October/November/December, 2004

Digital Dharma

RESOURCES

Twenty-Five Years On-Line!

Somewhere you just know you saw a fabulous article on saris in Hinduism Today, but in what issue and when? Or was that the one the dog chewed! Never fear, all of our issues from 1979 to the present are now conveniently archived online at http://www.hinduismtoday.com/past_issues.shtml

With the help of ProQuest's Ethnic NewsWatch division and some savvy programming by our staff, this excellent resource is available 24/7 at your fingertips for personal use, educational or research projects. In Google, enter "Hinduism Today " in quotes followed by your term, to search back issues.

SCRIPTURE

Bringing Life to the Word

Faced with thousands of Swaminarayan devotees wanting to see the copy of the revered Shikshapatri, a Sanskrit manuscript hand-written by their founder, held by the Oxford University's Bodleian Library, library officials decided to put it on the web at http://www.shikshapatri.org.uk. The Shikshapatri is a dharma text of guidelines by Lord Swaminarayan (1781-1830) for devotees of his reformed Vaishnava lineage. The site provides information on the historical, religious and cultural context of the manuscript, page views, study aids and audio recitations in various languages.

ART AND CULTURE

Johari's Legacy

The prolific and visionary Harish Johari made an inestimable contribution to Hinduism's 20th century renaissance. His works live on in cyberspace. His students and artists from six countries, with the consent of his wife and children in India, have formed the Sanatan Society as "an internet platform to give spiritual seekers from all over the world the possibility to pass through Harish's authentic teachings and the wide knowledge he has left behind." Strongly eclectic, www.sanatansociety.org and its commercial twin, http://www.sanatansociety.com, offer thousands of pages of resources, teachings, books, stories, music and, most prominently, the breathtaking artwork of Johari and his students to grace your screen, your office or your home.

THE BUILDING ARTS

Harmonize Your Living Space

Vastu shastra, a vedic science whose principles were envisioned some 5,000 years ago by the rishis, deals with natural forces and energies. The correct application of these innate laws creates a harmonious energy; a living area becomes not only a refuge, but a space that offers repose and rejuvenation. At www.omvaastushastra.org is a concise guide to these ideas by an experienced author from India. Intricacies of the shastras are explained and helpful suggestions for their use are offered in a well-organized, cleanly-designed and easy-to-read format.