SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, November 30, 2004: The current issue features the new Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Houston, Texas on the front cover. The insight section is for kids and parents and includes Hinduism from A to Z, plus precepts, practices and parenting guidelines. The main story is on Toronto’s large Hindus population. Other reports cover Nepalese women, dancer PT Narendran, Babeena…
Religion News ServiceUSA, November 29, 2004: A Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are divided over how the world was created — either through evolution or at the hand of God — but either way they appear skeptical that it happened exactly as described in the book of Genesis. The poll found that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution remains controversial among…
SourceCOLOMBO, SRI LANKA, November 29, 2004: The Ministry of Agricultural Marketing Development, Co-operative Development, Hindu Affairs and the Ministry of Assisting Education and Vocation Training and Planning to establish cultural centers in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya Pothuvil and Colombo. The total estimated cost for the program is US$400,000. $133,000 has been allocated for this project in 2004. Work expected to…
SourceRAIPUR, INDIA, November 26, 2004: The naxalites (a violent political movement of Marxist/Maoist philosophy) have asked the tribals of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh not to preach or practice any religion or be engaged in any worship saying that would disturb the centuries-old culture and tradition of the tribals. “Tribals are not Hindus. They have their own religion and practising any…
ReutersAMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, November 22, 2004: Research conducted by scientists from Maastricht University and published recently in the European Respiratory Journal indicates that burning candles and incense in churches can release dangerous levels of potentially carcinogenic particles. Theo de Kok, author of the study, explains, “After a day of candle burning we found about 20 times as much as by a…
SourceTIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA November 29, 2004: The practice of dowry, prevalent among Hindus, is now making its presence in the Christian community as well. In fact, Kerala continues to be one of the epicenters of dowry practice in the country. In the matter of dowry and splurging for the wedding celebrations, it’s the middle class, which is bearing the brunt. “Personally,…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 24, 2004: The prosecution case against the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati took a huge beating on Wednesday as key accused Kadhiravan, who allegedly hired the contract killers to murder temple official A. Sankararaman, suddenly turned hostile before the magistrate at Kancheepuram and claimed that his confession was concocted by the police to implicate the seer. When the…
SourceKANCHIPURAM, INDIA, November 26, 2004: A website was created by devotees of Kanchi Mutt to bring better awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the arrest and interrogation of Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri. Jayendra Saraswati. The site contains recent court documents, media articles and interviews, as well as viewpoints of religious leaders, ministers, politicians, etc. They are also in the process…
SourceTIRUPARANKUNRAM, INDIA, November 26, 2004: About one hundred thousand devotees today offered worship when the “Karthigai Maha deepam” was lit atop the hill of the famous Sri Subramania swamy temple here this evening. The celebration is also known as Sivalaya Deepam, commemorating the appearance of Lord Siva as a pillar of light. Temple authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the…
SourceAHMEDABAD, INDIA, November 25, 2004: Here’s another Indian ritual that’s moving online. Nonresident Gujaratis who can’t make it to the funeral of a loved one back home will soon be able to watch the last rites on the Net. To be built in Vadodara, the high-tech crematorium, called the Moksha Dham, will be funded by the Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited…