News from Hindu Press International-49

News from Hindu Press International 

Bali Police Arrest Four For Stealing Temples' Sacred Objects Posted on 2012/12/21 18:12:29 ( 1082 reads ) Source INDONESIA, December 17, 2012 (Jakarta Post): After months of fruitless investigation and mounting public pressure, Bali Police announced on Sunday that investigators had smashed a ring believed to be responsible for most of the thefts targeting sacred objects kept in Hindu temples across the island. The first burglary of sacred objects this year took place in March. Since then, 30 burglaries have been reported to the police, with the three most recent cases taking place on Saturday in Melaya, Jembrana. The police had been under a lot of pressure to solve the thefts, which for Balinese not only desecrated their places of worship but also insulted them. Following a visit from scores of noted religious and community leaders, Bali Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. I Ketut Untung Yoga declared the formation of a special team to hunt down the suspects. At the Sunday press conference, senior-ranking detective Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Hariadi disclosed that the police had arrested four individuals, who were allegedly directly involved or implicated in the thefts at up to 16 temples. The police said that they were now hunting several individuals, who had allegedly bought the stolen items from the suspects, as well as other rings believed to be responsible for the remaining unsolved thefts. The temples' sacred objects, in particular the pretima, or small statues made of precious woods usually bedecked with gold and gemstones, are very valuable items for Balinese Hindus because they serve as the earthly, physical presence of their gods. The loss of a pretima cuts deeply into the psyche of the community, which feels violated by the theft and, at the same time, abandoned by the grace and protection of their deities. Creating a new pretima would be expensive for communities, and they would also have to conduct a series of major rituals to purify and enshrine the object. No comment

Lead Poisoning Cases Offer New Reminder About Hazards Of Ancient Remedies Posted on 2012/12/21 18:12:23 ( 861 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, December 17, 2012 (KOSU): These days, just about everyone seems to be looking for more natural alternatives to what they eat and drink. So it's easy to see the appeal of traditional medicine. But as two recent cases from New York City highlight, just because a remedy is ancient or holistic doesn't necessarily mean it's safe. Last week, New York City health officials reported the city's first two cases of childhood lead poisoning related to Ayurveda, an ancient Hindu medical tradition that dates back some 5,000 years. In both cases, the children -- a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old -- were taking Ayurvedic medications that had boosted their blood lead levels far beyond the 5 microgram per deciliter level considered safe for kids under 5. Ayurveda is practiced by hundreds of millions of people in India and Sri Lanka. Remedies seek to restore balance to the body and usually involve mixtures of herbs, as well as changes in diet and lifestyle. But in one type of ayurvedic medicine, rasa shastra, ground-up gems and heavy metals are mixed in with herbs. Although practitioners believe that their mixing techniques make these formulations safe, the scientific evidence suggests otherwise. In a 2004 survey of some 70 ayurvedic medications on the market, about 20 percent contained toxic levels of heavy metals -- including lead, mercury and or arsenic -- according to findings published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. That number included not just rasa shastra medications but other ayurvedic drugs that appear to have gotten contaminated during the manufacturing process. Health officials caution against condemning all ayurvedics. But they urge doctors with Southeast Asian patients to bring up the subject and suggest taking a blood test. "We shouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater," Saper tells Shots. "There are lots of traditional medicines that may be beneficial. Turmeric, for example, has been shown to have anti-cancer properties." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/21 18:12:17 ( 615 reads ) Source It is Divinity that shapes, not only your ends, but also your acts, your words and thoughts. Your duty is to treat everybody, including yourself, as a manifestation of the Lord. -- Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh No comment

Pundits' Attitude, Funds Crunch Hit Sanskrit Encylopaedia Work Posted on 2012/12/17 18:00:28 ( 999 reads ) Source INDIA, December 2, 2012 (Deccan Herald): The Government of India-assisted monumental project, "Encyclopedia Dictionary of Sanskrit on Historic Principles," is languishing not only for want of adequate funds, but also due to the over-modesty of the Sanskrit Pundits, laments the eminent 79-year-old Sanskrit scholar and authority on "Vaishnava Agamas," Dr. Pandurang Prabhakar Apte, now Emeritus Professor, Deccan College, Pune, and of the Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melkote, Karnataka. He spoke to M. R. Venkatesh on a wide-range of issues during his recent visit to Chennai. Dr. Pune gave the following reply when asked the status of the Sanskrit Encyclopaedia Project. The "Encyclopaedia Dictionary of Sanskrit" is a massive on-going project under the aegis of the Deccan College in Pune, which comes under the Maharashtra Government, and with Central Government assistance. But the grant is not enough. Previously, the Union HRD Ministry was funding this project. But in recent years all assistance for Sanskrit study projects are channelized through the "Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan" in Delhi. Under this project, they have taken some 1,500 books and Sanskrit words extracted so far is 850,000, which have been arranged alphabetically and 7,000 pages printed. But even under the first "akshara A", Sanskrit words taken up to three-member compounds, that is all such compound words beginning with A, have not been completed yet. For example, just under one word, "Agni" there are 500 entries covering 111 meanings and sub-meanings! It is thus a colossal project underway. The project faces a hurdle, not only due to insufficient budget allocations and discouragement of the Government, but also due to the Sanskrit scholars who are too modest and narrow in outlook while asking for funds. More at source. No comment

Meet William Cowherd, England's 18th Century Vegetarian Evangelist Posted on 2012/12/17 18:00:22 ( 921 reads ) Source ENGLAND, December 16, 2012 (BBC): The Beefsteak chapel hardly sounds like a place where vegetarians would be welcome, but more than 200 years ago, this tiny chapel in Salford was the British birthplace of the meat-free diet. In an even greater twist, the cleric who preached the moral virtues of vegetarianism was the Reverend William Cowherd. His Beefsteak Chapel was the country's first vegetarian church. Cowherd, born almost 250 years ago on Sunday 16 December, demanded his congregation eat a meat-free diet. At this time the poor would eat the cheapest meat. This meant a diet featuring a great deal of offal - sometimes stomach or intestines. Cowherd believed that God inhabited every animal and as such it was a sin to eat meat. His followers - aptly named Cowherdites - went on to form the Vegetarian Society. The health effects of a meat-free diet were unknown and many feared they would be catastrophic. A fellow minister of Cowherd, Robert Hindmarsh, blamed deaths among Cowherd's followers on their meat-free diet. Much of Cowherd's novel social outlook appears to have been influenced by 18th Century Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. Abstinence from meat became part of the church's creed. Cowherd told his congregation it was a sin to eat meat and it could make them behave aggressively. The Vegetarian Society quotes him saying: "If God had meant us to eat meat, then it would have come to us in edible form as is the ripened fruit." In a city like Manchester, with people removed from daily, rural reminders of animals being slaughtered for food, intellectuals for the first time began to debate the ethics of eating animals. After Cowherd's death in 1816, Joseph Brotherton became the Beefsteak Chapel's minister and continued his mission. Along with other Cowherdites, Brotherton helped form the Vegetarian Society in 1847. There were more vegetarian restaurants in Victorian Manchester than there are today. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/17 18:00:15 ( 769 reads ) Source "Think twice before you talk. Think thrice before you act." -- Sri Sri Sri Sivaratnapuri, Tiruchi Mahaswamigal, spiritual head of Kailasa Ashrama, Bangalore No comment

