YOUTH POWER : Pujya Gurudev

HISTORY IS WITNESS TO THE YOUTH POWER

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Maharishi Vyas dedicated his whole life to the dissemination of knowledge. He had resolved to do so in his young age itself. It was the age of ignorance and cynicism. Knowledge was restricted to the privileged few. Inspired by Maharishi Dadhyanga Atharvan, Vyas along with his wife Vatika, committed himself to fight against this great crisis of all pervading ignorance. Systematization of the Vedic literature, writing of Puranas, philosophical commentaries - all these great works were done by him single-handedly. Later his young son Shukdev and disciples like Gemini and Sut-Shaunak joined him in this mega project. Sut-Shaunak, through the medium of their puranic stories, were able to liberate the common man’s mind from the shackles of many kinds of the then prevalent superstitions and misconceptions.

After the Mahabharat war the nation was once again engulfed by the dark clouds of ignorance, divisions and irrational beliefs. Then a young Siddhartha and Vardhman rose to the occasion. Relinquishing every royal luxury and comfort they chose the ascetic path of tap and brought about a unique social and intellectual revolution in the country. While Siddhartha became the Buddha, Vardhaman became Mahavir (the great conqueror) – the 24 ^thTirthankar of Jainism. At their call countless young men and women woke up and started awakening others. Not only India but the whole of Asia lit up with the dazzle of enlightenment. This tradition was carried forward by the young Acharya Shankar. The crisis of his time was that the country was divided into diverse sects, tantricpractices and irrational beliefs. The Acharya united the whole country with the thread of his advaita doctrine. Every nook and corner of the country began to glow with the light of this knowledge. Many young men and women – Padmapad, Sureshwar, Bharati, Karnika and others– played their roles in this monumental work of the great Acharya.

In subsequent moments of crises Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka and Vallabha dedicated their youth towards resolving them. Gorakhnath too was a young ascetic who exhorted the young generation to build strong character through the power of yoga. By popularizing Hathayoga he brought about a revolution in health consciousness and character building during his time. In mediaeval ages Kabir and Raidas carried forward and nurtured this tradition. Among the Sikh gurus, be it the first guru Nanakdev or the tenth guru Govind Singh, they were young when they generated a new vigor in the country through their tap and valor. Samartha Ramdas, who inspired young Shivaji to take up cudgels against the Mughal atrocities, had started his crusade for restoration of the glory of Sanatan Dharma when he was quite young.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma