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MUMBAI, INDIA, April 28, 2008: The muddy Gavdevi ground at Shimpoli in Borivli (West) was sprinkled with saffron and green on Sunday. In the presence of Narendra Maharaj, chief of the Ramanandcharya Peeth of Nanij in the Konkan, hundreds of men and women, most of them tribals, converted to Hinduism. This is the first such event in the city, and part of the peeth’s massive re-conversion movement started two years ago. Women were clad in green and men wore white dhotis, while the volunteers donned saffron. Those who converted included recently married couples and families from the tribal interiors of Thane and Nashik district. Many men had their heads shaved for the ceremony. Items for the mass ceremony were placed on banana leaves. A four-hour long sacred ritual was carried out to “purify” them, after which they were accepted as Hindus.

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PUDUKOTTAI, INDIA, April 28, 2008: A historical temple in Pudukottai is threatening to collapse with the growth of a huge tree right on the vimanam of the sanctum sanctorum. The strong roots of the tree have penetrated deep into all gaps in the walls of the Sri Umapathiswarar Temple.

Six inscriptions on the outer walls of the temple give minute details about its construction. One of the inscriptions says that a trader of Aruvimanagar, who settled in Sattanur village, built the temple in 1213 AD.Another inscription furnishes the details of the boundary of lands donated to the temple by ancient rulers during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Local residents said that despite repeated pleas neither the Archaeological Survey of India nor the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department was coming forward to take up temple renovation.

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The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.
   Renunciate sannyasini Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati, has taught yoga and dharma worldwide for over thirty years

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TRINIDAD, April 27, 2008: (by Paras Ramoutar) Suriname’s Vice-President, Ramdien Sardjoe has spoken of the clashes in the world society. He told the closing session of the Global Lord Hanuman Hindu Conference at the Dattatreya Yoga Centre on Saturday that the entire world is encountering clashes and a great crisis because of the lack of understanding and lack of confidence. “Lord Hanumanji’s life is presenting a great message to live on this earth in harmony, in cooperation and with love, peace and understanding,” Sardjoe told the overflowing assembly of devotees from T&T, India, Canada, USA, England and Holland.

Sardjoe said Lord Hanumanji is an ideal example for building a bridge to unity, oneness, for synthesis and for togetherness of all types of races, creeds, countries, cultures and communities. “This is because of the uniqueness of our Vedic Hindu Culture, as they work with unity in diversity and diversity in unity and unity in oneness. Thus, we can make a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious society, just as the rainbow brings together the beauty of many different colors,” he said. Sardjoe said that throughout the Hindu religious text, the Ramayana, one observes that whenever a vexing problem arose requiring diplomacy, Valmiki (the author) lauds Hanumanji as a confluence of integrity, valour, intelligence, strength, patience and wisdom.

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NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 27, 2008: (By Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent India/South Asia) “Upanishads are India’s greatest gift to the world and the message of Upanishads is not meant for the people of any particular caste, creed, country or religion. They show the correct path to the whole of mankind.” These views were expressed by Dr. Karan Singh, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations [ICCR] while releasing a book entitled “Aum Purnamada” authored by Acharya Yaad Kumar Verma (Shri Ramdasanudas) on April 27th, 2008. The book contains translation of five hundred fifty mantras selected from nine Upanishads. The function was attended by a large number of Vedic scholars, intellectuals and media persons.

Dr. Karan Singh praised the organizers of the event “Shabda Setu” [bridge of words] and its president Dr. Harish Naval. The function was presided by well known scholar and author Padmashri Dr. Shyam Singh Shashi and Shri Mookhesswur Choonee, High Commissioner of Mauritius in India was a special guest of honor for the evening.