News from Hindu Press International-28

News from Hindu Press International 

Sea of Pilgrims at Puri for Annual Jagannath Chariot Festival Posted on 2011/7/4 16:29:50 ( 1375 reads ) Source PURI, ORISSA, July 4, 2011 (Indo-Asian News Service): Tens of thousands flocked to Orissa's Jagannath Temple in Puri as the annual chariot festival or Rath Yatra began on Sunday. All the rituals have began almost on scheduled time, Laxmidhar Pujapanda, the public relations officer of Jagannath Temple, said. The festival marks the journey of three Hindu Deities - Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the 12th century Jagannath temple, about 56km from state capital here. They are carried in three splendid wooden chariots, pulled by devotees, to the Gundicha temple, about two kilometres away. Half a million devotees had reached Puri by 8am, Pujapanda said. "The weather is conducive and we hope by evening, the numbers could swell to more than a million," he said. The festival culminates nine days later when the Deities make their way back home to the Jagannath temple in their return journey known as Bahuda Yatra. A glimpse of the Deities on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious. Thousands of policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order. Closed circuit security cameras have been installed at various places to keep a watch on troublemakers and manage crowds. At least 56 special trains are running from different parts of Orissa, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to meet the extra rush of passengers to Puri during the festival, the Bhubaneswar headquartered East Coast Railway said.

Posted on 2011/7/13 17:28:56 ( 0 reads ) Japan Making a Better Use of Ayurveda VARANASI, INDIA, July 2011: According to Dr. U.K. Krishna, who has been practicing and popularizing ayurveda in Japan for the past two decades, the country is already on its way to accept ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine system, as holistic medicine system. "The past two decades have witnessed the spread of ayurveda from meagre one to two per cent to around 12% of the populations, a figure enough to suggest growing popularity of the medicine system in Japan. Also, the country has evolved successful marketing strategies to promote ayurveda, something which India lacks despite being the originator of the system," he informed. The Japanese have worked really hard to understand the basic concepts in ayurveda and now they know that the discipline offers solutions for a number of ailments, which cannot be cured by modern medicine alone. It is true that the country has one of highest life expectancies in the world and now they are striving for longer quality of life with the help of ayurveda. The life style diseases including diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are also growing in Japan and people are turning to traditional medicine. The traditional medicine system in Japan has its root in oriental system as practised in China, but it has its own limitations. The country has been fast enough to realise the significance of inter-disciplinary approach in medicine system, taking the best out of every medicine system. "India also needs to take a leaf out of this practice in Japan, if it is wishing to address a wide range of diseases and improve health conditions," added Dr. Krishna. No comment

Sacred Spaces: Inside a Hindu Temple Video Posted on 2011/7/13 17:28:50 ( 2488 reads ) Source LANHAM, MARYLAND, June 25, 2011: Sacred Spaces is a series on the Belief Blog. In this installment you are taken inside the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple near Washington, DC. On a cool spring evening just outside Washington, a steady stream of worshipers arrive at Sri Siva Vishnu Temple for prayers. The temple brings together the burgeoning Hindu population near the nation's capitol. In India, a temple is typically dedicated to one particular god, but the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple has many Gods to accommodate the diversity of Indian people in the area. "We have a wide variety of congregation and each one of them says, 'I want this God' or 'I want that God,' " said S. Krishnamurthy, one of the founder/trustees of the temple. Unlike other religions, there are no sermons, lectures or homilies. The role of the Hindu priest is to help the people pray to any of the Deities in the temple. Priests go through extensive training, from 10 to 15 years, on the methods of prayer. Even with all that training, priests are not to direct worshipers on what to do, Krishnamurthy said. [HPI notes: Be sure to watch the well done video at source, linked above.] No comment

Yoga Can Tackle Mental Disorders Posted on 2011/7/13 17:28:39 ( 1777 reads ) Source BANGALORE, INDIA, July 4, 2011: Yoga is no longer a traditional fitness workout. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (Nimhans) not only has a 45-minute yoga package to treat psychiatric disorders like depression and schizophrenia, but has started comparing its curative effects with general medicine. Doctors at Nimhans say their studies reveal evidence of biological changes in the body brought about by yoga. They prescribe yoga therapy along with medication in major ailments, while using yoga therapy alone for less serious disorders. "In all our investigations, there is a high degree of evidence that yoga in different forms does have a curative effect in diseases like depression, memory loss in elderly persons, schizophrenia and others. We worked out specific protocols for yoga for specific neurological problems. The degree of improvement is comparable to that of medicine," said Dr. B.N. Gangadhar, program director, Advanced Centre for Yoga, Nimhans. "We found that chanting of 'Om' reduces activity of sensors which have become hyperactive in patients suffering from depression," Gangadhar added. No comment

Raelians Seek To Reclaim Swastika Posted on 2011/7/13 17:28:33 ( 2157 reads ) Religion News Service UNITED STATES, June 2011: A UFO sect that believes human beings were created by extraterrestrials will host World Swastika Rehabilitation Day on Sunday (June 26) in an attempt to reclaim the swastika from the Nazis as an emblem of peace. Raelians, whose symbol consists of a swastika that intertwines with two overlapping triangles to form a star, say the controversial emblem has been "hijacked by the Nazis," and that their goal is to "return the swastika's true meaning of peace and harmony." While the day is led by Raelians, organizers say that the event also includes Buddhists and Hindus because their traditions have also used ancient versions of the swastika in religious imagery. Raelians, also known as the International Raelian Movement, were founded in 1974 by Claude Vorilhon, a former singer-songwriter and race car driver now known as Rael. [HPI note: Hindus could reclaim the Swastika from the Raelians...] No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/13 17:28:27 ( 1782 reads ) Source The son's duty to his father is to make the world ask, "by what great austerities did he merit such a son?" -- Tirukkural No comment

A Hindu Temple Treasure Dilemma: Answers from the Ancients Posted on 2011/7/12 19:43:48 ( 2180 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, DC, July 11, 2011 (by Aseem Shukla, co-founder of HAF, for the Washington Post): India as a land of stunning contradictions is as much a tired cliche as it is true. But what to make of the priceless treasures? Why would the government demand that the vaults of the private Padmanabhaswami temple be opened? And what to do with a bounty suitable for the Gods? In these questions lies a potent commentary on the vagaries of Hindu life in India today. In a bid to define a very idiosyncratic version of secular democracy, India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, placed the most prominent Hindu temples under government control by appointing the boards that administer them. So while Hindus do not actually control many of their temples, churches and mosques enjoy freedom from any government interference. This inconsistency was exploited by the Supreme Court of India, that could then claim authority to force the long hand of big brother into the most sacred depths of a temple and force open its vaults. The 16th century Padmanabhaswamy temple was preserved by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore, now part of the southern state of Kerala, for generations, and it was they who placed their own royal assets into the temple in their faith that the Deity of the temple is actually the legitimate ruler of their kingdom. While the gifts to their patron Deity had a pragmatic dimension for the royals since the assets could be used in time of crisis, such as famine or war. Not surprisingly, socialist leaders in India are calling for the temple wealth of an estimated 22 billion dollars, that may amount to as much as the entire annual education budget for India, to be summarily sold off with the money distributed to the millions of the nation's poor. Of course, if temples could be pawned off so easily, churches and mosques--perhaps even the glittering gold lining Sikhism's holiest shrine--would be next? Should the Sistine Chapel be sold to bail out Italy's sovereign debt crisis? Hindu shrines receive no government subsidies for their maintenance, and the idea of India's notoriously corrupt government confiscating their treasure is thankfully anathema to most observers. S.P. Sabharathnam, one of the foremost scholars of the Agamas based in India, explained to me that the Mulakosa Bhakta Vivarana (Allocation of the Divine Treasure) chapter specifically enjoins that the treasures should be held, but the interest accrued can be used for worldly needs ranging from preservation of that temple and other temples in need to feeding of devotees and the poor and creating schools for preservation of Vedic and general studies. Follow the words of the ancients, and such a move could revitalize the temple and address the urgent needs of many lesser known Hindu institutions decaying in the face of weak governing boards and government neglect. The story playing out in south India must end well for that temple, as the stakes are as high as the valuation of the gold. Perhaps the temple will some day display a sampling of the wealth that characterized the Indic civilization at its zenith and that was plundered and looted by successive invasions that defined the last millennium until the British colonialists left in 1947. Perhaps the jewels of India can someday be seen in India without having to visit the Tower of London. (read the full article at the source, linked above.) 2 comments

