News from Hindu Press International-62

News from Hindu Press International 

US$8 Million In Projects Approved For Nashik Ahead Of Kumbh Mela Posted on 2013/9/17 18:41:28 ( 344 reads ) Source INDIA, July 28, 2013 (The Hindu): Projects worth approx. US$8 million have been sanctioned under the tourism development program in view of the Kumbh Mela scheduled at Nashik in 2015, the Maharashtra Government has said. To prevent incidents of landslides at the famous Saptshrungi temple at Nanduri near Nashik, the work for rock fall protection at the cost of US$3.6 million will be started soon, state PWD and Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters here. Also, a skywalk would be constructed in Nanduri at a cost of US$1.3 million. A US$1.9 million project to install a ropeway from Saptshrungi temple to Markendeya hill will also be taken up before the mega event, he said, adding that a road linking Shivalaya lake, its renovation and beautification of the area will be done at the cost of US$863,000. Construction works on various ring roads, linking national as well as state highways of 289 miles, costing US$85 million, were also sanctioned by the State Government, which included four-laning of the road from Nashik to the pilgrimage town of Trimbakeshwar and Sinnar to Shirdi, he said. An additional building at Nashik rest house (Government Circuit House) will be constructed within a year at a cost of US$1.2 million, where suites for VIPs and the general public will be built. The present circuit house at Trimbakeshwar would also be developed by building suites for VVIPs, general public, and other amenities at a cost of US$1.2 million, the minister added. No comment

Hindu Trustees of Parliament of the World's Religions Issue Statement Posted on 2013/9/17 18:41:22 ( 383 reads ) HPI USA, September 17, 2013 (Press Release): The following statement was sent out jointly signed by Anant Rambachan (rambacha@stolaf.edu) and Anju Bhargava (anju@hinduamericanseva.org), both trustees of the Parliament: "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out on September 14th, through media reports, that the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) had withdrawn its participation in a Chicago event 'World Without Borders,' celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.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." No comment

Someshwara Temple To Shine Soon Posted on 2013/9/17 18:41:15 ( 340 reads ) Source ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA, September 16, 2013 (The Hindu): The historical Chaya Someshwara Swamy temple located at Panagal is all set to get a new look very soon as the Department of Archaeology and Museums is preparing to provide chemical treatment to the temple walls to remove fungus. Speaking to The Hindu over the phone, Assistant Chemist K. Rambabu, who is entrusted with preparing the proposals for the prestigious project, said the temple chairman G. Ananta Reddy approached many times asking them to provide chemical treatment to the temple. Saying that the estimated cost of the project is about US$15,800, the Assistant Chemist said he will submit the proposals to the director on September 16. Once the director approves the project and sanctions funds, they will start the work of treating 3,400 square meter long walls which is expected to take three months time, Mr. Rambabu said. He said the Archaeology and Museums Department does not allow painting of walls built of rock as it mars the natural sheen of the temple. As Chaya Someshwara Swamy temple was built by Kundur Cholas who ruled Nalgonda, Khammam and Mahabubnagar districts between 1040 AD and 1290 AD, Mr. Rambabu said the temple walls were painted many a times by various successive kings. Due to lack of regular maintenance over the years, the walls have gathered fungus. No comment

Eighth Annual Hindu Mandir Executives Conference Concludes in Canada Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:55 ( 118 reads ) Source ONTARIO, CANADA, September 24, 2013 (Press release): Over 250 adult and youth delegates representing over 85 Mandirs (Temples) and Hindu organizations from across the world attended the eighth annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC) that was held from September 20 through 22, 2013 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was co-hosted by a record 44 Hindu temples and Hindu organizations from across Canada and the United States. The program consisting of 23 sessions with 115 speakers and moderators. Addressing the participants by videoconference, Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukul said, "This get-together is bound to create better bonds and good networking among the people connected to the Hindu Mandirs across America and Canada." Swami Pratyagbodhananda from AVG stressed that religious thoughts should lead into practicality and spirituality and not dogma. Twenty sadhus and sadhvis attended the gathering. The conference was inaugurated by Pujya Dada Vasvani Ji who talked about being proud of our rich Hindu heritage. The editor of Hinduism Today, Paramacharya Palaniswami addressed the important topic of "Hinduism in America - Promise and Perils." Sri Sri Ravishakarji of Art of Living Foundation and Dr. Pranav Pandya of Gayatri Pariwar addressed the conference via video messages and spoke about propagation of scientific aspects of Hindu rituals and practices and the role of the mandirs. Swami Parmeshananda of Bharat Seva Ashram who is a Hindu representative in United Nations spoke about how to bring Hinduism on World Stage. Mandir issues were at the forefront of the discussion. Swami Shantananda of Chinmaya Mission stressed educating our youth and children on our faith, culture, values and their active participation in temple management. It is the mandir's responsibility to instill pride and spiritual greatness of Vedic knowledge. HAF's young lawyer Harsh Voruganti shared the upcoming changes in R1 visa regulation, building bridges with the local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies to ensure safety and security. Varsha Rengesh of Bhartiya Temple, Michigan, shared what has worked well for them for their outreach and seva programs that are not just limited to Hindus but serve the entire local community. Members from Coalition of Hindu Youth led the youth session. Youth discussion was focused on taking small steps to make positive changes in our Mandirs, while keeping the long-term goal of networking in mind. They identified that culture, peace, curiosity and sense of community are some of the reasons why youth come to Mandir and requested Mandir executives to focus on creating an environment for youth involvement and empowerment. Varun Khanna who is doing his Ph.D. in Sanskrit at the Cambridge University spoke about the need for Hindu community to support Hindu Studies in Universities. Sanatana Dharma National Scholarships for youths in USA and Canada were presented at the conference by Tej Tandon of Om Temple, Massachucetts. A number of activities and thoughts on advocacy of issues pertinent to the Hindu community were presented. While describing the accomplishments "Common Seva Divas across all temples" in which more than 80 temples conducted blood donation drives in memory of 9/11, Ms. Luz Rodriguez of Washington DC described the need for Bone Marrow registration drives through the temples. The Hindu Chaplaincy Initiative was discussed in detail at this conference. In addition to the books on Vivah Samskar and Antyesti Samskar that are already published, HMEC plans to release Simantonnayan samskar and a Vrat manual for young couples in coming year. Vishal Agrawal of Hindu temple of Minnesota led the discussion on how to share and exchange various Bal Vihar and youth program material among temples in North America. The role of Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN) and Priest Network in enhancing operation of Temples and Institutions was discussed. Dr. Lakshmanan of Sringeri Temple of Brampton led the discussion on the common by-laws for temples. Dr Doobeyji of Vishnu Mandir inaugurated the gala dinner that was organized in Ram Mandir for all delegates and invited guests of the conference. The eighth HMEC deliberated on the following 4 resolutions: 1. Set up a Dispute Resolution Council to resolve & mediate disputes and conflicts related to North American Mandirs. 2. Denounce Indian Government interference in Hindu Mandirs in Bharat to preserve their sanctity. 3. Mandirs to develop strategies & implementation plans to Secure and Protect Hindu Mandirs in America. 4. Assist Hindu Health workers against treatments such as vaccines, etc. with non-vegetarian ingredients. The Encyclopedia of Hinduism preview launch and parting thoughts were delivered by Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Arti Patel of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha spoke on the topic "Future is bright." A temple tour was organized for the interested delegates on Sunday morning. Delegates from Florida announced their plan to host HMEC 2014 in Florida which was applauded by all. No comment

