Source: HPI MADURAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, April 1, 2010: Meenakshiji, the temple elephant at the ancient Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai, has learned to give change to devotees for the traditional tap on the head blessing. When offered a hundred rupee note, for example, the pachyderm carefully picks up 95 rupees in change from a nearby pile and returns it to…
Source: HPI LONDON, UK, April 1, 2010: We live in green times. It does not matter if you are a climate change skeptic or a die-hard ecologist: being green is good for business, health is the word of the day, and even fast food chains have taken notice. Recently, major fast-food conglomerates began large scale operations to compost their organic…
Source: www.nmsr.org AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 1, 2010: Even as series of conservative changes to educational standards by the Texas Board of Education sparked controversy across the nation, with changes such as the removal of Thomas Jefferson from parts of the curriculum, new changes promise wider repercussions. In a bold move, the Board has now announced that it is changing the…
Source: HPI CHIDAMBARAM, INDIA, April 1, 2010: After the hostile takeover of the famed Siva Temple at Chidambaram one year ago by the Government of Tamil Nadu, devotees report great improvements in the temple. They say 11 brand new hundis (collection boxes) have been installed at various locations throughout the temple. Previously, all donations were given directly to the priests.…
Source: HPI LONDON, UK, April 1, 2010: We live in green times. It does not matter if you are a climate change skeptic or a die-hard ecologist: being green is good for business, health is the word of the day, and even fast food chains have taken notice. Recently, major fast-food conglomerates began large scale operations to compost their organic…
Spoiler Alert! Not to worry, the following, along with all our posts on April 1, 2010, is tongue in cheek, an April Fools joke. Source: HPI KAPAA, HAWAII, USA, April 1, 2010: After several weeks of intense negotiations, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation announced today that it has acquired Hinduism Today Magazine, whose editorial staff produces Hindu Press International. In a…
Source: www.nmsr.org AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 1, 2010: Even as series of conservative changes to educational standards by the Texas Board of Education sparked controversy across the nation, with changes such as the removal of Thomas Jefferson from parts of the curriculum, new changes promise wider repercussions. In a bold move, the Board has now announced that it is changing the…
Source: www.kuenselonline.com DAMPHU, BHUTAN, March 19, 2010: The Hindu religious ceremony, Shri Mudh Bhagwat Puran, organised by Hindu dharma foundation of Bhutan, drew some 1,500 people to the Hindu-Buddhist temple in Damphu. The six-day ceremony will promote and preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage and pray for peace, prosperity and the well being of the country, its king and people.…
Source: newsweek.washingtonpost.com USA, March 17, 2010: [HPI note: There has been an ongoing debate in the Hindu community about Wendy Doniger’s book “The Hindus: an Alternative History.” this piece from Aseem Shukla summarizes the issue well.] Historian Wendy Doniger, professor of the History of Religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School, finds herself in the midst of a history…
Source: www.hinduismtoday.com Not yet settled in a permanent home, the soul takes temporary shelter in a body. Tirukural, Verse 340