News from Hindu Press International
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:33 ( 275 reads )
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WASHINGTON, DC, November 28, 2013 (HAF Press Release): Are you passionate
about public policy? Are you interested in being a Hindu American advocate?
Want to build an active Hindu American voice in government?
If so, look no further than the Hindu American Congressional Internship!
The Hindu American Congressional Internship is a unique opportunity for
selected undergraduate students to spend an exciting summer in our nation's
capitol working for Congressional offices. Sponsored by the Hindu American
Foundation, this internship program aims to provide students with
real-world public policy experience through two lenses. First, working as
interns in a Congressional office or committee alongside staffers, students
will gain the perspective of a Congressional "insider." Second,
by participating in events such as HAF's DC Advocacy Days and interacting
with the HAF team, interns will gain first hand experience as Hindu
American advocates.
Selected students will spend approximately eight weeks between June and
early August 2014 interning in a Congressional office or committee.
Internships in Congressional offices are highly coveted, and the process
for a student to obtain an internship is competitive. HAF's ability to
offer intern positions in Congressional offices is due solely to the
relationships the foundation has built with Congress over the past decade
and its consistent presence on the Hill. Past HAF interns have worked for
both House and Senate offices as well as for the House Foreign Relations
Committee. Student accepted into this program will not only serve as
interns for the Congressional offices, but also as representatives of HAF
and the broader Hindu American community. Over the course of the
internship, HAF will check in periodically with Congressional offices to
assess and ensure their satisfaction with the interns' performance.
HAF is a non-partisan organization that works with both sides of the aisle,
and thus, is unable to honor office placement requests on a partisan basis.
Though not always the case, interns are often placed in offices that
represent their home state. Occasionally, summer internship opportunities
arise at prestigious think tanks and relevant NGOs in D.C. Should HAF be
made aware of such an opportunity, aligning with an intern's background and
interests as well as the dates of this program, HAF will consider placement
of the intern in said program. As part of orientation in early June, all
interns will participate in HAF's 11th annual D.C. Advocacy Days. This will
allow them to meet the national HAF team as well as immediately dive into
the world of Hindu American advocacy. Interns will also have various events
scheduled with HAF staff to increase their exposure to the important work
of the foundation. At least once over the summer, HAF may host a briefing
on Hindu human rights. Interns will be expected to help organize and attend
the briefing (with permission from their Congressional offices).
Additionally, HAF organizes Friday lunches for interns to meet with
prominent Hindu Americans in public policy as well as interfaith partners
who are active on the Hill. A number of social events will take place over
the summer that provide for important networking opportunities. HAF
strongly encourages interns to take advantage of them.
HAF provides all interns with living and travel stipends. Additionally,
housing arrangements are made by HAF through Washington Intern Student
Housing (WISH).
Click "source" above for requirements and the application
process.
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:26 ( 230 reads )
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WASHINGTON, DC, November 28, 2013 (Hindu Students Association, report by
Ramya Ravi, co-founder and the National President for the Hindu Students
Association):
Since its inception, the Hindu Students Association has strived to have an
active voice on the national platform on behalf of first and second
generation Hindu young adults. This year, we were committed to take that
voice to our nation's capital. And so, on the morning of November 5th, I
found myself on the way to Washington D.C. with Varun Mehta, HSA co-founder
and director, to celebrate Diwali at the White House with the First Lady,
Michelle Obama.
As my cab driver weaved through traffic, I found myself reminiscing over
the many milestones HSA has achieved over just a few years. To date, HSA
has opened over ten branches, met Hindu dignitaries like Swami Satguru
Bodhinatha and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and successfully produced
content in various mediums explaining Hinduism for the general public.
HSA's achievement of its goals in education, awareness, and networking were
made possible by the vigilance and commitment to our mission displayed by
HSA members across the county.
A slew of questions rushed to my head as my cab came to a halt. Who will be
present? What ceremonies will occur? Will we get to meet the President? How
has the first family celebrated Diwali through the years? What are other
initiatives that they support to benefit the Hindu community? I felt
nervousness and excitement at the same time. It was one of those inspiring,
yet humbling moments where I saw my identities as a Hindu and an American
coming together.
After many levels of security screenings, Varun and I arrived at the
doorsteps of the White House where we were welcomed by the Army Guards and
the White House staff. Entering into the front hallway, I was moved by
pictures of the First family and national treasures. I found myself in the
presence of over 80 national Hindu leaders meeting one another and wishing
each other a Happy Diwali; it was simple yet heartwarming. Those present
included members from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities who had excelling
in their respective fields including Judge Ravi, Kiran Ahuja, and
Lieutenant Col. Chaudhary.
Once we were seated, the First Lady addressed the audience directly on the
reason for the Diwali celebration. She spoke of her vision of a White House
that could be seen as welcoming to Americans from all paths and walks of
life. "Diwali," she reminded us, "is a time for
contemplation and reflection. And as we light the diya -- the lamp -- we
recommit ourselves to the triumph of light over darkness, of good over
evil." In her heartfelt speech, she turned to pay respects to the
lives that were tragically lost in the Oak Creek Wisconsin Gurudwara
shooting and the importance of preventing future tragedies through a sense
of community and togetherness. Ms. Kiran Ahuja, the director of Asian
American and Pacific Islander Initiative, gave a few remarks following the
First Lady about the event and the AAPI initiative that has been put in
place by President Obama to bring in South Asian perspectives into the White
House.
Finally the time came for the First Lady to light the White House diya. As
priests from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple recited mantras, Varun and I bowed
our heads in reverence for God. While repeating the mantras, I reflected on
how I had celebrated Diwali this year. Only a few days before, I had
celebrated with my family at our temple with offerings of food prepared by
my mother. Later, I had celebrated with the local community with a havan at
University of Texas at Austin, followed by fireworks provided by the local
HSA branch. Finally, I was here sharing a palatable sense of spirituality
with prominent members of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain community, and with the
national community as a whole. It was a personal blessing and a humbling
experience to be able to celebrate Diwali not once but thrice this year
with my loved ones, my community, and now even with members of various
other religious traditions.