Kailas-Mansarovar Yatra Travelog Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:41 ( 156 reads ) Source TIBET, August 2013 (Puthurshivatemple.blogspot): Trekking Kailas Mansarovar is one of the most sacred and adventurous pilgrimages. This journey is revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike. In Hinduism, Mt. Kailas is considered as the abode of Lord Siva. While a holy bath in Lake Mansarovar is believed to wash away sins committed over several lifetimes. This fascinating and detailed travelog at "source" follows the experience of S. Gopal and his wife S. Rama from August 11 to August 24, 2013 as they are treated to a region of breathtaking beauty and a trek that tests physical endurance. No comment

What Does Being A Vegetarian Say About You? Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:34 ( 154 reads ) Source SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, September 19, 2013(Pacific Standard): Why does someone voluntarily refrain from eating meat? Newly published research suggests the likely answer will depend on whether you ask a vegetarian in Minneapolis or Mumbai. It finds vegetarians in India and the West are both guided by deeply felt ethical considerations. But the moral codes that lead them to avoid meat are, in many ways, radically different. "The psychological associations of vegetarianism are more nuanced than has been previously theorized," says a research team led by Matthew Ruby of the University of British Columbia. "Although Western and Indian vegetarians arrived at the same moralized behavior, their motivations are based on very different moral principles." Ruby and his team note that, in the West, vegetarianism has been linked with "broadly liberal world views." (According to estimates, 20 to 42 percent of Indians are vegetarians, compared to three percent of Americans and eight percent of Canadians.) Their research found out that among Westerners, vegetarians (compared to meat-eaters) were "more concerned about the impact of their daily food choices on the environment and on animal welfare, more concerned with general animal welfare, more strongly endorsed values of universalism, and less strongly endorsed right-wing authoritarianism," the researchers report. However, among Indians who responded to those same questions, there were no significant differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The assumption that a vegetarian is more likely to have socially liberal attitudes holds true only in the West. The second study "Vegetarians more strongly endorsed the belief that eating meat pollutes one's personality and spirit than did omnivores, and this difference was especially pronounced among Indians," the researchers report. They note that in Hinduism, the dominant religion in India, "the aim of vegetarianism ... is to keep the body free of the pollution associated with meat." According to another survey the differences between Indians and Westerners were striking. Indian vegetarians were more likely than their meat-eating counterparts to endorse not only values related to purity, but also those supporting traditional authority and in-group loyalty. Conservative values, in other words. This was not true among meat-avoiding Westerners. Indeed, American vegetarians actually placed less value in traditional authority than meat-eaters. "Most vegetarians in the West were not raised as such, but made a decision at some point to convert from the meat-eating diet followed by the majority of people in their culture," they note. In contrast, "vegetarianism has been firmly established in India for centuries, and is associated with tradition, power and status," the researchers write. "Most Indian vegetarians are raised as such by their families." The findings are a reminder that "a similarity in behavior across cultures" does not necessarily reflect a similarity in thinking. In avoiding meat, diners from Calcutta to California are making a statement about their values. But that tofu represents different things to different people. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:28 ( 108 reads ) Source Are you depressed? Remember, within you is the Power. If you will but release a fraction of it, you can make the impossible possible. -- Dada J.P. Vaswani No comment

Parliament of World Religions Refuses to Reverse Decision on Vivekananda Event Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:59 ( 331 reads ) Source CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 25, 2103: HPI Note: The following is a press release from the Parliament of the World's Religions. In the last week there has been some news about the Parliament's withdrawal from an event which we had initially endorsed. To clarify the Parliament's position, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the following resolution recommended by the Executive Committee on September 24, 2013. The first Parliament of the World's Religions took place in 1893, and was addressed by Swami Vivekananda. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (the Parliament) continues to honor this exemplary Hindu saint for his ideals of interfaith understanding and mutual respect, and will honor the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and the 120th anniversary of the Parliament on November 16, 2013 in Chicago. We, the Trustees of the Parliament, commit to working with and engaging in dialogue with all faith communities in keeping with the nature and mission of the Parliament which is: To cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. We understand that the Parliament is an interfaith organization and not a political one. It must therefore, remain neutral relative to political interests and respectful of the self-identification of each religious community. The decision of the Executive Director of the Parliament to participate in the Chicago World Without Borders event, made in consultation with a Hindu Trustee, and then her decision to withdraw from the event, made pursuant to her authority as Executive Director and in keeping with past practice, have both unintentionally plunged the Parliament into the middle of a storm of differing views, passionately held by people on all sides of the issue and who come from various faith traditions. Nonetheless, she deeply regrets that she did not inform the organizing committee for the event before posting the decision to withdraw the Parliament from co-sponsorship. The Parliament is now formalizing a policy and process to govern the way in which the Parliament responds to future invitations to co-sponsor or co-host events. Despite the unfortunate way in which this matter has unfolded, because the Parliament is an interfaith organization, the Parliament cannot co-sponsor or co-host any event with political parties, politically partisan organizations or individuals, nor can it participate in the promotion of a political party or candidate, nor where self-identification of faith groups is challenged. The world's Hindu communities and spiritual leaders have long been a pillar of the worldwide interfaith movement and have played a key role in all of the modern Parliaments as well as the historic original Parliament in 1893. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions wishes to maintain and increase its cordial and strong relationship with Hindu communities and individuals everywhere who share its mission. We call upon our Hindu friends and colleagues as well as our colleagues of all religions and spiritualities to move forward with us in a spirit of harmony, constructive dialogue and action to create a peaceful, just and sustainable world. In the spirit of interfaith harmony, we would like to humbly offer to facilitate conversations with all those concerned who have approached the Parliament in this matter. We reaffirm faith in the humanity of all sides and will redouble our efforts to engage in dialogue among all faith communities. We also rededicate our Faith Against Hate campaign to all people of love who desire to touch and inspire the humanity of the other. Finally, we continue to be inspired by Swami Vivekananda's closing remarks at the 1893 Parliament: "Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal." Signed: Board of Trustees, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, Illinois, 60601 No comment