Trinidad Group Hopes To Launch First Hindu Network Posted on 2012/12/16 18:38:01 ( 906 reads ) Source TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, December 16,2012 (Trinidad Express): The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), under its company the Hindu Broadcasting Network, has been granted a television licence by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). However, it is not a free-to-air licence but rather one to operate only on cable TV networks. Sat Maharaj, secretary general of the SDMS, yesterday confirmed that the SDMS has been invited by TATT to sign the documents for the licence concession. Maharaj said he hoped to launch the country's first Hindu network, Jaagriti TV, in the next three to four months. He noted that while there were Indian channels, there was no Hindu channel on the network to cater for the large religious base of practicing Hindus. He said the station would adhere to the same protocol which its radio station Radio Jaagriti followed- there will no advertising of alcohol, no advertising of meat or meat products and no advertising of fetes or parties. "We want to propagate the Hindu way of life," said Maharaj. "The vision of the Maha Sabha and its communications arm is to provide a network that accommodates and facilitates the Hindu in the new world reality," Maharaj said at the time. No comment

In 2010, High Blood Pressure, Smoking and Alcohol were the World's Big Killers Posted on 2012/12/16 18:37:54 ( 792 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 15, 2012 (The Hindu): The leading risk factors for global disease burden in 2010 were high blood pressure, tobacco smoking (including second-hand smoking) and alcohol use; 20 years earlier, they were childhood underweight, household pollution from solid fuels and tobacco smoking, including passive smoking. Globally, 9.5 million lives were lost in 2010 due to high blood pressure, 6.6 million due to smoking, 5 million each because of diet low in fruits and alcohol use. Worldwide, the contribution of different risk factors to disease burden has changed substantially, with a shift from risks for communicable diseases in children towards those for non-communicable diseases in adults, according to the latest issue of British medical journal The Lancet. Dietary risk factors and physical inactivity collectively accounted for 10 per cent of global DALYs (disability adjusted life year) in 2010, with the most prominent dietary risk being diets low in fruits and those high in sodium. The analysis found that outdoor air pollution in the form of fine particles is a much more significant public health risk than previously known -- contributing annually to over 3.2 million premature deaths worldwide and over 74 million years of healthy life lost. It now ranks among the top global health risk burdens. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease applies consistent methods to the largest global data base ever assembled to estimate risk of premature mortality and contribution to health burden from a wide variety of risks: smoking, diet, alcohol, HIV/AIDS, household and outdoor air pollution to name a few. The study covers 187 countries globally. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/16 18:37:48 ( 660 reads ) Source Only when we remain equipoised in praises and persecutions shall we be able to fulfill our objectives. -- His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha No comment

Italian Parliament Grants Offical Recognition to Hinduism and Buddhism Posted on 2012/12/15 18:03:49 ( 1480 reads ) Source ITALY, December 14, 2012 (articolotre.com): [HPI notes: This article is a translation of the original Italian language article. The Hindu population of Italy is at least five times greater than the number mentioned here.] A new milestone for religious freedom and equality between religions in Italy: The parliament has finally approved an agreement with the Italian Hindu Union (Sanatana Dharma Sangha) and the Italy Buddhist Union. These religions will now have the ability to open schools and have access to limited state funding. Article 8 of our Constitution provides for freedom for all religions that do not conflict with Italian law. And now, finally, not only the three great monotheistic religions will enjoy this right, but also Buddhism and Hinduism. The adherents of these two religions can also take advantage of spiritual care; their religious marriage ceremonies will have the same legal status as civil unions and there will be better protection of their places of worship. It's a great step forward towards the integration of immigrants belonging to these faiths, who will finally feel respected and taken into account by the State. And above all, this event is a great affirmation of the concept of the secular state which should have an equilibrium of religious liberty for everyone, institutional separation between religions and equal representation in criminal matters. Consequently, all religions will be equal. The Buddhists associated with the Italian Buddhist Union number a healthy 70 thousand. In addition there are 60 thousand faithful to a Japanese Buddhist movement. Hindus are approximately 5,000, of which half are Italian. Following the yes vote of the Italian Senate (Senato della Repubblica) in September, Senator Stefano Ceccanti of the Democratic Party had said: "It's an extremely important act which demonstrates the capacity of the system for the expansion of religious freedom outlined by the Italian Constitution, the ability to go beyond the traditional Judeo-Christian context." Matthew Mecacci, President of the Italian Parliamentary Intergroup for Tibet, Vice-President of the Nonviolent Radical Party and chairman of the General Committee On Democracy and Human Rights at OSCE commented that: "This is a historic achievement, which has been eagerly anticipated for more than 30 years by Buddhist Italians. It's an act of modernity, which expands religious pluralism in our country and that I hope will pave the way for the adoption of a law on religious freedom " No comment

Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple Draws Over 90,000 Visitors In First 11 Months Posted on 2012/12/15 18:03:43 ( 994 reads ) Source PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, December 14, 2012 (Bernama): Cambodia's Preah Vihear Hindu temple received more than 90,000 visitors in the first 11 months of the year, an 87 percent increase over the same period last year. Xinhua news agency reports the world heritage site attracted some 86,950 local visitors and 6,390 foreigners from January to November, up 84 percent and 147 percent respectively compared with last year. Kong Vibol, chief of Preah Vihear provincial tourism department, said the sharp rise was due to ease of road transport and the end of military confrontation between Cambodian and Thai troops over disputed border near the temple. "With good security at the area we expect the temple will become one of the country's largest tourism destinations in the coming years," he said. The temple is located on the top of a 1700 ft. cliff in the Dangrek Mountains about 310 miles northwest of Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh. It was inscribed in the World Heritage list on July 7, 2008. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/15 18:03:37 ( 694 reads ) Source Even in search of extraordinary gains, the wise will never speak trivial or useless words. -- Tirukkural 198

Indian Railways To Run 750 Special Trains For Kumbha Mela 2013 Posted on 2012/12/30 15:56:51 ( 1033 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, December 27, 2012 (travelbizmonitor.com): The Indian Railways is gearing up to facilitate the rush of passengers during the Maha Kumbha Mela at Allahabad in February next year and is expected to run around 750 special trains and make arrangements for additional 1,800 coaches to ensure seamless travel for devotees, as per a TOI report. As Railways is expecting a rush of around 83 million people during the Kumbha Mela, the state transporter is working on enhancing the capacity of around 100 existing trains by adding more coaches to ferry passengers travelling to the holy city apart from running special trains. "We are pooling around 1,800 additional coaches from all 16 zones," P Guha, Executive Director (Coaching), Railway Board, said. According to estimates, around 30 million devotees are expected to visit Allahabad on Mauni Amawasya (February 10). Around 133 additional booking, enquiry and reservation counters will be opened in Allahabad, Naini, Sangam, Prayag and Vindhyachal. Considering the enormous task, a Mela Adhikari (officer) has been appointed by the Railways to coordinate with other agencies. No comment