Finally, the program concluded with a few short songs from the band Gold
Spot. One of their pieces titled "Diwali" filled the room with
merriment as the audience broke for dinner to mingle with the
speakers/officiators and other attendees. My final thoughts were how
comfortable I was in this moment as my two worlds of being an American and
a Hindu overlapped. However, as HSA leaders, we know that the importance of
our attendance at this event reached beyond witnessing the coming together
of these two worlds. Celebrating Diwali at the White House with the First
Family will create countless opportunities in the future for our members in
the country's capital and will help pave the road to creating a strong
Hindu youth voice within the Asian American community and the nation at
large.
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:19 ( 215 reads )
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Hinduism is the most skeptical and the most believing of all religions. The
most skeptical because it has questioned and experimented the most and the
deepest, rejecting nothing but insisting on testing and experiencing
everything. From this comes our scriptures and our beliefs: the Vedas, the
Vedanta, the Gita, the Upanishads... But the most authoritative scripture
is in the heart, where the Eternal has His dwelling.
-- Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950), Indian mystic and philosopher
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Posted on
2013/11/27 17:50:05 ( 271 reads )
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CHENNAI, INDIA, Novermber 27, 2013 (BBC): An influential Hindu religious
figure has been found not guilty of the murder of a temple manager in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, head of a
1,000-year-old Brahmin monastic order, was arrested in 2004 in connection
with the murder of Sankararaman, manager of a temple in Kanchipuram. A
court also acquitted 22 others charged in connection with the murder. The
verdicts came more than nine years after Sankararaman was murdered.
The case generated nationwide attention and took several twists and turns.
During innumerable examinations and cross-examinations by lawyers
throughout the trial nearly 90 out of of 189 witnesses turned hostile,
reports say. The court ruled that the family of Sankararaman had "failed
to identify the accused." It found "no incriminating
evidence" against Jayendra Saraswathi, Bangalore-based journalist
Imran Qureshi told BBC Hindi.
Jayendra Saraswathi is head of the Kanchi Shankara Math, a leading Hindu
spiritual center. He was charged with conspiracy to murder along with with
a junior seer Vijayendra Saraswathi. Prosecutors alleged that the two men
hired hit men to kill Sankararaman, who was one of their former aides.
Sankararaman reportedly wrote anonymous letters accusing Jayendra Saraswathi
of misusing monastery funds.
The allegations included embezzlement of gold procured for making a temple
chariot and providing lavish lifestyles for the cleric's relatives. Both
men denied the allegations and any role in the killing. They were granted
bail in 2005.
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Posted on
2013/11/27 17:50:00 ( 264 reads )
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WISCONSIN, USA, November 24, 2013 (RNS): HPI Note: This ruling, if it
stands, could impact any Hindu priests who receive a cash housing allowance
as part of their compensation and which they have been claiming as
tax-exempt. It specifically does not change the tax situation for priests
who live in temple-provided housing, however we advise consultation with
the temple's accountant on this point.
Religion News Service article:
A federal judge has ruled that an Internal Revenue Service exemption that
allows clergy to shield a portion of their salary from federal income taxes
is unconstitutional. The clergy housing exemption applies to an estimated
44,000 ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and others. If the ruling stands,
some clergy members could experience an estimated 5 to 10 percent cut in
take-home pay.
The suit was filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation
on grounds that the housing allowance violates the separation of church and
state and the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. The group's
founders have said that if tax-exempt religious groups are allowed a
housing subsidy, other tax-exempt groups, such as FFRF, should get one,
too.
U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb on Friday (Nov. 22) ruled in their
favor, saying the exemption "provides a benefit to religious persons
and no one else, even though doing so is not necessary to alleviate a
special burden on religious exercise."
The case, decided in the District Court for the Western District Of
Wisconsin, will likely be appealed to the the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals, which covers the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and
Indiana. The housing allowances of pastors in Wisconsin remain unaffected
after Crabb stayed the ruling until all appeals are exhausted. Crabb also
ruled in 2010 that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional.
The exemption is worth about $700 million per year, according to the Joint
Committee on Taxation Estimate of Federal Tax Expenditure.
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Posted on
2013/11/27 17:49:51 ( 255 reads )
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Attach yourself to Him who is free from all attachments. Bind yourself to
that bond so all other bonds may be broken.
-- Tirukkural 350
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Posted on
2013/11/24 18:48:19 ( 845 reads )
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BALI, INDONESIA, November 22, 2013 (opposingviews.com): A Christian woman
was sentenced to a prison term of 14 months in Bali, where the majority of
people practice Hinduism, after she called offerings "dirty and
disgusting," the Supreme Court of Indonesia announced.
"The defendant Rusgiani, who is also known as Yohana, has been proven
validly and convincingly guilty of purposefully and publicly expressing
herself in a way to ignite conflict and defame a certain religion in
Indonesia," said chief judge Anak Agung Ketut Anom Wirakanta during
the trial at the Denpasar District Court. "[The judges] have sentenced
the defendant to one year and two months in prison."
According to the Jakarta Globe, the written ruling was published by the
Supreme Court earlier this month, although it was delivered on May 14 at
the Denpasar District Court. Rusgiani was arrested in Bali in January, and
faces a prison term of 14 months, two years less than what prosecutors
demanded.
On Aug. 25, 2012, Rusgiani, who had been living in Bali for three months at
the time of the incident, went to the home of Ni Nengah Suliati in Jimbaran
to pray for Suliati's sick mother-in-law.
Rusgiani noticed Canang Sari, daily offerings made by Hindus of Bali to
thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (the "All-In-One God"), on the
street as she left the house, Jakarta Globe reported.
"God cannot enter this house because there is canang here,"
Rusigiani said. "Canang is disgusting and dirty. My God is rich, He
doesn't need offerings."
Daily offerings usually include rice, flowers, bananas, and betel leaf.
Bali police named her a suspect after receiving a report from Suliati and
charged her with Article 156 of the Criminal Code, or the blasphemy law of
Indonesia, which states that "a person who expresses feelings of
hostility, hatred or contempt against one or more groups of the Indonesian
population shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of four years or a
maximum fine of Rp 300 [$0.03]."
No appeal will be filed by either side.
"The jail sentence is not for revenge or meant to torture [her], but
it is a preventive, corrective, repressive and educative sentence to make
the perpetrator realize what she has done and will not repeat it,"
Anom said, reading the ruling out loud.