Hindu Trustees of Council Resign Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:53 ( 266 reads ) Press Release CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 25, 2013: HPI Note: Following is a letter sent by Dr. Anantanand Rambachan and Anju Bhargava to the Council. Dr. Anantananda is Chair of the Department of Religion at St. Olaf's College, Minnesota; Ms. Anju Bhargava is Founder of Hindu American Seva Charities and a member of President Barack Obama's inaugural Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership. Dear Board Colleagues, It is with deep regret that we write today to inform you of our decision to resign as members of the Board of Trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR). The CPWR Executive Director, after consulting with one of us (Anantanand Rambachan) made a commitment to participate in the Chicago World Without Borders event, celebrating this 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Hindu community received the news of this commitment with great joy. The name of Swami Vivekananda is forever etched in the history of the Parliament and Hindu interest and support for the Parliament is linked inextricably with his pioneering contributions at the 1893 event in Chicago. His name is synonymous with the interfaith movement. The decision to withdraw, made without consulting either one of us, has caused hurt and great disappointment across the Hindu world and especially here in the United States. This pain reflects the Hindu historical esteem and value for the Parliament. One is not hurt by the actions of an institution that one does not value. We feel strongly that in ratifying the decision of the Executive Director to withdraw from the World Without Borders event, the Parliament has not acted in a just and fair manner. In spite of claiming neutrality, the Board chose to be influenced in its decision by giving credibility to complainants against its participation in the event and by showing no interest in considering or deliberating on the Hindu responses received. In doing so, the CPWR has made judgments and taken sides without careful deliberation. Support for the CPWR participation was received from a significant number of Hindu organizations and individual Hindu leaders. We feel that these Hindu perspectives were not weighed or treated with significance in the decision-making process. Both of us implored our colleagues on the Board to reverse this decision and to consider some form of official participation in the event, emphasizing that participation is not endorsement of the ideology or program of any group participating in the event. We emphasized that our participation would signify our expressed value for Swami Vivekananda's legacy and this alone could be the ground and rationale for our involvement. We explained that this reversal is inimical to the interests of the CPWR and damages the standing of our organization in the Hindu community in the United States and abroad. We pointed out that none of the complaints against our participation came from Hindu organizations and that no Hindu organization had withdrawn. We affirmed that we are troubled by the decision making process. In spite of our passionate arguments, our Board, with very few exceptions, voted to ratify the decision to withdraw. We feel deeply that the decision making process of the Board in this matter was not exercised in a manner that reflects impartiality and fairness of treatment to all parties concerned. We do not believe that some level of official participation of the CPWR would have damaged the credibility of the organization. On the other hand, the refusal of the Board to approve any form of official participation has alienated and hurt the Hindu community. We wish to clarify also that we did not participate in the Board meeting on September 24, 2013 when the Board approved its recently released resolution. For us, the heart of the matter is the Board's unwillingness to consider any form of participation. Our dissatisfaction with the decision making process of our Board in this matter, and our inability to convince you of implications of this decision on the Hindu community leave us no choice, sadly, but to tender this letter of resignation. Respectfully, Anantanand Rambachan Anju Bhargava No comment

VHP of America Responds to Council Decision Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:47 ( 271 reads ) Source CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 25, 2013: HPI Note: The following short statement was sent out by Jyotish Parekh, president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America: "We note the apology from Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR). We are grateful for the overwhelming support received from the Hindu community and organizations across North America. We are confident that the World Without Borders event in Chicago to celebrate Swami Vivekananda 150th anniversary supported by 30 organizations is poised for success." No comment

Hindu American Foundation's Statement on Council Decision Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:40 ( 295 reads ) Source PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, September 23, 2013: HPI Note: The following statement was made today by the Hindu American Foundation regarding the Council's Decision. Rejecting a request from a coalition of over three hundred North American Hindu spiritual leaders, organizations, community leaders, and lay people, the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) refused yesterday to join Hindus in Chicago to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The CPWR originally planned on being a co-sponsor of the celebration set for September 28, 2013, but then withdrew suddenly after receiving a complaint from an online based anti-Hindu group. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) coordinated a letter requesting the CPWR to change course as local organizers worked towards reaching a compromise with CPWR, but the Parliament rejected the final requests late last night, prompting the only two Hindu members of the Parliament Board of Trustees to resign in protest today. "At HAF, we are saddened that the Parliament, created in the very name of Swami Vivekananda, turned its back on the Hindu community and drew its own fault lines defining politics and religion," said Suhag Shukla, HAF's Executive Director. "The CPWR has decided to define political organizations arbitrarily, and must now take a hard look at every organization it has partnered with and that its trustees are associated with or represent." Shukla suggested that the CPWR immediately examine the ties Shaik Ubaid--the Muslim activist who claimed credit for forcing the Parliament to dissociate from the Chicago Hindu community in several Muslim media outlets-- maintains within the Parliament leadership. Ubaid works closely with the CPWR Chairman of the Board, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, having co-founded a number of organizations and worked together in others. In a major setback to the Parliament Board of Trustees, the only two Hindu trustees of the Parliament, Professor Anant Rambachan, Chair of the Department of Religion at St. Olaf's College, and Ms. Anju Bhargava, Founder of Hindu American Seva Charities, resigned immediately after CPWR confirmed its unilateral decision to disengage from the community celebration. "The decision to withdraw, made without consulting either one of us, has caused hurt and great disappointment across the Hindu world and especially here in the United States," wrote Rambachan and Bhargava, in a letter released earlier today. "In spite of claiming neutrality, the Board chose to be influenced in its decision by giving credibility to complainants against its participation in the event and by showing no interest in considering or deliberating on the Hindu responses received." But while the CPWR boasted of a unanimous approval of its decision to refuse reversal, the resigning trustees also wrote, "We wish to clarify also that we did not participate in the Board meeting on September 24, 2013 when the Board approved its recently released resolution. For us, the heart of the matter is the Board's unwillingness to consider any form of participation." "To completely ignore issues of fairness, transparency, and mutual respect raised by the Hindu community at large and the condescending tone of the announcement should call into question the Parliament's ability to be a global leader in the interfaith movement," said Mr. Pawan Deshpande, a member of HAF's Executive Council. "Nonetheless, the silver lining in all of this is that it has brought together so many Hindus, across a broad spectrum of religious, cultural, and political backgrounds, to voice our collective concern." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:33 ( 284 reads ) Source The tragedy of human history is decreasing happiness in the midst of increasing comforts. -- Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993) No comment

