bondamanjak.com [HPI note: Renowned Martiniquan scholar Paul-Henri Ramin, known for his bilingual Tamil / French books and a recording of sacred Tamil Hindu chants, died on Friday 17 April 2009 in Paris at 39 years of age. He was well known and loved in Reunion as well as in the French Caribbean islands. The following is drawn from a eulogy…
www.hindu.com THRISSUR, KERALA, INDIA, May 3, 2009: The famous Thrissur Pooram festival, dedicated to Lord Shiva, started on Sunday with elephant processions from eight nearby temples arriving before the Vadakkunathan shrine from early morning. Of late, Thrissur Pooram, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has been attracting foreign visitors in large numbers, as the event has been listed as a major attraction…
www.france24.com TRUNYAN, INDONESIA, April 26, 2009: The small population of Trunyan island claims to be descendants of the original Balinese, or Bali Aga. They follow a form of Hinduism that pre-dates the influence of the powerful Majapahit empire that ruled neighboring Java for 200 years from the late 13th century. Although Bali has developed rapidly as a tourist destination, the…
www.google.com TOKYO, JAPAN, May 2, 2009: Google never expected repercussions from adding historical maps of Japan to the online Google Earth collection last year–but because the maps show the locations of former low-caste communities, Google is now facing inquiries from the Justice Ministry and angry accusations of prejudice. During Japan’s feudal era, a strict caste system was in place. The…
www.hinduismtoday.com In silence, we can know ourselves. In silence, we observe better. A reacting mind is noisy. In silence, we come upon right action. A noisy mind leads to distorted action. In silence, we understand others. Otherwise we are in our own world. When we are silent, we hear God. Anonymous
HPI PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, April 26, 2009: Trinidad and Tobago celebrated an unusual puja last Sunday. The “Balka or Volcano Puja” takes place annually at the Columbia Estate on the southwestern peninsula, on the site of an existing volcano. It is ritualistically observed in the month of April. Unconfirmed reports state that this Puja has been taking place for…
www.disclose.tv INDIA, May 3, 2009: The video at “Source” above summarizes information gained from high-resolution satellite images and recent archeological discoveries corroborating historical statements in the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata and casting further doubt on the “Aryan invasion” theory. The course of the ancient Saraswati River can now be seen to extend from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea.…
www.nytimes.com NEW YORK, USA, April 28, 2009: A new ten-year study of over 500,000 Americans–men and women aged 50 to 71–has provided the best evidence yet that eating large amounts of red meat damages our health and shortens our lives. The results of the study, which was directed by Rashmi Sinha, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute, were…
www.hinduismtoday.com The cultured give happiness wherever they go. The uncultured, whenever they go. Swami Chinmayananda (1917-1993), Vedantist writer, lecturer and Hindu renaissance founder of Chinmaya Mission International
www.hindu.com KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 23, 2009: Just days after an ethnic Indian Hindu woman challenged her estranged husband’s move to change their kids’ religion to Islam, Malaysia has banned conversion of children without both parents’ consent. Under the new decision, such children must now be raised in the religion that both parents followed at the time of marriage. Also,…