How the new BAPS Temple in California Ingratiated Itself Posted on 2012/12/30 15:56:39 ( 1301 reads ) Source CHINO, CALIFORNIA, January 4, 2013 (India Abroad, by Arthur J. Pais): Even as hundreds of devotees gathered for the dedication of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, December 23, and thousands watched the Web cast as the murthis were installed inside the temple, for the local organizers, there was also a satisfaction of having convinced the city authorities to sanction the completion of the temple, keeping intact most of the original project. Constructed from 35,000 pieces of hand-carved Italian Carrara marble and Indian pink sandstone, the temple encompasses five pinnacles, two large domes, four balconies, 122 pillars and 129 archways. Its 6,600 hand-carved motifs depict a mosaic of tales. Situated on a 20-acre site with a 91-foot lotus-shaped pond, it also has a cultural center, gymnasium and classrooms. At least 900 volunteers including many second-generation Indian-American students gave their services, according to the temple authorities. At least 1.3 million man hours of construction was used. In a script that has been reverberating in the past four decades whenever a new temple has been proposed, the objections of the city zoning board -- ranging from more traffic in the residential area around the temple to the size of the temple towers -- was slowly challenged by the temple builders. The temple builders approached the opposition in several ways. Even as permissions for the temple facilities were being cleared, they were also convincing the city officials and residents that the devotees and tourists who would be coming to the temple would bring revenue to the city. The devotees also asserted -- in private conversations and official discussions -- that as Americans, they had equal right to their house of worship. They also built goodwill for the community and over 1,000 Hindu families around by holding walkathons, medical camps, blood drives and Thanksgiving dinners in Chino Hills on the same day when BAPS members in more than 40 American cities and towns were hosting similar events. 'Building a Better Community, One Step at a Time' was the theme of the walkathons and over $5,000 was expected to go to local organizations, including the Chino Hills High School and the Wounded Heroes Foundation helping injured armed forces veterans. BAPS doctors have conducted free medical checkups. 'It was amazing to see how willing the doctors were to help out the patients,' Ambika Rajyagor, a student volunteer from Chino Hills High School, was quoted as saying. 'Watching the doctors volunteer their time and effort gave me the incentive to help out more so that I can make the difference in the community.' During numerous open houses, members also collected hundreds of letters of support from the community, including religious leaders, the adjoining residential communities, and coaches from the National Junior Basketball program, who were allowed use of the gymnasium on the temple ground. Chino Hills Mayor Peter Rogers found out about BAPS's outreach activities from calling many California mayors. "He even called the mayor of Chicago and came to be convinced we were carrying out good work," said Lenin Joshi of BAPS. "His discovery played an important role in city council giving the final approvals." The members of the temple's governing board also felt vindicated when local dignitaries attended the inauguration event and joined devotees and spiritual leaders including Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the head of Kauai's Hindu Monastery, and publisher of Hinduism Today. Mayor Rogers said at the inaugural event, 'The Mandir and cultural center will indeed be a place that Chino Hills can be proud of for so many, many generations.' The temple, Mayor Rogers added, 'is a beautiful testament to the hard work of your congregation who has spent several years to build this place of worship.' The inauguration was a culmination of four-day events that began with BAPS guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj's 92nd birthday celebrations December 20. Temple authorities also claimed it is the first earthquake-proof temple in the world; the upper structure of the complex is protected from earthquake damage by separating it from the base with a series of 40 base isolator units. It uses a solar power system. The temple complex reportedly cost $15 million, including the land. It could have cost nearly double, but for hours of volunteer work and fees of experts, temple authorities say. 'If one word could sum up the construction of this mandir, it would be sacrifice,' Rakesh Patel, the director of construction, was quoted as saying. 'It was, indeed, the dedication, service, effort and sacrifice of hundreds of volunteers from doctors to lawyers to engineers to architects who completed this mandir. Whether it was raining or sweltering outside, volunteers did everything from heavy duty labor to planning and execution of the smallest thing for making this mandir.' No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/30 15:56:33 ( 680 reads ) Source G-o-d, d-o-g. both the same. Top and bottom. See God in everything. You must do that! -- Satguru Yogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka's revered contemporary mystic No comment

UP Govt To Clean Up River Ganga Ahead Of Maha Kumbh Mela Posted on 2012/12/26 17:56:17 ( 869 reads ) Source LUCKNOW, INDIA, December 24, 2012 (India Times): In a bid to make available a clean and continuous flow of water in the river Ganga during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad next month, the UP government has issued directions for shutting down industrial units that discharge pollutants in the river, officials said today. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani yesterday asked the concerned district magistrates to constitute a committee for inspection of polluting industries and ensure that they are closed within three days, an official spokesperson said here. He also asked for ensuring that eight industrial units banned by the UP pollution control board, including distilleries and leather units in different districts remain closed. The chief secretary has also directed for release of additional 2,500 cusecs (a unit of flow equal to 1 cubic ft. per second) of water in the Ganga between January 1, 2013 to February 28 and 1,500 cusecs of water between March 1 to March 7 for the good flow in the river. No comment

Mumbai's Yoga institute Holds World Householders' Yoga Convention Posted on 2012/12/26 17:56:11 ( 969 reads ) Source MUMBAI, India, December 25, 2012 (Times of India): The Yoga Institute, oldest organized centre of Yoga in the world, celebrates the completion of 94 years in Mumbai. On the occasion of its 94th foundation day celebrations, the institute held The World Householders' Yoga convention 2012 December 25 and December 26, 2012 at the Yoga Institute in Santa Cruz East, Mumbai. The panel discussions including leading personalities from the fields of medicine, education, corporate, and media were on three topics - yoga as education for life, life style management and yoga in healthcare management and yoga guide to living life. The experience centre facilitating programs like Samattvam (means a balanced state of mind) is intended to give householders a chance to know the physical as well as the subtle (mental, emotional and spiritual) effects of Yoga. The convention emphasized on recent case studies, sharing insights on ailments like cancer and complications arising due to diabetes and cardiac disorder. It also highlighted a few yogic exercises and sattvic food that can successfully control the various physical and mental ailments. Addressing the need of individuals today, Smt. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, director of institute, said, "The key objective of the Convention is to propagate a simplified form of yoga for the common man and woman. As Patanjali, the compiler of the yoga sutras, emphasizes on control of the mind which is done on the intellectual as well as emotional level, we want to help each individual in the world to feel true relaxation of body and mind and learn how simple yoga practices helps in gaining clarity of mind and strength of character." "Here Householder Yoga is not a brand of yoga, unlike many popular brands that exist today in the Yoga market. It is simply a term to describe a simplified form of Yoga for the common man and woman as we believe that a householder does not require the extreme stretch of Hatha Yoga practices." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/26 17:56:05 ( 897 reads ) Source As long as someone cries out "O God! O God!" be sure that he has not found God, for whoever has found Him becomes still. -- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) No comment

BAPS Shri Swaminaryan Mandir Opens in California Posted on 2012/12/25 16:44:23 ( 1089 reads ) Source CHINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA, December 23, 2012 (baps.org): After six years of unflinching dedication and thousands of hours of volunteer work, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in Chino Hills, California stood glistening under the sun as the much anticipated inauguration ceremony started on the morning of December 23, 2012. Sadguru Pujya Kothari Swami (Pujya Bhaktipriya Swami) performed the consecration ceremony in accordance with Hindu vedic rituals to infuse divinity into the sacred murtis inside the Mandir in the presence of devotees and well-wishers from across North America and various countries around the world. Those who could not make it to the event saw the live webcast. Dignitaries present during the inauguration included Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the head of Kauai's Hindu Monastery and publisher of Hinduism Today magazine; State Senator Bob Huff, Assemblyman Curt Hagman, Mayor Peter Rogers, Council member Art Bennett. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Rogers said, "The Mandir is a beautiful testament to the hard work of your congregation who has spent several years to build this place of worship." He proudly stated, "The Mandir and Cultural Center will indeed be a place that Chino Hills can be proud of for so many, many generations". Other dignitaries present for the event were Councilwoman Cynthia Moran, Artesia Mayor Sally Flowers, Milipitas Mayor Pete McHugh, and Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella. The inauguration was a culmination of a host of events, held over four days. The festivities for the opening began with His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's 92nd Birthday celebration on Thursday, December 20. Nagar Yatra, a colorful procession parading the sacred images in 8 beautifully crafted floats through the streets of Artesia, CA took place on Friday, December 21 as people in colorful costumes celebrated with folk dances, devotional hymns, and a youth marching band. Later that evening a Kirtan Aradhana was performed by BAPS Swamis. On Saturday, December 22, the Vishwa Shanti Mahayag featured a grand yagna and prayers for world peace. A Women's Conference was also organized on the same day. Constructed from 35,000 pieces of meticulously hand carved Italian Carrara Marble and Indian Pink Sandstone, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, encompasses five pinnacles, two large domes, four balconies, 122 pillars and 129 archways. From the external walls and domes to the inside pillars and ceilings, the Mandir is completely etched with intricate carvings in marble and sandstone. The 6,600 hand-carved motifs depict a mosaic of tales of inspiration, devotion and dedication, along with historical figures from Hinduism. Artisans created the carvings in India with great love, skill and patience before the pieces were shipped to Chino Hills. The Mandir is situated on a 20-acre site, complete with 91 foot lotus-shaped reflection pond, a Cultural Center, gymnasium and classrooms. As the first earthquake-proof Mandir in the world, the upper structure of the complex is protected from earthquake damage by separating it from the base with a series of 40 base-isolator units. The Mandir also uses a solar power system to generate electricity and reduce adverse effects on the environment. The Mandir combines the best of traditional stone art and architecture and the best of modern technology. No comment

"Behind The Veil Of The Forest" In India Posted on 2012/12/25 16:44:10 ( 953 reads ) Source INDIA, December 21, 2012 (New York Times): The rutted road, part paved, part dirt, was a border between two worlds. To the left, a patchwork of villages, farms and fields covered the fertile plains between the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. To the right rose the rugged, forested wilderness of the Shivalik Hills. Dehradun, the bustling capital of the northern state of Uttarakhand, was just 20 miles away, but felt much, much farther. This October, I, along with a translator, Debopam Battacharjee, hitched a ride down that road on a dairy truck loaded with empty milk cans. When it stopped after about an hour, we continued on, hiking for another four miles. Then we turned right, up a rocky streambed, toward the hills and into the jungle. I was looking for some friends who live there, at least part-time. They are a family of nomadic water buffalo herders. Three years ago, I had joined them on their annual spring migration from the low-altitude Shivaliks where they spend each winter to the high Himalayan meadows where they graze their livestock in summer. Their tribe, the Van Gujjars, has moved up and down with the seasons for about 1,000 years. But in 2009 their age-old migratory lifestyle was facing a serious threat: the ancestral pastures of thousands of Van Gujjars had been absorbed into national parklands, and park authorities were poised to enforce a policy banning the nomads from using them. I wanted to document the migration, partly to preserve a glimpse of their traditional way of life while it still existed, partly to raise awareness about their struggles. And, yes, partly because it just seemed as if it would be an amazing thing to experience. Through a small Dehradun-based nongovernmental organization called the Society for Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities, I was introduced to a Van Gujjar family, who agreed to let me go with them. This lengthy, colorful and informative travelogue continues at "source" above. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/25 16:44:03 ( 777 reads ) Source It is far easier to conquer others than to conquer oneself, because the former can be attained by recourse to outside means, while the latter can be achieved only with one's own mind. -- Mahatma Gandhi(1869-1948) No comment

BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Opens In Chino Hills, CA Posted on 2012/12/24 18:05:30 ( 1354 reads ) Source CALIFORNIA, U.S., December 23, 2012 (Himalayan Academy): On the weekend of December 22-23, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, Publisher of Hinduism Today, and Sannyasin Senthilnathaswami attended the inauguration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, near Los Angeles, California. Saturday they toured the mandir and conducted a series of interviews for an article in Hinduism Today about the temple, followed by attending the first part of the Vishwa Shanti Maha Yagna. Finally, they met with Pujya Bhaktipriya Swami, known affectionately as Kotari Swami, one of six revered satgurus of the BAPS fellowship who serve under their head, Sri Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Sunday morning they arrived at the temple early to participate in the official inauguration, opening of the doors and then the Prana Pratishtha of the murtis inside. After the arati they were taken downstairs for abhishekam of Nilkanth Varni, the golden murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a young boy traveling barefoot in the forests of India, then to the giant tent set up as an assembly hall for speeches, video presentations and cultural performances. There, several swamis of the BAPS order spoke, and Bodhinatha gave a short speech. The whole of the morning's events was webcast live, and an edited version should be available soon at www.baps.org. No comment