Three Months After Floods, Cries For Help Echo In Uttarakhand Posted on 2013/9/24 18:24:13 ( 253 reads ) Source KEDARNATH, INDIA, September 23, 2013 (Times Of India): More than three months after flash floods, landslides and rain destroyed large parts of Uttarakhand the tortuous exercise of rebuilding shattered lives is on. The immediate task of evacuating thousands of pilgrims and tourists is over. But the residents suffer, each day a grim battle to tackle the fallout of a loss of a way of life and livelihoods. The government has just about scratched the surface of the problem. The task of reconstruction is uphill. Roads have vanished. The topography has changed. Rivers have altered course. Rain and landslides hobble operations and worse, winter is approaching. Tourism, once Uttarakhand's backbone, doesn't exist anymore. A case in point is the Kedar Valley of Rudraprayag district. Many families here no longer have homes. Their farmlands no longer exist. The pilgrimage circuit, once a money spinner that helped them to sustain the year is history. Hotels, shops and eateries are in ruins. "We are finished, at Kedarbaba's mercy," Chait Singh, who is in his eighties, says. Flood waters took away his godown and shop at Sonprayag, 15.5 miles from Kedarnath. Sonprayag, on the banks of the Mandakini, is a picture of devastation. Abandoned cars litter the roads, most of them damaged, full of sand and debris. The losses are enormous. The total number affected stands at several hundred thousand, chief secretary Subhash Kumar says. He names Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh as the worst-hit. Chief minister Vijay Bahugana concedes a complete recovery will take years and nearly US$2.2 billion. The government is setting up pre-fabricated houses in 19 places. These should last for over 20 years. Bahugana adds the state doesn't have the means to compensate for the damages fully. "We are doing our best, but can't compensate the entire (Kedar) Valley for their loss. Our effort is to provide relief." It's the yatra -- rather the suspension of it -- that's proving the biggest hurdle. Puja resumed at Kedarnath on September 11, but the temple town is nowhere near ready for pilgrims. The temple town's infrastructure was smashed on June 16 and June 17. Many bodies are still buried under the rubble that covers the town. No comment

Hindus Clean Up Rockaway Sanctuary After Water Rites Posted on 2013/9/24 18:24:06 ( 255 reads ) Source NEW YORK, U.S., September 23, 2013 (Times Ledger): Although Queens residents of all stripes are guilty of littering or dumping in Jamaica Bay, Hindu religious rites get some blame for some of the more visible debris. The Hindu rite of Ganga Pooja involves making an offering into a body of water as a way of cleansing one's sins. Unfortunately, not all of these materials used in the offerings are biodegradable. Fabric outfits, plastic statues (murthis), aluminum pans and Styrofoam wash up on the beaches and nature preserves along Rockaway's coastline. On Aug. 31, a group of conservation-minded Hindus, in conjunction with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, decided to pitch in by cleaning up the Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary in Rockaway. Sadhana, a Coalition of Progressive Hindus is an advocacy group based around the city that tries to advocate a socially conscious, progressive agenda, focusing on inserting tolerance, inclusiveness, non-violence (ahimsa) and faith in action (sadhana) into Hindu and interfaith discourse. As such, activities such as beach cleanups promote awareness of the moral imperative to care for the environment and promote greener practices in worship. In response to the problem of debris at local beaches, Sadhana launched an environmental initiative known as Project Prithvi. As Sadhana founding member Aminta Kilawan explained, Project Prithvi "aims to protect both tradition and the environment in a way that benefits society at large." Efforts to establish a designated site for religious rites has been met with silence from the city Parks Department, and Kilawan said that "in the past, city parks officials have been quick to close off the beach, post signs and even issue fines to put a stop to any water offerings." She pointed out that this leads Hindus to dispose of the materials secretly in Jamaica Bay, which is close to Richmond Hill and Ozone Park. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/24 18:24:00 ( 236 reads ) Source "Following the path of knowledge without love and devotion is like eating stones." -- Mata Amritanandamayi No comment

BBC Tamil Radio Series Tells the Story of Burma's Tamils Posted on 2013/9/23 17:27:07 ( 359 reads ) Source UNITED KINGDOM, August 15, 2013 (BBC): The lives of Burma's (Myanmar's) Tamil minority are in the centre of a 12-part weekly series launching on BBC Tamil radio on Sunday 18 August. "The Tamils Who Stayed Back In The Golden Land" (Thanga Mannil Thangiya Thamizhargal) explores the conditions in which Burma's ethnic Tamils live today and talks about their collective memory, their daily lives and their aspirations for their future in a changing Burma. Burma's ethnic Tamils, whose number is unofficially estimated at half a million, are the descendants of Tamils from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They migrated to Burma during the days of the British Empire and worked in finance and trade as well as agriculture. The end of the British rule in Burma in 1948 led to a decline of the community's fortunes. In the 1960s, in the wake of the military rule, many were forced to leave Burma - but many also stayed back. The BBC Tamil series producer, Swaminathan Natarajan, travelled across the Tamil-speaking areas of Burma, interviewing people from various cross-sections of the society including traders, community leaders, farmers and social activists. Their cultural identity is the focus of the series. Swaminathan says: "All the Hindu temples have a statue of Buddha, and the fact that a lot of ethnic Burmese visit those temples testifies to a high level of integration and tolerance. On the other hand, due to lack of opportunities and economic benefits, there is reluctance among ethnic Tamils to learn their mother tongue. Despite this, many seem to go the extra mile to make sure the new generation doesn't forget the Tamil language." Editor of BBC Tamil, Thirumalai Manivannan, comments: "Having retained their cultural roots, Burma's Tamils also seem to have achieved some success in integration with the mainstream Burmese society. The series looks at how this integration works - and also throws light on the issues affecting this section of the Burmese society and takes a historic look at the vicissitudes of their lives." No comment