A History, and the Real Riches, of India's Padmanabhaswami Temple Posted on 2011/7/12 19:43:40 ( 2342 reads ) Source USA, July 11, 2011 (by Vasudha Narayanan, Director of the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions , University of Florida, for the Huffington Post): One of the thousand names given to the Hindu God Vishnu is Sri-nidhi -- he whose treasure is the Goddess of Fortune. "Treasure" and "fortune" were words that were used to describe the recent discovery in a Vishnu temple at Thiruvananthapuram, in the state of Kerala, India, where a hoard worth more than $22 billion (give or take) was discovered in the vaults. The treasure reportedly includes hundreds of golden chairs, jars and jeweled crowns, thousands of precious gems, sacks full of gold coins, and an image of Vishnu studded with 1,000 diamonds. And that is just the beginning. It seems incredible that a wealth of this proportion lay in a place so central and well known without being looted. Vishnu is usually known by a local name in temples in south India, and in Thiruvanantapuram he is called Padma-nabha-swamy, or "the lord from whose navel emerges the lotus." The lotus in this context is an allusion to creation and the created universe. Vishnu, a name that means "the all pervasive one," reclines in this temple on the coils of his serpent-servant, called Ananta ("without end" or "infinite"). Poets simply referred to the temple-town as Ananta-puram or the "Endless City." The Hindu temple here, like those in many parts of the world, seems to have undergone major renovation whenever royal patronage willed it, and the last major rebuilding was in the 18th century. Over the last two millennia, several ruling families -- kings and queens -- have held power over the areas encompassed by the city of Thiruvananthapuram today. The city itself became the capital of the state called Travancore by the British. Originally occupying a large territory, "it was gradually reduced to the present Travancore with its area of 6653 miles" says P. Shungoonny Menon in his "A History of Travancore from Earliest Times in 1878," with considerable exactitude and regret. Members of the Travancore royal family are popularly known by the first two names which, taken together, serve as an astrological indicator referring specifically to a star/asterism connected to the exact moment when they were born. Thus, the name of the last "reigning" monarch was Chithira Thirunal (1912-1991), which literally translates as "the sacred day (thirunal) when the moon was near the star Chitra (Spica/Virgo)." However, the rulers are also famously known as Sri Padmanabha dasa or Padmanabha sevini -- "the servant of Lord Padmanabha." Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma in the 18th century made his kingdom over to the deity in the Padmanabhaswamy temple, who was considered the "real" monarch -- the earthly rulers held power as his servant. In the Indian judicial system, as an Indian Supreme Court lawyer has observed in the past, deities are considered to be "legal entities who could have a legal representation in courts through trustees or an in-charge of the temple in which they are worshipped." Further, legal experts agree that the deity resident in a temple is a "juristic entity," and it has "juridical status" with power to sue and be sued. With so many people who claim to be stake-holders and the slow moving judicial system in India, it is likely that the deity who reclines on the Endless Ananta will probably be involved for the foreseeable future, at least, in legal disputes. Nammalvar promised endless fame for those who worshiped the deity in Anantapuram. The royal servants of Padmanabha have in their times, through their visionary contribution to education, scholarship and the arts, encouraged a culture that promoted literacy and intellectual pluralism in multiple registers. And those are endless riches worth bragging about in the Endless City. (read the full article at the source, linked above.) 2 comments

Hindu Scriptures Guive Guidance on Padmanabhaswami Treasure Posted on 2011/7/12 19:43:34 ( 2168 reads ) HPI INDIA, July 4, 2011 (By Sri Dr. S.P. Sabharathnam, one of the world's foremost expert on the sacred Agamas and a consultant to Hinduism Today). The huge treasure unearthed in the Anantapadma Nabha Swami Temple should be handled very, very carefully. What the temple authorities should have done first is the systematic performance of Svarnakarshana Bhairva Yagna and Nidhipati (Kubera) Yagna to get the permission from the concerned Deities to lay their hands on the treasure. Such rules are found in the Agamas. They have not done these yagnas. As per the directions given in the Agamas under the chapter on "Mulakosa Bhakta Vivarana" (Allocation of the Divine Treasure) the treasure belongs solely to the Temple. Neither the Ruler of the country nor any other [human] supreme authority has a right to claim it. 1. Golds and diamonds should be preserved as "Mulakosa" and from the interest available from this Kosa , one part should be utilized for the timely renovations and maintenance of the temple. These gold and diamond items should not be modified or sold. 2. One part should be for education in general and education of Vedic and Agamic studies in particular. 3. One part should be for maintaining health centers and hospitals. 4. One part for maintaining Gosala and Gajasala. 5. One part for maintaining Gardens and flower plants for the temple. 6. One part for conducting the monthly festivals and yearly grand festivals (mahotsavas) without violation or omission. 7. One part for large scale anna dana(providing food for all the devotees). 8. One part for maintaining irrigation system and temple tank. 9. One part for the maintenance of other temples which are in need of financial help. 10. One part for the performance of Vedic Yagnas such as Parjanya Ishti, Garuda Yaga, Vrushabha Yaga, Mayura Yaga and others. In this way, the directions continue further. The Agamas indicate that such treasure may not even have been deposited by humans. They may have appeared upon the performance of certain yagnas that could had taken place centuries before. As such treasures may not have been all deposited there by the royal family of Travancore or they are the 'plundered' asset some historians have wrongly surmised. 1 comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/12 19:43:27 ( 1564 reads ) Source Peace has three dimensions. Peace within ourselves, peace among nations and peace with nature. -- Dada J.P. Vaswani, head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission No comment

Tiruvannamalai's Massive Sri Rudram Ritual Posted on 2011/7/11 16:42:03 ( 2009 reads ) Source TIRUVANNMALAI, INDIA, June 19, 2011 (demotix.com): In a rare ritual, 121 Brahmins recited "Sri Rudram," a prime section of the Yajur Veda, 11 times a day over 11 consecutive days, concurrently with 'yagna' (fire worship) and chanting of all four ancient Vedas. Tiruvannamalai is regarded as especially auspicious for this event, because in the seventh section of the "Sri Rudram" which consists of 13 sections, the phrase "Arunachalaya cha" occurs, referring to none other than Mount Arunachala (2,800 feet), the sacred hill that towers over the town and from which Tiruvannamalai gets its name. 'Annamalai' is another name for 'Arunachala' and 'Tiru' signifies auspiciousness. Undertaking such a ritual is also a challenging logistical exercise, from the determination of auspicious dates for the event, engaging the large number of priests, providing for their accommodation, food and transportation, as well as marshaling the plethora of items that are utilized in the worship. A slideshow with images recorded on the second day of the ceremony can be viewed at source. No comment

India To Renovate Temple In Myanmar Posted on 2011/7/11 16:41:58 ( 2863 reads ) Source MYANMAR, June 21, 2011 (Sify): In a major boost to its cultural and historic ties with Myanmar, India Tuesday agreed to renovate and restore a 12th century temple in the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar's Mandalay region. Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna made the offer to the three-month-old Myanmarese civilian government. The Ananda Pahto, which dominates Bagan's skyline with a 167 foot temple tower, is one of the oldest of temples in Myanmar. Bagan is about 125 miles away from Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay. Ananda Pahto, along with the mighty mid-12th century temple Thatbyinnyu Pahto, dwarf all other modern constructions in Bagan including the archaeological museum there. No comment

Rising Temperatures Melting Away Global Food Security Posted on 2011/7/11 16:41:52 ( 1510 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, Jul 6, 2011 (IPS News): Heat waves clearly can destroy crop harvests. The world saw high heat decimate Russian wheat in 2010. Crop ecologists have found that each one-degree Celsius rise in temperature above the optimum can reduce grain harvests by 10 percent. But the indirect effects of higher temperatures on our food supply are no less serious. Rising temperatures are already melting the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. Recent studies indicate that a combination of melting ice sheets and glaciers, plus the thermal expansion of the ocean as it warms could raise sea level by up to six feet during this century. Yet even a three-foot rise in sea level would sharply reduce the rice harvest in Asia, a region home to over half the world's people that grows 90 percent of the world's rice. It would inundate half the riceland in Bangladesh and submerge part of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam. Viet Nam, second only to Thailand as a rice exporter, could lose its exportable rice surplus. The World Glacier Monitoring Service reported in 2010 the 19th consecutive year of shrinking mountain glaciers. Glaciers are melting in all of the world's major mountain ranges, including the Andes, the Rockies, the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Tibetan Plateau. No comment

