News from Hindu Press International-59

News from Hindu Press International 

Hindus, Sikhs Celebrate Raksha Bandhan In Peshawar

Posted on 2013/8/26 18:30:58 ( 451 reads )

Source PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, August 21, 2013 (Business Standard): Hindus and Sikhs from across Pakistan's restive northwest gathered at three temples here today to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Arrangements were made at the historic Kali Bari and two other temples in Lower Courts and Gor Ghatri for members of the two minority communities to observe Raskha Bandan. The Raksha Bandan gathering began last night and continued till early this morning. Men and women wearing colorful tunics and dresses arrived at the temples and enjoyed the festivities. During Raksha Bandhan, women and girls tie a rakhi or band with colorful embroidery on the wrist of their brothers, who pledge to protect them. Raksha Bandhan coincided with another festival marking the marriage of Gogra Pir, a Hindu deity, Ram Lal, a caretaker of Kali Bari temple in Saddar area, said. The celebration of Gogra Pir's marriage began a month earlier and will culminate in the end of August. Talking to PTI, several Hindus at Kali Bari temple expressed happiness at the observance of the festivals. Hindu community elders said the festivities were not affected by any threats. "We are freely observing our religious festivities in Pakistan despite the fact that this region is in the grip of insurgency and extremism," one elder said.

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A Visitor's Account of Kavadi Procession in Myanmar Posted on 2013/8/26 18:30:47 ( 506 reads ) Source MAWLAMYINE, MYANMAR, August 2013 (Dustin Main): It was after 5:00pm, and I had spent the day on nearby Bilugyun (Ogre) Island in the heat of Myanmar (Burma) summer. I was exhausted. So exhausted in fact, that when I caught a glimpse of a line of 150-odd monks walking toward us on the other side of the road my first instinct was to just move on. Then, something I'd never seen before. A row of people walking on the other side of the road. Brightly colored garland draped over-top of an apparatus some were wearing. Loud music blaring from loudspeakers on a truck at the rear, and a group of kids and teens drumming rhythmically at the front. Immediately feeling energized, I quickly motioned to the tuk-tuk driver to stop. I didn't know where in the Mawlamyine I was, but that was a worry for later. Feet now on the ground, I followed along as the procession made its way to a nearby Hindu temple. It was all a blur, with so much going on, I just tried to keep up and take it all in. I don't know the exact ceremony that was displayed, and unfortunately language barriers prevented me from gathering all the details. It seemed similar to the Thaipusam festival, but happened about one month later in March of 2012. See vivid photos of the Kavadi procession at 'source' above. No comment

New Textbooks To Make Sanskrit Learning Easy Posted on 2013/8/25 17:54:11 ( 542 reads ) Source KARNATAKA, INDIA, August 5, 2013 (The Hindu): In an effort to draw more people to learn Sanskrit, Karnataka Sanskrit University has framed new textbooks to make learning easier for about 45,000 students across the State, from high school level to post-graduation. University Vice-Chancellor Mallepuram G. Venkatesh said that the change had been made for reaching out to more students. He said that the revised textbooks will particularly help dispel the fear of Sanskrit grammar among students. He said that the university had not sacrificed quality in the process. Dean-Language Faculty, Srinivasa Varakhedi, said that modern and scientific methodology had been followed while reframing the textbooks. There were more color graphics and there was a greater emphasis on objective type and short answer exercises, rather than long, descriptive passages. "Once these changes are brought about, Karnataka would be a model to Sanskrit pathashalas throughout the country," he said. No comment

Shiv Shakti Samadj Mandir Surinamese Guyanese Organization Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Posted on 2013/8/25 17:54:04 ( 468 reads ) Source SURINAM, GUYANA, July 13,2013 (datcheenterprise.com): For three days from June 28th to 30 the Stichting Suriname Hindu Guyanese Cultural Organization Shiv Shakti Samadj (SHGCO) celebrated their 25th Anniversary. The three day yajna was attended by approximately 1,200 people. The SHGCO was formed a few years before 1988, but was officially registered in 1988 by Jairam Ghir, Sanco Bhuddhu and Eliah Krishna Sammy. It was founded to uplift the significant Guyanese population socially, culturally and religiously.The SHGCO has about 80 active families and over 250 individual members. As recently as May 25th, 2013, when Guyana celebrated their 47th Independence Anniversary, the President of the Suriname Hindu Guyanese Cultural Organization Mr. Eliah Krishna Sammy and Haimdat Sawh were the Co-Masters of Ceremony. His Excellency Keith George the Ambassador to Suriname from Guyana was invited to address the invitees on the first night of the yajna. He spoke of the significant achievement of the Stichting Suriname Hindu Guyanese Cultural Organization Shiv Shakti Samadj (SHGCO) No comment

First Hindu in Congress a Model for Youth Posted on 2013/8/25 17:53:54 ( 579 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, D.C., August 2, 2013 (Civil Beat): In June, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard wasn't in Hawaii or in D.C., but in Chicago, handing out awards to the winners of the national Dharma Bee, an event in which youths answer questions about their religion. She praised them, according to a report in an Indian-American newspaper, saying in a rare speech about faith that the youths did not succeed in the competition "because mom and dad asked them to do so, but they have realized and learned the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita themselves." Reflecting Gabbard's popularity among Indian-Americans nationally as the first Hindu member of Congress, she felt welcomed at the event. "Everyone wanted to meet her one on one," said Sreevidya Radhakrishna, one of the organizers of the event. Since taking office to fanfare in the United States and in India, Gabbard's faith hasn't been a prominent part of her national image. In contrast, with members of the religious right who are vocal about being driven by their faith, the National Guard veteran has mostly been identified with issues like reducing sexual assaults in the military, or more recently, supporting the reining in of domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency. But while not publicized, she's been criss-crossing the nation to speak about her faith. In addition to attending the Dharma Bee, she spoke at the Hindu Youth Awards Gala in Houston on July 13, attended the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Convention in Chicago on May 23, and is slated to be the keynote speaker at the Hindu American Foundation gala dinner in Milpitas, California, on Sept. 14. From California to Houston to Chicago, Gabbard has been finding enthusiastic crowds of Indian-Americans, who despite the fact that she is not Indian, feel the pride of seeing one of their own for the first time in Congress. She's become a role model for Indian-American youths, said Gaurav Ved, the youth coordinator for Hindus of Greater Houston, the organization that held the youth gala. Gabbard declined to be interviewed for this article. But in a statement after her victory, Gabbard appeared to understand her symbolic importance, saying, "On my last trip to the mainland, I met a man who told me that his teenage daughter felt embarrassed about her faith, but after meeting me, she's no longer feeling that way." "He was so happy that my being elected to Congress would give hope to hundreds and thousands of young Hindus in America, that they can be open about their faith and even run for office, without fear of being discriminated against or attacked because of their religion," her statement said. More of this lengthy article at 'source.'

Ahmedabad's Temples Recycle Coconut Offerings to Restaurants Posted on 2013/9/7 17:55:38 ( 416 reads ) Source AHMEDABAD, INDIA, September 3, 2013 (infoahmedabad): Having south Indian food can be a spiritual experience, if you are in Ahmedabad! If you are wondering what is the divine connection in idli or dosa, it is in the coconut chutney that is a must-have with any south Indian delicacy. Few food connoisseurs in the city would know that the coconut chutney served in restaurants across Ahmedabad is made out of offerings made by devotees to temple deities. The fact that Amdavadis are a very religious lot has kept a steady supply of coconuts to restaurants. "An average sized coconut costs Rs. 10 (US$0.15) in the market; it works out to be much cheaper to buy broken coconuts from the temple," says the owner of a restaurant on Ashram Road. For Rs. 10 a restaurant owner can purchase six half coconuts from any temple. When the sriphal (coconut) is made as an offering, only half of coconut goes back to the devotee -- the rest is retained by the temple to be given away as prasad. "There is a limit to giving out coconuts as prasad because the intake is so huge. If the coconuts are allowed to lie around for a couple of days, they begin to rot. So, we decided to sell these to restaurant owners," said a priest of a temple in Satellite. According to a rough estimate, on Saturdays and Sundays, an average of 150,000 coconuts are offered at big temples in the city. This is then recycled to restaurants for making chutney. In the same manner, the coconut husk is also bought by traders for making ropes. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/7 17:55:31 ( 368 reads ) Source The more we are conscious of God's presence in daily life, the more intense is the fullness of the joy we experience. God means infinitely more to our existence than the light of the sun means to the plants and trees. -- Swami Omkarananda, (1930-2000), founder of Omkarananda Ashram, Rishikesh No comment

