News from Hindu Press International
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Posted on 2011/2/20 19:18:12 ( 1388
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COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU, January 27,
2011: India's population and economy are booming, increasing the demand for
food and fueling inflation. Most of its people are vegetarians, which is an
efficient use of soil, but to improve health and nutrition the country's
government now wants to increase the per capita consumption of protein-rich
bean pulses. But domestic production has been static for years, resulting
in more imports from around the world. Last year, India produced 14.6 million
tons of pulses and imported 3.5 million tons. Canada is a leading source of
India's pulse imports.
A push by India's state and national governments to grow pulses as a
nitrogen source for the land and a protein source for its people has not
caught on with the country's farmers. Pulses are not the easiest crop to
grow in India, said Dr. P. Santhana Krishnan, liaison officer with Tamil
Nadu Agricultural University at Coimbatore. Lack of irrigation, labour,
mechanization and changing weather patterns have helped diminish pulses in
many farmers' eyes.
In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, farmers can grow 700 to 800 lb. per
acre of pulses under irrigation. However, only four percent of the farm
land is irrigated. In a good year, farmers can grow about 360 lb. per acre
on dry land. But if rains are not timely, yields can be as low as 180 lb.
per acre. Considering that 80 percent of India's farmers own less than two
acres, the yield from a poor pulse crop is not enough to pay their bills.
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Posted on 2011/2/20 19:18:11 ( 1766
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WASHINGTON, U.S., January 24, 2011:
In New Delhi a group of hungry college students crowded around the newest
food stall in an upscale market: the American Hotdog Factory. Its sign
proudly announced 'real American hotdogs for the first time in India.' But
these 'hawdawgs' - the Indian pronunciation - aren't exactly what they
would find on the streets of New York or at ballpark concession stands
across America. The top-selling item at this stand is the 'American Desi,'
a mushy, green log of spicy potatoes, soybeans, peas, garlic, peppers and
onions held together by a fat hot-dog bun and topped with raw onions and
thick mayo chutney. No cows or pigs were harmed in the making of this
sandwich.
For generations, Americans have tweaked Indian recipes to better suit their
taste buds. Now it's India's turn to play with American food, as more U.S.
restaurants open here. Americans already doing business here have quickly
learned that 'America' is itself a brand. To many Indians, that brand symbolizes
affluence, aspiration and good hygiene. But while Indians might love the
idea of eating at an American eatery, they aren't looking for authentic
American cuisine.
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Posted on 2011/2/20 19:18:09 ( 1178
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Most people, most of the time, are
under the influence of the ego. Now, when someone is driving under the
influence, a policeman can pull that drunk driver over and measure the
level of inebriation with a breathalyzer test. But what policeman has the
authority to pull you over and give you an egolizer test? You are driving,
living, acting and speaking under the influence of the ego.
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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Posted on 2011/2/16 16:44:42 ( 2107
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WASHINGTON, February 11, 2011:
Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation), practised in India for years, has now
found a whole lot of takers in the US, with several cities endorsing this
ancient Indian exercise for its health benefits.
Over 10,000 people participated in the public Surya Namaskar exercises held
in 225 cities from 40 States in January, according to Hindu Swyamsevak
Sangha (HSS), which organizes the annual 'Health for Humanity Yogathon'.
Surya Namaskar yoga routine integrates simple postures of well-balanced
movements in ten steps with an easy breathing technique to provide immense
health benefits for everyone from beginners to yoga enthusiasts, HSS said.
Mayors of Tampa in Florida, Milpitas (California), Cupertino (California),
Normal (Illinois) and Bloomington (Illinois) declared 'Health for Humanity'
also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna (SNY) day and encouraged their residents
to participate in the locally held Yogathons.
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Posted on 2011/2/16 16:44:41 ( 1890
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LONDON, U.K., February, 2011: Practitioners of Ayurvedic and other
traditional medicines in Europe are bracing themselves for a tough
licensing system similar to that for Western medicines. The EU's
Traditional Herbal Medical Products Directive is set to come into effect on
May 1, and requires any herbal medicine sold over the counter to have
either a Traditional Herbal Registration or a marketing authorization. The
legislation is tantamount to a ban on ayurvedic herbs, as just over 70
herbal products in the UK (none of which is Ayurvedic) have so far got the
licence.
Mr Sebastian Pole, an Ayurvedic practitioner who runs Bristol-based firm
Pukka Herbs with around 500 employees in India, said his company had been
working on obtaining licences for six products at the cost of around
US$161,500. 'It's a very onerous process and is going to have a very
negative impact on all traditional medicines,' he said. 'Yes, it's good to
improve standards but this is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.'
Dr. Shantha Godagama, President, Ayurvedic Medical Association, who sits on
the advisory board of the UK's Medicines and Health Care Products
Regulatory Agency, said that while change and regulation were necessary in
the long term to improve standards, in the short term it would merely
reduce choice and hit the smallest firms the hardest. He said that in his
time on the advisory committee, not a single application for a herbalist
licence had been received.
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Posted on 2011/2/16 16:44:39 ( 1130
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RAMESWARAM, INDIA, January 31,
2011: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment has sanctioned the
establishment of a sound-and-light program at the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy
temple. S. Elango, Executive Officer of the Endowment, said that the show
would be installed at the Vadakku Nandavana Kalai Arangu (Theatre hall).
Elango added that the construction of North and South towers in the temple
was going as per schedule and would be completed in another year.
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Posted on 2011/2/16 16:44:38 ( 1409
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One who is established in a
comfortable posture while concentrating on the inner Self naturally becomes
immersed in the Heart's ocean of bliss.
Siva Sutras III, 16
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Posted on 2011/2/15 17:21:34 ( 3748
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 6, 2011:
In order to stop yoga gurus from claiming copyright to ancient asanas, like
Bikram Choudhury's Hot Yoga -- a set of 26 sequences practiced in a heated
room -- India has completed documenting 1,300 asanas which will soon be
uploaded on the country's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL),
making them public knowledge.
According to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR) and
Union health ministry's department of Ayush, 'once the database is up
online, patent offices across the world will have a reference point to
check on every time a yoga guru claims patent on a particular asana.'
CSIR's Dr. V. P. Gupta, who created TKDL, said, 'All the 26 sequences which
are part of Hot Yoga have been mentioned in Indian yoga books written
thousands of years ago.' He added, 'However, we will not legally challenge
Choudhury. By putting the information in the public domain, TKDL will be a
one-stop reference point for patent offices across the world. Every time,
somebody applies for a patent on yoga, the office can check which ancient Indian
book first mentioned it and cancel the application.'
Nine well known yoga institutions in India have helped with the
documentation. 'The data will be up online in the next two months. In the
first phase, we have videographed 250 asanas -- the most popular ones.
Chances of misappropriation with them are higher. So if somebody wants to
teach yoga, he does not have to fight copyright issues. He can just refer
to the TKDL. TKDL will have photos and explanation of the postures. Dr
Gupta said, 'A voice-over will also point out which text mentions the
posture.
Till now, it is estimated that the US patent office alone has issued over
200 yoga-related copyrights. Experts say yoga has become a $225 billion
market in the West. The TKDL, which has 30 million pages of information,
has been created to prevent those living abroad from claiming patent for
existing knowledge.
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Posted on 2011/2/15 17:21:33 ( 1362
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UNITED STATES, February 2011: An
Ohio county court judge who argued that it was his First Amendment right to
hang a poster about the Ten Commandments in his courtroom was overruled
Wednesday (Feb. 2) by a federal appeals court. Judge James DeWeese of
Richland County, Ohio, has sought over the last decade to post the biblical
laws. In the latest case, he created a poster that compared the
commandments' 'moral absolutes' and humanism's 'moral relatives.'
The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that DeWeese's
poster is unconstitutional because it is 'an explicit endorsement of
religion.' Francis Manion, an attorney for the American Center for Law and
Justice who represented DeWeese, said it is likely the Ohio judge will
appeal.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington watchdog
group that filed a brief in the case against DeWeese, welcomed the
decision. 'Our courts are supposed to provide equal justice for all, not
promote religious law,' said the Rev. Barry Lynn, the executive director of
Americans United. 'Judges should never send the message that some religious
traditions have a preferred place in the courtroom.'
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Posted on 2011/2/26 17:29:50 ( 3897
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PURI, February 27, 2011: Thousands
would have passed a dilapidated building on their way to Puri's Jagannath
temple, called Emar Math, not sparing a glance at the 200-year-old
structure that on Saturday turned out to be a treasure trove worth US$ 20
million.
Cops, probing a burglary, went into the Math only to find slabs of silver
weighing more than 17 tonnes. There were 522 silver slabs, each weighing
between 35kg and 40kg. These had been stashed in four wooden treasuries in
a sealed room. Emar Math is situated right in front of the Jagannath
temple.
'We came to know about the silver here after the arrest of Barun Baral, who
was trying to sell a silver slab in Dhenkanal on Friday. During
interrogation he told us that he had stolen it from Emar Math,' said Puri
superintendent Sanjay Kumar.
The superintendent said Baral worked as a labourer in the Math that is
spread over four acres. 'During renovation work, he stumbled upon the
treasury. He might have stolen some pieces with the help of others,' Kumar
said. When a stone fell off during renovation, the laborers caught a
glimpse of the silver.
'Baral's revelation led to the stunning recovery of stacks of silver slabs
from the room that was sealed. We broke down the walls to enter the room,'
Kumar added.
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Posted on 2011/2/26 17:29:49 ( 1413
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MUMBAI, February 25, 2011: It is
time to bring out a comic book on the man who started it all. Anant Pai, a
visionary who helped millions of children delve into the fascinating
treasure trove of Indian sacred stories, mythology, history and legends
through comics, died on Thursday at the age of 81 after a massive heart
attack.
The shy but affectionate man-- who signed handwritten letters to his young
fans as 'Uncle Pai' -- left an indelible mark on Indian popular culture by
launching the Amar Chitra Katha series in 1967, after a stint with The
Times of India. He was motivated by a TV quiz in which contestants rattled
off answers related to Greek myths but didn't know the name of Rama's
mother.
Most publishers were skeptical but Pai persisted and the series finally
began with the launch of the first title, 'Krishna'. He lent it the
auspicious Indian touch by titling it number 11 instead of one. The early
years were tough -- there are anecdotes of Pai personally setting up display
racks in restaurants. But today, Amar Chitra Katha sells about three
million comic books a year in more than 20 languages, and has sold over 100
million copies since its inception.
Pai is survived by his wife Lalitha. The couple did not have any children,
though Pai was adored by millions of young readers.
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Posted on 2011/2/26 17:29:48 ( 1971
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 21,
2011: One of the most ambitious and exciting projects in recent years --
digitization of India's ancient manuscripts -- has moved a step ahead with
the Delhi-based National Manuscript Mission (NMM) creating standards for
digitization of close to 3 million manuscripts in its care.
Old wisdom in a pdf or a jpeg? That's right. The Arthashastra on a DVD, no
less a version than the palm leaf manuscript in the ancient Grantha script.
The standardization now, in consultation with four other agencies including
the National Archives of India and National Informatics Center, lays down
guidelines from image resolution to file format. This should also help when
the plans for a library for the manuscripts is rolled out.
Digitizing manuscripts entails scanning, photographing of the often-frail
manuscripts and storing the digital data. The project began in 2005 and to
date has processed close to 71,000 manuscripts -- that's nearly 9.3 million
pages, palm leaves, tree bark folios.
It's not been easy. Collecting manuscripts in the first place is a task,
with little idea of the sources. 'It's like groping in the dark. Surveyors
are required to go door-to-door,' says Dipti S. Tripathi, director NMM, on
hunting down of manuscripts. The NMM approaches repositories, institutes
and individuals. Seven states have been covered so far --- Gujarat, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tripura.
The manuscripts, when sourced from institutes like Pune's Bhandarkar
Oriental Research Institute or Oriental Institute at Tirupathi or from
individuals, are digitized in the source city itself if possible, and then
returned to the owners. The NMM keeps only the digital copy with itself at
their Delhi office. The list of manuscripts was recently made available as
a catalogue on their website www.namami.org
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Posted on 2011/2/26 17:29:47 ( 2223
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MEXICO, February 2011: Hindu Gods
adorn a new series of lottery tickets in Mexico. Not surprisingly, the top
prize went to a ticket featuring Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth.
The National Lottery jackpot awarded a $4 million pesos (US$ 330,000) prize
for ticket number 5825, whose notes were illustrated with the figure of
Goddess Lakshmi during a recent drawing. The Goddess of Beauty and good
luck, also brought fortune to tickets holders in Puebla, Puebla and
Coatzacoalcos, and Veracruz.
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Posted on 2011/2/26 17:29:46 ( 1415
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As a dog, let loose after being
tied up for some time, is energetic and active, so one, who learns to remain
summa, or still, gets increased energy which can be put to good use.
Yogaswami of Jaffna (1872-1964)
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Posted on 2011/2/23 17:10:00 ( 1111
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CHENNAI, INDIA, February 1, 2011:
The Madras high court has struck down the Tamil Nadu government's move to
provide 'blanket reservation' to Hindus for certain posts in its
archaeology department. The state's stand was that Hindu candidates alone
were eligible to apply for posts of epigraphist, archaeological officer and
curator.
Justice Chandru, describing it as 'blatant discrimination,' directed the
authorities to consider the candidature of a Muslim applicant. 'When
authorities called for applications for the posts of archaeologists of
epigraphists, they ought not to have made blanket reservation in these
posts for candidates belonging to the Hindu religion alone.'
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Posted on 2011/2/23 17:09:59 ( 1482
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BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, February 19,
2011: Though Jagannath's mahaprasad is the most sought-after food by
pilgrims in Puri, it has reportedly failed to reach their platter in time
these days. The delay in completing the Deities' daily ritual is taking its
toll on availability of the prasad at the temple on time, alleged the
shrine's cooks. Resentment is brewing among the cooks, as they have
incurred huge losses due to unsold mahaprasad for the past two days.
Nearly 25,000 devotees relish mahaprasad on any given day. On festive
occasions, Mahaprasad is prepared for nearly 100,000 devotees daily.
Sources said at least 15 varieties of vegetarian items are prepared four
times a day in the temple.
Around 400 cooks prepare the sumptuous food inside the temple kitchen,
which is considered as the world's biggest temple kitchen. 'Mahaprasad
becomes ready by lunch time. But we can't sell the food because the rituals
are not completed in time by priests in the afternoon. Thousands of
devotees wait for hours and yet return empty handed,' Mahasuar said.
'Not only pilgrims are deprived of the prasad, but those who require it in
bulk for family functions and religious and social occasions also bear the
brunt. Pilgrims and Mahaprasad vendors suffer primarily because of the
delay in completion of rituals,' Padmanabh Mahasuar, secretary of Suar
Mahasuar Nijog, a body of the shrine cooks, said.
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Posted on 2011/2/23 17:09:58 ( 1195
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 17,
2011: India is not taking European Union's ban on the sale of its
over-the-counter ayurvedic and herbal drugs across Europe from May 1 lying
down. A delegation of officials from India's department of Ayush and
commerce visited Brussels in January to persuade the EU to relax its
decision by another 10 years.
According to EU's Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD),
companies making herbal products will have to provide clinical data to
demonstrate its safety through use of those products within the EU for a
minimum of 30 or 15 years within the EU, and 30 years outside the Union. A
senior Ayush official told TOI, 'We've asked EU to change the clause into
30 years of use anywhere in the world or country of origin. In this way, we
can show how ayurveda and herbal products have been used in India for hundreds
of years, and are both safe and efficacious.'
