Source RUSSIA, January 18, 2017 (Radio Free Europe): A Russian computer programmer who was accused of conducting illegal missionary work after giving a lecture on yoga has been cleared of the charges by a court in St. Petersburg. The 44-year-old Dmitry Ugay was detained by Russian police in October while giving a talk on the philosophical origins of yoga after…
Source KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, February 2, 2017 (The Malay Mail): A 410 ft. natural waterfall or as long as the 272 steps at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves will be the latest attraction for devotees, visitors and tourists during Thaipusam this year. Temple committee chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah said the committee had carried out upgrading works…
Source The wise man should merge his speech in his mind and his mind in his intellect. He should merge his intellect in the Cosmic Mind and the Cosmic Mind in the Tranquil Self. — Katha Upanishad 1.3.13
Source INDIA, January 30, 2017 (New Indian Express by Guatam Pingle): Describing the character of an entire group of people is difficult. And, it is almost impossible to describe the character of Hindus–divided by region, language, caste and sect. Nonetheless, foreign observers have attempted the task based on their personal experience. The following is an account of some of these…
Source ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, January 29, 2017 (Nation): Capital Development Authority (CDA) has sanctioned a plot for construction of the first Hindu temple and crematorium in federal capital. A letter has been written to Directorate of State Management in this regard and the plot would be handed over to the community through the Auqaf department. However, CDA has conditioned allotment of…
Source Love, love, love–that is what life is about. Study, pray, meditate, but love, love, love–that is what life is about. All scriptures sing of love. All saints roar of love. All the known prophets continuously demonstrate love. — Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993), founder of Chinmaya Mission
Source UNITED STATES, January 27, 2017 (YouTube): Introduction to Indian Dance is a nine-minute video developed by the Editors of Hinduism Today Magazine in collaboration with Bharatanatyam dancer Shivani Thakkar of Los Angeles and Dr. Shiva Bajpai, Professor Emeritus of History, California State University Northridge, Los Angeles. It was funded by a grant from Uberoi Foundation and filmed at the…
Source RAIPUR, INDIA, January 28, 2017 (Times of India): A 1,100-year-old Ganesha statue located atop Dholkal hill in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, fell from a height of 13,000 feet and broke into pieces in the dense forest area dominated by the Maoists. Experts and conservationists term this a major blow to archaeology. Bastar police believe Maoists pushed the statue off…
Source Greater than a thousand ghee offerings consumed in sacrificial fires is to not sacrifice and consume any living creature. — Tirukural 259
Source QUEENS, NEW YORK, January 26, 2017 (Yahoo): The Ganesha Temple in Queens, New York, has been a cultural hub for Hindus in the United States since the 1970s. But this temple isn’t just dedicated to religious practice. The canteen in the temple’s basement is a bonafide restaurant, serving up more than 100 traditional vegetarian Indian dishes. What started as…