From busting stress to learning how to prosper South Africans are learning from the Bhagavad Gita, seen as the "handbook of life" by Hindus.
A series of workshops held at the Lenasia School of Music (LSM) was the second phase of a two-part programme held annually.
The first phase a fortnight earlier comprised recitals of the Bhagavad Gita - the battlefield homilies delivered by Krishna to Arjuna in the Mahabharata epic - in Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil and English.
"This is the fifth year that we are having the workshops. This year it is slightly different," LSM spokesman Manesh Naran said.
"We had three workshops running - Gita and Stress Control by Mukesh Bhavan, the head of the School of Philosophy in Lenasia; Gita and Prosperity by Anil Vallabh, head of the Faculty at the School; and Gita and the Family by Gunwathie Kunwar.
"The principle behind this is that the Gita is the handbook of life despite it being such a vast scripture and people feeling it is esoteric. But it really has so much relevance in today's life.
"It's no use studying the Gita when we are old but should do so now when we can study it and apply aspects of the Gita in our daily lives."
Said Kunwar: "It's the scripture that gives you freedom from all ills if you live the life that Krishna expounded to Arjuna in the Gita."
Naran said the interest of the youth in the workshops was very encouraging. "They are keen to learn about the application of the Gita in practical issues which surround them."
<b>VHP to Raise Awareness About Conversions</b>
Satyam Org Secretary VHP, Andhra Pradesh The Viswa Hindu Parishad will organise six Dharma Samsads in the country. These conferences of Dharmacharyas will be the held at various places in the coming months. The Southern statesâ Dharma samsad will be held at Tirupathi in the month of March 2006. At least a Thousand Dharmacharyas and vedic scholars will participate in each of the Dharma Samsads. The VHP is organising these conferences as part of its efforts to organise the people against social evils, terrorist activities and foreign inspired religious conversions. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad wants to draw the attention of the people to the fact that undue Christian influence has been increasing in the country ever since the U.P.A. Government came to power last year. The U.P.A. Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi is mainly responsible for this. Though there are less than three percent of the Christians in the population of the country, they have cornered more than ten percent of the important Governmental posts. There are five Christian Congress Chief Ministers. After the U.P.A. took over reigns of the union Government, the proselytisation programmes of the Christian missionaries have gathered more strength. The seventh day Adventists (SDA), an organisation which has been converting the peoples of various South Asian countries for the last Hundred years, has so far had a membership of 2,25,000 in India. But after the U.P.A. Government took over, its membership almost doubled. This organisation has been spreading communal disharmony and indulgi! ng in anti Hindu and anti national propaganda. A Canadian national named Ron Watts came to India first in 1999 posing as the president of the south Asia Division of the SDA. As he was involved in illegal conversion activities and other various anti Indian activities, the Government of the India expelled him from the Country in 2003. His main area of operation was spread over several districts in South India. But after the U.P.A. Government came to power this Ron Watts and his American wife Dorothy Watts came back to India. He Proclaimed that the membership of his organisation in India would reach 10,00,000 (Ten Lack) figure in near future. He also proclaimed that from Andhra Pradesh alone 5,00,000 would be converted into Christianity. The Ron Watts couple returned to India ostensibly for business purpose and indulged in large scale conversions in Kerala and Tamil Nadu with the implicit backing of the Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Again the District Magistrate of Pathanamthitta in kerala expelled him from the district on 16.02.2005. The Kerala High Court also confirmed that the action taken by the District Magistrate was correct. Ron Watts shifted his area of operation to Tamilnadu and continued his clandestine operations till the Madras High Court ordered the confiscation of the travel documents belonging to him and his wife. He absconded and met Smt. Sonia Gandhi at Delhi. Some News Papers published the Photographs of his meeting with Sonia Gandhi. Thus it is clearly evident Smt. Sonia Gandhi has been directly and indirectly helping foreign Christian missionaries in their anti Indian conversion activities. There were about 2500 Foreign Christian priests in India last year. But after the U.P.A. Government came to power their numbers rose to 4000. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad demands that all the Christian missionaries who are foreign nationals should be expelled from the country. Earlier this year, when one Binny Hun, an American Christian priest, organised a very big gathering at Banglore, the Karnataka Government took up the responsibility of making all arrangements to the meeting. The Karnataka Chief Minister Mr.Dharam Singh was also present in that purely religious meeting. More than Ten Thousand (10,000) police personnel were deployed at the Airport and around the venue of the gathering to provide security to Binny Hun. The Karnataka Government acted under the pressure of the Congress President in according this royal! treatment to the said Binny Hun. The V.H.P. demands that this kind of Governmental support to the conversion activities should be stopped. Even natural calamities like the recent Tsunami were made use of by the Christian missionaries for their conversion activities. The Union Government and the State Governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu Channeled most of their funds for the relief activities through some Christian missionaries there by providing them undue advantages. Several Hindu Charitable Organisations