Whole Tradition – Page 2 – Whole Dude

Whole Dude – Whole Obedience

Excerpt: This article explores the significance of the traditional Indian greeting “Namaskar”. “Namaskar” is understood as a symbol of respect and obedience, two fundamental values in Indian culture. The term also serves as an embodiment of cultural heritage, shaping personal identity and attitude. The writer also links the greeting to the concept of Karma, implying the cultural context of “Namaskar” as part of India or “Bharat Varsha.” It is used in various social relations, fostering humility, discipline, and team structure, especially in the military. The act of “Namaskar,” therefore, contributes to self-knowledge and liberation from attachments (“Moksha” or “Mukti”).

**Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Om, Namah Sivaya – The Five Letter Mantra – Traditional Indian Greeting-Namaskar**

TheTradition of Respect and Obedience:

**Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting**

Deuteronomy, 5th Book of Moses, The Old Testament, The Holy Bible: Chapter 10, verse 16:

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked.”

The word ‘Namah’ means one that bends which implies obedience. The one word ‘Namaskar’ represents the full spectrum of the legacy of India’s Culture.

Namah Shivaya:

I shall begin this entry with a traditional greeting. As a kid I was trained to greet and acknowledge others. The greeting is called ‘Namaskar’ or ‘Namaste’. I would begin by greeting all of you who may read this entry with my ‘Namaskar’. Namaskar is the essence of our Culture and this single word can represent the full spectrum of our Cultural legacy.

Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. Lieutenant General T A D’ Cunha, Director General of Ordnance Services is seen saluting the Corps Colors in this photo image taken during AOC 8th Reunion Celebration at AOC Centre Secunderabad.

I served in Uniform. The lesson I grasped is that to Salute is the foundation upon which the entire structure of military discipline is built.Service in the Armed Forces depends upon team work.The team structure depends upon the ability of team members to recognize and acknowledge each other at all times. I salute to acknowledge the person as a member of my team. Army accomplishes great things only when the team members follow this ground rule for their conduct and behavior. Namaskar is the tool given to me by the Culture of my Land and this tool shapes my attitude and personal behavior and this tool helps me to attain my life’s goals.

Defining Culture:

**Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. Namaskar**

Culture is defined as learned or acquired behavior in contrast to biological behavior which is genetically endowed. Human Culture is defined as learned behavior acquired by individuals as members of a social group.Culture denotes a people’s heritage of custom and belief. It is a system of ideas that has been transmitted down through the generations. It includes assumptions about the world, about life and existence, rules and ways to act, goals and ways of achieving them. People’s ideas about ways to live may shape the ways they actually do live.Beginning at birth, each individual is encultured by a body of norms governing behavior and other knowledge that the society has. Thus Cultural Heritage can be defined as the sum total of human knowledge and acquired behavior.

Namaskar represents the essence of my Cultural heritage. Culture gives people a sense of personal identity. Defining that ‘identity’ helps in understanding the Culture. Namaskar is the behavior I learned and Namaskar defines my ‘identity’. It is a behavior transmitted to me through the generations.

Culture of the Land:

Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. The Land of India or Bharat Varsha is traditionally identified as ‘KARMA KSHETRA’ or ‘KARMA BHUMI’.Human Existence is operated by the ‘Law of Karma’.

The Land of India in our Culture and tradition is referred to as the land of Bharat. My purpose is to learn the ideas and thoughts that have found their roots in this particular Land. Ideas and thoughts help in developing and defining our attitudes.Our attitudes are reflected in our behaviors.The behavior which springs from the seeds of ideas and thoughts that were planted in the soil could be described as the Culture of the Land. The ancient Hindu Scripture known as Rig Veda has recommended that we should keep our minds open to receive noble thoughts from all directions. I studied Natural Sciences and I gained much of my information from ideas and thoughts expressed in books that were published in the West.The basic idea and thought that I had received was that we need to carefully sort out the information that we gather. Assimilation of information would be possible only when facts are considered in a systematic manner. I learned about plants and animals as a part of my study called Biological Science. Living things are connected and are related to each other.This interconnectedness and the interrelatedness describes the ecological system.There is a great amount of diversity in nature.To understand living things, we need to group them and learn about them as a part of an ecological system. We can not understand existence if we look at individual creatures.The reactions between the players of a given geographical area gives a better understanding of life and existence. I would like to use this kind of scientific tool to identify ideas and thoughts.Some ideas and thoughts could be assigned to a particular land in the same manner that a natural scientist would identify some species are ‘NATIVE’ and others as ‘NON-NATIVE’ in the description of an Ecological System. To prove that an idea is culturally derived, we need to demonstrate that the idea is transmitted through generations.To arrive at ideas that originated in the Land of India, I would prefer to obtain a sense of direction from my great grand mother, my grand mothers and my mother. If an idea was not known to them, it may not be a part of my cultural legacy. If they had known very little, I would deem it as my good fortune and that little is my whole inheritance. Namaskar thus represents the best of my acquired knowledge.

The importance of Namaskar:

NamaH Sivaya - Traditional Indian Greeting -Namaskar — **Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting**

The word Namaskar is usually accompanied with the action of joining hands and bringing them together in front of the body with the elbows flexed and the neck slightly bent forwards.The joining of hands symbolizes respect and the bending of the neck signifies obedience. A person with ‘stiff neck’ is generally considered to be disobedient, rude, arrogant or proud. Respect can not be shown if the person does not display an attitude of obedience.The very essence of Indian Culture can be stated as that of showing respect and obedience. This is the most important behavior that is expected of every one. It is not merely about showing respect and of obedience to the Gods that people worship. Even the Gods that people worship also implicitly observe the rule about showing respect and obedience.This social expectation rules every relationship and activity. It is the basic expectation, let it be parent-child relationship, husband-wife relationship, teacher-student relationship, employer-employee relationship, the Ruler and the subject relationship, the relationship between siblings and even between friends. Respectful conduct is expected while receiving guests, while dealing with any elderly person even though the person may not be related. In addition, several plants, trees, birds, animals, rivers, the sea and the the hills and mountains enjoy a special status and are treated with great respect.This social behavior is encouraged at all times and specially kids are trained and tutored to display this behavior. I grew up in India and my childhood is shaped by learning this behavior. Also my culture has given the freedom of choice. I am free to worship several entities in addition to God. If I am not inclined to worship God, I may choose a living person, a plant, a tree, an animal, some element of nature or even a name and shapeless stone and I am free to worship that object with the same and similar amount of respect that one may give to God.The Gods of my Culture would not get angry or jealous if I am totally preoccupied with showing respect to an object of my choice. Most people of the Land of India get used to showing respect to a variety of objects.