India has also urged EU to accept ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathy
pharmacopoeia's specifications and quality parameters. An official said,
'Pharmacopoeias are official government publications. It is a comprehensive
database on Indian plants in use for their health benefits, which is
endorsed by the Union government. It should be recognized by EU.'
He added, 'We have told the EU that Indian monographs should be reviewed as
an authentic source of information for evidence when assessing
applications. Good Manufacturing Practice certificates issued by India
should be recognized by the EU.
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Posted on 2011/2/22 17:16:40 ( 1691
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SURAT, GUJARAT, INDIA, February 15,
2011: Thousands of devotees from south Gujarat and Maharashtra are expected
to visit the tribal-dominated Dharampur area to worshipping an enormous
25-ft-tall shivalingam made using 1.6 million rudraksha beads, which will
be unveiled on Mahashivratri on March 1.
A devotee of Lord Shiva, Batuk Vyas, has been making the rudraksh
shivalingam every year to honor the Deity during Shivaratri festival. He
had started with making an 11-inch rudraksha shivalingam in 2000 and last
year Vyas made a 25-feet shivalingam using 850,000 rudraksha beads.
'Last year more than 200,000 devotees from across the state and Maharashtra
visited Dharampur to worship the rudraksha shivalingam. This year, we are
expecting more than 200,000 devotees to throng Dharampur,' Vyas said.
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Posted on 2011/2/22 17:16:39 ( 1642
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USA, February 22, 2011: About.com's
2011 Readers' Choice Awards showcases the best products, features and
services in multiple categories, from technology to hobbies to parenting.
In the realm of Hinduism, nominations for the best Hindu organization,
magazine, blog, matrimonial & shopping sites are now down to five
finalists in five different categories.
Vote for your favorites now. Make your voice be heard. And if you are
inspired by the work of Himalayan Academy, which is Kauai's Hindu Monastery
editorial branch and publisher of Hinduism Today, please let
the world know.
We appreciate it.
The polls will close on March 8, 2011.
Vote
here.
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Posted on 2011/2/22 17:16:37 ( 1267
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UNITED STATES, February 2011: [HPI
note: HAF's Suhag Shukla responds to a fellow Washington Post blogger who
asked 'Is conversion wrong?' and 'Is anger over conversion an extenuating
circumstance for murder?' In response to the second question, her answer is
a simple: No. But the analysis of the first point, 'Is conversion wrong?'
is much more nuanced, as you can read below.]
Contrary to what 'anti-conversion' laws may imply by their title, they do
not outlaw the right of any individual to convert based upon genuine faith,
belief, study, or religious experience. They also don't restrict Christians
who provide social services in various parts of India with no ulterior
conversion motive. Most anti-conversion laws seek only to address
conversions 'by force, allurement, or fraudulent means.' They are the
effort of sovereign states to regulate those, mostly Christian aid groups,
for which the provision of aid to these vulnerable communities is not
altruistic, but rather part of a soul-saving numbers game.
At the end of the day, numbers and statistics, though illustrative, fail to
address the very real human factor on the losing side of the
proselytization and conversion equation. Conversion, when born from genuine
faith, belief, study, or religious experience, can be beautiful. But, conversion
begot by aggressive or predatory proselytization is a form of violence.
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Posted on 2011/2/22 17:16:35 ( 1353
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UNITED STATES, February 2011:
Theologians, psychologists and sociologists agree about the benefits --
spiritual, emotional and communal -- of confession. Revealing our sins and
missteps to a spiritual preceptor, in writing or in person, helps alleviate
guilt and its accompanying anxieties. That, in turn, leads to happier, healthier
living.
A Catholic bishop in Indiana recently gave his imprimatur to a thoroughly
modern take on the ancient act of confession with a thumbs up to
'Confession: A Roman Catholic App,' a new application for the iPhone and
iPad that helps users catalogue their sins before entering a church
confessional booth.
The $1.99 iTunes 'Confession' app leads users through a 'personalized
examination of conscience' with 'password protected profiles and a
step-by-step guide to the sacrament.' Little iApps developer Patrick Leinen
has said he was inspired create the 'Confession' app by Pope Benedict XVI's
message for World Communications Day in which the pontiff endorsed the
spiritual value of new media. The Vatican later said that the app is no
substitute for the actual confession, only 'a step toward penitence.'
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Posted on 2011/2/22 17:16:33 ( 1338
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What is marriage? Falling in love
anew every day always with the same person.
Dada J.P. Vaswani
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Posted on 2011/2/21 17:18:54 ( 2113
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PANAJI, GOA, INDIA, January 20,
2011: Paush, the tenth month of the Hindu calendar, has special
significance for Hindu women in Goa. Over five nights - with the full moon
of Malani Purnima being the grandest - they express their love and respect
for the forest deity popularly called Vandevi. The celebration is called
Dhalo.
Once, there were many places in Goa where the Goddess of the forest was
respected by those living in and around the woods. Mulgao in Bicholim
taluka, has two temples dedicated to Vandevi-Dhakti Vandevi (young Goddess)
and Vhodli Vandevi (elder Goddess).
Forests were once also the homes of humans who lived, hunted and collected
fruits, roots, shoots, tubers, nuts, etc. 'In order to express gratitude to
the forest for supporting their lives in many ways, our ancestors began the
festival of Dhalo,' says Laxmi Chandrakant Harvalkar, a folklorist from
Brahma-Karmala in Sattari taluka.
During the festival of Dhalo, women decorate and worship the tulsi
vrindavan (basil plant in a pedestal) as the symbolic representation of the
forest Goddess. 'The women, in the past, would invoke the forest Goddess
for blessings of health and prosperity on their families. Till date, this
tradition continues with the women singing folksongs and urging the
Goddess, Vandevimaya, to participate in the traditional folk dance,' says
Harvalkar.
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Posted on 2011/3/2 17:30:29 ( 1801
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"The inmost center of consciousness--located only after the actinic
forces dissolve concepts of form and even consciousness being conscious of
itself--is found to be within the center of an energy-spinning force field.
This center--intense in its existence, consciousness only on the perimeter
of the inside hub of this energy field--vitalizes all externalized form.
Losing consciousness into the center of this energy field catalyzes one
beyond form, time, space. The spinning hub of actinic energy recreating,
preserving and dissipating form quickly establishes consciousness again.
However, this is then a new consciousness, the continuity of consciousness
having been broken in the nirvikalpa samadhi experience. Essentially, the
first total conscious break in the evolution of man is the first nirvikalpa
samadhi experience. Hence, a new evolution begins anew after each such
experience. The evolutional patterns overlap and settle down like rings of
light, one layer upon another, causing intrinsic changes in the entire
nature and experiential pattern of the experiencer."
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:49 ( 1661
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KATHMANDU, NEPAL, March 1, 2011:
Tens of thousands of devotees, mostly from India, have arrived at Nepal's
world famous Pashupatinath temple to celebrate Mahashivratri, one the most
popular Hindu festival in the country.
One hundred Naga sadhus are scheduled to worship at Pashupatinath tomorrow,
said officials at Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), which manages
the the fifth-century Hindu shrine. The officials said 4,000 security
personnel would be deployed on the occasion as they expect 500,000 people
to visit the most sacred temple of Shiva.
Located on the banks of the Bagmati river, Pashupatinath is regarded as the
most sacred temple of Shiva and the oldest Hindu shrine in Nepal. It is
also listed in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site list.
Last month, Nepalese government had set up a top panel to manage the
functioning of Pashupatinath Temple, following a Supreme Court directive to
streamline the management of the Hindu shrine. The temple had been at the
center of a row when the government, in 2008, sacked the chief priest and
other Brahmins from South India and appointed Nepalese priests to replace
them. That triggered widespread protests across the country as it was a
break with centuries-old tradition where Brahmins from South India have led
the worship at one of the holiest Hindu shrine.
Later, Nepal's Supreme Court stayed the government regulation aimed at
ending the 300-year old monopoly of Indian priests at the famed
Pashupatinath.
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:48 ( 1630
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INDIA, February 27, 2011: Indian
authorities plan to expel Russian Kirill Pomerantsev from the country.
Pomerantsev has spent 15 years in India without a visa or any identity
papers. Pomertantsev's story is unique not only because he has been living
illegally in India without identity papers for 15 years, but because those
15 years have been spent as a cave-dwelling hermit near Manali, in
Himachalan Pradesh. Neither the police nor local authorities were aware of
his presence.
'Indeed, I have spent 15 years here in India. My mind and heart were
immersed in the Indian religion. I was 27 or 28 years old when I made the
decision to remain here. Now I am 42 or 43,' he says. 'I was advised that
if I wanted to achieve progress in my religious pursuits, it would be best
to spend 12 years in the wilderness in order to reflect and read Hindu
religious literature. This would make spiritual progress possible',
explains the Russian Hindu.
Pomerantsev explains that in addition to the food he was given by local
people, he also ate greens that he picked in the woods. 'I would get up at
five in the morning, have a wash, meditate, drink some tea, clean the
house, perform puja and study literature. I can read Hindi, a language that
I have taught myself', explains the former hermit, who does not know what
he will do back in Russia.
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:47 ( 1258
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INDIA, February 25, 2011: The
Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee has said that 'Sanskriti Express', a
special exhibition train to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of
Rabindranath Tagore, is set to go on a cultural exchange program to
Bangladesh on an invitation by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.
The Sanskriti Express launched in May 2010 is showcasing artistic works,
philosophy and teachings of Tagore. The train has been moving across the
country and has been visited by more than 2.4 million people in 18 States
so far.
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:46 ( 1485
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USA, October, 2010 (by Ramdas
Lamb): In the August, 2010 ruling which overturned California's Proposition
8 banning same-sex marriage, a witness asserted, 'Religion is the chief
obstacle for gay and lesbian political progress.' Why does religion play
such a central role in debates about homosexuality?
The first question that should to be addressed is 'What functions do sex
and sexuality play in our lives?' For many people, these have central roles
that influence nearly every other aspect of their lives. For many others,
they are relatively minimal. The second question is the more problematic
one, at least for religious minded people, 'What determines if and when sex
is a good or a bad activity?'
Within the Hindu tradition, two of the key criteria for determining whether
or not an activity is right or wrong are: 1) Does the activity cause anyone
harm? and 2) Can the activity bring one closer to realization of the
divine?
Add to this the belief that most Hindus hold in the concept 'live and let
live.' The result is a general tolerance for a wide range of lifestyles and
forms of loving and living. Of course, not all Hindus are unanimous on this
point. Nevertheless, most Hindus understand that focusing on one's own
lifestyle and actions is far more important and necessary for spiritual
growth than worrying about what others are doing. There are far more
important issues and individuals with which religious minded people should
be concerned, such as those who choose to hate and perpetuate violence.
See also Aseem Shukla's post on this subject here.
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:45 ( 1473
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NEW YORK, February 28, 2011: Rising
temperatures, drought and the spread of destructive insect pests will
shrink the North American range of the lodgepole pine nearly 10 percent in
the next 10 years, a new study finds. Observed ecosystem changes date back
to 1980.
The study was conducted by forestry researchers at Oregon State University
and the Department of Forest Resource Management at the University of
British Columbia. 'For skeptics of climate change, it's worth noting that
the increase in vulnerability of lodgepole pine we've seen in recent
decades is made from comparisons with real climatic data and is backed up
with satellite observations showing major changes on the ground,' Richard
Waring, an emeritus professor of forest science at Oregon State University,
said in a statement.
The tall, slender pines, once used widely by American Indian tribes as
poles for teepee lodges, could largely disappear from the Pacific Northwest
by the end of the century if current climate trends persist, the
researchers estimated.
The lodgepole pine is just one of a number of North American tree species
suffering from climate-related changes. In 2010, an estimated 100,000
spruce trees a day were toppled by a massive spruce beetle infestation in
Colorado, according to a study of the state's forests released earlier this
month.
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Posted on 2011/3/1 17:15:44 ( 1204
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As a dream leads only to waking up,
television leads only to turning it off.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, in his book,
Living with Siva
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Posted on 2011/2/28 17:25:21 ( 5949
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BANGLADESH, February 2011:
Pre-Partition, Hindus in Bangladesh constituted 28 per cent of the
population. The Hindu population of Bangladesh has been slowly declining
over the years since it got independence from Pakistan, but questions of
how much it has declined and why it has happened generates heated debate .
According to the census website of Bangladesh, in 2001, Hindus were 9.6 per
cent of the population. Most blogs and websites devoted to the status of
the Hindu minority in Bangladesh contrast this with the 28 per cent that
once existed there. Of course, soon after Partition in 1947, millions of
Hindus fled to India.
In the census after the Partition exodus, in 1951, the Hindu population had
already fallen to 22 per cent and this again fell to 18.5 per cent by the
1961 census. 'During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Hindus in
particular bore the brunt of the Pakistan army's onslaught, leading to more
migration,' a Bangladesh government official said . 'Though many returned
after the formation of Bangladesh, the 1974 census showed that the
population had fallen to 13.5 per cent, mostly because of steady emigration
to Burma and India.
Rabindranath Trivedi, president of the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh
Minorities, has a different take altogether. According to Trivedi, the
census was deliberately undercounting Hindus in Bangladesh, who, by his
estimate, constitute about 15 per cent of the population even today. 'The
government does this on purpose to deflect the charge of large scale Hindu
migration due to state oppression,' he said.
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BALI, INDONESIA, February 26, 2011:
The provincial government of Bali plans to equip its most sacred Hindu
temples with information centers to assist visiting tourists. Chief among
those temples targeted for information centers are the largest religious
sites most frequented by visitors, such a Bali's Mother temple of Pura
Besakih.
Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika said on Wednesday that the establishment
of information centers is badly needed because many guides are giving
incorrect information to tourists. This is particularly the case for guides
originating from outside Bali who do not fully understand the traditions
and culture of Bali.
Pastika said the planned information centers will be staffed by people
drawn from surrounding areas who truly understand about history, and local
rules and protocols. This is especially important in Bali where every temples
has its own distinctive set of rules and regulations.
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Posted on 2011/2/28 17:25:19 ( 1721
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 25,
2011: Mataji Nirmala Devi, who popularized the Sahaja Yoga form of
meditation around the world, has died at the age of 88. She died in Genoa,
Italy last evening, the Mataji Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga Trust said here on
Thursday.
Born in a family of freedom fighters in 1923, the spiritual guru also
participated actively in the freedom struggle and later founded the Vishwa
Nirmal Dharma. Sahaja Yoga, formulated by her as a method of en-masse
self-realization, is spread across 120 countries, the trust said.
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Posted on 2011/2/28 17:25:17 ( 1385
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MANGALORE, INDIA, February 21,
2011: The countdown for the formal dedication of silver ratha (chariot) to
Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra at Kudroli here on March 2 is underway. The ratha
weighing 9,920 lbs and gifted to the Sri Kshetra by the Ramesh Kumar family
was brought to the Kshetra with pomp and splendor on February 18. Rituals
stretching for five days prior to the formal dedication will get underway
on February 25.
Harikrishna Bantwal, spokesperson of the Kshetra, said the ratha measures
18.5 feet tall. The craftsmen who have manufactured this ratha have used
496 lbs of silver. It will be dedicated on March 2 coinciding with the
period when the annual festival of the temple and maha Shivarathri is
observed.