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Posted on
2013/11/24 18:48:13 ( 366 reads )
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Religion
News Service
KENTUCKY, USA, November 22, 2013 (Religion News Service): HPI Note: While
this lawsuit has only a remote chance of succeeding, if it did there would
be an impact on Hindu temples in the US, many of whom are
"churches" under the IRS rules and not required to file income
tax forms at all. Donations to temples would remain tax exempt, but they
would be required to file the extensive Form 990, which discloses a great
deal of information about the group's finances. The IRS use of the term
"church" includes organizations of any religion which meets
certain criteria.
RNS report:
Nonbelievers are challenging the Internal Revenue Service's special
exemptions for religious organizations in a federal court in Kentucky,
saying churches and other religious groups should have the same financial
rules as other nonprofit groups.
If they prevail, it will change the tax-exempt status of churches and other
religious organizations, and require the same transparency of donors,
salaries and other expenditures that secular nonprofits must currently
meet.
"This is a very strong case," said Dave Muscato, public relations
director for American Atheists, a national advocacy group and lead
plaintiff in the case. "It seems to be straight-up discrimination on
the basis of religion."
American Atheists is joined in the suit by Atheists of Northern Indiana and
Atheist Archives of Kentucky. Oral arguments were heard Thursday (Nov. 21)
in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in
Covington.
The case centers around who must file IRS Form 990, an annual reporting
statement that provides information on a group's mission, programs and
finances.
Current tax law requires all tax-exempt organizations to file a Form 990
financial report -- except churches and church-related organizations. A few
state, political and educational organizations are exempt as well if their
annual revenues fall below certain amounts.
This means the IRS treats religious organizations differently than it does
all other organizations, the suit holds. It claims the IRS policy is a
violation of the First Amendment and the due process promised under the
Fifth Amendment.
IRS spokesman Anthony Burke said the agency's policy is not to comment on
pending litigation.
The suit argues that religious organizations receive preferential treatment
because they do not have to withhold income tax from compensation to
clergy, reveal staff salaries, or disclose the names of donors who give
more than $5,000.
The plaintiffs allege that because they must reveal the names of major
donors, they are hindered in the amount of money they can raise.\
"We have donors who tell us, 'I would like to give more than this but
I don't want people to know I am an atheist,'" Muscato said.
"That is hurting us to be held to that different standard."
The suit also alleges that, because religious organizations do not file
Form 990, there is little proof that the organizations' activities benefit
the public and should therefore be tax-exempt. It holds that such
"subsidization of religious entities" costs taxpayers $71 billion
per year.
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Posted on
2013/11/24 18:48:06 ( 364 reads )
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There was once a wise man who lived simply. His spartan food habits
reflected this. He had a friend who, being a sycophant of the king, lived
in great luxury. One day this friend called on the wiseman while he was
eating. Looking at the food, the friend said, "My friend, if you can
please the king like me, you will be free from this wretched food."
The wise man smiled and replied, "My friend, if you can be pleased
with this simple food, you can be free from the wretched job of pleasing
the king."
-- Anonymous
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Posted on
2013/11/23 18:32:45 ( 555 reads )
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UNITED KINGDOM, November 2013 (BBC): For many people, the main concern in a
yoga class is whether they are breathing correctly or their legs are
aligned. But for others, there are lingering doubts about whether they
should be there at all, or whether they are betraying their religion.
Suspicions about yoga are shared by many Muslims, Christians and Jews
around the world and relate to yoga's history as an ancient spiritual
practice with connections to Hinduism and Buddhism.
Last year, a yoga class was banned from a church hall in the UK. "Yoga
is a Hindu spiritual exercise," said the priest, Father John Chandler.
"Being a Catholic church we have to promote the gospel, and that's
what we use our premises for." Anglican churches in the UK have taken
similar decisions at one time or another. In the US, prominent pastors have
called yoga "demonic."
One answer to the question of whether yoga really is a religious activity
will soon be given by the Supreme Court in the country of its birth, India.
Last month, a pro-yoga group petitioned the court to make it a compulsory
part of the school syllabus on health grounds - but state schools in India
are avowedly secular. The court said it was uncomfortable with the idea,
and will gather the views of minority groups in the coming weeks.
"Yoga is such a broad term - that's what causes a difficulty,"
says Rebecca French, the co-founder YogaLondon -- a yoga teacher academy --
and the philosophy tutor at the school. There are different forms of yoga,
she says, some of which are more overtly religious than others. What most
people in the West think of as yoga is properly known as hatha yoga - a
path towards enlightenment that focuses on building physical and mental
strength.
But what "enlightenment" means also depends on tradition. For
some Hindus it is liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, but for many
yoga practitioners it is a point where you achieve stillness in your mind,
or understand the true nature of the world and your place in it. Whether
that is compatible with Christianity, Islam and other religions is
debatable.
Yoga classes vary. While some feature the chanting of Hindu sutras, others
will make vaguer references to a "life force" or "cosmic
energy". A session might end with a greeting of "namaste"
and a gesture of prayer. There will probably be a moment for meditation, at
which point participants may be encouraged to repeat the sacred word
"Om," which Buddhists and Hindus regard as a primordial sound
which brought the universe into being.
But other classes may make no overt reference to spirituality at all.
That's the way things are in Iran, where yoga is very popular. It has
managed to flourish in a country with Sharia law and an Islamist political
system, by divesting itself of anything that could be construed as
blasphemy. Yoga teachers are careful to always refer to "the sport of
yoga" and are accredited by the Yoga Federation, which operates in the
same way as a tennis or football organisation.
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Posted on
2013/11/23 18:32:26 ( 343 reads )
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Enquire: 'Who am I?' and you will find the answer. Look at a tree: from one
seed arises a huge tree; from it comes numerous seeds, each one of which in
its turn grows into a tree. No two fruits are alike. Yet it is one life
that throbs in every particle of the tree. So, it is the same atman
everywhere.
-- Sri Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982), Bengali mystic
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Posted on
2013/11/22 16:19:32 ( 0 reads )
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INDIA, November 21, 2013 (The Hindu): Dressed in black cloths and with the
customary sacred bundle (irumudikkettu) on their head, a 14-member team of
Ayyappa devotees from Russia reached the holy hillock for the 12th
consecutive year on Tuesday night.
