SourceUSA, February 26, 2005: “Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst, Where there a’n’t no Ten Commandments an’ a man can raise a thirst;” written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) in “Mandalay.” A federal judge quoted Kipling’s verse in his 2002 decision supporting a 41-year-old monument of the Ten Commandments near the Texas capitol. The…
SourceKOTA, INDIA, February 25, 2005: In Rajasthan, Kota continued to remain tense a day after Bajrang Dal workers attacked a Bible graduation ceremony at the Emmanuel Mission. They have alleged that forced religious conversions were taking place at the mission. The protests turned violent after the police stopped the workers from attacking the gathering. For now, the mission has been…
SourceBERKSHIRE, UK, February 26, 2005: The World Council of the Elders is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit, socio-culture forum, which intends to provide a platform for the elders of the ancient traditions and cultures of the world. There are over 750 members of the World Council representing more than 75 different cultures of the world from over 60 different countries. A…
SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, February 28, 2005: An Italian Parliamentary delegation today discussed possible areas of cooperation in traditional systems of medicine with the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Ramadoss. Initiating the discussion, Dr. Ramadoss gave an overview of steps being taken by his Ministry to integrate traditional and modern systems of medicine. Referring to the expansive infrastructure available…
SourceTIRUPATI, INDIA, February 20, 2005: The TTD Trust Board, which overseas the popular Balaji Temple here, today approved around US$155 million budget for fiscal 2005-2006, which is around $6 million more than its 2004-2005 budget. Of the total income, the hundi collections alone account for $64 million, while the sale of laddus (a famed blessed sweet) is expected to fetch…
SourceKOCHI, INDIA, February 23, 2005: Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi was today conferred with the Rotary International Centenary Legendary Award for her service to humanity, international understanding and peace. Speaking after receiving the award here, she said happiness and contentment can prevail in people’s lives only if they uphold love, trust and service, based on an understanding of the other person’s…
SourceHOLLAND, February 25, 2005: Hans Meijer, president of Ned.Opl.Hindoe Geestelijke (Dutch Hindu Cleric Academy) writes, “Herewith we want to inform you about the present situation of the foundation of the World Hindu Minister Academy (WHMA). In reaction to our article(s) in HPI we received five requests for establishing a local academy (3 from India, 1 from Malaysia and 1 from…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., February 25, 2005: On March 2, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments regarding two cases that address the issue of whether displays of the Ten Commandments on government property are an unconstitutional endorsement of a particular religion. Suhag Shukla, Esq., Legal Counsel of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), will be present at the…
SourceRAJKOT, INDIA, February 23, 2005: In the wake of a scandal, trustees of the Radharaman Swaminarayan temple in Junagadh (Vadtal sect) now want to keep the sadhus on the straight and narrow. The new code of conduct announced on Monday bars contact and conversation with women, ownership of private property and all luxury items, including a television. At a meeting…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, February 24, 2005: The Myanmar government has offered to help the people of a village in Tamil Nadu build a temple to a Deity that came floating on the tsunami waves on December 26. The icon was found on a floating raft in Meyyurkuppam village on the Kalpakkam coast, 80 km from here. Many coastal villages in the…