Mount Everest in 3.8 Billion Pixels Posted on 2012/12/24 18:05:23 ( 1091 reads ) Source USA, December 18, 2012 (Washington Post): An extraordinary photo of Mount Everest has been produced by David Breashears. He has already climbed the highest mountain in the world five times. He used old images of Everest and its glaciers and combined them with new ones. The photo is part of a broader project called GlacierWorks by the mountaineer Breashears, who made the much-acclaimed IMAX documentary "Everest." His project aims to document the current state of glaciers in the Himalayas and how the mountain and those glaciers are being affected by climate change. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/24 18:05:17 ( 735 reads ) Source By constantly repeating, "I am free, I am free," a man verily becomes free. On the other hand, by constantly repeating, "I am bound, I am bound," he certainly becomes bound. The fool who says only, "I am a sinner, I am a sinner," verily drowns himself in worldliness. One should rather say: "I praise the name of God. How can I be a sinner? How can I be bound?" -- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) No comment

Hinduism Third Largest Religion Of World Posted on 2012/12/23 18:34:57 ( 1207 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, U.S., December 19, 2012 (Deccan Herald): Hinduism is the third largest religion of the world after Christianity and Islam and 97 per cent of all Hindus live in three Hindu-majority countries - India, Nepal and Mauritius, according to a study. Pew demographic study - based on analysis of more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers - finds 2.2 billion Christians (32 per cent of the world's population), 1.6 billion Muslims (23 per cent), 1 billion Hindus (15 per cent), nearly 500 million Buddhists (seven per cent) and 14 million Jews (0.2 per cent) around the world as of 2010. Pew said overwhelmingly, Hindus and Christians tend to live in countries where they are in the majority. Ninety seven per cent of all Hindus live in the world's three Hindu-majority countries (India, Mauritius and Nepal), and nearly nine-in-ten Christians (87 per cent) are found in the world's 157 Christian majority countries. The median age of two major groups - Muslims (23 years) and Hindus (26) - is younger than the median age of the world's overall population (28), it said adding that all the other groups are older than the global median. Hinduism, the study said, is the most geographically concentrated of the eight religious groups analysed in this report. Less than one per cent of Hindus live outside Asia and the Pacific. Although Muslims are a minority in India (14 per cent of the total population), India nonetheless has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. Pew said India has the largest share (47 per cent) of all members of other religions, including millions of Sikhs and Jains. No comment

Islam And Hinduism Are Faiths Most Likely To Expand In Future Posted on 2012/12/23 18:34:49 ( 1057 reads ) Source December 18, 2012 (ndtv.com): (HPI note: This report is on the same study cited above, but with a different focus.) People with no religious affiliation make up the third-largest global group in a new study of the size of the world's faiths, placing after Christians and Muslims and just before Hindus. The study, based on extensive data for the year 2010, also showed Islam and Hinduism are the faiths mostly likely to expand in the future while Jews have the weakest growth prospects. It showed Christianity is the most evenly spread religion, present in all regions of the world, while Hinduism is the least global with 94 percent of its population in one country, India. Overall, 84 percent of the world's inhabitants, which it estimated at 6.9 billion, identify with a religion, according to the study entitled "The Global Religious Landscape" issued by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life on Tuesday Exact numbers for religious populations are impossible to obtain and estimates for the size of the larger faiths can vary by hundreds of millions. This study by the Washington-based Pew Forum appears to be one of the most extensive to date. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/23 18:34:34 ( 819 reads ) Source Just as a big banyan tree sprouts from a tiny seed, so the wide universe with names and forms sprouts forth from the heart. -- Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), South Indian mystic

Trinidad's Grande Hindu School Celebrates Golden Anniversary Posted on 2013/1/7 17:12:28 ( 743 reads ) Source TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, December 3,2012 (Newsday): The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Rampersad Bholai Sangre Grande Hindu School recently celebrates its Diamond Jublie at the school's compound, Rosseau Street, Sangre Grande. In his short address at the function, Harold Seupaul, School Supervisor 11 North Eastern Division, Ministry of Education said the school is one of the best primary educational institutions in the North Eastern District. Seupaul brought greetings from the Ministry of Education congratulated the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha on the school's 60 years of existence and its continuous success. Satnarayan Maharaj, SDMS General Secretary recalled that some of the first Hindu primary schools began operating in mandirs in places like Sangre Grande, Five Rivers, El Dorado, Tunapuna, El Socorro and Debe. He said today these schools have grown and flourished into educational institution which have been producing some of the top students in the entire nation. He noted that some of the persons who hold key positions in the country are former students of Hindu schools. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/7 17:12:22 ( 760 reads ) Source India has come to preserve spiritual traditions which many ancient cultures and countries have lost. Today Hinduism represents not only India but the ancient wisdom of humanity. In Hinduism many ancient countries can still rediscover their religious past, their old Gods and their old spiritual traditions. -- Ram Swarup (1920-1998), Indian writer and scholar No comment

Tulsi Gabbard, First Hindu American Congressional Leader Takes Oath on Bhagavad Gita as 113th Congress Convenes Posted on 2013/1/3 18:21:43 ( 1195 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, DC, January 3, 2012 (Hindu American Foundation): Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the first Hindu elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, was sworn in today. Gabbard took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text, as she joined the 113th Congressional class. The oath was administrated by House Speaker John Boehner, who held the Gita for Gabbard. Gabbard said the copy she chose for her swearing in ceremony was one which she read nearly every day while serving as an officer in the Hawaii National Guard during the Iraq War as well as during her tenure as a State Representative and Honolulu City Councilwoman. "I chose to take the oath of office with my personal copy of the Bhagavad-Gita because its teachings have inspired me to strive to be a servant-leader, dedicating my life in the service of others and to my country," said Congresswoman Gabbard. "My Gita has been a tremendous source of inner peace and strength through many tough challenges in life, including being in the midst of death and turmoil while serving our country in the Middle East." "It's exciting that this session we will have the opportunity to work with the first and only Hindu in Congress," said Jay Kansara, HAF Associate Director of Government Affairs. "We are confident that Congresswoman Gabbard will join many of her colleagues in prioritizing the curbing of human rights violations against minority Hindu communities globally as well as rigorously upholding religious liberty and promoting religious pluralism right here at home." See also: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fir ... on-bhagavad-gita/1054430/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion ... gabbard-congress/1808127/ No comment

Countdown For Kumbh Mela Begins With Peshwai Of Naga Sadhus Posted on 2013/1/3 18:21:37 ( 1038 reads ) Source ALLAHABAD, INDIA, December 18, 2012 (Indian Express): Countdown for the upcoming Maha Kumbh congregation here began today with thousands of Naga sadhus, revered for their austerity and feared for their quick temper, marching in a majestic procession to their camps in the vicinity of the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical river Saraswati. More than 5,000 scantily-clad Naga sadhus made their ceremonial entry into the sprawling Kumbh Mela on the first day of Peshwai -- the name by which the ceremonial entry of ascetics is popularly known. The procession, which included dozens of beautifully decorated horses, elephants and musical bands playing devotional tunes, commenced at Maujagiri Ashram and traversed a distance of about 1.7 miles to reach the assigned camps near the holy Sangam. The akharas are communities of martial monks owing their origin to Adi Sankaracharya, who established these groups with a view to protecting the Sanatana Dharma. There are altogether 13 akharas, seven of which are adherents to the Saivite school of thought, while three are Vaishnavites and an equal number follow the Udaseen tradition. The Naga sadhus are considered a star attraction of the Maha Kumbh Mela, which is held here every 12 years. Shahi snan (royal bathing) takes place on Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchmi when the Naga sadhus take a holy dip in the Sangam in processions that surpass the Peshwai in grandeur. The Maha Kumbh Mela will officially begin on January 14, coinciding with the festival of Makar Sankranti, and conclude on Maha Shivaratri on March 10. No comment