The presiding Deity will be carried on the silver ratha the same day of its
dedication and this will be followed by ratha pooja, ratharohana, ratha
bali rituals and a mangalarathi performed, he said. The idea of donating
the ratha is as per the wishes of the Ramesh Kumar family, Harikrishna
said, adding the temple management will become the custodian of this
offering made by the family in fulfillment of their wishes.
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Posted on 2011/2/28 17:25:16 ( 1499
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I would love to find that my future
army contained a vast preponderance of women over men. If the fight came, I
should then approach it with much greater confidence than if men
predominated. I would dread the latter's violence. Women would be my
guarantee against such an outbreak.
Mahatma Gandhi
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Posted on 2011/2/27 19:47:17 ( 1233
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GUJARAT, INDIA, February 24, 2011:
India has imposed tight security measures across much of the western state
of Gujarat following the conviction of 31 Muslim men for setting fire to a
train in which 60 Hindu pilgrims and activists died nine years ago.
The incident, which took place in the town of Godhra in February 2002,
triggered some of the worst inter-communal violence in India for decades.
More than 1,200 people, mainly from the minority Muslim community, were
killed as groups of Hindus rioted in Muslim neighborhoods and towns across
the state.
Gujurat security officials feared a repeat of the violence following the
verdict. Public gatherings of more than four people in areas seen as prone
to violence have been prohibited, local media have been asked not to
broadcast images of the clashes that followed the attack on the train, and
around 15,000 extra police have been deployed.
The families of the more than 60 people acquitted of taking part in the
train attack have been given police protection. Those convicted are to be
sentenced later in the week. Many have been in jail for years, arrested soon
after the violence.
Special public prosecutor JM Panchal said he was satisfied with the
verdict.
An investigation by a judge six years ago had concluded that the train fire
had been an accident. However, a separate inquiry found it had been
pre-planned and that the train, having been doused in petrol, was
deliberately set alight by a mob.
Commentators say that inter-communal strife following the verdict is
unlikely. Last year, calm followed a controversial court decision over the
disputed religious site of Ayodhya in northern India which granted many of
the demands of Hindu religious groups, leading many to conclude that the
days when sectarian issues could explode into street violence are over.
[HPI note: For Hinduism Today's coverage of the 2002 events, see several
articles on this
issue. ]
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Posted on 2011/2/27 19:47:16 ( 1946
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NEW ZEALAND, February 25, 2011: The
continuing series of earthquakes in Christchurch has now taken a big toll
on life and property. The earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22nd
February has left all New Zealanders somber. The members and volunteers of
Hindu community join the Nation in offering prayers to give strength to the
families and friends of earthquake victims.
The Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations (HOTA) Forum, in
coordination with Sewa International, have launched an appeal to contribute
to the ongoing aid and relief work in Christchurch, and to residents who
have been displaced to various New Zealand cities. To assist with Sewa
International relief work, contact nz_hota@yahoo.com
The Hindu Council of New Zealand, Wellington Mutamizh Sangam, and Hindu
Youth New Zealand volunteers in Wellington, in coordination with New
Zealand Police and Pipitea Marae are working to provide support to victims
of earthquake seeking refuge in Wellington. Support for linguistic and
ethnic groups, including Hindus, Asians, and others is needed. Please email
hindu.nz@gmail.com
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Posted on 2011/2/27 19:47:15 ( 1314
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KAUAI, HAWAII, February 27, 2011:
HInduism Today is working on a story on the Hindu tradition of Goa. We are
in need of specific contacts with these institutions: Shanta Durga temple,
Mangueshi temple, Mahalasa temple, Gokarna and Gaudapadacharya Math, and
with a representative of the Saraswati brahmins. If you can help us, kindly
e-mail: ar@hindu.org
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Posted on 2011/3/7 16:38:57 ( 1999
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UNITED STATES, February 19, 2011:
(By Anju Bhargava) On one side, emphasis in the Hindu and Dharmic (eastern)
traditions appears to be primarily on inner self realization. But we are
encouraged to engage in community service as a transformation practice,
sadhana, without personal recognition or publicity.
Our underlying Vedic philosophy, often quoted by Mahatma Gandhi is Service
to Man is Service to God. It is an inside out approach to living. Our
definition of seva is: 'Service which is given without consideration of
anything in return, at the right place and time to one that is qualified,
with the feeling that it is one's duty, is regarded as the nature of
goodness.' -- Bhagavad Gita 17.20
It is no wonder then that in America, where community service is institutionalized
as a well disciplined field, many wonder, Do Hindus serve the needy? Where
is community service through their faith based institutions? What theology
guides the Hindus to serve? Our research shows seva is done in many ways by
the Hindu Americans, but seems to be 'hidden' and under-reported.
To bridge this gap, and augment the existing ongoing seva activities, Hindu
American Seva Charities, with the blessings and support of many spiritual
leaders, launched a strategic initiative to bring seva to greater
prominence. The aim is to encourage all Dharmic institutions and people of
all Hindu sampradayas to bring seva to the forefront through 'UtsavSeva'
(FestivalSeva), which invokes the spiritual values of our many festivals
that are celebrated through out the year in every part of the world where
Hindus live.
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Posted on 2011/3/7 16:38:55 ( 1967
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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, March 6 (By
Paras Ramoutar): Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago joined their counterparts
around the globe to celebrate Shiva Raatri(Great Night of Shiva) on
Wednesday midnight to Thursday midday. This was being done amidst the
annual Carnival celebrations which started one week ago, and will climax on
Tuesday March 9.
Celebrations were observed in over 500 mandirs and temples,most of them
controlled by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the premier Hindu organization
here, in addition to countless homes and private places of worship.
Pundit Seereeram Maharaj, spiritual leader of the Mt. Kailash Hindu Mandir,
told devotees that Lord Shiva actually personified a human form unto the
physical earth, and He represents physical, spiritual and physiological
energy in the entire cosmic creation. Devotees converged at places of
worship to offer milk, dahee, ghee, honey, cane juice, bay leaves, tilak
cake, flowers and rice to Shiva Lingams.
Strict devotees have been observing fast and abstinence from worldly
pleasures for more than 21 days in preparation for Shiva Raatri. Religious
leaders concur that there was 'a great turnout for this year's Shiva
Raatri'.
The Indian Diaspora here consists of 44 per cent of a national population
of 1.3 million people, with about 24 per cent being strict Hindus. They
came from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India between 1845 and 1917 when over
148,000 East Indians were brought here to work on the sugar planations
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Posted on 2011/3/7 16:38:54 ( 1617
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In the midst of great joy do not
promise anyone anything. In the midst of great anger do not answer anyone's
letter.
Chinese Proverb
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Posted on 2011/3/7 16:38:54 ( 1582
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UNITED KINGDOM, March 1, 2011: The
price of gold has hit a record high as investors worry about the political
turmoil in Libya and spreading tensions across the Middle East. The price
on the London Bullion Market jumped more than $14 to $1,434.50 an ounce.
Gold is traditionally seen as a haven for investors in times of
uncertainty.
Unrest across the Middle East and North Africa fueled a 6% rise in gold
prices during February. Analysts said that the political problems were
pushing oil prices higher and fanning concerns about inflation and slower
global economic growth. 'What gold needed was a catalyst, and it found it
in the form of tensions that are surfacing in the Middle East and rising
oil prices,' said Mark Luschini from the brokerage Janney Montgomery Scott.
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Posted on 2011/3/6 17:00:16 ( 1831
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ISLAMABAD, February 24, 2011:
Despite being the second largest ethnic majority in the country, Hindus in
Pakistan have been unable to acquire possession of their religious places,
agricultural land and other commercial areas. Due to lack of government
action, most sacred sites for Hindus are in a dilapidated condition; the
rest have been converted into schools, hotels or business centers.