Police And City Hall Remove Deities From Hindu Temple in Malaysia Posted on 2013/9/6 18:24:49 ( 497 reads ) Source MALAYSIA, September 03, 2013 (by Rita Jong, The Malaysian Insider): Police and City Hall should have consulted temple officials before forcing their way into Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple and removing statues of deities without observing Hindu religious practices. Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk RS Mohan Shan said the authorities forceful removal of the deities by non-Hindus who do not know Hindu religious practices was a grave mistake. "There is no excuse for such arrogant behavior," he said in a statement today. "Our Hindu temples are ready to make way for development. It was unnecessary for the police and City Hall enforcement to come in big numbers and create a tense situation," he said. "Political leaders and government officials must find solutions to avert such incidences," said Mohan Shan, adding that he will be sending a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the matter soon. The temple, which was built in 1911 in Jalan P. Ramlee, sits on reserve land meant for roads or walkways. Last year, the temple committee received an eviction notice after Hap Seng Land, which is building a 30-story office block on the adjacent plot, was told that it would be given a certificate-of-fitness only if it built in a 2.4-meter walkway along the building, in line with City Hall requirements. But that could not be done because the temple occupies the land. Despite the intervention of local government, the temple committee and the developer failed to come to an agreement. The developer previously offered to relocate the temple to Sepang but it was rejected as the temple has historical value. After numerous failed attempts to reach an agreement, the developer took City Hall to court. The court then served an injunction to the temple and City Hall served it an eviction notice. Several politicians, including MIC Youth Chief, T Mohan and PKR's deputy human rights chief S Jayathas were arrested when they tried to stop City Hall from demolishing the temple on Sunday. No comment

MIC, PKR Leaders Arrested In Standoff Over Demolition Of Century-Old Temple Posted on 2013/9/6 18:24:42 ( 443 reads ) Source KUALA LUMPUR, September 1, 2013 (Malay Mail): (HPI Note: This report is of an the same incident as above). Nine individuals, including one PKR and six MIC Youth leaders, have been arrested so far in this morning's standoff with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) over an allegedly "illegal" demolition of the 101-year-old Hindu temple on Jalan P. Ramlee. Temple lawyer N. Surendran also alleged that "three or four gangsters," whom he claimed had come with the council's demolition team, assaulted him when he tried to stop them from tearing down the Golden Triangle Muneswarar Kuil. "The standoff went on from about 8am to 10.30am when the contractors were brought in and they started work. "These DBKL officers smashed three deities and took them out. We confronted them and asked for a negotiation but they continued to work until 10.30am until the cops came in and asked them to leave," Surendran told The Malay Mail Online when contacted this morning. He added that the demolition had been a surprise one as negotiation was still on-going when the contractors came in with their heavy machinery. "There was no notice, it was a demolition by ambush... they just came in a day after Merdeka and began breaking it down. Negotiation was supposed to be still on-going... and there was no court order permitting it. No comment

Former Kentucky Church Converted To Hindu Temple Posted on 2013/9/6 18:24:36 ( 447 reads ) Source BUECHEL, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, September 2, 2013 (The Courier Journal)The exterior of the building that formerly housed Buechel Presbyterian Church looks like just that -- a former church with a typical church steeple and message board out front. But on the inside, the building is anything but an old church. It's now Shree Swaminarayan Temple -- one of just eight Swaminarayan Gadi Hindu temples in North America. A group of local Hindus raised $425,000 to buy the former church in March and have transformed it into a regional worship space that regularly draws Hindu visitors from Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia and other nearby states. The temple is the newest Swaminarayan Gadi worship space in North America, joining temples in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware and Ontario. Buechel Presbyterian Church had occupied the building since 1948 but sold it in 2007 to the Flynn Group, a commercial real estate and development company, "It's a huge step forward in inter faith relations," Hockenberry said of the former church becoming a Hindu temple. Shree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj, who was in the United States for only 17 days this year, presided over the ceremony, which lasted more than three hours. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/6 18:24:29 ( 356 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

Indian Janmashtami Celebrations in Heart of Bur Dubai Posted on 2013/9/3 18:27:49 ( 478 reads ) Source DUBAI, August 28, 2013 (Emirates 247): Brace yourself for a traffic jam if you plan on venturing into the heart of Bur Dubai this evening with Hindus venturing out in hundreds to celebrate the Indian festival of Janmashtami. All roads will lead to the Hindu temple post 9pm, with the Sikka Bastakiya neighborhood preparing for the crowds that will come into the celebrate the birth anniversary of Krishna. The temple doors will open at 10.30pm, closing shy of midnight, with regular visitors stating that people start lining up an hour earlier, with lines usually snaking onto the main road, popularly known as the Textile market. Regular visitors are already predicting traffic chaos and congested roads in the lead up to the two-hour long celebrations, with many suggesting opting for public transport to avoid tailbacks in the heavily populated neighborhood. Hari Prasad, a community elder stated: "It is a joyous occasion for Hindus living in Dubai and kickstarts the celebrations of the year, leading up to the festivals of Ganpati, Navratari, Dussera and Diwali. "Every year we see hundreds, if not more, descending on to the streets to celebrate Krishna's birth, with little children dressing up in costumes to enjoy this joyous occasion." No comment

Removing Gender Bias In Sri Lankan Tamil Social Institutions Posted on 2013/9/3 18:27:43 ( 418 reads ) Source SRI LANKA, August 27, 2013 (Tamil Net): After a hundred years of its establishment, the Young Men's Hindu Association (YMHA) of Thirunelveali in Jaffna proposes to do away with gender bias in its membership and name. In a letter to all lovers of Thirunelveali and the YMHA on Sunday, the current president of the YMHA, Mr. S. Muthulingam was seeking their views on enrolling women as members and changing the name of the institution into Hindu Youth's Association. It is high time that we do away with the idea of gender segregation not only in social institutions like the YMHA but also in our educational institutions like the Jaffna Hindu College. The Victorian outlook of religion, society and education that came with British colonialism has long outlived the times, commented social activists in Jaffna. The Thirunelveali YMHA was founded in 1911. Old records say that the institution was inspired by the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda. Primarily it was a community center. Such community centers were a continuation of the traditional Junction Institutions or roadside mutts, where people gathered and pedestrians and bullock cart travelers took rest. With the changes in the mode of transportation and the disuse of the roadside mutts, a major transition that was taking place at that time was that such public spaces became community centers and reading rooms. Thirunelveali was a hub of Saiva revival in the colonial times to conceive a religious shade for a social institution. The term Hindu replacing Saiva was an inspiration coming from the movements in India like that of Vivekananda, but the idea of YMHA has obviously come from the Christian institution YMCA. Compared to Christian mission educational institutions, most of the native Saiva institutions that were started in Jaffna didn't have gender segregation. The Saiva coeducational institutions were functioning successfully even in rural areas. But Sir P. Ramanathan (Paramesvara and Ramanathan colleges) and Jaffna Hindu College made major exceptions. The idea at that time was perhaps to compete with the elite girl schools of Christian missions and to encourage parents to send more number of girl students to Hindu schools. No comment

1,100-Year-Old Pala Dynasty Temple Unearthed In Dinajpur Posted on 2013/9/3 18:27:37 ( 526 reads ) Source BANGLADESH, August 28, 2013 (Dhaka Tribune): Archaeologists from Jahangirnagar University (JU) have excavated an ancient Hindu temple at Belwa village of Ghoraghat upazila in Dinajpur. The massive brick structure has been identified as a Hindu temple from the Pala dynasty. The chief of the project, Professor Syed Mohammad Kamrul, told journalists that the excavated site was under threat of destruction. Swadhin Sen, associate professor of archaeology at JU, said the temple, approximately 1,100-years-old, was a major archaeological discovery in Bangladesh. "Multiple deities were worshiped at the temple at the same time," said Prof Sen. He added that several fragments of black sandstone sculptures had been identified and documented from the excavation. Among the three carvings that have been identified are the pedestal of the Brahmanic sun God Surya, a fragment of the Gada (mace) depicted in the hand of the Hindu God Vishnu, and a fragment of a Visnupatta (a type of dedicatory plaque used to worship Vishnu). A miniature bronze statue of Hindu God Ganesha has also been found, said Swadhin Sen. "The worship of these three Gods - Surya, Vishnu and Ganesha - has been attested by these evidences. This is quite unique in the context of undivided Bengal," said Swadhin Sen. The excavation has already revealed the massive architectural layout of the temple, which is divided into two parts: the core temple area is rectangular, measuring 69 feet from east to west and 42.5 feet from north to south. The other part on the western side contains a solid square brick platform measuring 22 feet on all sides, which is the garbhagriha, or inner sanctum. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/3 18:27:30 ( 391 reads ) Source The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him--that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free. -- Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) No comment

