A New Issue of Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2011

KAUAI, HI, March 5, 2011: The Apri/May/June edition of Hinduism’s flagship spiritual magazine, Hinduism Today, has been released in digital form and is now available for free on your desktop. The issue takes you to South America, Texas, Vermont, Nepal, Northeast India and more. Hold on to the adventure. But first, our 16-page Insight Section, called ‘The Sacred Earth.’ It’s…

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A Special Inspiration for Mahasivaratri: Nirvikalpa Samadhi

“The inmost center of consciousness–located only after the actinic forces dissolve concepts of form and even consciousness being conscious of itself–is found to be within the center of an energy-spinning force field. This center–intense in its existence, consciousness only on the perimeter of the inside hub of this energy field–vitalizes all externalized form. Losing consciousness into the center of this…

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Shivaratri in Mauritius

PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, March 2, 2011: Once a year thousands of devout souls visit the Ganga Talao (pond), one of the holiest sites on the island, situated at Grande Bassin in the south, offer their prayers to Lord Shiva and bring back jal (water) on Sivaratri. People usually start these preparations more than a month in advance. Before they set…

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India Celebrates Mahashivaratri With Fasting and Prayers

INDIA, March 2, 2011: Millions of Hindu devotees across the country and the world celebrated Mahashivratri with ritual bathing, fasting and prayers. People thronged temples in thousands during the day, with many waiting in long queues, to offer prayers and pour milk on the Shivalingams representing Lord Shiva. ‘Mahashivratri is celebrated through the night with chanting and prayers. I got…

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Mahasivaratri Is Celebrated Across the Universe

KAUAI, HI, U.S., MArch 2, 2011: Mahasivaratri is the most important festival dedicated to Lord Siva. This holy day is observed by millions of Hindus all over the world. It is one of Hinduism’s most esoteric holy days, when yoga practices, mantras and meditation take the devotee closer to God’s essence within the core of himself. Hindus typically fast, maintain…

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Daily Inspiration

As a dream leads only to waking up, television leads only to turning it off.    Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, in his book, Living with Siva Source

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Climate Change Takes Toll On Lodgepole Pines

NEW YORK, February 28, 2011: Rising temperatures, drought and the spread of destructive insect pests will shrink the North American range of the lodgepole pine nearly 10 percent in the next 10 years, a new study finds. Observed ecosystem changes date back to 1980. The study was conducted by forestry researchers at Oregon State University and the Department of Forest…

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Religion, Laws and Sexuality

USA, October, 2010 (by Ramdas Lamb): In the August, 2010 ruling which overturned California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, a witness asserted, ‘Religion is the chief obstacle for gay and lesbian political progress.’ Why does religion play such a central role in debates about homosexuality? The first question that should to be addressed is ‘What functions do sex and sexuality…

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Honoring Tagore with the Sanskriti Express

INDIA, February 25, 2011: The Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee has said that ‘Sanskriti Express’, a special exhibition train to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, is set to go on a cultural exchange program to Bangladesh on an invitation by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The Sanskriti Express launched in May 2010 is showcasing artistic works,…

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Russian Hermit To Be Expelled After 15 Years In India

INDIA, February 27, 2011: Indian authorities plan to expel Russian Kirill Pomerantsev from the country. Pomerantsev has spent 15 years in India without a visa or any identity papers. Pomertantsev’s story is unique not only because he has been living illegally in India without identity papers for 15 years, but because those 15 years have been spent as a cave-dwelling…

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