hinduism today, aug, 1998
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Hinduism Today, Aug, 1998TRANSCRIPT
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Letters to the editor, subscription and editorial inquiries should be sent to Hinduism Today, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA. E-mail: [email protected], HlNDuIsM ToDAY (rssN# oB96-oBo1), August, 199B Volume 20, No. B. Editorial: 1-BoB-B22-7032 (ext. 241); subscriptions: 1-BoB-B22-3152 (ext 23B) or (in USA) 1-Boo-B90-100B (ext. 23B); advertising: (in USA) 1-Boo-B50-100B or 1-Bo8-B23-962O. All-department fax: 1-BoB-B2z..4351.lIINDmsM TODAY is published monthly by Himalayan Academy; Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Publisher; Acharya Palaniswami, Editor. USA subscriptiOns: US$3g/1 year, $74"2 years, $1Og/3 years, $60ollifetime. International rates are an additional $10 pe( year. Also distributed through major subscription agencies worldwide. Call 1-BoB-B22-7032 for bulk orders (ext. 230) or permission to publish a lIINDmsM TODAY article (ext 227) or fax 1-BoB-822-4351. Printed in USA.
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COVER: President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, is greeted at the Hindu centre at the 'University of Durban-Westville during a 1995 Divali celebration; Mahatnia . Gandhi with his wife, Kasturbai, and colleagues, 1914; Swami Ghanananda of dbaru1 '
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AUGUST"1998
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; . , . ~---INTERNATIONAL Lead Stor,: How'HindUism Fares
In the Faraway Land of Safaris 20 Culture: Dilemmas of Dance and Dress 24 Trinidad: Pundits in the Pulpit 35 Kerala: Of Prophecy and Proselytization 38 Pilgrimage: Big Plans for Sabarirnala 39
LIFESTYLE Education: South Africa Studies Hinduism25 Cuisine: Spicing Up the Ethnic Masala 26
/.-Insight: Hal Our Fb'st-Ever Cartoon Fest • Helps Rindus Lighten Up 28 PQr~.ntlng: When Siblings Fight 4t. Women of Vision: The Dance ef Plants 46
-~ OPINION • j ~ubllsher's Desk: To See and Be Seen: o u The Dynamics of Darshan 10 ~ Letters 12 ~ My Turn: My Dear Hindu South Africa 13 ~ Editorial: India Detonates a Bomb, ; then Explodes with Pride :; Healing: No Simple Cure for Cancer ~ Astrology: The Matchmaker's Magic j: ~ Minister's Message: Africa Awaits ; Hinduisms Wisd(!)m Ways '" JJ ~ . : DICES,aS . 'f Dlaspora 7 News In Brief ::l ~ Quotes" Qlllps 1t Digital Dharma ~ , Evolutions .: 44 '" ..
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Hindu priests consecrate their temple beside Hock Huat Keng
SINGAPORE
Taoist-Hindu Co-Temple . \ V fHEN CHINESE TAOISTS FmST ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE IN
W 1820, they established temples for their faith. One, Hock Huat Keng, became unique when in the 19305 a temple to the Hindu God Siva (as Sri Veeramuth Muneeswarar) was established beside the shrine to 'ilia Peh Kong. Devotees worshiped together and preached that the "Gods are friends." Now the two temples have together moved to new quarters in the Ylshun Industrial Estate. The small Hindu shrine was recreated right beside a new Taoist temple with delicately carved dragon pillars and an elaborately tiled moE Taoist devotees number about 3,000, Hindus about 750. Tunmy Ng of the Taoist temple committee said, ''There is no majority or minority in this temple. We worship the same Gods, and there is no difference between us."
AMERIC A.
Holi with Style L\ NY EXCUSE FOR A PARTY"
/=\remains a motto of American college students; and now thanks to the Hindu Students Council, University of Michigan students have a new one: Ho-
lifest '98. Even participants who had never experienced Holi in India quickly . grasped the subtly techniques. 1) 'sneak up from behind. 2) sneak up from the side. 3) attack from the front. 4) douse friends and strangers alike
with colored powders or water. "It is festivals like this that remind me of the pride I have in
t my Indian culture," offered sophomore Shitang PateL More realistically, junior Anjum Gupta qualified that, "It was a great way to get out end-of-semester tension and frustration-~ well as learn about Indian culture."
CLOCICWISE FROM TOP: THE STRAITS TIMES; COLONEL DAYAL; MUSIC FESTIVAL OF INDIA; HINDU STUDENTS COUNCIL
DISCOVEijY
. Rod,rigues' Natural Temple EVERY SIXTEEN SECONDS
one drop of water falls upon this Lingam, causing it to assume a reddish texture like a glowing coal," reports Raj Dayal, former commissioner of police for Mauritius. He and...a few friends guided by Fatemamode Felicite had just entered the cave system known as Caverne Patate on Rodrigues, an island possession of Mauritius lying 625 km east of the small island cOlmtry in the Indian Ocean. Everywhere he and his companions looked in the caves they found Hindu 'mages-here Parvati, there Nandi the bull and there Hanuman, the monkey king. Over here was Ganesha and Karttikeya, and there Sheshnag, king of serpents. "There are everywhere various natu
,
sociated with Hindu rites, rituals and mysticism," said Dayal. Their attention was especially drawn to'the Lingam-shaped stalagmite formed near. the cave's entrance and automatically bathed and worshiped by the cave itself. Awed by the splendor and mystical impact of the remote sanctuary, Dayal concluded, "Exploring Caverne Patate may b~ the gateway for all of us to pursue the great journey within ourselves."
rally created symbols ana characteristic objects as-
Self-created and self-worshiped Siva Lingam in a cave on fWdrigues Island
MUSIC AND DANCE
Carn~8!e Hall's Fantastic Fling
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AUGUST, Igg8 HINDUISM TODAY 7
,
Band of Indo-Caribbean pilgrims at Varanasi. Ramesh K.alicharran is standing, second from right.
DHOLAVIRA IS NOW A RE
mote area in the Rann of Kutch, a giant salt marsh adjacent the Arabian Sea along the western border of India and Pakistait But 5,000 years ago it was a major city of the IndusSaraswati Civilization. First excavated in 1970, the city continues to dazzle archeologists. "The city planning, aesthetic architecture, hydraulic engineering and concern for wateF conservation, along with the funerary architecture, are just amazing. They reflect concepts found in the Rig Veda," said chief archeologist R.S. Bisht.
HOMECOMING
NY Hindus Dig Their Roots
RAMESH KALICHARRAN IS A
travel agent with a mission. Twice a year he escorts groups of Indo-Caribbean descent back to India. Many such tourist-cum-pilgrims are the first in their families in four generations to set foot on the soil of Bharat. It has been a century and a half since their ancestors left an embattled,
fanllne-ridden India for a better life in the distant colony.
The reconn.,ection to India is often automatic. "It was like my father speaking to me, a returning home, even though India is not my home," said elder pilgrim David Pherai whose father emigrated to Guyana a century ago. He Iafld his wife renewed their marriage vows in
THE VEDAS
God's Word, Sages'Voices
I glorify him who is of wonderful radiance like the sun, who is the giver of happiness, lovely, benevolent and the one whom all welcome like a guest. He bestows vigor upon the worshipers; may He, the fIre-divine, remove our sorrow and give us heroic strength and all sustaining riches.
RIG VEDA 10_122. 1
The devout performers of solemn ceremonies, aspiring for chariots, are led to the doors of the chamber of the Lord. Ladles, placed to the east, are plying the fire with melted butter at the fIre sacrifice, as the mother cow licks her calf, or as rivers water the fIelds.
RIG VEDA 7.2.5
8 HINDUISM T O D A'L. A U GUST , 199 8
a Hindu ceremony and took the names Nehru and K.amla.
Last year pilgrims frolicked at Holi (Phagwa) in Jaipur. Seeming to recognize their inner and outer ,return to the motherland, Jaipur residents embraced the group as they would close relatives. Holi is the biggest Hindu event of the year in the Caribbean, but the pilgrims had never experienced it like this! Despite the time and distance, they remained one with their Bharat homeland. Excavated area of Dholavira
Words cannot describe the joy of the soul whose impurities are cleansed in deep contemplation-who is one with Atman, his own Spirit. Only those who feel this joy know what it is. MAITRI UPANISHAD 6.34
May the forefathers of ancient days protect me in this my prayer, in this my act, in this my priestly duty, in this my performance, in this my thought, in this my purpose and desire, in this my calling on the Gods! All Hail!
ATHAltVA VEDA 5.24.15
The Vedas are the divinely revealed and most revered scriptures, sruti., of Hinduism, likened to the Torah (2 ,000 Be E), Bible New Testament (200 eEl, Koran (600 eE) or ZendAvesta (600 BeE) . Fbur in number, Rig. Yajur, Sarna and Atiwroa, the Vedas include over 100,000 verses. Oldest portions may elate back as far as 6 ,000 BCE.
Who Is a Hindu? 'l\cceptance of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and the realization of the truth that the number of Gods to be worshiped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of the Hindu religion." B.G. Tilak's definition of what makes one a basic Hindu, as quoted by India's Supreme Court. On July 2 , 1995, the Court referred to it as an "adequate and satisfactory formula. "
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Darshan;' the Grace Of Seeing the Divine' The spiritual energy shared in the simple act of seeing and being seen has the power to transform lives
BY SATGURU SIVAYA SUBRAMUNIYASWAMI
N THE ORIENT, WHENEVER THE CLOUD OF
j _'J~"'_ covers the soul of ' a devotee, the darshan of the Gods is sought. Whenever it be·comes difficult to meditate, his grace is hoped for to lift the veil of delusion and re
lease awareness from the darker areas of mind to soar within. If you were to travel through India on a spiritual pilgrimage, you would undoubtedly hear much about the Sanskrit word darshan, meaning "vision, seeing or perception," But in its mystical usage 'darshan is also the feeling of the emotions of a holy person; the intellect, the spiritual qualities that he has-attained, and most im-portantly the shakti, the power, that has changed him and is there constantly to change others. Darshan ~ncompasses the entirety of the being of a person of spiritual attainment. In India, everyone' is involved in darshan. Some at a temple have darshan of the Deity. Others at an ashram have darshan of their·swami or on the street enjoy darshan of a sadhu. And most everyone experiences doordarshan. That's the word for television in India, meaning "seeing from afar." Even this seeing, through movies, news and various prqgrams of mystery, tragedy, humor; the fine arts and culture, carr-affect our emotions, intellect, pulling us down or lifting us up in consciousness. Se.eing is such a powerful dimension of life, and it affects us in so many ways, inside and out.
HiI}dus travel for miles to receive the darshan of an illumined soul "established in his enlightenment. Perhaps he does not speak to them. Perhaps he scolds some of them. Perhaps he gives the most inspired of talks to them. In any case, they feel the darshan flooding out from hil!l. A great soul is always gi~ darshan. Hindus believe that the darshan coming from a great soul helps them in their evolution, changes patterns in their life by cleaning up areas of their subconscious mind that they could not possibly have done for themselves. They further helieve that if his darshan is strong enough, if they are in tune with him.enough, by its power the kundalini force can be stimulated en,{mgh that they can really begin to meditate. This is called the grace of the guru. The ability to meditate comes from this grace. You must have it before you can begin to meditate, or you must do severe austerities by yourself instead.
Darshan and the unfolding 'soul on the path are like the rose. When the rose is a bud, it does not give forth a perfume. Unfoldment is just beginning. We admfre the beauty of the bud, the stem, the leaves and the thorns. We are aware that it has the potential of a great flower.'In the same way, we appreciate a beautiful soul who comes along, seeing in him the potential of a spiritual mission in this life.
10 HINDUISM TODAY A lI.GUST , 1998
In the life of a bud, nothing happens until unfoldment begins. The same is true for the fme soul. It happens occasionally that someone comes along and picks the bud. This means the fine soul is in the wrong company. Now neither the bud nor the soul can unfold. But when they are protected nicely in a garden or ashram by a careful gardener, or guru,
the bud and the soul unfold beautifully. With just their first little opening to
the world, they begin to see the lig1!t of the outer and inner sun shining down into the core of their being. It is still too early, of course, for the rose to have a noticeable fragrance or the soul a darshan, We might appreciate them closely, but we would detect little in this early and delicate stage of unfolding. At this time the unfolding soul might say, "I can see the light m my head and in my body." And the suns-rays keep pouring into the rose, penetrating into the stem and as deep as the roots. It is feeling stronger and unfolding more and more. If no one picks it becaus~ of its unfolding beauty, the rose continues to unfold until it opens into all its glory. Then a wonderful thing happens. The perfume of th~ rose fills the air day and night. It is the da~han of the rose.
To some people the bouquet of the rose is very strong; to others it is rather weak. Is the emanation of ' the rose stronger at one time than another? No. It is always the same. It goes on and on and on, maturing all the while into a deeper, richer, more pofent scent. Soon it is filling the entire garden. But to the one who comes into the garden with a stuffy nose, there is only the beauty or the flower to experience.
In the same way, one who is closed on the inside of himself misses the darshan of the awakened soul. He sees in the greater soul just another ordinary person like himself The darshan is there,
but he is too negative to feel it. But the darshan permeates him just the same. He goes away from the garden not having smelled a rose, but carrying the perfume of the rose himself If you stand away from the rose, you smell less of its fragrance. Bring yourself really close, and more of its strong and pungent scent will penetrate your body.
Darshan from a great soul, like the pollen of the flowers, can stimulate healthy sneezing and cleansing if one's subconscious happens to .be congested. Call it, if you like, an allergy to flowers.
Seeing within: This devotee has awakened his third eye to the point of seeing inner light in his head and hearing the holy Aum sounding in his ear: He inwardly sees the satguru, who mdy not be physically present, and may occasionally glimpse the world of the Gods .
• Some people nave allergies to gurus, too. The guru's darshan lifts repressed subconscious patterns that have been out of the flow of the cosmic pattern of regenerative life, brin~g them up before one's conscious attention. Instead of feeling wonderful, the visitor to the garden feels terrible, as the fire is brought up from within, releasing his awareness to view the polluted state of the subcon-scious mind. .
The conCfpt of darshan also embraces the guru's seeing of the devotee. When you are in the presence of the guru, his seeing of you and therefore knowing you and your karmas. is another ~ace. So, darshan is a two-edged swor@, a two-way str'eet. It is a process of seeing and being seen. 4'he devotee is seeing and in that instant drawing forth the blessings of the satguru, the swami or the sadhu. In turn, they are seeing the devotee and his divine place in the universe. Both happen within the moment, and that moment, like a vision, grows stronger as the years go by, not like imaginatlon, which fades away. It is an ever-growing spiritual experience. The ' sense of separation is transcended, so there is a oneness between seer and seen. This is monistic theism; this is Advaita Ishvaravada. Each is seeing the other and momentarily being the other.
Some people are more sensitive to fragrance than others. Others are so seilless and sensitive they can become he fragrance itself for a time. In such a person, the rose smells sweet through every pore of his body. He is not in the least aware of any subconscious ,congested area of the mind. He sits in the garden and goes deep into meditation on the subtle fragrance of the flowers. The same principle relates to the unfolded soul. Darshan pours forth from within the unfolded soul just as fragrance flows from the rose- . ~ seeming stronger at times than at others because some de)lotees are more. in tune than others. For them, the room begins to ring and vibrate. Soine people are so sensitiye that when a great soul comes to the same town, they feel his presence. This shows their inner attunement to the constant flowing power of the darshan.
