Ashoka, Who embraced 'Dhamma'

Emperor Ashoka succeeded his father , Bindusara. He ascended the throne in 273 BC. He was one of the greatest Indian rulers. Numerous rock and pillar edicts spread over a large part of India, provide a lot of information about Ashoka's reign.


During ashoka's reign, Kalinga was the only kingdom which was not under Mauryan control. Ashoka decided to conquer Kalinga and attacked it in 261 BC. Finally, he conquered Kalinga. That was his turning point.When he saw the bloodshed of the soliders,  their sufferings, he gave up violence and embraced Buddhism.

He started the policy of 'Dhamma' ( Dhamma in Prakrith = Dharma in Sanskrit). This kind of thinking is based on some Buddhist chronicles. The Kalinga war was a dramatic turning point where out of remorse for the death and destruction of war and embraced peace and harmony. These chronicles inscribed on rocks, walls, buildings, pillars through out the empire are called 'Edicts of Ashoka'. The Buddhist records credit him with the propagation of Buddhism in India and aboard. As an emperor, Ashoka did not favour Buddhism at the expenses of other religions. Ashoka also started Dhamma yatras. He and his high officials were to tour the country propagating Dhamma and establishing direct contact with his subjects. Because of such attitudes and policies, modern writers have called him "a monk in a king's garb."

-By,J.Harish Arjun., 6th Std, Presidency School NLO, Bangalore.

Ashoka The Great - A Dharmik Samraat

Ashoka was one of the two greatest emperors of India.He reigned for about 40 years after he became ruler of Magadha in 272 B.C. He was the first king to educate his men and lead them to the path of truth. He was the only military man who gave up warfare.

Ashoka was the grandson of Chandra Gupta Maurya and son of Bindusar. Ashoka was brought up in Pataliputra, the capital of Magadha. In the name of education, he was taught things that would supply learning, culture and wealth.It is said that as a child he was very furious.But after the ascended throne, there was a complete change in his nature.

In year 262 B.C he decided to make an attack on kingdom of Kalinga, now called Orissa & conquered it and added to his empire. The suffering and blood shed in the war had a great impact on his mind. At that time, he met a great Buddhist preacher named, Upagupt. The teachings of Upagupt brought a complete change in his life and character. He made up his mind to establish an empire on love, order and peace. This made him lover of all forms of life. He built hospitals for men and animals and banned animal sacrifice.

He sent missionaries to Tibet, China, Burma Srilanka and deccan to spread Buddhism. He bagen the practice of law of piety. He made 14 principles of law to make people happy.He got them engraved on rocks and pillars throughout his empire.

Ashoka was a man of character. He thought his people to be truthful, honest, dutiful , non-violent and obedient. As a king, he was just and kind. He spent his life in the service of people.


By
Priyanka .S., 
6th Std, 
Vidhya Vardhaka Sangha.,
 Rajajinagar., Bangalore.
We celebrate Ganesh Chaturti on chaturdasi of bhadrapada masa. There is a story connected behind Ganesh Chaturti.

Parvati is the daughter of the heavenly nymph Menaka and Himavata, the lord of mountains . After Parvathi married Lord Shiva she went to live with him on Mount Kailasa . It is believed that she returns to earth to visit her parents every year.  Lord Ganesha comes to earth to take her back to Mount Kailasa . We celebrate the arrival of Parvathi to earth as GOWRI HABBA and the arrival of Ganesha to take her back as Ganesh Chaturti.

(Submitted By Ananya S. Shastry, studying in Innisfree House school)

Lokamanya..

(Article was submitted by Akash .R., studying in Sardar Patel School, Rajajinagar)

Bala Gangadhar Tilak was born on 23rd July 1856 in the district of Ratnagiri in Maharastra. He was the son of Sri.Gangadhar Ramachandra Tilak who was a deputy inspector of Schools in poona.

When he was a boy of eight, he could solve difficult problems in mathematics. Young Bala Gangadhar also mastered Sanskrit grammer. He was a young man of courage and character.

After passing BA examination, he studied Law and became lawyer. He decided not to join any government services because India was not a free country.He made up his mind to fight for the freedom of our country.

He became the editor of two weekly papers, the Kesari and the Marata.Both the weeklies demanded independence for India.Young Tilak said,” Freedom is my birth right and I Shall have it !”. The british rulers of India put him to prision many times. When he was a prisoner, he wrote many books.One of the most famous book is “Gita Rahasya”. Even today this book is read by many people.People all over India admired his courage. They called him “LOKAMANYA”.

Lokamanya Tilak was a great patriot. He put courage into the hearts of people of India. He developed the spirit of freedom among the people. He organized two festivals; one festival honored Ganesh and the other Shivaji. Both of the festivals are very popular even now.


Though he died on 1st August 1920 in Mumbai, aged 64, his fighting spirit guides us even today.

