All World
Gayatri Pariwar

From Chief Editor’s Desk
Time seems to have literally flown past! With this issue, Akhand Jyoti (English) will be completing two years of its babyhood! It has emerged as a tiny and tender offshoot of its Hindi namesake – which has already completed 62 years of selfless service to society and has grown into an old strong, sturdy, sprawling banyan tree – providing shade, solace and soul-nourishment to lakhs of its readers.

These past two years have been a period of mutually educative and enriching experience for both – the readers as well as the magazine’s editorial team.

We have consciously and constantly endeavored to provide our readers the best possible reading material for their integrated moral, ethical and spiritual growth. We have always eagerly welcomed and will continue welcoming valued comments and feedback from our readers for continuing improvement of the magazine’s quality. We also ardently and earnestly appeal to our subscribers to actively participate in the drive for manifold increase in its circulation, so that more and more persons are benefited by the life-affirming, ennobling and impressing contents of the magazine – and thus enable us to actualize our aim of converting it into a monthly from a bi-monthly periodical as early as possible.

This issue is expected to reach the readers just before Deepawali Parva, which falls on November 12. The intrinsic message of this festival of lights for each of us is to let our inner splendor of the Indwelling Divine Light of our Being burst forth and show in our world of seeming darkness – so that more and more human beings become transparent reflectors of this Divine Light and the pioneers of the prophesied Heaven on Earth.

Deepawali also marks the beginning of a long and severe period of winter, especially in the northern regions of India. This requires wise, requisite changes in our lifestyles in terms of food, clothing and daily routine in general, to be able to smoothly adopt to the severities of the cold season and thus remain radiantly healthy to continue our Upasana, Sadhana and Aradhana.

Deepawali is immediately preceded and followed by a chain of sacred festivals, viz. Dhanvantari Trayodashi, Roop Chaturdashi, Govardhan Pooja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath (in Bihar) – with their own special religious and social significance. Let us celebrate all these parvas with an attitude of joy and reverence – keeping our inner soul attributes of Light, Love and Radiant Life ever aflame and resplendent.

Some very sacred parvas also fall in the latter halves of November and December: Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 26; Gita Jayanti on December 22 and Christmas on December 25. Let all parijans celebrate these sacred days with due reverence and self-reflection. The age-old Guru-Shishya tradition as revived and revitalized by Guru Nanak Devji; which had its culmination in the life and mission of Gobind Singhji, has made a vital contribution towards the reform and revival of the essence of Dev Sanskriti. Similarly, the integrative teachings of Bhagwadgita – although symbolically imparted by the Divine Teacher to Arjuna, representing a deluded human being, are of perennial universal import. That is why The Gita has been hailed by enlightened seers and sages across the globe as the spiritual scripture of all humanity. Let us imbibe the teachings of this celestial song in our lives. Christmas is celebrated as the Birthday of Jesus Christ – God made manifest in flesh – with his message of universal brotherhood, love, mercy, forgiveness and selfless service. Let all of us, parijans of Gayatri Pariwar, reverently remember the Messiah of Mercy, Love and Service on Christmas Day.

We heartily convey our prayerfilled greetings and wishes to all readers of this magazine and all soulkins of Gayatri Pariwar for this festival season and for the New Year 2005. May Divine Grace manifest in our lives in all its soothing and re-assuring resplendence.