YOUTH
Kids' Site
Children are smarter than most people think. With this in mind, concerned parents, Ajay and Arti Jaiman, with help from their 4-year-old son, Siddharth, created the website: http://www.pitara.com. Pitara is a Hindi word that translates into "a chest full of surprises," and this site is full of wonderful gems, with an Indian perspective in an environment children can navigate on their own. The site includes true stories (such as the one where a girl saves her friend from a python!), folk tales, activities such as toy making, poems, articles on the environment, books, a place for parents, a great newsletter for children, a chat room,
e-mail pen pals, advice to teachers and more.
JOURNEY
Flowers
Get a whiff at http://members.aol.com/somanath/fragrant.html. Here you will find the beautiful fragrances of India. Well, only if bytes can be sniffed. This site was created by Christopher McMahon, who tells his adventures finding the source of India's fragrant flowers, from plants like the red lotus to the parijat, the wish-granting tree. It is in small villages that the essences used in perfumes, incense and aromatherapy are prepared. McMahon explains the whole process. And you don't have to go to India to smell these intoxicating fragrances. McMahon will send them to you.
CD-ROM
Aaah-Ooo-Mmm…
Stop what you are doing and order this amazing, artistic, just plain enchanting CD. It has more than 700 graphic and ornamental Aums, from wild to graceful, from cool to camp, from here to eternity. These are high-quality, royalty-free designs and photographs that can be used in publications, on websites, as screen savers, on letterheads, newsletters and more. But wait, isn't that address below familiar? OK, we confess that this is Himalayan Academy's very own production, from the same team in Hawaii that brings you Hinduism Today. Since we are disclosing our corporate conflict of interest, we also admit to spending over 15 years gathering these gems from around the planet. We bartered and begged for Aums. We went to far-off villages and surrendered rupees to indigent artists. We ransacked books, and when we couldn't find something, we sat down and designed it ourselves. This CD is a steal at $49.95. PC/Mac. Himalayan Academy, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746. Web: www.hindu.org/ha/E-mail: books@hindu.org.
GODS
Muruga's Website
If you're on your way to the opening of the largest Muruga temple in North America (May 29?30 near Washington, DC) stop by at http://xlweb.com/heritage/skanda/ and learn about Lord Muruga, South Indian's favorite name for Karttikeya or Skanda. Focusing mainly on the Southern traditions, the site has tales of Muruga, rare images, descriptions of holy temples such as Palani and Tiruchendur and stories of the great sages Yogaswami and Kadaitswami. Trek along with 15-year-old Theo Kruszewski, a model student from Michigan, USA, who ventured on foot to Muruga's home in Katiragama in 1991.