info@hindusangam.org.my PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, July 1, 2007: The Malaysia Hindu Sangam held its 30th Annual General Meeting at the Plantation House, Petaling Jaya, on July 1, 2007. The meeting was officially opened by Y.B. Dato Seri (Dr.) S. Samy Vellu, the Minister of Works and the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, in his capacity as Patron of the Malaysia…
specials.rediff.com VARANASI, INDIA, July 1, 2007: (HPI note: This is a much-better-than-usual article on Varanasi from the tourist’s point of view.) There are certain things that are a must do in life. Even if it means pulling out of bed at 4 in the morning to make it to the water’s edge in one of India’s most chaotic cities. But…
www.healthsystem.virginia.edu VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES, July 4, 2007: The University of Virginia has created a chaplaincy services and pastoral education program in order to train people to interact with patients from many different religious backgrounds. They offer training in Buddhism, Protestant and Catholic Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Hinduism’s belief in a One Supreme Reality, how Hindus look at illness and…
swsurya@btconnect.com SOUTH WALES, UK, July 5, 2007: (The following was received from Swami Suryananda of Skanda Vale.) Guru Sri Subramanium was born in Sri Lanka to aristocratic parents. His father was the highest-ranking medical officer in Sri Lanka, whilst his mother, of South Indian descent, was a renowned seer, possessing great spiritual power. It was in this atmosphere of science…
www.hindu.com THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU, July 1, 2007: The famed tenth century Brihadeswara Temple that is on UNESCO list of monuments has become a hub of activity initiated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials. As a result of the renovations on the ceiling on the northern side of the temple, twenty Siva Lingams were temporarily removed in ceremony by…
www.dailyindia.com PALIGANJ, INDIA, June 30, 2007: A low-caste Hindu has been appointed priest of the Ram-Janki Devi temple at Paliganj, 60 kilometers from Patna. Janardan Manjhi, the newly appointed priest of the temple, was earlier serving in a Dalit temple. Traditionally, priesthood is restricted only to brahmins. But the temple authorities, by law, have broken the tradition and allowed Manjhi,…
www.skandavale.org CARMARTHEN, WALES, UK, July 3, 2007: The founder and spiritual head of The Community of the Many Names of God, Guru Sri Subramanium, passed from his physical body on July 3, 2007, at 1.15 pm. He had been cared for in The Hospice at Skanda Vale for the last six months by the members of The Community. His body…
info@bapscanada.org TORONTO, CANADA, July 4, 2007: The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Toronto, Canada, will celebrate their grand opening July 15 – July 27. The temple will be Canada’s first traditional hand-carved stone and marble mandir. Using 6,000 tons of marble and stone, 1,500 craftsmen worked over three years to assemble the temple to last 1,000 years. Sunday, July 21,…
www.articulateindia.com UNITED STATES, July 1, 2007: Articulate brings to the US Panchavaktram, a dance feature that’s both fiery and extraordinary. This production is made further special by five visually challenged dancers performing as part of a 12-member ensemble. On a single platform and in a evening presentation spectators see different dance forms of India beautifully strung together by Indian philosopy…
news.bbc.co.uk KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 3, 2007: A 10-year-old girl who is worshipped as a living Goddess in Nepal has been stripped of her title for defying tradition and visiting the U.S. Sajani Shakya was one of the three most-revered Kumaris, who are honored by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Chosen after undergoing tests at the age of two, she had been…