Everyone has some feelings radiating from withjn, but they are emanations that fluctuate. Because you feel these vibrations coming from them, you can intuit how they are feeling. They do not emanate a constant or a building flow. It is a fluctuating flow of emotional or 'astral energy. The darshan I am explairling is really the energies flowing from the deeper chakras, sahasrara anp ajna, the seventh anctsixth chakras or psychic force centers in the head, through the kundalini force within the spine. These energy flows do not fluctuate as the emotional odic-force energies do, They go on day and night and night and day througl). the illumined soul. Those devotees who are in tune with the guru can feel his physicaJ presenge when he enters the:ir town because the darshan gets stronger. And it feels to them more ethereal when he is farther away. These energy flows are very important to study, because jt is possible to draw and enjoy a great darshan from an illumined soul if you approach him in just the right way. If you can become as a sponge wher( you approach him, you will draw out beautiful talks and other profound feelings from him. The Hindu is conscious that
' he is drawing darshan from his rishi or his satguru, just as you are conscious of drawing the perfume of the rose into your body. When approaching a soul who is known to give darshan, be in the same area of the superconScious mind that you feel he must be in. The guru does not have to bedlecessarily functioning in that same area. He could be eJRernalize"tl in consciousness at the time. This is not important. It does not stop his darshan at all. The guru, feeling you draw the darshan, would immediately go within and enjoy it himself Once darshan is there in him, it is always there.
A UG US T , 1998 HINDUI S M TOD AY 11
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Thank You for Bridging AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THE WEST and lived as Western a life as one can live, I w~t you to know how much f love HINDUISM TODAY. I fell in love with India for India, not because of Hinduism. I, in fact, knew nothing about the religion and culture. I knew only that I never wanted to leave the banks of Mother Ganga. I am leathing about it ,slowly, for I am simply letting it seep into my cells rather than trying 'to memorize facts. Your magazine is one of the few written pieces on Hinduism that I simply devour. It contains just the right amount of religion, spirituality and dogma with a sense ~ of appealing to those of us who may not be already convinced of the facts. Thank you for being a wonderful bridge between me and this glorious culture in whose midst G0d has graciously put me.
PHOEBE GARFIELD .. ' [email protected]
Rewriting Indology YOU HAVE DONE A VALUABLE SERVICE BY bringing it to the attention of your readers through your very fme article [Cracking the Indus Valley CQde, LANGUAGE, May, '98]. In nearly two centuries of existence, Indology has given us: 1) the Aryan invasion; 2) turned the maritime Vedic people into Steppe nomads who had never seen the ocean; and 3) Proto-Dravidian as the language of the Harappans! We must go directly to the public ~th our findings. We must develop an independent school of thought that serves as an alternative to Indblogy, challenging it on its own ground.
PROF. NAVARATNA S. 'RAJARAM BASAVANAKUDI, BANGALORE, INDIA
Sacred Landscapes IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE COME ACROSS SAcred plants but have not discovered any inforr:qption on the design or layout of sacred Hindu landscapes [India's Savior of Sacred Plants, ETHNOBOTANY, May, '98]. Much has been written on.the temple architecture, unfortunately the landscape appears to be neglected. I would be delighted to hear from anybody who has information on this subject.
TONyTAPAR COVENTR~ENGLAND,UK
Dear India... ." WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? I am shocked, surprised' and so very disappOinted [at your nuclear test] . In my mind India has always been the bastion of peace on this planet. The rest of us just needed to catch up with your enlightened ways in order to make this a better place. Now, you've given yourself two huge, awful black eyes.
12 HINDUISM TODAY AUGUST, 1998
LETTERS Then you stand up and say, "Hey, look at me! Don't I look tough, powerful and strong?" No, you've only lost face and hurt your own precious land. You've invited horrible destruction for your own people and all the citizens of this planet. In the eyes of the world you are like .a peaceful old man suddenly slipping into the violent throws of senility. Snap out of it! Wake up before its too late. .
DAMARA SHANMUGA SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, us
New Century's New Year YOUR READERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN knowing that April 14th this year was the commencement of the 52nd century of theHindu calendar-the Kali Yuga. It is the year 5100. This is the solar New Year in t'he Hindu calendar and every year it is widely celebrated in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, bambodia and many other South East Asian countries.
NARESHA DURAISWAMY COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
Hail Vegetarianism! I DECIDED NOT TO EAT MEAT OR FISH BEcause I've considered it not to be ethical. However, my family discovered it, and all I could hear about it was that I was becoming mentally insane, not a normal person, and I was being influenced by someone with strange ideas. I think this is an example about how backward the so-called "rational and humanist" West still is. It is funny to see how mfmy people love their dogs and cats, smile in front of a monkey or are horrified by; the killing of seals. It is also curious how many people consider abortion as a crime, while happily eating a killed pig or cow, if not worse. This logic dominates an entire society.
NUNO PESTANA COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Cr'edit Wrongly Favored I LIVED AT THE CHILD PROTECTION CENter (CPC) that you mentioned as the sole program working with the Deuki p6pulation in Nepal [In God's Name, INHUMANITY, DeC., '98]. You recognized Krishna Poon of Snehi Women's. Awareness Center (SWAC) in Baitadi as the NGO working with Deukis. In fact, Poon has no relationship with the CPC, and in the two years that I've lived there, Poon has never visited or had any involvement with the CPC or this commUcity. The NGO responsible for the management of the cpe is the Tripura Sundari Village Developmerit Association/Nepal (TSVDAIN). TSVDAIN, with UNICEF support, and the community in Melauli, has struggled together to
make the CPC a success. Unfortunately, it is a ~ occasion where reporters and photographers that wish to report on the Deuki system take the appropriate time and care to represent (or even visit) the community as it is today.
ALLISON COHN\. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER, BAITADI, NEPAL
Safeguard is Not Guarding HOW CAN THE DIRECTORS OF THE HINDU House profess to be devoted to bridging tlI~ caste divides in Mauritius, as reported in our local press whenl they have been' involved in recent years in some of the most appalling caste lobbying in the history of this country? Far from uniting Hindus, the Hindu House is yet another divisive factor for us. It is encouraging the sectarian winner-take-all mentality among castes and regional groups. There is a crying need for genuine promotion of cu'ltural activities in the Hindu community. Hindu youths in Mauritius are, from childhood on, discouraged from taking part in artistic activities. Parents fear this may distract them from our rat race educational courses. The result is that too many Hindu youth grow up to become money-minded philistines. Who will save us from this sad state of affairs?
B. GOVINDRAO POSTE LAFAYETTE, MAURITIUS
About That Sari Thank you for the wonderful articles, information and photo~ of the beautiful saris. They are, as you stated, wonderful works of art which can be worn to express so many thoughts and ideas. I have never worn one, but you have inspired me to try.
Correction
PESHALA VARADAN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, US
.. IN YOUR APRIL, 98 ISSUE OF HINDUISM TODAY [BRIEFLY] y~u stated, "Over 75 Trustees and Head of Temple gathered in Udupi, Kerala." Udupi is not in Kerala, but in the state of Karnataka.
P. VASUDEVA PRABHU JERSEY CITY, NEW JERS,!'Y, US
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HINDUISM TODAY was founded January 5, 1979, by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, for the following purposes: 1. To foster Hindu solidarity as a unity in diversity amoJ;lg all sects and lineages; 2. To inform and inspire Hindus worldwide and people interested in Hinduism; 3. To dispel myths, illusions and misinformation about Hinduism; 4. To protect, preserve and promote the sacred Vedas and the Hindu religion; 5. To nurture and monitor the ongoing spiritual Hindu renaissance. We invite our readers to share these purposes with us by WTiting lette rs, contributing reports and articles on events, sending news clippings and encouraging othe s to subscribe.
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, ,
kfinduisms I=uture in 'The New South +Jfrica Will the flame of our religion continue to burn and glow eternally with all the changes?
BY AJITH BRIDGRAJ
HE RICHNESS OF HINDU culture frrst touched the
shores of South Africa almost 140 years ago when
the frrst load of indentured Indian laborers from the Indian motherland were brought to the province of KwaZulu-Natal in 1860 on board the Truro.
The harsh, oppressive conditions under which these early arrivals toiled were tantamount to slavery. But the indomitable spirit of these pioneering groups of Indians ensured that the seeds of Hinduism were sown and nurtured over successive generations with· the same care as the lush sugarcane fields that began to thrive in the former British colony.
Presently, South Africa is aptly referred to as a "rainbow nation," but among the heterogeneous cacophony of cultural and religious persuasions that has become rooted in South African soil, Hinduism still commands a proud and substantive folloWing. The nectar of Hinduism is being quaffed by whites and ~digenous black South Africans who have come to embrace it.
Whilst this triclqe towards Hinduism bears good tidings for Hinduism's staunch devotees in South Africa, the torrent of conversions away is of great concern. The highest rate of conversion is towards Christianity. Converts complain of a lack of understanding of the basic pillars of Hinduism. The religion is bound t09 much by rituals and traditions that may have~ost their relevance in the modern era. Hindu religious leaders tend ·to remain too aloof and, therefore, inaccessible when their spiritual counseling is most desperately required. The former apartheid regime paid only lip service to the concept of religious freedom, a noble principle enshrined in the present South African constitution. But the forces of Hinduism have not moved fast enough to capitalize on this, some ar-
gue. Even those who have remained loyal Hindus lament the fact that very few opportunities exist for the mastering of Hindu languages and scriptures.
As for the Hindu youth, the country's integration processparticularly at schools and universities- sees them being bombarded by diverse cultural influences. Religious leaders,
parents and apathetic youth-some of whom openly confess to being "embarrassed" about lending support to or participating in Hindu arts and cultural festivals-must share responsibility for this unfortunate state of affairs.
Salutations ~ust, however, be extended to several Hindu bodies which are actively involved in the upliftment, of some of the most downtrodden of South Africa's people who eke out miserable exist nces under conditions of abject poverty. Although attendances at informal Hindu art, cultural and drama classes continue to dwindle, instructors persevere admirably in their -quest to spread the cultural richness of Hinduism to the religion's future-the youth. Entrepreneurs are also playing their role by opening restaurants that serve tra- , ditio~al Indian delicacies-in this way, interest in Indian cuisine is being spread to all sectors of South Africa's rainbow nation.
In looking ahead though, a few causes of concern remai'n. It is up to all whose spirituality is grounded on the bedrock of Hinduism-especially parents and religious leaders- to ensure that succeeding generations have the will, the dedication and an unwavering belief in the virtues of Hinduism, to sustain it into the next millennium and beyond.
AJITH BRIDGRAJ, 34, is a school teacher and freelance journalist who serves in many of his country's social upliftment projects.
AUGUST, 1998 HINDUISM TODAY 13
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HAWAIIAN- GROWN RUDRAKSHAS A 36-bead strand, packed with Hawaii's sublime lifeenergy. The beads, selected from this year's harvest in the Rudraksha forest at Kauai's Hindu Monastery, are five-faced and roughly 3/4-inch in diameter. $39.
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SACRED AUMS CD If you've ever looked for Indian culture graphics, this is your answer! Now you can have hundreds and hundreds of Aums, sacred symbol of Hinduism and Source of all, in styles you've never dreamed of. Use them in publications, on the Web, as framable art, wallpaper, bumper stickers, T-shirts. It took There are over 1,500 to
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· EDITORIAL nies. America knows that India is perilously perched between China and
Is India's 'Nuclear Threat ' . .
Pakistan, both of .which have nuclear capability and have started wars in the past. America knows that its military umbrella (the one that covers South Korea, Australia, Japan and the
Mere Gorilta' Dust? NATO nations) does not shelter India, and that she has a sovereign right to protect herself America also knows that India is not a volatile or vicious state, that she has been, in fact, an exemplar of political and military Bharafs bombshell stuns the world, but few
WesterI?-ers heard the explosion of national pride restraint and reconciliation, unlike the rogue states of Muammar Khadafy and Saddham ..Hussein. America also knows that India is informed, in hr:r
BY, THE EDITOR
HEN TWO MALE GORILLAS CONFRONT EACH OTHER,
they're too canny most of the time to actually fight, so they resort to the tried-and-true polit ical tactic of intim
Both scurry about in a frenzy, grimacing menacbeating their chests ,and tossing clouds of dirt into
the air. It's a serious encoiinter, full of powerful .and primitive energies, a test of testosterone. Soon one b.ecomes convinced that the other could win the threatened physical engagement, and. retreats. It's called gorilla dust, and nations stir it up all the time.
On May 15 and 17, Igg8 a real cloud oflethal dust rose above the stark plains of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. On those two days the world's largest democracy and arguab~y the world's oldest continuous civilization and home to half of the wOPld's free population, exploded five devices and. announced to a stunn~d world that it had joined the prestigious Nuclear Family. While INdians danced for joy in the streets, Bill Clinton shared another view from the parapets of the world's most powerful democracy, announcing on TV that "India is a perfectly wonderful country, a great country. It is not necessary for them to manifest national greatness by doing this." That this was the first time ir\' history that the Man had accused India of being a Great Country is exactly the point, Indians say. Finally, a nation regm;ded spiritually with virtual reverence was 'getting some old-fashioned political adulation. In its May 25th issue, Newsweek ran a full 11 pages about Bharat's Bomb-the first serious series on India in recent memory- . and New York Time's John Burns wrote, "Whatever else the Indian tests may have meant to a world eager to lessen the menace of nuclear weapons, the react.i.ons abroad and at home showed the existence of two Indias: one that occupies a favored spase in the world's consciousness, the India of Buddha and Mohandas K. Gandhi, of ashrams and sa- " cred rivers, of huddled mass~s of the poor, yerurning for relief yet ever serene; and another India, awakening to the modern world, impatient of old indignities and.)nfrrmities, eager for symbols of national wealth and power."
America is perhaps at heart secretly happy about India's astonishing achievement. Mter all, a strong India assures the .safety of the above-mentioned half of the free peoples and secures the Asian turf for Coca Cola, Boeing and a thousand other Us.,compa-
16 HINDUISM TOD A Y AU G UST 1998
heart, by the gentle ethic of nonviolence, and by spiritual values that I
are pervasive and prodigious. Of course, the real worry in the West is not that peace-loving
India will actually use the bomb. It is this: If America cant track the nuclear plans of a friendly democracy, what can we expect of its ability to monitor enemy states like Libya, Iran and Iraq? And what about May 27th'S tests in Muslim Pakistan? It irks that India has become capable of making such devices, for it implies an enormous sophistication and national will. Suddenly, India is not a shabby, backwater nation worshiping cows and hawking handicrafts at bargain prices. As of May, 1998, India is -dare it be said?-a peer, the nuclear tribe's sixth primate.