Raising The Bar to Prevent Electrocution Posted on 2013/1/3 18:21:30 ( 787 reads ) Source MYSORE, INDIA, December 28, 2012 (The Hindu): Electricity supply companies (Escoms) in the State, in association with the Forest Department, have initiated a process to identify sagging electric lines and raise them to 20 feet from the ground, to prevent the electrocution of elephants. Work on raising the lines or replacing old ones is being taken up in the districts falling under the purview of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC), as well as Bangalore, Hubli and Mangalore Escoms. The work started some four months ago and good progress has reportedly been made. In the last five years, 79 cases of elephant electrocution have been reported in the State, Ajai Mishra, field director, Project Elephant, told The Hindu. This includes cases where the animals died after coming into contact with fences that are illegally electrified by farmers who draw power from passing transmission lines. The CESC project assumes significance as a majority of the deaths have taken place in the Mysore elephant reserve. A team from CESC surveyed 210 miles of high tension and 206 miles of low tension lines in the elephant corridor in Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu districts, B. Bhagya Naik, director (technical), CESC, told The Hindu. Some of the lines are 40 years old. Of the surveyed lines, 64 miles high tension and 55 miles low tension lines were rectified. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/3 18:21:24 ( 774 reads ) Source Correcting oneself is correcting the whole world. The sun is simply bright. It does not correct anyone. Because it shines, the whole world is full of light. Transforming yourself is a means of giving light to the whole world. -- Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) No comment

Pakistani Hindus To Celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary Of Swami Vivekananda Posted on 2013/1/2 17:56:06 ( 1123 reads ) Source AMRITSAR, January 2, 2012 (Times of India): For the first time since India-Pakistan partition, Hindus of Pakistan will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 7th at Karachi's largest Hindu temple Radhae Krishan Mandir where Hindu priests and leaders will deliver discourses on the life and teachings of the great reformer. While talking to TOI over the phone from Karachi on Wednesday, the president of Pakistan Hindu Sewa Welfare Trust (PHSWT), Sanjesh S. Dhanja, informed that they had made elaborate arrangements for celebrating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. "Only a handful of elderly Hindus of Pakistan know about Swamiji whereas the young generation of the community has no idea who Swami Vivekananada was, what his life and teachings were" he said. Swami Vivekananda was born in Kolkata on January 12, 1863. The aim of celebrating Swami's birth anniversary was to impart knowledge of Sanatan Dharma to the young Hindu generation of Pakistan. He said it was Swami Vivekananda who had showed the rich cultural heritage of Sanatan Dharma to rest of the world. Patron of PHSWT Mukhi Odha Mal said that they would distribute booklets on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda among Hindus. "The pamphlets have been locally prepared with help of some books and internet support," he said. No comment

Pashupati Trust Plans To Open Hindu Bank Posted on 2013/1/2 17:56:00 ( 829 reads ) Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 24, 2012 (Himalayan Times): Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has plans to open a bank for its development and it is targeting Hindu communities to develop the temple heritage site. The council meeting, chaired by Culture Minister Post Bahadur Bogati yesterday approved the nearly Nepalese Rs. 500 million budget (US$5.7 million) and programs for the current fiscal. "The program includes opening a bank for development of Pashupatinath Temple," said Narottam Vaidya, treasurer at PADT. "A preliminary study will be carried out within the current fiscal year," he added. The Guthi Corporation, PADT, big houses and Hindu communities and people will be involved in opening the bank, according to PADT sources. "The income from Pashupatinath Temple, Pashupati Guthi and PADT resources will be the main sources for the establishment of the bank," said PADT officials. "Certain shares will be distributed to only Hindu devotees and communities in order to open the bank," they said. The PADT earns about Rs. 10 million (US$115,000) from offerings donated by devotees every month. "The temple income will be properly used in developing the heritage site and renovating the temple," said Vaidya. The pagoda style temple, believed to be more than 2,500 years old, is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the temple has not been renovated since the 17th century. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/2 17:55:53 ( 712 reads ) Source When culture is flooding out of the temple, our actions are productive and our minds are creative, our speech is pure, our hearts rejoice and we become good citizens. Religion makes us good citizens, because we are peaceful inside and want peace in our land. Peace comes first from the individual. It is unrealistic to expect peace from our neighbors unless we are peaceful first, unless we make ourselves peaceful through right living, right worship and right religious culture in the home. -- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today No comment

Ramanujan's Mock Modular Forms: Indian Mathematician's Dream Conjecture Finally Proven Posted on 2013/1/1 17:59:24 ( 1008 reads ) Source USA, December 27, 2012 (Live Science): While on his death bed, the brilliant Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan cryptically wrote down functions he said came to him in dreams, with a hunch about how they behaved. Now 100 years later, researchers say they've proved he was right. "We've solved the problems from his last mysterious letters. For people who work in this area of math, the problem has been open for 90 years," Emory University mathematician Ken Ono said. Ramanujan, a self-taught mathematician born in a rural village in South India, spent so much time thinking about math that he flunked out of college in India twice, Ono said. But he sent mathematicians letters describing his work, and one of the most preeminent ones, English mathematician G. H. Hardy, recognized the Indian boy's genius and invited him to Cambridge University in England to study. While there, Ramanujan published more than 30 papers and was inducted into the Royal Society. It was on his deathbed in 1920 that he described mysterious functions that mimicked theta functions, or modular forms, in a letter to Hardy. Ramanujan believed that 17 new functions he discovered were "mock modular forms" that looked like theta functions when written out as an infinite sum, but weren't super-symmetric. Ramanujan, a devout Hindu, thought these patterns were revealed to him by the Goddess Namagiri. [HPI: Ramanujan attributed all his discoveries to the Goddess--see Hinduism Today's article on him at http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/ ... tion/item.php?itemid=3159.] Ramanujan died before he could prove his hunch. The expansion of mock modular forms helps physicists compute the entropy, or level of disorder, of black holes. In developing mock modular forms, Ramanujan was decades ahead of his time, Ono said; mathematicians only figured out which branch of math these equations belonged to in 2002. "Ramanujan's legacy, it turns out, is much more important than anything anyone would have guessed when Ramanujan died," Ono said. The findings were presented last month at the Ramanujan 125 conference at the University of Florida, ahead of the 125th anniversary of the mathematician's birth on Dec. 22. No comment

