1. August Hindu Voice UK Newsletter Available Online
2. Not Newton, But Madhava!
3. Daily Inspiration

1. August Hindu Voice UK Newsletter Available Online

www.hinduvoice.co.uk

UNITED KINGDOM, AUGUST 10, 2008: The latest The Hindu Voice Newsletter, is once again available online. They report on the recent violence that erupted in Gujarat and Kashmir, the plight of three Hindu Gurkhas who lost their High Court pension case, the Indian embassy in Afghanistan that was recently targeted in a bomb attack, and plans for a gigantic coastal statue of the great Hindu King Shivali (1627 - 1680) which will rival in height America's Statue of Liberty. In a gentler vein, a reader's survey's on terrorism and it's possible resolution, what British Hindus expect in their temples provide a provocative and thoughtful look into Hindu society in the UK.

An interesting article on India's temples using "green technology" shows how the ancient Sanatana Dharma is in harmony with modern technology. The Muni Seva Ashram in Gujarat and the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra are well on their way to exclusive use of solar, wind and biogas energy to fulfill their needs. We learn also that Tirupati temple uses only solar power for preparing over 30,000 meals each day making it the world's largest solar powered cooking operation. In addition to the story of Tirupati's solar powered kitchen, there is a stunning slide show of the Tirupati's beautiful venue. And a temple visit in the unlikely destination spot of the Welsh countryside is chronicled in a humorous diary of the event by an unknown author.

Rounding out the Hindu Voice are three entertainment reviews. Kudos are given to an outstanding BBC documentary, The Ganges, and Ram Gopall's new movie, "Sarkar Raj" as well as the US film "The Dark Knight".

2. Not Newton, But Madhava!

www.mumbaimirror.com

MUMBAI, INDIA, August 2008: Prof. K. Ramasubramanian of IIT-Bombay has recently released a two-volume translation of the Ganita-Yukti-Bhasa by Jyesthdeva pointing to the fact that some subsets of calculus existed in Indian manuscripts almost two centuries before Isaac Newton published his work. And that an Indian mathematician and astronomer Nilakantha Somayaji spoke, in parts, about a planetary model, credited to Tycho Brahe almost a century later.

The Ganita-Yukti-Bhasa is divided into 15 chapters. Seven chapters are devoted to mathematics, and eight to astronomy. It was published some time between 1530 and 1540. "However, what's important," says Ramasubramanian, "is that the material in this book is far older. For, the author makes it clear that his manuscript only explains in detail the work described in the Tantra Sangraha by Nilakantha Somayaji. So the work spoken about is actually much older, as Nilakantha in the 15th century."

"The Ganita-Yukti-Bhasa attributes its mathematical models work to Madhava, who lived from 1340 to 1420. That's way ahead of Newton. But it would be too sweeping a statement to say that this was the first work on calculus," added the professor.

Another Hindu Temple Burns in Fiji
http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=1&fijidailynews=18119

FIJI, August 11, 2008: A Hindu mandir in Vutuni, Fiji, was completed destroyed by fire on Friday night. Fiji's National Fire Authority received the emergency call at about 10.50pm but were unable to respond immediately as fire crew were committed to another fire at the same time.

The Fire authority has completed its investigations into the cause of the fire and will submit a report to the police for further investigations. Fijian Hindus are routinely subject to arson and violence. In September, 2004, during Dipavali celebrations, the Naga Baba Kutti temple of Raralevu, was burnt to the ground. Several Hindu temples have been similarly raized over the years.

3. Daily Inspiration

www.hinduismtoday.com