Showing respect and obedience is considered as the most important learning tool to acquire humility. Through humility, the individual can subdue his ‘ego’. Ego is viewed as a great obstacle in the pursuit of self-knowledge. Self-Knowledge is the chisel that lets an individual to break the shackles of all attachments. Freedom from all attachments is described as Moksha or Liberation and as Mukti or Release.This cultural norm of showing respect and obedience and the use of Namaskar would help us in attaining life’s goal or to realize man’s purpose in life.

**Whole Dude – Whole Obedience: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting provides the tool to learn the cultural values of respect and obedience.**

Whole Dude – Whole Tradition

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11, Visvarupa-Darsana Yoga, The Vision of the Universal Form, verse 55 proclaims “Advesham Sarva Bhuteshu”- Being devoid of enmity towards all living entities is a must and laid the foundational principle of Ahimsa. Krishna is most popularly known as Govinda, a provider of a great sense of Joy to cattle.

Defining Indian Identity-Ahimsa-Mahatma Gandhi — **Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Defining Indian Identity. The Tradition of Ahimsa. Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch advocate of Cow Protection and Prevention of Animal Cruelty.**

Mahatma Gandhi applied the principles of ‘Ahimsa’ to fight for India’s Freedom.

“Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi.  

Defining Indian Identity-Ahimsa-Lord Gautama Buddha — **Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Defining Indian Identity. The Tradition of Ahimsa. Lord Gautama Buddha preached Nonviolence and Kindness towards all living things.**

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha lived in India, c. 563 B.C. – c. 483 B.C. was the founder of Buddhism.

Lord Mahavira - The Tradition of Ahimsa — Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Defining Indian Identity. The Tradition of Ahimsa. LORD MAHAVIRA – Jainism is founded in the 6th century B.C. emphasized the importance of reverence for all living things.

Lord Mahavira – Jainism is founded in the 6th century B.C. emphasized the importance of reverence for all living things.

In the ancient land of India, the tradition and practice of ‘Ahimsa'(noninjury) has been well established. This entry is not intended to speak about the greatness of Lord Mahavira, Lord Gautama Buddha or Mahatma Gandhi. Their contributions are well-known and well-respected by all. As a beneficiary of this great tradition, I want to claim that Ahimsa helps humans as much as it promotes the well-being of animals. Animals give us a chance to learn and practice the habit of showing compassion. Animals may not be able to speak and communicate their fears, pain, and suffering. But they provide us with the skills to listen and know the emotion of fear. Animals give us the ability to discern pain when we are not in a position to speak for ourselves. I want to describe as to how a person, experienced in preventing cruelty to animals, is well equipped to rescue humans.  

Child Abduction and the story of a miraculous rescue: 

Swami Karunyananda 1894 - 1997 - The Tradition of Ahimsa. — Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Swami Karunyananda ( One who delights himself or experiences a sense of Joy by showing Karuna or Compassion. His birth name was Venkata Subbiah. His birthplace was Kammavarpalayam, a tiny village in Madras or Tamil Nadu State of India. He founded and established Sri Gowthami Jeevakarunya Sangham at Rajahmundry during 1940.

Swami Karunyananda, One who delights himself or experiences a sense of Joy by showing Karuna or Compassion. His birth name was Venkata Subbiah. His birthplace was Kammavarpalayam, a tiny village in Madras or Tamil Nadu State of India. He founded and established Sri Gowthami Jeevakarunya Sangham at Rajahmundry during 1940.

Image result for gowthami jeevakarunya sangam, rajahmundry — **Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Defining Indian Identity – The Tradition of Ahimsa**

I am narrating my personal story to recall an event and express my gratitude to a person whose name is not known to me but whom I remember for his timely intervention to rescue me. Otherwise, my life’s journey would have proceeded on an altogether different track. This very simple, down to earth, the unassuming person acted in a manner that had made a lasting impression on my mind and I am able to recollect the incident without any effort.

In 1951, that is 56 years ago, I lived in the town of Rajahmundry, East Godavari district of the present State of Andhra Pradesh. The town is on the left bank of river Godavari which enters the town from the north and flows towards the south. I lived in a residential neighborhood known by the name Innispet and it is located next to the river bank.

Those days, many of the streets had no given names and the houses had no designated house numbers. The part of the street where I lived was later named as ‘KALABARGI VARI’ street. Our house was built by my grandfather (Late)Shri.R.Subbarao who had earlier worked as the District Public Prosecutor. I lived with my grandmother Smt. Lakshmi Narasamma, my parents and two elder brothers. My great-grandmother and my grandmother’s sister had also lived in this mansion. My younger brother and sister are not yet born. I may also mention that my father had chosen my personal name to be Rudra Narasimham and he had made this choice to please and honor my grandmother. For this reason, I had also enjoyed her affectionate treatment.

At the age of three and a half years, I was able to walk and move freely. My elder brothers had already joined schools. I whined about it and my father got me enrolled at King George Elementary School which was on the same street at a short distance from my home. The name King George reminds us of our colonial past. The School had a very modest structure. There was no kindergarten class and hence I joined the grade 1 class.

A little while after the monsoon season had finished, the School was temporarily closed because of a panic created by a string of child abduction incidents. My father was in the habit of going out for an evening walk. That day, the evening was cool and pleasant and the sky was clear. I insisted that I would accompany my father during his evening walk. He tried to talk me out of it and more so out of concern about the child lifting incidents. He left for his walk leaving me at home. I slipped out of the house and I thought I would be able to follow him from behind while he walked ahead of me.

I was walking south on the street and very soon lost sight of him. I kept walking, went past an intersection and at the next intersection, the street had ended. I made a right turn as I had noticed that a lot of people were walking in that direction towards the ‘Main Street’ of our town. The streets had no sidewalks and the pedestrians walk all over the street and there was not much of vehicular traffic.

Soon after I made the right turn, I was suddenly lifted up by a stranger and was handed over to a woman who accompanied him. I instantaneously recognized that I was in some big trouble. I started crying loudly but was not able to express my sense of fear in words. The pedestrian crowd around me paid no attention and my crying aroused no particular concern.

This terrible situation suddenly changed when a man wearing simple, white, hand-spun garments (‘KHADI’) came by riding on a bike. He spontaneously reacted to my crying. In my speechless voice, like any other dumb animal, I could communicate to him that I was very apprehensive and that I was gripped with a sense of fear and pain. He read my emotions correctly and he lost no time and decided to intervene.

He stopped the pair and started grilling them with questions and insisted that I was not their child. They initially argued that I was their child. My rescuer did not relent a bit and eventually, he demanded that the pair should accompany him to the Police Station to verify my identity. I remained a silent spectator and the sense of fear would not let me speak up the fact that I was not their child and that woman was not my mother.

