasons. Whole-body tattooing is rarely seen on the younger generation nowadays. The very few who wear them are those in their late 50s and 60s.

In the highlands areas, most are known for their small forehead and side tattoos. These are signs of tribal identity and or self pride. And again, some tribal groups believe that tattoos have magical qualities that protect them from evil spirits and their enemies. For the womenfolk, tattoos are done for self body pride and or merely  to show off their tribal symbols/ designs on their beautiful bodies, with the hope of attracting the opposite sex.

Read about   Tribal Tattoos of Papua New Guinea

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The dream of India as a strong nation will not be realised without self-reliant, self-sufficient villages, this can be achieved only through social commitment & involvement of the common man."        - Anna Hazare

India Against Corruption (IAC) is a citizen's movement to demand strong anti-corruption laws. Lokpal bills were introduced several times since 1968, yet they were never passed by the Indian Parliament. After a fast by veteran social activist Anna Hazare and widespread protests by citizens across India the Government of India constituted a 10-member Joint Committee of ministers and civil society activists to draft an effective Jan Lokpal Bill. The primary focus of IAC movement is to ensure a strong Lokpal bill.

The success of this campaign depends entirely on its volunteers — folks like you from all across the world who are willing to lend their time and their talents to free India of Corruption. You can choose your level of involvement based on the time commitment you wish to make.

 

Pride of India Collection…

Hi ! Here is the recent issue from the series of Pride of India Collection. The new issue featuring stamp on famous shlok from Bhagwadgita, one of the most famous religious and philosophical books of Hindus. The original stamp of Gold replica shown above was issued on 25 August 1978. The stamp is magnificent in golden and orange color and is one of the best stamps issued by India Post ! This is all for Today….Till Next Post….Have a Great Time !

Krishna and Arjuna in Battle Chariot

Date of Issue – 25 August 1978

For more details log on to http://www.prideofindiacollection.com/

In Devnagari:
कर्मण्ये वाधिकारस्ते म फलेषु कदाचना
कर्मफलेह्तुर भुरमा ते संगोस्त्वकर्मानी॥

This is the most famous verse (2.47) of the Bhagavad Gita. Many people have not read the Gita, but they are familiar with this shloka.

In English transliteration:
Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachna
Karmaphalehtur bhurma te sangostvakarmani.
Ch. 2, 47

In English translation:
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action। Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Philosophy

The shloka (and the philosophy of Karma Yoga) tells us to renounce the fruits, or results, of our actions. Exactly what are these "fruits"? In a narrow sense they could be tangible gains – like a salary hike or a promotion. In a broader sense they could be the achievement of one's life's ambitions – like wealth, fame or power. These are the things people usually mean when they talk about "fruits" or "results".

There is another, more fundamental, "fruit" of action that is seldom talked about in this context: the happiness, the satisfaction and the peace of mind that one gets from work. Does "fruits of action" include these as well? Is Krishna telling us that we should renounce these also?

Imagine doing a work and saying no even to the joy that we get from it. It is one thing to do good work letting go of money, power and fame. It is another thing to do it letting go of even the happiness that it gives us. Doesn't this sound heartless? Yes, it does. Some would argue that the satisfaction and peace of mind we get from good work are an intrinsic part of that work, and should not be seen as "fruits" of work. But if we really think about it, we realise that these are also "fruits" of work, and hence should be renounced.

Which brings us to perhaps the most fundamental, the most primordial, "fruit" of work – the sense of meaning and purpose that one derives from it. Are we to renounce this as well? Yes, that is what the Bhagavad Gita is telling us. This is Karma Yoga at its most severe level: working purely for the sake of work, and not for any other reason. The work itself is its own justification, and nothing else.

http://indiantake.blogspot.com/2009/04/karmanyevadhikaraste.html

Krishna & Arjuna at Kurukshetra

The Bhagwad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita ("Song of God"), also more simply known as Gita, is a sacred Hindu scripture, considered among the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy. The Bhagavad Gita comprises roughly 700 verses, and is a part of the Mahabharata. The teacher of the Bhagavad Gita is Krishna, who is revered by Hindus as a manifestation of God himself, and is referred to within as Bhagavan, the Divine One.

The content of the Gita is the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna taking place on the battlefield before the start of the Kurukshetra war. Responding to Arjuna's confusion and moral dilemma about fighting his own cousins, Krishna explains to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and prince and elaborates on different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, with examples and analogies. This has led to the Gita often being described as a concise guide to Hindu theology and also as a practical, self-contained guide to life. During the discourse, Krishna reveals His identity as the Supreme Being Himself (Svayam Bhagavan), blessing Arjuna with an awe-inspiring vision of His divine universal form.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita