Abhaya: Fearlessness in Sanatana Dharma

• Abhaya in Sanskrit signifies "fearlessness"
• Bhagavan Krishna regards "Abhayam" as a primary divine quality in the Bhagavad Gita.
• Fearlessness allows one to face hardship without hesitation

Abhaya Mudra

• Abhaya Mudra is a symbol of fearlessness in Sanatana Dharma Philosophy.
• Represents protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear
• Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga, and Parvati are depicted holding this mudra, which symbolizes protection from fear.

The Fear Factor

• Fear arises from excessive concern about future events, potentially creating an imaginary condition.
• Sages who have realized God are considered completely fearless.
• Remaining rooted in the present moment eliminates fear.
• Fear stems from thoughts of insecurity, whether physical, financial, or emotional.
• Manifests as fear of failure, anxiety, fear of change, ridicule, alienation, and stressful situations.

Consequences of Fear

• Fear of failure can cause emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms.
• Physical problems include rapid heart rate, chest tightness, trembling, dizziness, sweating, and digestive issues.
• Generates feelings of inadequacy, diminishes self-esteem, and results in academic failures and disappointment.
• Overcoming fears leads to personal growth and strength.

Who is Fearless

• Those who accept the responsibility of facing fear with courage become fearless and more capable.
• 16-year-old Jyoti Kumari (Bihar’s Cycle Girl) won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021 (Bravery Award) for cycling 1200 kilometers with her injured father during Covid-19.
• Latha Unni sacrificed herself to save 5 children from drowning.

Kuyili - The Veerthalapathy or Veeramangai

• Kuyili was a fearless woman freedom fighter from the time of Indian freedom struggle.
• In 1772 CE, Sivaganga, ruled by King Muthu Vaduga Nathar, faced interference from the East India Company.
• The Nawab of Arcot allied with the East India Company, leading to Muthu Vaduga Nathar's death.
• Queen Velunachiyar, Vaduganathar's wife, created a new army while in hiding.
• Kuyili became the Chief Commander of the Women’s Army after protecting the queen.
• Kuyili set herself ablaze and destroyed British ammunition, sacrificing herself for her kingdom and queen.

Fearlessness in the Bhagavad Gita

• Sri Krishna says freedom from attachment, fear, and anger is needed to be absorbed in him.
• Those purified by knowledge of Me have attained My state

Mahabharata - Karna

• Karna remained with Duryodhana due to fear of losing friendship, despite knowing Duryodhana's actions were unrighteous.
• Karna supported Duryodhana's unrighteous acts, including plotting against the Pandavas and mistreating Draupadi.
• The lesson is that loyalty should not come at the expense of righteousness; one should correct or end friendships with those on an unrighteous path.

Swami Vivekananda

• Swami Vivekananda advises facing difficulties boldly, as hardships retreat when confronted.
• Chanakya Neeti advises fighting fear undaunted when it approaches.
• Determined feeling destroys fear" (Bhavana Bhayanashini)
• Courage alone is not enough for achieving success, it should be accompanied by knowledge and resources.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

• "Abhayam vai Brahma" meaning fearlessness is Brahma.
• Fear originates from the sense of duality

Achieving Fearlessness

• Overcoming fear leads to numerous achievements, enhancing happiness and contentment.
• The Upanishads emphasize faith in oneself and the divinity within.
• Self-inquiry and positive thinking are solutions to overcome fear.
• Katha Upanishad advises, "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."
• Practice Yoga and Meditation to exercise control over the mind

Leonardo Da Vinci

• Fritjof Capra is known for his book Tao of Physics, exploring science and mysticism parallels.
• Capra notes Renaissance painter and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci had a pervasive "systems view".
• Da Vinci's city planning ideas focused on buildings' organic view and metabolism.

Patrick Geddes

• Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was a Scottish polymath, biologist, town planner, geographer and humanist
• Sister Nivedita introduced Prof Geddes to Swami Vivekananda and J C Bose in Paris.
• Geddes was fascinated by Indian temple-cities, looking into the systems science used to create them.

Geddes Systems View of Indian Temple Towns

• Geddes marveled at Madurai, with the temple at its heart, witnessing its disintegrating original construction.
• Paripāṭal describes Madurai as a lotus, with streets as petals, the temple as the receptacle, and people as pollen.
• Geddes saw the city and pollen grains analogy as more than poetic, recognizing its truth.

City Planning

• Geddes worked in India and Palestine (Tel Aviv), advocating for Indic city development.
• He preferred narrow lanes opening into pleasant squares with shade-bearing trees.
• He was impressed by Kanchipuram’s drainage and sewage management, connecting them to gardens.
• Geddes extended Kanchipuram to accommodate population growth, composed of fractal cities around temples.
• Geddes designed Tel Aviv based on Kanchipuram's insights, replacing temples with secular gardens.

Srirangam

• Geddes visited Srirangam, deciphering the philosophical basis underlying the temple and paddy fields.
• A. V. Ramachandra Ayyar organized an All-India Sthapatya Vedic conference in 1918 to study Indian architecture and town planning.
• Geddes' vision of reviving traditional Indian architecture with modernity was out of sync with dominant leaders, except Gandhi.

Sacred Festivals

• Geddes saw spiritual/cultural events in India linked to town planning/administration.
• Geddes defended the car festival (Ratha Yatra) as a civic institution, maintaining broad streets free of encroachment, disagreeing with critics.
• At Indore, he made the Deepavali victory procession a fight against pollution and honored sanitary workers.

Radhakamal Mukherjee

• He continued Geddes' tradition, pointing out the wisdom of Indic town planning in India
• Radhakamal noted every Indian house "has an orchard, which receives the sewage that is the mainstay of a profitable vegetable garden" and every street being "lined with shady trees and its width guaranteed by the periodical car procession.”

Geddes' Influences

• Geddes was influenced by ancient Indian town planning and Bose's work in plant communication.
• Geddes sought to incorporate plant perspectives in town planning for evolution in Indore.

Democratizing the Sacred Space

• Geddes advocated democratizing spaces while respecting ancient design.
• He envisioned temple towers as learning centers for languages and sciences, including provisions for the poor/casteless.
• Harmonious city development in line with historic plans would halt slumdom.

Conclusion

• India can draw impetus from its past while building futuristic cities.
• Remembering Geddes' work on ancient Indian town planning is relevant for human socio-cultural ecology
• Indian temple-city planning offers principles for sustainable cities that consider humanity's various dimensions.