Source TIRUPATI, INDIA March 26, 2012 (India Times): It’s an arduous 21-hour wait in the queue for a darshan of God which lasts no more than a fraction of a second. Even as the scorching sun beats down on them, pilgrims patiently await their turn for a darshan of Lord Venkateswara at the hill shrine of Tirumala. As reward for…
Source Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.— Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society
Source [HPI note: Indian immigrants who wonder if they should encourage their children to learn their parent’s native language could find interesting points in this article.] NEW YORK, U.S. MARCH 18, 2012 (NY Times): Speaking two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. But in recent years, scientists have begun to show that…
Source NEW YORK, April 4, 2012 (Courthouse News): – Federal prosecutors have filed suit to help Cambodia reclaim a 10th century sandstone statue from the Sotheby’s auction house. The Duryodhana was stolen from the Prasat Chen temple at Koh Ker in Cambodia as war raged in the neighboring Vietnam and the Khmer Rouge took power in 1975, according to the…
Source NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 2, 2012 (HindustanTimes): Taking a small step to prevent the Yamuna from getting more polluted, volunteers of a non government organisation stopped people from throwing puja items into the river on Sunday. According to Gopi Dutt Aakash, founder member and president of Youth Fraternity Foundation (YFF), an NGO working to save the Yamuna from pollution,…
Source NEW YORK, U.S., April 2, 2012 (Fox NY): The New York Department of Taxation and Finance decided that yoga studios fall into a category of businesses — specifically weight control or health salons — that must pay the city’s levy, officials said. The state — which collects the city’s sales tax — already began auditing yoga studios, presenting them…
Source Only the guru is father, mother and brother. He is also friend, well-wisher and the only wealth. Thus everything should be surrendered to him. The disciple, fully surrendered to the guru, sees him as God, and then becomes God himself.— Chandra Jnana Agama, 2.68
Source PARIS, FRANCE, April 3, 2012 (indeaparis): Sadhus–Holy Men of Hinduism by photographer Olivier Remualdo was on exhibit at the Espace Pierre Cardin from March 26 to April 3, 2012. Sadhus, Holy Men of Hinduism was awarded the Prix Lucien Clergue in 2011. Olivier Remualdo is a self-taught photographer originally from Nice. He has conducted many exhibitions on Indian culture…
Source MINNESOTA, U.S., March 7, 2012 (StarTribune by Anant Rambachan): In November, Minnesotans will approve or reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Many belonging to long-established religions in Minnesota have joined the debate over this matter. Jews and Christians, liberal and conservative, have expressed positions. Our state is home also to significant numbers of people of…
Source ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, March 30, 2012 (ibnlive): Pakistani government is trying to assuage fears, saying it is committed to protecting shrines belonging to minorities, Minister-in-charge for National Harmony Paul Bhatti said on Sunday, following a protest by Hindus over illegal occupation of a temple in Punjab. More than 30 Hindus from Zafarwal in Narowal district protested in front of the…