News from Hindu Press International-24

News from Hindu Press International 

Come Back, Veggie Burger, All is Forgiven Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:05 ( 1205 reads ) Source [HPI note: The New York Times ran two stories recently about how delicious Veggie Burgers have become in the last few years.] They were the four syllables that used to have the power to make both carnivores and vegetarians cringe: veggie burger. If that has been your mental framework, it might be time to take another bite. Across the country, chefs and restaurateurs have been taking on the erstwhile health-food punch line with a kind of experimental brio, using it as a noble excuse to fool around with flavor and texture and hue. As a result, veggie burgers haven't merely become good. They have exploded into countless variations of good, and in doing so they've begun to look like a bellwether for the American appetite. If the growing passion for plant-based diets is here to stay, chefs are paying attention. [Food critic Jeff Gordinier wrote this piece: ] Last week I found myself in a situation that many a cheeseburger die-hard might have scoffed at. There I was, standing in a kitchen in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with Lukas Volger, 29, the author of "Veggie Burgers Every Which Way," a cookbook that came out last year. To open my palate to the vast spectrum of veggie options, the exceedingly gracious Mr. Volger had decided to cook me three of his favorite recipes: one with mushrooms and barley, another with tofu and chard, and a touch-of-peanut Thai-style rendition with carrots. He showed me why it's important to fry the patties in an oiled pan, first, to get that crucial crispness, but then to finish them off in the oven so that they firm up without blackening. He talked about avoiding the mush factor; he talked about the usefulness of potato as a binding agent. Mr. Volger isn't showy about it, but the guy knows how to cook. Mr. Volger's veggie burgers were not sad little Shake Shack replicants. They weren't trying too hard to act like beef. They owned up to their garden roots. "This isn't just an approximation of a meat burger," he told me as I bit into one. "It's an expression of a vegetable." And there is hope in that. When my cardiologist eventually places a firm grip on my shoulder and informs me that my lifelong cheeseburger reveries must come to a close, I shall not gnash my teeth in mourning. [Finally, try a delicious veggie burger recipe you can find at the end of this article. ] No comment

Hindu Student's Association's Holi Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:03 ( 1910 reads ) www.HinduStudentsAssociation.org [HPI note: a late but noteworthy report about Holi in American campuses.] USA, April 7, 2011 (Press Release): Over the past weekend, the Hindu Students Association (HSA) celebrated Holi at several of its branches. Though some branches of the organization are quite new, they all drew very impressive turnouts. The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and University of Houston (UH) each entertained upwards of 200 students and community members, while the University of Texas at Austin (UT) had nearly 2000 attendees on their South Mall. On April 9th, a Holi celebration will be held at the HSA chapter at Bellaire High School in Houston, TX. Shivani Agrawal, an HSA officer at UH, said "We are such a small group and when we put all of our efforts together we are able to pull off something as great as Holi on our campus. We had water balloons, tug of war, samosas, snow cones, cotton candy, and a closing aarti." "The events aren't just for Hindus or Indians; the HSA has these events for everyone. Our big mission at HSA is to promote awareness of the Hindu faith by coming out and having these festivals," said Anish Patel, an HSA officer at Texas A&M University. This melding of education and entertainment has made Holi and other such HSA events interesting and engaging to a growing part of the community with each coming year. No comment

India's On/Off Love For Silver Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:02 ( 1656 reads ) Source INDIA, March 30, 2011 (FT): Indians are almost as crazy about silver as they are about gold and the country ranks as the third largest consumer of the bullion, according to the most recent research on silver from Deutsche Bank. But unlike India's recent gold craze when Indians did their bit to to drive global prices higher, the rising cost of silver is seeing demand for the bullion wane. Silver is largely viewed as a "show" gift in India. Unlike gold, it is rarely used for jewelry. Instead, silver bowls, boxes, figurines of gods - even silver motorcycles - are the choicest gifts for almost all occasions. But with a meteoric rise in the cost of the metal, silver is increasingly being used as an ornament in gifting items rather than a gift in itself. Demand for silver has declined by 10 percent over the past year because of high prices, according to a jeweler in New Delhi. India's consumption of silver is very different from its consumption of gold. While the yellow metal is extensively used for all kinds of jewelry, use of silver in jewelry is limited to ornaments worn below the waist because it is considered inauspicious to wear gold on the feet. Another reason for the lack of enthusiasm for silver is that it is rarely seen as an investment. Many Indian homes have pure silver figurines of gods and goddesses and it is common to use silverware in the home. But people are unlikely to sell their silver to cash in during a boom, traders say. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:01 ( 1520 reads ) Source Over the last few years, American universities have had to adjust their cafeteria menus to reflect the fact that ten to fifteen percent of their incoming students are vegetarians. Now the US federal prison system is doing the same, perhaps a dubious distinction for the advocates of vegetarianism. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals see an up side, It should help us all sleep a little better to know we're taking away violent criminals' taste for blood. Estimates of the number of vegetarians in the US run from one to three percent of the total population. No comment

The Right To Register Marriages in Pakistan Posted on 2011/4/8 16:33:27 ( 1473 reads ) Source PAKISTAN, April 1, 2011 (The Tribune): Calling for an end to institutionalised discrimination going back 62 years, the Scheduled Caste Rights Movement of Pakistan (SCRM) demanded quick passage of a law pertaining to Hindu marriage registration. In a press conference held here on Thursday, the SCRM pleaded with parliamentarians and concerned citizens to give Hindus the same treatment as other communities vis-a-vis their right to register marriages. They warned the government that they would launch a forceful campaign if it failed to protect their basic rights, particularly that of marriage registration. Hindu women, hailing from different parts of the country, expressed regret over the government's failure to end injustice against the poor women of the Hindu community. They alleged that they were being discriminated against in the right to possess Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC), which, in their view, was congruent with a denial of their basic rights of citizenship. No comment

Hindus Protest Against Christian Cemetery Around Pashupatinath Temple Posted on 2011/4/8 16:33:26 ( 1974 reads ) Source NEPAL, April 7, 2011 (Spero News): With a petition, the authorities of the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath (Kathmandu) challenge the right of Christians and other religious minorities to bury the dead in the area around the holy place, as laid down by a Supreme Court ruling. The move is likely to fuel new tensions between Hindu and Protestant Christian leaders, 17 days on hunger strike to demand a place to bury their dead. In recent years, Kathmandu has been subject to rocking real estate speculation. This has limited the availability of free land and reduced the areas that were once intended for Christian and other minorities cemeteries. To resolve this problem, in 2009 the authorities granted the Christians Shleshmantak forest near the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. The decision sparked protests from Hindus in other parts of the country and forced the local government to ban the use of the area. Despite the approval of the Supreme Court, police authorities prevent burials near the temple. In February, the Hindus destroyed more than 200 gravestones and tombs built by the Christians after the court's ruling issued on 28 January. The debate on the burial site, however, divides the Christian community. The Catholic Church in Nepal has distanced itself from the protest, saying it had no objection to cremation. Bishop Anthony Sharma, bishop of Kathmandu, says that Nepal is a small country and land is a gift from God. In Kathmandu, thousands of families can not afford land to build a house and live camped in tents. "When the living do not have enough land - he says - there should be no objection to cremating the dead." In Nepal more than 70% of the population is Hindu and traditionally the dead are cremated and not buried. Christians are about 3% and all other minorities buy land for their cemeteries purchased with the money of the faithful. No comment

A Sabarimala Tour Posted on 2011/4/8 16:33:25 ( 1683 reads ) Source INDIA, April, 2011: Sabrimala, in Kerala, is a Hindu pilgrimage center dedicated to Ayyapan. The temple is situated on a hilltop 1500 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The annual pilgrimage is estimated to attract 45-50 million devotees a year. For a panoramic video of the temple and surrounding area, see source above. No comment

