www.hindu.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 20, 2006: Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, age 90, was appointed the 14th president of the Ramakrishna Mission at its 97th annual general meeting held at Belur Math in West Bengal over the weekend. The members expressed sorrow at the passing of Swami Ranganathanandaji, the 13th president of the Mission, on April 25 last year. During the…
www.armytimes.com BAGHDAD, IRAQ, December 22, 2006: Just after the Muslim evening call to prayers wafts through Baghdad, Maj. Michele Spencer and her students add their own chorus: Om. Spencer, a medic training officer with the multinational security transition command in Iraq, teaches about 20 soldiers to channel their energy in her yoga class. “I believe that I teach with more…
HPI KAUAI, HAWAII, December 24, 2006: An issue came up at the Hindu Mission of Canada in Quebec regarding the chanting of the famed Gayatri Mantra by the ordinary devotees. Some brahmins held the position that the mantra should chanted by everyone only when a priest is leading the chant. The chairman of the mission, Dharam Pal Verman, asked Hinduism…
www.hindustantimes.com GORAKHPUR, NEPAL, December 24, 2006: The three-day World Hindu Conference ended in Gorakhpur on Sunday with a call to “defend Hindu culture” worldwide, including in Nepal. Addressing a large rally in Gorakhpur, World Hindu Federation chief Bharat Kesar Singh alleged “large-scale conversion” was being carried out in Nepal under the present Maoist-supported regime. “Cows are being slaughtered on a…
Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 24, 2006. “When I perform on stage, I am in total communion with the God. My only request to Him is to give darshan to the audience who is watching my performance. However, I have attained this stage by engaging in the sadhana of music and dance for over sixty-four years, that…
southasia.oneworld.net NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 15, 2006: (HPI note: This article is written with the intent of attracting attention to the plight of the tsunami survivors. It is not, in the process, all that realistic about what is involved in reconstructing entire villages even in the best of conditions. The most efficient Hindu organizations involved in reconstruction in Tamil Nadu…
info@hindusangam.org.my KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, December 21, 2006: The annual December school vacation period is always the period in which numerous Hindu Religious courses are held for students and youths, and also religious teacher training courses for others. Malaysia Hindu Sangam has organized the Pre-School Teacher Training & Religious Teacher Training program. Also, the annual Awakening Camp (Elluchi Mugaam) for youths…
www.mercurynewsphoto.com INDIA, December 23, 2006: This interesting site offers an audio slide show based on several recent articles about India published in the Mercury News. It’s not religious in content, but the presentation is slick and the information useful. The “elephant” is India itself. The subjects are Venture capitalists–Investing in India’s Future, Infosys–tens of thousands of employees work at the…
Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Chennai CHENNAI, INDIA, December 22, 2006: A full third of Chennai’s police force, 5,000 out of a total force of 15,000, have taken a vow to participate in the Sabarimala pilgrimage, which includes several weeks of fasting and disciplines in advance. Such devotees are called Ayyappa Swamis. Police Ayyappa Swamis say that they are happily observing the…
www.rediff.com DELHI, INDIA, December 22, 2006: Justice K G Balakrishnan, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, will be the new Chief Justice of India, the first-ever Dalit to occupy the coveted post. Law Ministry sources said President A P J Abdul approved the new appointment on Friday. He replaces Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal who is retiring on January…