Encyclopedia Of Hinduism--One More Step In Understanding And Preserving The Religion's Legacy Posted on 2013/9/1 18:05:47 ( 629 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, August 30, 2013 (Huffington Post by Murali Balaji): This week, the University of South Carolina hosted a conference celebrating the launch of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. To be sure, it's more than just an encyclopedia -- it's an effort to tell the life story of the world's oldest active major religion. In an age where we can "wiki" just about anything, an encyclopedia of this magnitude might seem dated, but in reality, that's far from the truth. That's because many Hindus in the United States, especially second, third, and fourth generation Americans, need a resource such as this to understand the diverse and expansive nature of the religion. Eleven volumes might not even come close to covering all the intricacies of a religion that has evolved over 5,000 years. This is an important step in preserving the philosophies and practices of Hinduism that meets both community needs and academic standards. Hal French, a longtime professor of religion at the University of South Carolina and an associate editor of the project, emphasized the diversity of voices incorporated in the project. He noted that the India Heritage Research Foundation, which compiled the encyclopedia, welcomed different perspectives and did not limit its focus to Hinduism. Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and even Abrahamic religions are given space in the encyclopedia. "Hinduism has been a fertile seedbed from which many ideas have emanated," French said, referring to the rise of traditions such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. "I think that's true of India as a whole." What makes the Encyclopedia even more significant is that it combines both Eastern and Western scholarly perspectives, an important step in reconciling some of the long-held tensions between the two. "They've recognized the validity of insider and outsider voices," he said. "It's an interfaith effort." More at "source." No comment

SRi Lankan Court Stays Animal Sacrifice Ritual At Hindu Temples Posted on 2013/9/1 18:05:36 ( 439 reads ) Source COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, August 29, 2013 (Times Of India): A Sri Lankan court today stopped the annual ritual of animal sacrifices at Hindu temples throughout the island following a petition by a Buddhist monk group. [HPI note: Sri Lanka's Buddhists are not vegetarians--nor, for that matter, are many of its Hindus.] Jathika Bhikku Federation (Federation of Buddhist Monks) had filed the petition against the annual sacrifice of animals conducted at the Munneswaram Kovil in the north-western town of Chilaw. "The order we received today (from the Appeal Court) was the result of action over the last one year," Ven Thumbugoda Sarananda of the JBF said. The Attorney, Raja Dep, who appeared for the petitioners said that anyone wanting to perform animal sacrifice from now on will have to obtain a license. "So anyone killing animals for sacrifice would be a butcher," Dep said. Sri Bhadra Kali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram, Chilaw draws thousands of pilgrims from all communities and religions and animal sacrifice is carried out on the final day of the annual festival. A government minister during the 2011 festival stormed the sacrifice site and released all animals who were being readied for slaughter. The sacrifice of around 1,000 goats and chicken as part of the ceremony has angered animal rights groups and Buddhist majority nationalist groups who want the practice banned. Correction: Garuda Visnu Kencana Construction Officially Starts HPI KAUAI, HAWAII, September 1, 2013: We meant to say in yesterday's HPI that the Balinese spell "Vishnu" as "Wisnu" and that we used the "V" spelling for the article. Officially, however, the statue is known as "Garuda Wisnu Kencana." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/1 18:05:24 ( 384 reads ) Source Good thoughts are the foundation stones in the mansion of good conduct. If the foundation is strong, the mansion will endure. -- Sri Rameshbhai Oza, inspired performer of Vaishnava kathas No comment

Garuda Visnu Kencana Construction Officially Starts Posted on 2013/8/31 16:21:06 ( 433 reads ) Source BALI, INDONESIA, August 24, 2013 (Jakarta Post): (Note: the Balinese spell "Visnu" as "Visnu," which tends to confuse the rest of us, so we've changed it to Visnu for this article). Dramatic performances by the famous Kecak Rina troupe, guitar prodigy Dewa Budjana, singer Trie Utami, up-and-coming dancer Keni Kurniasari, harpist Maya Hasan and hundreds of local residents marked the groundbreaking ceremony of the Garuda Visnu Kencana (GWK) statue on Friday evening at Ungasan in Badung, Bali. The ceremony marked a new chapter in the construction of the statue after a 16-year hiatus caused by a regime change, nationwide economic crisis, internal turf wars and lack of committed investors. The new beginning for the statue, designed to be Indonesia's tallest monument and Bali's new cultural icon, was made possible by giant property developer PT. Alam Sutera Realty Tbk (ASR), which committed Rp 450 billion (US$40,000,000) to finance the construction of the statue and other undisclosed funding to develop the cultural park and integrated tourism facility in parts of the 60-hectare site of the monument. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at precisely 5:50 p.m. when Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, billionaire The Ning King, who is the founder of Argo Manunggal Group -- the parent company of ASR, Badung Regent, Anak Agung Gde Agung and sculptor Nyoman Nuarta placed their right hands over each others' and pushed the button that sounded a siren. As the siren wailed, five mixer trucks poured tons of concrete into a large rectangular opening on the designated site of the statue's pedestal. Nuarta estimated that the construction and installation of the GWK statue would take around three years to complete. The 75-meter-high statue, which is made of copper and brass sheeting, stainless steel framework and skeleton, is being constructed in Nuarta's workshop in the Sarijadi area, Bandung, West Java. The outer parts of the statue, some 22,000 square meters in size, and their stainless steel framework will be chopped into 700 modules before being transported to Bali. The modules will require 400 trucks to transport. In its final form, the GWK statue will be 246 feet tall with a wingspan of 210 feet. The statue will stand on a lofty pedestal that will bring the total height of the monument to 413 feet, some 98 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty in the US. It will weigh 3,000 tons and its volume will be 11 times greater than that of the Statue of Liberty. No comment

Hindu Encyclopedia Released in USA Posted on 2013/8/31 16:21:00 ( 544 reads ) Source COLUMBIA, USA, August 30, 2013( by Susanne M. Schafer,Associated Press): A comprehensive encyclopedia of one of the world's major religions was unveiled Monday in South Carolina. The 11-volume work covers Hindu spiritual beliefs, practices and philosophy, and is the culmination of a 25-year academic effort. The encyclopedia is written in English and includes about 7,000 articles on Hinduism and its practices. The work also deals with Indian history, languages, art, music, dance, architecture, medicine and women's issues. It contains more than 1,000 illustrations and photographs. The set was previously released in India. "The goal was to have something pretty definitive - not just about Hinduism, but about the whole South Asian tradition," said University of South Carolina professor Hal French, who met with a small group of scholars in 1987 to offer academic support for the project. "This hadn't really been attempted before," said French, 83, a distinguished professor emeritus of religious studies at the school and an associate editor. "It is a milestone of research that brought together both Eastern and Western scholarship." French, who specializes in the religions of Asia and served as an associate editor of the encyclopedia, said a primary inspiration for the work is one of India's most revered spiritual leaders, Sri Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Muniji) who founded the India Heritage Research Foundation, which became the parent organization behind the encyclopedia effort. The encyclopedia's volumes run from 600 to more than 700 pages. Some 3,000 copies are being issued in the first printing and will be of interest to libraries, religious institutions and those studying Indian culture around the world, French said. All proceeds from the encyclopedia are going to a charitable organization dedicated to the environmental cleanup of rivers in India.

