HOMAGE TO ARYA MISSIONARY ACHARYA NARENDRA BHOOSHAN

Noted Vedic scholar and Arya Missionary Acharya Narendra Bhooshan passed away at 6.40 am on 16 Nov 2010 in Kochi. On his demise Aryan world has lost an exemplary scholar and propagator of vedic ideals.

Acharya ji was born on 22 May 1937 at Chengannur in Kerala. He got academic education from Kallissery High School and NSS College Changanassery. Later on he obtained Vidyarathna, Vidya Bhooshan, Acharya degrees from Arya Samaj Gurukul at Hissar in Haryana. After his Gurukul studies he devoted his life for propagation of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi’s ideals in Kerala. He continued the unfinished vedic propagation works of earlier Arya Missionaries of Kerala like Pandit Veda Bandhu Sharma and Swamy Parameswarananda ((formerly known as Sadhuseelan Parameshwaran Pillai in his purva ashram). He almost single handedly prevented the outflow from Hinduism to Christianity/Islam in southern Kerala and conducted many shudhi (re-conversions) works. He also took an active role during 1975 emergency period as a part of Bharathiya Jan Sangh to bring back democracy and served Jail sentence. He started the first ever Malaylam vedic journal named ‘Arshanadam’ from Chengannur. This magazine made a tremendous social impact in Kerala. The Agnihothram and other vedic yagyas got popularity among general public with his vibrant articles in this journal and other literary works. With the quoting from vedic literatures he defended the sanathan dharma i.e. present day Hinduism from the onslaught of its adversaries.

He has to his credit a large number of books - translations, commentary and his original works. His contribution for propagating the ideals of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi and his literatures moulded many youngsters to select the path shown by Rishi Dayanand in Kerala. The contribution of Swamy Dayananda Saraswathy and Aryasamaj were made familiar to the people of Kerala mainly through Acharya's translated work of "Sathyartha Prakasham" and Veda Paryadanam which were originally written in Hindi.

Major Works : Some of his major Literary works are appended below :-

1. Chathurveda Samhitha
2. Commentaries on all major Upanishads.
3. Translation of Geetha Rahasyam of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak.
4. Translation of Sathyartha Prakasam and Rigvedadi Bhashya bhoomika (Veda Paryadanam) of Maharshi Dayanand.
5. Translation of Justice Ganga Prasad Upadhyaya's book ‘Origin of Religion’.
6. Translation of Swamy Sathyapathi Parivrajaka's "Yogameemamsa"
7. Purooravasum Urvasiyum.
8. Devathakalude Vaidika Sankalpam.
9. Veda Geethamrutham.
10. Yogeswaranaya Sree Krishnan.
11. Mathavum Yukthiyum
12. Vaidika Sahithya Charithram.
13. Achara Bhanu.
14. Paralokavum Punarjanmavum.

Awards and Honours

Acharya Narendra Bhooshan was also the recipient of many awards and recognitions. The Arya Samaj Centenary puraskar 1983, Maharshi Dayanand Puraskar both from Ajmeer, the Vedopadesha Puraskar Bombay in 1992 presented by the then President of India, Dr Gyani Zail Singh, are a few to name. The first Amrita Keerthi Puraskaram (award) was also bestowed to Acharya Narendra Bhooshan. He was among the panel of scholars to prepare the History of Vedic literature in 1988 for the Kerala Sahitya Academy. This work was published by the Academy in 1991. He also served as a member in the selection committee for Academy Award of Kerala Sahitya Academy. He was entrusted by the Kerala state language institute to prepare the history of the three reformation movements of 19th Century, the Arya Samaj, the Brahma Samaj and Prarthana Samaj.
Let us take inspiration from his work and continue the Veda Prachar. This will be the great tribute to the departed soul. Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha is making an all out effort to continue his mission and spread the ideals of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi across Kerala. An action plan for this work is being chalked out in the forthcoming Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha General Body meeting to be held at Ernakulam from 25 to 26 Dec 2010 coinciding with Swamy Shradhanand Balidan Diwas commemorative function. Pranaam to the departed soul!

Om krinvantho vishwamaryam!

KM Rajan
Secretary
Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha

VEDA SWADHYAYA SIBIRAM!

