US Congressman Steny Hoyer Honors
Hindu scriptures in Capitol
Hill Ceremony
On Wednesday, September 18, 2013 senior US Congressman Steny
Hoyer (D-Md.) honored renowned scholar of Sanskrit and Hindu
Philosophy, Bhadreshdas Swami of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha,
in a special ceremony on Capitol Hill and decreed that his
ground-breaking five-volume Sanskrit text, the Swaminarayan
Bhashyam: Commentary on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and
the Brahmasutras be preserved in the Library of Congress.
While an interest in all things yoga has led to a recent revival
of Sanskrit and Indian culture in American popular
consciousness, the American preoccupation with Indian philosophy
and Sanskrit texts stretches back to the mid-19th century when
Transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson roamed the halls
of Harvard, inspired by passages of the ancient Hindu scripture,
the Bhagavad Gita. Since that time, ancient Sanskrit texts such
as the Upanishads and Gita have been contributing to our
understanding of ourselves and our world in ways both subtle and
overt. It was the Bhagwad Gita that gave Mahatma Gandhi the
strength to continue his efforts to inspire peaceful
transformation.
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Pujya
Bhadreshdas Swami presents 5 volume set of Swaminarayan
Bhashya to US Congressman Steny Hoyer |
The ceremony on Capitol Hill this past Wednesday honored
Bhadreshdas Swami as a modern-day interpreter of this very
ancient tradition. Bhadreshdas Swami’s Swaminarayan Bhashyam is
a classical-style Sanskrit commentarial text on some of the most
prominent scriptures of Hinduism which are revered by almost one
billion Hindus worldwide. Many scholars have lauded the
Swaminarayan Bhashyam as one of the great contributions to
Hinduism and Indian philosophy in the past several centuries.
Dr. Krishnamurti Shastri, Member of the Project Committee,
Maharshi Sandipani Rashtiya Vedavidya Pratishthan of India has
said that, this poetic commentary presents new insights into the
secrets of Vedanta in comparison to any previous views on the
subject.”
Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami, one of the most learned swamis in BAPS,
is a scholar of Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures. After being
initiated as a swami in 1981, he has been studying Sanskrit and
Hindu scriptures for the last 32 years. Having completed a
500-page thesis on the Bhagavad Gita written entirely in
Sanskrit, he has earned five Masters degrees as well as a PhD in
Sanskrit. He recently completed commentaries on the Upanishads,
Brahmasutras and the Gita and is currently working on a
commentary on the Vedas. In recognition of his achievements, the
Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU) in Nagpur awarded
him a Doctorate of Literature as well as the honorary award of
Mahamahopdhyaya, an honorary title given to prestigious scholars
by the Government of India. Bhadreshdas Swami is also a Project
Committee Member of the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved-vidya
Pratishthan (MSRVVP).
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| Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami of
BAPS Swaminarayan Santha explains the Swaminarayan
Bhashyam to US Congressman Steny Hoyer |
After Bhadreshdas Swami presented the Swaminarayan Bhasyam to
Congressman Hoyer, Congressman Hoyer presented the texts in a
separate ceremony to an officer of the Library of Congress. She
welcomed the texts of ancient Hindu wisdom as an important
addition to the cultural and intellectual wealth of the national
library.
The Swaminarayan Bhashyam is named thus, as it encompasses the
values revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in a philosophy known as
Swaminarayan Darshan. The five volumes of the Swaminarayan
Bhashya address the modern need of religious and social
pluralism and harmony in the world along with explaining
universal ethical and spiritual values. As Bhadreshdas Swami
explained to Congressman Hoyer, “When the sages of government
and the sages of spirituality come together, the result is the
spread of peace in the world.” Congressman Hoyer averred that,
“Surely these commentaries written by you will bring peace and
blessings to the millions who will read and benefit from them.”
About BAPS:
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide
socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated
to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu
principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for
societies, families and individuals. Through a number of social
and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better
citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots -
their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international centers
support these activities of character-building. Under the
guidance and leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and
spiritually pure, and free of addictions.
About Pramukh Swami Maharaj:
His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual
successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has inspired millions of
people across the world to lead a God-centered, morally pure
life. As the present leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj
travels from village to village, continent to continent,
emphasizing the importance of family harmony, community service
and spiritual progress. He embodies the essence of Hindu life.
His compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking
simplicity have touched many world religious and national
leaders.
For more details visit
www.baps.org
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