were even prevented from under taking relief operations in the Tsunami hit areas. Sadhvi Amruthanandamayi Ashram in Kerala is one such Hindu Organisation. Hundreds of Crores of Rupees of funds belonging to the temples and other Hindu Institutions are being spent on non Hindu Dharmik activities by various Governments, especially in South India. There are several examples such as misuse of the TTD funds in Andhra Pradesh, and the Guruvayur temple funds in Kerala by the respective state Governments. Each Muslim going on Huj pilgrimage is being provided with a financial assistance of rupees 25,000. These funds come mainly from the taxes paid by the Hindus. The VHP demands that this practice should be stopped. The Amarnath Yathrees and other Hindu pilgrims visiting various sacred places are not provided with any Governmental assistance either in cash or kind. Bharath has been a Nation of Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava for Thousands of years. But the successive Governments in Independent India have been discriminating against Hindus in their own land and pampering Muslims and Christians. These policies are creating communal disharmony in t! he country. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad demands that there should not be any special privileges for Muslims and Christians and all people of the country should be treated equally, irrespective of the religions they belonged to. The Constitutional provisions conferring special rights on Muslims and Christians should be abolished through proper constitutional amendments. There should not be any reservations based upon religion either in the Government service or in Education Institutions. The Government of Andhra Pradesh is only preparing the ground for another division of the country by announcing Five percent reservations to the Muslims. The VHP feels that the decision of the AP Government to grant reservations to Muslims is only a prelude to its ultimate goal of providing the Christians with communal reservations. The VHP strongly opposes these reservations based on religion. The VHP demands that the Parliament should enact a comprehensive Law banning religious conversions. The Temples and Hindu Dharmic places should be free from Government control. The VHP demands that the temples in AP should be handed over to Hindu devotees and Dharmacharyas. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Age old mantra: Vedic ed schools</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->UJJAIN: Like a blast from the past, a rhythmic chanting of Vedic mantras greets anybody entering the Navi Mandal Veda Vidya Mandir in the heart of Ujjain.
Inside, 80 boys, between 8 and 18, in white dhoti and kurta with tricolour angavastrams recite the shlokas in unison.
Their heads are shaved, save for a tuft of hair tied in a knot at the back. There are no desks and chairs; pupils sit on the floor to study.
<b>In an age when children surf the Net and dream of careers in the Silicon Valley, these kids are preparing to become priests.</b>
In this ancient holy city, a three-hour drive from Bhopal, there are several schools where students are taught the Vedas so they may become priests in the temples or pundits of âdharmashastraâ...........
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Sitting in India these reporters have no clue about empty Silicon Valley office buildings.
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Oct 9 2003, 01:21 AM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Oct 9 2003, 01:21 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Per Mudy's advice in the 'Indian Movies' thread - will be donating my Hindi movies with English subtitles to local library. <!--emo&:guitar--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/guitar.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='guitar.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm all for +ve psy ops.
I'd like others to contribute their experience/ideas in this area. Hopefully this thread will be kind of an 'action' thread than just plain old <!--emo&:argue--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /><!--endemo--> yak-yak thread.
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I am planning to bring books from India on Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upnishad, Panctantra for adults and Kid version (Amar Chitra Katha) and will try to donate to local library and Hindu Temple.
Malguri Days complete volume is excellent for Library.
I have donated couple of books to local library previously.
For library donation-
Indian Philosophy by Sarvepalli Radhakrishan and Charles A. Moore - excellent book
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Noble Idea. But how do you plan to make people want to read the books and watch the moves you put in the bibliotheque? You don't believe the spread of Indian culture is restricted due to lack of information about it do you?
why do people practice, yoga, meditation etc and say it is a Buddhist life style? Simply cause a new comer to accept Indian culture and for Indians to preserve their culture it should seem interesting, optimistic, futuristic, mystic and beautiful. If we are able to associate all those adjectives to India. Indian culture will become interesting for people to be curious about. And for that we don't have to Waite till India becomes a prosperous country like US, UK. remember Tibet and China have just as much poverty as India. They just happen to have their best foot first. E.g Martial arts for China.
So what is my objective solution? lets make India a hip of gold buried under a pile of Goo. West is fascinated by Atlantis. Could Harrapa and Mohangodaro be Atlantis? I would think so. Following are the similarities
Do Harrapa and Mohangodaro have <b>indications of bull worship</b> as indicated by Plato? Yes
Do Harrapa and Mohangodaro have <b>irrigation system</b> as indicated by Plato? Yes
Are Harrapa and Mohangodaro <b>older than 9000 BC </b>as indicated by Plato? May Be
Do Harrapa and Mohangodaro <b>get destroyed by flood</b> as indicated by Plato? Yes
If its new and hip people would want to know about it. If it is really good it will stand the test of time.