As the heat of the argument built up, the pair decided to get away and the woman dropped me down leaving me with the man on the bike. I was at ease in the company of this unknown man and the sense of fear vanished and I stopped crying.

He placed me on the front bar of his bike. He inquired about my address. The only information that I could provide was that my house was located near a doctor’s clinic. Meantime, the evening had already turned into night. He decided to return me to my home. Before doing so, he took me to a street vendor selling sweets and snacks. He asked me to pick an item of my choice. He paid the merchant. After I finished eating my snack, I felt a lot more relaxed and was ready for the bike ride through the neighborhood.

After spending some time conversing with me, he began his search at the north end of the street where I lived. The street was fairly long and had several houses on either side. Those were the days when we had no television; before retiring for sleep, people were in the habit of relaxing in front of their homes after it gets dark. House after house, he was checking with people and was inquiring about any missing child.

Finally, we arrived at the intersection where my house stood on the street corner. At that point, to recognize my house was very easy for me. I saw my grandmother and my mother standing on the front porch with a very worried expression on their faces. The search was over and I simply jumped out from the bike and literally ran into my home. I was not around when my mother and grandmother thanked him for bringing me back home safely and they were shocked to know that I was briefly got abducted. Later, my mother tried to gently admonish me and asked if I would ever go out alone all by myself. By then, I had lost the fear that gripped my mind and I was happy with my experience of meeting this man who got me back home and very boldly I answered my mother that I am not afraid of going out on my own.  

This unknown man worked for a charitable organization by the name “Sri Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham.” This organization provides animal shelters and a variety of humanitarian services. The employees patrol the streets on bikes to detect and to prevent cruelty to animals.

His belief in Ahimsa or Non-Injury, his personal experience in dealing with the pain and suffering of dumb animals had also given him the insight to recognize my plight when I was lifted up from the street. On a crowded street, while I was snatched, no one had paid attention to my cries, but for this person, the abduction would have proceeded unnoticed.

I describe that this person has the Indian Identity that I cherish and value. This Identity springs from our long-established Cultural tradition of Ahimsa. I would consider him to be a true practitioner of Ahimsa.

I have not personally known or seen Sri. Karunyananda (1894- 1997) who established Sri Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham in Rajahmundry during the year 1940. Karunyananda was at Swami Sivananda’s Ashram at Rishikesh in northern India. Mahatma Gandhi visited Rishikesh and addressed the group of young ‘sanyasins’ at the Ashram. He encouraged them to render humanitarian service and serve others to practice the principle of ‘Ahimsa’ which involves treating all living entities with a sense of respect and dignity.

This concept of ‘Ahimsa’ reached me through the service rendered by a man who practiced the principle of ‘Ahimsa’ and gained the ability to recognize pain and suffering even when there is no verbal communication to express that condition.   

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,  

Danavaipeta Municipal High School, Rajahmundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India,  

S.S.L.C.,  Class  of March   1961.

**Whole Dude – Whole Tradition: Defining Indian Identity – The Tradition of Ahimsa. A tribute to the founder of Shri Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham, Rajahmundry.**

Whole Dude – Whole Greeting

**Whole Dude – Whole Greeting: Om, Namah Sivaya – The Five Letter Mantra – Traditional Indian Greeting-Namaskar**

TheTradition of Respect and Obedience:

**Whole Dude – Whole Greeting: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting**

Deuteronomy, 5th Book of Moses, The Old Testament, The Holy Bible: Chapter 10, verse 16:

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked.”

The word ‘Namah’ means one that bends which implies obedience. The one word ‘Namaskar’ represents the full spectrum of the legacy of India’s Culture.

Namah Shivaya:

Whole Dude -Whole Greeting: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. Lieutenant General T A D’ Cunha, Director General of Ordnance Services is seen saluting the Corps Colors in this photo image taken during AOC 8th Reunion Celebration at AOC Centre Secunderabad.

Defining Culture:

**Whole Dude – Whole Greeting: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. Namaskar**

Culture of the Land:

Whole Dude – Whole Greeting: Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting. The Land of India or Bharat Varsha is traditionally identified as ‘KARMA KSHETRA’ or ‘KARMA BHUMI’.Human Existence is operated by the ‘Law of Karma’.

The importance of Namaskar:

**Defining Indian Identity – The Traditional Greeting provides the tool to learn the cultural values of respect and obedience.**

Whole Dude – Whole Baptism

CULTURAL UNIFICATION OF INDIA – THE PRACTICE OF TIRTHA SNAN ( BATHING IN HOLY RIVERS )

Water plays an important role in a variety of Cultures and religious practices prevalent in this world.The role of water constitutes one of the most remarkable aspects of Indian religious life. Hindu religion is often described as Sanatana Dharma. The practice of bathing in a river is an unusual example of the continuance of an ancient tradition and hence I can refer to the practice of Tirtha Snan (The ritual of River Bathing) as “Sanatana” (of great antiquity) in its origin. Simply touching water is a purifying gesture in the Vedas. Pilgrimages (Tirtha Yatras) to holy rivers (Tirtha) was already known in Vedic and Epic times and it remains extremely popular up to the present day. In fact,my impression is that the practice has become more popular and a far greater number of people are participating due to the availability of modern time conveniences for travel and lodging.The news media consistently report that our river festivals such as “Kumbh Mela” and “Pushkarams” have established world records as the largest gathering of human beings upon this earth in one single day and for one single purpose.

The sacredness of a place is often due to the sanctity it derives from its location on the bank of a holy river (Tirtha Sthan or Tirtha Kshetra). The following verse is an example of such belief. The simple act of remembering the various places that River Ganges traverses through, is equivalent to the worship of all Gods and it bestows great blessings (Punya).

Tatra tatra sthita Ganga, Sarva Punya phala prada

Bhaveth smarana maatrena, Sarva Deva namaskruta.

Apart from bathing (Snan), holy waters are used in the ritualistic worship of deities,and the water used in the worship is used to sprinkle upon the heads of the devotees and also consumed by the devotee in acceptance of the blessings from the Deity. The devotee hopes for deliverance from sin or pollution (“Paap”), seeks preservation or enrichment of his religious merit (“Punya”), hopes for a reward such as rebirth in a heaven (“Swarg Lok”)and even total emancipation (“Moksha or Mukti”). There are instances when people had actually traveled to the holy city of Varanasi to die near the holy River Ganges. More often, the cremated remains, the ashes are carried by the loved ones and are physically sprinkled and immersed in the holy rivers such as Ganges to help the onward journey of the departed soul.