Call it the sound of one Indian gorilla knapping, or one Yankee gorilla napping. It's true, the vaunted VIrginia spies blinked and missed the whole thing. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, deplored what he called "a colossal failure of our intelligence gathering-possibly the greatest'failure in more than a decade': of the $27-billion-a-year intelli
gence community. I enjoyed the Indian physicist's response to all the hand-wringing and finger-pointing at the qIA and in swiftlyconvened what-went-wrong Congressional meetings on US national ~curity. He assured America that it was not their fault: "It's not a failure of the CIA," said Indian nuclear researcher G. Balachandran. "It's,a matter of . their intelligence being good, our deception being better." Dr. R.R. Subramanian, a nuclear physicist with New Delhi's independent Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, said hiding preparations for the tests was merely a matter of choosing the hours when satellites were looking elsewhere to move {he necessary people and chemicals. How did they find thy times? They are posted daily on the Internet!
Mid-May's explosions were one part military, nine parts psychological. In that atomic tempest Indians won the battle witl~
in, the war against their own uncertainty and self-deprecation. It is hard for nations jlVho never had to endure centuries of humiliating occupation from conquerors to imagine the profound impact of these exploit~ on the national psyche. Little wonder they are celebrating their overnight transformation from pitiable to powerful. Who wouldn't? In Delhi's streets common folktired of aping the West and reading all the foreign media monkey-business-exult, "The chimp's turned champ."
"To do good is noble. To 8.dvise others to do good is also noble ... 8nd much less trouble."
American humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
. ; ~ - '\ ' . . .! .
A boy asks God, "How much is a million rupees to you?" God says, «Like one rupee." The boy asks, "How much is a million years to you?" and God answers,"It's like one second." The boy asks, "Can I have a rupee?" God answers, «Sure, just'give me a second to fInish what I'm_doing."
Most film workers live in fear of not working again. Voting for a comeback- performanc!,! is sending out good karma. Top Hollywood critic Gene Siskel, speaking at the 1998 Oscar awards on the benefit to all comeback actors and actresses when one of them wins an award.
~ NOW J 5 --mE TIM ( t1Y BELOVE.D COUNTRYMEN "'0 . 1i6HTEN YouR6EL.T6~ .. ROLL UP YOUR SLEEV£S-., PULL lJPYOUR SOCKS ..
Our civilization ha~ come under a new ~sault with the entire globalization of a rotten food culture. The McDonald's expe- • rience is really the experience of eating junk whilst thinking you are in heaven. Environmentalist Vandana Shiv,a criticizing fast food chains. She is the Director.Qf the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy, a network of researchers specializing in sustainable agriculture and development in India.
However subtle the sundry texts he studies, a man is left with his native intelligence.
Tlrukural, Verse .373
A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" His father replied, "I don't know, son. I'm still paying for it."
My grandfather said that there were two kinds of people-those who did the work and those who took credit. He said I should always try to be in the first group, because there was much less competition. Indira Gandhi, late Prime Minister of India.
I asked a bookstore clerk, «Where's the selfhelp section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
AUGUST , 1998 HINDUI SM TODAY 17
,
18
Amarveda (Science of Longe1lfity)
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1998 Celebrations at Barsanla Dham • Holi-March 14 • Ram Navmi-April 5 • Mela/Open House-May 9 • Janmashtmi-August 15 • Radha Ashtmi-August 30 • Rath Yatra-October 3 • Divali-October 17 We invite you to visit Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple at Barsana Dham and receive the Divine blessings of Radha Krishn.
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19
INTERNATIONAL , By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN With such a tapestr-y as a backdrop, it's lit- Notwithstanding these civic SUGcesses, a
VERY MAJOR WORLD CITY HAS A tle wonder thtJ-t the city has such a rich cul- thriving Indian community does not a vi"Little India" district. But the conti- tural and artistic life. Cultural enthusiasts brant Hindu religion make, and there are nent of Africa, apparently accus- will be greeted by a kaleidoscope of Indian, mixeq. views regarding the vitality 0f Hintomed to being grandiose,l' has an Colonial and African traditions that have duism' in South Africa. Many well-estabentire "Little India" nation-that is" prospered in the city and given rise to a lis!lj:'!d Hindu organizations prosper here, to South Africa. Of all thl( countries wide variety of food, restaurants, arts and be sure, and the religion has a long history,
Indians have adopted-once transcending crafts, and ethnic dance forms." which gives a certain stability. But there ex-the "imported indentured laborers" stigma- It would be difficult to overstress how ists a high conversion rate away from Hin- "-South Africa is by far the most endeared to deeply the traditions of Hindu culture- duism, primarily to Christianity, and a state the Indians who live here. It is S'unilarly dance, dress, philosophy, food, etc.--="are ap- of spiritual dormancy seems to prevail. reve~ by Indians in India, as the heroic Ma- preciated by the South African populace To be, or not-to be ... Hlndu: While speaking
• hatma Candhi had his beginnings here. His and how graciously these contributions are with HINDUISM TODAY, Linda Covender, a first-hand experiences of apartheid in South received. school teacher in Durban, divulged why she Africa were critical in forming his satyagra- Another page on this website recounts the, turned away from Hinduism. "I was plagued .,. ha strategies and ~ssion. And, there is per- history of Indians in Durban, and virtually by a prolonged period of illness, which dochaps no other non-Asian country that feels the same tale can be told for each major city tors were unable to curet. But I noticed 11 that Indians-and their reli- slight improvement in my condi-gion-are such an important and tion after the pastor from the 10-integral-part of the nation. Indi- cal church began to pray for me. ans are counted as one of the The dynamic youth movement "Big Three" ethnic majorities. at the church also pro~ided a
The Durban Experience web- spiritual and social outlet for my site (www.durban.org..zal) ex- son, something we did not have emplifies this spirit. A page on as Hindus. In fac!; I did not even the city's ethnic makeup reads, know who the local Hindu priest "If cultural diversity were the was when I reilly needed some-criterion for choosing the capital one to minister to my needs." of tIfe new South Africa, then Other youth corroborate the Durban would be.the only city essence of Covender's story. Ur-in the running. In a country isha Brijlall, a pupil at the A.D. dubbed the Rainbow Nation, Lazarus Secondary scHool, Dur-this port city is blessed with the ban, warns, "Hindus need to be most vibrant ml.x of the ethnic enlightened on the immense and cultural paint brush. The depth of their religion and her-metropolis is hom~ to ~ee ma- itage. Unfortunately, many Hin-jor social groupings, each -with dus are exploring new canals of its own rich history and tradi- thought and are converting to tions It was the labor of the no- other religipns." Cassandra Sub-ble ; descendants of Shaka's ramony, a 15-year-olq classmate mighty Zulu Nation which made of Brijlall complains, "Hinduism the city the commercial and in- is to me the most intriguing, an-dustrial hub of the province. cient religion, which provides Now with the demise of deep insights through its philoso-apartheid, they have become . ~ phies. But, sadly, I think that the major political force in the ~ many Hindus in South Africa are region, .... with members of both ~ not practicing these majestic the two biggest parties, the AN.C ;- teachings. Many of the youth do and IFP, proud to be called Zu- ~ not show tolerance and respect • Ius. The quirks and mannerisms ~ for other reljgions. Many, more of the British settlers in Natal Salute: Hindu youth dancers at the World Hindu. Conference, 1995 are unable to speak their mother earned the province its nick- tongue. Also, if Hindu elders name of Last Outpost of the British Empire. in the nation. "From 1849 to 18'51, over cannot teach their children the basic princiNow the great-great-grandchildren of those 4,000 British settlers came to Natal under a pIes of Hinduism, then many souls will be hardy pioneers consider themselves as scheme which was devised by Joseph Byrne. lost in the world, for where there is no unSouth African as their Zulu neighbors. There were many businessmen among derstanding, there wiU.be incorrect action.
"The forerunners of Durban's thriving In- them, and from this time onwards the small We are currently witnessing this as teendian community arrived in :r5.urban as pen- . village ot Durban began to progress. Short- agers turn to dangerQus past-times like alconiless indentured laborers last century. ly after this event it was found that sugar hoI and drug abuse." Since-then they have built 'themselves into a was a suitable and prefitable crop to,.grow, Saraspathi Naidu, age 35, of Phoenix, also force to be reckoned with, in the fields of and the development was rapid. It was this converted to Christianity. Her grievances are commerce, culture and politics. Apart from development which prompted the \,rovince a clarion call to Hindu leaders: 'J\s a Hindu, the big three, D1¥ban is also home to people to imp(Jrt laborers from India, and these, in I found myself bogged d0Wl:l with ritualistic of Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese descent turn, were followed by traders. Today their worship. Most of the time I did not underto name only a few. And many Gf them are descendents form a very important part of stand why I was doing the things I did. second or third ' generation Durbanites. the Durban citizenry." When I inquired, I had to be content with
AUGUST , 1998 H r NDUlsM TODAY 21
"
Synod: Swami Saradananda (third from left) and guests of the Ramakrishna Centre, Dur-ban
the explanation that those were the way our ancestors had done things. Now, as a Christian, I have a holy book, the Bible, which I can read and understand and which is constantly discussed and analyzed in church. Hindu leaders, however, do not place a high premium on acquainting Hindus with their scriptural works."
The Hindu chieftains: Conversion concerns are real, but they are not felt to be a dire threat, for the dominant Hindu organizations in South Africa do minister actively to a large number of steadfast devotees. Most encouraging to all is the fact that youth figure prominently-through attendance as well as in conception and organization-in temple functions and the popular yoga camps held by several institutions.
Strict disciplines of meditation and vegetarianism are emphasized by the Divine Life Society (DLS), as well as a ban on watching television. In this way the DLS aims to produce devotees of strong moral
fiber. Swami Sahajananda, present head of the DLS, devotes a great deal of energy and attention to children. Yoga camps are a DLS specialty. Apart from ministering to the religious and spiritual needs of devotees, the DLS is deeply committed to community welfare work, including building schools for underprivileged (usually black) communities. Their well-known high-tech printing press facility makes possible in the dissemination of popular religious literature.
The Arya Samaj, too, has firmly nurtured Hindus in South Africa since its inception in 1906. Staunch devotee Pandita Nanackchand, 74, one of the first females inducted into the South African priesthood, became a follower after marriage. "My paternal grandfather came to South Africa with the first indentured Pldians in 1860," she recalls. Her grandfather had become embroiled in 11-
family dispute over property in Benares, and that motivated him to go to South Africa. "Their early life was extremely diffi-
cult, as they had to reside in communal barracks and survive on food rations," says the Pandita. '
The Arya Prathinidhi Sabha (APS) is the parent body of the Arya Samaj Movement in South Africa. The Durban Isthri Samaj and the Arya Stree Samaj are women's adjurfcts. Nanackchand belongs
to all three, stressing that she emerged from a deeply religious and strong Puranic background and was well schooled in Hindi before she married at the age of 18. In 1971-72, she and five others responded to a call for women to join the priesthood: "In 1975, following the successful com.pletion of examinations, I was given the gown and
,have been practicing as a priest ever since." Nanackchand boasts that the movement was the forerunner in granting women priests privileges equal to those enjoyed by men. "Currently there are almost 30 female priests in the country," she reports.
The APS propagates the teachings of the Vedas, and its Vedic temples are popular. But the APS also engages significantly in social service. Founded in 1921, the 'Aryan Benevolent Home, essentially an ashram for the homeless on the outskirts of Chatsworth, has become a major cornerstone of the APS. The APS also provides much-needed counseling and support to victims of wife abuse, rape and impending divorce. "We have established an ashram just outside of Durban to house abused women from all religious and racial backgrounds who otherwise would have no plac~ to turn to," says Nanackchand.
Also immersed in community upliftment is the 56-year-old Ramakrishna Center. S.P. Singh, a retired schoo] principal who has been with the Center for three decades, relates, "The Center was founded in 1942 by Swami Nischalananda, who passed away in 1965 and was succeeded by his only monastic disciple, Swami Shivapadananda. He
Prayer power: Pandita Nanackchand of the Arya Samaj performs a Hindu wedding; ;rhe Saiva Siddhanta Sangam's Guru Ravananthar with his family at home
Protest: Hindus react boldly to denigration
headed the Center" until his death in 1994. Currently, the Center is headed by Swami Saradananda."
Since .• ,singh's 'induction into the Center, seven ashrams, including one for nuns, have
. been • constructed throughout the country. Singh has also seen a feeding scheme expand massively since its launching in the 1950s. "We feed abouf 7,500 underprivileged Indian and African schoolchildren on a daily basis. Approximately 1,200 destitute welfare families receive grocery hampers fromtthe Center," details Singh.
Regular youth cqrnps are held to minister to the needs of the Center's young devotees, while bi-annual yoga intensives draw attendances of up to 250 per camp. "The Center's work is definitely contributing to the process of nation-building and is also exposing Hinduism to all sectors of South African society," Singh testifies. I
Ever since its humble origins in the shanty town settlement of Magazine Barracks in 1931, the Saiva Siddhanta Sangam (SSS) has made tremendous strides ana continues to profoundly impact the lives of hundreds of Hindu families. The founding head of the SSS was Brahma Sri Siva Soobramonia Guru SWamigal. "Following his demise in 1953, he was succeeded by my father, Sri Karunaianandl;a Swamigal," says deputy spiritual head Guru Ravananthar. "In all, we have launched 23 branches nationally," he . reports. His son, Ravi Pillay; 35, explains that the initial growth of the SSS was due to the initiative of the founding master and his disciples. "They used to go to the Durban city center at night and preach and sing divine hymns under the lampposts. Soobramonia Guru also meditated nights in a cemetery in the city."
The Sangam concentrates ..... on conducting venacular classes, some tutored by Guru Ravanathar. Sunday prayer services spread the Sangam's messages of vegetarianism and service to mankind, but the height of its social service is a feeding program that provides meals to '" indigent pupils in fifty schools in Chatsworth and surrounding areas. Although its founding master declared
the Sangam a uriiversal mission available to all of humanity, it has not yet made inroads into non-Indian communities.
Temple tour: The oldest temples in South Africa are located in and around Durban. Prominent are the Siva Soobramaniar Alayam, the Vishnu Temple of Newlands and the Sathie Sanmarga Sungam, Asherville. Even the tourism-based Durban Experience website promotes visits to Hindu temples. The site states, "The Umgeni Road TempI Complex provides for all forms of traditional Hinduism. It is one of the oldest and largest in South Africa, dating back to 1883. Its architecture and central shrine are reminiscent of shrines found throughout South Inella. The Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu Road was built in 1901 and recalls the elegance of the Nort}} Indian architecture, although there are Victorian and Islamic influences. The eight temples of Cato Manor in Bellair Road survived a rocky hiS'tory when apartheid laws evicted the Indian community from the area. Today regUlar religious acHvities ' include an annual firewalking ceremony."
"Encouraging for me is the high turn-out of the youth to temples on auspicious days," punctuates twenty-year-old Niren Maharaj, a student at the University ofD~ban-Westville. Undaunted about the future, he says, "There is no doubt that Hinduism is destined to. prosper and grow. It offers great hope for the future." Revealing a little missionary spirit of his own, he challenges, "I would like to urge all Hindus to become vegetarians and to practice yoga and meditation. Only then will we experience the magic of inner peace and serenity that Hinduism can b'ring." ..