Feel free to contact me and we can figure out further
<!--QuoteBegin-Hyagriva+Dec 29 2003, 11:13 AM-->QUOTE(Hyagriva @ Dec 29 2003, 11:13 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hello everybody. This is my very first post. I start it with a pessimistic observation.
Indian culture is doomed to change... doomed to be destroyed. You can try all you can and arrest this doom for a while, but the end is imminent. Now, don't go on to the denial mode already - this is bound to happen inspite of howmuchever we wish it to be false.
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My friend what concerns you, is the destruction of superficial indications of Hindu culture. Temples, Art and Architecture are not Hindu culture, They are symbols of Hindu Culture of that time. Don't confuse history and 'old' with culture, knowledge is culture. Beliefs are culture. 500 years from now Hindu culture may still survive even with out the symbols of its past as long as its beliefs and virtues are maintained. The current conditions of the Symbols of Hindu culture is sad. And we should be able to preserve those symbols for our life time. But the truth is currently India is weak and we are divided. we could only do so much in the start. There are only very few devoted and sincere individuals like your self and few others on this forum who are genuinely willing to do something about out culture. Our numbers are small and reach limited. we must not waste our energy and be angry on those Indians who can but are not participating. We must come up with creative ideas of generating interests and awareness in capable but misguided Indians. feel free to contact me and we can discuss further.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But how do you plan to make people want to read the books and watch the moves you put in the bibliotheque? You don't believe the spread of Indian culture is restricted due to lack of information about it do you? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Putting books/videos in library is one thing and making someone read is different ball game altogether. Some of the richest nations on earth with most books, libraries have the lowest rankings when it comes to basic reading and writing skills.
To the other point, yes, the lack of information is certainly restricts spreading the word. India's contribution to the world in areas like Yoga, martial arts, Vastu shastra, Arthashastra, Kamasutra, Ayurveda etc.. long before invention of printing press and internet. These days with internet and easy access to information, the traditional barriers we used to see years ago are flattening (to use Tom Friedman's term), but we still have a long way to go.
Harrapa and Mohangodaro is (if I'm not mistaken) in Pakistan and this part of the problem.
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 7 2005, 08:50 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 7 2005, 08:50 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->To the other point, yes, the lack of information is certainly restricts spreading the word. India's contribution to the world in areas like Yoga, martial arts, Vastu shastra, Arthashastra, Kamasutra, Ayurveda etc..
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Incorrect. Not lack of information, but lack of 'sex uppeal' about anything Indian is the problem. We need to concentrate on making India look cool, positive and futuristic. People will dig up infos themselves. "Have enough pride and honour about ourselves and people will want to party with us"(in the word of Me)
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 7 2005, 08:50 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 7 2005, 08:50 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Harrapa and Mohangodaro is (if I'm not mistaken)Â in Pakistan and this part of the problem.
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But they are Past of Hindu clultures. Any way we can talk about underwater Dwarka or Mahabalipurum
The are multiple issues and I think we can address each one.
Information access:
Not every nook and corner on globe have information about Indic culture. Perfect example would be the lack of books in local library pertaining to Indian culture/heritage etc. This could be prevalanet in foreign countries, but I've seen the same in India too. This problem with lack of information is something that can be (relatively) easily addressed.
'Sex-Appeal':
Jay, you are right on this one. Though I'm not sure as to how one can market a culture as a product/brand laced with sex-appeal for our yuppies.
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 8 2005, 12:47 AM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 8 2005, 12:47 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->The are multiple issues and I think we can address each one.
Information access:
Not every nook and corner on globe have information about Indic culture. Perfect example would be the lack of books in local library pertaining to Indian culture/heritage etc. This could be prevalanet in foreign countries, but I've seen the same in India too. This problem with lack of information is something that can be (relatively) easily addressed.
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Who goes to the library that you care to impress Indian culture on? Kids? Timepass Oldies?
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Sep 8 2005, 12:47 AM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Sep 8 2005, 12:47 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->'Sex-Appeal':
Jay, you are right on this one. Though I'm not sure as to how one can market a culture as a product/brand laced with sex-appeal for our yuppies.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Who goes to the library that you care to impress Indian culture on?
Kids? Timepass Oldies?
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Why the libraries don't matter? I visit library - (very little town in US has one for that matter) and I see kids and "oldies" there very frequently.
And yeah why don't kids and oldies count? Or did you have anyone other than them in mind. If you do, I'm all open for ideas.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hip Hop
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Mind elaborating? I don't see how Harappa/Dwarka can be "Hip Hop"ed?
