Source UNITED STATES, April 2001 (Vegetarian Journal): There are many issues surrounding the availability of vegetarian food in prison, and there is much variety in the way different prison systems have addressed these issues. While some prisoners are given limited rights to receive certain diets, including those prisoners with medical conditions and those of certain religious denominations, there are many…
Source BASSE-POINTE, MARTINIQUE, March 13, 2018 (France-Antilles, translated from French): Albert Allemele was one of the great vatialou (master of the sacred) of Martinique. The grandson of indentured workers from South India, Albert Allemele was a great connoisseur of Hindu ceremonies. Nearly a year after his death and according to his last wish, his ashes were scattered in the sacred…
Source INDONESIA, March 14, 2018 (Le Petit Journal, translated from French): On March 17, Indonesia will celebrate Nyepi, the day of silence. The day is a holiday throughout the country. This Hindu festival is celebrated in Bali especially, but also in Lombok and in several villages located between Malang and the Bromo volcano. This day of silence marks the beginning…
Source WASHINGTON DC, March 11, 2018 (The Hindu): In a new initiative by the Narendra Modi government, a band of Indian officials posted to three missions in the U.S. now promote Indian culture as part of diplomacy. Designated as a Yoga and Indian Culture Acharya, the three officials in Washington DC, New York and Chicago are experts in Sanskrit, yoga…
Source Adversity and prosperity never cease to exist. The adornment of great men’s minds is to remain unswervingly just under both.— Tirukkural 115
Source CHENNAI, INDIA, March 12, 2018 (The Hindu): Kapali Vaidhyanatha Gurukkal, an Agama expert and an archaka at the Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple is conducting a course for 50 priests archakas attached to other Saivaite temples. Based on a curriculum approved by the Department, he fits in astrology, Agamas, tales from the puranas, slokas used in various rituals, and rules pertaining…
Source Hindu Dharma was a great reconciler. It reconciled various viewpoints, various doctrines. It knew how to look at things from various angles and viewpoints. It knew no conflict between science and religion, between rationalism and spiritualism. It was so because it was not dogmatic in reason or religion.— Ram Swarup (1920-1998), distinguished spokesperson of Hindu spirituality and culture in…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, March 10, 2018 (Times of India): In a milestone verdict expanding the right to life to incorporate the right to die with dignity, the Supreme Court on Friday legalized passive euthanasia and approved a living will to provide terminally ill patients or those in persistent and incurable vegetative state a dignified exit by refusing medical treatment…
Source Everything changes, everything passes; things appearing, things disappearing. But when all is over–being and extinction both transcended–still, the basic emptiness and silence abide, and that is blissful peace.— Mystical song from a Hindu story
Source BALI, INDONESIA, March 9, 2018 (Indonesia Expat): The Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), the country’s leading authority on Hinduism, is appealing to authorities to require telecommunications providers to suspend home broadband and 4G internet services from 6am on March 17, which is the Balinese Hindu New Year and “Day of Silence,” known as Nyepi. The group is is calling…