Source CHENNAI, INDIA, February 27, 2016 (Deccan Chronicle): The small temple town of Kumbakonam in the heart of the Cauvery delta must be now taking a deep breath of relief after having peacefully hosted a spectacular Mahamaham-2016, South’s own Kumbh that is once-in-a-12-year-wonder, a place revered in traditional narratives as Bhaskara Kshetram (Sun God’s abode). As the Theerthavari Utsav unfolded…
Source Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the world with wool to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.— Sri Ramana Maharishi (1879-1950), South Indian mystic
Source DENPASAR, BALI, February 26, 2016 (Coconuts): Every year, all of Bali, including the airport, shuts down for Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu New Year and “Day of Silence.” Traveling is among four different things prohibited during the special holiday, along with no working, no entertainment or pleasure, and no use of bright lights. But safety is of course still a…
Source KOCHI, INDIA, February 17, 2016 (Daily Indian Herald): K.P. Yohannan, the self-proclaimed metropolitan of Believers’ Church, and the moving force behind a number of charity firms registered in the US, including Gospel for Asia, has landed in a legal battle in America on the charge that the money being raised by his organisations from the US citizens for charity…
Source Enquire: ‘Who am I?’ and you will find the answer. Look at a tree: from one seed arises a huge tree; from it comes numerous seeds, each one of which in its turn grows into a tree. No two fruits are alike. Yet it is one life that throbs in every particle of the tree. So, it is the…
Source INDIA, February 26, 2016 (The Hindu): Temple and monastery elephants lined up for special pujas marking the end of the 48-day-long state-sponsored rejuvenation camp at Thekkampatti on the banks of river Bhavani in Mettuppalayam on Tuesday. 31 temple and mutt elephants took part in the State-sponsored camp. At the camp, the elephants were given nutritious diet as per the…
Source All this universe is in the glory of God, of Siva, the God of love. The heads and faces of men are His own, and He is in the hearts of all.— Krishna Yajur Veda, Svetasvatara Upanishad 3.11
Source CALIFORNIA, USA, February 26, 2016 (press release, by Kalyan Viswanathan): The UCI School of Humanities’ Ad hoc Committee and the Humanities Executive Committee have acted hastily to reject the gifts from Dharma Civilization Foundation without any consultation with the donors. In part they have cited procedural issues; in part they have openly questioned the legitimacy of the Foundation. Whatever…
Source AGRA, INDIA , February 26, 2016 (Times of India): The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun excavation work at the 2,000-year-old Kushan-era pond which was discovered by an NGO a few years back in Vrindavan. The water body known as Ram Taal is located in Vrindavan’s Sunrakh village. Earlier in January, ASI had written a letter to the…
Source PAKISTAN, February 25, 2016 (DNA, India): An ancient Hindu temple in this northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar is being demolished secretly in the name of repair with a commercial plaza set to come up on its land. They said the process started some 10 days ago and is going on without any hindrance. “There is no action from any…