Critics Push Obama To Change Faith-Based Hiring Rules Posted on 2011/7/11 16:41:45 ( 1734 reads ) Religion News Service WASHINGTON, July 2011 (RNS): A group of clergy and lawmakers is trying to overturn a nearly decade-old policy that allows faith-based organizations that receive federal funds to hire and fire employees on the basis of religion. Critics say President Obama has reneged on a campaign promise to repeal the policy, which was put into place by President Bush in 2002. "It is shocking that we would even be having a debate about whether basic civil rights practices should apply to programs run with federal dollars," said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va. "There is just no justification for sponsors of government-funded programs to tell job applicants, `We don't hire your kind."' Scott has sponsored legislation to repeal the policy. But advocates for the change say the most effective route would be for Obama to issue a new executive order to overturn Bush's. Bush introduced the policy to advance what he deemed a more faith-friendly federal approach toward charitable organizations that receive federal contracts for social services. Previously, groups that received government money were forbidden to consider religion in their employment decisions. More liberal religious leaders, who typically toe a strict line on church-state separation, said the lingering Bush order undermines a century of progress in civil rights. "Tax dollars should not be used to discriminate," said Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. No comment

Guide to Food Ingredients Posted on 2011/7/11 16:41:40 ( 1858 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, July 2011: The url at source (above) is now available on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. And it's free! You can also search for keywords 'vegan ingredients' or 'vegetarian ingredients' in the Apple Store. The Guide lists the uses, sources, and definitions of 200 common food ingredients. It also states whether the commercial source of the ingredient is vegan, typically vegan, vegetarian, typically vegetarian, typically non-vegetarian, or non-vegetarian.

Hindus To Observe 9/11 Anniversary With National Blood Drive Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:32 ( 1754 reads ) Source NEW YORK, July 15, 2011 (India Post): Hindu Americans across North America will mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by donating blood. This will be first time ever that such an ambitious project will be held at the many Hindu temples in North America. This effort is being coordinated by the HMEC (Hindu Mandirs Executive Conference), an apex body of approximately 600 temples in North America. They have set a goal of participation by at least 100 temples and collecting 5,000 units of blood on a single day. Agencies such as the American Red Cross will collect the blood. According to the US National Institutes of Health, nearly 14 million units of whole blood and red cells are required every year. Some patients of Asian descent require a closer blood match than that provided by the ABO positive/negative blood typing. For this reason, it is extremely important to increase the number of available blood donors from the Asian communities. No comment

With Not Enough Priests, Teenagers Perform Puja Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:26 ( 1774 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, July 2011 (Ibnlive): The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti (BSGSS), a city-wide umbrella organisation of mandals, will train the youth of the city (13 years and above) to conduct Ganesha pujas. The committee's move is likely to meet the scarcity of the holy men, a major problem that besets the body every year during Ganesh Chaturthi, which starts from September 1 this year. There are around 12,000 Ganesh mandals and 180,000 household Ganpatis in Mumbai but the number of priests in the city is just 4,000, not even half the number of the mandals. The BSGSS's decision entails instructing Sanskrit students to be qualified priests. Elderly priests will take them under their wing as proteges and initiate them into the priestly club by imparting them the knowledge of the Atharva Sheersha a collection of ancient verses, an Upanishad in its own right, contained in the Atharva Veda which is quintessential to revere the deity. Those who successfully attain the knowledge will be honored with the priest's title. The study of the ancient text would empower the aspirants to conduct the traditional Ganpati puja on the first day of the festival. "The formal training for the students will start after July 15 and would go on for a month and a half so that new priests are available for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi," said Naresh Dahibavkar, president, BSGSS. Tukaram Raut, treasurer of BSGSS, said, "We would train only those children who are really interested in learning the rituals, be it a girl or boy. We hope to add 500-700 more priests to the 4,000-strong list of priests by training the youth. We would also extend help to priests who come to the city every year just for a day." No comment

Dr. Kalam Launches Book on Hinduism Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:20 ( 1995 reads ) Press Release NEW DELHI, July 1, 2011 (Press Release): An inaugural evening function of the book, "Hinduism, An Introduction" by the BAPS Swamianrayan Sanstha took place in the presence of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi on 1 July 2011. The author, Sadhu Vivekjivandas of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha spoke about the salient features of various beliefs, traditions, festivals, divine incarnations, holy places and sacred texts in Hinduism. Dr. Kalam praised the content of the book saying, "Hinduism is indeed a natural religion. It's virtues of tolerance and righteousness have produced a civilized race. When I studied the book, I really find that Hinduism is life a great river that tenaciously moves like a great river. The book brings out the underlying and universal concepts of Hinduism. All religions preach common values." Pramukh Swami Maharaj's blessings were read out, saying "May all be blessed with righteousness, peace and faith in life, which represents the essential principles of Hinduism. Hinduism is a comprehensive dharma that strives for the good of all." No comment

The Sun Is the Best Optometrist for Children Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:14 ( 1580 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, June 20, 2011 (NY Times): In the early 1970s, 25 percent of Americans were nearsighted; three decades later, the rate had risen to 42 percent, and similar increases have occurred around the world. Although genes do have an influence, they are not the only factors at play. In this case, the rapid increase in nearsightedness appears to be due to a characteristic of modern life: more and more time spent indoors under artificial lights. Our genes were originally selected to succeed in a very different world from the one we live in today. Humans' brains and eyes originated long ago, when we spent most of our waking hours in the sun. The process of development takes advantage of such reliable features of the environment, which then may become necessary for normal growth. Researchers suspect that bright outdoor light helps children's developing eyes maintain the correct distance between the lens and the retina -- which keeps vision in focus. Dim indoor lighting doesn't seem to provide the same kind of feedback. As a result, when children spend too many hours inside, their eyes fail to grow correctly and the distance between the lens and retina becomes too long, causing far-away objects to look blurry. There is a simple way to lower the risk of nearsightedness: get children to spend more time outside. No comment

Thai Pusam Kavadi; Lord Muruga Honored By Two Hundred People Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:07 ( 2056 reads ) Source [HPI note: HPI recently came across news of this celebration that happened earlier this year, relevant for gathering 200 Hindus and Muruga bhaktars in France and charming the small town.] ARMENTIERES, FRANCE, February 1, 2011 (maville.com): Yesterday, in the late morning, the few motorists who passed through Brossolette Avenue or walkers who strolled along the river might have witnessed a procession made up of men and women with faces pierced with needles, carrying altars filled with flowers, accompanied by devotees chanting songs. Every year at this time Mauritians throughout the region celebrate "Thai Pusam Kavadi." About 65 Mauritian families are living in the city. They arrived, mostly in the months that followed the independence of Mauritius in 1968 and worked in the textile industry, thriving in that time. One of these arrivals, Indren Mathoovanthem a devout Hindu, organized the ceremony dedicated to the God Muruga for the first time 23 years ago. And little by little, this festival has become one of the largest in France. The ceremony this weekend was conducted by two priests, one Mauritian, Sabapathee Vishnu and the other Sri Lankan, Suba. It consisted of, first, a prayer vigil on Saturday, then yesterday, a public celebration punctuated by quite spectacular rites practiced by many devotees. Fifteen devotees had their tongues pierced (some, cheeks and forehead as well) with ritual silver needles by the two priests while Tamil passages from "Thirupugal" book of poems of the sixteenth century were sung. Every moment of pain experienced during this procedure was accompanied by a shout from the crowd (at the height of the ceremony, 200 people attended), "Haro! Hara!" No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/20 19:58:01 ( 1509 reads ) Source Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it. -- Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990), American educator No comment