Hindus In Italy Celebrate The Commencement of Temple Construction Posted on 2011/4/8 16:33:23 ( 3648 reads ) Source PEGOGNAGA, ITALY, April 4 ,2011 (Gazzetta di Mantova): Yesterday was a day of celebration for the Indian community living in Pegognaga and Suzzara. At a site on Martin Luther King street in Polesine, the first stone of a new Hindu temple was laid by the Shri Hari Om Mandir association. Thousands of people attended; including the mayors of Pegognaga and Special Guest, Consul General of India in Milan, Sanjay Kumar Verma. The mayor of Pegognaga said he was proud of the entrenched Indian presence in the municipal area: 340 people. In nearby Suzzara the Indian community is also numerous. Its mayor, Wainer Melli, gave his blessing. Work will begin next Monday. Part of the building will be completed and ready by November, the entire structure in a year. The consul general said that never before has a town hall been made available to the Indian community as a Passport Camp office. "With great pride and happiness I welcome the cooperation between India and Italy - he said - recommending to all my fellow citizens to behave in accordance with the laws and traditions. What will be built is a temple open all Indians of various faiths, and Italians are welcome. Indian culture is based on hospitality. " No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/8 16:33:22 ( 1717 reads ) Source In one stroke, one can destroy a rock but not a pillow, even so a humble man can never be destroyed, though the man with ego can be! -- Swami Sadananda Saraswati No comment

Lord Muruga Gets a New Murti in South Africa Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:31 ( 2499 reads ) Source PHOENIX, SOUTH AFRICA, April 2, 2011 (Times Live): A Phoenix temple will commemorate the arrival of Indians in South Africa by building an 8m-high statue of the Hindu Deity Murugan. Construction of the statue of Lord Muruga has begun at the Stri Muruga Kovil in Northcroft. The statue is to be a replica of the one at the entrance to the Batu Caves - a Hindu shrine and tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Temple chairman Kovilan Ramsamy said they embarked on the project to celebrate the 150 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa."Construction commenced two months ago with the help of local architects, engineers, suppliers and contractors. It is expected to be completed by July. "The statue will have the exact same detail as the one in Malaysia, with finishes in gold paint," said Ramsamy. "It will be for all Hindus and Lord Muruga followers." "This week, we commenced with the sculpture work, which is being done by a group of builders from Chennai, India," said Ramsamy. Although the project, which is estimated to cost US$ 90,000, had received financial help from corporate organisations, there was a need for additional funding. Ramsamy said the structure at the 29-year-old temple will be visible from various parts of Phoenix. No comment

Religion In India Acts Professionally In Helping The Needy Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:30 ( 1402 reads ) Source LONDON, ENGLAND, March 24, 2011 (Deccan Herald): Religious organizations in India not only operate professionally, but they also follow models of efficiency and ways to attract members that are similar to business organizations. Indian-origin academic Dr. Sriya Iyer of the Faculty of Economics and St Catharine's College said, "We have found that the resilience of religion draws from the ability of groups to undertake innovation and innovative behavior, similar to the behavior observed in business firms". "In the same ways a business tries to stay ahead of its competitors, religious groups are showing the same rational economic responses to changes in the political, ecological and economic environments in which they operate," she added. The survey is believed to be one of the first of its kind in India with researchers finding that although India is becoming more powerful and wealthy, rising social inequality - especially in the poorer states - means religious groups often fill the breach left by the lack of social welfare, especially in the fields of education and healthcare. The study's findings are details in the latest edition of Research Horizons. The Cambridge team from the Faculty of Economics and the Cambridge Judge Business School spent two years surveying 568 Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jain religious organizations across seven Indian states to examine their innovations in offering religious and non-religious service provision. The 'business model' has seen diversification of activities to retain the loyalty of their followers and attract new members, according to the study conducted at the University of Cambridge. Led by Dr. Sriya Iyer, the study reveals that new ways of religious organizations diversifying include cow-lending, computer-based learning; sewing and aerobics classes. No comment

USA Schools Under Pressure To Spare The Rod Forever Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:29 ( 1597 reads ) Source NEW YORK, MARCH 29, 2011 (The New York Times): While the image of the high school principal patrolling the halls with paddle in hand is largely of the past, corporal punishment is still alive in 20 states, according to the Center for Effective Discipline, a group that tracks its use in schools around the country and advocates for its end. Most of those states are in the South, where paddling remains engrained in the social and family fabric of some communities. Each year, prodded by child safety advocates, state legislatures debate whether corporal punishment amounts to an archaic form of child abuse or an effective means of discipline. According to estimates by the federal Department of Education, 223,190 children were subject to corporal punishment in schools in the 2005-6 school year. That was nearly a 20 percent drop from data gathered a few years earlier. In Texas, at least 27 out of about 1,000 school districts still use corporal punishment, said Jimmy Dunne, founder and president of another group that is against the practice, People Opposed to Paddling Students. "Hitting children in our schools with boards is child abuse, and it promotes child abuse at home," said Mr. Dunne, a former math teacher in Houston. "Parents see it's legal in schools and think it's O.K. to do at home." In New Mexico, where more than a third of the state's school districts permit corporal punishment, according to a local children's legal services group, legislators approved a paddling ban this month. Gov. Susana Martinez has not indicated whether she will sign the bill. Senator Cynthia Nava, a school superintendant from Las Cruces and proponent of the ban, said schools were no place for violence of any sort. "It's shocking to me that people got up on the floor and argued passionately to preserve it," she said. "We should be educating kids that they can't solve problems with violence." No comment

Unfoldments of HAF's Take Back Yoga Campaign Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:27 ( 1623 reads ) Press Release UNITED STATES, March 2011 (Press Release): For the past several months, the Hindu American Foundation's Take Back Yoga campaign seems to have taken a life of its own! The Foundation continues to advocate that while no one person or religion owns yoga, the practice is firmly rooted in Hindu philosophy. As a voice for Hindu Americans, we find it important to highlight that the pluralistic nature of Hinduism - the idea that there is one Truth, but many paths - and the experiential nature of Hinduism are the same essential concepts embedded in yoga. From the New York Times to CNN, and now from NPR to Princeton University... the debate and discussion has really pushed forward throughout the month of March. Last month, HAF's Senior Director, Sheetal Shah, was part of a five person panel discussion, entitled The Politics of Yoga, at Princeton University. The hour long panel covered not only the Take Back Yoga campaign, but also topics such as the ultimate goal of yoga, the mass marketing and commercialization of yoga in the West, and the role of religion in yoga. You can also listen to Shah on National Public Radio (NPR) here . The piece was part of NPR's weekly "Faith Matters" conversation. No comment

America, Less White and More Colorful Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:26 ( 1587 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, DC, April 6, 2011 (The New York Times): America's population of white children, a majority now, will be in the minority during this decade, sooner than previously expected, according to a new report. As a result, America's future will include a far more diverse young population, and a largely white older generation. The Census Bureau had originally forecast that 2023 would be the tipping point for the minority population under the age of 18. But rapid growth among Latinos, Asians and people of more than one race has pushed it earlier, to 2019, according to William Frey, the senior demographer at the Brookings Institution. The single largest increase was among Hispanics, whose birthrates are far above those of non-Hispanic whites, largely because the white population is aging and proportionally has fewer women in their child-bearing years. The median age of whites is 41, compared with 27 for Hispanics, the report said. The population of white children fell by 4.3 million, or about 10 percent, in the last decade, while the population of Hispanic and Asian children grew by 5.5 million, or about 38 percent, according to the report, which was based on 2010 Census numbers. Though whites are still 63 percent of the population as a whole, that is down from 75.6 percent in 1990. Mr. Frey estimates that whites will slip into the minority by about 2041. The number of whites grew by just 1.2 percent in the population as a whole in the last decade, a fraction of the 43 percent growth among Latinos. The number of African-American children also fell, down by 2 percent. Over all, minorities now make up 46.5 percent of the under-18 population. Whites are now the minority of child populations in 10 states, double the number from the previous decade, according to the report, and in 35 cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix and Orlando, Fla. Vermont had the largest drop in its child population of any state. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/7 16:41:25 ( 1556 reads ) Source Youth are blamed for being careless and useless, but in reality I feel that they are cared for less and are used less, and as a result the costliest resources of the society are getting wasted. -- Brahmachari Atma Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission, Kerala