Induchoodan, aka Iliya Padukova, the team leader and Guruswami, said he,
along with a group of devotees from St. Petersburg, has been undertaking
the annual pilgrimage for the past 12 years. He is an Ayurvedic doctor in
St. Petersburg and is a disciple at the Panchalipeedha Ashram at Valakode
in Idukki where he learned the Kerala martial art of Kalarippayattu a
decade ago.
The team, accompanied by a few Keralite disciples at the ashram, had set
off from the ashram on their pilgrimage to Sabarimala on Tuesday forenoon
and reached the Sannidhanam later in the evening. They offered prayers at
the Ayyappa Temple on Wednesday morning before leaving for Idukki.
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Posted on
2013/11/22 16:19:25 ( 486 reads )
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WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2013 (Hindu American Foundation):
Persecution of Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh took center
stage at a Congressional hearing entitled Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation
on the Brink, hosted by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific yesterday.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affair Committee, and
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who served as the acting Ranking Member of the
hearing, peppered witnesses with questions about concerns over growing
radicalization and recent violence targeting Bangladesh's Hindu population.
"I am particularly concerned over issues...regarding religious freedom
and specifically over attacks on the minority Hindu community remaining in
Bangladesh today," said Rep. Gabbard. "I think it's unfortunate
that sometimes perpetrators of crimes against this community go unpunished,
and it's up to the Government of Bangladesh to act authoritatively against
those who incite and commit violence against anyone and protect the rights
of all minorities."
While noting that the majority of the population in Bangladesh had no role
in violence against minorities, Chairman Royce drew a parallel to Pakistan
in expressing concern over the growing radicalization of young men being
educated in Islamist schools. "Unless the State in Bangladesh is ready
to come forward and close these particular Deobandi schools, the ones that
have been identified as the most radical, the ones that are telling their
charges, their graduates to go out and commit this kind of
violence...[Bangladesh, like Pakistan,] are going down roads here where the
consequences will eventually engulf the state itself," said Chairman
Royce.
"While we were initially concerned by the lack of Hindu or any
minority representation on the witness panel, we're pleased that the plight
of Bangladeshi Hindus as well as other religious minorities became the
central theme of the hearing," said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF's Senior
Human Rights Fellow. "We appreciate Chairman Royce, Rep. Gabbard, and
Rep. Sherman for being vocal critics of the violence being perpetrated
against innocent minority populations in Bangladesh."
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Posted on
2013/11/22 16:19:19 ( 402 reads )
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One who is established in a comfortable posture while concentrating on the
inner Self naturally becomes immersed in the Heart's ocean of bliss.
-- Siva Sutras III, 16
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Posted on
2013/11/20 18:00:00 ( 484 reads )
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USA, November 19, 2013 (Wall Street Journal): Since the mid-1990s, the
share of people 65 years old and over living with their children or other relatives
in the United States has risen from around 6.6% to 7.3% in 2013, according
to an analysis of data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey
by Jed Kolko, chief economist at Trulia, a real-estate listings site.
According to the American Community Survey -- a bigger Census study with a
sample size large enough to analyze specific demographic groups -- 9% of
seniors lived in a household headed by their children, children-in-law or
other relatives besides their spouses in 2012. Another 2% lived with people
they weren't related to, while 3% lived in places like nursing homes. The
rest, about 85%, lived in their own homes.
The recession and weak recovery forced a growing number of young Americans
to shack up with their parents, creating more "intergenerational"
households. Seniors, meanwhile, are playing a critical role by offering
financial lifelines and other types of support to adult children who are
struggling to get by--or who are having difficulty achieving milestones
like buying a house.
But what's driving the trend of more seniors living with their children
isn't low income-growth or high joblessness -- it's mainly the fact that
the share of seniors born in another country is rising -- indeed, it's
already gone from 8% in 1994 to 13% in 2013.
That is important because foreign-born seniors are four times more likely
to live with their children. Around 25% of foreign-born seniors in the U.S.
live with relatives, compared with just 6% for U.S.-born seniors.
Whether or not Grandma and Grandpa are going to live with you varies hugely
by which country they were born in.
Nearly half of all U.S. seniors born in India (47%) were living with
relatives. Vietnam (44%), the Philippines (38%), Mexico (35%) and China
(34%) also posted high shares. By contrast, only 5% of Canadian-born
seniors live with their kids, below even the 6% share of U.S.-born seniors.
German-born seniors in the U.S. were at 6%; England-born, at 7%.
It's not all about whether seniors are born in the West or not -- factors
like age and race are important, too.
Seniors are more likely to live with relatives if they're older. The share
of seniors who are 80 or older has grown from 22% in 1994 to 25% in 2013.
Just 6% of the youngest seniors (65 to 69) live with relatives, versus 15%
for those 85 and older. African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic
seniors born in the U.S. are all twice as likely as whites to live with
relatives. Other factors that make seniors more likely to live with
children include not being married, being female (women live longer) and
living in a metro area with fewer seniors.
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Posted on 2013/11/20
17:54:06 ( 476 reads )
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AUSTRALIA, November 2013 (press release): Bushfires raging in the Blue
Mountains around Sydney as early as October is being seen by Hindu
community leaders as a call to action. This call is the subject of the
Hindu Climate Change Action Kit, jointly published by the Australian
Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) and the Hindu Council of
Australia, and was launched on Saturday, 26th October by Rev. Swami
Sunishthananda of the Sydney Vedanta Centre. The launch took place as part
of the Deepavali Festival at Sydney Olympic Park.
ARRCC's President Thea Ormerod, who was present at the launch said,
"After a week of uncharacteristically hot weather for October and
terrible bushfires, it is imperative that we all step up and take
responsibility for addressing climate change. We need to start making
Earth-friendly choices both as individuals and communities. Like our
Christian Kit, the Hindu Climate Change Action Kit provides loads of
well-grounded, easy-to-use, creative ideas to assist Hindus to play their
part. From Hindu spirituality to the science basics and improving energy
efficiency, from ideas for nurturing a sense of connection with Mother
Nature to advocacy, this kit will support Australian Hindus in making their
contribution."