Picture Perfect The photos for this special feature were taken by Rajesh Jantilal, 34, a primary school teacher, award-winningselftaughtphotographer
and freelance journalist. Locally, he covers news, sports, documentaries and fashion. Internationally, he records elections and national leaders for Associated Press, Agence France Press, Reuters and HINDUISM TODAY.
RAJE SH JANTILAL, 35 OGWNI, 9 RUSSELLE STREET, 4001 D URBAN, KWAZULU -NATAL, SOUTH AF RICA
RIlSolution: Gandhi in South Africa in 1913 at the outset of his life'S mission
SATYAGRAHA
Fount of Change The crusade that transformed two nations
By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN • IGHTY-FIVE YEARS H AVE ELAPSED
. since Mohandas K. Gandhi sailed out . ~ t of South Africa to change the course of
I India. But South Africa was transformed, too. "Gandhi's twenty-y~ar stay here, from 1893 to 1913 was a turning point in the history of South Africa," ventures Ravi Govender, curator of the Durban Cultural and Documentation Centre. He notes that "President Nelso;;' Mandela " often quotes the Gandhian ideals of satyagraha (passive resistance) and ahimsa, noninjury"
Gandhi's presence dwells in the hearts of South Africans and lingers through several memorials. The Phoenix settlement-erected during Gandhi's staY-still stands, albeit in a dilapidated copdition. Talk abounds about renovating and preserving it for historic and tourism considerations. In Pietermaritzburg, a plaque marks the spot where he was ejected from a train, the crucial event that catalyzed his political struggles. An impressive statue of him' adorns Gandhi Memorial Hall in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Ladysmith. ..
A UGUST , 1 998 HI N DUISM T OD AY 23
. CULTURE
Traditions Tend Toward Transition As divergent cultures commingle, will any remain the same?
By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN INDUS IN SOUTH AFRICA FACE THE
same cultural conundrums as those in other countries. While Eastern traditions of art, music, dance, dra-
ma and storytelling thrive among Indian as well as Colonial and African communities, the core question remains: How much should we assimilate, integrate, adapt and transform our traditional arts in order to better fit into our locale, or in response to creative fervor? Debates -along these lines rage within ~ocial circles, and the answers remain largely inconclusive, seeming to be more a matter of individual choice and opinion than a cultural ethic.
Even close sisters disagree. Heeranju and Netra Prabdial are young tutors of Indian classical dance. They were enrolled for training as children, and both have furthered their talents out of genuine interest and determination to develop artistically. But they differ somewhat on the issue of cultural fusion. Heeranju, the younger, expressed disquiet that many teenagers, especially those in secondary schools, are ashamed of their culture and traditions. "They are becoming too Westernized," she admonishes, arguing that, "The promotion of Hindu culture is crucial in a multicultural country like ours in the midst of the present circumstances of transition. I would not like us to lose any aspect of Indian art through assimilation. We need to preserve th'e Indian identity rather than submerge aspects of it in the interests of a br~ader South African identity." Netra, on the other hand, is not so convinced. "I am not totally opposed to amalgamation," she counters. "In sacrificing some aspects of Indian art, we would be enriching ourselves by drawing from another"'of South Africa's cultural groups."
Heeranju also blames a lack of understanding of Indian languages as fostering youth uninterested in Eastern songs. "Many are unable to understand the rich and profound Indian lyrics," she laments.
24 HINDUISM TODA·Y AUGUST , 1998
With these issues at the fore, in April, Igg8, the Dr. Salem Jayalakshmi International Centre for Performing Arts, Durban, in conjunction with the University of Durban-Westville, staged the International Carnatic Music Conference, focusing on the theme of "Carnatic music into the 21ST century." The' assembly sought to envision the direction that Carnatic music in particular was headed, noting that, "In the 20TH cen-
Dance trance: (~bove) Popular dances in Durban are ballet, rrwdem tribal and Indian. Bhamtnatyam star Suria Gov~nder is at right. The Prabdial family (left to right): Pandita Nanackchand, Isham, Heeranju and Netra. ......................................................... ; ...... . tury, all ragas are played on violin, harmonium, flute, clarinet, guitar and saxophone." All of th~se, except the flute (if it's bamboo), are ot Western origin. They also speculated that "In the 21ST century, all ragas will be played on key
boards as well as adopted by other forms of'" music." They urged an exploration of "harmony in ragas." • Raj Govender, the Regional Head of Arts, Culture and Youth Affairs for the government of KwaZulu Natal, one of South Africa's nine regions, feels no threat to the Indian identity. "Indians have kept their culture alive through the observance of religious and cultural festivals, especially in the
• I
rural areas. They brought with them simple musical instruments, which they preserved and developed over the years." Still, Govender, concedes, Hindu arts have undergone transformations recently to suit th~ masses and the youth. "However," he says, "the basic elements of song, music and ~ance have been retained."
Govender proudly reports that annual Government funding to linguistic and cultural organisations by the Department of Arts and Culture has greatly aided the promotion of Hindu art forms in South Africa. Recipients include the Hindi Shiksha Sangh, the Natal Tamil Vedic Society, the Andhra Maha Sabha and the Gujarati Parishad. Awards range from US$lOo-$2,000.
Marveling at the large numbers of Hindus, especially youth, who pack temples on auspicious festivals 'such as Sivaratri, Govender points to an art and culture rejuvenation among Indians. He cites the enthusiastic observation of festivals such as Holi and' Pongal, and he boasts that the observance ofDiwali has never waned in the more than 138 years of Indian presence here.
Fashion foibles: With no apparent regrets, South African Indian women no longer limit themselves to any specific mode of dress. Often their clothes-be they trendy Western attire, ethnic African fashions or elegant Eastern wear-are dictated by the decorum of the occasion. This was not always so. Seventy-four-year-old Pandita Nanackchand, grandmother of Heeranju and Netra, says that during her youth, dresses worn by girls had to extend beyond th'e knees, preferably down to -the ankles. The wearing of saris was virtually obligatory once girls had entered their early teens, while wearing jeans and pants was altogether taboo.
The Pandita's daughter, Ishara Prabdial, mother of Netra and Heeranju, believes Indian women are generally loyal to their traditional attire and take pride in wearing Eastern outfits, but that circumstances do not alw,ays allow them to do so. "Socio-economic considerations demand that women have to find employment, and they often dress in what is comfortable or prescribed by the employer," she says. Heeranju states that if she is attending a prayer or wedding service, she would definitely dress in Indian attire, but feels that there is nothing indecent about wearing shorts if she has to visit the beach. Netra concurs, "The wearing of jeans, T-shirts and takkies are the norm, but on religious occasions, the Hifidu female students generally dress in traditional garb."
Netta has noticed a significant interest by non-Indian students in traditional Indian dress and adornments, including nose rings. So if Indians are diluting their dress to some degree, there is -;'ome small compensation provided by the fond embrace of their ethnic neighbors. " ~
HlUnw<rand sustainer of the Hindu Studies department '" EDUCATION
Enrolling in Hind __ ism A SUGden silence in once full classrooms does not drive Durban's C<dean of dharma" to dismay
By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN HE UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN-WEST
ville was established in 1960 as an exclusively "Indian" university under the country's apartheid race laws. But it would be another twenty-one years be
fore the Department of Hindu Studies was launched by Guru H.G. Dewa in Ig81. The department commenced with less than twelve students, with Dewa being the only staff meJIlber for the first five years. During its peak, the department saw two additional staff -\llembers appointed to teach 135 students. Enrollment has since shrunk drastically, and presently there are only 15 students. This phenomenon is not unique to Hindu Studies, but is mirrored in other language and religious departments.
While Hindu studies have attracted predominantly Hindu students, over the years there have been a few Christian, Moslem and black students. "Judging from their remarks," 'professes Dewa, "these students have found the courses extremely in~resting and innovative." Yet the number of nonHindu enrollees remains small. D~wa, 60,
who possesses a Masters in Indian Philosophy as well as a doctorate in Hinduism, believes the decline is simply because Hindu Studies does not lead to lucrative career op-
portunities. The changing racial composition of the campus, where an increasing number of African stJ}dents are now being admitted, may also account for the sharp drop in student interest.
The core curriculum of Hindu Studies ranges from elementary to detailed aspects of Hindu theology and philosophy, including undergraduate courses as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, and post-graduate courses towards a Doctorate in Hindu Studies. The Department is research-oriented as well. "W:e investigate many aspects of Indian culture and the direction itj s taking todw We have also conducted extensive research on human rights issues that affect the development of Hinduism," reports Dewa. Publications regularly manifest from such efforts. To date, the department has submitted two articles to government..recognized journals, Human Rights and Hinduism and Derrwcratic'Ideals and Hinduism in South Africa. Various pamphlets and bulletins are also produced regularly, as well as the monthly newsletter, Nidan.
South African by birth, Dewa has been steeped in religion since chitdhood. He tells, "I learned about many aspects of Hinduism on the knees of my mother." He is closely affiliated with the Vedanta Mission. ..
AUGUST , 1998 HINDUISM TODAY 25
Maharaja.s menu: Shareeii Khan welcomes guests at Durban's Jewel of India restaurant
CUJSINE
Appetite for Asian Spice South Africans relish their Inc;lian dining options
By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN RANSCENDING ANY OTHER CULTURAL considerations, the allure of Asian
food wins Indians a welcome seat within diverse cOIllIll,unities worldwide, and South Africa is ho exception. Tradition
al Indian food is easily obtainable here, in either elegant or workaday eateries. In fact, new ;-estaurants serving Indian cuisine and othe culinary delights from the East continue to spring up all aver the country.
The Jewel of India, which opened in 1996, is located on the ground floor of the Holiday Inn Crown Plaza, ane ; of Durban's pash beachfront hotels. Delectable Eastern aromas greet all who enter this exclusive restaurant, while mellifluous Indian melodies set the aural setting and, to top the ambiance, Indian dancers perform on a strategically located stage. For those who. require the ulti: mate in Indian nostalgia, the Palace Roam allows guests to enjoy their royal rations while seated in a circle on the floor.
Mr. Ajit Kanakia, an Indian national from Mumbai and proud awner of the Jewel, explains that his clientele cuts across the racial spectrum of South Africa, and includes numerous overseas tourists. The Jewel's foill' chefs hail from India, and Kanakia relies on his North Indian menu to keep customers hungry for more. "These foods are extremely versatile and popular all over the world," he asserts. "The meals that we serve enable South African Indians to recannect with India by putting them in touch with part af their traditions. At the same time, visiting Indian nationals can feel right 'at home while traveling afar." Kanakia owns a second Indian restaurant in the Cape.
Echoing Kanakia, Mr. Rajen Frank, manager of GuIzar restaurant which opened in Durban two years ago, notes, "Eastern cuisine is spreading rapidly amangst all South Africans, and there is a ready market for Eastern food throughout the world. Wher
ever you go, traditional Indian fapd will always stand aut from every other cuisine." The GuIzar serves North and South Indian food, enjoys ,a racially Inixed patronage and hosts Eastern cultural events. "La~ year we hosted one segment of the Miss India South Africa pageant," Frank boasts.
Undeniably, relished traditions af cooking and consuming are aspects of the Eastern lifestyle that have been deemed worthy to preserve, but the ethic of vegetarianism has been given lesser priority. Thaugh the majority of Indian restaurants !;tere are nonvegetarian, most do offer vegetarian. meals. The Patel's Vegetarian Restauratit is one af the few exclusively vegetarian outlets. In fact, it's virtually a landmark, being over 80 years old. Business is profitable for Patel, though he has reported a recent decline due to. an increase in crime in the area. But he is used to ebb and flow and thearizes that as mare devotees join Hindu movements that prescribe vegetarianism, his outlet will profit. Despite senior Patel's hopeful scenario, the .number of vegetarians among South Africa's Indian population appears to be
Floored: The Jewel of India's luxurious Palace Room
Another virtual victual monument is central Durban's Victory Lounge, owned by Mr. Billy Maodley. Perhaps the Lounge's greatest victory has been rern,aining in existence for 52 years. Once heavily patronized, the restaurCU!t is still as famous for its mouth-watering sweets as it is for its ~ye-watE~ring curries. "I am here because
26 HINDUISM TOD A-Y AUGUST, Igg8
rapidly declining. And while th~Jew vegetarian restaurants that already exist are popular, there appears to. be little interest in establishing more.
Apart from the meals served at Patel's preInises, a huge slice af his sales are generated by his renowned sweetshop, which attracts customers from all parts of KwaZulu Natal. The sweetshop's proprietor, sixty-sixyear-old Prem Ratanjee, says, "African patronage of m.,y store has increased as more Africans have adopted Hinduism."
I love spicy foad," patron Malose Manaka, an African from Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province, told HINDUISM TODAY. He adds( "There are also several Indian restaurants in Johannesburg that I visit regularly." • You need not pound the pavement to fmd a feast. Simply log-on the Web and visit A Touch of Spice restaurant at its award-winning site. It's worth a visit, even if you're not hungry. You may even like to join the faod fanatic's on-line Curry Club. ....'
WWW.SQUTHAFRICA.CO.ZAlSPICE/
Not ready for 2000: Danish citizens in national costume gathered in Copenhagen in alphabetic order to protest the proposed adoption of English as the national language of Europe
TALL TALES
:Meet. "Eilro-English" Five-year plan to inaugurate uniform language calls for incremental speling revisions
UROPEAN UNION (EU) COMMISSIONERS have annaunced that agreement has finally been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for Eurapean
communications, rather than German, the other passibility. As part of the final negotiations, hawever, Her M/fjesty's Government conceded that English spelling had some roam for improvement and has accepted a five-year phased plan far what wID be known as "EuroEnglish" -or Eura for shart.
ben a deterent to. akurate speling. Also, al wil agre the horible mes of silent "e"s in the languaj is disgrasful, and they wauld go. By the forth yer, peopl wil be reseptiv to aditional steps such as replasing "th" by "z" and "w"by v.
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "0" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou," and similar changes vud af kors be aplid to. ozer kombinations of leters. After zis flfz yer, ve viI hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer viI be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun viI fmd it ezi .tu understand ech ozer. Ze drem viI fmali kum tru.
In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c." Sertainly, siviI servants will resieve this news with joy. Also, the hard "c" will be replaced with "k." Not anly will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have ane less key. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced by "£" Western Europe: All This will make words like fo- ac0Pting Euro-English
This whole propasal may sound preposterous to. you, and, of course, it js-all a joke played up an you, aw loyal readers. There is no such propasal to reform the spelinger, spelling-of English. However, it did seem a gaad way to. introduce HINDUISM ToDAY'S first-ever special cartograf 20 per sent shorter.
In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are passible. Gavernment will enkorage the removal of double letters, which have always
toon section on the following seven pages, which showcases our cartaonists and celebrates the lighter side af Hinduism. So, to the kOInikaly-khalenged, we say, "Lite))' up and laf along vit us." Auf Wiedersehen. ....'
Surrounding Iraivan Temple is an
extraordinary botanical garden
paradise, providing an area of
contemplative, natural beauty.
Pilgrims enjoy groves of plumeria,
konrai, hibiscus, heliconia, native
Hawaiian plant species and more.