First Sanskrit Manual In Romania Posted on 2011/7/19 16:17:12 ( 3261 reads ) Source ROMANIA, April 13, 2011: Today the Dimitrie Cantemir Library hosts the launch of the first "Sanskrit Manual" in Romania, authored by Amita Bhose and released by the Cununi de stele Publishing House. Amita Bhose (Calcutta, 1933 - Bucharest,1992), a researcher of Eminescu's work, Doctor of Philology (1975, with the thesis "Indian Influences on Eminescu'sThought"), writer, translator and university professor, acted as a mediator between Romanian and Indian culture. The "Sanskrit Manual" is the fruit of several years' work, based on her teaching experience at the University of Bucharest, where she taught optional courses of Bengali, Sanskrit and Indian Civilization.The manual, divided in three volumes, comprising nearly 600 pages in manuscript, is a pioneering work in the study of Sanskrit. In 1990 no such work existed in Romania or any other European language.Thus, the manual is a valuable instrument for all those interested in Sanskrit. No comment

Slide Show: 8000-Year-Old Advanced Civilisation In Konkan Coast? Posted on 2011/7/19 16:17:05 ( 2692 reads ) Source INDIA, May 26, 2011: Did the Konkan coast from Shrivardhan in Raigad to Vengurla in Sindhudurga host a human habitat around 8000 years ago? Did that population have well-developed engineering skills? Was there a unique Konkan culture in existence in 6000BC? A new archaeological discovery, below sea level along the Konkan coast (off Goa and Karnataka), could give answers to these questions. Researchers have found a wall-like structure that is 24 kilometres long, 2.7 metres tall, and around 2.5 metres wide. The structure shows uniformity in its construction. "It has been found three metres below the present sea level. It has been constructed on the ancient sand beach, which was taken as the base for the construction. Considering the uniformity of the structure, it was obvious that the structure is man-made and not natural," said "Dr. Ashok Marathe, professor Department of Archaeology, Postgraduate and Research Institute, Deccan College, Pune. "We were actually studying the impacts of tsunamis and earthquakes on the western coast when we first found this structure in Valneshwar," said Marathe. "Then we started talking with the locals and fisher-folks and we got news about more such structures below water." No comment

A Legal View of the Padmanabhaswami Temple Wealth Posted on 2011/7/17 17:29:35 ( 2170 reads ) Source INDIA, July 2011: A fierce debate brewed about what to do with billions of dollars worth of treasures in a popular 16th-century Hindu temple in southern India, even as the trove of newly revealed riches was growing. Inside the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, investigators were counting the staggering hoard. But the legal position seems to be very clear on this issue. The wealth, even if kept in trust with the temple, is an offering to the presiding deity of the temple, The Padmnabhaswamy in this case. So the propriety must be vested in the Deity. In Bihar State Board of Religious Trust vs. Ramsubaran Das [1996 SCALE (2) 702], the Supreme Court had pointed to ancient revenue records attaching the temple land in the name of the deity. It had said, "That mahants dealt with the properties in their own names does not detract from the fact that the temples were public temples as they would well be said to be dealing with on behalf of the deities to whom the properties are dedicated." Legal experts are unanimous that a Hindu temple Deity, as per the long established authority and founded upon religious customs of the Hindus, is a 'juristic entity,' and it has 'juridical status' with power of suing and being sued. In 1983, Sri Adi Visheshwara of Kashi Vishwanath of Varanasi fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court when the Uttar Pradesh government enacted the Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act, 1983, for better management of the ancient temple. The Supreme Court had ruled that a Deity could move the court and said: "Properties of endowment vest in the Deity Lord Sri Vishwanath." Besides the Supreme Court, various High Courts had also recognised the fact that a temple Deity would be a legal entity and even a devotee or a regular worshipper could move the court on behalf of the presiding Deity, which will be considered a perpetual minor. In the famous Judgement by Allahabad High Court in the Ayodhya issue also the same was pointed out by the court. So the rule of law must prevail. The wealth belonging to the Lord Vishnu the Deity of the great Swamy Pdmanabha Temple should be legally made into an endowment trust and should be used for renovation of Hindu temples all over the country. Vishnu, the Lord of sustenance would sustain the whole nation. No comment

Ancient Satya Vageeswarar Temple Gets A Facelift Posted on 2011/7/17 17:29:29 ( 1747 reads ) Source KALAKKAD, THIRUNELVELI, INDIA, July 7, 2011: The Sri Satya Vageeswarar temple has a wealth of inscriptions, sculptures, murals, music pillars and a towering rajagopuram with about 1,500 stucco figures. The temple has features that go back to the Chola period and so could be more than 800 years old. For its upcoming kumbabishekam later this month, the temple has renovated the 135 ft tall, nine-tiered rajagopuram which teems with 1,500 stucco figures. They were made of 'sudhai' (lime mortar) which have suffered damage over time. On the inner walls of the rajagopuram's nine storys there are about 200 beautiful murals, portraying scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha, Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam (Siva Leelas), Siva's marriage to Parvati, episodes from the lives of the Tamil Nadu's Saivite saints, Siva as Bhikshatana, Rati and Manmatha, Krishna Leelas, the wedding of Saivite saint, Sundarar and more. According to T. Satyamurthy, former superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, the murals are "an amazing art gallery of puranic themes." The REACH Foundation, of which Dr. Satyamurthy is one of the founders, plans to restore the murals which have been vandalized. No comment

Gender Bias In Wages, Claims Woman Oduvar Posted on 2011/7/17 17:29:23 ( 1880 reads ) Source [HPI Notes: Oduvars are singers who offer songs of praise to the temple deity during ceremonies.] TIRUCHY, INDIA, June 20, 2011: "I am satisfied with being an oduvar in this temple and want to be the same until my death," declares S Angayarkanni (29), a dalit, the only woman oduvar in Tamil Nadu. With her devotion to God and love for the Tamil language, Angayarkanni pursued a three year course in Tirumarai, a collection of hymns and writings of South Indian Saivite saints, in the Government Music School. When Angayarkanni was appointed as oduvar in the Arulmigu Panchawarnaswamy Temple in Waraiyur in 2006 she received a payment of US$33.75 per month. "I receive only US$42 per month as payment now. This is very meagre compared to my male colleagues in other temples," she said and added she had made several representations to the appropriate officials on her salary. Since there was no recruitment for the oduvar post for five years, many temples in the State are retaining the retired oduvars. At present there are about 3,000 oduvars in the State and the number of temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments is about 8,500. 1 comment

'Arangetrams' Unite Indian American Families With Dance Posted on 2011/7/17 17:29:16 ( 2015 reads ) Source PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA, June 24, 2011: An arangetram is the solo debut of an Indian classical dancer. It is the culmination of years of study and a family gathering of such importance that hundreds often attend, including relatives from overseas. The dancing and preparation have become a way for parents and teachers to pass down culture and tradition, particularly in families that have left India, said Susan L. Schwartz, a religion professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown and author of Rasa: Performing the Divine in India. Students learn not only a dance whose roots go back to 500 B.C. but also about the stories told in the choreography and the Hindu deities associated with them. "It brings me back to my religion and history and things I probably wouldn't have learned," said 17-year-old Shruti Iyer of Exton who made her debut before an audience of 250 this month. Arangetrams are being held in increasing numbers in America as the Indian population in the nation grows, Schwartz said. The number of Indian dance teachers, dance schools, and college dance teams is also increasing. No comment

10,000 Join Wari Procession Posted on 2011/7/17 17:29:10 ( 2108 reads ) Source PUNE, INDIA, June 26, 2011: Over 10,000 warkaris from the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are attending the wari this year. Some have been a part of this centuries-old tradition of Maharashtra for the last several years by studying the works of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar, and encouraging their friends and family to be a part of the annual procession. Of the total 300,000 Warkaries participating in the Palkhi processions this year, more than 50,000 are female. These women have flocked from lands far and wide across the state. Mangalatai Kamble, Founder and President of the Bahinabai Mahila Dindi, observed that a large number of women and young girls had joined the Palkhi this year, most of whom were educated, working women. The wari embodies the essence of bhakti and teaches you to be happy amid tough circumstances, says another warkari from Chennai. "I cherish the simplicity of the warkaris who never complain about anything. I've stayed at Pandharpur and enjoyed the late night 'jagran bhajans," says the warkari, who visits Pandharpur once a month. [HPI note from Wikipedia: Pilgrimage to Pandhapur -- Every year the warkari walk hundreds of miles to the holy town of Pandharpur, gathering there on ekadashi (the 11th day) of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Aashaadha (which falls sometime in July). Warkaris making the pilgrimage to Pandharpur carry the palkhis (palanquins) of the sants from their places of samadhi (enlightenment or "spiritual birth"). According to historians Vitthal devotees were holding pilgrimages prior to the 13th century.]

