Source MADURAI, INDIA, October 3, 2017 (The Hindu): Twelve years ago, 12 workers and two supervisors in charge of the upkeep of the world-famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai came together with the aim of figuring out ways to ensure that the sprawling premises is kept spick and span at all times. It could well be said that their efforts…
Source Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful Earth. They have filled the Earth with violence, drenched it often with human blood, destroyed civilizations and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.— Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), disciple of Sri…
Source INDIA, September 24, 2017 (The Hindu): A limestone plaque carved with Mahishamardhini image, which goes back to the second century CE, was reported from Veerapuram, a village submerged under the waters of the Srisailam reservoir in Kurnool district, signifying the presence of Durga Mahishasuramardhini cult during that period, according to E. Sivanagi Reddy, Chief Executive Officer of the Cultural…
Source FLORIDA, USA, September 26, 2017 (editorial by Hari Venkatachalam, Auburn Seminary): Hindus have been called upon since time immemorial to live harmoniously with the terrifying forces of Mother Nature, but over the years this message has been lost in layers of religious ritualism and modern consumerism. Garbage is regularly dropped absent-mindedly by pilgrims on their way to their prayers.…
Source For the Self, all that is seen is but mirage; it lasts but for a moment. Whatever is seen, we know it is not the real “I.” Who could call real this personal self that changes every moment?— Adi Shankara, 9th century Indian philosopher and saint
Source HAMBURG, GERMANY, September 26, 2017 (Deutschlandfunk, translated from German): The small Jyoti Maiyya Temple in the Stellingen district of Hamburg is well visited during these high holy days. The insignificant former office building is decorated with garlands. More than 200 people participate in ceremonies lasting more than one hour. Jyoti Maiyya is one of three Hindu temples in the…
Source SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, September 30, 2017 (PTI): Authorities in California have suggested corrections to the proposed school textbooks in the state after Indian-Americans raised serious concern over the negative portrayal of Hinduism and India, according to a US-based Hindu group. The Indian-American community has been battling to remove several inaccuracies and myths about Hinduism from the textbooks. The State of…
Source I believe that the civilization India evolved is not to be beaten in the world. Nothing can equal the seeds sown by our ancestors. Rome went, Greece shared the same fate; the might of the Pharaohs was broken; Japan has become Westernized; of China nothing can be said; but India is still, somehow or other, sound at the foundation.—…
Source INDIA, September 29, 2017 (DRPSECT): Indian Society for Indic Studies, Vadodara, will hold its 2nd International conference in Delhi, India from 20th February until 22nd February, 2018. Tentative venue will be in Delhi. The main theme of the conference is “Applied Ancient Wisdom For Transformational Leadership”. The goal of this International conference is to bring out the applied form…
Source NEW YORK, NEW YORK, September 28, 2017 (Associated Press): The holiday of Diwali is starting to light up mainstream America. Diwali, a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others in India and other countries, has long been observed in immigrant communities around the U.S. But now public celebrations of the holiday are starting to pop up…