Sri Venkateswara Temple, Helensburgh, is one example of a temple that has
taken the sorts of actions that the kit recommends. These include
insulating the temple to conserve energy and reducing the size of the pits
used for the Omum (Havan) fire ceremony, to reduce firewood consumption.
"Mahatma Gandhi said: 'The rich must live more simply so the poor may
simply live'," quoted Professor Agar. "The simple message is to
control our desires and reduce the demand on precious natural resources.
Spirituality is at the heart of sustainability. The Hindu Climate Change
Action Kit encourages us all to conserve energy, live a simple, contented
and fulfilled life with mental peace and tranquillity, green our worship
and festivals at the temple and at home, and live healthy active lives
including a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is a
message for our wider communities, businesses and for our political
representatives as well. I highly commend the kit to all Hindus."
The Hindu Climate Change Action Kit is downloadable from 'source.'
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Posted on
2013/11/20 17:53:53 ( 402 reads )
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The sages, being filled with universal love for all beings, did not want to
keep their enlightenment to themselves. They declared to all: "O
mortals, striving and struggling upon this Earth plane, weeping, wailing,
buffeted by the vicissitudes of life: we have come upon a great discovery.
There is something beyond these appearances, these vanishing names and
forms that go to make up this universe. There is something beyond, which is
the very source and support of all these objects of the phenomenal world.
Why do you search in vain for happiness outside? Come, come, happiness
resides within."
-- Swami Chidananda (1916-2008), president of Divine Life Society
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Posted on
2013/11/19 17:19:13 ( 728 reads )
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FIJI, November 19, 2013 (Fiji Sun): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad Fiji says
comments by Cook Islands bishop, Tutai Pere, condemning Diwali celebrations
held in the island nation are saddening.
VHP Fiji national president Jay Dayal said the bishop was forgetting the
values of Christianity. "At the same time, we in Fiji are fortunate
and so ever thankful to our government that Fiji is a secular nation that
allows freedom of religious practices and personal beliefs bringing
everyone together during their respective festivals," Mr. Dayal said.
"As a Christian, the bishop should learn to love his neighbors rather than
enforce his imprudent personal beliefs on others that divide a society in a
tiny island nation like the Cooks, said Dayal.
Bishop Pere was on Radio Australia labeling Hindus as idol worshipers
(listen to the full recording at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/inte ...
tion-as-blasphemy/1220374). Mr. Dayal said: "Diwali is a
festival of light not idolatry or blasphemy against Christians as alleged
by the Bishop Tutai Pere. "He needs understanding with the significance
of Diwali. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over
darkness, falsehood to truth and death to immortality.
Diwali was festively celebrated at the US Presidential White House by
President Barack Obama with the First Lady. The British Prime Minister
David Cameron, accompanied by his wife Samantha, visited the Swaminarayan
Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, in north-west
London and celebrated Diwali.
The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked Diwali with members of
Canada's South Asian community with crowds of hundreds in Mississauga,
Toronto, Canada. The Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor embraced Malaysian Hindus at the Batu
Caves and celebrated Diwali as well.
Mr. Dayal said: "As the leaders of some of the world's great nations
joined hands with Hindus to openly celebrate Diwali on the same token the
comments and dim-witted protest by Tutai Pere, Bishop of the Apostolic
Church of the Cook Islands is sad but insignificant and VHP can only
suggest to him to seek knowledge of the divine and rise above religious
fanaticism." (You can listen to his complete response, also on Radio
Australia, at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/inte ...
n-of-idol-worship/1221206)
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Posted on
2013/11/19 17:19:07 ( 615 reads )
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Press
Release
CANADA, October 2, 2013 (Canadian Public Opinion Poll): The last of three
national surveys about values and religion in Canada shows English and
French Canadians most favorable towards Christianity and least favorable
towards Islam. Favorability of all religions is down since 2009.
The results from the last of three comprehensive national surveys about
religion, religious freedom and values by Angus Reid Global show, as a
whole, (54%) of Canadians view Islam unfavorably, while almost three
quarters (73%) hold a favorable opinion of Christianity. Favorable opinions
of other religions vary, with Buddhism (56%) and Judaism (51%) coming
second and third to Christianity, followed by Hinduism (44%) and the Sikh
faith (29%).
Demographics tell another story, with younger and university educated
Canadian adults holding more favorable opinions of non-Judeo-Christian
religions. The same trend emerges when Canadians were asked whether it
would be acceptable or unacceptable if their children married people from
non-Judeo-Christian religions. Canadian adults aged 18-34 and those with a
university education were most accepting of this scenario. Scenarios where
children were to marry a Christian partner were the only ones to garner
widespread acceptance across regional, age and educational lines.
"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees our ability to practice
the religions of our choice in Canada," says Kurl. "However, how
much we choose to educate our neighbors about our faiths may be one factor
in the deep disconnect between how we perceive different religions in this
country."
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Posted on
2013/11/19 17:19:01 ( 421 reads )
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You must not let your life run in the ordinary way; do something that
nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world. Show that God's
creative principle works in you.
-- Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), founder of Self Realization
Fellowship
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Posted on
2013/11/30 16:23:16 ( 324 reads )
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PEARLAND, TEXAS, November 14, 2013 (Indo American News): Sri Meenakshi
Temple is celebrating the renovation of its original Ganesh Temple with the
newly constructed granite sanctum and facility. As dictated by the
traditional religious mores of Agama Sastras, consecration and
sanctification of the new Sannidhi will be dedicated through the
ritualistic grandeur of the Kumbabhishekam. The festivities are planned
through a week of elaborate religious observance from November 22, with the
grand finale on Friday, the 29th.
It is the first traditional Hindu religious landmark in the Southwest
United States. What started in 1977 as a humble dream for a small group of
supporters has gradually blossomed into a magnificent complex meeting the
religious needs of the vast, growing community. This is the first such
temple outside India with Goddess Meenakshi as the main Deity, constructed
with guidance and assistance from the original Sri Meenakshi temple in
Madurai, India. Click here for Hinduism Today's 1982 report on
the temple's consecration.