I am a teenager and I go to the library and one of the problems is lack of proper books on Indian history in the library, for example the diff volumes of Indian history written by Majumdar are not there at any library except one and even at that library there are only 2 volumes which we cannot borrow but can look at them in the library, the idea that libraries don't matter is not true, lots of people who are interested in Hindu history will go to libraries since online books with complete Hindu history are very few.
As you know one of the biggest problems today is that Indian journalists are not always proud of their own culture and roots and as result tend to have a very negative outlook on India, which in turn influences western correspondents posted in India. It is therefore very important that we train a new generation of Indian journalists. It is for this purpose that we have started a new school of journalism in Bangalore called the Sri Sri Center for Media studies. There, we teach the best of journalistic knowledge, both print and electronic, along with classes (which I take myself) on Indian history, the ideal of true journalism and a little bit coaching in pranayama and meditation these two ancient Indian sciences which impart a good and intuitive mind.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition both within India as well as Bangalore, and schools such as the Asian school of journalism, sponsored by the newspaper the Hindu and the BBC, which form journalists in the old secular/Marxist mould, have much more students and funds than we do. Now what we need is students - both from India as well as from the US - and this is where you can help. We see today that US correspondents based in India are often very hostile to our ideals. If you could send some of your children, whether they are first, second or third generation Americans, to our school, we would coach them and when they go back to the States they can enter mainstream newspapers and after acquired some experience, they could ask to be posted to India, having a natural advantage over White Americans, by being of an Indian origin and hopefully speaking Indian languages. In a few years time, the entire India coverage in the States could see a very important shift. At the moment we only offer a one year post graduation course, but eventually we will have a three years complete graduate course. Next session is end of September and we need 50 students. I must emphasize that a journalistic career is very rewarding not only in view that you get to travel a lot, meet interesting people, but also that it is one of the highest seva you can do for India, as journalists today are the most important people in the world - even the politicians are afraid of them ! It is time that all of you start thinking about other careers for your children than doctors or software engineers for being exported to the US and being lost to India forever!
For further information You can go on the Website: www.sscms.org/.
We are also looking for donors to sponsor deserving students in India, whose parents do not have the means to pay the 100.000 rupees fees. Each sponsor will be put in touch with the students they sponsor and can monitor their progresses. cheques should be made in the name of FACT and sent to Francois Gautier, Auromodel, Auroville, 605101, Tamil Nadu (by Pondichery). Tel (91)413 2622255. We have income tax exemption and you will all get a certificate. For those wishing to contribute in foreign exchange, please contact me.
Thks to all and let's keep up the good work
François Gautier
Convener FACT <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
SHIMOGA: Vedic scholar Bannanje Govindacharya regretted here on Monday that in "our over enthusiasm to follow the British model of education we have forgotten our glorious heritage and traditions."
Inaugurating the activities of the National Service Scheme (NSS) at the Government Residential Women's Polytechnic, he noted that students are not taught real history but instead teaching has been restricted only to the level of their (teachers) knowledge. He said students would not be able to widen their horizon unless they are enlightened about the cultural history and social traditions.
He noted that attempts were being made by "self-styled" intellectuals with little or no knowledge about the country's culture and tradition to deride them.
Stating that it was dangerous to blindly follow the West, he asked students to develop reasoning and inquisitiveness so that they would not accept straightway whatever is thrown at them.
Commenting that today's education policy had laid emphasis only on passing the examination, he said in the process the need to find the truth was being overlooked.
The Deputy Governor of the Rotary International District 3180, S. Dattatri, was the chief guest.
The principal of the Polytechnic and President of the Rotary Riverside Club, A.V. Katarki, presided over the function. Nischita welcomed the gathering. Deepti proposed a vote of thanks.
<b>'Ayurvastra' gaining popularity world over </b>
Usha Ram Manohar/ Kochi
With people becoming increasingly health conscious the world over, Ayurvastra, fabric which is dyed using various ayurvedic herbs, sandalwood, neem and turmeric, is climbing the popularity chart.
Now, it is not only sarees, dress materials and bedsheets made of these fabric which are in great demand but Purdahs made of ayurvedic herbs are being exported to Saudi Arabia following demand from women of the royal family, says K Komalakumaran, Secretary, Handloom Weavers Development Society, based at Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram.
The ayurvedic herbs have various medicinal properties and when they are dyed with the fabric, it gives a cooling effect. They are good for various skin disorders, asthma and some other ailments, he claimed.
The society is at present exporting to Italy, Germany, UK and USA, Singapore and Malyasia, he said adding Rs one crore worth export earnings were received last year. Some enquiries had also been received during the business-to-business meet held here recently, he said. Komalachandran said the technology being used for making Ayur cloth is being utlised for making coir mats, mattresses, door mats and carpets, Bamboo, jute and silk.