US Justice Department Joins Suit Against Bibles-only Jail Policies Posted on 2011/4/14 16:35:33 ( 1845 reads ) RNS USA, April 11 (Religion News Service): Bibles cannot be the only reading materials allowed in jail, the U.S. Department of Justice said in joining a lawsuit against a South Carolina detention center on Tuesday (April 12). The original suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Prison Legal News last October, charged that the Berkeley County Detention Center's policy of banning all books other than the Bible was unconstitutional. "The county's religious intolerance tramples our freedom of religion which is a cornerstone of the United States Constitution," said William N. Nettles, the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, in a statement Wednesday. According to the suit, copies of other publications were thrown away or shipped back. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/14 16:35:31 ( 1801 reads ) Source Whatever defect I have in my sight, in my heart or mind, may God amend! May He, the Protector of the world, bless us! -- Yajur Veda 36.2 . No comment

Himachal Temples Can Now Sell Gold Posted on 2011/4/13 16:54:46 ( 1672 reads ) Source INDIA, April 10, 2011: Temples in Himachal Pradesh will now be able to sell half their gold reserves in the form of gold biscuits and coins at the current market rate. The state assembly has amended the HP Hindu Public Religious & Chairitable Endowments Act 1984 to accomodate the suggestions by temple committees. The yellow metal lying in temple coffers was causing a heavy expense to temple trusts due to the huge cost of providing security to the gold reserves. With 70 percent gold kept aside as reserves, the new amendment will allow the sale of half of what is kept by the shrines. The new law will also allow temples to make use of huge reserves of silver. Himachal Pradesh has at least 13 temples that have large treasure troves, including Chintpurni temple in Una, Naina Devi ,Jwalamukhi, Chamunda Devi, Brajeshwari Devi, Baba Balak Nath, Bhimakali and Hateshwari. These temples have large gold and silver reserves in government tresauries. Two years ago ten temples had over 900 lbs. of gold in government treasuries. No comment

Sabarimala Stampede: Temple Board To Give Compensation To Victims' Families Posted on 2011/4/13 16:54:46 ( 2047 reads ) Source THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA, April 4, 2011: The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the hill shrine of Sabarimala, has begun the process of distributing solatium of US$5,668 each to the families of the 102 devotees who died in the stampede at Pullumedu on January 14. Most of the devotees who died in the tragedy, mainly from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, were returning home after the 'Makaravilakku' darshan at the Lord Ayyappa temple. No comment

Foreign Currency Begins to Matter for Indian Temples Posted on 2011/4/13 16:54:45 ( 1803 reads ) Source [HPI note: With the Hindu diaspora, this is becoming more common: temples and ashrams receiving donations from many places around the world.] PANCHKULA, INDIA, April 10, 2011: The faith of devotees coming to pay obeisance at Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula can not only be witnessed in numbers but also in the form of foreign currency donations. Like previous navaratras, this year as well, the temple shrine board has received donations in dollars and pounds. At the end of sixth Navaratra on Saturday, shrine board had received foreign currency from America, New Zealand, UK, Singapore and Canada. Besides foreign currency, a total of around US$164,000 has been received thru the sixth day of Navaratra, on Saturday, by the temple. Other than money, gold and silver articles donated by the visitors have also been received. No comment

Cabinet Nod For Black Magic Bill Posted on 2011/4/13 16:54:44 ( 2069 reads ) Source INDIA, April 2011: The state Cabinet on Friday accorded sanction for preparing and introducing the controversial Black Magic Bill in the state legislature. The Bill aims at curbing the exploitation of people at the hands of tantriks and fake sadhus. The state government has been struggling with pioneering the legislation against such faith since 2005. The previous bill, the Maharashtra Eradication of Black Magic, Evil and Aghori Practices Bill had been passed by the Assembly but got stuck in the council as Shiv Sena members termed it as being anti-Hindu. [HPI note: The danger lies in leaving it up to the government to decide who are the charlatans and who are the real practicioners of ancient tantric and aghoric arts, most of them traditional and many benign. Who is qualified to judge? This can be an unsettling precedent.] Sources said the bill might either be introduced in the ongoing session of the legislature or an ordinance would be issued after the session concludes. After the ordinance, the bill would then be introduced in the monsoon session of the legislature. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/13 16:54:43 ( 1851 reads ) Source Wealth and happiness are not related to each other as cause and effect. An attempt to secure happiness by securing wealth is as futile as it is absurd. -- Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal(1912-1954), 34th pontiff of the Sarada Peetham No comment

Sabarimala Stampede: Temple Board To Give Compensation To Victims' Families Posted on 2011/4/12 17:00:00 ( 1718 reads ) Source THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, April 4, 2011: The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the hill shrine of Sabarimala, has begun the process of distributing solatium of US$5,668 each to the families of the 102 devotees who died in the stampede at Pullumedu on January 14. Most of the devotees who died in the tragedy, mainly from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, were returning home after the 'Makaravilakku' darshan at the Lord Ayyappa temple. No comment

Happy New Year (or One of Them)! Posted on 2011/4/12 16:53:29 ( 1826 reads ) HPI KAUAI, HI, USA, April 13, 2011: If you celebrate the New Year often enough, does time move faster? Maybe not, though Hindus can say it certainly makes it more enjoyable. Particularly in North India, many celebrate New Year on the day after Diwali, which signifies hope and new beginnings. There are other dates still. But nearly everyone joins the celebrations in mid-April, which are the most common in India. As Indians of the diaspora mix and mingle around the world, differences that used to be cultural and geographic are left behind in the light of the traits that unite Hindus: their common religion and values. Nowadays you will see Gujaratis joining their Tamil friends for a Hindu festival in Canada, for example, and Hinduism is stronger for that. Therefore, we at Hinduism Today wish you all a happy New Year! Read more about New Year celebrations here and download free pdfs ready for the media. An excerpt: Like many ancient cultures, most Hindus traditionally observe the start of each new year with the arrival of spring, which occurs in mid-April in South Asia. That day coincides with the Sun's entrance into the constellation Mesha (Aries), the first sign in Hindu astrology. Follow ing this astrological calculation, the celebration falls on April 14 in most years. Hindus don new clothes, exchange sweets, gifts and greetings of goodwill. They clean their homes and decorate the entrance and shrine room with beautiful, colorful patterns called kolam or rangoli, symbols of auspiciousness. They visit temples, beseeching God and the Gods for blessings for the year ahead. The Goddess Lakshmi and the elephant-headed God Ganesha are especially venerated on this day. In some communities, elders give money to youth and children as a token of good luck--making the year's first financial act selfless and thus auspicious. Families feast together with great revelry, enjoying elaborate dishes and good company. People gather to listen to interpretations of the star's positions and auguries of things to come, for in this culture the Hindu calendar is closely interwoven with astrology. An elder or a learned astrologer may read the family's fortune for the next 12 months, and predictions are even given on Indian television. Read more here. No comment

International Women's Day Celebrated At BAPS Women's Conference Posted on 2011/4/12 16:53:27 ( 2344 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, April 4, 2011: Celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, over 5000 women attended the BAPS Women's Conference 2011 at 20 locations across North America in the month of March. This conference focused on the theme "Women: Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future." Conference organizer in New York, Parul Patel said, "BAPS is committed to the enrichment of women, and we feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to participate in this global celebration right here in Flushing, New York. International Women's Day was on March 8, and is celebrated with several thousand events around the world. No comment

