Canada Bans Certain Ayurvedic Drugs

www.medindia.net TORONTO, CANADA, July 24, 2005: The drug regulatory agency in Canada Health Canada, has warned consumers not to use certain ayurvedic medicinal products from India, based on the recent controversial JAMA study report which found Indian Ayurvedic drugs containing high levels of toxic metal content. Health Canada has also stated that it would soon take action to remove these…

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The Kabootar Visa Scam

mangalorean.com MUMBAI, INDIA, July 26, 2005: (HPI note: This article is quite useful in understanding American visa procedures in India, and should especially be useful to temples bringing in priests and other religious workers.) It was singer Sonali Rathod’s turn at the visa counter at the US consulate in Mumbai. An American officer manning the counter asked her if she…

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In Lankan Buddhism, the Hindu Gods Are Worshipped, But Subordinate To the Buddha

www.hindustantimes.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 4, 2005: Buddhism, which is the predominant religion in Sri Lanka, is atheistic. The Buddha was against the worship of Gods and deities, and had exhorted his followers to seek salvation through self-control and right conduct, without taking recourse to the worship of Gods and deities to achieve it. But despite this injunction, theism has…

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Visiting Indian Swami Hosts Seminar On Spiritual Enlightenment

By Paras Ramoutar CARAPICHAIMA, TRINIDAD, July 22, 2005: In memory of all the gurus of all traditions, Enlightenment Day will be celebrated on Sunday, July 31, at the Dattatreya Yogan Centre, Orange Field Road, Carapichaima starting at 7 p.m. Enlightenment Day will honour the wealth of wisdom of all the great spiritualities of the world. Visiting Indian Swami Shri Brahmavairaagyi,…

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Data Of Siddha Compositions To Be Digitalized

www.hindu.com MADURAI, INDIA, July 25, 2005: The Central Research Institute for Siddha plans to digitalize nearly 10,000 formulae of Siddha compositions for various ailments and host them on the traditional knowledge digital library being evolved by the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. This was an effort to prevent the grant of wrong patents for non-original inventions in…

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Icon-makers Load All Their Chips On Ganesha, Once Again

www.hindu.com HYDERABAD, INDIA, July 25, 2005: A little before Kukatpally on the national highway, the small hut is crammed with dozens of icons and clear signs of poverty. Shankarji, an elderly icon maker is busy preparing molds and mixing plaster for Ganesha icons. Vinayaka Chaturthi is just two months away and it is a race against time. Several icons he…

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Fiji Church Supports Reconciliation Bill

www.fijilive.com SUVA, FIJI, July 24, 2005: The Methodist Church has pledged its full support for the controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill proposed by Government. Church minister Reverend Iliesa Naivalu said the support stemmed from the belief that the clauses stated in the Bill are similar to those in the Bible. Reverand Naivalu said their collective stand on the Bill…

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Public Tribunal Wants Full Affirmative Action Rights for Dalit Christians

mangalorean.com MADURAI, INDIA, July 21, 2005: A public tribunal has declared that the 16 million Dalit Christians in India should get their full Scheduled Caste rights (“reservations,” a form of affirmative action in education and job opportunities) enjoyed by their Dalit counterparts of other minority religions. “It is necessary that the Christian Dalits are given the same benefits, aids and…

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Campaign For an Affordable Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage

www.newkerala.com AHMEDABAD, INDIA, JULY 24, 2005: A campaign is on to make the pilgrimage to the sacred mountain Kailash and lake Mansarovar in Tibet more affordable to pilgrims. Rajendra Swaroop Swami, a Hindu religious man deeply involved with the annual pilgrimage, has launched efforts to make the journey cheaper. “On behalf of the fraternity of holy men, we have made…

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