In 2011 I brought out "The Beacon That Beckons' as a tribute to our Dharma Guru Shrimad SudheendraTeertha Swami. He ceased to be with us in his mortal frame from January 17, 2016. His memory abides. We cherish his 'Upadesha' and feel his presence in the institutions he has left us.
As His Holiness came in a long line of succession of Gurus from the mid-sixteenth century, we need also to remember the life and work of his illustrious predecessors. We are the legatees of what we consider as the hallowed tradition of the Kashi Math Samsthan.
It may not be known to many that the times when the first Guru took charge were not quite propitious for Hindu Dharma even to survive. Emperor Krishnadeva Raya, the founder of a Hindu kingdom in the South, had died in 1529/30 and his empire was hastening to its end. Parts of the country had already come under the Mughul rule. Akbar, who was the king between 1555 and 1605, was born in 1542 - the year in which the Kashi Math Samsthan came into existence and Shrimad Yadavendra Teertha initiated the Guru Parampara. The first Guru had a formidable task before him to build up the Math as a fortress of faith. That the Samsthan has had a succession of 20 Gurus so far is a tribute to their perseverance in upholding our dharmic way of life.
Besides recounting the life and work of these Gurus, albeit briefly in some cases for lack of information, I have dealt with the lives of our ancient sages, notably Shree Veda Vyasa and Bhagavan Parashurama as well as the founder of the Dvaita system of philosophy, Shrimad Madhvacharya.
As the GSB community has its roots in the Vedas, I have thought it worthwhile to include in this book sketches of sage Saarasvat and sage Vishvamitra. One notable addition I have made is that of Bhishma who is the father-figure of the Mahabharata the epic whose author was sage Vyasa we worship at the Math. A great heroic character, firm in his resolve to renounce power and pleasure, noble in thought, dauntless in fight and, above all, a devotee of Sri Krishna non pareil, was Bhishmacharya. Did he not give us the Vishnu Sahasranama? For this alone, he is entitled to our constant remembrance.
The very first person whom I informed about my intention to write this book was our present Dharma Guru Shrimad Samyameendra Teertha. His Holiness', prompt and splendid response with a 'Anugraha Sandesha' was stimulus enough for me to proceed with my work. My pranams to His Holiness.
I received much encouragement and support from numerous friends and relatives. To all of them I am deeply grateful.
As usual, I got all help and co-operation from my friend Shri V. Sivaramakrishnan at all stages of preparation, from the initial conception to the final publication. My sense of thankfulness to him is beyond words.
I consider it a blessing and a rare coincidence that this book is being released on the auspicious occasion of the 'Ashram Sweekar Amrut Mahotsav of our revered Dharma Guru H. H. Shrimad Sudheendra Teertha Swami. What a glorious opportunity for our Samaj Bandhavas to gather in thousands at Haridwar on June 5, 2019!
Vedas (1211)
Upanishads (505)
Puranas (632)
Ramayana (756)
Mahabharata (366)
Dharmasastras (166)
Goddess (511)
Bhakti (250)
Saints (1535)
Gods (1306)
Shiva (389)
Journal (181)
Fiction (61)
Vedanta (372)
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