Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 4: Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanjuja Chinnajeeyar Swamiji of Vijayawada felt that the world peace becomes a reality when people learn to work in tandem and harmony with each other, like different body parts working in a single body. He was speaking after inaugurating a symposium on World Peace, organized at Rajangan of Sri Krishna Mutt here on Sunday January 3 by Puttige Mutt.

“Inculcate the virtue of sharing what you have, respect other religions, discard the feeling that your own religion is the best,” he added. He felt, it is not difficult for the world peace to prevail, if the people function not only in harmony with each other, but also with the nature and animals. He reasoned that the ancient scriptures had forbidden the Swamijis from crossing the seas, as it was thought that such long distance travel would interfere with their daily rituals. “Times have changed now. Hence, the Swamijis of today visit different countries to preach our religion. Puttige Swamiji’s work of visiting different countries to spread our religion needs to be appreciated,” he felt.

Paryaya Puttige Mutt Swamiji, Sri Sugunendrateertha, delivered the introductory address. Sri Raghumanyateertha of Bheemanakatte Mutt was present.

Head of the Diocesan Chair in Christianity, Mangalore University, Prof John Fernandes, noted that religions take birth initially as spiritual revolutions and later get bound by various systems and arrangements. Once they taste power, they get political hue and give rise to frictions. All the religions therefore, should uphold peace as their paramount objectives, he stressed.

Educationists from Bangalore, Dr K E Radhakrishna, said that the terrorists are mentally challenged and that terrorism gets fed through the drugs cartel of Afghanistan. The fact that the wealth that is increasing, is not properly getting distributed, is another reason for the youngsters to lose stray from the right path and take to extremism, he said. Retired principal, Prof Sripati Tantry, noted that the world, ‘terrorism’ was given birth after witnessing the murderous tendencies found during the French Revolution. He opined that over 100 terrorist organizations, 50 of which exist in India, are operating in the world at present.

Astrologer, Valerian Saldanha, said that animals do not kill animals of their own species, where as human beings kill one another with impunity. “This is the difference between animals and human beings,” he lamented.

Sri Shivanubhava Charamurty Shivarudra Swamiji, who presided, said that different religions and belief systems are like different lamps. He stressed that these lamps should never be allowed to become fire. “We should understand that flowers might be of various kinds. But, the fragrance they spread is the same. If we understand this, we will stop deriding and defaming each other. There is a need to control the forces which misuse religion and powers that are anti-relious,” he felt.

Gopalacharya compered the programme.