According to the National Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue and
Ecumenism, Pakistan is home to 3.9 million Hindus. Most members of the
minority community belong to impoverished agricultural families.
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Posted on 2011/3/6 17:00:15 ( 1664
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, March, 2011: Lord
Shiva's net savvy devotees made online requests for performing the
rudrabhishek on Mahashivaratri in the temples of Sangam city, with online
applications. Many made advance bookings through SMSes.
'We have received hundreds of online applications from devotees seeking
permission to perform the rudrabhishek. Apart from emails and SMSes, many
people have telephones us for this,' said city-based religious scholar Girija
Shankar Shastri. Shastri has asked his disciples to share some of his
workload of answering the queries.
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Posted on 2011/3/6 17:00:15 ( 2192
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 28,
2011: India -- When Sumeet Kohli's husband was killed in a traffic
accident, the 37-year-old was devastated. But when psychiatric medicines
failed to help her, her husband's memory inspired her to make a decision
she says changed her fate: She sought out a regression therapist who helped
her dredge up memories of a past life.
With a deep belief in reincarnation founded in Hinduism, middle-class
Indians are embracing past life regression as a form of psychotherapy --
once more showing how ancient traditions are fueling 'new age' spiritualism
even among successful, educated pragmatists. But even though the concept of
past lives is a vital feature of India's Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist
religions, ironically, the therapy has boomeranged back to the subcontinent
from the United States -- where the new embrace of Eastern religions, yoga
and 'spirituality' has made regression more popular than ever.
The website of a prominent new age magazine lists some 150 practitioners of
the therapy across India. Practitioners in urban centers such as Delhi,
Mumbai and Bangalore say they have seen patient numbers double over the
past five years. And last year a major TV channel pioneered a reality show
in which Mumbai-based psychologist Dr. Trupti Jayin supposedly helped
ordinary people and celebrities access their past lives.
Kohli says past life regression worked for her. She was popping
antidepressants and sleeping pills like candy -- to no avail -- when she
recalled that at the time of his death her husband had been reading 'Many
Lives, Many Masters,' the bestselling book by American past life regression
pioneer Brian Weiss. After a diligent search, Kohli discovered Roma Singh,
a hypnotist and alternative healer, who, like Weiss, claimed she could help
people overcome problems by aiding them in recalling their past lives.
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Posted on 2011/3/6 17:00:14 ( 1773
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NAGPUR, INDIA, February 11, 2011:
Although traditional Indian medicine has long been used to cure many
diseases, the actual mechanism underlying the action of these medicines
still remains largely unknown. Turmeric, neem, and tulsi are known to have
some anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. But which molecules in
these actually act and on what is yet to be worked out even by Ayurveda.
An Indian chemist based in Boston, U.S., has begun isolating molecules from
such herbal sources with the aim of using them to prepare drugs
specifically targeting tropical diseases like malaria, tuberculosis etc. He
is also working towards developing hybrid molecules (mixture of herbal and
modern medicine).
Mukund Chorghade, president of Chorghade Enterprises and chief scientific
officer at THINQ (Technology, Health, Innovation, Novelty and Quality)
Pharma, a contract research organization in Boston, said that his company
was working on diseases that were otherwise of less interest to the West.
'Indian pharmaceutical sector has blindly copied the West. The innovation
rate has gone down substantially. But there is huge scope for developing
drugs based on Indian herbs using reverse pharmacology. My company is
working in this direction for developing medicines especially for diseases
common to Asian population,' he said.
Chorghade said that certain traditional remedies like bitter gourd and
pomegranate juice for controlling diseases like diabetes had worked well
against breast cancer and prostrate cancer in men and women respectively.
'If we can extract the molecules that do this job, we can have certain real
good drugs,' he said.
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Posted on 2011/3/6 17:00:13 ( 1603
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At this supremely dangerous moment
in human history, the only way of salvation is the ancient Hindu way. Here
we have the attitude and spirit that can make it possible for the human
race to grow together into a single family.
British historian Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889-1975)
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Posted on 2011/3/5 17:03:58 ( 1531
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KAUAI, HI, March 5, 2011: The
Apri/May/June edition of Hinduism's flagship spiritual magazine, Hinduism
Today, has been released in digital form and is now available for free on
your desktop. The issue takes you to South America, Texas, Vermont, Nepal,
Northeast India and more. Hold on to the adventure.
But first, our 16-page Insight Section, called 'The Sacred Earth.' It's a
rich survey of the Hindu view of environment, its protection and
degradation. World-class photographer Thomas Kelly traveled the world to
capture stunning images of the growing human impact on nature and climate
change, and writer Matthew McDermott interviews spiritual leaders for their
insights and potential solutions for the human predicament. Their words are
trenchant and their warnings dire. Thomas doubles teams the editors and
also writes a piece on his sometimes frightening but always fascinating
encounters with the sadhus of India and Nepal.
You may never have heard of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh, but they are among
the leading institutions around the world protecting Hinduism and providing
social service. The story of the 6-foot, 6-inch tall BSS founder, Swami
Pranavananda, is a tale right out of India's heroic history, replete with
struggles for independence from Britain and clashes with caste and
untouchability. Today the 500 monks of the BSS guide thousands of
volunteers in reaching deeply into the tribal communities to provide
education, food, training and counsel.
Ever wonder how Hindus look at the issue of homosexuality? Our article
bravely takes you to Guyana where the matter is stirring up controversy
following a piece of legislation that almost passed, a bill that would have
outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. Hindus there are
asking themselves which side of the debate they are on, and the discussion
is fascinating. Our Point-Counterpoint shows the range of Hindu thinking on
a touchy subject.
Our publisher, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, is always giving resources
for parents who want to raise good Hindu kids. In this issue's Publisher's
Desk, he writes about 'When Kids Embrace Hinduism,' advising adults to make
the religion more about tools than rules. He helps us know how to cope with
teens who don't want to go to the temple every week, and who ask their
parents 'Why can't I listen to Hip-Hop music like my friends?' How do you present
our faith to the next generation: as tools for their growth and success or
rules they have to blindly follow?
We love opinions and this issue is chock full of them There is an
Australian swami's view of the changing face of global Hinduism, a clash of
East meeting West that may surprise you. A Texas high school student shares
his reflections on the state of Hinduism in America, the increasing
importance of temples there and the need for more youthful leadership.
Anita Raina Thapan of Vermont tells of her unusual life as the daughter of
an Indian Army officer and a French colonial civil servant. Her mother
adopted Hinduism and inculcated its values into Anita, values she shares
along with her discover of the Chinmaya Mission. Swami Nilhilanand is adamant
that people who claim all religions are one are just plain wrong. He
defends Hinduism, arguing that it has insights and profundities that none
can equal.
There's lots more, of course. Book reviews and humor, plus a look back at
how a Russian ballet dancer rekindled India's love of the art and brought
Indian dance onto the world stage. It's all there in the current issue of
Hinduism Today, where you go to stay in touch with Sanatana Dharma.
Subscribe to the magazine in print http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/wfchannel/index.php?wfc_cid=2 or read it online. http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/
... ads/viewcat.php?op=&cid=2
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Posted on 2011/3/5 17:03:56 ( 1851
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AUSTIN ,TX, March 4: A Hays County
jury on Friday found the spiritual leader of Barsana Dham guilty of
molesting two young girls who grew up at the ashram south of Austin in the
mid-1990s. Prakashanand Saraswati, known to his devotees as Shree Swamiji,
was convicted of all 20 counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.
The jury of eight men and four women returned its guilty verdict after
deliberating for less than two hours.
In the few instances in which the children told an adult of the incidents,
the accusers claimed, they were instructed that the touching had a higher
purpose. 'I was told it was a test and if I failed it I would go to hell,'
Rose said. The other women said they were told the guru was gracing them.
