AADITYA - Catalyst for Empowerment

“When you are inspired by some great purpose,
some extraordinary project,
all your thoughts break their bonds:
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new,
great, and wonderful world.
Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive,
and you discover yourself to be a greater person
by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

- Patanjali

We have to CHANGE, Change our Mindsets, Change the way we see and treat women. As the Beijing Declaration tells us, “women’s empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality, development and peace.”

We need to support and strengthen the role of women in all domains of life. We need to change for ‘Total Empowerment for Women’. We need a positive image of women in all spheres.

We can initiate the process of change by simply following the universal rules.

Be Kind to ALL, Love ALL, Respect ALL, (as it is)

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

—Laozi; ancient Chinese philosopher

To all our members of AADITYA family and friends, specially women and girls

“You can do almost anything, you put your mind to….
You can swim the deepest ocean, and climb the highest peak….
You can face adversity and still walk tall….
You are strong, beautiful, compassionate, and much more than words can ever say…!
Today is yours and so is every other day…!”

Happy Women’s Day

Sankranti means to go from one place to another place (to change direction). It also means one meets another. The time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another is known as Sankranti.

Transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana) is known as Makar Sankranti. The sun journeys northward. The days are gradually lengthening in the northern hemisphere.

From Makar Sankranti onwards when the sun is travelling northwards, innumerable auspicious things start happening. Climate and atmosphere improve. Children born during this period are naturally progressive, well mannered, pleasant and of noble disposition.

The Bhagavad Gita mentions the importance of the northern path of the sun at the time of death. This was the reason why Grandsire Bhishma, who was wounded in battle and in semi conscious state, while lying on the bed of arrows, chose to wait it out, awaiting the northward path of the sun, before choosing to die.

All such special reasons make the northward journey of the sun sacred and auspicious at Makar Sankranti.

To Hindus, the sun (AADITYA) stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makara Shankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to joyously let the light within us shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the sun does from this day.

Makara Shankranti is called Pongal by the Tamilians, from whom it ushers in the New Year. The day begins with Surya Pongal or sun worship. The newly harvested corn is then cooked for the first time.

Joyous festivities mark the celebration in every home. Servants, farmers and the poor are fed and clothed, and given presents of money. On the next day, the cow, which is regarded as the symbol of the Holy Mother, is worshiped. Birds and animals are also fed.

In this manner the devotee’s heart gradually expands during the course of the celebrations. Love extends from the household to servants, the poor, the cow and all other living creatures.

During this holy festival we learn to feel our oneness with all creation; we learn to be unselfish and to tread the path of love, purity and forgiveness. We learn that our real wealth is the goodwill and friendship of those around us, the land on which our food grows, and the animals that help to make our work lighter.

“Share what you have with all” – this is the clarion call of the day.

visit http://peace.aaditya.org and SHARE