Drawing


(Submitted by Krithika S., from VLS International School)

ಸರ್ಫರೋಷೀ ಕೀ ತಮನ್ನಾ ...

ಸರ್ಫರೋಷೀ ಕೀ ತಮನ್ನಾ ಅಬ್ ಹಮಾರೇ ದಿಲ್ ಮೇ ಹೈ.......
ದೇಖನಾ ಹೈ ಜೋರ್ ಕಿತನಾ ಬಾಜ್ಹುವೇ ಖಾತಿಲ್ ಮೇ ಹೈ. .....
ಜಿಂದಗೀ ತೋ ಅಪನೀ ಮೆಹಮಾನ್ ಮೌತ್‍ಕೀ ಮೆಹಫಿಲ್ ಮೇ ಹೈ...
ಸರ್ಫರೋಷೀ ಕೀ ತಮನ್ನಾ ಅಬ್ ಹಮಾರೀ ದಿಲ್ ಮೇ ಹೈ.......!

ತ್ಯಾಗ ಬಲಿದಾನಗಳ ಅಭಲಾಷೆಯಷ್ಟೇ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲಾ....
ಬಂಧನಗಳ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪಕೆ ಕಾದಿದೆ ಭವವೆಲ್ಲಾ..!....
ಈ ಸಾಲುಗಳು ಅವರ ಉಸಿರಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಅವರ ಬದುಕಿನ ಏಕೈಕ ಧ್ಯೇಯವಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಅವರು ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ದೇಶಭಕ್ತರಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲಾ, ದೇಶವನ್ನು ದಾಸ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಕಂಕಣಬದ್ಧರಾಗಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಬದುಕನ್ನೇ ಆಹುತಿ ನೀಡಿ ಪ್ರಜ್ವಲಿಸಿದ ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರು!

ಪಂಜಾಬಿನ ಲ್ಯಾಲ್‍ಪುರ್ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ 'ಬಾಂಗಾ' ಎಂಬ ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 28 ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್, 1907ರಂದು ಜನ್ಮ ತಳೆದವನು 'ಸರ್ದಾರ್' ಭಗತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್. ಅವನು ಜನಿಸಿದ ದಿನದಂದೇ ಅವನ ತಂದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪಂದಿರು ಜೈಲಿನಿಂದ ಬಂಧಮುಕ್ತರಾದರು. ಅವರು ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ ಹೋರಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ 'ಗದಾರ್ ಪಕ್ಷ'ದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಗುರುತಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು. ಭಗತ್ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ದಿನ ಮತ್ತವರ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯೂ ತನ್ನ ತಂದೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪಂದಿರ ನಡುವೆ ತೇಜಸ್ವೀ ಬಾಲಕನಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅವನ ಪರಿವಾರದವರು ಯಾವುದೇ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲಿಚ್ಛಿಸದ ಕಾರಣ ದಯಾನಂದ ಸರಸ್ವತಿಯವರ ಆರ್ಯ ಸಮಾಜದ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಲಕ ಭಗತ್ ಬೆಳೆದನು. ತನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯದಿಂದಲೇ ದೇಶಭಕ್ತಿಯ ಕಿಚ್ಚನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಭಗತ್‍ನನ್ನು ದಯಾನಂದರ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿ, ನಂತರ ಲಾಲಾ ಲಜಪತ್ ರಾಯರ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಸೇರಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು. ಶಾಲಾ-ಕಾಲೇಜು ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಭಗತ್ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರದ ಕನಸನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ನಾಟಕ ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲದೆ, ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ವಾಗ್ಮಿಯಾಗಿಯೂ ದೇಶಭಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬಿಸುವ ಗೀತೆಗಳನ್ನೂ ರಚಿಸಿ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು.

ಅವನ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿನ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಬಂದದ್ದು ಮುಂದೆ ಅವನು 1919ರಲ್ಲಿ ಜಲಿಯನ್‍ವಾಲಾ ಬಾಗ್ ಹತ್ಯಾಕಾಂಡ ನಡೆದ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ಕಣ್ಣಾರೆ ಕಂಡಾಗಲೇ! ಮುಗ್ಧ ಭಾರತೀಯರ ಮೇಲೆ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರು ನಡೆಸಿದ ಧಾಳಿ ಮತ್ತು ನರಮೇಧದ ಘಟನೆಯ ವರದಿ ಅವನಲ್ಲಿನ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯ ಕಿಚ್ಚನ್ನು ಇಮ್ಮಡಿಸಿತು. ಮುಂದೆ, 1920ರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿಯ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ಅಸಹಕಾರ ಚಳುವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡನು.

