Source TEMPE, ARIZONA., October 4, 2017 (The State Press by Ranjani Venkatakrishnan): The little red dot you see Hindu women wear is meant to control the concentration of energy at the chakra point in the center of our forehead. To me, it was part of my identity. Back in my Texas elementary school days, it also made me a target.…
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 MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, October 5, 2017 (by Chennabasaveshwar, Oneindia):Under Swachhta Hi Seva (cleanliness is service) program, the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai has been ranked the cleanest iconic place in the country. The historic place has topped the Taj Mahal, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the Golden Temple, Tirupathi temple and Sri Vaishno Devi temple to grab the top…
Source VIRGIN ISLANDS, September 29, 2017 (Little India): No Indians were injured or killed in the two Category 5 hurricanes that devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands this month, but several have lost their homes and virtually the entire island is crippled without power. The 133-square-mile island was walloped by Hurricane Irma on Sept 7 and two weeks later by Hurricane…
Source Stop all your attachments to false values. In an ever-changing world there is nothing worthwhile for us to desire or weep for. Joys and sorrows are bound to come in human life; they are just two sides of the same coin.— Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1992), founder of the Chinmaya Mission
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…