New Edition of "Plants Of Religious Significance: A Hindu Perspective" Posted on 2011/4/12 16:53:27 ( 2487 reads ) Source TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, March 15, 2011: Plants of Religious Significance: The Hindu Perspective, by Rabindranath Lackhan from Trinidad and Tobago, aims to provide information about the plants and flowers used in Hindu rituals and pujas. Sri Lackhan wrote the first edition of the book while he was an undergraduate student at the University of the West Indies (UWI)-St. Augustine. Now, after many requests, he has published a revised edition of the book, trying to incorporate 25-years of new material. He consulted with agencies such as the Caribbean Agricultural and Research Development Institute at UWI to update his material for the revised edition. He also reviewed Hindu texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan and consulted with pundit and psychologist Samsundar Parasram because he was intrigued by the meaning attached to specific plants associated with specific Hindu deities. He also wanted to unearth knowledge about how and why certain leaves and flowers were used in pujas. So he spoke to an expert in that area. He says, "I wanted to know why the paan leaves are placed on the bedi and then the mango leaves are used to pour water or milk." Lackhan also emphasizes the importance of preserving the environment and he encourages people to propagate these ceremonial plants, especially those that will are slowly becoming extinct, adding that, already in some areas it has become a task to obtain once-commonplace plants, such as bamboo. The book is available at bookstores and puja stores in Trinidad; it will soon be available through Amazon. For full review, click here No comment

HASC Announces Seva Conference And Essay Competition Posted on 2011/4/12 16:53:25 ( 2063 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, April 2011: The President's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge will help magnify, value and encourage America's religious and cultural diversity. The initiative will engage the rich, pluralistic diverse communities in partnerships for the common good. It will empower them to be innovative in providing services (seva) to communities in need. The Campus Challenge can build social cohesion and bring together America's increasingly diverse religious society and help advance peace (ahimsa) and justice at home and abroad. It can also foster future collaboration, negotiation and innovation, which can create jobs and promote economic growth and diplomacy. HASC is working to bridge the knowledge gap to sustain Dharmic faith based approach to development. To impact change and encourage new service ideas, HASC is sponsoring a widespread civic and service participation essay contest as part of a conference Energizing Dharmic Seva: Impacting Change in America and Abroad from July 29 - 31. We encourage all, particularly youth, to participate. We need to expand community service. President Obama said as much at Diwali, the Hindu New Year: "Diwali is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection -- a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate then ourselves. This holiday reminds us all that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need." Click here for the flyer. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/12 16:53:24 ( 1605 reads ) Source In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. It has been the solace of my life--it will be the solace of my death. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), German philosopher and writer and first Western philosopher to have access to translations of philosophical material from India. No comment

60,000 Devotees Pour Into Mata Mansa Devi Temple Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:08 ( 1664 reads ) Source PANCHKULA, HARYANA, INDIA, April 5, 2011 (Times of India): With Chaitra Navaratra commencing on Monday, a number of devotees from across the region visited Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula. On the first day of the festival, about 60,000 devotees paid obeisance here. Many could be seen performing rituals early in the morning. From children to newly-married couples and the elderly, people from all walks of life stood in serpentine queues, chanting 'Jai mata di', as they waited for their turn. "We came a day before, so that we did not have to wait for long to pay obeisance. Last time, our turn for 'darshan' had come late in night. Today, we went to the main temple... we will also go to other shrines on its premises," said Sugandha Seth, a Ludhiana resident. No comment

Sai Baba's Health Crisis Sparks Succession Rumors, State Government Ponders Intervention Posted on 2011/4/9 17:28:07 ( 1410 reads ) Source INDIA, April 07, 2011 (rediff.com): Is Sathya Sai Baba recovering? That's the question which has triggered anger and anxiety among devotees at both ashrams at Puttaparthi and Whitefield. According to this report here from four days ago, "Sai Baba, the 85-year-old wild-haired spiritual leader with a following of millions across the world, is in a critical state suffering from multiple problems including a heart condition, lung congestion and kidney failure. 'Baba is a frail person and he is suffering from multiple organ failure,' doctor A.N. Safaya, director of the Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, told reporters at a press conference. 'We pray to Baba to heal himself and come out of this difficult situation,' he said, adding that 27 doctors were attending to him in the institute." But doctors have since said that Sai Baba's condition has improved. The uncertainty over Sai Baba's health is now raising questions about who the potential successor to the Sathya Sai Central trust, which has assets close to US$ 8 billion. Minutes after the news of Sai Baba's failing health broke out, the Andhra Pradesh government rushed a team to discuss the issue of succession. However, this team did not quite receive a warm reception from the members of the trust in Puttaparthi. Trust members feel that the Andhra Pradesh government should not be running the ashram and the assets attached to it. The state government did feel the heat of the resentment from the trustees and was quick to deny any takeover of the ashram. Two possible names in the succession race are is Ratnakar Raju, who is Baba's nephew, and Chakravarthi, a retired IAS officer. Both are members of the trust. Baba's family, which has a say in the affairs of the trust, continues to back Ratnakar. However, Chakravarthi has the support of the majority of the trust members. Sources in the ashram point out that Baba has not named any successor. Prophecy has it that Baba would leave his body at the age of 96 and would be reincarnated as Prema Sai Baba, who would be born in a small village near Mandya in Karnataka. This was mentioned by Baba himself during a discourse in the year 2003.

Hindus Celebrate Rama Navami (Even in Alabama) Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:36 ( 2233 reads ) Source [HPI note: Hindus have celebrated Rama Navami all over the world in honor of the birthday of Lord Rama, a traditional festival that this year fell on April 13. Below is a report from Alabama. You can read more about this festival at our Hindu Festivals for the media page here ] HARVEST, ALABAMA, April 15, 2011 (The Huntsville Times): The scent of a sandlewood fire drifted past icons of holy beasts on the porch of the Hindu Cultural Center of North Alabama Tuesday. A circle of worshipers sat around an open brazier, listening and chanting in Hindi and Sanskrit as a priest led the intricate fire offering in celebration of the birthday of Lord Rama, one of the Hindu Deities. The scene could have happened in the same way 3,000 years ago - except for the iPad2 leaning against one woman's purse. The joyful celebration of Rama Taraka Homam came at the end of nine days of Rama Navami, during which volunteers and priests took turns reading, up to six hours a day, through the 1,000-page Ramayana. The epic Sanskrit poem contains the scriptural story of Lord Rama's life, including the exciting bits when his wife, Sri Sita, was kidnapped by an evil king and then rescued by an army of monkeys led by Hanuman. Rama, his brother Laxman and wife Sita are considered examples of living life according to duty. The period of holy celebrations continues Sunday, 10 a.m., at the temple just off Old Railroad Bed Road in Harvest, with the Sita Rama Kalyanam, the re-enactment of the wedding of Rama and Sita. No comment

Mansa Devi Temple's 72,000 Pradad Packets A Day Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:35 ( 2141 reads ) Source PANCHKULA, INDIA, April 11, 2011 (Indian Express): A packaging machine recently purchased by the Mansa Devi Shrine Board has been working 24 hours a day to meet the demands of packed prasad. During Navratras, the board is offering prasad to devotees in paper packets. Earlier, the prasad was packed manually in small polythene packets. "We have bought the machine for US$5,000. It is churning 3,000 packets of sugar crystals per hour," said Dharampal Dattana, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board. The machine is placed inside the temple campus and requires just one person to put the sugar crystals into it. In a day, the machine churns out 72,000 packets -- during the last seven days, it had produced 504,000 packets, making the production of holy food an industrial affair. No comment

Captive Elephants Decrease In Kerala Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:35 ( 2008 reads ) Source KERALA, INDIA April 2011 (The Deccan Chronicle): Captive elephants were once an inseparable part of Hindu temple festivals alone. Over the period of time, the pachyderms have emerged as Kerala's brand ambassador. However, they will disappear in the next 10 years thanks to aging factors, a reluctance to breed them in captivity and strong laws that protect wild elephants from predatory capture. The state, at present, has only 546 captive elephants. The secretary of the Elephant Lovers' Association, V.K. Venkitachalam, said 50 per cent of these elephants have crossed the age of 50. Principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force T.M. Manoharan confessed the department had no accurate figures to determine their age. "We're now collecting the data," he said. Everyone agrees age is fast catching up with the captive elephants. So, the only answer to supplement their depleting number lies in captive breeding. But most say it wouldn't be economically feasible: an elephant eats a lot from the start, and most mahouts, thinking of old days, just wish they could catch one. No comment

