Source SINGAPORE, February 9, 2020 (Straits Times): Stepped-up precautionary measures in the light of the coronavirus outbreak did little to dampen the fervor of thousands of Hindu devotees, who turned out to seek blessings and fulfil their vows at this year’s Thaipusam festival. The religious procession went on as usual, drawing some 11,500 devotees — the highest participation rate since…
Source JAKARTA, INDONESIA, February 3, 2020 (Jakarta Post): President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued a presidential regulation (Perpres) turning the Hindu Dharma State Institute (IHDN) in Denpasar, Bali, into the country’s first Hindu state university. The regulation stated that the new university, named I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa State Hindu University (UHN), would “administer Hindu higher education programs” as well as…
Source You can gain an intricate control of the various things that change in and about you. Lean your thoughts and feelings in the right direction, and discover how quickly your circumstances will change their direction.— Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today
Source NORTH CAROLINA, U.S., January 30, 2020 (News Observer): A Triangle-based Hindu group plans to build a temple in a rural area of the “Triangle” region (noted for its three top research universities) of North Carolina. The temple will help preserve Hinduism’s ancient culture and language, while embracing a modern American ideal: It will be huge. The temple will feature…
Source THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, January 17, 2020 (Deccan Chronicle): If one goes by the inscriptions available, the reconsecration to be held this February 5 for the Tnanjavur’s “Big Temple,” it will be the sixth such grand event in its history. As per an inscription, the first Kumbabishekam to the temple was held in 1010 CE and was done by…
Source HYDERABAD, INDIA, August 9, 2017 (YouTube): HPI Note: The video is from 2017 and gives a good overview of the project. The statue itself is in place, but with the surrounding construction in various stages of completion. For current information go to: https://statueofequality.org/latest-news/. Sri Ramanujacharya’s statue near Hyderabad in Telangana is the second biggest statue in the world. Tridandi…
Source JAPAN, January 2019, (The Outline by Samuel Argyle): Around the world, symbols hold disparate meanings based on cultural relevance. For Westerners, the swastika induces feelings of disgust and remorse; the tacit acknowledgement that we must not let evil consume us again. It may be impossible for those aware of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust to ever be able to…
Source The biggest sorrow is poverty. The greatest happiness is that of meeting with a saint, which is beyond compare.— Tulsidas in the Ramacharitamanasa, 16th century
Source Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. You will then find out how easy it is to get along.— Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Founder of Self-Realization Fellowship
Source BARCELONA, SPAIN, December 21, 2019 (Lavan Guardia, translated from Spanish): The Catalan academic Oscar Pujol has published the first Sanskrit-Spanish dictionary, a work that exceeds 1,500 pages with more than 64,000 translated words, that aspires to be an essential tool for students of the Sanskrit language and “lovers of Indian culture.” In an interview with EFE, Pujol has explained…