At the entrance to the 51-acre
sanctuary is Americas only forest of
healing rudraksha trees. Send US$ 12
to purchase a single-bead necklace
of a sacred rudraksha, and receive as
our gift another bead to plant at
home to grow your own tree,
1-808-822-3012, ext. 23 7
E-mail: [email protected] http://www. HinduismToday Kauai.hi.us/ashram/lraivan.html
RUDRAKSHA FOREST
SAN MARGA IRA/VAN TEMPLE
/07 KAHOLALELE ROAD
KAPAA. HI 96746-9304 USA
A TE MP LE BUILT T O LAST 1. 0 00 YEARS
INSIGHT
LIG
\~ ,
28 HINDUISM '11 0DAY AUGUST, 1998
P! Spicas In the Malting Pot
.•. T.AJ!.E A 6MAL'- cAN ~r ~ICOT-rA CH.eeSE MO MIX ~I"H A PIS'TFLJ 1-1-OF F!"ou~ ••• A~.P iWO FIN~eR-PIP t)F' &1Hee. lo-J11H. ONe. PINCH OF SAI-i .... • r:~ T LlNil L.. ~o l..t' f<. IS ~ U1'T'''(... iHE=N SOp...f'... INit) A S1~IN(b .. 1+11CI< OF S·O~t.1p. ••
«Fir~t time I've driven around under the Influence .... under the influence of spiritual company that isr' Austral~ un~versity student Manthakumar Satgunaaln expressmg h'lS rare pleasure of hostin a . . gam occasion of a 1998 temple foundation gg~ouswnad-mb~ m Pk~rlh, on the
rea mg ceremony
.~ J
ALL CARTOONS COURTESY MANIC'X. SQRCAR
Manick Sorcar Electrical engineer of Denver, Colorado, and son of the late P.e. Sorcar, India's legendary magician, Manick Sorcar is undoubtedly a top expresser of the US Indian immigrant experience. His illustrations, touching the heart of cultural integration challenges, are compiled in two volumes-The Melting Pot, Indians in America, and Spices in the Melting Pot, both available via his website at www.manicksorcar. com. But Sorcar doesn't stop here. What began as an effort to teach his two daughters their heritage, led him to create an award-winning series of one-man animated videos for children, mixing his hand-drawn art with computer-generated art and animation, along with original music, to showcase Indian culture.
A UG UST , 199 8 HINDUISM TODAY 29
jJ./..L THIS waR/<, SO
PllAfAOH (AN /tAVt' ANoTtff~ /../Ff IN THE HEfEAFTffl/
Po you CtllfVi IN orHE! LiVES',
ffNlf?
Frank" Ernest
Bob Thaves Frank & Ernest are the stars of Bob Thaves' innovative single-panel comic strip. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and read by 25 million people daily. Frank & Ernest are as comfortable offering whimsical comments on the creation of the universe as they are about taxes or software. Drawing since boyhood, Bob's formal art training consisted of studying various cartoonists and their work. As a boy, he could identify cartoons by different cartoonists without being able to see their signatures. More than 2,000 episodes of Frank & Ernest may be found at www:frankandernest.com.
,(E.>, J: Gf~IEVE J: HAP PlfVlOIIS lJVf~, ANI):r ~J,./~Vf IN Tf'IE L.IFE AFTf/2. WHAT :r DON'T ifL/fvr If THAT THIS' i.IFE
1$ HAPP~NING!
30 HINDUISM TODAY AUGUST, Igg8
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?
FRANK & ERNEST Q BOB THAVES (REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION)
Bill Watterson
\~u.. eXI$TE:NCS IS A JOJcEI.? ,. you CAN'T ie
Calvin " Hobbes Bill is the creator of Calvin & Hobbes, an engaging chronicle of a six-year-old's psyche, which appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when it ceased publication January 1, 1996. In announcing his retirement, Bill said he was eager to work at a more thoughtful pace. with fewer artistic compromises.
~t>:V~~ ._ >~IOUS! yY
Karma Kat TAMAS, RAJAS AND SATIVA. THE PANEL TO THE RIGHT IS
A GRAPH SHOWING THE BALANCE IN MY THREE
ACCOUNTS.
RAJAS
It's all right to hold a conversation, but you should let go of it now and then.
CALVIN AND HOBBES Q BILL WATTERSON FR.A.NK IX ERNEST © BOB THAVES (REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION), KARMA KAT ~BARRY GELLER
Barry Geller
Barry Geller, 64. is the creator of Karrna Kat and a devotee of Swami Prakashanand Saraswati. He raised a family of three children and became a graphic designer and illustrator. His work was published in well known consumer magazines including Fortune. Time. Cosmopolitan. Esqu.ire and others. His awards include citations of merit from the New York Society of illustrators and publication of his work in the Swiss graphic arts annual, Graphis. Barry and his wife, Nan, now live at Barsana Dham in Austin. Texas.
AUGUST, Igg8 HINDUISM T ODAY 31
l M[GHT HA.UE BEEN A SLUG. IN MY' LAST
liFE. TArS fS A STEPUP !
OR ••• t COUto HAIJE BEEN. A HUMAN •. BUT. JUDGING BY THE WAY' SOME HUMAN.S
TREAT EACH OTHER. (WONDER ...
WOULD THAT BE A . STEP UP' .. ORA
STEP DOWN?
Mario de Miranda One of India's fmest cartoonists, Mario was born at Daman in 1936, grew up in Goa and was educated at Bangalore and Mumbai. After working many years for The Times of India, he now freelances, drawing for The Economic Times and a strip for The Afternoon in Mumbai. He is married, has two sons and lives in Goa. Check out his three gatefold toons and the Mumbai scene on the right.
"Thank you for calling The Yoga Studio. 1 ore about the benefits of yoga, press"
To learn m d hold it for 20 minutes. with your pinky toe an
Randy Glasbergen
Randy lives with his family in New York. He began his cartooning career in high school. Besides one year as a staff writer at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, he has been a full-time freelance cartoonist since 1972. More than 20,000 of his cartoons and comic illustrations have been published around the world. More of his cartoons may be found at www.norwich.netl-randygltoon.html
32 HINDUISM TODAY AUGUST, 199 8
~ 1998 Randy Glasbergen.
~.
"My Horoscope doe'~siin~Fsa:Yi~mrlnlg ha . h- about V1ng a eart attack today, so bring me
a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshak " e.
MARlO PH OTO COURTESY INDIAN COUNCIL F OR CULTURAL RELATIONS; RANDY PHOT O COURTESY OF RANDY GLASBERGEN
CARTOON COURTESY MARIO DE MIRANDA A U GU ST , 199 8 HINDUISM TODAY 33
The Best of Laxman
I> d Ie belongs to the sixth centu-
.. . this exquisitely ca~e temPI Right now the police are ry and has great anttque va ue. lookingforit ...
"You can observe so much by just watching." Yogi Berra, baseball playar & comic
I developed an interest in these things in America when I went there recently for the festival .
34 HINDUISM T OD A Y A U G UST, 1998
R. K. Laxman
Laxman was born in 1924 in Karnataka. Graduating from Mysore University, he drew cartoons for Free Press Journal in Mumbai and later joined The Times of India, where he's been a staff cartoonist for 45 years. Often referred to as "Mr. Times of India," he appears daily on page one. He is married, has a son and lives in Mumbai.
This Village must be pretty advanced-they have folk dances here for entertainment just as we have in the city!
BOOX RESOURCES: PENGUIN nOOK OF INDIAN CARTOONS AND THE BEST OF LAXMAN, PENGUIN BOOKS INDIA, 2 10 CHlRANJIV TOWERS , 43 NEHRU PLACE, NEW DELHI 1100 19 INDIA; HOW TO
DRAW AND SELL CARTOONS , NORTHLIGHT BOOKS , 1507 DANA AVENUE, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45207 USA; ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CARTOONING TECHNIQUES AND BLITZ CARTOONING KIT, RUN
NING PRESS , 125 SOUTH 22ND STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19103-4399 USA
CARICATURE COURTESY INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS , CARTOONS COURTESY THE PENGUIN BOOK OF INDIAN CARTOONS AND THE BEST OF LAXMAN
Port of Spain: The royal cannon of Fort George---hu,ilt by the British in 1805-now Silently overlook Trinidad's capital city
ISLAND HERITAGE
:Trinidad Pundit Power Keepers of a different kind of canon law maintain the faith for multitudes of Hindus
By ANIL MAHABIR, TRINIDAD , Y AMBITION IS TO BE A GOOD PUN
dit like my great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father," 19-year
_ old Umesh Persad told me. '1 want to attain liberation and Self-Realization. I want to communicate with God. I want to be confident and assist my Hindu community whenever I can. These are different times. The world is no~ a global village, and there is a need for the pundits to keep abreast with what is happening." Umesh received a national scholarship from the Government of Trinidad after excelling in the Advanced Level Cambridge exams-straight AS in' math, physics and chemistry-and is now an engineering student at the University of the West Indies. Like the other 259 pundits in Trinidad, of which he is the youngest, he will pursue his religious duties of teaching, counseling and worship in addition to following a secular profession. If Umesh is a barometer, then the pundit community which has guided Trinidad for 150 years is well prepared to enter the 21st century.
Upon the abolition of slavery in Trinidad
Fourth generation: Pundit Umesh Persad, 19, a national scholarship winner, continues his family tradition
in 1838, the fre~d African slaves left the sugar cane estates for higher paying jobs in the towns. Workers were then, brought from India. The very first group of 197 Hindus arrived in Trinidad on May 30, 1845, on the ship Fatal Razack after a months-long, oppressively crowded and hazardous journey from India around Cape Horn, Africa. Ten brahmin pundits were among them, accord.ing to Sat Maharaj, president of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Trinidad's largest pundit organization. Ultimately 143,000 persons, about 60 percent men, came undef the indentured servitude scheme. They originated mostly in the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar regions of North India, with sgme from Calcutta and Chennai.
About 10 percent were brahmins, even though, according to Dr. Kusha Harracksingh of the University of the West Indies, "Recruitment in India was designed to bypass brahmins. The stated opinion of the British colonial masters was that brahmins were not suited for hard work." More practically, the policy kept the educated brahmins from providing a focus for dissent, as well as denied spiritual guidance to the Hindus.
Secretly, brahmins did join the five-year schemes of labor by concealing their caste identity to the recruiters. For example, those
A UGUST , 19 98 HIND U I S M TODAY 35
· Far from home: T1iough high-caste brahmi~, the first pundits arnved as indentured laborers. It t.ook them but a short time to assume religious leaa;rship of the islands' Hindus.
Early pundits: (upper left) Pundit Lakshmi Persad of Aranjuez; (above) Gajraj Maharaj, one of the first to come from India; (left) Sumasar Maharaj of San Fernando
with . the brahmin caste name Agnihotri changed it to.the lower caste name Maharaj, which remains today a common name in Trinidad. Some came because other emigrants pleaded .with them to provide reli- ..... gious guidance in their new home. Life was very hard in India at the time-a famine lasting fIfty years was in progress. The First Indian Revolution, also calle;d the Sepoy Mutiny, occurred in 1857 and brought repressive measures from the Bri.fish-especially in the areas of India most emigrants came from. It is not surprising then that a group of young, single brahmin men would seek better circumstances elsewhere.
Initially, all came under a fIve-year program and intended to return to liidia. When the term expired, few did because the conditions which had caused them to leave India in the fIrst place had not changed and because the Trinidad colonial rulers provided those who stayed with land to develop.
36 HINDUISM TOD A,Y AUGUST, Igg8
Initially thl=! brahmins kept their id'entities concealed, lived in poverty like the rest of the immigrants and worked very hard in the fIelds. It was only around 1870, after a signifIcant number of Hindus had settled permanently on the island, villages formed and conditions improved, that they took up their religious training duties. Technically speaking, these brahmins had incurred demerit, even loss of caste, by crossing the ocean, but practically speaking, the Hindu ~mmunity desperately needed their services and was disinclined to quibble. When they came forward to lead, they were accepted.
At the outset, the pundits were engaged in traditional ritual worship. But that evolved out of necessity into a more comprehensive role. Sat Maharaj explains that today, '''The pundits are doing much more than puja. We in the Malla Sabha have been holding seminars on topical issues such as cloning and suicide and virtually everything under the
sun-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, ethics and values, the young Hindu and the modern world, fashion, drugs, etc." Umesh's .father, Pundit Hardeo Persad, says he gives a Sunday morning sendce, with lecture Jilld cl:i.scussion. "I also provide counseling to those who have problems." This pattern 's close to that of the Christian minister whose responsibilities extend to all aspects of follower's lives, not just religious practice. Such a ministerial system commonly arises in the religious life of immigrant communities of all faiths. Pundit Ramesh Tewarie, the influJ
ential head of Edinburgh Hindu Temple, said, "We counsel the youth and those suffering from drug abuse, domestic violence and other family matters."
1\11 of Trinidad's traditional pundits practice on a part-time basis. "One 'can live off religious work in India," said Hardeo Persad, ''but in Trinidad it is different. If I did not have a formal nonreligious job-I am a
Lifting the spirit: (above) Maha Sabhapundits gatherfora 12-hour, nonstop yagna (prafjer) for the nation's peace in March, 1998. (below) Pundit Sinanan peryorming puja for the Ramhit family in preparation for the final exams of brother Kevin (at far right) in June, 1998.
A thriving tradition: Passing their knowledge from father to son, the pundit families have maintained their dutie and responsibilities to the islands to this day
school teacher-my son Umesh would not have been well educated." Pundit Tewarie works, too, as the Commercial OffIcer for the Canadian High Commission.
The community's biggest problem, said Persad, "is that American life is glamorized and made to look superior, while the lifestyle of Hindus is made to look backward and inferior. Youngsters want to enjoy t;he best of both w orlds- the wild liberty of the Western world, and when the energy r~s out, they seek spirituality and Self Realization." Tewarie observes, "The vast portion of those at the temple are young people. It is amazing how they stick to Hinduism. The evangelical brigade which has attempted to slaughter HindUism has had a reversal effect~
There is one complaint. Ashram B. Maharaj shares it: "PUndits who come directly from India on a temporary basis often create division. by criticizing the practices of the local pundits. But the local pundit commu-
nity is what ke.eps the religions alive, not those from India." Pundit Narendra Ragoonanan, educated in, Vedic rituals and scriptures at Banaras Hindu University disa$l"ees. "Great swamis from India are,doing good work here, and some are establishing permanent centers [such as Chinmaya Mis-• sion]." Narendra and his wife Aswinee conduct a full-time ministry of worship, counseling, astrology and charitable ~orks.
A signifIcant change has occurred ~th the 1995 election of the fIrst Hindu Prime Minister, the Honorable Basdeo Panday. "It has caused a kind of reawakening of Hindus because the PM publically practices his faith without fear and shame," states Tewarie. 'i\Jso, laws are now coming to protect Hinduism and give it an equal place with other faiths."
In one sense, the Hindus in Trinidad are ahead of those in other Western countries, for the brahmin community already has evolved into a group serving a broader func-
tion than scholarship and ritual ~orship, and hence is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. In America, most priests have no trai!).ing beyond ritual worship, and cannot, for example, address th~ urge!).t concerns of the youths attending their temples, nor even explain the meaning of the rituals to them in English.