The worship of rivers and the practice of bathing is a belief that is connected with the traditional Indian views of earthly life. Indians believe in the theory of Karma. They believe that the acts of their present lives and their past lives would be a factor that determines the condition into which a being is reborn. The Karma binds the soul and compels it to go through an endless series of births and deaths. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth is called Samsara. In my previous entry, I described the fear of Samsara as the defining attribute of Indian Identity. The practice of bathing in a holy river is an example of the doctrine of Individualism. Even when millions of people travel and gather together to bathe in a river on one day, each is acting strictly to earn his own merit and to reap his own benefit and the community does not expect any share of the rewards that the bather may be granted. I bathe and wash my own sins and I can not be of any help to others if they carry the burden of their own sins. Each person has to accept individualistic responsibility for their own actions and if necessary they can seek help from others to get to the river and ask for assistance to bathe in the river.

**Whole Dude – Whole Baptism: River worship appears to be a communal event but its usefulness is strictly individualistic in nature.**

River worship appears to be a communal event but its usefulness is strictly individualistic in nature. Bathing is not viewed as a simple act of personal hygiene, it constantly reminds us of the need to seek purification and makes us aware of our responsibility for own actions and challenges us to face the consequences in our future lives. People are encouraged to seek the blessings that bathing in holy rivers would contribute even while they may be showering at home. The following verse is an example of our connection to the rivers that flow across our Land.

गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswathi

Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru

Meaning:
1: O Holy Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and also Godavari and Saraswati,
2: O Holy Rivers Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri; Please be Present in this Water (and make it Holy).

My introduction to River Worship

**Whole Dude – Whole Baptism: Defining Indian Identity. The tradition of River Worship. The celebration of Godavari River.**

Culture represents ideas and thoughts transmitted by one generation to the next. It indeed gives me a great pleasure to recall my learning of this unique Cultural Tradition while I lived at my Grandfather’s mansion in Innespeta of Rajahmundry town in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. During 1950s, I lived with my parents,two brothers, grand mother, her sister and my great grand mother. The house had bath rooms and we had regular piped water supply from the municipality. We would generally shower at home and on important festival days, we would bathe in River Godavari. My great grand mother was an exception to this bathing practice. She firmly believed in the practice of river worship and adhered to it every single day and almost till her final days of earthly existence. She was of short stature and she was already in her ninety’s and due to her age, her spine curved and made her even smaller. Her vision had deteriorated and she was able to see only a few feet ahead of her. Our house was located at the corner of Kalabargivari Street and the Ramalayam street.The Lord Sri Rama Temple of Innespeta is a well known land mark and it stands next to the protective river embankment. The river bank is fairly wide, it includes the railway tracks and a motor-able road. Much later, the second rail cum road bridge was built across Godavari River using these railway tracks. My great grand mother would walk to the river all by herself and used a walking stick to support herself. The walk to the river is short but she faced a lot of dangers on the street. Those days, the vehicular traffic was not a problem and crossing the railway tracks was not a problem. The biggest threat was posed by the stray animals such as goats and cows that roam freely on the streets. She was practically defenseless. As young boys at home, myself and my elder brother were often given the chore of escorting my great grand mother during her walk to the river. When we followed her as her escort, the animals always behaved better and would not come to attack her. The reward myself and my brother Pratap reaped was that of getting into the emerald green, crystal clear, cool waters of River Godavari and frolic in the shallow waters as my great grand mother did her worship. But for my great grand mother’s tenacity and perseverance, myself and my brother would never have ventured to make a trip to the river in the morning.

**Whole Dude – Whole Baptism: Defining Indian Identity. The tradition of River Worship. Pilgrims at Godavari River.**

It was a joyful experience and the Tradition of River Worship gave us some very fond memories of our life in Rajahmundry. The following verse speaks of the importance that we attach to rivers of India and they are treated with great respect as they are deemed to be the same as Ganges:

**Whole Dude – Whole Baptism: Defining Indian Identity. The tradition of River Worship.**

Kaveri,Tungabhadra cha, Krishnaveni cha, Gautamee

Bhagirathi cha vikhyata, Pancha Ganga prakirtita.

**Whole Dude – Whole Baptism: Defining Indian Identity. The tradition of River Worship. River Godavari Bridge in Rajahmundry.**

Whole Dude – Whole Name

Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore, Chennai. — **Whole Dude – Whole Person: The Making of a Whole Name for the Whole Person. The Choice of the Name is predestined by the Science of Light called Jyotish .**

Defining Indian Identity - What is in a name? — **Whole Dude – Whole Person: The Making of a Whole Name for the Whole Person. The Choice of the Name is predestined by the Science of Light called Jyotish.**

The name ‘ Indian ‘ is related to the great river Sindhu which is also known as Indus. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed westwards towards setting sun to reach the shores of India. He discovered people living on islands whom he had mistakenly named as Indians. Apart from those island dwellers, the natives of the entire American continent, the so-called New World were named Indians. In spite of concerted efforts to rename them as Native Americans, the name Indian is still in use.

Name is a very important tool to describe personal identity. The word name as a noun, describes a person, place or thing. It is also a word or words by which an object of thought is known. Indians did not choose the name India or Indian. However, the people of our Land of BHARAT, are extremely fond of choosing names. This fondness for selecting, using and remembering names is an important Cultural attribute which defines our identity. In my case, the choice of the Name is predestined by the Science of Light. Earthly events have celestial connections.

The Tradition of Giving Names:

Whole Dude – Whole Person: The Making of a Whole Name for the Whole Person. Lord Shiva is known as Rudra, Neela Kantha, Pasupati and several other names. This fondness for selecting, using, and remembering names is an important cultural attribute which defines Indian Identity. The Choice of my Name is predestined.

The name ” Rudra ” is one of the earliest names known to humanity. According to legend, the Vedic God Rudra acquired His name from His Creator Brahma. As per the story, a boy was seen ‘crying’ and ‘wandering’. The father had asked the boy the reason for his ‘howling’. The boy had answered that he was ‘weeping’ for he was not given a name. So, the father created a name by bringing together two Sanskrit words which mean ‘crying’ and ‘wandering’. Thus the name Ru+dra was born. This legend is an example of our emotional dependence upon the need for names. The major Deities such as VISHNU and SHIVA that Indians worship are known by thousands of names and remembering those names is deemed as an act of devoted worship. The use of these names is a fundamental right and I understand the term religious freedom in the context of my freedom to choose the name that I would worship. The religious experience that I had gained while growing up in India relates to the use of names as an act of worship. Worship would have no meaning or purpose and would not give me a sense of direction if I do not remember the beautiful names that I have come to know.

A Personal Name and a Personal Story:

This landmark Temple of Kapaleeswara binds me to my birthplace of Mylapore, Madras(Chennai). The Presiding Diety of this Temple is chosen as my personal Protector and hence I am given the name of "RUDRA". — Whole Dude – Whole Person: The choice of my Name is predestined. This landmark Temple of Kapaleeswarar binds me to my birthplace Mylapore, Madras (Chennai). If my birthplace had been different, my Name would have been different. The Presiding Deity of this Temple is chosen as my personal Protector and hence I am given the name of RUDRA.