1008 Girls Bring Blessings In Nepal Posted on 2013/9/11 11:31:56 ( 380 reads ) Source KATHMANDU,NEPAL, SEPT 9, 2013 (News24): Hundreds of small girls and their parents bustled near the ancient palace of Kathmandu on Tuesday, arranging themselves in rows ahead of a mass blessing. Every September, girls aged up to 5 gather for the ceremony of Kumari Puja, or virgin worship, believed to bestow good luck on those who attend, and a long and healthy life to the girls who participate. "This year is special because it's only once in 12 years that they have a ceremony for 1,008 girls at one time," said Sanjeev Maharjan, whose daughter was taking part in clothes and jewelry bought for the occasion. One thousand and eight is seen as an auspicious number by Hindus in Nepal. The event is attended by Buddhists as well as the nation's majority Hindus. "We believe young girls are representatives of the virgin goddess and worshiping them brings us many graces, while it also brings them good health." No comment

A Historical Sense--What Sanskrit Has Meant To Me Posted on 2013/9/11 11:31:50 ( 450 reads ) Source August 17, 2013 (Open The Magazine by Aatish Taseer): HPI Note: The author is a noted writer based in UK.) I had come to Sanskrit in search of roots, but I had not expected to have that need met so directly. I had not expected my wish for a "historical sense" to be answered with linguistic roots. Aged twenty-seven or so, when I first began to study Sanskrit as a private student at Oxford, I knew nothing about the shared origins of Indo-European languages. Not only did I not know the example given in my textbook--that the Sanskrit arya, the Avestan airya, from which we have the modern name Iran, and the Gaelic Eire, all the way on the Western rim of the Indo-European belt, were all probably cognate--I don't even think I knew that word, "cognate." It means "born together": co natus. And natus from gnascor is cognate with the Sanskrit root jan from where we have janma and the Ancient Greek gennao, "to beget." Genesis, too. And in those early days of learning Sanskrit, the shared genesis of these languages of a common source, spoken somewhere on the Pontic steppe in the third millennium BC, a source which had decayed and of which no direct record remains, absorbed me completely. Well, almost completely. The grammar was spectacularly difficult and, in that first year, it just kept mushrooming--besides three genders, three numbers and eight cases for every noun, there were several classes of verbs, in both an active and middle voice, each with three numbers and three persons, so that in just the present system, with its moods and the imperfect, I was obliged to memorize 72 terminations for a single verb alone. And still I found time to marvel at how the Sanskrit vid, from where we have vidia, was related to the Latin videre--to see--from where, in turn, we have such words as video and vision; veda too, of course, for as Calasso writes in Ka, the ancient seers, contrary to common conception, did not hear the Vedas, they saw them! Or that kala, Time and Death, should be derived from the Sanskrit kal, "to calculate or enumerate"--related to the Latin kalendarium, "account book," the English calendar--imparting, it seemed to me, onto that word the suggestive notion that at the end of all our calculations comes Death. Almost as if kala did not simply mean Time, but had built into it the idea of its passage, the count of days, as it were. Much more at 'source'. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/11 11:31:43 ( 343 reads ) Source On the pathway of spiritual excellence, words that discourage and those that publicize faults of others are lethal poisons. -- His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha No comment

Lord Ganapati's Famous in Bangkok Posted on 2013/9/10 18:45:51 ( 407 reads ) Source BANGKOK, THAILAND, September 8, 2013 (Times of India): With 600 pandals, Ganesh Utsav is likely to be grand affair. "Ganpati Bappa Moriya!" announces Bangkok's most popular radio station. Ganesha, the most versatile of all Gods, possesses a tremendous following in Thailand. "His presence above cash counters is what keeps them jingling," say shopkeepers. "Known as Phra Phikanet /Phra Phikanesuan, he is considered the Lord of business and diplomacy. The Thai pray in Sanskrit, hundreds offer marigolds, coconuts, sugarcane and fruit juice to him," says Assaya Suttikal, who sells fresh flowers and incense at Central World deity. "Thailand is the only place in the world where there are more non-Hindu followers of an Indian God. The Shiva temple - Ramindra, Utthayan Ganesh temple - Nakhon Nayok and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Thailand celebrate Ganesh Utsav with enthusiasm. Participation by locals gets bigger every year," says Susheel Saraff, president of VHP, Thailand. Seven years ago, with permission from the Thai government, VHP began celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi-visarjan in Bangkok. "Their only condition was that the Deities should be eco-friendly. We import small Deities from India and fly in artists from Pune to prepare bigger ones here. They bring material from India and are provided 45 days to sculpt and paint." The best dates according to the Thai calendar - September 1 to 8 - are chosen for the Nakhon Nayok celebrations. Some 66 miles north of Bangkok, Nakhon Nayok has a 38-foot-high statue. Decorated with Thai head gear and finery, it is an important place of worship. As per Hindu calendar, the sthapna puja will be performed today. Sanjay Kumar of VHP says, "We have printed the aarti Jai Ganesh Deva in Thai and English. The immersion procession is on September 15. Seven points have been allotted at Chao Phraya River. Amid devotional songs and drum beats, Ganesha will be bid adieu on decorative floats in boats for visarjan." No comment

Ganesh Chaturthi Begins In Maharashtra With Police-Friendly Initiatives Posted on 2013/9/10 18:45:44 ( 352 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, September 9, 2013 (India Today): As the 10-day Ganesh festival begins with great fervor across Maharashtra on Monday, new initiatives, rules and celebrations await the city. From regulations to mandals (temporary road-side temples) on the quality of prasad and fatter insurance covers to a growing demand for eco-friendly Deities, this year's Ganesh Chaturthi and the festivities will have something new. Among them: Artisans and stores have been stocking up on eco-friendly clay Deities that dissolve within minutes of immersion -In Pune, a 12,000-strong team of security personnel, including 8,500 city policemen, home guards and SRPF will be deployed during the 10 day period to watch over the devotees -Mumbai's biggest mandals have taken multi-crore insurance covers for the 10 day festival until all the ornaments and offerings are carefully put away. The GSB Seva Mandal, known to be the wealthiest in the city, has taken an insurance cover of Rs.223.35 crore (US$ 35 million) followed by the revered Lalbaugcha Raja at Rs.51 crore (US$8 million). -The Food and Drug Administration has directed all mandals to keep records of the place from where the Prasad or sweets for distribution are bought. This is done to hold the producers accountable and ensure the food is made in a hygienic manner No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/10 18:45:37 ( 348 reads ) Source Members of the younger generation are alike in many disrespects. No comment

Tulsi Bead Production Gets a Technical Lift from IIT Posted on 2013/9/9 18:40:42 ( 446 reads ) Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 7, 2013 (The Hindu): A technical design intervention by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has helped the rural women in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan engaged in fabrication of tulsi malas (a string of 108 beads for chanting a mantram) boost their production and earn a better livelihood by introducing advanced machinery. The IIT's help has benefited around 2,000 women in the region. The Rural Technology Upgradation Unit of IIT Delhi was recently contacted by Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation, a public service institution working in Bharatpur, for its inputs into old machines used by women for producing tulsi malas. The old machines involved a high degree of labor with an uncomfortable sitting posture, while production of the product remained low. Tulsi mala production provides livelihood to women mainly in Kaman, Deeg, Nadbai and Kumher tehsils of Bharatpur district. The location of temple towns such as Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon and Barsana near Bharatpur ensures a good demand and consumption of tulsi malas throughout the year. Women could fabricate 30 to 40 tulsi malas with the old machines and make a profit between Rs.60- Rs.80 (US 92c to $1.23) a day after their routine expenditure. They were facing problems of low production and physical pain while working on these machines. Sita Ram Gupta, executive director of the Foundation, points out that the new machines are capable of enhancing the production of tulsi malas four-fold and provide a comfortable posture for operating them. With each machine, women are now able to prepare beads for 200 to 250 malas everyday and fabricate the final product into different designs. No comment

Two Temples Vandalized in Bangladesh Posted on 2013/9/9 18:40:36 ( 427 reads ) Source BANGLADESH, September 8, 2013 (bdnews24): The desecrations of Sharbojonin Kali Mondir at village Betati and Sharbojonin Mondir at Jongolboruari village are believed to have taken place sometime during Saturday night, said Netrokona Model Police Station OC SM Mofizul Islam. A devotee, who came to make offerings at the temple in Betati around Sunday noon, discovered the broken statue. At Jongolboruari village the statues of Goddess Kali and Mahadeb were found wrecked, said Nirmol Das, president of the District Pooja Celebration Committee, and Pankaj Saha Roy, secretary. The vandal had broken into the temple, beheaded the statues and left the heads lying inside. OC SM Mofizul said he has heard of the incident in Jongolboruari and is preparing send a police force there. No comment

Nepal Blacks Out Screening Of TV Show On Lord Buddha Posted on 2013/9/9 18:40:29 ( 400 reads ) Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, September 8, 2013 (India Today): Cable operators in Nepal today blocked the broadcast of a Zee TV program on Lord Buddha, following protests that it depicted the ancient sage as being born in India instead of the Himalayan nation. The channel had aired the first episode of its new show "Buddha" that claimed that Buddha was born in India, not Nepal. Around 300 cable operators blocked the television channel for an hour today as the show was launched. "We were afraid that the content of the show might be disrespectful to Nepali audience," Sudhir Parajuli, Chairman of the Nepal Cable TV Association, told media here. "In precaution, we decided to impose self-censorship on the show. We had tried to contact Zee TV in this regard but as it was a public holiday today, no one was available to clarify our queries," Parajuli said. The move was not an official decision of the Ministry of Information and Communication, an official said. "The cable operators had independently decided to black out the channel today," according to Shailaja Bhattarai, Under Secretary at the Ministry. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/9 18:40:22 ( 356 reads ) Source In my silence, I experience one vast garden, spread out through the universe. All plants, all human beings, all higher devas are about it in various ways and each has his own uniqueness and beauty. Their presence and variety give me great delight. Every one of you adds in a special way to the glory of this garden." -- Sri Anandamayi Ma, (1896-1982), Bengali mystic No comment