Vegetarians At Lower Diabetes, Heart Risk Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:33 ( 2457 reads ) Source NEW YORK, April 1, 2011 (Reuters): A new study finds that a meat-free diet seems to lower a person's likelihood of having certain risk factors for diabetes or heart disease -- and therefore may lower the risk of one day developing those illnesses. Researchers measured a suite of factors -- blood sugar, blood fats, blood pressure, waist size, and body mass - that when elevated add up to "metabolic syndrome," and found that vegetarians were lower than non-vegetarians on all counts except cholesterol. Having metabolic syndrome puts people at a greater risk of developing diabetes or heart disease in the future. In the study, 23 out of every 100 vegetarians were found to have at least three metabolic syndrome factors, compared with thirty-nine out of every 100 non-vegetarians and 37 out of every 100 semi-vegetarians. "I was expecting there should be a difference," said Nico Rizzo of Loma Linda University, the lead researcher on the study. "But I didn't expect that it would be that much." Rizzo and his colleagues analyzed the diet, health and lifestyles of more than 700 adults. No comment

Hindus, Sikhs May Face Worse Times In Pakistan Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:32 ( 2224 reads ) Source ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, April 15, 2011 (Indian Express): The previous year was a bad one for Pakistan's minority communities including Muslims of various sects, Sikhs and Hindus due to threat to their lives by militants, according to a new report which suggested even worse times ahead. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's report said 418 Muslims of various sects were killed in terror attacks and about 25 per cent of Sikh families in the Orakzai tribal area were forced to leave their homes due to threats from Taliban. It said 500 Hindu families from Balochistan province migrated to India due to threats to their lives and security. The "State of Human Rights in 2010" report, which detailed attacks on the minorities, said: "All indications suggest that there are even worse times ahead." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/16 16:20:31 ( 1397 reads ) Source An old Native American wise man once said there were always two dogs inside of him fighting--a good dog and a bad dog. When asked, "Which one wins," he replied, "The one I feed." No comment

Government Removes Curbs on Women in Kolhapur Temple Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:29 ( 1746 reads ) Source INDIA, April 15, 2011: Kolhapur Collector Laxmikant Deshmukh and Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Satej Patil on Friday announced that women would henceforth be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Mahalakshmi temple here. This decision was taken at a meeting attended by the priests, the Devstan Management Committee officials, and Superintendent of Police Yashashwi Yadav. It was decided to allow special puja by women at a specified time. The meeting also decided to fix specific hours for women to enter the sanctum sanctorum. The developments in the last two days had created a surcharged atmosphere in the temple town as the Opposition parties tried to get political mileage out of the situation. On Wednesday and Thursday, women activists forcibly entered the sanctum and sanctorum of the temple. Women royalty used to be allowed into the sanctum. The government then asked the Collector to put an end to the controversy. No comment

Religious Education To Be Mandatory In Trinidad and Tobago Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:27 ( 2145 reads ) Source TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, April 5, 2011: The government will move to make religious education mandatory at all schools, Education Minister Dr. Tim Gopeesingh announced on Sunday. "The Ministry of Education...intends to implement a new system of religious education in our schools," he said while delivering a feature address at a youth forum hosted by the Hindu Students Council. Gopeesingh elaborated, "Under this reviewed curriculum, all schools, whether they are Government, denominational or private, will be mandated to teach religious education as part of their timetables," he said, "but not in the same manner as done before." He added, "Under our revamped system, all religions and their teachings will be taught to students under the heading of religious education." "This change is aimed at fostering proper knowledge of the teachings, values and morals of all religions among our children from as early as the primary school level, with a view to engendering not just educational learning, but also, tolerance and acceptance of all religious groups by all citizens in our country," Gopeesingh said. No comment

Hindu Chaplain Programs In US Department of Defense Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:27 ( 1999 reads ) Press Release UNITED STATES, April 2011, (by Lt. Col. Ravi Chaudhary): The tremendous growth of South Asians in the Department of Defense has brought about the need build the first Dharmic/Hindu Military Chaplain Programs in DoD. I have been working with a team of action officers here in the Pentagon to make this diversity program a reality. The Office of the Secretary of Defense has officially approved the first Hindu Chaplain endorsing agency, and we are now looking for recruits, as well as follow-on programs for more Indic faith participation. See this testimonial for some background here. The goal of our team is simple: to meet the spiritual needs of military members and families who are sacrificing so much for our nation. We have received several notes and testimonials from military members, and I'm told the President was recently briefed on this endeavor by White House staff; so momentum is building! As we continue to move forward, I would like to reach out to you for your support, awareness, and involvement. We need to recruit candidates to serve as the first Dharmic military chaplains! Contact: Army http://www.chaplain.goarmy.com POC is Chaplain Manning (502) 626-4014 Sgt Cantu (502)-626-1082 Navy http://www.chaplain.navy.mil CAPT Henry Nixon Air Force http://www.usafhc.af.mil POC is Chaplain Giannone 1-800-803-2452. No comment

Britain's Changing Ethnic Map: Thriving Hindus in British Suburbia Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:25 ( 2539 reads ) Source UNITED KINGDOM, April 10, 2011: Any visitor to the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir could not fail to be awed. Everyone from Princess Diana to Jimmy Carter has paid a visit. On 27 October 2000 it broke a world record by serving 1,247 vegetarian dishes to mark the start of the Hindu new year. The temple is in suburban north-west London, in Neasden, where it nestles incongruously near rows of Edwardian terraces. The site was chosen partly because of the region's large number of Hindus, many of whom arrived from Uganda after being expelled by Idi Amin in the 1970s. As Yogesh Patel, a spokesman for the temple, acknowledges, the suburb was attractive to Hindu migrants because of "better employment prospects ... the choice of good schools and business opportunities". The temple, which has a highly successful independent school, is testimony to something significant happening in Britain, a shift that has been occurring largely without notice. Second- and third-generation migrant communities are on the move, driven by increasing affluence and aspiration. "We are seeing an emerging segment of dynamic young professionals, successful entrepreneurs and ambitious, resourceful wealth creators, all giving back to our country, enriching it economically, socially, culturally," Patel said. No comment

How to Save a Trillion Dollars Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:24 ( 2320 reads ) Source NEW YORK, April 13, 2011: In the scheme of things, saving the 38 billion dollars that Congress seems poised to agree upon is not a big deal. A big deal is saving a trillion bucks. And we could do that by preventing disease instead of treating it, using proper nutrition as the cure. For the first time in history, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and others kill more people than communicable ones. Treating these diseases -- and futile attempts to "cure" them -- costs a fortune, more than one-seventh of our GDP. Dr. David Ludwig, a Harvard-affiliated pediatrician and the author of "Ending the Food Fight," says, "The magnitude of the deficit is small when you consider costs of nutrition-related disease; the $4 trillion that the Republicans want cut over a decade is about the same as the projected costs of diabetes over that same period." But this is preventable, and you prevent these diseases the same way you cause them: lifestyle. A sane diet, along with exercise, meditation and intangibles like love prevent and even reverse disease. The best way to combat diet-related diseases is to change what we eat. And if our thinking is along the lines of diet improved = deficit reduced, so much the better. If a better diet were to result only in a 10 percent decrease in heart disease, that's $100 billion project savings per year by 2030. This isn't just fiscal responsibility, but social responsibility as well. And the alternative is not only fiscal catastrophe but millions of premature deaths. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/15 17:24:23 ( 1785 reads ) Source O God of mercy who performs the dance of illimitable happiness in the hall of inconceivable intelligence! The Rig and the other Vedas are thundering forth in words, announcing to us that all are thy slaves, all things belong to thee, all actions are thine, that thou pervades everywhere, that this is thy nature. Such is the teaching of those who, though they never speak, broke silence for our sake. -- Tayumanavar No comment

