Hindu Religious Leaders and Western Scholars Advised to Find a Balance

SourceHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, Spring 2004: “Religion in the News” produced by Trinity College and the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life, has been publishing quarterly issues since the Summer of 1998. The spring 2004 edition features an article on “Hindus and Scholars – Don’t Mess with Ganesh” by Arvind Sharma, professor of Hinduism at McGill…

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First UK Hindu Temple Directory Ready

SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, July 9, 2004: The National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) will be launching the first-ever directory of Hindu temples in the UK on Saturday, July 17, 2004, at Shree Sanatan temple in Leicester. It took over three years to compile the information on 141 Hindu temples that serve about 600,000 Hindus in Britain. Most number of temples, 32…

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Dattatreya Akahra Ordains New Leader

Hindu Press InternationalUJJAIN, INDIA, July 11, 2004: Paramanand Puriji Mahara assumes the ancient seat of the Pir of Dattatreya Akhara, making him head of one of the major monastic orders of India, in Ujjain between 10 am and noon on July 12.

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RSS Absolved of Blame Regarding Mosque Demolition

SourceINDIA, June 3, 2004: After 12 long years of deliberation, the Justice P. K. Bahri tribunal has absolved the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (the RSS) from any involvement in the demolition of the mosque, Babri masjid, on December 6, 1992. Filing a written submission to the Liberham Commission the RSS states, “An amicable settlement of the Ram Janambhoomi would infuse new…

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Saivite Art Expressed by a Modern Artist of Chennai Origin

SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, June 28, 2004: Since his first debut in 1992 with an exhibition featuring Yogi Ramsurath Kumar, Srinivasa Ravikumar has continued producing religious art featuring other yogis, seers and sages. Born in Chennai, India into a Vaishnavite family, Ravikumar recently choose to express the spirit of Kashmiri Saivism as expounded by the great Kashmir Guru, Shaman Lakshmanajoo Raina. In…

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Malaysian Government Approves Screening of Passion of Christ, But Only For Christians

SourceKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, July 9, 2004: Mel Gibson’s controversial film The Passion of the Christ, which sparked unprecedented debate following its release early this year, has finally arrived on Malaysian shores, according to this report in The Star. It was learnt that the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) would be meeting with the local distributor of the film to work…

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Army Saves 1,600 Badrinath Pilgrims

SourceDEHRA DUN, July 8, 2004: All the 1,600 pilgrims stranded for the past two days in Badrinath area due to landslides triggered by a cloudburst have been evacuated SDM, Chamoli district, Sanjay Kumar Singh said on Thursday. Everyone, save 31 waiting for the road to clear to take back their vehicles, have come out of the disaster-hit Badrinath area and…

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US Hindu Temple Robbed

SourceSUMMIT STATION, PENNSYVANIA, July 8, 2004: A Hindu temple that is among the largest in North America has reported more than US$52,000 worth of jewels and ornamental items stolen, police said. The stolen items included two 8-carat round diamonds with a combined value of $40,000, state police at Schuylkill Haven said. The thefts at the 35,000-square-foot Haveli at Vraj near…

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Portland Catholic Church Declares Bankruptcy in Wake of Molestation Scandal

Religion News ServicePORTLAND, OREGON, July 9, 2004: Archbishop John Vlazny, head of the Archdiocese of Portland, announced Tuesday (July 6) that the archdiocese would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because it could not afford to pay massive settlements in sex abuse-related lawsuits, according to this report from Religion News Service. A diocese is the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop…

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South Indian Farmers Donate Vegetables For Temple Feedings

SourceERODE, TAMIL NADU, July 6, 2004: Farmers in Dharapuram are donating vegetables every day for the Annadhanam scheme, which provides free feedings at temples. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, P.C. Ramasamy, had appealed to the public to donate to the Annadhanam scheme. In Erode district, the scheme was recently introduced in Kadu Anjaneyar Temple, Dharapuram. It is the…

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