Opinion
In My Opinion: A Saint’s Inspiration
How Arunagirinathar bridged suffering and Realization Arunagirinathar, the celebrated 15th-century Tamil saint, is best …
Topic
Opinion
127 articles
Spiritual Life
In My Opinion: What India Taught Me
A journey from ritual to heartfelt devotion, where bhakti becomes an everyday connection By Asha Bahroos Growing up in n…
By Young Writers
In My Opinion: One Truth, Many Forms
She who destroys darkness also nurtures light—both exist within Kali’s sacred form By Devansh Agarwal Kali, whose name c…
By Young Writers
In My Opinion: Inner Balance, Outer Calm
Applying Hindu Wisdom to Our Oh-So-ManyModern Teenage Challenges By Aran Malhotra Who am i? why am I this way? The…
Opinion
In My Opinion
The Value of Hindu Art Forms How Bharatanatyam instills discipline,devotion and connection to our traditions By Oviaa Ma…
Opinion
Digital Tools for a Spiritual Life
How the Internet’s spiritual resources offer me support in my religious life and practices By Kumudha Venkatesan &…
Opinion
Growing Up in My Religion
How my grandparents’ traditions ignited my curiosity and a lifetime of religious practice By Raam Kumar Rajentharan &nbs…
Opinion
A Hindu–Sort of…
Why some people just can’t bring themselves to say they’re Hindus By Fred Stella In the west, it is entirely […]
Opinion
Can We Do Last Rites Right?
The Karumakiriyai rituals should be done in a manner that safeguards the environment By Ravindran Raman Kutty Humans hav…
Opinion
What Is Dirt Really Worth?
The regenerative agriculture of ancient India focused for good reason on the health of the soil By Dr. Appachanda Thimma…
By Young Writers
Navigating Life in the US After India
The challenge of leaving the close-knit community and traditions of India I grew up in for the very different culture [&…
Opinion
A Dharmic Conclusion to Life
What I learned from my father’s gracious end to life through prayopavesha, fasting to death By Sivaram Krishnan&nb…
Opinion
Inter-Hindu Marriage Impact
Couples merging very different Hindu heritages are redefining the religion in America By Murali Balaji When my wife and …
Opinion
Why I Hold to Hindu Values
Our religion’s inherent tolerance and grasp of truth are keys to a peaceful world By Shreya Mahasenan Hinduism is known …
Opinion
Traveling with My Traditions
Embracing my Indian roots in the West and taking them with me as I explore the world By Ruchi Patel […]
Opinion
A Generation on the Mend
Indians who grew up after independence have not processed colonialism’s trauma By Murali Balaji In 2004 i was dispatched…
By Young Writers
Foundations for a Good Life
How my religion shaped me since I was young, and how it brings peace of mind to others By Ishwar […]
Opinion
My Path to Hinduism
I didn’t wake up one morning and decide; it was a conscious, but time-consuming process By Sean Bradrick My spirit…
By Young Writers
Awake with Carnatic Music
Learning classical tunes with soulful gurus in person taught me what bhakti really means By Surya Ambatipudi The first t…
Opinion
The World is One Family
An excerpt from a recent address to the Parliament of World Religions By Dr. Karan Singh I turned 90 in […]
Opinion
Mauritius Youth Reflect on Hinduism
Meet the new generations charged with maintaining and enriching their religious identity in a multicultural island natio…
Opinion
Instilling Hindu Values
Hindu parents should teach their children to be both knowledgeable and proud of their religion By Mansa Devaki I was for…
By Young Writers
Confronting Gender Stereotypes
Are they driven by religious beliefs, custom or societal forces? By Shaina Grover, California Throughout history, the ro…
Opinion
The Day Robertson Vilified Hinduism
Our 1995 story on the recently retired evangelist recounts how he labeled Hinduism as “demonic” and advocated keeping Hi…
Opinion
Let Us Be Hindus, Again
Let’s define our religion by the personal experiences we cull from our spiritual pursuits By Amar Shah In December …
By Young Writers
Starting a Hindu Club on Campus
It’s not necessary for devout Hindus to tolerate the secularized activities of “South Asian” college organizations—here’…
Opinion
The Changing Face of Dharma in America
Our reporter asks Hindus throughout the United States to comment on important issues we confront in the country today&nb…
Opinion
A Step Beyond SBNR
A “Spiritual But Not Religious” life is not thefinal remedy for our inner aspirations By Chetana Wilson I had alway…
Opinion
A Family’s Quest For Spirituality
Who knew our weekly Zoom discussions on Bhagavad Gita would be so much fun? By Ram S. Gupta Ours is […]
Opinion
“What’s Your Real Name?”
Reflections on the cultural, religious and social importance found within our moniker By Keshav Fulbrook I was 23 when i…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Prisoners Chanting Mantras
Recounting the unexpectedly positive impact of simple Hindu chants with women inmates BY SWAMINI VISHWAPRATIBHA MA Hindu…
By Young Writers
So You Call Yourself a “Woke” Hindu?
A university undergraduate describes the different ways she’s found her fellow students of Indian origin sort out their …
Opinion
Why I Became a Dharma Ambassador
Just being raised in India wasn’t much help when it came to explaining Hindu beliefs and ways to non-Hindus—or to [&hell…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Vedanta and Covid-19
We cannot control the crisis that grips the planet, but we can control how we respond to it BY VINI […]
Opinion
A Young Hindu Responds to Hindu Parents
Reflections on how parents in Western countries can pass down dharma to their children and future generations By Keshav …
Opinion
In My Opinion: Reincarnated in the West
BY ANKUR PATEL Growing up hindu in America, Sanatana Dharma was always part of my identity, but never something our [&he…
Opinion
Minister’s Message: On the Importance of Spirituality
Understanding the self and understanding our social and spiritual obligations are the keys to success both in the tempor…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Ancient Philosophy, Modern Mind
Exploring the important difference between reflective wisdom and today’s endless stream of information By Shivali Bhamme…
Opinion
In My Opinion: The Goddess in Your Pocket
A Hindu view of wealth, elevating our appreciation of abundance to the level of the Divine BY NAVIN JANI WHEN […]
Opinion
Opinion: Am I Spiritual? Am I Religious? Neither? Both?
A London doctor reflects on how her upbringing was about being religious but not spiritual, and how that changed for [&h…
Opinion
Opinion: Should Indian Education Be Secular?
Not when it results in a neglect of India’s historically important knowledge in math, astronomy, medicine, construction …
Magazine
Minister’s Message: Key Issues Facing Hindu Society Today
Sagely advice on the media, youth, family and how to remain a Hindu BY SWAMI PARAMATMANANDA SARASWATI During the 2019 [&…
Opinion
In My Opinion: India’s Historic 2019 Election
How the World’s Largest Democratic Election Changed the Future of Hinduism for Decades BY PANDIT VAMADEVA SHASTRI INDIA …
Opinion
In My Opinion: Rishikesh in the Kali Yuga
Yoga is being “sold out” as a commercial enterprise that is far from the original vision of the rishis BY [&…
Opinion
Let’s Talk about Christian Persecution
Missionaries charge Hindus with persecution; the reality is the opposite BY MARIA WIRTH LIES ARE OFTEN DISGUISED AS SURV…
Opinion
Do Hindus Have a Milk Problem?
On behalf of cows everywhere, an activist offers ways we can improve the care of these gentle creatures, and be [&hellip…
Opinion
In My Opinion: An Evolutionary Religion
Hinduism’s commitment to remain open and adaptable will long be one of its greatest strengths BY DR. HIRO BADLANI Hindui…
Opinion
Yoga: Beyond the Body
A reminder of the original application andpurpose of this ancient system of self-improvement By Anjani Gharpure What is …
Opinion
The Choice: Hindu or Non-Religious?
The Future of Hinduism in America’s Evolving Religious Landscape By Anant Rambachan The recent pew research center findi…
Opinion
Ambassadors for Hinduism
As Hindus, our ability to articulately explain our faith to others is of utmost importance in today’s world By Padma [&h…
Opinion
In My Opinion: From Darkness to Light
One woman’s story of her search for knowledge and understanding about her ancient faith By Puvaneswary Roberts Thai pusa…
Opinion
In My Opinion: India’s Gift To The World
IN MY OPINION INDIA’S GIFTS TO THE WORLD ______________________ A Protestant minister explains how India’s export of spi…
Opinion
Opinion: God Is No Longer Invited?