Pundit Umesh Persad is hopefully a sign of this reawake'ning, for here is a young Hindu who could pursue many options, including emigration to America in pursuit of a more lucrative job. Instead, he has decided to not only continue, but to remold and adjust his religio.us obligations to the needs of the ' times. And it is good news that many other youth are taking an interest in their ancient faith.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CONTACTS: llAHA. SABIIA HEADQUARTERS, EASTERN MAIN ROAD, ST.
AUGUSTINE. PUNDrr RAlCEBH TEWARIB. EDINBURGH DHARMlC SABHA, # 18 EDINBURGH GARDENS, CHAGUANAS.
PANDIT NARENDRA RAGOONANAN. CORNER RICKSON &: BACK STREET, EL DORADO, TUNAPUNA
AUGUST , 1998 HINDUISM TODAY 37
• DIVINE ARTS -
Telling -the Future by Shells Kerala's unique form of astrological predicti?n
VRIliI DAVANAM S. GOPALAKRISHNAN KERALA, INDIA
YOTISH SURENDRAN IS IN THE 19TH generation of a family of astrologers who ltrace their origins to 1237cE and the arrival of Guru Bhattathiri in the small
town of Pazhoor Padipura, Kerala. Surendran is a practitioner of a specialized form o astrology, apparently founded by Bhattathiri and unique to this area of Kerala, which uses 108 shells to give advice and predict the future. Each morning Surendran does three hours of puja· worship to Lord Ganesha aJ;ld to Guru 'Bhattathiri, whose sa1lWdhi shrine (burial tomb) is within the compound. "Only after invoking his blessings will I begin my practice," Surendran explained to HINDUISM TODAY. "There are over 4 000 books on astrology," he said, 'out one may not become a complete astrologer without support from the divine power."
n;\,in,~tilnn' Astrologer Surendmn explaining what the shells and pbsitions indicate
position of the planets at the moment the person arrives (which, used alone, is the system of divination caJled hom). Other supplementary methods, he says, include reading of betel leaves, observation of an oil lamp and the drawing of the astrological chart's outline (rasichakm) by the client. The birth chart of the person is not required.
He follows the divination system called
Ashta1lWngalay Prasnam, which uses 108 small conch shells specially selected, cleaned and sanctified. Mter reciting 1lWntras, the shells are mixed and the first part, ganitha, or calculations, begins. Some are picked up and kept separately. They are divided into differeBt parts of four each, and the balance determines the zodiacal position o£ the visitor. According to P.R. Krishnakumar of Coimbatore, a prominent businessman and . ardent follower of the system, the selection of the shells is used in conjunction with the
The astrologer begins his reading. As the person confirms the information divined, the phalabagm, predi~tions and remedies, are recommended. A group of astrologers
Christians Encroach on Ancient Shrine
R ANCHALI HILL IS named after Draupadi,
, wife of the five Pandavas of the Mahabham-
tao Upon this hill in Keralas Idukki district stood the very old remains of temple stones and deities. Local Hindu residents, mostly illiterate tribal people, told HINDUISM TODAY that Christian encroachers removed the image of Goddess Shakti from the summit of Panchali Hill and broke into pieces footprints in stone believed to be those of the Pandavas. Now only large granite slabs of the original shrine remain, and fifteen concrete crosses have been placed from
the road up to the hilltop where the Goddess was once enshrined
According to Bhaskaran, an old man who had looked after the small sanctum in the past, the entire nearby land of several hundred acres was in the possession of a Hindu family for many years. They had rented it for cultivation from a Move In, take over: 15 crosses up the hill Christian family. Then under the land reforms of the 1950s, Christians took peFmanent possession of all but ten acres, including the temple.
Recently Christians even gained possession of half that area Hindus living in the area- about 60 families-con-
38 HINDUISM TOD A,Y AUGUST , 1998
tinue to visit the holy site and offer prayers. From the top of this hill the sacred lamp of Sabarimala can be seen.
As a result of Ohristian efforts, several important local landmarks have been renamed after Christian saints.
The cross construction is the work of Christian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the area in projects of organic farming, herbal and medicinal plant cultivation and other social welfare programs using funds from the government, according to Mr. Aravindakshan, president of the temple protection committee. ....
CONTACT: ARAVINDAKSHAN. NEETHI STORE, KERALA STATE WAREHOUSING
CORPORATION, XATJ'A.LTANA. IDUXJa DISII'R1 CT, KERAU
consulting together can unravel complex problems. In the past, says Surendran, all the problems of a family, such as illness, wealth, and life expectancy, were revealed by this meth,9d in sessions that could last for days. However, with the advent of modernism" such a thorough guidance from the shells is today almost nonexistent, he said~
'1\t least 70 percent of my visitors, numbering around 15 daily except on Saturday, are Christians," Surendran said. " Ever;t; parish priests come with problems faced by the church- ' es-following the example of Hindu temple managers who consult Surendran and fellow astrologers for advice. Ten percent of his clients are Muslims. Hindus, who are supposed to be the believe:tS in this Vedic system, are by and large moving away from.it. The Christians, who do not openly admit its accuracy and brand it as superstj.tion, privately embrace it. One' famous astrologer in Chengarmur, Mohanan Namboothiri, said, 'J\s the Christians become rich, they are more and more becoming the
. ardent believers of astrology. It has been proved that when they commenced their ventures at the time as suggested by me, their business flourished." G.A .. Thomas, a Christian now workfug in the Gulf States said, "My marriage, securing an over~eas job and otheF important events were predicted by Surendran with 99
./ " percent accuracy.
HOLY S t T E S
Rebuilding Sab~rimala Hindus propose a comprehensive plan to modernize the popular pilgrimage destination
Gq,ne under the ambitious plan by the group of 52 local religious organizations will be the random collection of metal-roofed ' concrete buildings which presently nearly obscure the centrai sanctuni. An area of 230 hectares (2.3 square kilometers) surrounding the small central temple will be completely rebuilt, allowing an outer wall for the temple complex to be 600 meters in circumference, with towers built in each of the four directions, all according to traditional Kerala ' temple architecture.
Remedies to overcome bad times usually require worship of Lord Siva. Thomas explained
Grand plans: Swami Sathyananda wants Sabari1lWla area rebuilt
Outside the wall, pilgrim facilities are plarmed on a scale sufficient for the huge crowds. For the ordinary pilgrim, the biggest change will be a reduetion in the time required to stand in queue to reach the sanctum sanctorum from the present twelve hours to just two and a half Another major change wiY be the simple availability of water. Presently pilgrims buy bottled water even to bathe, as there is no other useable supply. Viewing galleries
that since it would be difficult for the Christians to do so, they were advised to worship St. George (patron saint of England, slayer of the gragon), keeping in mind Lord Siva. Alternatively, reports Surendran, the Christians will have a Hindu friend'do the o{ferings on their behalf in a Hindu temple.
Even a little-known astrologer can earn an income of several thousand rupees a month, while those of some renown can earn that in a day. The new residential house of Mr. Surendran which I toured is certainly a clear indication of his earnings. His old house, which has been the center of astrology for several centuri~ is going to be transformed into a museum.
. Among the various methods of astrological analysis, Surendran believes the conch shell divination to be the best, be it to ascertain a family problem, a temple problem or even that of a ch&ch. ..
CONTACT: SURENDRAN, PIRAEVOM , PAZHOOR PADIPURA, E-RNARKULA.M DISTRIcT, KERALA , INDIA
• . ;'
By VRINDAVANAM S. GOPALAKRISHNAN ILLIONS OF HINDUS COME TO WORship Lord Ayappan at His temple in Sabarimala in a remote area of Kerala State, South India, during the No
vember-to-January pilgrimage season. The crowds have totally overwhelmed the meagre facilities. A group of environmentalists reported, '1\ post-seasonal visit to Sabarimala is a nauseating experience. TIle whole area looks like the garbage dump of a huge city such as Calcutta or Mumbai. The air is filled with fue stench of decaying flesh from donkeys who died after hauling in supplies
·and from 3,000 overflowing latrines. The entire area surrounding the central shrine is covered with tons of solid and liquid wastea fertile breeding ground for flies and-mosquitoes."
Swami Sathyananda Saraswati, chairman of the Hindu Dnity Forum, has armounced a master plan to rebuild the area's entire infrastructure at a total cost of uS$l25,ooO,000 .
are plarmed such that on January 14, 2.5 million people could Simultaneously' witness the "Divine Jyothi," or light-the culmination of the year's worship. The plan also calls for nearby deforested areas to be replanted.
£wami Sathyananda believes the project could be easily funded,.Jrom the temple's yearly income of $7.5 mi'llion and frO'm the tens of millions in taxes which result from the temple's presence. Swami complains, however, that, as with other temples in Kerala, management is overseen by various boards whose executiv> committees are political appointees and not necessarily devotees of the temple, OJ,; even Hindus. Muslims and Christians in Kerala run their institutions without government oversight. In the early 1990s, then Chief Minister of Kerala A.K. Antony favored the reconstruction, but subsequent administrations shelved it. _ ,
CONTACT: SRI llAMA D ASA ASHRAM, CHENXOTl'UKONAM, THIRUVANA.NTHAPURAM. KERALA, INDIA
A UG U S T , 1 998 H I N D U ISM T 0 DAY 39
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South Asia Books Your path to India for 28 years. 4,000 titles in active stock.
Newest titles in stock (Prices net and include shipping)
• Abbott. Life of Tukaram. • Griffith. Hymns of the Rigveda. • Alston. Devotional Poems of Mirabai. • Hiriyanna. Essentials of Indian Philosophy.
US$16.00 28.00
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• Monier Williams. Sanskrit-English Dictionary • Singh. Siva Sutras. • MacDonell. Vedic Grammar for Students. • Miller. Hindu Monastic Life. revised edition • Keshavadas. Ramayana at a Glance. • Wade. Music in India, Classical Traditions. • w.J. Wilkins. Hindu Mythology. pa. rep.
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Visa, MC, checks accepted.
Geeta Conference, Stanford University
The 12th International Geeta Conference August 7-9, 1998 Stanford University www.geetaconference.org.
The theme, "Reconnecting Spirituality and Technology through the Geeta," focuses on the value of spirituality and peace within oneself, in families, society and the world, and the relevance of the Geeta to all people and especially the youth. Hosts are the GEETA ASHRAMS OF THE AMERICAS, blessed and inspired by His Holiness Swami 108 Shri Hariharji Maharaj. Co-sponsors include the VIVEKANANDA VEDANTA SOCIETY and the CHINMAYA MISSION.
The Conference has gathered tremendous momentum and is looking for more volunteers, including hosts for international and out-of-town guests. About 2,500 people are expected. The keynote speaker is Dr. Karan Singh, former Union Minister of India and noted Bhagawata Geeta scholar. To volunteer and for more information, please call:
Pradeep Joshi Tel: 408-988-1498/988-1677 • Fax: 408-988-1870 E-mail: [email protected]
A Voishnovtl SQlllprOOQ)'Q of Hinduism
Learn Kriya Yoga from a Realized Master
The Kriya Yoga Institute welcomes sincere seekers to learn the authentic Kriya Yoga meditation technique. The God-realized living master of the original Kriya lineage, Parama-hamsa Hariharananda teaches at the Institute. Pararnaharnsaji attained the supreme pulseless and breathless state of nirvikalpa samadhi in 1948.
Kriya Yoga is a direct gift from God, and was taught by Krishna to Arjuna (Gita 4:1-2). The modern revival of Kriya Yoga began in 1861 when Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya. Swami Shriyukteshwar, a realized disciple of Lahiri Baba, initiated Paramahamsa Hariharananda into original Kriya Yoga. Hariharanandaji also received direct teachings from Paramahamsa Yogananda.
Initiation is available at the Institute on Saturdays at 9 am. Monthly ten-day intensives are offered. Direct initiation is also available at more than 25 centers countrywide by monks and yogacharyas of this lineage.
Kriya Yoga Institute • 24757 SW 167th Ave Homestead, FL 33031-1364, USA. Tel.: 305-247-1960 Fax: 305-248-1951. www.kriya.org • [email protected]
Controlling Sibling Rivalry Peaceful strategies for minor do~estic warfare
Big mistake: Hitting one of the children, as this father is doing, does nothing to stop rivalry
SHOULD I DO WHEN MY CHILdren fight with each other?" This
qwesI:lon opens the discussion on sibrivalry in the outstanding book
Positive Discipline A-Z, by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott and H. Stephen Glenn. They're well qualified to answer-Nelsen raised seven children, Lott and Glenn four apiece.
Sibling rivalry is normal. Parental overreaction is also normal, but actually lea,ds to increased fighting. Children fight, the authors explain, out of jealousy, perceived hurt, lack of place in the family or to get even. To reduce fighting, parents must instill a special sense of significance and belonging for each child and teach them alternatives to fighting.
Surprisingly, the 'authors state if you perceive one child to be the underdog and try to protect him, it usually makes the situation worse. Treat children the same. Say, "You can both go to separate rooms until you are ready to stop fighting." Do this even 'f one is a baby. It may seem ridiculous to put an innocent baby in his room. But if you don't treat them equally, you will train one to be a victim and the other to be a bully. Don't tell one, "You should know better! You're older!"
Sometimes you don't have to do anything. Hard as it may be, you can just let them fight until they work it out. You can say, "You can stop fighting, or else go outside to fight. If you choose to fight, I don't want to listen to it." Or instead of making them leave, you
leave. Believe it or not, say these experienced parents and counselors, a major reason kids fight is to get you involved, to get you to take their side and blame and punish the other child. Real danger, of course, such as a "rock about to be launched," requires immediate intervention-but not spanking.
You can send both to a room and tell them to come out only when they have solved their problem. Or you can interrupt t1J.e fight and ask if they are willing to put the matter on the agenda fqr a family meeting. Then, in the calm atmosphere of the meeting, ask each to share his oJ her ideas on why kids fight and alternatives to fighting. Discuss all these ideas, and ask which alternatives tliey'd like to use next time they are fighting.
Avoid creating a competitive atmosphere" in the home, for that is a root cause of sibling battles. Never compare children. You will encourage unhealthy competition, not improvement, by saying, "I know you c!l;!l do as well as your sister!" Let the kids know how much you appreciate the special qualities that set them apart from other kids. Don't pick favorites. At family meetings and other activities, stress how great it is that we are all different and we each bring different skills and ideas to the family. A loving atmosphere of acceptance and cooperation is the best hope' for a fight-free family. ..
POSITIVE DISCg:ii..INE A-Z: PRIMA PUBLISHING, P.O. BOX l Z6oHT, ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA 9 5677 USA
\ LemuW\ian Scrolls ANcnuc .1tO.lItCIU UYUUNG HUMAN OlIG1NS
Lemurian Scrolls is a remarkable
account of mankinds journey to
Earth four million years ago and of
the ensuing experiences and chal
lenges we faced. Using the mysti
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evolution from spiritual bodies of
light into human form and guide
our race through reincarnation
toward our divine potential.
Available August 1998. $29.85 .