2013: The Year of Swami Vivekananda Posted on 2013/1/1 17:59:17 ( 1112 reads ) HPI HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 1, 2013: Organizations around the world are preparing conferences and events in connection with the 150th birth celebration of Swami Vivekananda. A Youth convention will be held January 12, Swamiji's birthday, at the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston with discussion on Vivekananda's Message for the West, Science and Technology in the Light of Vedanta, Harmony of Religions, The Role of Women in Society and Vivekananda's Idea of Service. To register, go http://www.houstonvedanta.org. In addition, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh will hold functions at more than 150 locations in the US on the 12th. For details, go http://www.hssus.org/sv150 No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/1 17:59:11 ( 737 reads ) Source An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God." -- Srinivasan Ramanujan, Mathematician No comment

Should Hindus Celebrate New Year's Day on January 1? The Agamic View Posted on 2012/12/31 17:59:01 ( 1194 reads ) HPI KAUAI, HAWAII, December 31, 2012 (HPI): An article in the Daily Pioneer (here) published December 30 reads: "Hindu groups and tantrik scholars in Tamil Nadu have questioned the propriety of midnight pujas and homams held in Government controlled temples in the State to usher in the New Year. Temples coming under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) open the sanctum sanctorum for special pujas on the New Year eve. 'This is a new phenomenon incorporated into the system to ape the western culture. Midnight pujas are against the Hindu tradition and heritage. As per our tantric laws, it is a sin to perform mid-night pujas in temples. This will lead to major disasters for the country and hardship for the rulers,' Parappanangadi Unnikrishna Panicker, leading tantrik and vedic scholar told The Pioneer. He said pujas are to be performed only in the morning as well as in the dusk. 'We worship and pray during the sunrise to welcome the day and ensure the well being of the society. The phase Brhama Muhurtam, the period between early morning and the sun rise is the traditional puja time. It is against Indian tradition to welcome the midnight,' he said. But Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, the octogenarian scholar and head of Arsha Vidya Gurukal, is of the view that there is nothing wrong in pujas being performed at mid-night. 'Times are changing. All of us celebrate New Year eve and January 1 and one should not give much importance to the midnight pujas,' said the Swami." Hindu Press International asked renowned Agamic scholar Dr. Sabharathanam of Chennai his considered opinion on the topic. He stated: "The views expressed by Unnikrishna Panicker and the leader of the Hindu Peoples Party (also quoted in the article) are baseless, beyond doubt. Swami Dayananda Sarasvati could have been a bit more specific. To celebrate the commencement of a New Year which occurs in various systems of time-cycle in Hindu Temples is not at all wrong. It is not violating the Agamic rules. Such celebration comes under the naimittika type of worship. Generally, there are three types of worship - nitya (daily), naimittika (occasional) and optional (kamya). Worship being done on important and auspicious occasions goes by the name naimittika. Since the temple worship is meant for the welfare of the whole world, there is nothing wrong in considering the beginning of Julian year as an important occasion. Even the midnight puja is not prohibited in the Agamas. In fact, it is well and good to perform the worship at midnight. What about Maha Sivaratri? Midnight worship is perfectly done on that occasion. It is included among the worship-system of six, seven and eight sessions." "In fact, this puja at the midnight of 31st December enables the common people to direct their attention and works towards Divine aspects and Divinities, instead of wasting their time in clubs, parties, drinking, dancing and chasing. Instead of finding fault with such worship, they should have advised the people not to indulge in such activities which actually reflect the western culture." "It was in the year 1917 that Sri Vallimalai Swami, a great Siddha, started the pati utsava(steps-festival) at Tirutthani, one of the six sacred places of Lord Skanda. In his time, people used to go to the residence of the British Masters on the eve of every New Year, bow down before them, offer some gifts and come back. This great Siddha advised the devotees: 'See, our Supreme Lord is Skanda only. Why are you going to the earthly masters on the midnight of 31st December? Turn your attention and go to the shrine of our Supreme Lord at Tirutthani on the eve of every julian New Year. Let us join together, go to Tiruttani, climb the steps one by one, singing one Tiruppugal song at each step. Reach the shrine at midnight and perform abhisheka and aradhana to Lord Skanda for the benefit of the world, be blessed by Him and distribute His blessings to all the people.' Taking his advice, about 1,000 devotees assembled to climb the steps (pati, in Tamil) and led by Vallimalai Swami, they climbed the steps of the hill, singing Tiruppugal song at each step and performed worship at the midnight. In the next year 1918, the number of devotees boosted dramatically up to one hundred thousand! This step-festival (pati utsava) is still continuing. Now, about five hundred thousands of devotees are taking part in this festival! The mission of the great Siddha is being perfectly fulfilled." "Such should be the views of the modern leaders. They should think in wider perspectives." No comment

Omkarananada Ashram Observes Founder's Birthday Posted on 2012/12/31 17:58:54 ( 836 reads ) HPI RISHIKESH, INDIA, December 29, 2012 (Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas): Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati's Jayanti (birthday) celebration was held December 25th at Omkarananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Hinduism Today correspondent Rajiv Malik was a guest at the event. Shri Malik was welcomed and introduced to the audience by Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty, a dedicated teacher of the Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College, and then along with a well-known Veda-Acharya he started lighting the deepas in front of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. Dance, Vedic chanting, a short katha on the life of Adi Shankaracharya, bhajan and kirtan followed. A great moment for the audience came, when via multimedia, everybody could see a 1982 video of H.D. Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati speaking to devotees. The final moment came when Kumari Somashekhari offered the first copy of the 2nd edition of the booklet "A Glimpse of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati - His Lineage and His Mission" to Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and then Shri Rajiv Malik, along with the President of Omkarananda Ashram Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati. The booklet contains the interview conducted on behalf of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's Hinduism Today magazine. Shri Malik spoke about Swami Omkarananda's life, praised his enormous work in the field of education and establishing beautiful ashrams and temples. He considers Swami Omkarananda as one of the greatest spiritual personalities. He praised Swami Omkarananda's style of answering most difficult and highly philosophical questions in a manner, which sounds like beautiful, flowing poetry. Shri Malik was also full of praise and admiration for Swami Omkarananda's direct disciples, who were sent from Europe to Garhwal Himalayas, giving up their professional careers and all the luxuries of the West in order to establish spiritual and educational centres and spread the Vedic science in a most pure way. Thanks and gifts were also offered to all the participants who helped to make Omkarananda Jayanti a great occasion. Swami Vishveshwarananda, in his vote of thanks, emphasized the utmost importance of having a Sadguru and also the importance of Prayer as well as a dedication to the great Vedic culture. The main priests of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple concluded the function with arati and pushpanjali. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2012/12/31 17:58:48 ( 767 reads ) Source Until we have peace in our own heart, we can't hope for peace in the world. Peace is the natural state of the mind. It is there, inside, to be discovered in meditation, maintained through self-control, and then radiated out to others. The best way to promote peace is to teach families to be peaceful within their own homes by settling all conflicts quickly. -- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today