OPINION GOD IS NO LONGER INVITED? ______________________ When her most cherished religious dance is secularized, one wom…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Passing On Our Heritage
IN MY OPINION PASSING ON OUR HERITAGE ______________________ Following the example set by our forebearers, we can ensure…
Opinion
In My Opinion: The Earth is Our Temple
IN MY OPINION THE EARTH IS OUR TEMPLE ______________________ How Mother Bhumi saved my life and taught me many of [&hell…
Opinion
Opinion: How to Engage Young Hindus?
OPINION HOW TO ENGAGE YOUNG HINDUS? ______________________ Social activities held by youth groups can unite the youth an…
Opinion
Opinion: Exploring the Dynamics of Our Hindu Identity
OPINION EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS OF OUR HINDU IDENTITY ______________________ I grew up publicly ashamed of my religious b…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Unlocking the Past
IN MY OPINION UNLOCKING THE PAST ______________________ How Sanskrit reconnected me with my ancient and profound cultura…
Opinion
Opinion: Canada’s Hindu Crisis
OPINION CANADA’S HINDU CRISIS ______________________ Identifying the key challenges facing Sri Lankan Tamil youth in the…
Opinion
Opinion: Why Not Hindu India?
OPINION WHY NOT HINDU INDIA? ______________________ Germany, with its minority religions, still calls itself Christian. …
Opinion
In My Opinion: Initiation Through Touch
IN MY OPINION INITIATION THROUGH TOUCH ______________________ How a hug from Amma inspired years of research and powerfu…
Opinion
Opinion: My New Contract with Life
OPINION MY NEW CONTRACT WITH LIFE ______________________ A Greek attorney leaves her profession, discovers yoga and now …
Opinion
Opinion: How Can Hindus Unite?
OPINION HOW CAN HINDUS UNITE? ______________________ The common language of Hinduism must depart from the dominance of S…
Opinion
Opinion: The Amazing Impact of Indians on America
OPINION THE AMAZING IMPACT OF INDIANS ON AMERICA ______________________ The mayor of a prominent Houston suburb shares h…
Opinion
In My Opinion: How I Became a Hindu
I N M Y O P I N I O N HOW I BECAME A HINDU ______________________ My […]
Opinion
In My Opinion: Hindu AND American
I N M Y O P I N I O N HINDU AND AMERICAN ______________________ How unity in […]
Opinion
In My Opinion: Hinduism in College Courses
BY KIRTHI NARASIMHAN As a growing number of courses on Hinduism are showing up in universities across the US, professors…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Christian Affront on Diwali
BY VIJU SIDHWANI Ever since we were young we attended the annual Diwali mela at South Street Seaport. Each year [&hellip…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Steps of Faith
BY MEGHANA PISUPATI Three thousand five hundred fifty steps of gradual incline. Three to four hours of physical sacrific…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Call for Religious Education
BY J.S. RAJPUT Religiosity has been put on the back burner in India. The adherents of Hinduism are treated as […]
Opinion
In My Opinion: The Sacred Act of Eating
BY DEEPA IYER In my great grandmother’s house in Thanjavur, every meal represented an elaborate ritual. She washed…
Opinion
In My Opinion: The Need for Balance in Faith
A friend had brought me soup, and I trembled trying to finish it. Instead of playing Holi with my friends […]
Opinion
In My Opinion: Animals in Entertainment
BY RAVI GROVER Ahimsa is a Hindu ideal that calls for vegetarianism and being kind to all living beings. Unfortunately, …
Opinion
In My Opinion: The Case for Hindu Pluralism
BY ARVIND SHARMA I discovered the logic of Hindu pluralism, to begin with, not so much rationally as experientially. Thi…
Opinion
In My Opinion: Helping the Bhutanese Refugees
BY SREE N. SREENATH The Bhutanese immigrants are the first poor Hindus to have arrived in the United States as [……
Opinion
OPINION FORUM
A Pluralisim Solution Hinduisms view of religious coexistance holds the answer to the delima of religious conflict BY JA…
Opinion
Reconversion Made Right
By D.V. Gokhale Conversion to hinduism started in India as a social movement to bring ex-Hindus back into their native […
Opinion
Peace Amongst Us
By Phalgun Prativadi I am disappointed and saddened to observe many Hindus segregate from and quarrel with each other ov…
Opinion
United We Stand!