Repair and Conservation Oof Sri Kedarnath Temple to be Undertaken by the India's Archeological Survey Posted on 2013/9/8 16:22:37 ( 402 reads ) Source INDIA, September 6, 2013 (Press Information Bureau): Following is the statement issued by Union Minister of Culture Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch to media persons here today: In the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary, it was decided that Archaeological Survey of India will undertake necessary conservation works of Sri Kedarnath Temple that was damaged due to the recent disaster in Uttarakhand. Accordingly, a composite team comprising members of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL) made a visit to Kedarnath on 02-03 August to assess damages to the temple and its adjoining areas. Preliminary report by ASI indicate that overall the temple super-structure is in fair state of conservation although portions of the temple on northern, western and eastern sides have indicated moderate impact of the severe jolt due to floods and boulder movement. The temple structure was saved primarily due to the lodging of a large boulder on its northern side which deflected water and boulders and possibly prevented a direct impact. ASI has dispatched its team to start the conservation of Sri Kedarnath Temple in consultation with the State Government, Kedarnath Development Authority and Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. ASI has been advised to submit the Action Plan for Phase I by 09 September, and to begin the work only after 11 September, after the visit of CM, Uttarakhand to Kedarnath. Initially the works will include cleaning of the interior of temple, packing / consolidating loose stones and taking estampage of inscription within the temple. Phase I of the conservation works will cost approximately Rs. 2.40 crores (US$368,000)." No comment

50 Years After King, Hidden Racism Lives On in the US Posted on 2013/9/8 16:22:30 ( 448 reads ) Source (HPI notes: Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed out loud of an end to racism. To mark the anniversary of his speech, CNN invited readers to share their personal experiences of "everyday racism," the ways prejudice still creeps into American life. This is one of several essays in a series). UNITED STATES, August 2013 (CNN): When Sonia Chakrabarty was in the 11th grade, a boy she had a crush on told her she would be really pretty if she were white. Chakrabarty was a socially awkward girl of Indian heritage, the daughter of two doctors, living in rural Tennessee. She didn't take offense to the reference about her brown skin. She concluded that she would be better if she were something else. "I took everything personally," said Sonia. "If I don't belong here, there must be something I'm doing wrong. I never thought it was the other person's fault and not my own." People made casual comments, jokes and unintentionally insensitive remarks all the time. They would refuse to pronounce her last name, complaining about how foreign it was. She was once called "a lazy (N-word)" by a woman in a store who wanted her to move out of the way. And in her 10th grade AP European history class, a classmate leaned over and teasingly said something like, "Hey Sonia, how does it feel to be a terrorist? You're from Iraq, right?" That's the way it was growing up looking different from most of her classmates and neighbors. She just didn't quite fit in "the way I was supposed to." But Chakrabarty never talked to her parents or classmates about how she felt. She felt if she could act differently, she "could fix the problem." She stubbornly refused to learn her parents' regional language, Oriya, and she never spoke or understood Hindi well. After some of her Southern Baptist friends told her they worried she was going to hell because she wasn't Christian, she never again mentioned her Hinduism (and became disillusioned with religion altogether). By the time she left rural Tennessee for college in Chicago, "I had spent so long trying to be white that I didn't know how to be myself anymore," she wrote in an essay on CNN iReport. "It's embarrassing, really. All I learned from my experiences with racism was how to be as unobtrusive as possible." "One of the worst consequences of the experiences I had was that I grew up almost ashamed of my Indian culture, and then coming to college, I had spent so long pushing it away and avoiding it. ... All these Indian people I met embraced their culture. Now I feel like I missed out on years being a part of it. It seems awkward now to try to immerse myself in it." Chakrabarty will turn 20 soon and is finally embracing her heritage. She is taking Hindi this fall and trying to give up her hang-ups about not being "Indian enough." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/8 16:22:23 ( 371 reads ) Source Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along. -- Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Founder of Self-Realization Fellowship No comment

Insurance a Must for the Dahi Handi teams of Pot Breakers on Janmashtami Posted on 2013/9/7 17:55:51 ( 376 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, August 27, 2013 (The Hindu): The Dahi handi celebrations, part of Janmashtami festivities in Mumbai and its suburbs, are literally reaching new heights. And so is the insurance cover for the Govinda teams participating in these festivities. This year, about 3,000 teams have been covered under accident policies for injuries. The dahi handi exercise involves the breaking of a pot tied at a height of three to five stories by Govindas -- players who form a human pyramid to reach the pot, in a re-enactment of Lord Krishna's antics. The pot usually contains reward money and many teams participate for a shot at this prize. Occasionally, these attempts result in some players getting injured. Dr. Atul Goel, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at KEM Hospital, told Business Line that some of the participants injure their spines and skulls while forming the pyramids. If the injury is severe, this can even make them paraplegic. "No amount of medical compensation can make them healthy again," he said. According to officials of mandals (festival committees), the height of the human pyramids has been rising steadily over the years. And the cash prizes on offer are now as high as Rs 15 lakh (US$23,000). Sachin D. Khanvilkar, Administrative Officer at Oriental Insurance, says the number of mandal groups covered has been increasing every year. This year the insurer has covered around 1,500 mandals. No comment

Singapore Hindu Temple Raises $250,000 For Revamp Posted on 2013/9/7 17:55:44 ( 437 reads ) Source SINGAPORE, September 3, 2013 (Asia One): One of Singapore's oldest Hindu temples will have been given a new lease of life by the end of the year when a US$5.3 million redevelopment project is completed. Some $196,000 of the money towards the revamp of Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple in Serangoon Road was raised last Saturday night at a dinner held at Orchid Country Club. Among the more than 1,000 people who attended was Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Donors at each table pledged between $1,120 and $7,850. The redevelopment project, which started at the end of last year, will see the temple being re-tiled and given a fresh coat of paint. A six-story annex will also be built to replace a three-story wing. The new building will have wedding and dining halls as well as rooms for yoga, meditation and dance classes. These facilities can be rented out at subsidized rates to be decided later. Mr. R. Selvakumar, chairman of the organizing committee for the fund-raising dinner, said current conditions at the temple -- built more than 150 years ago -- are cramped because of the large crowds of devotees and visitors who turn up every day. The temple attracts close to 4,000 people on Sundays and another 500 to 1,000 visitors on each weekday. Many devotees and foreign workers visit the temple for the free meals that are dished out.

Most And Least Hindu Cities in America Posted on 2013/9/17 18:41:03 ( 386 reads ) Source UNITED STATES, December 5, 2012 (Huffington Post): (HPI Note: This study counts only Hindus who identify as part of a local temple congregation. It is not based on the actual population of Hindus or Indian-Americans in a specific area, and may not even accurately count Hindus connected with a temple. See http://www.rcms2010.org/images/2010_U ... ion_Census_Appendix_G.pdf for an interesting description of the methodology.) A study measuring religious bodies in the United States called the, "2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study (RCMS)" was recently released by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB). The most comprehensive study of its kind, it provides detailed county by county information on congregations, members, adherents and attendance for 236 different faiths groups. (The survey differentiates between specific denominations within the same tradition.) According to the study, close to 80 percent of Hindu congregations are located in metropolitan areas with population greater than a million. Of these metro areas, the researchers found San Jose to be the most Hindu city with approximately 2.5 percent identifying as a Hindu adherent. The researchers found the greater area of Baltimore, MD to be the least Hindu city with only 0.003 percent identifying as a Hindu adherent. The researchers define adherents to be those with an affiliation to a congregation including children, members and attendees who are not members, and believe that the adherent measure is the most complete and comparable across religious groups. Congregations are defined as groups of people who meet regularly at a pre-announced time and location. Approximately 641,200 Hindu adherents and 1,625 congregations were reported across the country. With more than 80,000 Hindu adherents, the greater area of New York, NY-NJ-PA reported the highest number of Hindu adherents, whereas the greater area of Baltimore, MD reported the lowest -- only 71 identified as Hindu adherents. Similarly, with 195 congregations, the greater area of New York, NY-NJ-PA reported the highest number of congregations in a million-plus metropolitan area, whereas the greater area of Providence, RI-MA reported the lowest with just three Hindu congregations. Only 416 counties across the country reported the presence of Hindu adherents, and most Hindu adherents in the United States live near the East Coast or the West Coast. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/17 18:40:56 ( 315 reads ) Source Lord Siva, the bestower of happiness, gave the art of yoga. As Nataraja, King of dancers, He gave dance. -- BKS Iyengar No comment