Ganapati Brings Western Railway, Central Railway Million-Dollar Boon Posted on 2013/9/23 17:27:00 ( 266 reads ) Source MUMBAI, INDIA, September 21, 2013 (Manthan K. Mehta, TNN): The 10-day Ganapati festival brought a major revenue boost to Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR), with the two collectively earning US$1.6 million more than usual. The suburban railway network saw an average of 430,000 passengers more per day during the just-concluded Ganeshotsav festival. On Monday, September 16, the CR network saw a record-breaking 6.5 million passengers compared to the daily average of 4 million, an increase of 62% in passenger traffic. On the same day, WR saw 4.95 million passengers compared to the daily average of 3.5 million, an increase of 42%. A CR official said the passenger count on September 16 was the highest for a day seen so far on the suburban network. "It surpassed the till-date highest tally of 5.5 million commuters registered on August 20, the day of Rakshabandhan," the official said. "During big festivals like Ganpati, Navratri or Diwali, rail transport is the swiftest as roads are usually clogged," a senior official said. "Many vehicles get caught in traffic jams for hours as the road width gets decreased due to the erection of pandals, thus blocking the smooth flow of traffic. In such a scenario, even non-rail travelers jump on the train to avoid traffic." No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/23 17:26:54 ( 279 reads ) Source They have "Dial-a-Prayer" for atheists now. You call it up, it rings and rings, but nobody answers. No comment

Stolen Yogini Sculpture Returned From Paris Posted on 2013/9/22 18:50:00 ( 488 reads ) Source 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

Indian Chief Priest of Pashupatinath Temple Departs Posted on 2013/9/22 18:50:00 ( 372 reads ) Source 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

Hindus Celebrate Ganesh Utsav Posted on 2013/9/22 18:46:03 ( 350 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 ( 357 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 ( 308 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 ( 387 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

Indian celebrates Ganesha Birthday in Germany Posted on 2013/9/21 17:05:51 ( 412 reads ) Source HAMBURG,GERMANY September 16, 2013 (Abendlatt): The people in the Harburg suburb of Hamburg were treated on Friday night to an uncommon religious spectacle: 200 Indian men, women and children, along with some Germans, moving in procession through the Harburg Town Hall Square to celebrate the birthday of the Deity Ganesha. Men carried a 30-centimeter (one foot tall) statue of Ganesha on a colorfully decorated palanquin. Almost all the participants were Indians who are employed by the Airbus aircraft plant in Finkenwerder. The celebration of the birthday of Ganesha, a form of the divine in Hinduism, is as significant to Hindus as is the celebration of Christmas for Christians. After the procession in Harburg, Ganesha was taken to the temple of the Afghan Hindu community in Rothenburgsort to continue the birthday celebration. No comment

Sumner County Schools Cuts Out Field Trips To Religious Venues Posted on 2013/9/21 17:05:39 ( 316 reads ) Source TENNESSEE, U.S., September 20, 2013 (Tennessean): Sumner County Schools students will no longer be allowed to take field trips to religious venues after the stepfather of a Hendersonville High School student accused the school of promoting Islam. The issue surfaced when a couple of parents asked about a planned field trip to a mosque and a Hindu temple during the school's back-to-school night, according to parent Mike Conner. Conner said parents raised concerns about the trip because the 36-week world studies course was only going to be visiting the two religious venues. For the past 10 years, Hendersonville High School has offered an honors world studies class in which students spend three weeks learning about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hindu and Islam. Schools spokesman Jeremy Johnson said the class has visited religious venues in the past, including a Jewish synagogue, a Hindu temple and a mosque. No parents have complained in the past, he said. Conner said he's OK with the students studying five religions, but it became a problem for him when only two venues were visited. Conner's stepdaughter did not take the trip but was allowed to do an alternative assignment. The school system said this week that all trips to religious venues are off. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/21 17:05:31 ( 322 reads ) Source Wealth's Goddess dwells in the hospitable home of those who host guests with a smiling face. -- Tirukkural No comment

India's Temples Refuse to Supply Gold Audit to Government Posted on 2013/9/30 12:23:50 ( 327 reads ) Source THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, September 30, 2013 (Reuters): India's Hindu temples are resisting divulging their gold holdings - perhaps nearly half the amount held in Fort Knox [Fort Know holds 4,600 tons, 3% of the entire world's supply] - amid mistrust of the motives of authorities who are trying to cut a hefty import bill that is hurting the economy. The central bank, which has already taken steps that have slowed to a trickle the incoming supplies that have exacerbated India's current account deficit, has sent letters to some of the country's richest temples asking for details of their gold. It says the inquiries are simply data collection, but Hindu groups are up in arms. "The gold stored in temples was contributed by devotees over thousands of years and we will not allow anyone to usurp it," said V. Mohanan, secretary of the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad organisation in Kerala state, in a statement. Indians buy as much as 2.3 tons of gold, on average, every day - the weight of a small elephant - and what they don't give to the Gods is mostly hoarded. Jewelry is handed down as heirlooms and stored away with bars and coins as a hedge against inflation or a source of quick funds in an emergency. That is costing the economy dear. Gold imports totalled $54 billion in the year ending March 31, 2013, the biggest non-essential item shipped in from overseas and a major factor in swelling the current account deficit to a record in 2012/13. Guruvayur temple, in Kerala, one of the most sacred in India and boasting a 33.5-metre (110-ft) gold-plated flagstaff, has already told the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) it won't divulge any details. "The gold we have is mostly offered by the devotees. They would not like the details to be shared with anybody," said V. M. Gopala Menon, commissioner of the temple's administrative board. The World Gold Council estimates there are about 2,000 tons of gold locked away in temples - worth about $84 billion at current prices - which Indian devotees have offered in the form of jewelry, bars, coins and even replicas of body parts, in the hope of winning favors from the Gods or in thanks for blessings received and health restored. Curbing gold imports and getting the gold squirreled away back into circulation has become a priority for the government and RBI this year. Import duty is at a record 10 percent and the latest new rule - that 20 percent of all imports must leave the country as jewelry exports - caused confusion that dried up buying for two months. Mumbai's Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati temple, often visited by Bollywood celebrities, had already put 10 kg (22 lbs) of its gold into a bank deposit scheme. It still has 140 kg (308 lbs) in its vault. It is not alone. The Tirupati temple in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, considered one of India's richest, has lodged 2,250 kg (4,960 lbs) of gold with the State Bank of India, which pays it interest. No comment

