1. New Hindu Dean of Religious Life at USC
2. Chilkur Balaji Temple Devotees Worship For Visas
3. Sikh Teenager Wins Religious Bangle Case
4. Daily Inspiration

1. New Hindu Dean of Religious Life at USC

www.usc.edu

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, July 28, 2008: Religious leader and scholar Varun Soni has been named dean of religious life at USC (University of Southern California), marking the first appointment of a member of the Hindu faith as primary spiritual leader of an American university. Soni, whose appointment is effective July 1, is a lawyer and religious scholar. He previously taught in the Law and Society Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"In addition to his outstanding academic credentials and experience, Dean Soni brings a broad and impressive range of life experience," Nikias said. "Dean Soni will bring together the spiritual and scholarly resources of the university, provide moral and ethical leadership for the USC community and work closely with the 70 student religious groups and the 35 religious directors on campus."

Soni holds a bachelor's degree in religion from Tufts University, a master's degree in theological studies from Harvard University, a master's degree in comparative religion from UC Santa Barbara and a juris doctor degree from UCLA. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Cape Town and is a member of the State Bar of California. "I feel deeply honored and humbled to be the next dean of religious life at USC. The Office of Religious Life at USC has the extraordinary opportunity to facilitate interfaith dialogue and sponsor events that support religious and spiritual life on campus while also utilizing the many resources in Los Angeles, the world's most religiously diverse city," Soni said.

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2. Chilkur Balaji Temple Devotees Worship For Visas

www.newindpress.com

HYDERABAD, INDIA, July 28, 2008: The official residence of the "Visa God", Chilkur Balaji, is in the little village of Chilkur -- tucked away in the southwest corner of Hyderabad and flanked by Osmansagar and a national forest, Mrugavani. "You need to complete 11 pradakshinas with folded hands and nothing but the Lord in your heart. At the end, close your eyes and make the wish to Kaliyuga Devam (Lord of Kaliyuga), Balaji, and rest assured your wish will be granted," explains an archaka to a first-timer. But the visa comes with a rider. "Once your wish is granted, you should come back to the temple and this time 108 pradakshinas should be completed as a mark of your gratitude," adds the archaka.

Prayers for visas began in the early 1990's when engineering students from nearby colleges came to the temple seeking divine help to receive their visas to study abroad. The chief priest of the temple, C. S. Gopalakrishna, suggested this practice of pradakshinas, which has become standard procedure for visa-aspiring devotees.

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3. Sikh Teenager Wins Religious Bangle Case

news.aol.co.uk

USA, July 29, 2008: A Sikh teenager excluded from school for breaking a "no jewellery" rule by refusing to remove a wrist bangle which is central to her faith was a victim of unlawful discrimination, a judge ruled. As a result of the judgment in the High Court, Sarika Watkins-Singh, 14, will be returning to Aberdare Girls' School in South Wales in September - wearing the Kara, a slim steel bracelet.

Her lawyers had told Mr Justice Silber that the Kara was as important to her as it was to England spin bowler Monty Panesar, who has been pictured wearing the bangle. Sarika, of mixed Welsh and Punjabi origin, of Cwmbach, near Aberdare, was at first taught in isolation and eventually excluded for refusing to take off the bangle in defiance of the school's policy, which prohibits the wearing of any jewellery other than a wrist watch and plain ear studs. The judge declared that the school was guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws.

Sarika happily declared, "I am a proud Welsh and Punjabi Sikh girl."

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4. Daily Inspiration

www.hinduismtoday.com

"Find God. That is the only purpose in life."
    Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886)

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