ಶಿವರಾಮ ಹರಿ 'ರಾಜಗುರು
' ಮಧ್ಯಮ ವರ್ಗದ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 24, 1908ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಣೆಯ ಬಳಿಯ 'ಖೇಡ್'ನಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿದ್ದು ಸಂಸ್ಕøತ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಪಾಂಡಿತ್ಯ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದು, 'ಶಿವಾಜಿ ಮಹಾರಾಜ'ನ ಗೆರಿಲ್ಲಾ ಯುದ್ಧ ವೈಖರಿಯನ್ನು ಮೆಚ್ಚಿದ್ದನು. ಮುಂದೆ ವಾರಣಾಸಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಗತನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದನು. ಅವನ ಧೈರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ ಗುರಿಯಿಂದಾಗಿ 'ಗನ್‍ಮ್ಯಾನ್' ಎಂದೇ ಹೆಸರಾಗಿದ್ದ.

ಸುಖದೇವ ಥಾಪರ್: 15, ಮೇ 1907ರಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿದ್ದ ಪಂಜಾಬಿನ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಹುಲಿ. ತನ್ನ ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ವಿಚಾರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಕಾರಕ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳಿಂದ 'ನೌಜವಾನ್ ಭಾರತ್ ಸಭಾ' ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸಮರ ಸಾರಿದ್ದ. ಮುಂದೆ ಭಗತ್ ಮತ್ತಿತರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೂಡಿ ಸ್ಚಾತಂತ್ರ ಸಂಗ್ರಾಮಕ್ಕಿಳಿದ.

ಈ ಮೂವರ ಮುಂದಿದ್ದ ಗುರಿಯೊಂದೇ!........
ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕೇವಲ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೊಂದೇ ಅಲ್ಲಾ, ಯುಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ಶತೃಗಳನ್ನು ಗೆಲ್ಲಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಅರಿವಿತ್ತು.ಸೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರೂ ಅವನದು ಎಡೆಬಿಡದ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿ, ಅವನ ವಿಚಾರ ವೈಖರಿ, ಅಪಾರ ಜ್ಞಾನವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾದವು....ಜೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಆಹಾರ ಸೇವಿಸಲು ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಿದಾಗ ಬಲವಂತವಾಗಿ ಪೈಪುಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಆಹಾರವನ್ನು ತುರುಕುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ನಡೆಯಿತು, ಕುಡಿಯಲು ನೀರನ್ನೂ ಕೊಡದೆ ನಾನ ಹಿಂಸೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಾಯ್ತು! ಆದರೆ ಭಗತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್ ಅಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಮನೋಬಲವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದ ಧೀರ!
ಸೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಕೈದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅಮಾನುಷವಾಗಿ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ರೀತಿಯನ್ನೂ ಕಂಡು ಕ್ರೋಧಗೊಂಡ ಅವನು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಅದನ್ನು ತಪ್ಪೆಂದು ಸಮರ್ಥಿಸಿದ.ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಅವನ ದಿನಚರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸತತವಾಗಿ ಚಿಂತನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಬರಹಗಳು ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾದವು. ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲದೆ ವಿದೇಶದಲ್ಲೂ ಭಗತ್ ಸಂಗ್ ಕುರಿತು ಉತ್ತಮ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿದ್ದವು! ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಅವನನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಿತ್ತರು, ಸೆರೆಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಅವನನ್ನು ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಿ ಸಮಾಲೋಚನೆಯನ್ನೂ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಅನೇಕ ದಿನಗಳ ವಿಚಾರಣೆಗಳ ನಂತರ ಭಗತ್‍ನ ವಾದಗಳೆಲ್ಲವೂ ತಿರಸ್ಕøತಗೊಂಡವು. ಭಗತ್ ಸಿಂಗ್, ರಾಜ್‍ಗುರು ಮತ್ತು ಸುಖದೇವ್ ಅವರನ್ನು 23 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 1931ರಂದು ನೇಣುಕಂಬಕ್ಕೇರಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ತೀರ್ಪು ನೀಡಿತು. 

ಮೇರಾ ರಂಗ್ ದೇ ಬಸಂತೀ ಚೋಲಾ... ಮೇರಾ ರಂಗ್ ದೇ........

ಭಾರತವೆಂಬ ಈ ಪುಣ್ಯಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜನ್ಮ ತಳೆದು ಬಣ್ಣಗಳನ್ನೆರಚಿ,
ದುಷ್ಟರಾಳ್ವಿಕೆಯ ದಾಸ್ಯದ ಪ್ರಹಾರಗಳಿಂದ ಘಾಸಿತಗೊಂಡು,
ಅಜ್ಞಾನವೆಂಬ ಕಪ್ಪು ಕತ್ತಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇಶ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ.....
ಸೋಲಿಲ್ಲದ ಸರದಾರರಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡಿ ಭಾರತಾಂಬೆಯ ಮಡಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಬದುಕನ್ನೇ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಿದ ಭಗತ್, ಸುಖದೇವ ರಾಜಗುರು ಬಲಿದಾನಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಉರಿಸಿಟ್ಟ ಕ್ರಾಂತಿಯಿನ್ನೂ ಹಸಿರಾಗಿದೆ.....