1-800-890-1008 or
1-808-822-3152 (ext. 238)
Fax: 1-808-822-4351
E-mail: [email protected]
lEMURIAN SCROLLS
HIMAlAYAN ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS
1 07 KAHOlALELE ROAD
KAPAA. HI 96746- 9304 USA
BOOKS YO U CA N TAK E, SERI O U SLY
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CLASSIFIED
Classified ads are uS$25 for 20 words, $lIword for each additional word, payable in advance • Hinduism Today, 107 Kaholalele Rd, Kapaa, Hawaii, 96746-9304 USA. Tel: 800-850-1008 or 808-823-9620 • Fax: 808-822-4351, E-mail: [email protected]
Ashrams
Ananda Ashram. Sanskrit, meditation, yoga, cultural programs, intensives, retreats. One hour from New York City. Wooded setting. Tel: 914-782-5575. Fax: 914-774-7368 (USA).
Ayurvedic/Health
Discover Homeopathy! Books, tapes, medicines, software, information for laypeople or health professionals. Homeopathic Educational Services, 2124 W Kittredge, Berkeley CA 94704-2604 USA. Tel: 510-649-0294. Website: http://www.homeopathic.com
Avoid gum surgery-save your teeth. Natural home-care breakthrough fights advanced gum disease. Proven. Painless. Economical. Call: 800-533-1821. Website: www.albrite.com
Computer
Fast, friendly, fun software-Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, diacritics, all-inone for Windows, now on special offer. Call 416-315-3186 (Canada).
Devotional Supplies
Ganges clayfired statues for puja, meditation, immersion, other rituals. Sixty intricately hand-painted images, many hard to find. Color catalog includes 200 other deities. Send US$2 to: JBL, Box 163 H, Crozet, VA 22932-0163 USA.
Quality Incense from India. Golden Rose. Neel Kamal Pure Sandalwood cones, and more. Tel: 970-949-6329 USA Email: vel@vailnet
Beautiful wooden puzzles. Krishna, gods & goddesses. Also two games for Hindu children: "Memory" and 'Dominoes."Call Lakshmi: 209-337-2477 (USA). [email protected]
Education
Teachings of the Lord in the Heart. SRIIThe Spiritual Realization Institute. Devotional yoga as taught by His Holiness Jagannatha Dasa Puripada, a self realized Vaishnava master. Individual and group instruction; also mantra initiation with Sanskrit spiritual name. Ten-acre country waterfront retreat with deluxe accomodation and gourmet vegetarian cuisine. Authentic Vedic temple. Maharaj is also available for speaking engagements and seminars
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throughout the world. PO Box 305, Lockport, NY, 14095-0305 USA. Tel: 716-433-6322. Website: www.neonblue.comlsri E-mail: [email protected]
Excellent correspondence course on Vedic Astrology by Jyotish Krishnan, recipient of several awards including the recent award of Jyotish Vachaspathi by ICAS, India. Normal cost for four courses, US$558 (registration through May '98: $200 off). Tel/fax: 972-783-1242 or write: PO Box 852892, Richardson TX 75085-2892 USA.
Accredited Vedic astrology degree program offered by state-recognized Florida Vedic College (FVe. ) Also: books, workshops. Contact Shyamasundara Dasa, Dean of Astrology (FVC), Jyotish Sastri, member ICAS, fully trained by masters in India, over 20 years experience, author of the pioneer Matrix Jyotish Vedic astrology program that made Vedic astrology accessible to the West. Tel 352-332-393l. E-mail: shyamasundaraacbsp@combbtse
Vedic Astrology classes, workshops, tapes, books. Offered by Umananda-Stephen Quong, Ph.D., Jyotisha Vachaspati. 17513 Grizzly Den Road, Lake Shastina, CA 96094-9448, USA. Tel: 530-938-2997. Website: www.jyotisha.com E-mail: [email protected]
Free Products and Services
Free educational flow charts on all aspects of Hinduism. Write to Viswanath. Am I a Hindu? Box 56697, New Orleans, LA 70156-6697 USA. [email protected]
Find God. "What right has a man to say that there is a God ifhe does not see Him?" Contact Dr. Aruna, 183 Jalan Besar, Bukit Tengah, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang, West Malaysia.
Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj Meditation Blessings. Peace, bliss and Self-Realization attained through meditation. Receive a photo of Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj, holy ash and meditation instructions. Free. Send name, address and phone number to Dhyana Center of Roanoke, 833 Woods End Lane, Roanoke, VA 24014-1423 USA.
Jewelry
Affordable gems/jewelry for ayurvec\a, astrology, meditation. Satisfaction guaranteed. Mail order. King Enterprises, 1305 N. H St.!A-289-T, Lompoc, CA 93436-4377 USA. Tel: 805-736-0449 (business hours.)
Astrological rings, pendants of gemstones, made to order in 14, 18, 22 karat gold or silver. Call Manju: 914-434-6630 (USA). Website: www.moneesh.com
Sweet, sattvic jyotish quality gemstones. "The quality of the gem is directly related to the power of the effect." Importer, wholesaler, G.I.A. graduate gemologist with 18 years experience personally selects the best
Jyotish quality gemstones for you. Superior quality, competitive pricing, satisfaction guaranteed. Visa, Me. We ship anywhere. Jay Boyle Company • Tel: 800-559-5090 (USA) Website: www.astrologicalgem.com
Music and Art
Hindu Deity paintings, notecards and prints from India. Website: http://www.lakshmi.com. Catalog. Lakshmi International, 411 Madison Street, Boonton, NJ 07005-2051
Exquisite Vedic paintings done to order. Art book, Windows to Spiritual World. Pushkar, PO Box 1094, Alachua, FL 32615-1094 USA. Tel: 904-462-0144. www.seva.iskcon.netlpushkaralintrop.htm
East Indian instruments and gift items. Giant selection of instruments: harmoniums, tabla, daggas, kirtan instruments, audio/video tapes. Also incense, spiritual books, etc. For a beautiful catalog, send US$l to Encinitas Imports, PO Box 230419-H, Encinitas, CA 92023-0419 USA. Tel: 760-436-9589
Beautiful devotional sculptures and masks. Summer special offer: 33% off classic cast stone murthies for your home, temple or retail shop. Ganesh, Shiva, Laxmi, Sarasvati, Buddha. Height: 2ft. (61cm) or 4-5ft. (l.2-l.5 m). Free catalog, tel: 800-608-8632, 515-472-8115. Vedic Sculpture Studio, 607 W Broadway #136, Fairfield, IA 52556-3200 USA.
Pilgrimage/Travel
Spiritual pilgrimages, vacations: India, Nepal, Hawaii, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, Alaska, Mt. Shasta, Peru. Small groups. Self-discovery Adventures. Tel/fax: 515-472-7918 (USA). fun@kdsLnet
Products/Stores
Purity Farms organic traditional ghee. 100% pure, from cows raised completely free of hormones, chemicals or pesticides. A delight to cook with! Wholesale or retail. Ask about our 89-page book, Making and Using Ghee-theRoyalOiI. Call 303-647-2368, USA.
Elegant, custom-designed Hindu clothing for all occasions- kurtas, punjabs, salwar kameez, etc. Also, western. Natural fabrics. Free brochure: Palani Sewing, tel: 510-680-7278 (USA). E-mail: [email protected]
Publications
Sri Aurobindo books. Ayurveda. Reiki. Classical spiritual texts. Homeopathy. Aromatherapy. Alternative health. Also over 7,000 health products including ayurveda, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies, incense, essential oils, massage oils, etc. Wholesale-retail-mail order. Free catalog. Lotus Light, Box 1008HT, Silver Lake, WI 53170-1008 USA.
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cisco times. 510-490-1533. Devendra Trivedi, 4831 Piper St, Fremont, CA 94538 USA.
and more. Free catalog. 1310 Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, VA 22301-1714 USA. ,E-mail: [email protected] • Tel: 703-299-8946 • Fax: 703-299-905l. Videos
Auromere: Sri Aurobindo books, classical spiritual texts, ayurveda books, children's books from India, ayurvedic products, incense, and much more. Free catalog: 1-800-735-4691 (USA).
Acclaimed spiritual videos: SadhanaIndias holy men, see the Kumbha Mela. 60 min. US$33.95 pstpd (ck). Pal and Catalog available. Penny Price Media. 355C Lake Pleasant Dr. Staatsburg, NY 12580 USA. Tel: 914-876-0239, fax 914-876-0260
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Yoga Palani Panchang 1998. Trivedi's American Panchang available in English or GujaratL US$9 +$2 s/h. 3 versions for NY, Chicago, San Fran-
Yoga in Daily Life. Yoga, meditation, guest lecturers, satsang. Books, audio & video tapes
Pooja, Devotional and Wedding Items Pre-packaged items for all types of puja • Homa pits • Deity statues, devotional pictures • Japa malasrudraksha, tulsi, lotus, sandalwood • Bhojaptra • Ganges River water • Oils· Religious Books
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Experience ... . .. one man's quest for the Pure Self within. Relive with him his years with Pararnhansa Yogananda, and his inner-dimensional journey, cuhninating in a face-to-face meeting with the living being of Light call I AM THAT I AM. The Christ Consciousness by Norman Paulsen • u~23 incl. s&h. Solar Logos Fein. • PO Box 2008-H Buellton, CA 93427-2008 USA Tel: 888-689-0352 • Fax: 805-688-9998
Classical Ayurvedic Oils "When the Ayurvedic student knows the relationship that exists between Sparsaindriyas (sense of touch) and the other indriyas, then only can he appreciate the value of Abhyanga (oil bath), both in health and in disease." Products prepared strictly follOwing ancient texts. Catalog and price list:
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Advertising in Hinduism Today
HINDUISM TODAY reaches Hindus and Indophiles all around the world. Truly, wherever you fmd Hindus, you will fmd HINDUISM TODAY (with circulation especially high in the USA, Australia, SE Asia).
We have ads for every budget, from $25 for a 20-word classified to spectacular two- or three-page color foldouts.
Hinduism Today Advertising 107 Kaholalele Road • Kapaa, Hawaii. 96746-9304 USA Tel: 800-850-1008, 808-823-9620, 808-639-1006 (mobile) Fax: 808-822-4351· [email protected]
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HEALING
6uyet:'s Beware of The rnlmoxifen b1ype The newest breast-cancer treatment .comes with a distressing array of side effects . .
BY DEVANANDA TAND1\VAN, M.D.
IN MAY 14, 1998, THE MEDical journal Lancet pulr lished a glowing report of the 15-year study of the
use of tamoxifen (sold as Nolvadex). The media quickly took advantage 0f this study and announced that 20,000 lives a year could .be saved from breast cancer by five years of treatment ("protocol use") with tamoxifen. The statistic was derived from 55 randomized trials involving-over 37,000 women during the fIfteen-year study. Unfortunately, the clainIs and projections are not warranted by the statistical analysis of the data.
The study did show that for those taking tamoxifen after surgery for a period of five years there was substantial reduction in recurrence of breast cancer and an improvement in the ten-year survival rate. It was calculated that qne in six women could be eliminated from relapse and one in twelve from dying. Even young, premenopausal women and those over fifty showed substfUltial benefit from the five years of treaNuents. Remarkably, there was benefit to those who had metastatic (cancerous) nodes. There was also evidence that the protocol use of tamoxifen not only reduced the recurrent tumors (by 42%) but also the risk of new breast cancers (by 47%).
The public is not aware that many of the doctors who participated in tl}e report are very active in the promotion of tamoxifen. There are those in the media as well as practicing-physicians who are making glowing claims and suggesting that this is a simple and effective therapy that cannot only prevent recurrence but arso prevent new tumor growth. They suggest that it sHould be accorded the "treatment of choice" label.
There has been very little, if any, discussion of tamoxifens side effects and carcinogenicity. That is the reason for this month's
44 HINDUISM TODAY AUGUST, 1998
column. There is a predilection of this drug to produce cancer of the uterus lining and fatal blood clots in the lung. Tamoxifen is known to produce liver cancer in rats, 43% of whom developed the disease after just six months. . The National Cancer Prevention trial of tamoxifen involved 13,000 women, half of whom
received an inert placebo. The study was to go on for five years; however, it was cut short by the researchers as they "claimed there WJis enough evidence already" of negative side effects. The most prominent are hot flashes, headaches, depression, vagina discharge and fatigue. Other complications are the development of leukemia, bowel cancer, lethal blood clots and the possibility of going blind.
Dr. Sherry Roger's M.D., author of the newsletter Total Health, has said: "Every woman (or every man who has a woman he loves) should never, NEVER fall for tamoxifen as. a boost for cancer prevention. The public is being had." She has shown that the statistics that are usually quoted are inaccurate because the women who
• had uterine cancer and/or serious.blood clots were not included in the cancer group. If they were included, then there would not be the 45% prevention that is touted in the press. I hope that this brief message will clarify the situg.tion. No one should consider attempting this fl..ve-year treatment without understanding all of the possible adverse conditions that may result. There must be a thorough study of the benefits versus the risks.
DR. TANDAVAN, 78, retired nuclear physician and hospital staff preSident, lives in Chicago, where he specializes in alternative healing arts. Visit his World Wide Web home page at;: www.hindu.orgldrtl
EVOLUTIONS ENDED: A year-long fast by Sah~ Muniji, 65, on May 1. The Jain monk lived on just warm water since May of 1997. He broke the fast with a glass of diluted dal. His attending physician proclaimed him weak but alert after losing 65 pounds during the year. Muniji ex
plained that his unprecedented fast was undertaken for personal purification and not to set ________ -',. a record.
DOUBLY HONORED: Swami Maheshwaranada, with the title of Sarvabhaum Jagadguru"Spiritual Master of the Universe"and as Mahamandaleswar (leader) of the Maha Nirvani Akhara [monastic order 1 in April at the Kumbha Mela in Haridwar, In- ~ dia. Swami heads ~ ashrams in Vien- < na, Austria, and Rajasthan, India.
APPOINTED: Vldya Maheshwarananda Dehejla as chief curator of the Asian Art Museums of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. She has led a stellar career in the art of India since earning a doctorate at Cambridge University in 1968.
She is now responsible for the galleries' South and Southeast Asia collection of 4,000 paintings, manuscripts, sculptures and
~ metalware. ~
Vidya Dehejia ARRESTED: A Chi-nese Immigrant
couple in Chicago, USA, for slapping their 8-year-old daughter. Angered by the girls lying about the loss of a uS$26 ring, they slapped her once in the face and several times on the arms and legs. When they went to a nearby park where the ring may have been lost, the parents were arrested for "domestic battery" by a police officer who observed the childs red cheek and streaming eyes. The parents face deportation if convicted.
ASTROLOGY
Marriage Arran'ging How the horoscop,e can provide sensible guidance to creating a lasting relationship
aVE MARRIAGE VERSUS ARRANGED marriage. Both work; both fuil. In the
, West the concept of falling in love with that special person, usually through a
chance meeting, is strongly progranImed into the mind from early life. In the East, the girl's father traditionally seeks out a suitable husband, and if both girl and boy agree, the marriage is made, often within a matter of days. New Agers are searching for their "soul .mate," someone they are destined to join with and with whom they will enjoy love eternal. While from a Western philosophic point of view, the choice of a husband or wife is essentially a matter of individual free will, from the Eastern point of view, it is a matter of complex interconnected social karmas.
