WHAT BHAVAN BELIEVES

The Bhavan firmly believes that revitalizing ancient values and reintegrating them to suit the changing needs of modern times alone will give people the strength to assimilate whatever is good in the new, without being swept away from their traditional moorings.

The Bhavan believes that there are elements in all cultures which transcends all barriers and knits people together. Its ideal is: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: “The world is One Family.” Its motto is Aa no bhadraah kratavo yantu vishwatah: “Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.”

In furtherance of its aim of carrying India’s message to the world over, the Bhavan set up Centers in London (U.K.), New York (U.S.A.), Lisbon (Portugal) and Durban (South Africa). Plans are afoot to start Centres in Geneva, Switzerland, Singapore and Tokyo.

The main purpose of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is to provide a modern bridge to span the past, the present and the future, built on the strong foundation of the fundamental values of life.

BHAVAN’S FAITH

Let me once more set forth the Bhavan’s faith for the benefit of new students and members, for it is necessary that they should understand it clearly and imbibe its spirit.

The Bhavan stands for the reintegration of Indian Culture. In a world falling to pieces under the impact of an amoral technological avalanche, it tries to hold fast to the fundamental values for which our culture stands – Rita, Satya, Yagna and Tapas.

FAITH in God Who informs the Cosmic Order;
TRUTH which is accord between mind, word and deed;
DEDICATION which offers all movements of life as an offering to God;
SUBLIMATION which purifies the body and mind and transmutes instincts, passions and emotions into things of beauty.

This, regardless of forms and doctrines, is Dharma, the three-fold aspects of which are SATYAM, SHIVAM, SUNDARAM – Truth, Love and Beauty.

For these values our forefathers lived and died. So did Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Dayananda, Swami Vivekananda, Gandhiji and Sir Aurobindo, among the moderns.

These values are embedded in our nature. We command the respect of the world because of them. We can look forward to the future with confidence only because they have the vitality which gives the power to vindicate their validity even in this fear-and-avarice-ridden age of ours. We, the Bhavan’s family, whether it is the smaller one or the larger one, must make every effort in restoring an awareness of these values in personal and collective life.