Meditation and the Art of Management Posted on 2013/9/30 12:23:44 ( 307 reads ) Source SINGAPORE, September 16, 2013 (The Financial Times Ltd.): Every day, twice a day, for the past 20 years, Peter Ng, the executive charged with investing tens of billions of dollars for Singapore's sovereign wealth fund thinks of nothing. He does this by sitting silently and saying a word inside himself. After a few minutes, his breathing calms, his face muscles relax and the flutter behind his eyelids stills. Mr. Ng, chief investment officer of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, sits on a panel sponsored by CFA Institute, a standards-setting body for fund managers and financial analysts, pondering the "future of finance." Over the past decade or so, meditation -- the practice of becoming aware and then letting go of the thoughts and emotions that make up our stream of consciousness -- has spread gently from an esoteric practice into an activity nearly as ubiquitous as jogging or flossing teeth. That may be because -- as the refrain goes and as many have quietly discovered -- "meditation is not what you think". It has been quietly incorporated into corporate life: Google and General Mills encourage the secular practice of mindfulness to help make employees more productive. Now meditation is penetrating the halls of high finance, too. Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund with $150bn of assets under management, is unequivocal about its effects. "Meditation, more than anything else, is responsible for whatever success I have had," he says. "When I meditate, I acquire an equanimity that allows me to see things from a higher-level perspective and that allows me to make sensible decisions." Backed by clinical trials and married with neuroscience, the idea that meditation can help anyone find a greater sense of equanimity is well established. Money managers such as Bill Gross, the founder and co-chief investment officer of Pimco, the world's biggest fixed income investor, say it helps remove confirmation bias, the universal tendency to seek information that confirms ego-driven preconceptions while remaining blind to valuable data that contradicts it. Quelling the mind can help managers conserve energy in daily work life. "Greater clarity makes you more orderly," says Mr. Ng. But it is especially useful during a crisis, when "volatile markets and their profit and loss implications can really throw you off-balance, even as people are mostly looking to you for direction". CFA Institute is looking to offer meditation classes, and business schools increasingly offer courses for the "behavioral advantages" it brings. Much more at source. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/30 12:23:38 ( 177 reads ) Source He is the Supreme Brahman, the Self of all, the chief foundation of this world, subtler than the subtle, eternal. That thou art; thou art That. -- Atharva Veda, Kaivalya Upanishad No comment

"Yoga: The Art of Transformation" Exhibit Premieres October 19 at the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery Posted on 2013/9/29 18:25:27 ( 262 reads ) Source WASHINGTON, September 24, 2013 (Press Release): "Yoga: The Art of Transformation," the first exhibition about the visual history of yoga, opens October 19 at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and explores yoga's rich diversity and historical transformations during the past 2,000 years. "This exhibition looks at yoga's ancient roots, and how people have been trying to master body and spirit for millennia," said Julian Raby, The Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art. "By applying new scholarship to both rarely seen artworks and recognized masterpieces, we're able to shed light on practices that evolved over time--from yoga's ancient origins to its more modern emergence in India, which set the stage for today's global phenomenon." A free public festival, "Diwali and the Art of Yoga," Saturday, Oct. 26 will mark both the opening of the exhibition and Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. In conjunction with "The Art of Transformation," the Freer and Sackler galleries will also host "Yoga and Visual Culture," a free interdisciplinary symposium for scholars and yoga enthusiasts Nov. 21-23. Yoga classes in the galleries will be offered through "Art in Context," an interactive 90-minute workshop combining tours of the exhibition with the practice of yoga. The Sackler's annual benefit gala on Thursday, Oct. 17, "Some Enlightened Evening," celebrates the exhibition's opening with luminaries from the worlds of art and yoga. More information and tickets are available at source. No comment

Hindu Students In America Provide Colorful Experience Posted on 2013/9/29 18:25:15 ( 254 reads ) Source WICHITA, KANSAS, September 23, 2013 (The Sunflower): To the people of India, drawing pictures with colorful sand is an exciting folk art symbolizing the welcoming of family, friends and Hindu Deities, or Gods. Through a traditional form of Indian art called Rangoli, Hindu families take part in an ancient and sacred ritual. With "Flavors and Colors," the Association of Hindu Students of America, AHINSA, was able to give the people of Wichita a unique opportunity to experience the art, culture and food of India. "It's out-of-the-box, something that people here probably haven't had the chance to experience," said Vivek Abhilash, the director of publicity for AHINSA. "We chose the Ulrich museum, because it was a perfect fit and they were happy to have us." The theme for the Rangoli drawings was the Ulrich exhibition Nature's Toolbox, which is also the current theme for the museum's second floor gallery. "You could be innovative, or you can just do the traditional geometric designs and flowers," AHINSA president Madhulika Srikanth said. Those who created art weren't solely of Indian descent. A group of 7-year-old Girl Scouts were "just trying to figure," troop leader Brenda Lichman said. "We're here to get our painting badge," Lichman said. "This is a different way of painting with different materials." The art of Rangoli has evolved over the years into a competition, while still rooted in celebration. This year, the top two drawings were recognized and awarded with gift cards to Taco Bell and Applebee's, along with Ulrich Museum t-shirts. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/29 18:24:59 ( 197 reads ) Source Do not say that you do not have time for God. The busiest of men will have the most leisure, and the laziest will always be short of time, for the former utilizes time and the latter only wastes it. If you really want God, you will find time for Him. -- Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati (1912-1954), 34th pontiff of the Sarada Peetham No comment