Delhi-based wool weavers from Himachal, Ladakh and Orissa have entered into tie-ups with the society to make Ayurvedic wool.
Every Year On the dark nights the sound of firecrackers announces the celebration of the favourite festival of Indians Diwali. Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed by family and friends and thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy. Of all the festivals every religion, its magical and radiant touch creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity.
Diwali has religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and is celebrated by many communities throughout the capital. Last year, Diwali on the Square attracted over 20,000 Londoners and visitors and this year it will be even bigger- it is free and everyone is welcome.
Trafalgar Square will be transformed with magical light displays, floating lanterns and a huge model of the elephant Ganesh as Diwali celebrations return to the square courtesy of the Mayor of London and the Diwali in London Committee.
Crowds will be offered free Indian sweets (prashad), as well as messages and prayers for peace. There will be performances from a variety of Indian dancers, singers and finished with a finale by Jagi D, Veronica, Jay Sean and Mentor Collective.
There will also be special guest appearances by DJ Bobby Friction, and actor Mr. Kabir Bedi ( Indian Film Star).
<b>Diwali at Trafalgar Square
Sunday 16 October 2005
4pm to 8pm
Trafalgar Square London.
</b>
UK to fund first Hindu school
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Â
LONDON: Britain has officially decreed that its future generations of Indian-origin schoolchildren may substitute Christian prayer with morning mantras, aartis and Vedic ritual, with the announcement that it will pay for the country's first, government-sponsored Hindu school.
News that the school will be established with 10-million pounds of government money and run by the I-Foundation, a religious partner of the persuasive, power-networked and peaceful ISKCON movement, prompted a cheer from much of the UK's estimated 700,000 Hindus.
The British government's nod to Hindu educational aspirations for future generations comes some years after the first state-funded Sikh school opened its doors in west London. Several state-funded Muslim schools are already thriving, alongside at least 30 Jewish state schools and thousands of Anglican establishments.
On Thursday, ordinary British Hindu families in far-flung parts of the British capital admitted they would earnestly endeavour to secure a place for their children at the new Hindu school to "learn Hindu values, to say Hindu prayers and have a Hindu priest to cater to religious needs".
But it is expected to be heavily over-subscribed when the UK's first state-funded Hindu school opens in 2010 in Harrow, west London, which boasts the country's largest concentration of Hindus as a percentage of population.
But Britain's first and only state-funded Hindu school will begin its instruction more than two decades after the Dutch government paid for - and allowed - the establishment of Holland's very own Hindu Modern, an American high school-style secondary school called Shri Vishnu in The Hague.
On Thursday, Ramesh Kallidai, secretary-general of the umbrella Hindu Forum of which the I-Foundation is a part, told TOI, the next step would logically be to have state-funded Hindu schools in other parts of Britain where large Hindu populations lived and worked.
"This is the beginning, not the end," said Kallidai, adding that "Brent, in north-west London has the second-highest concentration of Hindus, after which comes the city of Leicester".
Navin Shah, leader of Harrow Council, which applied for the honour and legitimacy of government funding for a Hindu school to address the local community's needs, said: "The Hindu faith school will be yet another piece in the jigsaw of our culturally diverse and united communities.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Major Meeting of Hindu Saints in Mumbai</b>
Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent,
MUMBAI, INDIA, October 22, 2005: "Though Hindus are in a majority, they are being given a step-motherly treatment in India due to the politics of votebanks and minority appeasement being pursued by the politicians and the successive governments that have ruled the country since its independence. The situation is quite serious, as on the one hand, the government is trying to control Hindu temples and maths (monasteries0 and, on the other hand, a top Hindu saint like the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt has been treated like an ordinary criminal, and treated as convicted even before he has been tried. It is high time that Hindus of all sampradayas set aside their petty differences and joined the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, the apex body of Hindu Dharma, so that the Sabha could become a single voice that could claim to speak for the entire Hindu society and fight against the shabby and discriminatory treatment being meted out to Hindus and Hinduism in India." Thi s was the general consensus built up among the 74 top saints, many of them heads of various Hindu sampradayas. They included the representatives of all the four Hindu Shankaracharays. They had gathered in Mumbai to attend the second convention of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha which took place from October 16 to 18, 2005, at Sanyas Asharam, Vile Parle West at the initiative and under the convenership of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He is a leading Hindu saint and head of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam which has its branches spread not only in India but in many parts of the world.
The total number of participants in the three-day event was around three hundred. Besides seventy-four acharyas of mathas (monasteries), mahamandaleshwars (heads) of several akharas (monastic orders) from different parts of the country representing seventeen sampradayas, over one hundred sadhus and sadhvis belonging to Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and around one hundred family people also participated in the c onference.