Before the main temple was built, and as the conventional custom of Hindu
faith dictates, a small Sannidhi, sanctum for Lord Ganesha was consecrated,
as shown in the picture, in 1979. Worshippers visiting the temple begin
their darshan, offering obeisance at the Ganesh temple first, thus
attesting to its sentimental significance.
The founders struggled very hard during the initial stages to raise funds,
own a piece of land and construct a small Ganesh temple. It was a modest,
free standing sheltered sanctum where pujas were conducted by conversant,
local volunteers as the devotees stood outside in the open and prayed. The
main temple was constructed in 1982 followed by the majestic and ornate
gopurams at the four entrances along with the traditional surrounding
walls.
The Goddess Temple has become a sacred Indian monument in Pearland. To
quote Texas Traveler "seeing a gleaming white Hindu temple rising from
the grass in the middle of Texas cornfield is a thing to behold,"
should give an impression of how it is perceived as an established landmark
of the area.
The temple architect, Padmashree Muthiah Stapathi designed the new project
as instructed by our scriptural guidelines, and taking into consideration
the needs of our growing devotee population. Ashok Mungara, our local
architect has been in charge of the construction that should be completed
and ready to be inaugurated at the Kumbabhishekam. The new construction
includes a Vimanam above the Sannidhi, sixteen Shodasa Ganapathy Pillars
and a Gopuram at the entrance, all completely built in granite, following
the classic customs of old Indian temples and enhancing and complementing
the architectural magnificence of our main temple. The granite brings in
the splendor and majestic elegance of our historic temple traditions, while
the skylights allow openness and a fabulous view of the pristine Vimanam
from inside the hall, thus blending centuries old antiquity with modernity
of the twenty-first century America.
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Posted on
2013/11/30 16:23:09 ( 272 reads )
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PUNE, INDAI, November 24, 2013 (Indian Express): Leading up to Sadhu
Vaswani's 134th birth anniversary on November 25, a five-day celebration
commenced on Wednesday with a peace march. On Saturday, a Rath Yatra, a
chariot of peace for the unity of all religions, was also organized from
Sadhu Vaswani's Sacred Samadhi. Carrying the life-like statue of Sadhu
Vaswani, the chariot travelled through about five km from Council Hall ended
at the samadhi. The peace march saw a gathering of more than 7,000 people.
Addressing the followers, Dada Vaswani said, "There will be no peace
on earth until we stop killing animals for the simple reason that if we can
kill an animal, we can kill a human being."
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Posted on
2013/11/30 16:23:03 ( 358 reads )
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA, November 30, 2103 (Jacksonvill.com): The
distance was short but the trip was long, with music, dancing and "I
love Puja and Deepak" (the bride and groom) sunglasses. It took half
an hour or more for Tiny -- an elephant -- to carry Deepak Dugar across a
Ponte Vedra Beach parking lot Saturday to meet his bride. In wedding suit
and headdress called a pagh, Dugar and Tiny inched along amid a crowd of
family and friends waving hands and stepping high in a style of Punjabi
dance called bhangra. Sometimes the procession that symbolized travel
across India stopped altogether. The music and dancing never ceased.
For more of this entertaining report of an Indian-style wedding in an
unexpected place, click "source" above.
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Posted on
2013/11/30 16:22:56 ( 285 reads )
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Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.
-- Rabindranath Tagore, (1861-1941) celebrated Bengali writer who won the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.
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Posted on
2013/11/29 16:54:04 ( 546 reads )
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LALMONIRHAT, BANGLADESH, November 29, 2013 (The Daily Star): Hindus came
under attack allegedly by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra
Shibir at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat for the second time in a month
yesterday. The attackers beat up at least 12 women and children and torched
and looted at least five shops and two houses at Ghoshpara village of
Jongra union on the third day of the opposition-sponsored 71-hour blockade.
The incident fueled concerns over a fresh spell of attacks on the Hindus as
men of the village have fled in fear of further attacks
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Posted on
2013/11/29 16:53:58 ( 461 reads )
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SELANGOR, MALAYSIA, November 26, 2013 (The Star): The Selangor government
has decided to only award financial assistance to Hindu temples registered
with the Malaysian Hindu Sangam. In announcing the decision, Selangor
executive councillor for poverty and estate affairs V. Ganabatirau said the
Negri Sembilan, Perak and Malacca state governments had already implemented
this. "Hindu Sangam is the umbrella body to oversee the situation and
work together with the temples. We have set up a committee to monitor the
temples and Hindu Sangam will play an active role in it," he said.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk R.S. Mohan Shan said currently only
600 temples in the state were registered with the organisation. Unofficial
statistics, however, reveal some 2,500 temples in Selangor. Both
Ganabatirau and Mohan were at the 2013 Selangor Hindu Temples forum in Shah
Alam, attended by some 400 temple committee members and Indian community
leaders.
In his speech, Mohan said the temple should play a big role in recognizing
communities around the temple. "Temple funds should be allocated for
the teaching of human values and religious classes. The poor should be
identified and help should be extended to them.
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Posted on
2013/11/29 16:53:52 ( 334 reads )
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OSLO, NORWAY, November 20, 2013 (Times of India): The Norwegian military
said Tuesday it plans to put its troops on a vegetarian diet once a week in
a bid to fight a new kind of enemy -- climate change. The army said its new
meatless Mondays are meant to cut its consumption of ecologically
unfriendly foods whose production contributes heavily to global warming.
"It's a step to protect our climate. The idea is to serve food that's
respectful of the environment," spokesman Eystein Kvarving told AFP.
The diet has already been introduced at one of Norway's main bases and will
soon be rolled out to all units, including those serving overseas, said the
army, estimating it would cut its meat consumption by 150 tonnes per year.
"It's not about saving money," said Kvarving. "It's about
being more concerned for our climate, more ecologically friendly and also
healthier."
A Norwegian environmental group that campaigns for meatless Mondays
nationwide, The Future in Our Hands, welcomed the army announcement.
"The defense ministry deserves a lot of praise because it's taking
climate and environmental issues seriously," said the group's
director, Arild Hermstad.
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Posted on
2013/11/29 16:53:46 ( 261 reads )
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Like the household fire, devotees seek the glory of the Lord even from afar
and enshrine it in their inner chamber for enlightenment. The glory of our
Lord is full of splendor, all-illuminative and worthy to be honored in
every heart.