Eighth Annual Hindu Mandir Executives Conference Concludes in Canada Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:55 ( 391 reads ) Source ONTARIO, CANADA, September 24, 2013 (Press release): Over 250 adult and youth delegates representing over 85 Mandirs (Temples) and Hindu organizations from across the world attended the eighth annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC) that was held from September 20 through 22, 2013 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was co-hosted by a record 44 Hindu temples and Hindu organizations from across Canada and the United States. The program consisting of 23 sessions with 115 speakers and moderators. Addressing the participants by videoconference, Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukul said, "This get-together is bound to create better bonds and good networking among the people connected to the Hindu Mandirs across America and Canada." Swami Pratyagbodhananda from AVG stressed that religious thoughts should lead into practicality and spirituality and not dogma. Twenty sadhus and sadhvis attended the gathering. The conference was inaugurated by Pujya Dada Vasvani Ji who talked about being proud of our rich Hindu heritage. The editor of Hinduism Today, Paramacharya Palaniswami addressed the important topic of "Hinduism in America - Promise and Perils." Sri Sri Ravishakarji of Art of Living Foundation and Dr. Pranav Pandya of Gayatri Pariwar addressed the conference via video messages and spoke about propagation of scientific aspects of Hindu rituals and practices and the role of the mandirs. Swami Parmeshananda of Bharat Seva Ashram who is a Hindu representative in United Nations spoke about how to bring Hinduism on World Stage. Mandir issues were at the forefront of the discussion. Swami Shantananda of Chinmaya Mission stressed educating our youth and children on our faith, culture, values and their active participation in temple management. It is the mandir's responsibility to instill pride and spiritual greatness of Vedic knowledge. HAF's young lawyer Harsh Voruganti shared the upcoming changes in R1 visa regulation, building bridges with the local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies to ensure safety and security. Varsha Rengesh of Bhartiya Temple, Michigan, shared what has worked well for them for their outreach and seva programs that are not just limited to Hindus but serve the entire local community. Members from Coalition of Hindu Youth led the youth session. Youth discussion was focused on taking small steps to make positive changes in our Mandirs, while keeping the long-term goal of networking in mind. They identified that culture, peace, curiosity and sense of community are some of the reasons why youth come to Mandir and requested Mandir executives to focus on creating an environment for youth involvement and empowerment. Varun Khanna who is doing his Ph.D. in Sanskrit at the Cambridge University spoke about the need for Hindu community to support Hindu Studies in Universities. Sanatana Dharma National Scholarships for youths in USA and Canada were presented at the conference by Tej Tandon of Om Temple, Massachucetts. A number of activities and thoughts on advocacy of issues pertinent to the Hindu community were presented. While describing the accomplishments "Common Seva Divas across all temples" in which more than 80 temples conducted blood donation drives in memory of 9/11, Ms. Luz Rodriguez of Washington DC described the need for Bone Marrow registration drives through the temples. The Hindu Chaplaincy Initiative was discussed in detail at this conference. In addition to the books on Vivah Samskar and Antyesti Samskar that are already published, HMEC plans to release Simantonnayan samskar and a Vrat manual for young couples in coming year. Vishal Agrawal of Hindu temple of Minnesota led the discussion on how to share and exchange various Bal Vihar and youth program material among temples in North America. The role of Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN) and Priest Network in enhancing operation of Temples and Institutions was discussed. Dr. Lakshmanan of Sringeri Temple of Brampton led the discussion on the common by-laws for temples. Dr Doobeyji of Vishnu Mandir inaugurated the gala dinner that was organized in Ram Mandir for all delegates and invited guests of the conference. The eighth HMEC deliberated on the following 4 resolutions: 1. Set up a Dispute Resolution Council to resolve & mediate disputes and conflicts related to North American Mandirs. 2. Denounce Indian Government interference in Hindu Mandirs in Bharat to preserve their sanctity. 3. Mandirs to develop strategies & implementation plans to Secure and Protect Hindu Mandirs in America. 4. Assist Hindu Health workers against treatments such as vaccines, etc. with non-vegetarian ingredients. The Encyclopedia of Hinduism preview launch and parting thoughts were delivered by Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Arti Patel of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha spoke on the topic "Future is bright." A temple tour was organized for the interested delegates on Sunday morning. Delegates from Florida announced their plan to host HMEC 2014 in Florida which was applauded by all. No comment

Kailas-Mansarovar Yatra Travelog Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:41 ( 331 reads ) Source TIBET, August 2013 (Puthurshivatemple.blogspot): Trekking Kailas Mansarovar is one of the most sacred and adventurous pilgrimages. This journey is revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike. In Hinduism, Mt. Kailas is considered as the abode of Lord Siva. While a holy bath in Lake Mansarovar is believed to wash away sins committed over several lifetimes. This fascinating and detailed travelog at "source" follows the experience of S. Gopal and his wife S. Rama from August 11 to August 24, 2013 as they are treated to a region of breathtaking beauty and a trek that tests physical endurance. No comment

What Does Being A Vegetarian Say About You? Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:34 ( 304 reads ) Source SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, September 19, 2013(Pacific Standard): Why does someone voluntarily refrain from eating meat? Newly published research suggests the likely answer will depend on whether you ask a vegetarian in Minneapolis or Mumbai. It finds vegetarians in India and the West are both guided by deeply felt ethical considerations. But the moral codes that lead them to avoid meat are, in many ways, radically different. "The psychological associations of vegetarianism are more nuanced than has been previously theorized," says a research team led by Matthew Ruby of the University of British Columbia. "Although Western and Indian vegetarians arrived at the same moralized behavior, their motivations are based on very different moral principles." Ruby and his team note that, in the West, vegetarianism has been linked with "broadly liberal world views." (According to estimates, 20 to 42 percent of Indians are vegetarians, compared to three percent of Americans and eight percent of Canadians.) Their research found out that among Westerners, vegetarians (compared to meat-eaters) were "more concerned about the impact of their daily food choices on the environment and on animal welfare, more concerned with general animal welfare, more strongly endorsed values of universalism, and less strongly endorsed right-wing authoritarianism," the researchers report. However, among Indians who responded to those same questions, there were no significant differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The assumption that a vegetarian is more likely to have socially liberal attitudes holds true only in the West. The second study "Vegetarians more strongly endorsed the belief that eating meat pollutes one's personality and spirit than did omnivores, and this difference was especially pronounced among Indians," the researchers report. They note that in Hinduism, the dominant religion in India, "the aim of vegetarianism ... is to keep the body free of the pollution associated with meat." According to another survey the differences between Indians and Westerners were striking. Indian vegetarians were more likely than their meat-eating counterparts to endorse not only values related to purity, but also those supporting traditional authority and in-group loyalty. Conservative values, in other words. This was not true among meat-avoiding Westerners. Indeed, American vegetarians actually placed less value in traditional authority than meat-eaters. "Most vegetarians in the West were not raised as such, but made a decision at some point to convert from the meat-eating diet followed by the majority of people in their culture," they note. In contrast, "vegetarianism has been firmly established in India for centuries, and is associated with tradition, power and status," the researchers write. "Most Indian vegetarians are raised as such by their families." The findings are a reminder that "a similarity in behavior across cultures" does not necessarily reflect a similarity in thinking. In avoiding meat, diners from Calcutta to California are making a statement about their values. But that tofu represents different things to different people. No comment

