GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 18, 2002: In March 2003, Oxford Reference Online will be available to internet users. Of interest to Hindus is the Oxford Dictionary of First Names where India is listed as a common first name for children in Britain and the United States. The dictionary says, “India as a first name is presumably from…
GO TO SOURCE PALANI, INDIA, November 20, 2002 : Named Dhandayuthapani, the presiding Deity at the famous Palani Hills Temple is Lord Karthikeya. The saint physician and composer, Bogar Siddhar, is believed to have crafted the existing statue using nine highly toxic herbs over 5,000 years ago. The aging murthi has been developing cracks and for some years abhishekams have…
GO TO SOURCE MARYLAND, U.S.A., November 22, 2002: The India Development and Relief Fund, a Maryland-based charity, has denied allegations that it is raising millions of dollars from nonresident Indians and American corporations and using the money to fund a “hate campaign” in India. A group of Christians have released in New Delhi a report accusing IDRF of being a…
Source: Hindustan Times TIRUKKALUKUNRAM, INDIA, November 19, 2002: It used to be a fascinating sight. At the stroke of noon every day, two eagles would appear from nowhere and descend on the Vedagiriswarar Temple atop a hill at Tirukkalukunram. There they would eat the rice pongal served by a temple priest, wash their beaks in a pond and fly away.…
GO TO SOURCE JAMMU, INDIA, November 18, 2002: For hundreds of ailing or aging pilgrims unable to make it to the Vaishno Devi shrine near Jammu because of the difficult terrain, a new helicopter service is a perfect alternative. The helicopter service will be available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning November 19. The management says they hope to…
GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 20, 2002: The Center for the Study of Developing Societies, in collaboration with India International Center, will host a regional conference of the International Association of the History of Religions in New Delhi from December 18-21, 2003. The last date for submission of abstracts is December 15, 2002. The conference aims to encourage…
GO TO SOURCE November 23, 2002: This website states that “For a fee of $10 per word (5 word minimum), a customer can have a telegram delivered to someone who has passed away. This is done with the help of terminally Ill volunteers who memorize the telegrams before passing away, and then deliver the telegrams after they have passed away.…
GO TO SOURCE BANGLADESH, INDIA, November 29, 2001: This interesting article is by Rationalist International, an Indian-based society of nonreligious secular humanists who believe in a scientific approach to life devoid of theology. In this article they accuse India’s Christian missionaries of orchestrating the recent conversion of Dalits, or “untouchables,” not to Christianity, but to Buddhism. The hidden agenda, believes…
GO TO SOURCE PHOENIX, U.S.A., November 22, 2002: Sunday, November 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. a celebration of Deepavali and India is being held at the Heritage Square, Phoenix, Arizona. The program includes North and South Indian Food, arts and crafts, henna design, books, music, Indian clothes, jewelry and accessories. Demonstrations include Indian cooking, the sari and talks…
GO TO SOURCE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, November 20, 2002: Elaborate facilities have been arranged at the police camps for police personnel who wish to go on pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Unlike in the West, where police guards would stay aloof from a religious ceremony, in India it is common for the police on duty to participate in the worship as much as…