My personal name is very much a part of my personal story. If my birthplace had been different, my Name would have been different. My Name is chosen entirely due to the circumstances of my birth and I remain connected to the persons and the places for the rest of my life. I describe MYLAPORE of MADRAS city (CHENNAI) as my birth place and I describe RAJAHMUNDRY of East Godavari District as my native place.

Whole Dude – Whole Person: MY IDENTITY AND MY CONNECTION. I CALL MYSELF AS ‘REBBAPRAGADA’; MY MOTHER BELONGS TO THE ‘KASTURI’ FAMILY. THIS IS A PICTURE OF KASTURI BROTHERS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, 1. DR. KASTURI NARAYANA MURTHY, M.D. (MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER), 2. KASTURI. SESHAGIRI RAO (MARRIED TO MRS. RUKMINI, DAUGHTER OF DR. SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN), 3. KASTURI NARASIMHA RAO, 4. KASTURI KRISHNA RAO, 5. KASTURI SOMESHWARA RAO, 6. KASTURI RAMACHANDRA RAO, AND 7. KASTURI SIVAPRASADA RAO (FAR RIGHT).

My mother had given birth to me at my maternal grandfather’s residence 2/37 KUTCHERY road in Mylapore. Corporation of Chennai, Public Health Department entered my birth in the Birth Register and issued a birth certificate which records my gender, the date and time of my birth, the place of my birth, the names of my father and mother, the registration number and it does not show my name as my parents did not give me a name while reporting my birth.

Whole Dude – Whole Person: My paternal grandfather. The family astrologer who had prepared my horoscope predicted an inauspicious event and the prediction came true five months after my birth. But the prediction did not deter my grandfather in any manner. My grandmother whose name I had acquired told me that my grandfather had loved me with all his heart without any concern about the astrological prediction.

I spent the years of my early childhood at my paternal grandfather’s mansion in INNESPETA of Rajahmundry, East Godavari District of Madras Presidency and later Andhra Pradesh, India.

As per the traditional belief and the practice of Vedic Astrology known as Jyotish (Science of Light), my birth star predicted and warned about some forthcoming inauspicious events. The astrological calculations suggested that remedial action is needed to counter the negative aspects of the birth star. Accordingly, my father had performed a ritualistic worship popularly known as Rudra Abhishekam and worshiped Lord Shiva at the beautiful KAPALEESWARAR temple of Mylapore. To ensure that I would always enjoy the blessings of Lord Shiva, my father decided to name me as Rudra. Hence, the name of Rudra instantly connects me to my birth place of Mylapore and to KAPALEESWARAR as my personal protector.

**Whole Dude – Whole Person: What’s in a Name? The making of a Whole Name for the Whole Person. The choice of the Name is predestined by the Science of Light called Jyotish.**

My birth star also had forewarned about consequences that would impact my paternal grandfather. There was no easy escape from the influences and the second part of my personal name was carefully chosen to please my paternal grandmother, Srimati. Lakshmi Narasamma. Because of the gender variation, the name Narasamma got transformed to Narasimham. This name immediately connects me to the Laws of Karma.

**Whole Dude – Whole Person: The Making of a Whole Name for the Whole Person. The choice of the Name is predestined by the Science of Light called Jyotish.**

These names are well-known and particularly in the southern States of India, the name Narasimham or variations of that name are frequently used. As long as I remain a conscious entity, my grandparents live in my consciousness. Astrology or Jyotish may not be a perfect Science. Horoscopes may not predict the future course of events in a person’s life. I exist in this world and I am known by a name which was specifically selected for me because of the predictions cast by my horoscope and the prediction came true and I find enough justification for this Indian Cultural Tradition called Jyotish.

**Whole Dude – Whole person: The Rebbapragadas Group describes people related to this group of people and others connected to Rebbapragadas.**

A unique name and a unique perspective:

In 1965, I joined Kurnool Medical College after I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad. At Kurnool, a batch of B.Sc., degree students were directly admitted into the second year of the medical education program that awards the M.B.B.S degree. Professor Rama Murthy of the Anatomy Department was very fond of knowing and recognizing each of his students by their personal names. On the first day of our Anatomy class, the attendance register was not ready and Professor Rama Murthy had decided to call out names from the list of selected candidates. He very solemnly announced to the class that the roll call begins with a very angry and fiery name. We were intently listening to know what that name could be. Apparently, the list of selected students was prepared according to merit and my name was placed at the top of the list. He called my name and expressed his sense of disbelief. He asked me to verify my name and told the class that it was the first time in his life that he encountered a person with the personal name of Rudra Narasimham. His statement appears to be right and I have not known any other person who may have the same name. It is one of its own kind and is unique and special and these two names were put together to establish me as a Whole Person.

Whole Dude – Whole Person: Socrates implored people to ‘know thy self.’ He had stated that the unexamined life is not worth living. Understanding life involves understanding personal identity and name is a word by which an object of thought is known.

The name Rudra, the first part of my first name is related to SHIVA who is recognized as the God of Learning. Shiva is like Socrates. Socrates of 5th century B.C. is claimed to be the father of western thought. He had implored people to “know thy self.” Socrates had stated that the ‘unexamined life is not worth living’. Shiva guides me to reflect upon life. Shiva encourages introspection, reflecting upon your own mind and thoughts. Shiva defines that the purpose of learning is to acquire the ability to think for oneself.

The name Narasimham represents to me a Whole Person who defends my right to choose the Name for my worship. The story about PRAHLAD represents the Cultural importance attached to personal choice in matters of religious worship. Names of persons, places and the legends form a part of Cultural legacy of our Land and define the Indian Identity described by the Name Bharat.

**Whole Dude – Whole Name – The Making of a Name by the Science of Light. The performance of Rudra Puja at Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Madras, Chennai was predestined.**

**Whole Dude – Whole Name – The Making of a Name by the Science of Light. Moola Star belongs to the Sagittarius constellation.**

**Whole Dude – Whole Name – The Making of a Name by the Science of Light. Moola Star of Sagittarius constellation.**

**Whole Dude – Whole Name – The Making of a Name by the Science of Light.**

Whole Dude – Whole Values

Bharat: The Land of Cultural Values:

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5,verse 5 of The Holy Bible teaches that humility has its own rewards. But, Bible fails to offer the tools to practice the Art of Humility.