The 74 main delegates represented the following sampradayas (teaching lineages) and heads of akharas: Shankara Sampradaya, Akhara-Mahamandaleshwars, Ramanuja Sampradaya, Madhava Sampradaya, Ramananda Charya, Sen Sampradaya, Kabir Sampradaya, Satradhikar of Assam [Narad Goadiyas], Saiva Sampradaya, Aadheenams of Tamil Nadu, Varkari Sampradaya and Swaminarayan Sampradaya.
In an exclusive interview granted to Hindu Press International [HPI] and Hinduism Today, Swami Dayananda Saraswati said, "The Acharya Sabha has a large membership comprising virtually all sampradayas. The Sabha is committed to speak for Hindu Dharma and represent the interests and views of the Hindu population of the country. For the same reason Acharya Sabha shall have the mandate to engage in discussion with anyone or any government or any other entity including those representing different religions, on matters of importance to Hindus."
Swami Dayananda Saraswati pointed out that the acharyas strongly condemned the taking over of Hindu temples and maths by the government, and then running them virtually as government departments. He said, "Temples and maths are created by the offerings of the devotees. Whenever there are complaints of misappropriation of funds or misuse of money, the government tries to take them over. It is like cutting the head of a person if there is a headache. We feel that it would be better if a judicial committee is formed to look into such cases and solve the problem. Moreover, the temple wealth and income should not be allowed to be treated as a source of patronage by political leaders and used for purposes other than the welfare of the temples and Hindu society to which the wealth rightfully belongs. The most unfortunate and discriminatory part of the whole situation is that under the present laws only the Hindu temples and maths can be taken over by the government, whereas no such takeover of the places of worship and institutions of other religions is possible."
Swami Ji said that the Acharya Sabha had resolved to undertake the requisite legal research by a competent and committed team to contest the constitutionality of the discrimination inherent in the control of only temples which are places of worship and cultural importance and value to the Hin dus.
Dealing with the subject of conversion, Swami Ji said, "An alarming number of conversions are being carried out in the name of religious freedom. Now this argument of religious freedom is absurd, as in India no one is unsafe in pursuing his or her religious beliefs. Jews have openly declared that India is the only country in the world where they never faced any persecution."
He said that to tackle the problem of conversion, in the root of which were the financial incentives offered by those who convert, the Hindu acharyas will try to travel to distant villages and tribal communities where people need any kind of help. We will reassure the people that their indigenous religious faiths shall be preserved, and that their educational, health, economic and social needs will be attended to. Our mutts are already doing some kind of service wherever they are situated. We have even created All India Movement [AIM] for Seva, a public charitable trust which w ill serve the needy without bothering about their backgrounds in terms of their caste, creed and religion." In their kathas and pravachans (both forms of preaching) acharya members shall specifically discourage outdated discriminatory practices still prevalent in the Hindu society and strengthen the spirit of caring among their devotee population. For this purpose, Hindu Dharma Rakshana Samitis shall be set up at district and village levels."
According to Swami Ji the acharyas deliberated on the flawed interpretation of secularism in India. He said that all religions other than Hindus were political and served as vote banks for the different political parties. He said, "No secular country other than India pays money for pilgrims undertaking Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Even Islamic countries do not give such incentives to their nationals. Why do they do it here? Why do not they do it for the Hindu pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarover Yatra? Is it a sin to be a part of the majority community in this country?"
Finally, Swami Ji mentioned the approval of the Hindu Acharyas for establishment of a Hindu Centre Of Learning, considering the need for instilling Hindu cultural values in young students and for preparing them adequately to face the rapidly changing world, still retaining those values. Elaborating on this, Swami Ji, said in a lighter vein, "Our youth needs to know what is right and what is wrong. For instance the tradition of Dandiya (a traditional dance form) is religious but disco is not. A nd the unfortunate thing is that the youth today are mixing both Dandiya and disco."
The three-day event was held under tight security as besides Hindu Acharyas and saints, some of the well known leaders/representatives of Hindu organizations like RSS [Rashtriya Sevak Sangha] and VHP [Vishwa Hindu Parishad] also participated in the convention as special invitees. As representative of HPI and Hinduism Today, I was the sole media person who was accommodated as a special invitee in the event while other media persons were invited only to the press conference held after the event was over.