Pathanamthitta : The Arya Samaj has conducted a three days free training camp named `Veda Swadhyaya Sibiram’ from 25 to 27 December 2009 at Swamy Shradhanand Nagar (Amrita Vidyalayam) in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Renowned Arya Scholars Sri. Arya Bhaskar ji, Raju Poonjar, Gopalakrishna Vaidik, AV Radhakrishna Vaidik, Anand Raj etc. took classes on Agnihothram, meaning and recitations of Veda manthras used for performing yagyas and various vedic topics. A commemorative function on the occasion of Swamy Shradhanand balidan divas was held on 25 Dec 2009. On behalf of Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, KM Rajan paid rich tributes to the immortal Arya Missionary Swamy Shradhand and motivated the participants to take inspiration from that great leader for propagation of vedic ideals. The official web site of Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha was inaugurated by its President Sri. Raju Poonjar on 25 Dec 2009. Trainees which includes girls were initiated to upanayanam and given the sacred thread (Yagyopaveetham) and gayathri upadesh by Acharyas. Sri. TR Balachandran Nair, Vice President of Kerala Arya Prathinidhi Sabha was in charge of the camp administration and co-ordination of various functions. In the concluding session, Sri. G Sasi Kumar, Secretary of Arya Samaj Pathanamthitta expressed the gratitude to all for attending the camp and supporting the organizers for making it as a grand success.

Pay homage to Arya Missionary Swamy Shradhanand on his Martyrdom day!

Mahatma Munshi Ram was born at Talwan Village in Jalandhar (Punjab) on February 2, 1856. The magic of great social reformer and vedic scholar, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi totally changed a spoiled young Munshiram (later Swamy Shradhanand) into an Arya Missionary and a national leader. He actively participated in freedom struggle and motivated many revolutionaries to fight against the alien rulers. He was the Chairman of reception committee of Amritsar Congress session in 1919 just after Jalyanwala Bagh massacre and successfully conducted this session. He established Gurukul Kangri with one teacher (himself) and two students (his two sons) which is now a famous university. He was the first non muslim to deliver sermon from the rampart of Jama Masjid of Delhi. Above all he was a preacher of vedic dharma. He spearheaded the shudhi movement and brought back thousands of converted Hindus to vedic religion. During the 1921 Malabar rebellion he came to Kerala for rescue works and brought back thousands of forcible converted hindus to their parent religion. He also actively participated in Vaikkom Sathyagrah. He founded Bharatheeya Hindu Shudhi Sabha in 1923. He succumbed to the stabbing by a fanatic Muslim named Abdul Rasheed on 23rd Dec 1926. Let us pay homage to this immortal Arya Missionary and dedicate ourselves for the cause of propagation of vedic dharma! Om krinvantho vishwamaryam!

VEDA SWADHYAYA SIBIRAM!

Arya Samaj Pathanamthitta is organising a three days free 'Veda Swadhyaya Sibiram' at Pathanamthitta (Kerala) from 25 - 27 Dec 2009. Classes on various vedic literatures, shodasha kriyas, training to perform agnihothram, explain the meaning and way of recitation of various veda manthras used for agnihothram etc. are included in the syllabus of this sibiram. Learned Arya scholars will be participating in this sibiram and will give guidance to Arya Missionaries. All are co-ordially invited for attending this sibiram and enrich vedic wisdom. For more information and registration please contact Secretary, Arya Samaj Pathanamthitta with bio-data or by email secretary@aryasamajkerala.org at the earliest. Due to lack of resources we can accommodate only a limited volunteers for this sibiram.

MAHARSHI DAYANAND ANUSMARAN SAMMELAN

Maharshi Dayanand Anusmaran Sammelan is being organised at Kulathur in Malappuram district on this Deepavali day (17 Oct 2009). The function will start at 9 AM with Agnihothram. Prabhashanam by learned Arya leaders on the life and teachings of Maharshi Dayanand will be held. Vaidika pusthaka prakasanam, prize distribution function of the essay contest winner(The significance of Vedas in the present times), rishi lankar etc. will also be held. All are coordially invited.

MAHARSHI DAYANAND ANUSMARANA SAMMELANAM!

Vaidika Swaadhyaaya Samithi, Vellinezhi is planned to conduct a agnihothram and 'Maharshi Dayanand anusmarana sammelan' at Saraswathi Vidya Nikethan Vellinezhi (Palakkad District) on 18 Oct 2009. Noted arya scholars will be attending this function and give pravachan. All are cordially invited for this function.

CLASSES ON SHODASHA KRIYAS!

A regular classes for teaching Shodasha kriya sanskars will be held at Arya Samaj Pathananmthitta from October 2009 onwards. The classes will be held on each second saturdays and second sundays of all english months. The food and accommodation will be provided free of cost. Learned Arya scholar Sri. Arya Bhaskarji will be taking the classes and give guidance to Arya Missionaries. For more information, please contact us at aryasamajkerala@gmail.com with complete postal address and contact number.