Should Schools Scrap Religious Holidays? Posted on 2011/7/27 16:53:03 ( 1685 reads ) Source USA, December 19, 2010 (USA Today, by Stephen Prothero): The school committee in Cambridge, Mass., stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy when it voted in October to include a Muslim holiday on its academic calendar. Though not particularly controversial among local residents, this change earned the ire of Bill O'Reilly, who asked his Fox News viewers, "Are we going to give Hindus a holiday, are we going to do the Wiccan thing?" Earlier this month, the school committee in Acton-Boxborough, a Boston suburb, voted to close its schools on a Christian holiday (Good Friday) and two Jewish holidays (Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah). In the bordering district in Harvard, Mass., the school committee voted last week to scrap religious holidays altogether. Elsewhere across America, public school districts are wrestling with whether the First Amendment requires inclusion or exclusion when it comes to recognizing religious holy days.Should school districts reflect the growing diversity of their student bodies by including more religions' holy days? Or does the Constitution demand that public schools exclude days off for religion altogether? Turning religious holy days into school holidays would seem to violate the First Amendment's establishment clause, which prohibits the state from promoting one religion over another. Closing school for Muslim celebrations obviously promotes Islam -- by providing it with both recognition and legitimacy withheld from ostensibly lesser religions. So the only constitutional options here would seem to be to honor all religious holidays, or none. Practicality, however, says otherwise. And in Acton/Boxborough, it says so in the form of school Superintendent Steve Mills, who refers to himself as a "manager" and his district as a "business operation." "I don't think one (religion) is more important than the other," he told me, but "my job is to take the temperature of the demographics of the community and create a school calendar that makes sense." In order to figure out what makes sense in Acton/Boxborough, the school committee sent a questionnaire to parents and staff. Of the 220 teachers who responded, 26 said they would take the day off if school were held on Rosh Hashanah and 91 said they would not come to work if school were held on Good Friday. For Mills, whose substitute teachers' pool typically tops out at 40, these numbers settled the question. "We are inadvertently disrespecting religions" by honoring only Christianity and Judaism, he admits, but this is an "operational, management thing," and has nothing to do with religion. The problem with this pragmatic approach is that it uses the coercive power of the state to legitimize more popular religions while delegitimizing less popular ones. And isn't that precisely what the First Amendment is intended to prevent? No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/27 16:52:57 ( 1644 reads ) Source In today's multicultural world, the truly reliable path to coexistence and creative cooperation must start from what is at the root of all cultures, from what lies infinitely deeper in human hearts or minds than political opinion, convictions, antipathies or sympathies. That is transcendence. To be in harmony with that which we are not, what we do not understand, what seems distant from us in time and space, but with which we are nevertheless mysteriously linked. -- Vaclav Havel, playwright, writer and former president of the Czech Republic No comment

Who Wants To Friend Ganesha? Posted on 2011/7/26 17:11:48 ( 1714 reads ) Source INDIA, July 15, 2011 (Penn-Olson.com): Facebook is huge in India and will probably overtake Indonesia as the second largest user nation in the near future. With a massive number of users -- 28 million -- many brands are also employing the social network to use it as a customer engagement platform. For the month of June, thanks to the folks at Buzzref, a Facebook page analytics tool, we look at some of the most interactive Indian brand pages on Facebook. Lord Ganesha took top spot for June. The top three brands in the month of June - Meri Maggi, MTV Splitsvilla and Lord Ganesha have one thing in common - they are strong offline brands too. But Lord Ganesha has a whooping 1.4 million fans (see here) while MTV Splitsvilla has only about 238,000. Their posting strategies are fairly similar with about 3-4 posts per day.While Splitsvilla posts include links, photos, status updates and videos, Lord Ganesha focuses only on links & photos. Even so, on any given day in June, Lord Ganesha had about 15,000 interactions to its posts, double that of Splitsvilla. No comment

Illustrated Ramayana In French Posted on 2011/7/26 17:11:42 ( 2302 reads ) Source VARANASI, INDIA, April 29, 2011 (Hindustan Times): The first-ever illustrated French version of the Ramayana will be launched in France and India by a Paris-based publishing house. It is a seven-volume book which uniquely combines textual narratives and miniature paintings of the Ramayana arranged from museums across the globe, Ramayana project manager Colombe Verges disclosed. The French version of the Ramayana will be launched in Paris and then at the French Embassy in New Delhi this year. An illustrated English version will be out on Dusehra-Deepawali 2012. Verges says "the book carries 700 miniature paintings sourced from museums across the world. She says ten year's research has gone into the project. The French edition is nearly complete. "But only one of seven volumes of English version is ready," Verges says. 1 comment

Preparing for a Smooth Journey of Kanwariyas Posted on 2011/7/26 17:11:36 ( 1643 reads ) Source [HPI note: Kanwariyas are those who undertake the Kanwar Yatra. The Kanvar Yatra or Kavad Yatra is annual pilgrimage of devotees of Siva to Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, to fetch holy waters of Ganges River which is later offered at their local Shiva temples. The Yatra takes place during the sacred month of Shravan (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar. (from Wikipedia)] INDIA, July 18, 2011 (Times of India): The police force was deployed on Sunday to ensure a safe journey for kanwariyas. Officials said in the past 24 hours, over 10,000 kanwariyas left for Varanasi after collecting the Gangajal from the Sangam. They said the number of kanwariyas will increase in the coming days and more arrangements will be made for them. Special arrangements are made for Kanwariyas travelling in trains between Allahabad and Varanasi. Kanwariyas are also heading towards Devdhar, Arial and Parila Mahadeo to offer water to Lord Shiva. No comment

Tibetan Monks Can Raise The Temperature Of Their Skin Through Meditation Posted on 2011/7/26 17:11:31 ( 2106 reads ) Source INDIA, July 2011 (TodayIFoundOut.com): Some Tibetan monks can control the temperature of their skin through meditation. Specifically, they have been shown to be able to raise their skin temperature, measured from their toes and fingers, as much as 17 degrees Fahrenheit, while their core temperature stays normal. Scientists from Harvard University, lead by Herbert Benson, were first able to study these monks thanks to the Dalai Lama, who visited Harvard in 1979, and agreed to help them contact and convince the monks to allow them to be studied. What followed was a series of visits to remote monasteries in the Himalayan Mountains throughout the 1980s. Not only did they discover the monks could raise their surface temperature while keeping their core temperature normal, but they also found a group in Sikkim, India that could lower their metabolism by 64 percent. By comparison, when you sleep your metabolism drops only 10-15 percent. It is not yet known how the monks manage to generate the heat, but magnetic resonance imaging scans of the monks brains while they meditate have shown "marked differences in blood flow to the entire brain", Benson explains. "At the same time, certain areas of the brain became more active, specifically those that control attention and autonomic functions like blood pressure and metabolism." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/26 17:11:25 ( 1577 reads ) Source Some people think they are worth a lot of money just because they have it. -- Fannie Hurst (1889-1968), American novelist No comment

Court Permits Hindus Who Were Served Meat To Sue For A Purifying Trip To India Posted on 2011/7/24 17:09:46 ( 1630 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, July 19, 2011: A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that a group of 16 Hindu diners can sue to be flown to India to resolve a dispute over an order of samosas. Two years ago the diners went to Moghul Express restaurant in Edison for an India Day celebration. They were supposed to have been given a vegetarian meal. But they were served meat-filled samosa pastries, a mistake the restaurant acknowledged, according to court papers. The diners said that under the tenets of their religion, their consumption of meat had damaged the purity of their souls, affecting their relationship to God in the afterlife. They said that they needed to be flown to India to perform a purification ritual in the Ganges River and they sued the restaurant for travel expenses. The case was dismissed last year in Superior Court, but it was reported Tuesday that a three-judge appeals panel has reinstated the suit, saying that because the restaurant had assured the diners that they were getting vegetarian samosas, the case could go forward as a "breach of express warranty" claim. No comment