For the information of the readership, this mega Hindu event was held in a 80 feet X 58 feet air-conditioned auditorium especially set up at a cost of around US$23,000 to hold this convention. Many who were present named the event as a Mini Kumbha Mela due to the presence of so many high profile saints attending it. The place outside the auditorium was always overflowing with the devotees of the various saints attending the event. It was heart moving to see the devotees rushing to have the darshan and blessings of the saints moving in and out of the conference hall. Due to strict security arrangements and the limitation of space inside the auditorium, a large number of devotees were not allowed to enter the venue of the event. The air-conditioned hall was equipped with a high technology audio system. Not only could one clearly listen to what the saints were saying but there were big colored plasma screens on which you could see the larger than life sized, live photos of the saints addressing the convention.
Hindu Press International
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    24. 10. 2005
    MY BALI DIARY
    by B.Raman
    âI am a Brahmana married to a Shatriya," said the girl at a foreign exchange shop in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. "And you?"
    'I am also a Brahmin, " I replied, "but not married".
    "How old are you?" she asked.
    "69".
    "Why have you not married?â
    "Just like that"
    "So, you are a Brahmacharya? Are there many Brahmacharyas in India ?"
    "Yes, there are many. And in Bali?"
    "Not many. People get married once they have a steady job."
    âAre there many divorces? Do men and women quarrel? Do men beat up their wives?"
    "Rarely. We are not like that."
    "What is your name?"
    "Neuman Kalawati."
    "Kalawati is a Hindu name. But,why Neuman? It is Christian."
    "No.No. It is not. Neuman means third. I am the third child of my
    parents. Often, Balinese Hindu names have a number. It indicates which
    child of their parents they are."
    "How much you earn?"
    "Rupiah 500,000 per month." (One US dollar equal to 9,800 Rupiahs)
    "And your husband?"
    "Rupiah one million."
    "Rupiah 1.5 million per month. Is that good money in Bali?"
    "We manage to survive, but that is not good money. One-fourth of it
    goes for milk for our three kids. One-fourth for house rent.
    One-fourth for the Brahmana priests and offerings to God. Only
    one-fourth remains for other purposes."
    âHave you ever travelled?"
    "Never."
    "Not even to Java?"
    "No. Where is the money?"
    "Are you a happy woman? A happy wife? A happy mother?"
    "Of course, I am. Do I look unhappy?"
    "No. You don't. Your face looks somewhat different from the face of
    other Balinese women I have met."
    "Oh, really! Probably because I am a Brahmana."
    "Do you know India?"
    "Yes, I do."
    "You know Sonia Gandhi? Manmohan Singh? Atal Behari Vajpayee? Shah
    Rukh Khan?Aiswarya Rai?"
    "I know Vajpayee. He came to Bali. Also Shah Rukh Khan and Aiswarya
    Rai, but not others. Who are they?"
   "They are Indian political leaders. Which other Indian you know and like best?"
    "Satya Sai Baba."
    "You have met him? Has he come to Bali?"
    "No. But sometimes our TV shows him. And his prayer meetings. When he is on TV, the whole of Bali watches.
    "You know Shankaracharya?"
    "No"
    "You know the RSS, the VHP, the Hindutva people?"
    "No"
    "Yesterday ( October 19,2005), I saw a long procession. Nearly 50 well-dressed women walked in front of what seemed a small chariot carrying religious offerings on their head. There appeared to be a dead body covered with a white cloth in the chariot. Nearly a hundred men and women walked behind, but without any offerings on their head. Seemed like a funeral procession."
    "Yes, it was."
    "Appeared to be an important person. When did he die?"
    "Three years ago."
    "Three years ago? Why are they cremating him now?"
    "Lot of money is required for cremation. We have to pay the priests. Make religious offerings. Invite all relatives and friends. When a person suddenly dies, his relatives do not have enough money. They bury the body in a simple ceremony, save enough money and then take out the remains and cremate them. Without cremation, they will not be reborn or go to heaven."
    "Do you eat beef?"
    "No. We don't. We eat all kinds of meat, but not beef."
    "Is it only the Brahmanas who don't eat beef or everyone?"
    "Everyone."
    "But, in India, we think the Balinese Hindus eat beef."
    "Wrong. We don't."
    âAbout 80 per cent of the population (2.7 million) are Hindus. The remaining are Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. Do Hindus and Muslims inter-marry? "
    "No.If a Muslim wants to marry a Hindu, the Muslim should embrace Hinduism."
    The Balinese---whether Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists or Christians--- are a very sweet-tempered people. They rarely show signs of irritation. Life has been hard on them ever since international jihadi terrorism made its appearance in Indonesia---particularly after the terrorists started targeting the tourist resorts in Bali. After the first Bali explosions of October,2002, more than a half of the foreign tourists ran away---mostly Australians and Americans. It took two years for normalcy to be restored.