The dramatically differing testimonies from Prakashanand's followers and
the women who profess to have been touched left jurors with the task of
finding the truth. Each side struggled with proving or disproving a case
based on incidents alleged to have occurred 15 years earlier. 'In the end,'
the district attorney said, 'this case is real simple. Either you believe
these girls or you don't.'
Jurors will reconvene on Monday to decide on a sentence.
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Posted on 2011/3/5 17:03:55 ( 1317
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You shine, all living things
emerge. You disappear, they go to rest. Recognizing our innocence, O
golden-haired Sun, arise; let each day be better than the last.
Rig Veda (X, 37, 9)
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Posted on 2011/3/2 17:40:00 ( 1803
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KAUAI, HI, U.S., MArch 2, 2011:
Mahasivaratri is the most important festival dedicated to Lord Siva. This
holy day is observed by millions of Hindus all over the world. It is one of
Hinduism's most esoteric holy days, when yoga practices, mantras and
meditation take the devotee closer to God's essence within the core of
himself. Hindus typically fast, maintain silence and stay up all night to
perform spiritual practices, such as worshiping, chanting and singing. In
some regions, devotees visit as many Siva temples as they can on this
night.
For hundreds of millions of Hindus Siva is the Supreme Being, the absolute
One God who both transcends creation and pervades it--thus existing as our
own innermost essence. Siva is the powerful Deity whose ener- getic dance
creates, sustains and dissolves the universe in endless cycles. He is the
master yogi delving into unfathomable mysteries, the supreme ascetic, the
prime mystic, the Light behind all light, the Life within all life. Siva is
often called Mahadeva, 'Great Being of Light.'
Tonight, millions chant, 'Aum Namasivaya.'
Read more about this festival in Hinduism Today's Festival Media section here. You can also download material, for free, and
offer it to your local newspaper for a report on the festival.
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Posted on 2011/3/2 17:30:31 ( 1390
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INDIA, March 2, 2011: Millions of
Hindu devotees across the country and the world celebrated Mahashivratri
with ritual bathing, fasting and prayers. People thronged temples in
thousands during the day, with many waiting in long queues, to offer
prayers and pour milk on the Shivalingams representing Lord Shiva.
'Mahashivratri is celebrated through the night with chanting and prayers. I
got up at four in the morning and went to the nearby Shiva temple to offer
prayers. I also prepared special sweets for the occasion,' said Radha
Misra, a homemaker in Delhi. 'While women and young girls observe a daylong
fast, it is also believed that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this day
absolves one of all sins,' said Pawan, a student of Delhi's St. Stephens
College.
More than 50,000 devotees, including women, visited the Akhandalamani
temple at Aradi in Bhadrak district of Orissa, officials said. Similarly, a
large number of devotees were seen at the Loknath temple in Puri, about 56
km from state capital Bhubaneshwar, in Huma in the western district of
Sambalpur and Vedvyas in Sundergarh district.
Some highlights:
- In Agra
city, Shiv baraats were accompanied with people dressed up as ghosts
and demons.
- In
Karnataka's Banglore, hundreds of men, women and youth stood in queues
to witness special poojas like 'rudrabhisheka' (pouring of water,
milk, honey, curd and ghee on Shivlinga). The 65-feet Shiva in east
Bangalore and a 122-feet statue at Murudeshwar in Uttara Kannada drew
large number of devotees.
- The major
event on this day in Kerala is at the Shiva temple on the banks of
Periyar river at Aluva near Kochi. 'More than a lakh devotees turn up
and the main ritual is offerings for the dead. People take bath in the
river and remain awake the whole night. It is a great experience to be
part of the celebrations,' said Manjula Nair, a resident of
Thiruvananthapuram.
- In Andhra
Pradesh, thousands queued up at the famous Srikalahasti temple near
Tirupati in Chittoor district to participate in the rituals. Thousands
of devotes from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also descended at
Srikalahasti.
- Large-scale
celebrations were also on at Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam.
The devotees, who fast during the day, will take part in special
rituals at night.
- Thousands
thronged Keesergutta temple near Hyderabad and other temples in
Telangana as many devotees from the region could not travel to
Srikalahasti or Srisailam due to rail blockade by pro-Telangana groups
Tuesday.
- In Madhya
Pradesh's Ujjain town, the festival was celebrated in Mahakaal temple,
who is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Mahashivratri was also
observed with fervor across the state including in Ujjain, Khajuraho,
Indore, Saagar and state capital Bhopal.
- In
neighboring Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country, the centre of
attraction was Pashupatinath, the 7th century paGoda shrine housed in
a complex containing over 400 other temples, big and small.
- Crowds also
spilled out from the packed Jaleshwor temple in Mahottari in southern
Nepal, Halesi Mahadev temple in Khotang in eastern Nepal and the Shiva
temple in Dang in southwest Nepal.
- Pashupatinath
resembled a carnival site with pennants fluttering in the breeze,
twinkling lights and hordes of sadhus with their faces and bodies
smeared with white ash over which were painted various symbols in
vivid red and yellow.
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Posted on 2011/3/2 17:30:30 ( 1984
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PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, March 2,
2011: Once a year thousands of devout souls visit the Ganga Talao (pond),
one of the holiest sites on the island, situated at Grande Bassin in the south,
offer their prayers to Lord Shiva and bring back jal (water) on Sivaratri.
People usually start these preparations more than a month in advance.
Before they set out on this journey to the lake and back, on foot,
palanquins are taken to the temple near their homes. Pujas are performed,
the processon goes and once they reach the Ganga Talao they once again
return home. After all the pujas are done, the murtis in the palanquins are
disposed of in the sea.
Along the path, there are these generous souls who put up stalls so that
pilgrims can rest. They are also offered fruits, juices and vegetarian
dishes.
It is the last stretch that seems to be the longest. After six hours of
walking, the last 20 minutes is the most difficult -- you see the huge
stature of Lord Shiva right in front of you but you never seem to actually
reach it. And then finally you do. You say your prayers and move ahead
towards the main lake beside which the main Shiva linga is. It takes you
another hour or so in line to finally make it there.
The holy water will be poured on the Shiva linga at home or a nearby
temple, where major pujas are conducted on the final day.
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Posted on 2011/3/22 19:03:32 ( 1348
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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 15,
2011: A small ethnic Indian community Chitty -- that arrived in Malacca
from Tamil Nadu for trade much prior to the Europeans and the Chinese in
the 16th century -- has demanded the Malaysian government to designate them
as 'bumiputra' - sons of the soil.
In the Malacca state, there are about 1,500 families of Chitty community,
which is pressing for their demand of bumiputra status just like the
Portuguese settlers who came here for trade centuries ago.
'We are appealing for bumiputra status as a way to preserve our identity as
a community which existed here since ancient times,' Malacca Chitty
Association secretary K. Nadarajan Raja said as he claimed the Chitty came
to the nation during the reign of founder Parameswara, long before the
Europeans. Bumiputra status is enjoyed by all the Malays who form the
majority in this multi-ethnic country. The status allows them extra
privileges with the government.
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Posted on 2011/3/22 19:03:29 ( 1837
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RISHIKESH, INDIA, March 22, 2011:
The organizers and participants in the International Yoga Festival reported
in yesterday's HPI, 'US-Style Yoga Upsets Balance at Indian Festival,' have
challenged the Telegraph newspaper report as blatantly inaccurate. A
further report and numerous comments are posted at the spiritvoyage.com
blog (above), including these two, the first from Sadhvi Bhagawati of
Parmath Niketan, organizer of the festival, and the second from Shiva Rea,
the yogini criticized in the Telegraph report:
Sadhvi Bhagawati: The media in India (and everywhere for that
matter, but laws of integrity in journalism tend to carry more weight in
other countries) focus almost entirely on negative or controversial topics.
