International Vedanta Society

Life History Of Bhagavan
(by Swami Sankarananda)

Chapter – 1: INTRODUCTION

        The history of mankind is the story of those few persons who are pioneers in various fields-who could give unto mankind new thoughts and ways to achieve something higher than what the common mind thinks. Mankind has marched with those thoughts and ideas as the vanguards of civilization and endeavoured to realize them. With the passage of time, these thoughts and ideas gave ways to new ones thereby unfolding new horizons. In transition periods as such mankind has witnessed new pioneers in various fields who would carry forward the civilization to new extremities with their new visions and ways. Thus, humanity has always marched on to new truths, advanced techniques and modern thoughts. However, beneath all these, one underlying substratum, which remains constant, is the approach and effort to unveil truth. In addition, whenever age-old customs and thoughts, doctrines and dogmas have tried to strangle this very aspect, civilization witnessed the resurgence of great- souls who revived and reinvigorated truth in a new perspective and acted as a lighthouse to guide the future in a new direction. Their thoughts would gradually permeate among the common mass and thereby usher in a new civilization.

        The land of India is one of those few fortunate ones who proudly have time and again reinforced humanity with such noble and higher thoughts and actions. Much more fortunate is she for she has offered some of the greatest thoughts and philosophies that humanity has ever seen or heard of. And unparallel does she stand in the realm of spirituality. It is this sphere where the world has more often than not bowed down to receive such magnanimous thoughts of excellence. It has gifted unto the world some of the noblest persons whom mankind would ever remember with reverence.

        “Whenever virtue subsides and irreligion prevails, then do I incarnate myself in ages to redeem the virtuous, curb the evil and restore religion”- says Sri Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (4.7-4.8). This infalliable truth has been witnessed by history and shown humanity the way to truth, peace, and bliss. However, it is not that only religion is restored in times as such but there happens a total change in the phenomenon of things such as art, culture, literature, science, economics and politics as well. It seems that the mother earth cleanses and adorns herself as it were to bear the testimony of the advent of one who would by His life, words and actions guide the whole of mankind for ages. The cosmic nature provides the necessary fertility of the soil where the great power would manifest Himself and hence movements from all quarters of society starts taking place. All these changes inevitably indicate one point – the manifestation of a great soul, a prophet or a God -Incarnate.