Hindus Turn to Internet for Temple Prayers

Religion News ServiceLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, December 28, 2004: The online market for Hindu religious services is coming of age, with a plethora of Web sites now catering to the needs of the pious, offering them remote access to temples that have special significance on the Indian religious map. The Web sites offer devotees the chance to have a priest perform…

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Brother of Junior Shankaracharaya of Kanchi Arrested in Murder Case

Source KANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, December 30, 2004: The special investigation team probing the Sankararaman murder case today arrested Raghu, brother of the Junior Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Vijayendra Saraswati, on conspiracy charges. The Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram, K. Premkumar, confirmed the arrest. Mr. Raghu, who was asked to appear before the team this evening, was later told by…

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HPI Requests Sanskrit Help on Macintosh Platform

SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, December 30, 2004: We are looking for someone skilled in typing Sanskrit on a Macintosh platform who could help us with projects from time to time. They would need to use our Devanagari font. Projects tend to be relatively short. If you are interested, please contact “source.”

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Will Fear of the Flu Lead Namaste to Replace the Handshake?

SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., December 25, 2004: (HPI note: This article appeared in the Washington Post. ) The humble handshake — cornerstone of civilized behavior, ancient gesture of greeting among friends and strangers alike — is in trouble. Politicians are avoiding it. Church officials are worrying about it. Business people are wary of it. Shaking hands is slowly being transformed from a…

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Tsunami Relief Efforts: Updated List of Relief Organizations

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, December 29, 2004: With the help of input from HPI readers, we’ve assembled the following list of organizations in several countries who are involved in the tsunami relief efforts. They include both organizations collecting money for the relief effort and those actually on the ground in India and Sri Lanka doing the work. This is not a complete…

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Amritananda’s Ashram in Kerala Hit by Tsunami

SourceAMRITAPURI, KERALA, INDIA, December 26, 2004: This summary report was issued by the ashram of Mataji Amritananda, “Amma.” There is much more information at their website, “source.” Due to the earthquake in Jakartha, Indonesia tremours occurred in many places in India, and a tsunami was sent towards the Indian coast. Amritapuri has been affected, but no one there was hurt.…

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Tsunami Relief Efforts: How to Help

HPIKAUAI, HAWAII, December 29, 2004: With the help of input from HPI readers, we’ve assembled the following list of organizations in several countries who are involved in the tsunami relief efforts. They include both organizations collecting money for the relief effort and those actually on the ground in India and Sri Lanka doing the work. This is not a complete…

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RSS Deploys 1,000 Volunteers in Tamil Nadu

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, December 28, 2004: The RSS issued the following press release from “source”: The purpose of the press release is to appraise the public of the relief work organised by the RSS and to appeal for assistance in the form of medicines, clothing, blankets, sarees and more importantly donations for relief and rehabilitation includes housing, boats and fishing nets…

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Sixth Sense Apparently Saves Animals in Sri Lanka

SourceYALA NATIONAL PARK, SRI LANKA, December 29, 2004: Wildlife officials in Sri Lanka expressed surprise Wednesday that they found no evidence of large-scale animal deaths from the weekend’s massive tsunami — indicating that animals may have sensed the wave coming and fled to higher ground. An Associated Press photographer who flew over Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park in an air…

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