By Nirmal Laungani The destruction of the Buddhist statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan came as a rude shock to [&helli…
Opinion
Spiritual Initiation Requires Preparation
BY SWAMI BHUTESHANANDA Hindus who have a guru strive to receive spiritual initiation from him. In this talk, given in [&…
Opinion
Speaking of Siva
By Renuka Adiraju During my teens in the ’80s in South Carolina, I wanted to invite my “American” frie…
Opinion
Nepal’s Meateaters
By Deepa Bhat Last summer for two-and-a-half months I had an eye-opening experience in Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Bud…
Opinion
Curious Peers
By Praveen A. Jamunar As I board the bus to school I can hear the students making fun of me, […]
Opinion
Life, Love and Dance
By Bhadra Sinha I was four when I started my sojourn into this beautiful aspect of life. Dance was my […]
Opinion
I Love Vira Saivism
By Anupama Swami In July, 2000, I was one of the Comparative Religions Panel members of the Vira Saiva Samaj […]
Opinion
The Immigrant Blues
By Sivakamasundari Shanmugasundaram Saivism is an orthodox religion, conservative in its ways and yet pliant and underst…
Opinion
Nonviolent Living
By Janki Khatau When asked to give a speech on the topic of “Strength and Ahimsa” at a Hindu Student [&helli…
Opinion
My Ideal Education
I have found that many Hindu children sent to private Christian schools know far more about Christianity than Hinduism. …
Opinion
Children Come First
By Raj Kumar If you see or read about the lives of the world’s greatest leaders, poets, scientists, humanitarians …
Opinion
What’s In a Name?
By Mukund Venugopalan Venugopalan. Mukund Venugopalan.” It is not as dramatic as “Bond, James Bond,” b…
Opinion
Home, Sweet, Home
By Madhuri Shekar I was born in San Jose, California, and so was my brother, Niyantha, who is two years […]
Opinion
Childhood qualms no match for God’s presence
BY RUDITE J. EMIR I grew up in a Christian family, a Protestant one. Protestants tend to be relatively austere [……
Opinion
I Dressed for Success
By Shrikumar Poddar When I landed in New York in the spring of 1959 by boat from Mumbai via Southampton, […]
Opinion
A Life Changing Puja
By Stephen Huyler I had been to Padmapoda, a village in eastern India, a number of times previously to visit […]
Opinion
Whither Nepal?
By Hari Bansh Jha In the wake of the visit of Indian saint Mukunda Sharan to Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, some time […]
Opinion
Karma Was Fouled!
By Arvind Sharma Glenn Hoddle’s comments on karma, reincarnation and disability (Hinduism Today, May, 1999, page 2…
Opinion
High Culture First!
By Pandit Madan Lal Today we have huge cities with multi-storied buildings and dense populations. But in the ancient day…
Opinion
A Cure for Schools
BY ANIL SHRIVASTAVA “MUSAFIR” The recent Colorado killing of 13 high-school students by two deranged student…
Opinion
Baneful Conversions
BY CHRISTINA SHANKAR I recently became very concerned about what I perceived as Hinduism Today’s on-going negative…
Opinion
Delinquent Parents
BY ISHANI CHOWDHURY India’s unparalled beauty, its snow-capped Himalayan peaks and the unspoiled sandy beaches of …
Opinion
Seeing God’s Face
By Anand Saxena Hindus have been criticized and ridiculed by Jews, Christians and Muslims for worshiping statues, and fo…
Opinion
Mantras Massacred?