Hindu Tamils Prepare For Pongal Festival in Malaysia Posted on 2013/1/14 16:10:05 ( 924 reads ) Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 13, 2013 (The Star): Malaysia's Tamil Hindu community celebrates on Monday its best-loved festival, Pongal, the only festival which follows a solar calendar to mark the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six-month period. To usher in the harvest festival, the community is buying an assortment of colorfully-decorated clay pots, wooden ladles and sugar canes. Pongal, spread over four days, marks the harvest of crops and a special thanksgiving to God, the Sun, Earth and the cow that produces milk in abundance. One of the longest celebrations in the Tamil calendar kicks off Sunday with Bhogi, when old and unused household items are burned, and the house is thoroughly cleaned to prepare for the start of a new cycle. Malaysian Hindu Sangam President R. S. Mohan Shan said the second day of Pongal on Monday, is known as Thai Pongal which marks the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. "On this day, family members gather in their homes to prepare Pongal (sweet) rice, to offer to the Sun God, in gratitude for ministering his blessings, and later serving all, followed by lunch. "For Indians, it is auspicious to look at the boiling milk and when the milk overflows from the pot, everyone shouts "pongal o pongal." Then, rice, and other items like jaggery, cashew nuts, raisins, turmeric and spices are added to make the Pongal," said Mohan Shan. Mattu Pongal is the third day of celebration which includes worshipping cattle because it is believed that cattle helps give a good harvest while the fourth day is Kanni Pongal when unmarried women make pongal and pray for good husbands. No comment

Significance Of Sugarcane During Hindu Festivals Posted on 2013/1/14 16:09:58 ( 772 reads ) Source INDIA, January 9, 2013 (boldsky.com): Hindu Festivals are an exuberant celebration of peace and harmony and Makar Sankranti (Thai Pongal) is no exception. It is an amalgamation of spirituality and science with great pageantry. Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to science, the winter solstice comes to an end where the transition of sun from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana commemorates the beginning of the harvest season. Makar Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The significance of sugarcane is also marked by a fact that life is a mixture of both good and bad, agony and ecstasy, bitter and sweet so on, which epitomizes that life is an assortment of balances and the great balancing act is what makes an individual attain self-actualisation. Makar Sankranti or Pongal in Tamil Nadu is celebrated in myriad ways. Since Sankranti marks the harvest season, the crops and grains that are grown signify prosperity and happiness. Sugarcane is usually distributed on this day along with sweets made of Til (sesame seeds), jaggery and groundnut. Til is said to be a nourishing agent for the body, while jaggery which is rich in minerals helps in digestion. Sugarcane has many medical properties which is known to prevent cancer and strengthen the stomach, kidneys, liver and the reproductive organs. Sugarcane is considered spiritual on harvest festival at any part of the country. You can find sugarcane in Tamil Nadu (Pongal), Northern states (Sankranti), Punjab (Lodhi) to name a few. Sugarcane being the most important harvest of the season signifies prosperity and well being. No comment

Kumbh Mela Will Spark Massive Job Surge Posted on 2013/1/14 16:09:52 ( 703 reads ) Source LUCKNOW, INDIA, January 11, 2013 (Outlook India): Airlines, hotels, tour operators and Uttar Pradesh in general are likely to reap a windfall during the Maha Kumbha Mela in the state with the government likely to see its coffers swelling by US$2.2 billion, according to an industry body. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India's paper -- "Maha Kumbha Mela 2013- Possible Revenue Generation Resources for Uttar Pradesh" -- says that the pilgrimage would generate additional employment opportunities for over 600,000 workers in sectors spanning airlines and airports, hotels, tours, infrastructure and also trigger a surge in medical and eco-tourism. The unorganized sector (tour guides, taxi drivers, etc.) also stands to gain substantially from the Maha Kumbha, which will begin on January 27 and conclude on February 25, said the paper. "Apart from UP, states like Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jabalpur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Kota), Uttarkhand (Nainital, Mussoorie, Aulli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Ranikhet, Almora), Punjab (Amrtisar, Ludhiana) and Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Kufri, Manali, Panchkula), too, will majorly benefit from the enhanced revenue generation with a large number of foreign tourists expected to explore other destinations," the paper said. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/1/14 16:09:46 ( 639 reads ) Source For seven lives in seven bodies the grateful will remember friends who relieved their anguish and affliction. -- Saint Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural, verse 107 No comment

Sri la Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Attains Mahasamadhi Posted on 2013/1/13 11:06:16 ( 884 reads ) Source BENGALURU, INDIA, January 13, 2013 (Deccan Herald): Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, the pontiff of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Nagamangala of Mandya district, died on Sunday evening at BGS Global Hospital, Kengeri. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Dr K N Venkataramana, vice-chairman of the hospital, announced his sad demise on the hospital premises on behalf of the mutt on Sunday night. The body of the seer was later brought to the Vijayanagar branch of the mutt around 10 pm and the public were allowed to pay their last respects. Devotees who thronged the hospital were seen moving towards Vijaynagar with the body. Many devotees were also at the Vijayanagar mutt by the time the body was brought there and continued to fill the grounds next to the mutt to pay their last respects. The seer's body was kept for public darshan all through the night. Home Minister R. Ashoka said that the body would be kept at the Vijaynagar Mutt till 9 am on Monday and then would be taken to the mutt at Adichunchanagiri, Nagamangala in procession and the last rites would be conducted there in the evening with full state honors. Chandrashekara Swamiji, of the Vishwa Okkaliga Samsthana, told media that the community leaders, including former prime minister H. D. Deve Gowda, had suggested to finish the last rites of the swamiji on Monday itself as it was Makara Sankranti, an auspicious occasion. Gowda said that the Swamiji was a great man and his samadhi would be constructed according to all the rituals. Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, 69, was the 71st pontiff of the Adichunchunagiri Mutt. He had been suffering from multiple ailments, including complete renal failure and coronary heart disease, for the last four years. Sources said he was admitted to hospital on Saturday morning after he complained of chest pain and low blood pressure. With reports emerging that the condition of the seer was critical, many VIPs and political leaders including Gowda, Shettar, Ashoka and Central Minister Veerappa Moily rushed to the mutt. As news spread of his ill health, devotees started to converge on the hospital. Being the main pontiff of Vokkaligas, the second most dominant community in the State, the swamiji enjoyed immense popularity among political leaders. The mutt witnessed a revolutionary progress under his leadership with several of his flagship projects in education, religion and social service. The seer focused on providing humanitarian services including providing basic necessities like food, education and health for lakhs of people during the last four decades. Ashoka and Dr Venkataramana briefed the media around 6 pm and said that his condition was stable. However within minutes after the briefing, the seer's condition deteriorated and he suffered a massive cardiac arrest. All efforts of the doctors to revive him failed and he breathed his last at 7 pm. No comment

 

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(Continued...) 

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