1. Tiruchendur Temple Escapes Tsunami
News Reports

TIRUCHENDUR, INDIA, January 8, 2005: Tiruchendur Lord Murugan Temple is on the sea shore - within 100 metres of the waves. The temple entrance is near sea level, and the cave inside is sloping down to the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Lord Subramaniam (Murugan) . When we stand in front of the deity, the sea water level outside is higher than our heads. There is every likelihood that tidal waves and tsunamis can rush in and fill the cave temple with sea water. In the history of the temple, it is mentioned that the Water God (Lord Varuna) has promised Lord Murugan that he will not cross the boundary of the temple. It seems the Water God has kept his promise. While the tsunami on has lashed the eastern coast of India and inundated all places near the coast deeply, the sea water did not enter the temple. At 10:00 Hrs on the fated day, the sea near the temple receded by a kilometer - people could see there a big crater with rocks visible - gradually the sea came back to its original level. But sea water has entered Jeeva Nager located opposite Tiruchendur Bus stand at 12:30 Hrs. All other coastal areas near Tiruchendur were affected by the lashing of tsunami. The Temple area is unaffected as the sea receded there as though to keep the promise given.

2. Shortage of Tamil Translators Hinders Medical Care in Batticaloa
HPI

KAUAI, HAWAII, January 8, 2005: Patrick Harrigan (see his web site here) reports from Batticaloa: "About foreign volunteers, you know that skilled people are needed here badly. But without language ability in Tamil their use would be limited. I met a whole team of foreign doctors today at Ramakrishna College, now a refugee camp until school starts on January 20. Those several foreign doctors are sharing a single translator--they simply cannot understand what their patients are saying. Perhaps from your side you could get the word out that Tamil-speaking volunteers are badly needed as adjuncts to foreign teams of doctors and engineers, etc. The foreign teams are badly hampered by shortage of Tamil interpreters. English speaking Tamils from India would be useful here."

3. Web Site on Baul Singers
Source

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, January 8, 2005: An informative web site on the traditional Baul singers of India is on-line at "source." The opening page reads, "Welcome to the home page of the Purna Das Baul Academy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Purna Das Baul and the Bauls of Bengal. Through performance, teaching, research, and education--as well as service-oriented activities--the Academy seeks to enhance awareness of, and invite participation in, this rich tradition of music, poetry, philosophy, and spirituality."

4. Response of a Hindu When a Cross is Removed from a Hospital Chapel
Source

TWIN CITIES, U.S.A., December 26, 2004: This news release was written by Anantanand Rambachan, a Hindu and a professor of religion at St. Olaf College in Northfield, in response to another article written by Joe Soucheray. Apparently Mr. Soucheray was upset with St. Paul Region hospital for removing the cross from their chapel. Rambachan points out that as North American society has become multicultural, this diversity is reflected in hospitals across the nation where patients from diverse backgrounds receive medical treatment. People often turn to prayer for strength and courage when dealing with the suffering caused by illness and death. Mr. Rambachan feels that it is important that the sacred place for worship and prayer in hospitals accommodate people from every kind of religious background. Mr. Rambachan explains, "One of Mr. Soucheray's principal contentions is that the Regions Hospital place of prayer is designated as a chapel and that a cross in a chapel is entirely appropriate. While few will argue with this, it is also true that the fact of our religious diversity is transforming our religious vocabulary and resulting in a more inclusive use of some traditionally faith-specific terms. Some of our colleges and universities, for example, have Hindu and Muslim chaplains. On the occasions when I offer a prayer to open a session of the Minnesota Senate, I am designated as the chaplain for the day. Language is dynamic and malleable, and the meanings of words change to reflect new social realities. We may also have to search creatively for new words to reflect the shared elements of our religious lives."

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