There was no controversy at the festival at all that I was aware of, and I
am one of the main organizers.... Yes, there are always 'issues' between
Indian traditionalists and the more modern interpretations by Western
teachers as well as some of the traditional Kundalini yoga practices.
However, the balance goes both ways. For everyone who says, 'this isn't
yoga' in response to some of the Kundalini or Vinyasa types of practices,
there are ten people who say, 'this has transformed my life. It is the best
practice I've ever experienced.' It is never difficult in India to find
someone who will say something negative about anything, so if that's what a
particular reporter was looking for, he could find it easily. However, we
got lots and lots of great, positive coverage - we were in 3-4 of the
largest papers every single day of the festival. So, one or two
controversial articles is probably par for the course. None of this played
out at all at the Festival in any way. Also, we do give very strict
guidelines to our teachers and students about dress codes and we sincerely
request everyone to follow them. From what I've seen, almost everyone does,
and Shiva was fully dressed that day - in long pants and a long sleeve
shirt.
Shiva Rea: I am a bit surprised by the article...very bizarre as it
was not at all what was happening. I am still in Kerala studying
Kalarippayatu and I have been bringing students here to connect with the
roots of Indian culture for the last seven years. I am very respectfully
dressed when I am in India as this was my 12th pilgrimage over the last 20
years. I was offering a namaskaram for Ma Ganga [on the platform over the
Ganga outside Parmath Niketan] and instead of being on a big stage we faced
Ma Ganga all together. One of the most beloved Mataji of the Parmath
Niketan ashram was singing Ganga slokhas and mantras the whole time and we
closed the whole practice by making offerings to Ma Ganga. I was wearing
either crop pants with a skirt over the pants or long pants - honestly I
don't remember - but skimpy is ridiculous. There was a part of the
namaskaram in which we were moving in a sahaja flowing motion with the
mantras with the powerful flow of Ma Ganga . I remember a small handful of
Indian students leaving within 15 minutes but I thought it was too cold or
that they were very much beginners. I felt such blessings from Pujya Swami
[Chidanand Sarawati, Muniji] and all on Shivratri. I actually intentionally
offered classes to honor the source of yoga. Quite bizarre...I think they
were seeking publicity or coming with an agenda. It was a blessed Shivratri
and Ma Ganga is alive in my heart. This was my workshop description not as
a 'defense' but just a glance how limited the engagement of the press is at
going deeper. I would have loved to be interviewed before being plastered
as the 'cover girl' of this article. I am a student and sadhaka like
everyone else. 'Ganga Namaskar - A Prana Flow Movement Offering with Live
Music. In this energetic vinyasa sadhana on the banks of the Ganga, we will
experience a prana flow namaskaram dedicated to Ma Ganga as the living flow
of the Shakti and the healing power of the water element. Through mantra,
mudra, healing asanas, and sahaja flow, we will explore movement as
meditation as a way of embodying the flow of the sacred for realization and
awakening.
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Posted on 2011/3/22 19:03:28 ( 1570
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KAPAA, HAWAII, March 22, 2011:
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, guru mahasannidhanam of Kauai's Hindu
Monastery and publisher of Hinduism Today, is frequently invited to speak
at temples and satsangs throughout the US. He will be making a tour of
Texas, March 24-April 11, with stops in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth,
Houston and Midland, as well as Shreveport, Louisiana, and Phoenix,
Arizona. Visit Source for a full schedule of public events.
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Posted on 2011/3/22 19:03:27 ( 1623
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Shouting to make your children obey
is like using the horn to steer your car, and you get about the same
results.
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Posted on 2011/3/21 16:32:17 ( 1578
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UNITED KINGDOM, March 9, 2011: The
blonde Californian in her 40s writhed as she performed her 'power flow
yoga', to the shock of traditionalists. By the time Shiva Rea, famed for
inventing the high-energy Yoga Trance Dance, had completed her
demonstration at a yoga festival in northern India, some 20 people had left
the room.
For thousands of years, yoga has been expressed through gradual control of
the body, breath and mind. But criticism of Rea's spirited show at the
week-long International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh underscored the growing
and sometimes acrimonious split between purists and practitioners of new,
non-traditional forms of yoga.
Hundreds of visitors, most of them foreigners, come each year to the
Rishikesh festival from dozens of countries, bringing their yoga mats to
learn about breathing, posture, chanting and nutrition from experts in all
types of yoga.
German nutritionist Daniela Wolff, 50, said that she felt happiest with the
festival's tradition-minded Indian teachers, such as the spry 103-year-old
Indian guru Swami Yogananda who gave his course every morning at 6:00 am
sharp. 'They are genuine, do not use fancy words, there is no music. Most
importantly, they don't need to prove anything to anyone,' Wolff said.
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Posted on 2011/3/21 16:32:16 ( 1384
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, March 4, 2011: In
2010, 5,693 children found homes in the country, up from 2,169 in 2008, the
latest government data shows. There has been a fall in adoptions by
foreigners -- 804 in 2008 and only 587 last year. 'Adopting children from
poorer nations in Africa is much easier. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has
been a great ambassador for the continent,' a government official said on
condition of anonymity.
'The guidelines are cumbersome. It takes two to three years to get court
clearance,' said J.S. Mittal, chairperson of Central Adoption Resource
Agency. But that hasn't deterred young Indians in metros except those in
Delhi. Mumbai saw the maximum adoptions, followed by Chennai, Kolkata,
Bangalore and Hyderabad. The states of which these cities are capitals have
the least skewed sex ratio in the country for children below 6.
What is heartening is that more girls than boys are finding parents in
young couples in big cities. More than 55% couples have adopted girls--a
trend which is catching up. Still, it's a long road ahead. Still, only a
fraction of children who end up in orphanages -- those run by the
government and private bodies -- are fortunate enough to find a home.
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Posted on 2011/3/21 16:32:14 ( 1638
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UNITED STATES, March 2011: The
Justice Department has filed suit against California prison officials on
behalf of a Sikh inmate who says his religious freedom was violated when
officials punished him for not cutting his beard. Practitioners of Sikhism
hold that cutting one's hair violates God's design.
Sukhjinder Basra was punished for refusing to shave his beard in accordance
with prison grooming policy. The suit states that by requiring Basra to
shave, the prison compelled him to rebel against his religious beliefs, a
violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
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Posted on 2011/3/21 16:32:14 ( 1641
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UNITED KINGDOM, March 20, 2011: The
world has just experienced the biggest full moon for almost two decades
when the satellite reached its closest point to Earth. On 19 March, the
full moon looked unusually large in the night sky as it reaches a point in
its cycle known as 'lunar perigee'.
Stargazers were treated to a spectacular view with the moon approaching
Earth at a distance of 221,567 miles in its elliptical orbit - the closest
it has passed to our planet since 1992. The full moon could appear up to
14% bigger and 30% brighter in the sky, especially when provided with the
right atmospheric conditions.
This phenomenon has reportedly heightened concerns about 'supermoons' being
linked to extreme weather events - such as earthquakes, volcanoes and
tsunamis. The last time the moon passed close to the Earth was on 10
January 2005, around the time of the Indonesian earthquake that measured
9.0 on the Richter scale. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was also associated
with an unusually large full moon.
However, Dr. Tim O'Brien, a researcher at the Jodrell Bank Centre for
Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, said: 'The dangers are really
overplayed. You do get a bit higher than average tides than usual along
coastlines as a result of the moon's gravitational pull, but nothing so
significant that will cause a serious climatic disaster or anything for
people to worry about.'
But according to Dr. Victor Gostin, a Planetary and Environmental
Geoscientist at Adelaide University, there may be a link between
large-scale earthquakes in places around the equator and new and full moon
situations. He said: 'This is because the Earth-tides (analogous to ocean
tides) may be the final trigger that sets off the earthquake.'
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Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji,
Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism
Today dot com for the collection)
(The Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth,
lovers of wisdom and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the
spiritual path and also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
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