By Yasoda Eranky An estimated 1.2 million Indian immigrants currently live in the United States. Their children, althoug…
Opinion
Fearless Compassion
By Chandra Devi My Guru Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati taught me to serve in the name of Shiva and that […]
Opinion
US Teen Teaches Us the ABCD’s
By Janki Khatau ABCD. I’m sure many of you are probably wondering, as I used to wonder, what the first […]
Opinion
America is Ready for Our Hindu Gods
By Ram Swarup The chiselling and hand-carving of 4,000 stone pieces weighing 3.2 million pounds in South India and shipp…
Opinion
Can Astrologers Be Spiritual Mentors?
BY UMANANDA QUONG For professional astrologers who encounter daily the hopes, fears, desires and aspirations of often de…
Opinion
Will Tourism Trample Bali’s Hindu Heritage?
BY I MADE SURYASA Bali is a Hindu outpost in the world’s biggest Muslim country, Indonesia, with more than 200 [&h…
Opinion
Finding Peace In Mother Ganga’s Lap
BY BHAGAWATI I sit in silent joy, the cooling Ganga rushing across my toes. A young local ashram child whom […]
Opinion
Hinduism’s Future in The New South Africa
BY AJITH BRIDGRAJ The richness of Hindu culture first touched the shores of South Africa almost 140 years ago when [&hel…
Opinion
Dear Amma & Appa: It Was Not “Alright”
Anonymous What did we do wrong?” It is a question frequently asked by Hindu parents faced with a child who [&helli…
Opinion
How I Came To Be The “Lady in the Sari”
By Kavita Daswani Last year, I had to make a work related trip to the Italian city of Vicenza. There […]
Opinion
Sureness in Faith Will Surely Lead Us to God
BY SIVANANDINI DURAISWAMY A traveller sets out early one day on a long journey with the hope that it will […]
Opinion
Joint Family Life Is the Natural Human Way
BY ROHINI RAMANATHAN Her normally high yet stable blood pressure soared a bit, and the symptoms were not good. Her [&hel…
Opinion
Youths Need to Grasp The Value of Religion
BY VARSHA RAMOUTAR Religion can be defined as a belief in, reverence for, or worship of a deity or deities […]
Opinion
Buddhist and Hindu Dharmas Do Differ
BY THE HONORABLE YIHUA What are the differences and similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism? Both originated from the…
Opinion
Ayurveda: Choicest Health-Care Choice
BY DR. VASANT LAD Beginning in 1979, I traveled from the East to the West coast of the United States, […]
Opinion
Rescuing Our Vedic Pundits
BY DR. S . YEGNASUBRAMANIAN Now that the Ati Rudra Maha Yajna at the Sringeri Sadhana Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvani…
Opinion
Reincarnation’s Western Embodiment
By Rev. Kumari De Sachy From time immemorial and across the world’s continents and cultures, human beings have exp…
Opinion
Let Us Call Ourselves “Hindu Americans”
BY YASH PAL LAKRA According to the latest census estimates, there are about one million people of Indian origin living […
Opinion
Dispense with that Awful Word
BY DR ANANTANAND RAMBACHAN Among the many problems faced by Hindus is finding appropriate English terminology for Sanskr…
Opinion
Let Joint Families Forge a Better Future
BY BHARAT J. GAJJAR Right after the independence of India, in 1947, my father put four names outside our house. [&hellip…
Opinion
Elders: Our Blessing, Not our Burden
By Prabha Prabhakar Bhardwaj Nearly two decades ago I left India to live and work in Kenya, Africa. On my […]
Opinion
Saving Our Culture in Turbulent Times
By Thiru Satkunendran Born in beautiful Sri Lanka to Hindu parents, I was fortunate to live very close to the […]
Opinion
Our Future in a Fast Moving World
BY DR. S.M. PONNIAH I welcome this opportunity to “take my turn” and herald the advent of a new millennium […
Opinion
Media’s Madness in Sex and Violence
BY SHYAM KUMARI AGARWAL Does liberty mean the licence to debase oneself and in the process undo the social fabric? [&hel…
Opinion
It’s Easier to be Hindu in Ireland than India
BY JAY KESHAVAPPA SHANKAR It is easier for me to bring up my children to be Hindus in the West […]
Opinion
We Need the Vedas More Than Ever
By Dr. B.V. raman We have to recognize that all intelligible reality—space, time and matter—is an aspect of intelligent …