Humanitarianism
in the Indian classics Srimad
Bhagavatham
In this context, I shall first take up for study from this point of view - our great
Indian classic the Srimad Bhagavatham whose author was reputed to be the great Veda Vyasa
of eternal fame. It is a well-known and popular Purana and is widely read even today and
expounded by scholars to large audiences. In our land it has exercised through the
centuries - tremendous influence over the minds of
the people and has had a great share in the shaping of Indian culture.
Reading
this classic and saturated by its inspiring thought, great men like Chaitanya Maha Prabhu
were transformed into great saints and spiritual leaders. In this Purana, we find
spiritual wisdom, which has illumined the minds and hearts of many people in all parts of
India. In the ninth of this great classic, we come across the beautiful episode of Ranti
Deva and his great pronouncement, on the glorious ideal of love and service to suffering
humanity.
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