I inherited a sense of humility from the Land of Bharat.I consider humility as my acquired behavior and my Culture helped me to learn it through repeated practice and by giving me opportunities to display it in every aspect of my life. My Indian Identity is defined by this Cultural value. The ultimate purpose of life is defined as getting back to the Lotus Feet of the Lord. I am encouraged to touch and worship feet to reach my goal with a sense of humility. I began the process of learning with a sense of meekness. First I was directed to humble myself before Lord Shiva. I seek pure and perfect knowledge and humility is the light that shines on the path to wisdom. Humility is the gentle wind that dispels the dark clouds that prevent you from viewing the brilliant sun shining in the sky. Ego, like the cloud that causes darkness, could be driven away by learning to be humble. In my daily life, I am given the opportunity to humble myself several times.

My living experience is full of interactions with objects which I am guided to treat with a sense of reverence. The Sun, the Sky, the Moon and the Stars, the Wind, the Earth, the River and Water, the Fire and the Light, the Mountain and the Hill, the Plants and the Trees, the flowers, the fruits, the grains and the orchards, the lion, the tiger, the elephant, the Cow, the Bull, the Monkey, the Eagle and the Peacock, the Snake, the Spider, the Rat and the changing seasons I view with respect. As a kid , my learning experience began with showing respect to my parents, my elders, my teachers and the idols and the images that receive worship. The essence of my learned behavior is humility. The Land has given me a sense of meekness and with that I may inherit the Identity of the Ultimate Reality.

Whole Dude – Whole Values: Bharat, the Land of Cultural Values. THIS ARTICLE IS DEDICATED TO THIS INDIAN LADY WHO SYMBOLIZES THE PRINCIPLE OF UNITY THAT APPEARS AS THE VERBAL SOUND OR SHABDA CALLED “ASMI” WHICH MEANS ALWAYS PRESENT, OR EVER-EXISTING.

Whole Dude – Whole Icons

**Whole Dude – Whole Icon: A visual representation of God for religious devotion and worship.**

An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting. They are not simply artworks; “an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion”. Icons (from the Greek eikones) are sacred images. “Icon” and “symbol” are terms that we often use interchangeably, but there’s actually a subtle difference: An icon is a literal, visual representation of the thing it represents, whereas a symbol can be a more abstract representation of something.

**Whole Dude – Whole Icons: Defining Indian Identity – The portrayal of religious icons.**

कस्तूरितिलकं ललाटपटले वक्षःस्थले कौस्तुभं
नासाग्रे नवमौक्तिकं करतले वेणुं करे कंकणम् ।
सर्वांगे हरिचंदनं सुललितं कंठे च मुक्तावलिं
गोपस्त्री परिवेष्ठितो विजयते गोपाल चूडामणिम् ।।

kastūritilakaṃ lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṃkaṇam .
sarvāṃge haricaṃdanaṃ sulalitaṃ kaṃṭhe ca muktāvaliṃ
gopastrī pariveṣṭhito vijayate gopāla cūḍāmaṇim ..

With the fragrant kasturi-mark on the forehead, the precious Kaustubha gem on the chest, the lovely pearl-jewel at the nose tip, the flute in the palm and the kankan (bangle) encircling the hand, the scented sandalwood paste all over the body, the pearl-necklace around the beautiful neck, surrounded by milk-maids – may victory be yours, O crown gem of Gopalas.

The Portrayal of Religious Icons:

Apart from the basic differences in the ideas and thoughts of various religious traditions of this world, there is a fundamental difference in the visual characterization of the religious icons. The first thing that strikes the mind of the reader of religious scriptures is the difference in the way the scriptures portray their icons. When I read The Holy Bible, The Holy Quran, no religious image comes before my eyes. I have to really struggle hard to imagine as to who is speaking to me.These Scriptures have several characters which are clearly human but there is no description of their physical attributes and the portrayal is lacking in information that would help the reader to develop a visual image. If you read the above verse, the beautiful image of Lord Krishna automatically comes before you without any effort. I define this as Indian Identity, it is a reflection upon our nature and our literature does a marvellous job giving life and color to the icons and I feel it becomes very easy for me to get connected to them and listen to them as they guide us in our spiritual journey.

**Whole Dude – Whole Icon: Defining Indian Identity – The portrayal of religious icons**

yasya smaraNa-mAtreNa janma-samsAra-bandhanAt
vimuchyate namas-tasmai vishNave prabhavishNave.
Om namo vishNave prabhavishNave.
[ My salutations to that superior diety vishNu, by a mere thought of Whose name all persons are freed from the bonds of samsara (birth and death).

Just remembering Vishnu’s name could deliver us from the trappings of Samsara and the remembrance becomes all the more easier when you recall the image.

**Whole Dude – Whole Icons: A visual representation of God for religious devotion and worship.**

Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Commandment proclaimed by the risen Lord

**Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Commandment of Jesus Christ**

Easter 2023 will be observed on Sunday, April 09. Easter is a “movable feast” that is always held on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Easter this year happens after April’s full Moon (Thursday, April 06), which is the first full Moon to occur after the ecclesiastical spring equinox (March 21) and is therefore known in the Christian calendar as the “Paschal Full Moon.”

Easter always occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. Specifically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or just after the ecclesiastical spring equinox (March 21).

The ecclesiastical spring equinox (in other words, the date observed by the Christian Church) has a set date of March 21. The first full Moon to occur after March 21 rises on Thursday, April 06, this year. Therefore, Easter will be observed on the subsequent Sunday, which is Sunday, April 09, 2023.

Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ. The First Full Moon after March 21 rises on Thursday, April 06, 2023. Therefore, Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 09, 2023.

Note that the equinox date used by the Christian Church (the “ecclesiastical” date) is different from the astronomical date of the equinox, which can change from year to year. In 2023, the astronomical date of the equinox was Monday, March 20. This discrepancy between the astronomical equinox date and the Church’s observed equinox date can sometimes cause confusion, as it did in 2019, when the full Moon and the astronomical equinox occurred on the same day—Wednesday, March 20. According to the formula above, this should have meant that Easter would be observed on Sunday, March 24. However, because the Church observes the equinox on March 21, the full Moon technically did not occur “on or just after” the equinox, meaning that the next full Moon would determine Easter’s date instead. Thus, in 2019, Easter was held on Sunday, April 21, after the full Moon on Friday, April 19.

The word “Paschal,” which is used in the ecclesiastical (Christian church) calendar, comes from “Pascha,” a transliteration of the Aramaic word meaning “Passover.”

In reference to the full Moon, Paschal refers to the date of the full Moon determined many years ago as the 14th day of a lunar month. Ancient calculations (made in a.d. 325) did not take into account certain lunar motions.

So, the Paschal Full Moon is the 14th day of a lunar month occurring on or after March 21 according to a fixed set of ecclesiastical calendar rules, which does not always match the date of the astronomical full Moon nearest the astronomical spring equinox.

He is Risen!

Easter is the most important feast day in the Christian calendar.