Kashmiris Celebrate Ram Navami Posted on 2011/4/14 16:35:35 ( 2092 reads ) Source SRINAGAR, April 12 (Kashmir Observer): Kashmiri Hindu community celebrated Ram Navami, the birthday of lord Ram, with religious fervour and gaiety on Wednesday. Members of Kashmiri Pandit community visited temples since early this morning. A large number of Pandits assembled at Ram temple, Sathu Barbar Shah for special prayers. The society demanded that the State Assembly pass the Hindu Temples and Shrines bill to safeguard the religious properties from encroachments and to carry out renovation and repair works of these places. According to Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits staying in Kashmir valley, currently there are 651 families with of population of 2,764 Kashmiri Pandits staying in and outside Srinagar. No comment

Women Barge Their Way Into Temple Sanctum Posted on 2011/4/14 16:35:35 ( 2233 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, April 14, 2011 (The Daily Pioneer): A group of women activists created history on Wednesday by storming into the sanctum sanctorum and performing puja at the famous Mahalakshmi temple at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, where only men are allowed to enter the "garbha-griha". In an incident that created a sensation, as many as 20 activists, led by State BJP Mahila Morcha chief Neeta Kelkar, took the temple authorities by surprise by entering into the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahalakshmi temple -- also known as the Ambabai temple -- located near the 'Old Palace' of Kolhapur, at around noon. The women activists not only ignored the persistent efforts by the priests and police personnel present to prevent them from entering the 'garbha-griha', where the temple management has over the years steadfastly disallowed the entry of women, but they also dressed the presiding Deity with a new saree and performed puja. "Ours was a symbolic protest against the manner in which the temple has over the years been discriminating against women by denying them entry inside the sanctum sanctorum. We wanted this discrimination to go. That's why we staged a protest today," Kelkar told The Pioneer over phone from Kolhapur. Though their puja went off smoothly, they had to jostle with the women constable posted at the entrance before the activists went inside the temple. "I explained to the police personnel that we are protesting against a tradition which is discriminatory towards women and our intention is not to defile the temple in any manner. We managed to perform puja," Kelkar said. According to Kelkar, the temple management explained that scripturally, the menstruation cycle that women undergo periodically is one reason to deny them entry inside the 'garbha-griha' [HPI note: Scriptures advise that blood attracts asuras, low-minded spirits]. She responded, "The temple management should realise that women themselves would not enter the temple premises if they were undergoing menstruation. The temple management cannot impose a blanket ban on all women to ever enter on that pretext. Like I said earlier, the ban does not apply to VIPs. For instance, Shailinitai Patil, wife of late former Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil had gone inside the temple some years ago, when she was the State Revenue Minister," she said. According to Kelkar, women are allowed inside the temples at other "Shaktipeeths" or "Mahamantrukasthans" (abodes of the great divine mother) like Tuljapur in Osmanabad district, Mahur in Nanded district and Vani in Nashik district. No comment

