________________
202
THE JAINA GAZETTE The atmosphere at 4 a.m. is peaceful, quiet and calm and under the light of the Stars peaceful and soft singing is followed by a few words generally explanatory of the songs from Mahatma Gandhi himself. His speech is chaste but incisive and the general tenor of worship is theistic. Members of any religion can take part in these morning and evening worships.
Mahatma Gandhi cannot be said to belong to any definite religious creed, and, as he reiterates often, his religion is the Religion of Truth and Non-Violence.
What has affected most, however, his beliefs and principles is Jainism and he may, therefore, be more of a Jain than of anything else.
[The Mumbai Mitra]
14–7–29.
Reviews of Books and Periodicals.
Namaskar:- This is Book 1 of the Health Propaganda Series (Arogya-Samvardhaka-mala by Vaidya Ganesh Pandurang Paranjape, Sangli, Price Annas 6 only.
The writer of this small book, Vaidya G. P. Paranjape, is himself a great expert and instructor in physical exercises. He has already published ten books in Marathi all of which have been heartily received by the Marathi reading public. The book under review is a translation in English of the 5th book of this Series and treats about Namaskar. It was a practice of the ancient Indians, men, women and children to bow down to the Sun God every morning according to the rules specially laid down in the Shastras. The aim of this religious practice was threefold physical, intellectual and spiritual. The author has clearly and fully described with half-tone illustrations the twelve postures that constitute the exercise of Namaskar, which it performed daily would give one sound health and vitality. A sound body will have a sound mind; and a sound mind is quite essential for spiritual progress. This exercise can be taken by all and it
requires no paraphernalia. Its simple and scientific movements Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com