-- Rig Veda 7.1.2
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:39 ( 373 reads )
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HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, November 27, 2013 (The Globe and Mail): Hamilton
Police have laid charges in a 12-year-old hate crime that garnered
international attention and scarred the city's reputation in the wake of
9/11 terrorist attacks.
At a morning press conference in the $2-million Hindu temple that rose from
the ashes of a smaller temple destroyed in an early-morning arson on Sept.
15, 2001, Staff Sergeant Matt Kavanagh announced charges of arson to
property, possession of incendiary material and mischief under $5,000
against three Hamilton men: Christopher Pollard, 33, Scott Ryan, 33 and
Damien Marsh, 34.
"[Because of] the fact that this incident took place 4 days after the
tragedy of 9/11, and the two places of worship that were targeted by the
accused parties were a mosque and a Hindu temple, the Hamilton Police
Service will present this case as a hate crime," said Staff Sergeant
Kavanagh.
The firebombing of the Hindu Samaj Temple was one of the worst examples of
post-9/11 "revenge" attacks anywhere in North America and became
frequently cited as proof that Canadian attitudes towards diversity had
narrowed considerably following the collapse of the World Trade Center
towers. CNN and other networks covered the blaze extensively, staining
Hamilton with an international reputation for bigotry and intolerance that
the city has worked to erase ever since. Despite all the city's work to
undo the physical and emotional damage that occurred that day, the case
remained unsolved, leaving city mosques and temples with a lingering
unease.
The fire that changed Hamilton actually began as a smaller attack at the
nearby Hamilton Mountain Mosque. Late on Friday, September 14, 2001, police
allege that the three men smashed a large front window at the mosque.
For reasons unknown, the alleged attackers travelled five kilometres to the
Hindu Samaj Temple, then a small building being converted from an old
United Church, and used an accelerant to ignite the front doors.
Because of the temple's remote location on piece of property bordered by
farmer's fields and rural homes, the fire department had to truck in water
to the site. By 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, little was left of the
building. Temple president Narendar Passi could only stand beyond the
flames and weep.
"It was horrible," he said. "It was in the back of
everyone's minds that something like this could happen, but not here, we
were Hindus, we did not commit the crimes in New York City."
At the mosque, attendance at the Muslim school dropped by 70 per cent in
the days after the attack. For several months, security was ever-present at
area mosques. News networks portrayed the city as plagued by hate.
"On CNN, we were a redneck town, a backwater town," said Evelyn
Myrie, executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, a
community organization that sprung up as a result of the temple fire to
promote inclusion and speak out against discrimination. "It really put
Hamilton in a bad light."
The city's will to fight that perception emerged even before the blaze had
smoldered out. Hundreds of people attended a rally at city hall that day to
show support for the temple. Within days, fundraisers were held to help
cover the massive costs of rebuilding and posters bearing the slogan
"an attack on one is an attack on all" appeared outside hundreds
of area homes and businesses.
Rather than shrink in fear, the congregation at the temple swelled, from
around 300 families in 2001 to over 800 today.
But even as the temple and the city moved on, the police investigation
stalled several times. Detectives initially identified two suspects, both
of whom have since been cleared, with police dropping charges against one
man in 2003. Since 2005, at least three officers have continually chased
leads in the case. On the 10th anniversary of the fire, police issued a
plea for witnesses to come forward and pinned their hopes on profiling of
DNA samples collected at the crime scene.
Police are revealing little about the recent break in the case, saying only
that earlier this year they received new information from the public that
led to the arrests.
"As sad as it is to recount the events of that day," said Mayor
Bob Bratina, "we were wishing that this day hopefully would come so
that Hamiltonians as a whole can get the feeling that the matter was
pursued."
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:33 ( 403 reads )
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WASHINGTON, DC, November 28, 2013 (HAF Press Release): Are you passionate
about public policy? Are you interested in being a Hindu American advocate?
Want to build an active Hindu American voice in government?
If so, look no further than the Hindu American Congressional Internship!
The Hindu American Congressional Internship is a unique opportunity for
selected undergraduate students to spend an exciting summer in our nation's
capitol working for Congressional offices. Sponsored by the Hindu American
Foundation, this internship program aims to provide students with
real-world public policy experience through two lenses. First, working as
interns in a Congressional office or committee alongside staffers, students
will gain the perspective of a Congressional "insider." Second,
by participating in events such as HAF's DC Advocacy Days and interacting
with the HAF team, interns will gain first hand experience as Hindu
American advocates.
Selected students will spend approximately eight weeks between June and
early August 2014 interning in a Congressional office or committee.
Internships in Congressional offices are highly coveted, and the process
for a student to obtain an internship is competitive. HAF's ability to
offer intern positions in Congressional offices is due solely to the
relationships the foundation has built with Congress over the past decade
and its consistent presence on the Hill. Past HAF interns have worked for
both House and Senate offices as well as for the House Foreign Relations
Committee. Student accepted into this program will not only serve as
interns for the Congressional offices, but also as representatives of HAF
and the broader Hindu American community. Over the course of the
internship, HAF will check in periodically with Congressional offices to
assess and ensure their satisfaction with the interns' performance.
HAF is a non-partisan organization that works with both sides of the aisle,
and thus, is unable to honor office placement requests on a partisan basis.
Though not always the case, interns are often placed in offices that
represent their home state. Occasionally, summer internship opportunities
arise at prestigious think tanks and relevant NGOs in D.C. Should HAF be
made aware of such an opportunity, aligning with an intern's background and
interests as well as the dates of this program, HAF will consider placement
of the intern in said program. As part of orientation in early June, all
interns will participate in HAF's 11th annual D.C. Advocacy Days. This will
allow them to meet the national HAF team as well as immediately dive into
the world of Hindu American advocacy. Interns will also have various events
scheduled with HAF staff to increase their exposure to the important work
of the foundation. At least once over the summer, HAF may host a briefing
on Hindu human rights. Interns will be expected to help organize and attend
the briefing (with permission from their Congressional offices).
Additionally, HAF organizes Friday lunches for interns to meet with prominent
Hindu Americans in public policy as well as interfaith partners who are
active on the Hill. A number of social events will take place over the
summer that provide for important networking opportunities. HAF strongly
encourages interns to take advantage of them.
