Triveni Journal

1927 | 11,233,916 words

Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....

Millenium-2000 - What it Means to Me

V. S. Kalyana Raman Aju Mukhopadhyay Dr. C. Jacob

MILLENNIUM 2000 – WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

I

When I recite the sankalpa on any day I am reminded where exactly I stand at that moment, in a space - time continuum, with reference to the geographical position and the spot on the indefinite scale of time which has neither a beginning nor an end.

Aadyabrahmana: dwiteeyapararddhe swetavarahakalpe Vaivasvatamanvanthare ashtavimsatitame Kaliyuge……jaboodweepe bharatavarshe......

I am in the fifth Kalpa of a segment of six, called Sveta Varaha. In that Kalpa consisting of 14 Manus and six Mahayugas, I am in the 8th part called Vaivaswatamanu containing 71 Chaturyugas or Mahayugas. I am in the 28th Mahayuga, comprising of Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali of which the last is one - tenth of the whole and I have stepped into the 5100th year of this Kaliyuga. How can then a Millennium of 2000 mean anything to me? With a perfect understanding of the Kalaganitha, have not our forefathers taught us that Time itself is incomparable and immeasurable? The more we look into that vast expanse of unfathomed depth of space of Cosmos, extending to billions of light years, do we not feel the presence of that Kalapurusha, the most impeccable and imperishable?

In that Akhandabrahmanda of Time and Space, I feel that Millennium 2000 is just a minutest speck of part of a particle of Kalapurusha. It looks to me as if I am just counting the sands on the shores of great oceans and have just reached 2000. Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas Time stays. We go.

V. S. Kalyana Raman, Bangalore

II

Those of us who will live beyond the last day of this year will wake up from our dreams into another millennium - 2000. But a rational thought will assure us that it will be simply entering another fresh year like the bygone ones and time is a continuum, who can divide it? Again, if we are not cocksure about the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ, how shall we be sure about the beginning of the millennium? But if we keep aside all such arguments, we will surely be the lucky ones to be able to embrace the new millennium in our life - time which will be a great adventure into the unknown.

As we endeavour to think about the future, a look - becomes inevitable. History has recorded many great events that took place during the past millenniums; great literary and artistic creations, wondrous scientific inventions, industrial revolutions, wars and defeats including the two world wars - the ominous possibility of a third one sometimes looms large before our eyes. No Ism has been able to solve the human problems. Even communism has miserably failed. The League of Nations was ignored, now the UNO is also ignored. Big brothers are often meddling in other countries’ affairs, bombing them through push-­button devices when they are suffering from their own ethnic problems. Those who are armed to the teeth are asking others to disarm themselves for peace! Those who gained freedom through enormous struggles the other day, are now subjugating other free nations like Tibet.

Men are killing millions of animals not only for eating, poaching and fun, but also to get rid of the diseases which affected the animals. Could the animals not be treated? Is it not throwing out the baby with the bath water? Dalai Lama has recently said this to USA - ‘You talk about democracy, freedom….it’s still the same old concept - show of force.’ (Hindu - Dt. 18.4.99).

Science has greatly improved the human destiny but it has brought untold miseries to human lives. After the recent killing by students in Littleton School, US President Bill Clinton has addressed the students thus - ‘All of you are exposed to much higher levels of violence through television, through video games - you can actually find out how to make bombs on the Internet.’ (Hindu – Dt. 24.4.1999) Terrorism is the order of the day.

In countries like India corruption, superstition, illiteracy (30%) and poverty (50%) still rule the society. It is no wonder then that in cast - ridden Bihar more than 434 persons have been killed in three years in feuds. And does ‘Reservation’ in all walks of life strengthen the society and bring a sense of equality or create fissures in it?

Scientific and technical developments have far surpassed the average human consciousness and wisdom which has given birth to the crisis of civilisation. Man is standing at the crossing of many roads. But he is a transitional being too, Sri Aurobindo observed.

After the descent of supramental consciousness in the earth atmosphere in 1956, after it had been brought on his body by Sri Aurobindo in 1950, Mother had given us a great hope that great changes will occur in human lives and his consciousness. A greater dawn perhaps awaits us if we collaborate with the divine plan, resolve to grow from within.

All things seem hard to man...
become at once easy and simple when
God in man takes up the contract

(Sri Aurobindo Aphorism No. 109)
Aju Mukhopadhyay, Pondicherry

III

The second millennium comes to an end by 2000th year and the third millennium starts. It starts not with a pig bang but starts as this day from yesterday. There are no marks of division in the infinite time. We make division of time for our convenience. The invisible steps of time move silently.

Every age and every era leaves its marks on the sands of time. Great Britain, for instance, has produced great scientists like Newton, great statesmen like Winston Churchill, great Philosophers like Bertrand Russell and great poets and dramatists like William Shakespeare. According to Emerson “every great man is an age, an era and a century...” and the Britishers have chosen Shakespeare as the man of this Century because his influence on the minds of men all over the world still continues.

The object of life for the civilised man is peace and happiness. This has to be achieved by adventures in wisdom but not in war and destruction. But the paradox remains. If one man constructs, another man destroys. The thrill of achievement is counteracted by the shock of dismay.

I cannot better express my view of the millennium 2000 except by quoting the following lines:

New times, new climes, new arts, new men, but still the same old tears, old crimes and oldest ill”.

The words of William Blake further support my view

“A mark in every face I meet, Marks of weakness, marks of woe”

Therefore I remain contented with the soothing words of W. S. Landor, I recall here.

I warmed both hands before the fire of life, It sinks and I am ready to depart”.

- Dr. C. Jacob, Narasapur.

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