SourcePHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, December 6, 2004: The mighty river Mekong that flows through six Southeast Asian countries gets its name from India’s holiest and biggest river, the Ganges. “Me is a shorter version of mae or mother and Kong is from Ganga,” Pradeep Kumar Kapur, India’s ambassador to Cambodia, told IANS after welcoming the first India-ASEAN car rally into the…
SourceSTATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK, November 27, 2004: In February of 2005, the 500 family Hindu community of Staten Island are anticipating the opening of their 2,400 square foot temple. It is dedicated to Lord Rama, the Lord of righteousness. The news release explains, “The first floor will have a coat and shoe room, facilities for ritual hand-washing, a community hall…
SourceBHARATHPUR, INDIA, December 4: At least a dozen people were injured, three of them seriously, when Dalit (formerly “Untouchables”) activists and “upper-caste” people engaged in fisticuffs when the later tried to bar Dalits from entering a Hindu temple in Bharatpur Municipality Saturday. Reports said the scuffle began when the upper-caste people present at the Laxmi Benkateshwor Temple premises barred Dalit…
SourceKONARK, INDIA, December 5, 2004: The magical backdrop of the majestic Sun Temple lends a special charm to the annual Konark dance festival. Against the backdrop of the sprawling amphitheater of the temple, the famous festival will also bring focus to the glorious tradition of Orissa. And for the performers of the classical Indian dances, which have closest of ties…
SourceKERALA, INDIA, December 5, 2004 : At the well-known Guruvayoor temple in Kerala, devotees wanting to perform the costliest puja, or religious service, will have to wait until 2046. Such is the demand for the special US$1,100 Udayasthamana Puja, which is performed only 130 days in a year at the Sree Krishna temple, that the faithful have paid booking amounts…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, December 3, 2004: Tamil Nadu Police today arrested Appu, who was allegedly paid US$22,700 by the Kanchi Shankaracharya to arrange the killing of the mutt accountant Shankaraman. The police claim that Appu, also known as Krishnaswamy, followed orders of the Kanchi seer and organized the killing. They say their suspicion is based upon confessions by Kathiravan and Chinna,…
SourceBANGALORE, INDIA, December 2, 2004: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama Thursday said while the arrest of Hindu seer Jayendra Saraswathi in a murder case was unfortunate, the law should take its own course. “Though we are very sad to know about the seer’s arrest, I am of the view the law should take its own course in this matter,” the…
SourceVARANASI, INDIA December 2, 2004: The Dwarakapeeth Sankaracharya, Swaroopanand, today asked the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi, to step down from his post until proved innocent. “The Acharya must step down from the post of Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt until he is absolved by the court of the charges against him in the Sankararaman murder case,” he told reporters here.…
SourceBHUBANESWAR, INDIA, November 29, 2004: Controversy over the shifting of the Biraja idol from the famous Biraja temple in Jajpur (click here for more on the temple) and a missing yantra (gold plate with mystical diagram and mantras) from the seat of the icon, took a new turn with the Opposition Congress today demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident…
SourceNEW YORK, NEW YORK, December 1, 2004: Indian-Americans have demonstrated in front of the Indian Consulate General seeking the immediate release of Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti peetham. About 150 people, braving cold weather, raised slogans and held placards. Nearly 30 organizations were represented in the two-hour demonstration held yesterday afternoon. “No justice for Hindus in India,” “Hindu saints in…