Regularly observed from the earliest days of the Church, Easter celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the dead, following crucifixion. It marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, and the last day of the Easter Triduum (starting from the evening of Maundy Thursday, through Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday), as well as the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year.

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

**Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ. Easter celebrates Jesus as the Sacrificial Passover Lamb.**

Let’s start with Pascha (Latin) which comes directly from Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover. Going back to the Hebrew Bible and the story of the first Passover, Moses tells the Israelites to slaughter a passover lamb and paint its blood on their door. The Lord protected the Israelites from death by passing over their doors and would not “allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down” (Exodus: 12:23).

In the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:7), Paul connects the resurrected Christ to Passover. He refers to Jesus as the paschal lamb who has been sacrificed for his people’s salvation. Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples during Passover, so it makes sense that the Feast of the Resurrection is connected with the Jewish holiday. Today, Christians celebrate the “Paschal mystery.”

CELEBRATION OF LOVE AS A HOLIDAY TRADITION: IN JEWISH TRADITION, THE DAY OF PROCLAMATION OF TORAH TO THE JEWS AT MOUNT SINAI IN EGYPT IS CELEBRATED AS SHAVUOT, THE HARVEST HOLIDAY, THE FEAST OF WEEKS, THE HOLIDAY OF THE FIRST FRUITS. AMONG CHRISTIANS THERE IS NO COMPARABLE HOLIDAY TRADITION TO CELEBRATE THE PROCLAMATION OF THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS BY JESUS CHRIST. — CELEBRATION OF LOVE AS A HOLIDAY TRADITION: IN JEWISH TRADITION, THE DAY OF PROCLAMATION OF THE TORAH TO THE JEWS AT MOUNT SINAI IN EGYPT IS CELEBRATED AS SHAVUOT, THE HARVEST HOLIDAY, THE FEAST OF WEEKS, THE HOLIDAY OF THE FIRST FRUITS. AMONG CHRISTIANS OF NUMEROUS DENOMINATIONS THERE IS NO COMPARABLE HOLIDAY TRADITION TO CELEBRATE THE PROCLAMATION OF THE TWO GREAT ‘LOVE’ COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH BOTH IN TERMS OF RELATIONS WITH GOD AND OTHER MEN.

The word Love does not appear in the Torah (Law) given to the Jews at Mount Sinai. I conducted a study of the holiday traditions of the US and I am totally surprised to note that there is no traditional celebration of the Proclamation of the two Great Love Commandments of Jesus Christ. Jewish Holiday Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah (the LAW or Instruction) to the Jews. God gave the Ten Commandments (The Decalogue, The Code of The Ten Words)on the sixth night of the Hebrew month of ‘Sivan’. Shavuot always falls 50 days (Pentecost) after the second night of Passover. The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are known as ‘Omer’. While Jesus Christ has retained the essence of The Code of The Ten Words; but, He has changed the Operating Principle of the Torah or The Law. Jesus instructs that the Law would be followed by His believers not through the use of force or authority but by simply embracing the equally powerful influence called Love.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THIS IS AN OPEN APPEAL TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS TO PASS A DECREE OR LAW TO BEGIN A NEW TRADITION IN THE NATIONAL LIFE THAT CELEBRATES THE CENTRAL ROLE OF LOVE IN WHOLESOME HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. — Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ: THIS IS AN OPEN APPEAL TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS TO PASS A DECREE OR LAW TO BEGIN A NEW TRADITION IN THE NATIONAL LIFE THAT CELEBRATES THE CENTRAL ROLE OF LOVE IN DEVELOPING WHOLESOME HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

I am posting this article to make an open appeal to all the members of the US Congress to pass a decree or law to commence a new tradition in the national life that celebrates the central role of love in developing wholesome human relationships. I am using the term ‘Whole Body’ to describe the perfect unity of body, mind, heart, soul, and God that establishes man as a Whole Being. Love is central to man’s relationship to God and man’s relations with other persons. The term love includes the feelings or the emotion of love expressed by a person ( “The Subject”) and it involves a personal experience evoked when another person (“The Object”) reflects the feelings of love. Love has to be known as “The Medium” that generates the attachment or devotion to another person; and this attachment implies connection by ties of affection, sexual attraction, devotion, friendship, goodwill, compassion, respect, trust, and commitment. This kind of care and concern for a person, or persons in a relationship could be called ‘Whole Love’ if whatever is done for Love occurs beyond good and evil.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: GERMAN PHILOSOPHER FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE(1844-1900) HAD STATED: "WHAT IS DONE OUT OF LOVE ALWAYS TAKES PLACE BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL." GOD'S LOVE FOR MAN IS UNCONDITIONED. — Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ: GERMAN PHILOSOPHER FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE (1844-1900) STATES: “WHAT IS DONE OUT OF LOVE ALWAYS TAKES PLACE BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL.” GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN IS UNCONDITIONED AND GOD LOVES MAN WITHOUT DEMANDING THAT MAN MUST ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S LOVE..

The concept of Holiday begins with the story of creation as revealed in the Book of Genesis and it involves the observance of a ‘Holy Day’. “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done (Genesis, Chapter 2, verse 3).”

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF EXODUS, CHAPTER 20, VERSE#8 IS THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT THAT ASKS, "REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY BY KEEPING IT HOLY." — Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandments of Jesus Christ: THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF EXODUS, CHAPTER 20, VERSE#8 IS THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT THAT ASKS, “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY BY KEEPING IT HOLY.”

Holiday is a day of freedom from labor sanctioned by God, and it is set aside for leisure and recreation to renew man’s relationship with his Creator. In Civil Society, certain days are set aside by Law or Custom and Traditions for the suspension of official business activities and very often in commemoration of some important events in national life. I am using the term ‘Whole Holiday’ to recognize a specific day that is set aside by Human Law in recognition of the Divine Law that is conducive to the development of harmonious, or wholesome interpersonal relationships that are essential to promote the health, and well-being of all people. In the US, there are several holidays that are legal and none of them directly address the central issue of developing interpersonal Love relationships.

Christmas holiday is not in remembrance of God’s Law. Jesus Christ established Love as the God’s Greatest Commandment.

Matthew (Chapter 22, verses 37-40), and Mark (Chapter 12, verses 28-31) describe the Commandments of Love: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first great commandment. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two Commandments.”

