Source INDIA, December 16, 2017 (Daily O by Devdutt Pattanaik): Who said how a Hindu or any human is supposed to worship the divine? Who made these rules? This question is rooted in Abrahamic myth that frowns upon God being given any form, and the Biblical condemnation of “idolatry” as indicative of a false religion. In the 19th century, as…
Source Sight is very powerful. Sight is the first connection made with the Deity. The sight of the murti in the temple inner sanctum stimulates and enhances the flow of uplifting energies, or pranas, within the mind and body. Each Deity performs certain functions, is in charge of certain pranas. Seeing the Deity there unfolds in the mind’s eye a…
Source FIJI, January 24, 2018 ( by Waisea Nasokia, Fiji Sun):The annual Vaarshika Thaipoosam Thirunaal Festival in Nadi is expected to attract a bigger turnout this year. The 10-day event for Hindu devotees is set for January 25 to February 4 at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Thiru Kovil temple. This will be the 92nd edition of the festival. Devasthanam…
Source INDIA, January 22, 2018 (Swarajya): In the run-up to the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit to be held in New Delhi on the Republic Day (January 26), the on-going Ramayan Festival in the capital has troupes from all ten ASEAN nations – including Muslim majority Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei – taking part in the plays and musicals based in the epic.…
Source Sattvic knowledge sees the one indestructible Being in all beings, the unity underlying the multiplicity of creation. Rajasic knowledge sees all things and creatures as separate and distinct. Tamasic knowledge, lacking any sense of perspective, sees one small part and mistakes it for the whole.— Bhagavad Gita 18:20-22
Source INDIA, January 19, 2018 (National Herald India): A new study has found that high pollution levels contributed to nearly 1.1 million deaths in 2015, or 10.6% of the total number of deaths in India, with “the burden falling disproportionately (75%) on rural areas”. The study raises the alarm that if no action is taken, “population exposures to PM2.5 are…
Source PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, January 22, 2018 (The Star): Kavadis that are “too big” and those bearing banned symbols or items will not be allowed past the Batu Caves main entrance on Thaipusam Day. The guidelines set by the Thaipusam Task Force list the items banned as knives, tridents and parang as well as durian, chillies and apples. Also banned…
Source GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA January 22, 2018 (The Sunday Daily): [HPI note: the Thaipusam festival in Penang is close to the same and more famous festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.] More than 1.2 million Hindu devotees throughout the country and international tourists are expected to flock to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga here during the…
Source In India I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it. Inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything but possessed by nothing.— Appolonius of Tiana (2-97 ce), Greek philosopher
Hinduism Today PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA, January 21, 2018: Funeral ceremonies and cremation were held yesterday, January 20, by family and friends of Dr. Shiva G. Bajpai who passed away at his home here on January 13, 2018. The publisher and staff of Hinduism Today will miss our long-time friend and collaborator. His family released the following account of his life:…