    There has again been a steep fall in tourism after the recent explosions of October 1, 2005. The Australians and the Americans have run away and fresh arrivals from Australia and the US have dwindled. Europeans---particularly the French, the Italians, the Germans and the Spanish--continue to come in large numbers despite the explosions. But their number is not sufficient to keep the economy moving. All tourist resorts have reduced the number of working days for their staff from six to three days a week---halving their salary.
    Though there are no evident signs of bitterness against the Muslims for bringing about this hardship on the local population, there is a growing demand for carrying out the death sentence awarded to three of those involved in the explosions of October, 2002.Most of the Muslims involved in the explosions seemed to be from Java, Malaysia or elsewhere. Hence, one can detect no signs of anger against the  Balinese Muslims.
    Hinduism had flourished both in Java and Bali, but in Java the Hindus have greatly dwindled in numbers either due to migration to Bali or due to their conversion to Islam. The people of Bali remain steadfastly Hindu and maintain their pride in their religion and culture. While there are very few Hindus still left in Java, the Hindu cultural influence still remains strong---even in Java---but it is slowly being diluted due to the onward march of hard Islam, which is trying to replace the soft face of Islam in Indonesia.
    I have visited Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia---the three countries in South-East Asia, most strongly influenced by the Hindu religion and culture. In Myanmar, which too I have visited, the influence is more Buddhist than Hindu.
    The impact of the Hindu scriptures, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata is a common feature of all the three countries, but beyond that, there are differences.The influence of Hindu painting and dance forms is strong in Thailand, but not in Cambodia and Bali. The style of temple architecture in Cambodia is more Hindu than in Thailand and Bali, where the Buddhist style seems to have had a stronger influence than the Hindu. The Hindu temples of Angkor Vat in Cambodia are a glorious example of ancient Hindu temple architecture. One does not find anything even remotely comparable in Thailand and Bali.
    The depiction of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in plays in the three countries has characteristic differences. While in Thailand and Cambodia, one could see unalloyed Hindu influence, one could notice some Chinese influence in Indonesia, including Bali.
    The uniqueness of Bali lies in the fact that it is the only place in the whole of South-east Asia, where the impact of the Hindu religion and culture on the daily lives of the people remains as strong as it was 2000 years ago, when Hinduism made its first appearance there.
    Did the Hindus of India take their religion and culture to Indonesia? No, they didn't. It is the ancient spice traders of these islands, who happened to visit Southern and Eastern India, and who were so impressed by the glories of the Hindu religion and culture and the rule of the Hindu kings, that they created amongst the Balinese rulers and people a desire to learn from Hinduism, emulate it and adapt to Java and Bali the styles of governance of the Hindu rulers of India, particularly the Pallava kings of South India.
    Hinduism came to Bali through emulation and not through migration, invasion or conquest. In their book on the "Peoples of Bali", Angela Hobart, Lecturer on Anthropology at the University of London's Goldsmiths' College, Albert Leemann, Emeritus Professor of Human Geography at the University of Zurich, and Urs Ramseyer, Curator of the Indonesian Department at the Museum of Ethnology in Basel, Switzerland, write as follows: " At no time in the history of Indonesia, including Bali, was there an Indian migration or conquest during which military or economic colonies could have been established. Thus, the Indianised old Balinese kingdom was never an institution imposed from outside. In Bali, it was domestic political needs and demands that enabled religious and political ideas from India to take hold."
    Between the first and the ninth century AD, the flow from India to Bali was largely of religious and cultural influences. Starting from around AD 882, one could see the increasing influence of Hindu political ideas and styles of governance in shaping the political evolution of the island.One saw Balinese rulers---sons of the soil and not migrants or invaders from India---assuming Sanskritised Hindu names one after the other---- Sri Kesari Wamadeva, Udayana, Sang Ratu Ugrasena and so on.
    This practice of assuming Sanskritised Hindu names was seen in Java too. Udayana married a Javanese Princess by name Mahendradatta, who after her marriage to him, assumed the title Gunapriya Dharmapatni.
    It is said that the Balinese look upon themselves as the descendants of Markendaya. Is it possible for a religion and culture to spread so widely, to take such deep roots in a society and to make such an impact on the minds of the people without a certain measure of migration, invasion or conquest? No satisfactory answer to this question is available.
    A visit to a local bookshop revealed over 50 books relating to Bali--its history, culture etc. One also noticed Balinese Hindu calendars and panchangs and commentaries on the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Kamasutra written by Balinese scholars. Many of the books on Balinese history and culture have been written by Western scholars, including one by an officer of the US Foreign Service posted in the US Embassy in Jakarta for eight years. Having had very little knowledge of the Hindu religion and culture and of Sanskrit and other Indian languages, their writings are superficial and do not answer many questions, which would normally come to the mind of a Hindu.
    But, one did not find a single book or monograph written by an Indian scholar. That is the shocking state of our interest in this region.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