(From various internet sources)


We met again...Hurray!!!

We Chirantana kids met again after CSC-JC-2014;occasion - Birthday party on 23rd May 2014. The birthday girl was Krithika.She turned 11 this year. The party was from 5 pm to 6 pm. But everyone left at 7:30pm. Do you know why? We all had a wonderful time playing together. We played boys v/s girls catch & throw match.


We render special thanks to Krithika and Sujatha aunty for giving us an opportunity to unite and spend time together. We had a gala time.All the children of Chirantana kutumba thank Krithika, again..Many many Happy returns of the day, Krithika!!


-By Ananya S Shastry & Shreyas N.B.

Its OUR turn now...

It was a hot afternoon in May when the doorbell rang. Malati was busy cooking. “Uff! Did someone have to come now! Wiping her hand impatiently she opened the door. The courier-delivery boy stood there. “Courier, Madam “, He said. Grabbing the package Malati scrawled her signature irritatedly. When she handed the paper back, she saw the young man‘s face. “Poor Boy. It must hard making deliveries in the sweltering heat “, She thought. When the boy requested for a glass of water her annoyance gave way to sympathy. She invited him in, offered him some refreshments and gave him a cool glass of buttermilk. The boy was surprised and said, “Madam, I only wanted a glass of water ‘. “ Drink it, It will refresh you, “Malati said. A smile broke out on the boy’s face as he drank the buttermilk. Malati felt her anger vanish only to be replaced by a bubble of happiness. 

Friends, we all feel wonderful when shown sympathy. Why don’t we spend some time to pass it on? It’s our turn now. Let‘s work together to make this world a better place to live in.

-By Ananya S.Shastry - 6th Std., Innisfree House School., Bangalore.

Radhe Shyam...



By: Ananya S. Shastry.,  6th Standard  Innisfree School
( Ananya S.Shastry participated in Chirantana 2014 Camp )

GIVE THE BEST TO THE WORLD & THE BEST COMES BACK TO YOU..

Its your friend's birthday and you want to gift him something. You gift  him a chocolate. After 15 minutes, the chocolate is finished. You think of giving him a toy car. In a few days it is broken or lost. But if you give him happiness, it stays in his heart forever.


Chiranthana summer camp  was the place where I felt that when you give happiness to others, it always comes back to you multiple folds  from other people. Children I thought  to be very arrogant and bullish, were found to be very warm and accommodating;friends I thought to be not-so easy moving were in contrast, were very caring, sharing and fun-loving. Reality was far from my imagination; May be the fun, merriment & closeness amongst us has let them be their true self, I thought.   
"You should give everyone the best you have..and the best comes back to you" - someone, somewhere rightly says. We shared our best moments, laughter, thoughts and got back the same from others as well.
Chirantana was an opportunity to treasure our memories of 2014. We had a great beginning for our academic year. I shall eagerly wait to meet all my present & new friends in Chiranthana- 2015.


By-Shreyas N.B.6th Std., Presidency School.
(Shreyas N.B. participated in Chirantana-2014 camp)

ಭದ್ರ ಬೇರಿರಬೇಕು ..

ಕೆಲ ಮರಗಳು ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತವೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯಾದರೂ

ಕೆಲವು ಹುಟ್ಟುವುದೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ನೆಲ ಫಲವತ್ತಾದರೂ

ಕೆಲವು ಹುಟ್ಟಿಯಾದರೂ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಲಾರವು

ಮರವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯೇ ಭದ್ರ ಬೇರಿರಬೇಕು...

Welcome to our kutumbam....

Chirantana runs on the principle - OF THE CHILDREN, BY THE CHILDREN, FOR THE CHILDREN. All the activities conducted will be for the empowerment of each child.

Last year we had a residential camp for ten days in the month of April 2013 where 15 children participated. This year we had two different camps conducted. One at New Vistas Kids, off Bannerghatta road for three weeks in the month of April. The other camp was for seven days in JC Nagar near Kurubarahalli in the month of May. The camps included prayer, Samskruta-Samaya, making reusable craft, Value based stories, theme based Dance-Drama performance and various games.  It was amazing to watch children exhibiting tremendous skills, leadership qualities, co-operation and winning and team spirit. By the end of the camp the parents were in surprise to watch their child who could boldly speak who was otherwise a shy nature girl. A boy who never went on stage thrilled their parents by performing jovially in a dance. If few children went back home with tears in their eyes, most of them regretted that the camps got over in no time.