Young Hindus Work to Establish Ancient Faith in America Posted on 2011/7/24 17:09:39 ( 1404 reads ) Source HOUSTON, TEXAS, July 10, 2011: 29-year-old Texas-born Rishi Bhutada had an arranged marriage in India three years ago and then brought his wife back to his hometown, where they recently welcomed a son. He is a strict vegetarian and avoids alcohol, as do many observant Hindus. And the dashboard of his Toyota Prius is adorned with a small metal statue of Ganesh, an elephant-headed Hindu God known as the remover of obstacles. And yet Bhutada is a different kind of Hindu than his mom and dad. His parents were part of a major wave of Indians who arrived in the U.S. in the 1960s and '70s and focused their religious lives on building a community of believers and temples around Houston, which was then a Hindu wilderness. Bhutada, by contrast, wants his religion to step out from that now-well-established Hindu hive to engage the broader culture. He speaks of trying to forge a distinctly American Hindu identity that's more tightly woven into the national fabric. "The immigrant generation is focused on India, on the home country," he said, noting that the TV in his parents' house is often turned to a Hindi-language channel beamed in from the subcontinent. "I'm focused on the United States, which is my home country." That helps explain why a national group he's involved with, the Hindu American Foundation, recently launched a Take Back Yoga campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the practice's Hindu roots and values among non-Hindus. And it's why Bhutada testified at the Capitol in Austin last year against a statewide school curriculum that calls Hinduism a polytheistic religion, a characterization many Hindus reject. And it's why one area temple has begun placing copies of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, in thousands of Texas hotel rooms, right next to the Gideon Bible. The developments speak to a new, publicly assertive stance that's shared by many first-generation American Hindus across Houston, home to one of the country's largest and fastest growing Indian enclaves, and by many young Hindus across the nation. "Our parents had to build everything from scratch to make a united Hindu community in this country," said Tejas N. Dave, 17, a high school junior who volunteers with a project bringing yoga to unprivileged Americans. "Now we're trying to reintegrate it back into society," he said, "to make people realize that Hinduism is a religion and a way of life and a philosophy that's not too different from what a lot of others believe. We're all trying to make a better society." The U.S. Census does not track the number of Hindu Americans; the Census doesn't ask about religion, period. But data from the 2010 Census show that Texas' Asian Indian population nearly doubled in size in the past decade, to around 250,000. For the first time, Indians represent the largest Asian community in the state. Similar trends have emerged in other parts of the country. Nationally, Indian growth has surged by 60% in the past 10 years, according to the Census, with 2.8 million Asian Indians living in the U.S. today. Indians now represent the country's second-largest Asian group, after the Chinese. More at source. No comment

Padmanabhaswami Temple Treasure Petitioner Sundara Rajan Dies Posted on 2011/7/24 17:09:33 ( 1891 reads ) Source INDIA, July 17, 2011: The man who led a legal battle which led to the recent discovery of treasure worth billions of dollars in an Indian temple has died at the age of 70. T.P. Sundara Rajan, a retired police officer, petitioned for the vaults of the 16th Century Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala to be opened. Inside, investigators found gold and silver jewelry and precious stones which had been hidden for decades. The family of Mr. Sundara Rajan said he died after a brief illness. "The strain of the past few weeks proved too much for him to bear," a family friend was quoted as saying by India Today. Local legend had long held that vast riches had been interred in the walls and vaults of the temple by the Maharajahs of Travancore over many years. Rajan went to the Supreme Court asking that the state take over control of the temple, saying the current temple trust were incapable of protecting the wealth inside. Neither the state of Kerala nor the descendants of the Travancore royal family have made any claim on the treasure, which they say is the property of the temple and its Deity. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/24 17:09:27 ( 1479 reads ) Source Of all blessings we know of none greater than the begetting of children endowed with intelligence. -- Tirukkural No comment

Devotees Throng Shiva Temples, Celebrate 'Shravan' Posted on 2011/7/22 8:33:46 ( 1825 reads ) Source LUCKNOW, INDIA, JULY 16, 2011 (Daiji World): Devotees thronged to Lord Shiva temples in Uttar Pradesh Saturday to offer prayers on the onset of the Hindu month of `Shravan' that heralds the coming of the monsoon. Shiva temples witnessed a huge turnout including Mankameshwar, Buddeshwar, Kalyangiri, Siddhnath and Koneshwar. Amidst chants of `Bam Bam Bhole' and `Har Har Mahadev', devotees were seen awaiting their turn to offer milk, water, honey and leaves of wood apple to Lord Shiva. In Varanasi, a festive mood was all-pervasive in temples, particularly in the ancient Vishwanath temple, where the ritual `Rudrabhishek' and prayers were performed. Over 35,000 people, including `Kanwarias' (Shiva devotees) are expected to arrive at the Vishwanath temple by noon, an official said. Kanwarias, the orange-robed devotees of Lord Shiva, collect holy water of the Ganga river in Haridwar in pots and walk back to their home during Shravan. No comment

Mountaineers See Dramatic Climate Change In The Himalayan Region Posted on 2011/7/22 8:33:39 ( 2062 reads ) Source INDIA, July 2011, (by Meena Menon): Apa Sherpa is in Mumbai for the 10th Girimitra Sammelan, an annual gathering of mountaineers. He is a veteran mountaineer, who dropped out of school at 12 to work as a porter for expeditions to support his family. Now 51, Apa Sherpa said his 21st climb to the world's highest mountain would be his last. He currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, and teaches climbing skills. However, his association with Mt. Everest would continue along with Dawa Steven Sherpa, who has been part of the Eco Everest Expedition since 2008 to clean up the mountain. They have recovered five dead bodies and 33 tons of waste. He is also planning a clean-up expedition along the entire Himalayan Range in Nepal. Climate change has been most visible to climbers like Apa Sherpa who have noticed big changes since 2008. "Now the snow has reduced and it has become very dangerous especially on the Hilary Step, before the Everest summit. When you wear crampons for the snow and suddenly encounter rock, it gets very slippery," he says. Since 2007 the ice pinnacles in the Everest area have reduced in height and at the advanced base camp, there has been flowing water in the climbing season, a clear indication that ice is melting. "You no longer have to melt ice to drink water," says Dawa Steven Sherpa. He too noted that the glacial Imja lake was growing bigger. It is upstream of the Everest Base Camp and above major village settlements. "Imja and its potential threat are in the forefront of everyone's mind since the devastation could be huge," he fears. Apa Sherpa saw his entire village washed away in a massive glacial lake outburst flood of the Dig Tsho (Tsho-lake), in the western section of the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Khumbu HImal, on August 4, 1985. No comment

Delhi To Showcase A Century's Treasure Trove Of Dance Posted on 2011/7/22 8:33:33 ( 1943 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 16, 2011 (Times of India): Dancer and collector Mohan Khokar (1924-99) dedicated all he had to documenting and archiving almost a century of India's dance history. Now, for the first time, this extensive and treasured collection of photographs, costumes, recordings, films, paintings, sketches and other dance-related material will be showcased in an exhibition to be inaugurated in the capital Sunday. The exhibition will open to the public on July 18 and will run till July 24. Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and conceptualized by Khokar's son Ashish, a dance critic, the exposition, 'A Century of Indian Dance:1901-2000', will feature India's dance forms and its evolution over the 20th century. "The entire collection showcases the milestones in Indian dance forms and how they have evolved with time. The idea behind chronicling was to keep them as old reference points," said Ashish. The exhibition, which is also being called the national launch of the Mohan Khokhar Dance Collection, will be open in five parts at the Visual Arts Gallery at India Habitat Centre. From the use of dance in old Air India advertisements to postage stamps retrieved from Singapore showing Indian dances, the collection promises to bring forth some unique objects, such as a 75-year-old Nataraja made of broken bangles and beads. "The collection records anyone and anything associated with dance. It also includes dance forms represented on calendars, fire cracker boxes, sketches, and Kathakali dance representation on textile and paintings," said Ashish. No comment

Coventry Hindu Temple To Open After 10-Year Wait Posted on 2011/7/22 8:33:27 ( 2532 reads ) Source COVENTRY, U.K., July 19, 2011 (Coventry Telegraph): Members of Coventry's Hindu community finally own the keys to their new temple after a decade's fundraising. There were no tears as they left their old home of more than 30 years and moved further up the same road to 380 Stoney Stanton Road. The group raised US$1.6 million, $342,500 of which was made from the sale of the former building. The temple society also benefited from a grant of $484,000 from Paragon as part of a Section 106 Agreement. Premkumar Bhakri, temple society president, says their new building has been worth the 10-year wait. "It's a dream come true for us," he said.