Abused Hindu Goddesses Recall Violence Against Women Posted on 2013/9/16 18:41:11 ( 359 reads ) Source INDIA, September 2013,By Richard S Enrlich (RNS): A new public campaign in India uses powerful images of three Hindu goddesses with bruised faces to raise awareness about violence against women. The ad campaign is titled "Abused Goddesses" and portrays the beaten faces of three Hindu female deities: Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi [not with paintings, but with real models]. "Today more than 68 percent of women in India are victims of domestic violence," the caption reads. "Tomorrow it seems like no woman shall be spared. Not even the ones we pray to," the posters say. "Pray that we never see this day." The ads were created to raise funds for Save Our Sisters, an initiative of Save the Children India that "works to prevent the trafficking of young girls and women for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation," according to the organization's website. "SOS also works as an advocacy group that sensitizes stakeholders such as the police, magistrates, tourism boards, and other government officials." No comment

13 Priests for Britz Hindu Temple in Berlin Posted on 2013/9/16 18:41:04 ( 357 reads ) Source BERLIN, GERMANY, September 3, 2013 (Berliner Zeitung): The temple room is sumptuously decorated, but it's not all finished. Nevertheless Berlin's first Hindu temple will be opened this weekend with a two-day ceremony. High priests from India are officiating. Visitors are invited. On Saturday, Berlin's first temple is scheduled to open, and it looks as if the construction work could go on for months. The floor is not tiled, the shrines are unfinished. But Nadarajah Thiagaraja remains calm. The chairman of the Mahasabhai Association says that the temple was built with the blessing of the Gods and the opening date has been determined by a high priest according to the lunar calendar. In the basement the statues of the Gods are waiting, as well as dried herbs, spices and endless packs of incense. This weekend the 600 members of the Hindu Mahasabhai Association will open their Sri Mayurapathy Murugan temple in the Britz suburb of Berlin. It is Berlin's first free-standing temple. It is topped by with two towers, nine and eleven meters tall. It is about 200 square meters, with a richly decorated temple room containing seven shines. A two-day ceremony will be performed by two chief priests with eleven assistant priests. "God is asked to enter the temple and to give it divine energy. It's like the birth of a child," says Sivanese Kurukal, one of the chief priests. [HPI adds: Tamil language videos of the temple construction can be seen at Mayurapathy Murugan Berlin YouTube channel, for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Tpu4MdcuM.] No comment

Spain inaugurates Ayuryogam Newsletter Posted on 2013/9/16 18:40:57 ( 289 reads ) Source SANTO DOMINGO, SPAIN, September 14, 2013(Listin Diario): A monthly Spanish language newsletter with interesting new health and education issues begins circulation today. It's called the Ayuryogam newsletter and according to its author and editor in chief, Swami Rajarishishiva, the newsletter "aims to establish effective communication with people, guide them and give them confidence in the themes and philosophy we preach." The yoga guru directs the Indian Institute of Yoga Science which promotes the teaching of yoga, ayurveda medicine and cuisine as well as other ancient Indian knowledge. "The Ayuryogam newsletter is a promotion for the institute's activities, but also a space for topics like Vedic philosophy, ancient knowledge, ayurveda, yoga, science, medicine, tourism and more, most of them written by Swami," says Marcelle D'Alessandro, translator, designer and co-editor of the material. The inauguration ceremony will take place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Room Pedro Mir at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD). No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/16 18:40:46 ( 250 reads ) Source Life is meant for God-realization. If you die without attaining God-realization, your life is in vain. Even having one hundred gurus will not help, unless the disciple has a great desire for liberation and tries to get rid of all that stands in the way. -- Swami Chidananda (1916-2008), President of Divine Life Society No comment

World's Religions Parliament Withdraws from VHP of America's Program Honoring Swami Vivekananda Posted on 2013/9/15 16:10:00 ( 1038 reads ) Source CHICAGO, USA, September 13, 2013 (TCN): (HPI Note: This startling turn of events was announced on twocircles.net, a website reporting on issues of concern to Muslims in India. The withdrawal was done without consulting the Hindu members of the Parliament's board of directors.) American branch of right-wing Hindutva group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) suffered a major setback today when a respectable interfaith organization the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) decided to withdraw from the event that VHPA was organizing in Chicago. VHPA is holding event marking 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanda which will feature Baba Ramdev as the chief guest (see here). It is "co-hosted" by many Hindu organizations based in the USA. Air India is also listed as one of the co-host. 120-year old CPWR is the organization that invited Swami Vivekanda to Chicago in1893. In a statement issued today [see here, issued by Mary Nelson, CPWR's Executive Director] CPWR said: "We honor Swami Vivekananda and that legacy he left creating interfaith cooperation to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Our organization was not informed that an event we were asked to co-sponsor was also co-sponsored by organizations promoting controversial political positions. While we do honor and promote the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we respectfully withdraw our name from any co-hosting or co-sponsorship of the 'World Without Borders' event and any connection to this event or its other co-sponsors." Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) [see here for a list of members--it is mostly comprised of Muslim, leftist and Christian groups] has welcome the move by the CPWR to disassociate itself VHPA's event. "Hindutva extremists are exploiting Swami Vivekananda's name to surreptitiously gain credibility and respectability in the US. On the one hand the VHP is fanning the flames of currently raging sectarian violence in Muzaffarnagar in India through virulent anti-minority propaganda and on the other its followers in the US are trying to project Hindu supremacist ideology of Hindutva as pluralistic," said Dr. Shaik Ubaid, a spokesperson for CAG. "This incident exemplifies attempts by Hindutva organizations to legitimize their virulent politics by appropriating the legacies of important historical personalities such as Swami Vivekananda," said Dr. Raja Swamy, also a CAG spokesperson . "These have gone largely unnoticed and unchallenged until now mostly due to the general lack of understanding on the part of US institutions of the divisive and violent agenda of Hindutva groups in India," Dr. Swamy added. No comment

After 86 Days, Prayers Resume At Kedarnath Temple Posted on 2013/9/15 16:09:15 ( 345 reads ) Source INDIA, September 12, 2013 (ddinews): The deathly silence brooding over Kedarnath since the June calamity hit Uttarakhand broke early Wednesday morning by the chanting of Vedic hymns as prayers resumed at the Himalayan shrine, 86 days after ravaging floods left over 400 people dead in the Kedar valley. Shortly after the dawn, as the clock stuck seven, the chief priest of the 6th century shrine, Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling Shivacharya, unlocked the portals of the temple and stepped into the sanctum-sanctorum to perform the puja. The prayers commenced today on Sarwartha Siddi Yog, considered to be auspicious. The Puja began with a shuddhikaran (purification) of the temple and prayashchitikaran (atonement for prolonged suspension of prayers at the shrine). The chief priest was accompanied by a large number of teeth purohits and Badrinath Kedarnath Samiti officials. The shrine reverberated with the collective recitals of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells. However, the resumption of prayers at the 13,500 ft-high shrine is of limited nature, as no pilgrim is being allowed right now to visit the temple [because the access trail was so heavily damaged]. A meeting is scheduled to be held on September 30 to decide the date for resumption of Yatra to the famed Himalayan temple. No comment