HAF provides all interns with living and travel stipends. Additionally,
housing arrangements are made by HAF through Washington Intern Student
Housing (WISH).
Click "source" above for requirements and the application
process.
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:26 ( 341 reads )
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WASHINGTON, DC, November 28, 2013 (Hindu Students Association, report by
Ramya Ravi, co-founder and the National President for the Hindu Students
Association):
Since its inception, the Hindu Students Association has strived to have an
active voice on the national platform on behalf of first and second
generation Hindu young adults. This year, we were committed to take that
voice to our nation's capital. And so, on the morning of November 5th, I found
myself on the way to Washington D.C. with Varun Mehta, HSA co-founder and
director, to celebrate Diwali at the White House with the First Lady,
Michelle Obama.
As my cab driver weaved through traffic, I found myself reminiscing over
the many milestones HSA has achieved over just a few years. To date, HSA
has opened over ten branches, met Hindu dignitaries like Swami Satguru
Bodhinatha and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and successfully produced
content in various mediums explaining Hinduism for the general public.
HSA's achievement of its goals in education, awareness, and networking were
made possible by the vigilance and commitment to our mission displayed by
HSA members across the county.
A slew of questions rushed to my head as my cab came to a halt. Who will be
present? What ceremonies will occur? Will we get to meet the President? How
has the first family celebrated Diwali through the years? What are other
initiatives that they support to benefit the Hindu community? I felt
nervousness and excitement at the same time. It was one of those inspiring,
yet humbling moments where I saw my identities as a Hindu and an American
coming together.
After many levels of security screenings, Varun and I arrived at the
doorsteps of the White House where we were welcomed by the Army Guards and
the White House staff. Entering into the front hallway, I was moved by
pictures of the First family and national treasures. I found myself in the
presence of over 80 national Hindu leaders meeting one another and wishing each
other a Happy Diwali; it was simple yet heartwarming. Those present
included members from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities who had
excelling in their respective fields including Judge Ravi, Kiran Ahuja, and
Lieutenant Col. Chaudhary.
Once we were seated, the First Lady addressed the audience directly on the
reason for the Diwali celebration. She spoke of her vision of a White House
that could be seen as welcoming to Americans from all paths and walks of
life. "Diwali," she reminded us, "is a time for
contemplation and reflection. And as we light the diya -- the lamp -- we
recommit ourselves to the triumph of light over darkness, of good over
evil." In her heartfelt speech, she turned to pay respects to the
lives that were tragically lost in the Oak Creek Wisconsin Gurudwara
shooting and the importance of preventing future tragedies through a sense
of community and togetherness. Ms. Kiran Ahuja, the director of Asian
American and Pacific Islander Initiative, gave a few remarks following the
First Lady about the event and the AAPI initiative that has been put in
place by President Obama to bring in South Asian perspectives into the
White House.
Finally the time came for the First Lady to light the White House diya. As
priests from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple recited mantras, Varun and I bowed
our heads in reverence for God. While repeating the mantras, I reflected on
how I had celebrated Diwali this year. Only a few days before, I had
celebrated with my family at our temple with offerings of food prepared by
my mother. Later, I had celebrated with the local community with a havan at
University of Texas at Austin, followed by fireworks provided by the local
HSA branch. Finally, I was here sharing a palatable sense of spirituality
with prominent members of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain community, and with the
national community as a whole. It was a personal blessing and a humbling
experience to be able to celebrate Diwali not once but thrice this year
with my loved ones, my community, and now even with members of various
other religious traditions.
Finally, the program concluded with a few short songs from the band Gold
Spot. One of their pieces titled "Diwali" filled the room with
merriment as the audience broke for dinner to mingle with the
speakers/officiators and other attendees. My final thoughts were how
comfortable I was in this moment as my two worlds of being an American and
a Hindu overlapped. However, as HSA leaders, we know that the importance of
our attendance at this event reached beyond witnessing the coming together
of these two worlds. Celebrating Diwali at the White House with the First
Family will create countless opportunities in the future for our members in
the country's capital and will help pave the road to creating a strong
Hindu youth voice within the Asian American community and the nation at
large.
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Posted on
2013/11/28 17:41:19 ( 313 reads )
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Hinduism is the most skeptical and the most believing of all religions. The
most skeptical because it has questioned and experimented the most and the
deepest, rejecting nothing but insisting on testing and experiencing
everything. From this comes our scriptures and our beliefs: the Vedas, the
Vedanta, the Gita, the Upanishads... But the most authoritative scripture
is in the heart, where the Eternal has His dwelling.
-- Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950), Indian mystic and philosopher
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Posted on
2013/11/27 17:50:05 ( 382 reads )
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CHENNAI, INDIA, Novermber 27, 2013 (BBC): An influential Hindu religious
figure has been found not guilty of the murder of a temple manager in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, head of a
1,000-year-old Brahmin monastic order, was arrested in 2004 in connection
with the murder of Sankararaman, manager of a temple in Kanchipuram. A
court also acquitted 22 others charged in connection with the murder. The
verdicts came more than nine years after Sankararaman was murdered.
The case generated nationwide attention and took several twists and turns.
During innumerable examinations and cross-examinations by lawyers
throughout the trial nearly 90 out of of 189 witnesses turned hostile,
reports say. The court ruled that the family of Sankararaman had "failed
to identify the accused." It found "no incriminating
evidence" against Jayendra Saraswathi, Bangalore-based journalist
Imran Qureshi told BBC Hindi.
Jayendra Saraswathi is head of the Kanchi Shankara Math, a leading Hindu
spiritual center. He was charged with conspiracy to murder along with with
a junior seer Vijayendra Saraswathi. Prosecutors alleged that the two men
hired hit men to kill Sankararaman, who was one of their former aides.
Sankararaman reportedly wrote anonymous letters accusing Jayendra Saraswathi
of misusing monastery funds.
The allegations included embezzlement of gold procured for making a temple
chariot and providing lavish lifestyles for the cleric's relatives. Both
men denied the allegations and any role in the killing. They were granted
bail in 2005.
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Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji,
Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism
Today dot com for the collection)
(The Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth,
lovers of wisdom and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the
spiritual path and also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
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