Earth Hour Photos of Swaminarayan Mandirs Posted on 2011/4/14 16:35:34 ( 2168 reads ) Press Release USA, April 8, 2011 (Press Release): BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America commemorated Earth Hour by switching off lights within the complexes at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 26, 2011 to join millions of supporters across the world in observing Earth Hour 2011. Many diverse iconic landmarks as the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium) in Beijing, the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sydney Opera House, and Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue switched off their non-essential lights for one hour at precisely 8.30pm local time. Demonstrating a year-round commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability symbolized by Earth Hour, BAPS Mandirs seek innovative methods to harness cutting edge environmental designs and materials. Currently, many facilities utilize power saving fiber optics, LED lighting and management practices to ensure energy consumption is both optimal and efficient. When Medical West Meets Medical East Posted on 2011/4/26 19:23:09 ( 1658 reads ) Source RISHIKESH, INDIA, April 2, 1011 (by Sonal Srivastavaon): Western medicine is very effective for trauma care and in dealing with life-threatening conditions. But it is of little help when it comes to educating people on how to live healthy so that they can avoid diseases. For many decades, people were terrified of cholesterol so they ended up consuming lots of simple carbohydrates, which created its own problems. The fact is that two-thirds of cholesterol in the body is produced by it. It's only in the past few years, that western medicine practitioners have realized, that the amount of cholesterol in the blood is secondary to the level of inflammation in the body, said Robert Svoboda, the world's first licensed western practitioner of ayurveda, at a conference on ayurveda organized by the Punarnava Ayurveda Trust in Rishikesh. When I was young, women in America were discouraged from breast-feeding their children because scientists felt that baby milk formulae were healthier -- full of vitamins and minerals, they were considered much better for babies than mother's milk. It was several years before doctors realized that there are other things in the mother's milk that can't be found in packaged baby food. This is an ongoing process; research identifies something; there is a great flurry of activity around that thing and then comes new research that refutes the earlier findings, he added. No comment Udupi Temple Opens In Toronto Posted on 2011/4/22 17:00:25 ( 3505 reads ) Source TORONTO, CANADA, April 13, 2011 (South Asian Focus): An Udupi matha (temple) has opened in Toronto's east end. The Sri Krishna Brundavana has come up at a spacious facility sprawling across more than 20,000 square feet in Scarborough. The matha was formally inaugurated on the occasion of Ugadi (New Year's Day for India's Kannada and Telugu speaking communities), on April 4, by Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji from Udupi Sri Krishna Temple in Karnataka, India. Swamiji, who heads the Puthige matha at Udupi, said the spacious Scarborough facility, with in-house premises for its priests, would serve all of the community's local requirements, while the Vidyapeeth (university set to open this summer in the Niagara Falls area), would help train priests, both for students from North America as well as India. "It is important particularly for our younger generations to stay engaged with the time-tested philosophies of our Sanatana Dharma," he said. Swamiji said the two new Canadian projects were aimed at helping preserve our traditions while seeking to foster world peace. He is also seeking more interfaith dialogue to spread awareness and promote peace. 1 comment Hindus Find a Ganges in Queens, But Different Rules Apply Posted on 2011/4/22 17:00:24 ( 2005 reads ) Source NEW YORK, April 20, 2011 (NY Times): It was just after dawn last Sunday when a pair of pilgrims lighted incense on the shore and dropped two coconuts into the sacred waters, otherwise known as Jamaica Bay. As the Hindu population has grown in Queens over the last decade, so too has the amount of ritual debris -- clothing, statues, even cremation ashes -- lining the banks of the bay in Gateway National Recreation Area. But to the park rangers who patrol the beach, the waters are a fragile habitat. Unlike the Ganges, they say, the enclosed bay does not sweep the refuse away. The result is a standoff between two camps that regard the site as sacrosanct for very different reasons, and have spent years in a quiet tug of war between ancient traditions and modern regulations. Strenuous diplomacy on both sides has helped, but only to a point. "I can't stop the people and say, 'You can't come to the water and make offerings,' " said Pandit Chunelall Narine, the priest at a thriving Ozone Park temple, Shri Trimurti Bhavan, who sometimes performs services by the bay. On Friday, Earth Day, prominent Hindu leaders were about to join park rangers in a cleanup of the beach, close to Kennedy International Airport, as part of a longstanding "leave no trace" campaign. Park officials, wary of dictating matters of faith, have reached out to Hindu temples, gently encouraging members to pray at the waters but to leave nothing behind. And many Hindus have obliged. Most Hindus who visit the beach are immigrants from the Caribbean islands and Guyana who have settled in the Richmond Hill area of Queens. They are largely descendants of Indian workers sent to the Caribbean in the 19th century. Ricky Kanhai and his wife, Asha, both 28, visited the beach last Sunday to pray that they would soon have a child. Mr. Kanhai waded into the water and poured jugs of milk, dyed pink with turmeric, into the sea foam. From the shore, his mother-in-law, Lalita Prasad, waved a tray of fried treats toward the bay. Normally, Ms. Prasad would leave the pastries in the water for Mother Ganga. But because of the fines and the park rules, she packed them back into a plastic bag to take home. "In your heart, you feel like your offering is not accepted," she said. "But we have to obey the rules." No comment Devotees To Relish 2,450-Lb. Modak On Hanuman Jayanti Posted on 2011/4/22 17:00:23 ( 1697 reads ) Source VARANASI, INDIA, April 17, 2011 (The Times of India): A giant modak (ladoo) weighing 2,450 lbs. will be a special attraction on Hanuman Jayanti that will be celebrated at Sankat Mochan Temple in the city on Monday. Unveiling the giant-sized ladoo for the devotees on Sunday, the founder of Dhwaja Yatra (flag procession) that marks the celebrations in the city, Kaushal Sharma said that the prasad would be distributed to the devotees on Hanuman Jayanti. It is also one of the biggest ladoo in the region that will be offered to the devotees on the auspicious day, he added. A special 18-day-long flag procession (Dhwaja Pheri) culminating at Sankat Mochan Temple will also mark the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. No comment Sydney Sanskrit School Launches Dhimahi Magazine Posted on 2011/4/22 17:00:23 ( 2492 reads ) Source SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, March 2011: On 19 March, the Sydney Sanskrit School under the auspices of the School of Vedic Sciences (Aust) Inc, launched their bimonthly magazine Dhimahi. The newsletter published once every two months is aimed at sharing the knowledge of vast Vedic sciences and discussing its relevance in this modern day world. It will also highlight the activities of the Sydney Sanskrit School. The word Dhi is a reference to that revered intelligence which descends into this plane to help us cultivate service and guide us in our deeds. It also signifies right actions, ability to realise noble thoughts into ethical actions complementing ones responsibilities. The word Mahi stands for the mother earth. The harmony of heart, hand and mind, the accomplishment of noble thoughts in fulfilling ones responsibilities is known as Dhimahi. No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/22 17:00:22 ( 1645 reads ) Source Youth are blamed for being careless and useless, but in reality I feel that they are cared for less and are used less, and as a result the costliest resources of the society are getting wasted. -- Brahmachari Atma Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission, Kerala No comment Leaders of Five Different Religious Backgrounds Confront Contemporary Issues Posted on 2011/4/21 20:07:22 ( 2427 reads ) Source TEXAS, April 2011 (My West Texas): Leaders of five different religious backgrounds discussed how their traditions allow them to understand and confront contemporary issues. The religious officials commented from a faith perspective, asked by moderator Russell Meyers. On the topic of suffering and tragedy in the world, the panelists all acknowledged they could not give a clear answer as to why bad things happen. "I think that suffering and evil are simply brute facts of the world, facts that are as inexplicable as they are undeniable," said the Rev. Jim Liggett of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church. "It's just the way it is." "Everything happens for a purpose," said Rabbi Sidney Zimelman of the Temple Beth El in Odessa, who called humankind's struggle with suffering and pain "one of the most vexing obstacles to faith". But Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the current spiritual leader of the Kauai Hindu Monastery in Hawaii (and publisher of Hinduism Today), said natural disasters are bound to happen while living on a dangerous planet like earth. "God didn't guarantee us a planet free of imperfections," he said. "The fact that it is imperfect goads us on to grow spiritually." The panelists also were asked to share what they believed to be the ultimate goals in their faith journey. Satguru Veylanswami used the opportunity to explain some of the differences between Hinduism and the other faiths represented on the panel. He said the only way to break through the cycle of reincarnation is to become fully engrossed in God, which comes from truly knowing oneself. "The essence of the soul is the same as God," he said. "If we can find that consciousness within us, then we find that part within us that is identical with God." The religious leaders also tackled politically charged questions, such as religion's place in politics, abortion and the ability to pray at schools. Though Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami said Hindu scripture is clearly pro-life, abortions still are allowed in India, where roughly 80 percent of the population is Hindu. But in terms of karma, he added, killing an embryo can be likened to killing one's parents. [HPI note: You can watch videos of the event at Kauai Aadheenam's Youtube channel here.] No comment Hindu-Maori Perspectives on Holistic Health Posted on 2011/4/21 20:07:20 ( 1881 reads ) Source NEW ZEALAND, April 14, 2011 (Press Release via the Indian Weekender): The second Wellington Region Hindu Conference was held at the Waiwhetu Marae, Lower Hutt, on April 9. The theme of the conference was "Hindu-Maori Perspectives on Holistic Health: From Individual and Whanau to Community". The two ancient cultures discussed the great amount of similarity in their worldview towards humankind, nature and environment. Based on these deliberations, it was decided to follow up the Ministry of Health to get official recognition for the Hindu system of Yoga as an alternative therapy. The conference was organized by the Wellington chapter of the Hindu Council of New Zealand, Inc (HCNZ) in co-operation with the Waiwhetu Marae. Maori hosts and Hindu manuhiri got together at the conference at the Marae. AROGYA (a division of HCNZ) has been offering yoga and pranayam classes in various suburbs of Wellington, and now has plans to train instructors to address the growing popularity of these classes. No comment A New Vegetarian In The House. Now What? Posted on 2011/4/21 20:07:18 ( 2441 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, April 1, 2011 (northjersey.com): About three million kids, or 8 percent of those aged 8 to 18, say they never eat meat, according to a 2009 Harris poll sponsored by the Vegetarian Resource Group. About half of these consider themselves true vegetarians, meaning that they not only don't eat red meat, but also leave out poultry and fish. Many more will dabble with vegetarianism sometime during childhood and adolescence, trying it out for a short period of time. Some of these children come from families who