Altare, "Capital" of the Hindus of Italy Posted on 2013/9/15 16:09:08 ( 373 reads ) Source ITALY, September 9, 2013 (La Stampa by Luca Maragliano): A corner of India is very close to Altare. That's the impression that you had yesterday, along the stretch of road that leads from the village in the locality Pellegrino, where stands the Gitananda Ashram; the most famous Hindu monastery of Italy and Europe. Yesterday the Ashram hosted the annual festival dedicated to the God Ganesh, the anniversary most heartfelt and loved by all Hindus, not only in India but all over the world. The event this year also received the patronage of the Region, the Province and the Municipality of Altare. And the faithful pilgrims were more than a thousand, as planned by the organizers, from all over the North of Italy that began arriving at the place of worship nestled in the woods, from the early hours of the morning: thirteen coaches, from Milan, Vicenza, Modena and many other cities, and parked in the parking lot of Vispa, not to mention the dozens and dozens of cars and campers parked along the road. "We are delighted to be here together today to celebrate Ganesh," said Swami Yogananda Giri, founder and spiritual leader of the temple - "and we thank the communities that have come to share with us this day." So many nationalities, in fact, were represented yesterday (such as those in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, that in the morning they received the telephone greetings from the Minister for Integration Cecile Kyenge. "I am pleased to greet all those present at the monastery" - Minister Kyenge said in his speech, "and take this occasion also to remember the recent agreement between the State and the Italian Hindu Union, because I believe that in Europe today there is another community that has yet to receive such recognition. A victory of all institutions. " Founded in 1984 as a place of prayer and study of the Hindu tradition, the Ashram of Altare has slowly grown until arriving today to be considered one of the largest in Europe. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/15 16:09:01 ( 270 reads ) Source To say "through silence He is realized" is not correct, because Supreme Knowledge does not come "through" anything. Supreme Knowledge reveals Itself. -- Anandamayi Ma No comment

Marathis celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in Karachi,Pakistan Posted on 2013/9/14 18:14:25 ( 0 reads ) Source KARACHI, PAKISTAN, September 11, 2013 (by Amar Guriro, Daily Times): Hundreds of Marathi speaking Hindus from across Sindh, majority of them women and children attired in new clothes, covering their heads and carrying the Hindu God Ganesha, entered into the centuries-old Shiva temple located near Clifton beach to perform Ganesha Chaturthi.The pundit started reciting holy mantras in Sanskrit. After the prayers, the Raag Leela started during which the traditional singers started singing bhajan. The Raag Leela continued till early dawn. And in the morning the ceremony ended with recitation of Arti. Ganesha Chaturthi festival is celebrated every year on the 4th day of the fortnight with moon in Bhadrapada (sixth month of the lunar calendar). A large number of Maratha Hindus are still living in Sindh, since it was part of Bombay Presidency. "Talking to Daily Times, Pramesh Jadiv said that it is the most important festival, especially for the Mararthi-speaking Hindus of Karachi. Even people from other cities come and celebrate the festival in Shiva temple. During the festival the Hindus perform special prayers, sing, dance and offer gifts to the God and the entire ceremony continues till the wee hours of morning. "On next day, we take Ganesha to the Arabian Sea and immerse it in the waters and thus the festival ends," he said. No comment

Atheists Cannot Use Temple Property In Tamil Nadu Posted on 2013/9/14 18:14:18 ( 403 reads ) Source CHENNAI, INDIA, September 12, 2013 (by B. Sivakumar, TNN): A circular was sent to all temple executives advising them not to rent out properties to non-believers. The circular also banned renting out of temple property for functions in which liquor and non-vegetarian food are served. This move by the State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has atheists and rationalists up in arms. "The properties might be owned by the temples but ultimately the government is the custodian of all properties and should be available to all. The order should be revoked immediately," Dravida Kazhagam (DK) leader K Veeramani told TOI over the phone. Justifying the circular, a senior official said, "As the property is in the name of a temple or its presiding Deity, we cannot allow meetings or gatherings that criticize religion or speak against the belief in God. Such meetings can be held in any other government or private property but not on a temple property. This goes against religious ethos." The circular specifies that the property either on the temple premises or outside it should be rented out only for religious discourses or for any other spiritual purpose only. No comment

Madras High Court Refuses to Permit Caste Functions in Tamil Nadu Posted on 2013/9/14 18:14:11 ( 291 reads ) Source CHENNAI, INDIA, September 10, 2013 (Samachar.com): HPI Note: We've added an explanation below the news report of this unusual event and ruling. News report: Refusing to show any indulgence to caste organizations holding annual guru puja to celebrate their idols [HPI note: in this case, they mean "idol" as "revered hero," not as a murthi for worship, which has led to some confusion on the Web as to what was being banned], the Madras high court has dismissed petitions seeking permission for hired vehicles from other districts to converge in Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts. Justice N. Kirubakaran has dismissed all the three writ petitions filed by three different castes for seeking a direction from the court to bring outside vehicles, relax prohibitory orders and give police protection. While Sivakumar of Ramanathapuram district secretary of Tamil Pulikal Organization wanted to hold a guru puja for Ondi Veeran (a famed freedom fighter of the Thevar community) at Nerkattumseval in Tirunelveli, Vijaya of Cuddalore district wanted the court to direct the authorities not to restrain them from participating in or holding a memorial function for Immanual Sekaran function at Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district. Both the petitions were dismissed by Justice Kirubakaran on Tuesday. He had received the verdict on August 31 at the Madurai bench of the court. A similar petition, filed by one Velayuthasamy of Tirunelveli district seeking permission to conduct a meeting for one more caste hero, Poolithevan, had already been dismissed by the same judge in Madurai. Meanwhile, the first bench comprising acting Chief Justice R. K. Agrawal and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan issued notices on a PIL filed by one Varaaki seeking blanket ban on all such guru pooka and caste-based memorial functions in Tamil Nadu. Explanation offered to HPI from a Tamil Nadu resident: "Two communities are involved in this. One is scheduled caste or, as they are called in local parlance, Pallan. They are dalits and renamed themselves as Devandra Kula Vellalar. The other is the Thevar community. They regard themselves as warriors or kshatriyas, and sometimes say they were former kings and chieftains. Both have conducted annual Guru pujas for their heroes. In the past these turned violent, leading to loss of life and extensive damage to properties as each community vowed to show their supremacy. Large numbers are brought to the site of the guru puja by hired vehicles, then indulge in unruly activity leading to clashes with the opposite community. That is why there is this ban. The political parties are also exploiting the situation." No comment

Help with Telugu Translation Requested Posted on 2013/9/14 18:14:04 ( 273 reads ) HPI KAUAI, HAWAII, September 14, 2013 (HPI): We need to verify the Telugu translation used by the Word Peace Organization for their Peace Prayer, "May Peace Prevail on Earth." On their web site, http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~infinite/AdditionalPeaceMessages.html, they have the prayer in 16 Indian languages, including Sanskrit The Telegu reads: "Samasta Lokam Lo Shanti Nilua Gaaka." But we are told that a better translation would be: "Bhoomi pai shanti undocchu gaaka," If you can help with this, kindly send a better version in Unicode font if possible, Roman transliteration or an image file to studyhall@hindu.org. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/14 18:13:58 ( 247 reads ) Source There the eye goes not, nor words, nor mind. We know not. We cannot understand how He can be explained. He is above the known, and He is above the unknown. Thus have we heard from the ancient sages who explained this truth to us. -- Sama Veda, Kena Upanishad 1.3

Indian Chief Priest of Pashupatinath Temple Departs Posted on 2013/9/22 18:46:16 ( 128 reads ) https://www.niticentral.com/2013/09/21 ... emple-resigns-135924.html KATHMANDU, NEPAL, September 21, 2013 (Niti Central): The Indian chief priest of Nepal's fifth-century Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu submitted his resignation after 21 years of service for personal reasons. Mahabaleshwor Bhatta, who hails from Tamil Nadu, gave his resignation to the Pashupati Area Development Trust, the body that looks after the Hindu temple's affairs. The board of the trust accepted his resignation. The decision was forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the ultimate authority to approve the resignation, temple authorities said. They said a new chief priest will be appointed from among the temple's four other Indian priests. Bhatta told the temple authorities that he decided to quit as he has to serve his old parents. "I have already served the temple for 21 years and my parents who live in India are getting older so I was required to go to India to serve them," he said. In 2008, Bhatta had resigned from the post during the Maoist-led Government, following controversy after then Prime Minister Prachanda's move to replace him and the other Indian priests with Nepali nationals. However, the decision was withdrawn and Bhatta was reinstated after Hindu groups launched a protest. It is a centuries-old practice to appoint Indian nationals as priests at the Pashupatinath Temple. Bhattas are qualified for the post. No comment

Stolen Yogini Sculpture Returned From Paris www.thehindu.com/news/national/stolen-yogini-sculpture-returns-from-paris/article5139611.ece?css=print Posted on 2013/9/22 18:46:10 ( 131 reads ) In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said Robert Schrimpf, a private art collector in Paris, had acquired the 400-kg stolen sculpture of Vrishanana Yogini, a Goddess with a buffalo-shaped head. After his death, his wife Martine Schrimpf donated it to the Indian Embassy in Paris in 2008.Indian Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh told The Hindu in a telephone interview that the return of the sculpture was "a lengthy and complicated process because permission had to be sought for the artefact to leave France. The French were very cooperative, and the Deity has now returned to India and has safely been handed over to the National Museum." Given that many leading museums abroad still have yogini sculptures stolen from places like Kancheepuram, the return of Vrishanana Yogini is significant, said V. Venu, Director-General of the National Museum. No comment