Daily Inspiration Posted on 2013/9/28 17:52:28 ( 213 reads ) Source Are you depressed? Remember, within you is the Power. If you will but release a fraction of it, you can make the impossible possible. -- Dada J.P. Vaswani No comment

Parliament of World Religions Refuses to Reverse Decision on Vivekananda Event Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:59 ( 417 reads ) Source CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 25, 2103: HPI Note: The following is a press release from the Parliament of the World's Religions. In the last week there has been some news about the Parliament's withdrawal from an event which we had initially endorsed. To clarify the Parliament's position, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the following resolution recommended by the Executive Committee on September 24, 2013. The first Parliament of the World's Religions took place in 1893, and was addressed by Swami Vivekananda. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (the Parliament) continues to honor this exemplary Hindu saint for his ideals of interfaith understanding and mutual respect, and will honor the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and the 120th anniversary of the Parliament on November 16, 2013 in Chicago. We, the Trustees of the Parliament, commit to working with and engaging in dialogue with all faith communities in keeping with the nature and mission of the Parliament which is: To cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. We understand that the Parliament is an interfaith organization and not a political one. It must therefore, remain neutral relative to political interests and respectful of the self-identification of each religious community. The decision of the Executive Director of the Parliament to participate in the Chicago World Without Borders event, made in consultation with a Hindu Trustee, and then her decision to withdraw from the event, made pursuant to her authority as Executive Director and in keeping with past practice, have both unintentionally plunged the Parliament into the middle of a storm of differing views, passionately held by people on all sides of the issue and who come from various faith traditions. Nonetheless, she deeply regrets that she did not inform the organizing committee for the event before posting the decision to withdraw the Parliament from co-sponsorship. The Parliament is now formalizing a policy and process to govern the way in which the Parliament responds to future invitations to co-sponsor or co-host events. Despite the unfortunate way in which this matter has unfolded, because the Parliament is an interfaith organization, the Parliament cannot co-sponsor or co-host any event with political parties, politically partisan organizations or individuals, nor can it participate in the promotion of a political party or candidate, nor where self-identification of faith groups is challenged. The world's Hindu communities and spiritual leaders have long been a pillar of the worldwide interfaith movement and have played a key role in all of the modern Parliaments as well as the historic original Parliament in 1893. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions wishes to maintain and increase its cordial and strong relationship with Hindu communities and individuals everywhere who share its mission. We call upon our Hindu friends and colleagues as well as our colleagues of all religions and spiritualities to move forward with us in a spirit of harmony, constructive dialogue and action to create a peaceful, just and sustainable world. In the spirit of interfaith harmony, we would like to humbly offer to facilitate conversations with all those concerned who have approached the Parliament in this matter. We reaffirm faith in the humanity of all sides and will redouble our efforts to engage in dialogue among all faith communities. We also rededicate our Faith Against Hate campaign to all people of love who desire to touch and inspire the humanity of the other. Finally, we continue to be inspired by Swami Vivekananda's closing remarks at the 1893 Parliament: "Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal." Signed: Board of Trustees, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, Illinois, 60601 No comment

Hindu Trustees of Council Resign Posted on 2013/9/25 18:53:53 ( 342 reads ) Press Release CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 25, 2013: HPI Note: Following is a letter sent by Dr. Anantanand Rambachan and Anju Bhargava to the Council. Dr. Anantananda is Chair of the Department of Religion at St. Olaf's College, Minnesota; Ms. Anju Bhargava is Founder of Hindu American Seva Charities and a member of President Barack Obama's inaugural Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership. Dear Board Colleagues, It is with deep regret that we write today to inform you of our decision to resign as members of the Board of Trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR). The CPWR Executive Director, after consulting with one of us (Anantanand Rambachan) made a commitment to participate in the Chicago World Without Borders event, celebrating this 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Hindu community received the news of this commitment with great joy. The name of Swami Vivekananda is forever etched in the history of the Parliament and Hindu interest and support for the Parliament is linked inextricably with his pioneering contributions at the 1893 event in Chicago. His name is synonymous with the interfaith movement. The decision to withdraw, made without consulting either one of us, has caused hurt and great disappointment across the Hindu world and especially here in the United States. This pain reflects the Hindu historical esteem and value for the Parliament. One is not hurt by the actions of an institution that one does not value. We feel strongly that in ratifying the decision of the Executive Director to withdraw from the World Without Borders event, the Parliament has not acted in a just and fair manner. In spite of claiming neutrality, the Board chose to be influenced in its decision by giving credibility to complainants against its participation in the event and by showing no interest in considering or deliberating on the Hindu responses received. In doing so, the CPWR has made judgments and taken sides without careful deliberation. Support for the CPWR participation was received from a significant number of Hindu organizations and individual Hindu leaders. We feel that these Hindu perspectives were not weighed or treated with significance in the decision-making process. Both of us implored our colleagues on the Board to reverse this decision and to consider some form of official participation in the event, emphasizing that participation is not endorsement of the ideology or program of any group participating in the event. We emphasized that our participation would signify our expressed value for Swami Vivekananda's legacy and this alone could be the ground and rationale for our involvement. We explained that this reversal is inimical to the interests of the CPWR and damages the standing of our organization in the Hindu community in the United States and abroad. We pointed out that none of the complaints against our participation came from Hindu organizations and that no Hindu organization had withdrawn. We affirmed that we are troubled by the decision making process. In spite of our passionate arguments, our Board, with very few exceptions, voted to ratify the decision to withdraw. We feel deeply that the decision making process of the Board in this matter was not exercised in a manner that reflects impartiality and fairness of treatment to all parties concerned. We do not believe that some level of official participation of the CPWR would have damaged the credibility of the organization. On the other hand, the refusal of the Board to approve any form of official participation has alienated and hurt the Hindu community. We wish to clarify also that we did not participate in the Board meeting on September 24, 2013 when the Board approved its recently released resolution. For us, the heart of the matter is the Board's unwillingness to consider any form of participation. Our dissatisfaction with the decision making process of our Board in this matter, and our inability to convince you of implications of this decision on the Hindu community leave us no choice, sadly, but to tender this letter of resignation. Respectfully, Anantanand Rambachan Anju Bhargava No comment

 

Om Tat Sat
                                                        
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