are already vegetarian or vegan (eating a diet that avoids all animal products, including meats, dairy and, sometimes, honey), and so this is just the status quo. But there are also many who come to a decision to eschew meat on their own. And this can present some challenges for harried carnivorous parents trying to provide healthful yet convenient meals for the entire family. "It's all about including lots of whole (minimally processed) plant foods. And if you meet your calorie needs with an abundance of whole plant foods, your nutrient needs will effectively be met," notes Dina Aronson, a registered dietician, long-standing vegan, and mother of two from Montclair. Overall, you can look at this as a great opportunity for the entire family to learn to eat a bit more adventurously, healthfully, and mindfully. Even if only one member says no to meat. No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/21 20:07:16 ( 1337 reads ) Source You have the potential to be like the great oceans, like the trees and the mountains, strong, determined--full of destiny and purpose. -- Mansukh Patel No comment Malaysian State Allocates Land For Construction Of Temples Posted on 2011/4/20 17:10:00 ( 1784 reads ) Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 31, 2011 (msn.com): Malaysia's Selangor state has allocated a large tract of land for the construction of Hindu temples, gurudwaras and other non-Muslim shrines throughout the region. Executive Councillor Xavier Jayakumar told the state assembly that the government, through the Non-Muslim Affairs Committee, has approved 90 applications for the purpose. Of the total area, 114 hectares were for Chinese temples, 7.67 for Hindu temples, 4.74 for churches and 0.74 for gurudwaras, he said. Xavier also said the state government had no plan to come up with a masterplan for the construction of non-Muslim houses of worship. The government, through the committee, would however monitor and solve issues regarding the need for such houses in certain areas, he said. No comment Fervor Marks Vishu Festival at Sabarimala Posted on 2011/4/20 17:03:27 ( 2012 reads ) Source INDIA, April 19, 2011 (The HIndu): "Vishu," a festival of luck and prosperity, was celebrated with religious fervour at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Friday. The temple witnessed heavy rush as thousands of devotees from different parts of south India thronged the hillock to witness the auspicious 'Vishukkani' on Friday morning. Chief priest Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri assisted by other priests arranged the 'Vishukkani' with flowers, especially that of cassia fistula (kanikkonna), fresh fruits, vegetables, paddy spikes, jewels, and Ashtamangalyom inside the sanctum sanctorum immediately after the 'Athazhapuja' on Thursday evening. The temple was opened at 4 a.m. for the 'Vishukkani' darshan. Sabarimala Sannidhanam has been witnessing heavy rush since Thursday evening and devotees had to wait for five to six hours for darshan on Friday. Though the darshan was scheduled to end by 7 a.m., the temple authorities were forced to extend it till 8.30 a.m. owing to the unprecedented rush. The temple will be closed on April 18 evening, marking the culmination of the Vishu festival. No comment Hindus Join Muslims To Resurrect Temple and Mosque Posted on 2011/4/20 17:03:26 ( 1815 reads ) Source INDIA, April 6, 2011 (The Hindu): In Maharashtra's Latur district, the village of Rui is witnessing unity and tolerance between Hindus and Muslims. An ancient Ram temple, destroyed during the battle between the Peshwas and the Nizam of Hyderabad around 275 years ago, and a masjid/dargah, destroyed about 63 years ago have been rebuilt, thanks to the efforts of both communities. On April 9, the two places of worship will be inaugurated and a 'National Conference on Communal Harmony' will be held, president of the Organising Committee of the conference Vishwanath D. Karad said. According to him, the residents of the village, which has a population of 4,000, have initiated the program. "The people belonging to all religions like as well as all castes and communities have willingly come together for the renovation and reconstruction of the Shri Ram Temple and the Jama Masjid/Dargah Sharif," he said adding, "This is nothing but historic." No comment Proven Secrets of Longevity Posted on 2011/4/20 17:03:25 ( 2205 reads ) Source GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, April 14, 2011 (NY Times): Walter Breuning Breuning decided it was time for him to retire from the railroad at age 67. It was 1963 and he had put in 50 years as a railroad worker. But he stuck by his philosophy and kept working. He somehow felt he would have a productive life still ahead of him, and he was right. The world's oldest man died Thursday, a t 114 years old. Here are the world's oldest man's secrets to a long life, according to his simple life philosophy. They worked, at least for him: -- Embrace change, even when the change slaps you in the face. ("Every change is good.") -- Eat two small meals a day ("That's all you need.") -- Work as long as you can ("Keep on working as long as you can work and you'll find that it's good for you.") -- Help others ("The more you do for others, the better shape you're in.") No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/20 17:03:24 ( 1461 reads ) Source Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them back; but if you do, you destroy yourself. No comment Thai-Cambodia Clashes Continue For 7th Day Posted on 2011/4/29 17:16:19 ( 1481 reads ) Source PHANOM DONGRAK, THAILAND, April 27, 2011: Artillery fire boomed across the Thai-Cambodian frontier for a seventh day Thursday as fierce border clashes erupted again between the two neighbors. The border dispute has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides. In Cambodia, field commander Col. Suos Sothea said the fighting was centering again around the ruins of two crumbling stone temples from the Khmer Empire at Ta Moan and Ta Krabey, which have been caught in crossfire since last Friday. The conflict involves small swaths of land along the border that have been disputed for more than half a century. Fierce clashes have broken out several times since 2008, when Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given U.N. World Heritage status over Thailand's objections. In fighting over the historic temples, both nations are contributing to the deterioration of the site. No comment Tamil Religious Lessons To Be Held In Schools Soon Posted on 2011/4/29 17:16:19 ( 1873 reads ) Source MALAYSIA, April 15, 2011 (The Star): The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is taking the necessary action to ensure Tamil religious classes are held in schools and temples nationwide by next year. It quoted its president R.S. Mohan Shan as saying that the organization would have 2,500 locally-trained religious teachers to conduct the classes in the next five years. Shan said lack of religious and moral education among the younger generation had resulted in an increase in social issues affecting the Indian community. And the Sangam would cooperate with other Indian organisations to solve social problems affecting the Indian community. No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/29 17:16:18 ( 1520 reads ) Source Temper is the one thing you can't get rid of by losing it. -- Jack Nicholson in the movie "Anger Management " No comment Meenakshi Temple Gets Control Room Posted on 2011/4/28 16:40:04 ( 2094 reads ) Source MADURAI, INDIA, April 15, 2011 (THe HIndu): A state-of-the-art control room to operate 32 Internet-Protocol Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, which will monitor all the entrances and exits and detect suspicious movement of visitors to Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here was commissioned on Friday. All the cameras can be accessed and controlled through the Internet. The cameras have the platform for adding sophisticated software such as face recognition software at a later stage. Two such control rooms have been installed -- one in South Adi Street which would house a database and will be under the temple's control, and another in East Chithirai Street at the outpost for police personnel. A temple official told The Hindu that all cameras had been fitted with sensors that would be capable of analyzing and detecting unusual activities, if any, of visitors. The cameras could also count the number of visitors entering and exiting the temple. They have been fitted with motion-sensors that can detect intruders even at night. No comment Indian Tattoos--Traces Of The Divine Posted on 2011/4/28 16:40:03 ( 2993 reads ) Source BANGKOK, THAILAND, April 11, 2011 (Bangkok Post): Girish Giridhara's arms are tattooed with Hindu Gods, Goddesses and sacred mantras. The spiritual designs are intricate but also hardly surprising for a man who once trained to be a priest. The 36-year-old tattoo artist was an exhibitor at the Indian Ink tattoo convention. The exhibition in Mumbai this weekend is billed as India's first, with organisers hoping to tap into a growing interest in permanent body art among young Indians. But Girish knows that body art in India is not a new trend set by cricketers or movie stars. Tattooing has been an integral part of Indian tribal culture for centuries and no Hindu wedding is complete without the mehndi ceremony, where the bride's hands and feet are elaborately decorated in non-permanent henna. "It (tattooing) is documented in the Vedas from the time of The Mahabarahata. Lord Krishna had a tattoo done for his queen," said Girish, who runs the Bramha Tattoo Studio in Bangalore. "It's been around for a long time, then it disappeared for some reason. Now it's come back," he said. Reality television shows have helped change the modern mindset towards tattoos in India. That change has also influenced designs, with previously popular Western and Japanese art making way for styles reflecting India's rich and varied artistic, religious and cultural heritage and as a form of identity and self-expression. Girish's route into tattooing was unconventional. He comes from a family of Hindu priests and studied in temples between the age of eight and 15 to become one himself. He first became interested in body art aged eight. "There was a lot of opposition in my family," he said. "But we asked the scholars and they said tattooing can be taken as an occupation by a priest if it involves spiritual guidance and medicinal use. So, I started tattooing." Even though he may not be a practicing pries, Girish still sees a divine element to his work. No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/4/28 16:40:00 ( 1770 reads ) Source I discovered the secret of the sea in meditation upon the dewdrop. -- Kahlil Gibran No comment New Methods of Proselytization Posted on 2011/4/28 16:40:00 ( 2428 reads ) Source INDIA, April 3, 2011: Christian missionaries have adopted the latest marketing strategy to hoodwink the gullible, poor, uneducated Hindus in Bangalore by offering plain cash prizes for those who dump the photos of Hindu Gods and replace them with photos of Jesus in their houses. And a bonus cash prize will be offered to those Hindus who wear a cross symbol secretly, revealed a recent case study conducted by Dr. M. Chidanandamurthy, noted thinker, Philosopher, researcher, columnist and a social activist from Bangalore. According to Murthy, conversion agents identify Hindu families who are financially weak and promise to provide them with cash prizes for displaying 'some' photos. By offering money on the spot, agents manage to include a photo of Jesus in the middle of Hindu Gods. After few weeks the round two operation starts by releasing another installment of money and influencing them to place the photo of Jesus above Hindu Gods in a more visible manner. Again after few weeks, the conversion agents lands there with more money and convinces them to discard photos of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Additional money is given for embracing Christianity. "It is a bargain and if a converted Christian is willing to wear a cross, they will be entitled to claim a bonus which will be happily given to him by agents and will also earn incentive from foreign funds used by Christian Missionaries" Murthy explained. He has charged the conversion agents with 'agenda to misuse the situation'. According to him agents play a major role during ill-health of Hindus and offer a free prayer meeting to get rid of diseases only to get them converted to Christianity. No comment

 

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