Hindus Celebrate Ganesh Utsav Posted on 2013/9/22 18:46:03 ( 115 reads ) Source TRINIDAD AND TOGAGO, September 19, 2013 (Trinidad Express): Ganesh Utsav, an Indian festival brought to Trinidad and Tobago by indentured laborers more than 150 years ago, was this week celebrated by Hindus throughout the country. The ten-day worship to Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles, culminated with a procession where Ganesh murtis were immersed in the sea yesterday. Pundit Khemraj Vyas, secretary of the Pundit Parishad, said Lord Ganesh was one of the manifestations of Divinity. "Hinduism preaches that there is only one God and this God takes on many different forms front time to time. Ganesh is one such form. His birth is described as taking place in this particular month," he said. He said a murti of the Hindu God is made out of clay and ceremonies are performed. "Hindus perceive (Lord Ganesh) as the remover of obstacles and the Lord of beginnings. The worship of Lord Ganesh is very important," he said. On the last day of the festival known as "Ananta Chaturdasi" the murtis are paraded through the streets, accompanied by singing and dancing, and then immersed in the ocean or other bodies of water No comment

Colorful Slideshow of Ganesh Festival In India Posted on 2013/9/22 18:45:57 ( 121 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, September, 2013 (Washington Post): During Ganesh Charturthi, Hindus, whether they live in Mumbai or Hyderabad, bring homes murthis of Lord Ganesha to invoke His Blessings for wisdom and prosperity and good fortune. This year the ten-day festival began September 9 but artisans start working on these elephant-headed deities weeks before and the final touch is given just before the festival begins. These deities are of all size starting from small ones and can reach giant height and are really spectacular. Some deities are so huge that cranes are needed for immersion. This year a 56-feet Ganesha deity was installed in Hyderabad and is being claimed to be the tallest one in the city. Immersion of these deities occurs on the 10th day of the festival in great pomp, joy and dancing and singing the praise of this benevolent God. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/22 18:45:51 ( 121 reads ) Source To the growing soul, to the spirit within us, may not difficulties, obstacles, attacks be a means of growth, added strength, enlarged experience, training for spiritual victory? The arrangement of things may be that, and not a mere question of the pounds, shillings and pence of a distribution of rewards and retributory misfortunes! -- Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950), Indian philosopher speaking on karma and disasters No comment

Parliament of Religions Stirs up a Hornet's Nest: Limelight on World Without Borders Event in Chicago Posted on 2013/9/21 17:06:00 ( 241 reads ) Source TEXAS, September 18, 2013 (India Herald, by Seshadri Kumar): The 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Vivekananda scheduled to be held in Chicago on Sept. 27 and 28 under the banner "World without borders 2013" is in limelight for the wrong reason. Chicago-based Council for World Parliament of Religions has withdrawn its support for the celebration, apparently on the urging of some Muslim and left wing groups.Swami Ramdev is among the invited speakers at this event. The groups such as the Coalition Against Genocide have been accusing Gujarat Chief Miniter Narendra Modi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India of committing genocide against Muslims in the state. The executive director of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, in an abrupt manner, released a statement withdrawing support to the event. Dr. Mary Nelson, the vice chair of the Board of CPWR, and Executive Director, had issued the following statement: "The council, 501(c)3 organization, is a 120-year-old peace building organization whose mission, like Swami Vivekananda's, is to promote peace and interreligious harmony. We honor Swami Vivekananda and that legacy he left creating interfaith cooperation to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Our organization was not informed that an event we were asked to co-sponsor was also co-sponsored by organizations promoting controversial political positions. While we do honor and promote the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we respectfully withdraw our name from any co-hosting or co-sponsorship of the "World Without Borders" event and any connection to this event or its other co-sponsors." This announcement is believed to have first appeared in twocircles.net, a website devoted to issues concerning Muslims in India. Dr. Shamkant Sheth, president of the VHP of A, Chicago chapter, said he was shocked and surprised by the announcement as the council did not even directly communicate its decision to the event organizers first. The Chicago chapter of VHP-A has sent a letter to Ms. Nelson: "It is with great regret that I write to you about the withdrawal of CPWR sponsorship from the World Without Borders 2013 event. While this news came to us as a shock, it was even more disconcerting the way we first came to know of this withdrawal - through your website, and, in a maligning press release from another organization. We would have hoped that CPWR would have shown us the common courtesy of informing us before going public with this. "While it is puzzling to us that you decided on this action, we would like to understand the reason for your withdrawal. To quote from the statement on the your website, you said: Our organization was not informed that an event we were asked to co-sponsor was also co-sponsored by organizations promoting controversial political positions. We would like to know which of our cosponsoring organizations that are 'promoting controversial political positions,' and what those 'controversial political positions' are. "Please realize that your unilateral action has done significant and tremendous harm to our cause. Many of our co-sponsors and our own members are wondering what these organizations are, and what political positions they profess. As a US-based nonprofit, religious and cultural organization that is not interested in politics, we ourselves are curious to know the specific reasons for your actions. We hope that you take this matter seriously and reply to us as soon as possible so that we can do damage control before our upcoming event." Meanwhile, Ms. Nelson, responded to an email inquiry from India Herald. Ms. Nelson said: "We appreciate your interest in this matter, which is currently under board consideration. Our processes for sponsorships and affiliations are being revisited and are under review. We look forward to openly sharing this information in the near future. We have no further comments at this time." Ms. Anju Bhargava and Dr. Anantanand Rambachan, members of the board of trustees of the council, have issued a joint statement regarding the World without Borders 2013 and CPWR. "We, Anju Bhargava and Anant Rambachan, found out on September 14th, through media reports, that the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) had withdrawn its participation in a Chicago event World Without Borders, celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. We were not consulted about this decision. Once we found out, we requested an explanation for the Parliament's decision. We have also formally requested the Parliament to reverse its decision to withdraw from co-hosting/co-sponsoring the Chicago event. We are working with Parliament to get this issue resolved harmoniously." Anju Bharagva is a member of President Obama's Inaugural Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, founder of Hindu American Seva Charities, and President of Asian Indian Women in America. Dr. Anantanand Rambachan is Chair and Professor or Religion, Philosophy and Asian Studies at Saint Olaf College, Minnesota, USA. Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid is the Chair of the Board of Trustee of the CPWR. India Herald had raised the following questions with Ms. Nelson: Is it true that your decision was made without a formal consideration of the board of trustees of the Council for the World Parliament of Religions? As stated in your email notification, what are the "controversial political positions" and which organizations are responsible for them? Who told you or how did you come to know about this questionable association of organizations? Do you believe organizations with different political views can agree on honoring Swami Vivekananda? If not, why not? Do you believe your action has strengthened the inter-religious harmony, one of the stated goals of the council? Some Hindus feel that your action supports the anti-Hindus among Muslims. Would you agree? Hindu American Foundation has also sent a formal letter to the CPWR asking for a dialogue and reversal of the decision. Suhag A. Shukla, executive director and legal counsel for HAF, noted in her letter to Ms. Nelson that "It is imperative that CPWR reverse the decision to withdraw as a co-sponsor in order to secure a reputation of being a fair and transparent organization not only promoting inter-religious engagement towards the ends of peace, pluralism, and mutual respect, but functioning in a manner that does the same." "Your statement on behalf of the CPWR, that CPWR reneged on a commitment because organizers of World Without Borders 'promote controversial positions' will be seen as ironic at best, and institutional hypocrisy at worst since CPWR is seen to have capitulated in response to a letter from controversial actors belonging to a manifestly political and highly polarizing web portal," Shukla added. The HAF letter also raised some questions: How does CPWR define "controversial political positions? Is being vehemently opposed to gay marriage controversial? If so, does CPWR avoid attendance or sponsorship with organizations holding such views? What about positions that are anti-Israel or anti-Palestine -- are they controversial, and as such, organizations supportive of either barred from CPWR partnership or support? How about organizations that support separatists movements in other sovereign nations -- are they promoting controversial political positions? If so, will CPWR engage or work with them? "I am left with the impression that an unknown segment of CPWR took what can only be seen as a capricious, unilateral decision without respect for democratic process, and of greater concern, without any regard for the understanding of the Hindu community that Dr. Rambachan and Ms. Bhargava would have provided -- the latter omission violating every core principle of interfaith dialogue, engagement and respect," HAF's letter said. No comment

 

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