Tamil Hymns Ordered Allowed in Chidambaram Temple

www.hindu.com CUDDALORE, INDIA: T. Pichandi, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissioner, has passed an order permitting the devotees to recite hymns from Thevaram and Thiruvasagam in the Thiruchitrambalam Hall of Sri Nataraja temple at Chidambaram. The order was issued on April 30, 2007, following a representation made by the septuagenarian Saivite U. Arumughasamy about six months ago, seeking permission to…

Continue reading

Mars Starts Using Animal Products

news.bbc.co.uk UNITED KINGDOM, May 14, 2007: (HPI note: This change is for the product sold in UK/Europe, as the Mars bar is no longer sold in the USA. The change not only impacts vegetarians who used to eat the bars, but also Jews, because it now has rennet, a milk product, and is no longer kosher. It is a tribute…

Continue reading

Swadhyaya Parivar Plans Huge Youth Convention in D.C.

www.swadhyay.org EDISON, NEW JERSEY, May 17, 2007: The nation’s Capital will witness a massive gathering of young minds on June 16, 2007. Swadhyay Parivar of North America (Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar), in a press release on Saturday, announced that it will be organizing its 7th North American Divine Gathering (Vayastha Sanchalan) at the Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center) in Washington,…

Continue reading

Chinese Writing “8,000 Years Old”

news.bbc.co.uk CHINA, May 17, 2007: Chinese archaeologists studying ancient rock carvings say they have evidence that modern Chinese script is thousands of years older than previously thought. State media say researchers identified more than 2,000 pictorial symbols dating back 8,000 years, on cliff faces in the north-west of the country. They say many of these symbols bear a strong resemblance…

Continue reading

Hindu Organization Protests Resolution on Untouchability in US Congress

www.shastras.org TROY, MICHIGAN, USA, May 15, 2007: HPI note: Navya Shastra issued the following press release in response to the introduction of a Congressional Resolution condemning the practice of “untouchability” in India. The Resolution text is here. Congressional resolutions do not carry the force of law, but can influence policy makers. The Resolution was introduced by Representative Trent Franks, a…

Continue reading

California Textbook Issue: CAPEEM Files Motion to Compel Handing Over of Documents

capeem.org CALIFORNIA, May 17, 2007: In the latest development in the federal lawsuit of the California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials (CAPEEM), a motion has been filed with the US District Court in Massachusetts to compel Dr. Michel Witzel, professor of Sanskrit at Harvard University, to turn over certain documents relating to the case. The subpoena, available as…

Continue reading

India Continues Ban on New Genetically Modified Crop Trials

timesofindia.indiatimes.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 13, 2007: On September 22, 2006, the Indian Supreme Court imposed a ban on new field trials of GMO crops, allowing only on going and earlier approved trials to continue. The GMO industry appealed and lost a recent appeal, which requested the court remove the ban and allow new field trials to proceed. The court,…

Continue reading

UK Makes Efforts to Teach Community Harmony in Schools

www.ibnlive.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 9, 2007: Imagine a scenario where people have never seen a Hindu or a Muslim. There are places in the UK where children have never seen a person from either race. The growing disparity in community relations has the UK government so worried that it is now urging schools in the country to forge links…

Continue reading

Welsh Farmers Sympathetic With Temple Bull Issue, But Wary of Risk

news.bbc.co.uk LONDON, ENGLAND, May 14, 2007: Farmers say they have sympathy for a “sacred” bullock facing slaughter, but still feel the animal must be put down. Monks at the Skanda Vale Temple in Carmarthenshire are campaigning to save Shambo, a six-year-old British Friesian which tested positive for TB. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru said exceptions could not be made.…

Continue reading