John, Chapter 13, verse 34 describes the need for neighborly relations among people based upon Love: “A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Whole Love – Whole Law – Whole Holiday – Whole Tradition:

**Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ.**

In the United States, we have no Law, or a cultural tradition to commemorate the event in which Jesus Christ issued the two great commandments asking people to observe the Law of ‘Whole Love’ which demands, 1. The Love of God with Whole Body, Heart, Mind, and Soul, and 2. The Love of Neighbor as a requirement of God’s Law for man.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THE WHOLE DISCOVERY OF LOVE AT WHOLE FOODS WILL ESTABLISH A WHOLE TRADITION TO COMMEMORATE THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF WHOLE LAW OF LOVING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL PEOPLE OF THE WHOLE WORLD. — Happy Easter 2023. Prayersfor a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ: THE WHOLE DISCOVERY OF LOVE AT WHOLE FOODS WILL ESTABLISH A WHOLE TRADITION TO COMMEMORATE THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF WHOLE LAW OF LOVING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL PEOPLE OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

After my ‘Whole Discovery’, the discovery of the experience of ‘Whole Love’ at Whole Foods Market, Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, I decided to promote the establishment of a ‘Whole Tradition’ to follow the Spirit of the ‘Whole Law’ to truly observe the Commandment of ‘Whole Love’. To commemorate my ‘Whole Discovery’, I am writing this appeal to ask all the members of the US Congress to approve a new Law to observe the last Wednesday of July as the ‘Whole Love Holiday’. The choice of Wednesday is very appropriate as most other legal holidays are observed on Mondays as a matter of convenience and not for the purposes of obedience to a Divine Law which should be the source and inspiration for the Human Law. The concept of ‘Whole Love’ represents the ‘Whole Law’ that is explicitly pronounced by Jesus Christ as the only Commandment that man must follow and observe in his lifetime. To acknowledge the ‘Whole Law’, to celebrate its pronouncement, we need a new ‘Whole Tradition’ which is reflected by instituting a new ‘Whole Holiday’.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THE AMAZING 'WHOLE COOKIE' SOLD AT WHOLE FOODS. THE 365 EVERYDAY VALUE MISMATCHED SANDWICH CREMES WILL BE CALLED WHOLE COOKIES IF THE US CONGRESS APPROVES A NEW LAW TO CELEBRATE WHOLE LOVE ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF JULY. — Happy Easter 2023. Prayers for a new holiday tradition to celebrate the Love Commandment of Jesus Christ. I ask the amazing ‘WHOLE COOKIE’ SOLD AT WHOLE FOODS, THE 365 EVERYDAY VALUE MISMATCHED SANDWICH CREMES to be renamed as WHOLE COOKIES IF THE US CONGRESS APPROVES A NEW LAW TO CELEBRATE WHOLE LOVE ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF JULY.

The term ‘Cookie’ is used to describe a small sweet cake usually flat and often crisp. The word ‘Cookie’ may also be used to describe an attractive, young woman. As Sigmund Freud had explained, all kinds of love have an element of sexual attraction and it is inherently natural as such attraction is the fundamental nature of all living things that are governed by the Natural Law of Generation and Propagation. So, I love my ‘Cookies’ even if it may imply the Love of more than one person. The ‘Whole Law’ mandates the Love of more than one person. If the US Congress approves new legislation to institute a Holiday on the last Wednesday of July to celebrate Love, I ask Whole Foods to rename its 365 Everyday Value Mismatched Sandwich Cremes as Whole Cookies. The Vanilla Cookie symbolizes God’s Love for man and the Chocolate Cookie symbolizes man’s love of his neighbor. The Commandment or the Divine Law that demands people to ‘Love One Another’ must be celebrated in a tradition similar to the Jewish Holiday that celebrates the Proclamation of The Ten Commandments. In my opinion, it is not about imposition of religion by State. The State has declared its Independence on July 04, 1776 claiming Natural Rights and quoted the Principles of Natural Law to justify its demand for Independence from the British Crown. Further, the Supreme Law of the US is the Constitution of the US and it gives the Right to Life and supports the Pursuit of Happiness. The opposite of Love is called hate and it precisely undermines the citizens’ right to life and to the pursuit of happiness.

The remembrance of the ‘Love Commandments’, the honoring of its Proclamation and a traditional celebration of ‘Whole Love’ will definitely promote the development of social harmony, is conducive to peaceful enjoyment of life and will establish tranquility in human interactions. We need Wholesome Relations between individuals and between nations to prepare the Whole World for the dawn of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

TheTradition of Respect and Obedience:

Namah Shivaya:

Defining Culture:

Culture of the Land:

The importance of Namaskar:

“Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi.

Child Abduction and the story of a miraculous rescue:

This concept of ‘Ahimsa’ reached me through the service rendered by a man who practiced the principle of ‘Ahimsa’ and gained the ability to recognize pain and suffering even when there is no verbal communication to express that condition.

TheTradition of Respect and Obedience:

Namah Shivaya:

Defining Culture:

Culture of the Land:

The importance of Namaskar:

CULTURAL UNIFICATION OF INDIA – THE PRACTICE OF TIRTHA SNAN ( BATHING IN HOLY RIVERS )

गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswathi

Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru

My introduction to River Worship

The Tradition of Giving Names:

A Personal Name and a Personal Story:

I spent the years of my early childhood at my paternal grandfather’s mansion in INNESPETA of Rajahmundry, East Godavari District of Madras Presidency and later Andhra Pradesh, India.

A unique name and a unique perspective:

Bharat: The Land of Cultural Values:

kastūritilakaṃ lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃnāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṃkaṇam .sarvāṃge haricaṃdanaṃ sulalitaṃ kaṃṭhe ca muktāvaliṃgopastrī pariveṣṭhito vijayate gopāla cūḍāmaṇim ..

The Portrayal of Religious Icons:

yasya smaraNa-mAtreNa janma-samsAra-bandhanAt vimuchyate namas-tasmai vishNave prabhavishNave.Om namo vishNave prabhavishNave. [ My salutations to that superior diety vishNu, by a mere thought of Whose name all persons are freed from the bonds of samsara (birth and death).

He is Risen!

Whole Love – Whole Law – Whole Holiday – Whole Tradition:

“Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi.  

Child Abduction and the story of a miraculous rescue: 

This concept of ‘Ahimsa’ reached me through the service rendered by a man who practiced the principle of ‘Ahimsa’ and gained the ability to recognize pain and suffering even when there is no verbal communication to express that condition.   

गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥

kastūritilakaṃ lalāṭapaṭale vakṣaḥsthale kaustubhaṃ
nāsāgre navamauktikaṃ karatale veṇuṃ kare kaṃkaṇam .
sarvāṃge haricaṃdanaṃ sulalitaṃ kaṃṭhe ca muktāvaliṃ
gopastrī pariveṣṭhito vijayate gopāla cūḍāmaṇim ..

yasya smaraNa-mAtreNa janma-samsAra-bandhanAt
vimuchyate namas-tasmai vishNave prabhavishNave.
Om namo vishNave prabhavishNave.
[ My salutations to that superior diety vishNu, by a mere thought of Whose name all persons are freed from the bonds of samsara (birth and death).