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/8/2 16:35:46 ( 1461 reads ) Source Arise, awake! Stop not till the goal is reached. -- Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), disciple of Sri Ramakrisha No comment

Tirumala Temple Tops Tourist Spots List Posted on 2011/8/1 20:28:59 ( 1500 reads ) Source CHENNAI, MADRAS, July 21, 2011 (Times of India): Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala attracts more domestic tourists than any other spot in the country -- scenic, religious or otherwise. According to statistics for 2010 released by the Union tourism ministry, Andhra Pradesh has gained the position of the most visited destination in the country recording 155.8 million domestic tourists thanks to the Tirumala and Tirupati temples. The number of domestic tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh is more than Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, which have the Taj Mahal and Ajanta Ellora, respectively, a senior Union tourism ministry official said. Some 740 million tourists visited various destinations in the country in 2010 - up by 10.7% compared to last year. V.K. Jeyakodi, secretary of Tamil Nadu tourism department, says: "Nearly 60% of the tourists visiting Tamil Nadu come under the cultural and pilgrimage category. Rameswaram temple has the maximum visitors every year and most of the pilgrims who visit Rameswaram also make it a point to visit Madurai. They visit the Meenakshi Amman temple and then proceed to Rameswaram." The remaining 40 per cent include those coming for medical treatment in hospitals in Chennai and a few other cities in Tamil Nadu. No comment

Shrine Board For Managing Temples Posted on 2011/8/1 20:28:53 ( 1456 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 11, 2011 (Hindustan Times): Senior officials in the Delhi government said most temples do not have a trust or an agency to oversee the management, which is resulting in poor upkeep of the temple and lack of basic amenities to thousands of visitors everyday. Officials said the government has two ministers to work out a plan in this regard. While there are hundreds of big and small temples in Delhi, Goswami said there are at least six temples - Kalkaji temple, Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place, Hanuman Mandir near Yamuna Bazaar, Jhandewalan Mandir, Gauri Shankar Mandir opposite Red Fort and Siddh Peeth Yogmaya in south Delhi - that need proper management. "The NDMC spent more than US$1.3 million on redevelopment of the Hanuman Temple near CP but there is hardly any improvement. A Shrine Board would not only help providing better facilities to devotees but would also ensure that the temple staff gets proper wages, the assets of the temples including its land are properly managed and there is a uniformity among all temples in announcing dates and timings of various festivals," Delhi industry minister Ramakant Goswami said. Meanwhile, Delhi chapter of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the government to stay away from the management and assets of temples. [HPI note: It is always good to remember that the Indian government will only intervene in Hindu temples, not daring to encroach on other religions. Though the justification for action sometimes stems from the real need to improve a temple, there are always more forces involved. The income that the government receives from large temples, for example, is astounding.] No comment

India Is the Third Largest Investor in the UK Posted on 2011/8/1 20:28:47 ( 1443 reads ) Source INDIA, July 12, 2011 (mea.gov.in): India was the third largest investor in Britain during 2010-11 with 97 new projects, generating several jobs in a country facing recession and major job losses, according to official figures released today. "Among the high growth markets, India and China are still the two principal sources of inward investment by project numbers," an official report titled by 'UK Inward Investment Report 2010-2011' released by the UK Trade and Investment said. An example of India's growing investment in Britain is Tata Steel and Australia's Dyesol's recently announced expansion of their 11 million pounds collaborative R&D project in Flintshire to develop the world's first continuously manufactured dye-sensitized photovoltaic product on steel, for building applications. The report indicates that Britain is the top destination for foreign investment in Europe. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/8/1 20:28:41 ( 1248 reads ) Source With love enshrined in the heart, one truly lives. Without it, the body is but bones encased in skin. -- Tirukkural 80 No comment

Utah Hindu Temple Boasts Buried 'Treasure,' Too Posted on 2011/7/31 17:25:28 ( 1633 reads ) Source SALT LAKE, CITY, UTAH, July 16, 2011 (Salt Lake Tribune): Prompted by news out of India, Utah Hindus have been asked repeatedly in recent days if treasure is buried under their South Jordan temple. The answer is yes. But before people suggest devotees dig it up and give it to the poor, they should know this treasure is more symbolic than bankable. Potential thieves digging under the South Jordan temple would come away disappointed, says temple president Chaitanya Achan. At the 2003 consecration ceremony, members of Utah's 9,000-strong Hindu community gathered around, while a priest blessed the soil. They then dug a hole below where the sanctum would be, and people dropped in gold coins, costume jewelry and ornaments. [HPI note: This is called the panchashilanyasa ceremony. Unlike a temple treasure, these materials are not supposed to ever be removed from the temple. They are there for esoteric reasons, holding mystical connections and acting as a beacon for divine power. Any Agamic temple will have such a small stash of selected gems, which relates to astrology, embedded in its structure.] The question of hidden Hindu wealth has percolated across the globe since the astonishing discovery in Kerala, India, that its famous 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple was sitting on a pot of jewels worth more than $20 billion. Precious metals and stones were consecrated as a devotion to the Gods or for use in times of scarcity as a kind of emergency fund, Neelameggham says. Builders also stored giant pots of grains to feed people during famines, thus allowing temples to serve as both a protective fortress and a community center in times of trouble. No comment

SC Panel To Preserve Kerala Temple's Assets Posted on 2011/7/31 17:25:22 ( 1506 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 2011 (ibn live): The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed a five-member committee to supervise the unearthing and preservation of assets of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The committee will be headed by Director General of National Museum C.V. Anand Bose and will consist of representatives of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The committee has been given the task to ascertain whether the six vaults should be opened or not. The committee will also draw up an inventory of the temple treasures and wealth into three categories - the historical value of the treasure discovered, whether the treasure can be kept in the temple for religious purposes. The committee will also decide whether a museum has to be set up or not. The court also asked the media not to speculate on the worth of assets of the temple before its valuation has been completed. Marthanda Varma, the eldest member of the Travancore royal family, has said that all the treasure that has been unearthed at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple belongs to the presiding Deity. No comment

Hindu American Foundation Updates Landmark Report On Caste-Based Discrimination In India Posted on 2011/7/31 17:25:15 ( 1243 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, D.C., July 21, 2011 (Press Release): Just over six months ago, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) initiated a global conversation about Hinduism's response to caste-based discrimination in India with the release of its landmark report on the issue. Today, HAF released an updated edition of the report, Hinduism: Not Cast in Caste - Seeking an End to Caste-based Discrimination, after an unprecedented second review process that included some of the most prominent contemporary Hindu spiritual, community, and academic leaders. The report highlights HAF's perspective that discrimination based on the caste of one's birth is against Hinduism's core teaching of the divinity inherent in all beings; that caste-based discrimination is an unfortunate reality for many, especially the so-called Scheduled Castes -- also known as "Harijans" or "Dalits"--in many parts of India today; untouchability has absolutely no sanction in any of Hinduism's sacred texts; Hindu spiritual leaders are actively engaged in ending this practice in Indian society; and that political leaders and missionary organizations routinely exploit the issue for vote-bank advantages and through predatory proselytization, respectively. "Our initial report was meant to serve as an introductory advocacy document coming from a human rights organization," said Swaminathan Venkataraman, editor of the report and member of the HAF Board of Directors. "But after its release, the report was met with massive outpourings of support, suggestions, and even harsh critiques from around the world. We realized the truly international scope of the report, and the burden we carried as a prominent voice in the Hindu diaspora to tackle a subject as complex, yet urgently relevant." "While the initial report was also extensively reviewed, with the inclusion of over three dozen additional expert reviewers representing a broad swath of Hindu communities in India, Europe, and the Americas, this updated report is truly a representative voice of the diaspora," said Mihir Meghani, M.D., co-founder and member of the HAF Board of Directors. "It is a privilege to be able to carry the words of some of today's greatest Hindu spiritual leaders within this report that eloquently condemn the social evils of discrimination and persecution based on the status of one's birth in Indian society, and unequivocally distance Hinduism from any such practice." The updated report includes messages from fourteen Hindu saints and spiritual leaders and also a revised executive summary and extensive historical survey of the devolution of a system of societal organization into a birth-based hierarchy. The report presents a review of ameliorative measures taken by the Government of India and Hindu organizations to combat the discrimination, and also explores the intersection of politics and foreign-funded, coercive missionary tactics that polarize and fossilize community relationships along caste lines. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/31 17:25:09 ( 1326 reads ) Source Listen for silence in noisy places; feel at peace in the midst of disturbance; awaken joy when there is no reason. -- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today No comment

Hindu Teenagers More Likely to Go To University Posted on 2011/7/28 19:54:30 ( 1765 reads ) Source UK, July 22, 2011 (Daily Mail): Teenagers from Hindu backgrounds are almost twice as likely to go to university than those of a Christian faith, Government research suggests. More than three in four (77 per cent) youngsters who describe themselves as Hindu go into higher education, according to statistics gathered for the Department for Education. In comparison, less than half (45 per cent) of those that consider themselves Christian go to university. The figures are drawn from the Longitudinal Survey of Young People in England, which questioned thousands of teenagers. The findings also show that almost two thirds (63 per cent) of Sikh youngsters choose to take a degree, along with more than half of young Muslims (53 per cent). Just under a third (32 per cent) of those who give their religion as 'none' go to university. Professor Steve Strand of Warwick University suggested that religion is also a proxy for ethnicity. He told the Times Educational Supplement that there were a number of factors why different proportions of teenagers from different backgrounds go to university. Prof Strand said that generally, "white working class children and their parents often do not see the relevance of the curriculum or of attending university." "Asian families, even if they are from difficult socio-economic backgrounds, see education as a way up." No comment A Temple Treasure Fever In India Posted on 2011/7/28 19:54:24 ( 2072 reads ) Source UDUPI, INDIA, July 26, 2011 (IBN live): With wealth worth over billions being unearthed from Sri Ananthapadmanabha Temple, wealth suspected to be stored or hidden in other temples are now the talk of the town. Sri Krishna Temple in Udupi, with a history of over 800 years, is no exception to it. In fact, a legend dating back to the period of Sri Vadiraja Theertha, who is considered to be the second highest saint in the Madhwa hierarchy, engraved on the walls of Sri Subrahmanya (Serpent God) Gudi situated inside the premises of Sri Krishna Temple, also talks of the same. According to it, wealth is stored underground in the Sri Krishna Temple, on which the shrine for the serpent god has been built. So the legend goes: Sri Vadiraja Theertha was on a pilgrimage in North India, worshiping his pattada devaru (Bhoovaraha) in Delhi. However, soldiers of the Delhi Empire objected, saying that the Emperor's son was about to be cremated there. Sri Vadiraja replied saying that was impossible, as the body was not dead. Upon hearing that, the Emperor rushed to the spot and as Sri Vadiraja chanted mantras, the Emperor's son got up. Pleased by his supernatural powers, the Emperor offered him wealth, which Vadiraja rejected. However, the Emperor insisted, and the saint accepted it only to immerse it in the river Ganga. The Emperor then gave him more wealth, which he took to Sri Krishna Temple. The treasure was buried at the temple, and a serpent God protects it. No comment Yosemite's Giant Trees Disappearing Posted on 2011/7/28 19:54:18 ( 1644 reads ) Source USA, July 26, 2011 (BBC): The oldest and largest trees within California's world famous Yosemite National Park are disappearing. Climate change appears to be a major cause of the loss. The revelation comes from an analysis of data collected over 60 years by forest ecologists. They say one worrying aspect of the decline is that it is happening within one of most protected forests within the US, suggesting that even more large trees may be dying off elsewhere. James Lutz and Jerry Franklin of the University of Washington, Seattle, US and Jan van Wagtendonk of the Yosemite Field Station of the US Geological Survey, based in El Portal, California collated data on tree growth within the park gathered from the 1930s onwards. Their key finding is that the density of large diameter trees has fallen by 24% between the 1930s and 1990s, within all types of forest. "These large, old trees have lived centuries and experienced many dry and wet periods," says Lutz. "So it is quite a surprise that recent conditions are such that these long-term survivors have been affected." Large trees are not only older, but they play a distinct and important role within forest ecosystems. Their canopies help moderate the local forest environment while their understory creates a unique habitat for other plants and animals. Older, larger trees also tend to seed the surrounding area and crucially are able to withstand fires, short term climatic changes and outbreaks of insect pests that can kill or weaken smaller trees. But the study by Lutz's team suggests they are no longer faring well. In a study published in Forest Ecology and Management, the researchers collated all the data that existed on tree growth with the Yosemite National Park. In particular, this included two comprehensive surveys: one conducted in the mid 1930s and another during the 1990s. "Few studies like this exist elsewhere in the world because of a lack of good measurements from the early 20th Century," says Lutz. Including 21 species of tree recorded by both surveys, the density of large diameter trees fell from 45 trees per hectare to 34 trees, a decline of 24% in just over 60 years. Smaller size trees were unaffected. "One of the most shocking aspects of these findings is that they apply to Yosemite National Park," says Lutz. "Yosemite is one of the most protected places in the US. If the declines are occurring here, the situation is unlikely to be better in less protected forests." The impact of that is unclear. "We know that large trees disproportionately affect the ecosystem," says Lutz. "But what the consequences could be of a decline in average large tree diameter, no-one really knows." No comment Daily Inspiration Posted on 2011/7/28 19:54:11 ( 1647 reads ) Source People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. -- Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple, Inc. No comment An Easier Route To Build Ganesha Mandals in Mumbai Posted on 2011/7/27 16:53:17 ( 1928 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, July 11, 2011 (DNA India): The famous Ganpati mandals, essential to the celebrations of Ganesha Chaturthi in Mumbai, are required to get permissions from a number of government bodies. They need to approach the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward office concerned and the fire brigade for permission to set up a pandal. The permission of the traffic police is needed for the immersion procession. They further need to approach the local police before using loudspeakers. In some cases, an approval from the public works department is also needed. But that is about to change. "The whole procedure takes one month. One often gets caught in tussles between agencies," said Narendra Dahibavkar, president of the Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, a coordination committee of Ganpati mandals. The committee met today municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta, who sanctioned that the BMC will start an online system to obtain the necessary permissions. "There are 11,920 big Ganesha mandals across the city. The online system will help save the time of these agencies as well as that of the mandals," Dahibavkar said. No comment A Temple With A Different Story Posted on 2011/7/27 16:53:11 ( 1751 reads ) Source BHOPAL, INDIA, July 6, 2011 (hindustan times): Dating back to 1845, the Hindu Shyam Kaka Krishna temple complex near Narsinghgarh, about 62 miles from Bhopal, has a panel depicting Muslim men offering the namaz (prayers). The temple and its story remind us that there are numerous places in India where warring religious factions once stood in solidarity. Legend has it that it was built by Bhagali Devi, queen of Shyam Dev Khinchi, a Rajput ruler of the Khinchi clan. When the temple was under construction, six Arabs had come visiting. They got into an argument with the head priest, Amara Singh Gurjar, and stressed the superiority of their faith -- according to Saajan Singh Gurjar, the present priest and a descendant of Amara Singh Gurjar. "The visitors insisted that Mecca and Medina were the holiest places on earth. In response, Amara Singh offered to take them to the two holy cities without moving a step away. Incredulous, the Arab visitors challenged the priest to do so," adds Gurjar. What followed, according to legend, was a divine revelation of Mecca and Medina: the Arab men had a vision of their holy cities right there in the temple. And that was when the awestruck Arabs offered prayers at the spot. "The panel showing the six Arab men was installed as a tribute to this incident," says Gurjar. The unique panel depicts six men dressed in long robes and traditional headgear, in various stages of offering the namaz.

 

Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued...) 

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