For example, a troubled young man under therapy recalled a past life in Egypt married to a beautiful woman. They were deeply in love, living an ideal marriage until she suddenly died, leaving him so devastated that he eventually committed suicide. In his present life he had deprived himself of close attachments to any woman, subconsciously telling himself, "I never want to love again if I am only to eventually lose it." He was also
• not able to communicate love or affection to his mother, until he realized that he had actually been reborn to the same woman he once loved so much. His previous experience of loss, loneliness and suicide had etched a deep samskara, or impression, in his mind that molded his reactions in this life, tot1}lly changing how he felt about the same soul. When he saw that his ancient love could be recaptured in the present life on a different level, he began to make a renewed connection with his mother.
lem with '10ve marriage" is tliat only one factor is paramount-the initial emotional attraction of the couple. The genius of the arranged marriage system is the inclusion of dozens of other factors, many based on the astrology of the potential couple, that count far more in the ultimate success of the marriage than superficial fIrst impressions.
resolved karma must be faced at ,a future time, often magnetizing them together again in another life in a new relationship. Thus the w!J,eel of life goes on and on.
How does one know if it is "true love" that will last a lifetime? The future compatibili-ty ~f two people can be accurately deterInined through astrology, though few take advantage of it. There is a basic method from Vedic times of comparing the birth stars of a couple, in which ten different agreements are considered. Some deal with a single factor, e.g., physical compatibility, others with complex interactions of karma. Each agreement is weighted in importance ... by giving it a certain number of points possible. Attraction, for example, is given two points, while ganam, which relates to agreement of temperament, is given six. If the
couple receives at least half of the total 36 points, the marriage may be approved.
The system of ten measures is limited, because it considers only the .... nakshatra, or moon's placement. A far better prediction is possible when the entire horoscope is studied. We have seen marriages fail that were based only on the star matching system, even though they received a high number of points, because there were many difficult combinations among the other planets in their horoscopes. The full horoscope will reveal whether real love will develop in the marriage, or even if it will be there "at fIrst sight"
In most marriages, two souls have come together because of a close relationship in a previous life, drawn together again by divine forces of karma. This can happen both tlrrough arranged marriages or chance meetings. A couple may not have been husband and wife before, but 'rather brother and sister, son and mother or simply friends, any close relationship that tleveloped into an intense attachment or created unresolved issues between them. Inherent in the system of arranged marriage is the concept that there are several' suitable matches for a girl or boy. There are also numerous unsuitable but karmically possible matches. The prob-
Prince Charming: The man of your dreams could become your worst llightmare if your stars don't match
Here is one way to think about astrological compatibili ty. It is siInilar to creating music. Each planet has a unique sound that changes as it moves around the Sun. The Greek philosopher Plato intimated this when he declared that mais rhythm and melody imitate the movements of heavenly bodies, thus delineating the music of the spheres and reflecting the moral order of the universe. A~trology teaches that
Many couples nowadays end up in marriage from simple animal magnetism. And after a few years they get divorced because the magnetism wears out. In these e ases, there is only a harmonious blend between a few aspects of their natures, creatirig a surface attraction, but at the deeper levels of their psyche the sum total is incompatible. If the couple separates with ill feelings, an un-
every person is a conglomerate of sounds, vibratipns or colors according to the planetary positions at birth. A newborn captures the positions and melodies of the heavenly bodies, becoIning an embodiment of its sounds throughout his lifetime. How two people relate and get along depends on how the sounds ~f their planets blend, creating either an irritating noise or a wonderful symphony of music. _
A UGUST , 1998 HINDUISM TODAY 45
Q
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Edifying: Manju Prasad Bao in a dance demonstration of the making of sandalwood paste
WOMEN OF VISION
Flora'$ Friend A New York-based academician re-choreographs the global dance to save the pl9llts
B¥ LAVINA MELWANI, NEW YORK
HE'S A NATURAL, AND A MORE ENTHU
siastic spokesperson for nature would be hard to find. Manju Prasad Rao, a
Island-based educator, has made it her life's mission to spread the word
about India's ancient and rich trellsury of plants and flowers. She stresses how they remain relevant even as we head toward the next..inillennium. By delving into literature, art and myth, Rao-Director of the Instructional Media Center at the C.W Post Campus of the Long Island University and. the coordinator for ·exhibits in the libraryorchestrates music and dance along with magical tales of the vibrant role plants and flowers have played through t:4e centuries.
Rao's inspiration for her presentations actually came from an article she r~ad in HINDUISM TODAY. The Sacred Plants Resort [April, 1996] is about 200 miles from Bangalore, Rao's hometown, and she couldn't resist a visit. "I saw wonderfUl plants and trees, all labeled with names of. rishis and Dllities from the Hindu tradition." It was as if she had stumbled into a magic garden, full of promise and possibility. Childhood memories rushed in-temple flower stalls brimming with offerings for the Gods and her mother worshiping tulsi, sacred basil, in the
46 HI~DUISM TODAtY A~GUST , 1998
early morning, "I saw the way we unite with the frees and plants through the elements, and the way even the Deities unite with the plants. I remembered the way my mother, who belonged to the Arya Samaj, did yagnas, fire ceremony, every day. We as children used to have fun adding the samagri (a specific mixture of herbs) to the fITe.·Or she would put II!e in charge of adding ghee to the flames. She would do this every day, methodically. It w~s the most special part of her day. It gave her peace and sanctity."
Sensing the history of India's rich multiplicity of plants triggered a rare response in Rao. "Suddenly, everything started to jelI:By tradition, I'm also a dancer. So I saw how these plants and trees are associated with themes in literature, art and dance. I'm not a botanist, so the plants appealed tQ me more in a theatrical way. I was interested in the performing angle, ·in capturing it and presenting it intelligently."
Rao has since gathered countless anecdotes and fables from the Jataka and Panchantantra tales, as well as Buddhist parables. She has been studying Carnatic music for the last ten years, and found that plants are mentioned in all the ashtapadas (the "songs in eight stanzas" of the Gita Govinday. "I saw now much importance nature
was given. There is such a harmony and unity of life in the older traditions. The forest is not viewed as somethfng barbaric. It is where you regenerate yourself"
Rao's informative, entertaining lectures take viewers from the Indus Valley civilization, through Vedic times, to the Mughal empire and the B'ritish Raj. She emphasizes the great respect shown to plant life in the Hindu tradition, explaining, "I tie in the rituals which were related to each fruit, plant or action. If you had to cut down a tree to erect a structure, the tree spirit had to be given an alternate residence. The move had to be sanctified with r-ituals. Even if flowers were plucked for worship, they had to be
..taken in a certain way, and never after dusk, when the plants are thought to be sleeping. Fruits were also usually allowed to fall to the ground before being picked, because then the seeds inside would germinate."
Rao has given several slide lectures in the university, which include narrating the story of plants through dance, visuals and music. She has given presentations at the Aurobindo Ashram, the Museum of Natural History, the Bayard Arboretum and the Tibetan Museum. For several performances she formed a troupe with Melinda Levokove and Lonnie McGuire, whom she also trained for a year.
Rao married a chemical engineer and has one young son. They live in the Long Island suburbs where she grows hibiscus and jasmine, both tropical plants. She would be the fITst to admit that her newfound organic awareness hilS only just germinated. She reflects, "We are made of the same substance as they, and I often wonder at what level they exist in terms of t~eir feelings. I'm certainly more aware of them now, knowing that we have this onenes~, and that we are molded by the same creator." ..,./
MANJU PRASAD RAO , 152 FIDDLER PLACE, WEST ISLIP, NEW YORK 11795 USA
•
Symbiosis: Rao's troupe in the "Tree Dance"
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'" THE CJNTER FOR SCIENCE AND Environment in Delhi reports that traditional co£Servation methods have long met people's water needs in India, but "modern" soltitions are floundering. Each part of India used to have its own storage method in line with regional topography and local need . Disruption of the ancient water works began when the British laid roads blocking established waterways.
THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU announced a 30% pay hike for"the state's 50,000 temple employees. Depending upon the temple income, monthly salaries will range from a low of l!.s$25.50·to a high of $247.50. Traditional bduvar.s (singers) and nagasvaram (hom) players will be hired for 120 temples, and $8,000 was earmarked to create a Saiva Agama and Vaishpava Divya Prabhandam training center. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments minister, Mr. Tamizhkudimagan, announced more than $30,000 worth of properties had been retUFIled to their temple owners.
ANYONE YOU RECOGNIZE in the top photo? Probably not, for this is the famous "face on Mars" photographed by the Viking I orbiter in 1976. It's been the darling of UFO enthusiasts ever since, as evidence that advanc'ed life once existed on Mars. NASA agreed to take a second look and in April had the newly arrived Mars Global Surveyor take a new photo (bottoIIl). The resolution is much higher, the lighting different, and it doesn't look • much like a face anymore. UFOers are sure it's another NASA coverup.
Above: 1976 image, "the face on Mar.s." Below: The 1998 high-resolution shot.
MANY OF THE DALAI LAMA'S WESTERN devotees have joined with some Tibetan Buodhists who are protesting th€(high lama's ban of the worship of Dorje Shugden, a
.. popular Deity of Tibetan Buddhism. A large group of devotees demonstrated outside a meeting he attended in New York recently, and presented a petition bearilig . 15,000 signatureS' objecting to the ban. The Dalai Lama stopped the worship in 1976
CLOCKWISE ~OM TOP: COREL , PHOTODISK, NASA, NASA
after an oracle told him the Deity was a malevolent spirit harmful to the leader's well-being. The protesters consider it an issue of freedom of religion, even though, as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama has the authority to make such a decision. ..
PIERCE THAT NOSE and you could be under arrest, young lady! Especially if you live in New York or California, where laws are being considered or in effect malting it a Crime to pierce any part of a minor's body (except the ears) without parental consent. The possibility of transmitting disease is the reason given for the law-even though there have been' no cases of such transmission by body piercing, and even though" ears pose the same threat. Legislators appear to be more concerned with stopping the anti-establishmentrage of body pieroingnose, lips, tongues. navels, etc-that has gripped West-ern youth. An unlawful nose
NEW YORKERS LOVED THE BHARATA Nat yam and Flamenco duet dance performance of Rajil&J. Puri and La Conja held early this year at the famed Guggenheim Museum. , Flamenco is the dance of the Gypsies, or Roma people, who left India a thousand years ago and are now spread all over the world. The performance- with sitar, guitar, violin and tabla-clearly showcased'the continued similarities in dance and music the two ~ultures share.
THE ALL-AFRICA HINDU CONFERENCE is planned for AUlSV-st 7 to 9 in Nairobi, Kenya, to assess the problems faced by Hindus in Africa and discuss solutions.· The Hindu Council of Kenya and its 127-member institutions are organizing the event. Contact HCK, P.o. Box 44831, Nairobi, Kenya.
. WANT TO GET YOUNG AGAIN? Get yoga! So thousands of aging Americans are discovering. An April 28 article-in the Washington Post reports, "A growing number of olCler adults credit yoga with helping them stay healthy as they age." One yoga-pra~ticing grandmother was brought to her grandson's kindergarten "show and tell" session be-
cause~lassmates did not believe she could do a headstand. Yoga is credited with rever;ing the effects of the American sedentary life-style on the aged, improving flexibility, vigor and general health.
BIOLOGY OF SPIRITUALITY is the latest field for medical re~earch. Scientists are attempting to correlate religious experience with specific activity in the brain. In one experiment, they injected Buddhist monks with a ; faintly radioactive tracer chemical that quickly infuses int@ the brain cells, allowing changes in activity fo be detected. During prolonged meditation, specific changes -were detected in the brain section responsible for generating a sense of three-dimensional orientation in space-perhaps: the experiementers thought, corresponding to an experience of going beyond time and space. The more cynical rese-archers hope to reduce all religious experience to chemi-cal reactions in the brain. bthers aren't prep~ed to say that will ever happen.
"THE CURE CAN KILL YOU" we know, but until recently we didn't quite understand just how frequently. A new study by the University of Toronto published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found bad reactions to prescription drugs to be the fourth leading cause of death in the US, after heart disease, cancer and strokes. That's 106,000 people a yeartwo-and-a-half times than from AIDS. And this is from approved drugs, professionally administered. lmothertwo million suffered seI>ious side effects. Unex-pected inter- Unexpectedly hazafdous actions when patients are given several drugs at once is a major killer.
SKANDA-MURUGAN Conterence is planned for December 28 to 30, '1998, in Chennai, India. Organized by,the Institute of Asian Studies, the meeting is intended to bring together scholars with an interest in the popular God. Visit the web site at xlweb.comlheritage/murukan. The nonwired may write: lAS, Chemmancheri, Sholinganallur, Chennai 600' 119, India.
AUGUST , 199 8 HINDUISM TODAY 49
MISSION STATEMENT
Hindu. Heritage Endowment is a publicly supported, charitable organization'recognized as tax • I
exempfby the IRS 0;;' April 22, 1994. Its ~mployer ID !,lumber is 99-0308924. FOldndeg by Satguru
Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, its philanthropic mission is tel provide secure, professionally man
aged financial support for i~stitutions and religious leaders of all lineages of Sanatana Dhar~a.
DeNOR PROFILE
A former mining center in Malaysia, the city of Klang is now the ho,me for a relatively high percentage of Hindus, including one of Hindu Heritage Endowment's consistent donors, Gowri Nadason. She supports Hinduism in many ways, includ4,1g actively helping with sales and distribution of HINDUISM TODAY in Mal,aysia. She teaches the Saivite Hindu Religion children's course (featured below) to groups of children 5, to 15 years of age, stressing tradItional Hindu philosophy and culture as well a; character building and morals. Of her classes, Gowri reports: "Parents have seen posifive changes in their children and they are very impressed." Of her donations to Hindu Heritage
Endowment, she notes, "Giving for a good' cause is a gift to God. I enjoy giving because I want to support Sanatana Dharma."
FUN,D OF THE MONTH
Endowments are an investmenhn the future. They grow slowly but last f0r centuries. Several years ago, the Malaysian Ijindu Youth Educational Func! was created by I<:uala 'CumpU!' attorney Arjunan Subramaniam to provide free religious materials to. underprivileged Hindu children in Malaysia. After years of collecting funds, the first grant~ recently purchased 700 cop~es.of Books One and Two of the children's course Saivite Hindu Religion. At a ceremony in the rural yillage of Senta, Dr. Subramaniam distributed' books to children who CQuld not afford them (right). Ail are happy that the recent crash of Malaysia's economy had nb affect on ' this important endowment, realizing this trust would have dimInished by 32% had it been inv~sted in a Malaysia fund an~ nO.t HHE.
A'PROFESSIONAL'S PERSPECTIVE. Life insuranc~ proceeds are subject to estate tax if the insUFed owned the policy at death, or transferred it within three years of death. If a life insurance policy and all policy rights are transferred to an irrevocable trust, a:J.:ld the ex-owner survives for the next
J~ .. ,,;f#' l.~·r
tt;,.._~ _ _
,
three years, t~e policy proceeds can escape estate tax in"the surviviRg spouse's estate as well as the insured's. A trust also provides flexible settlement 0pt,iOns such aS,professional management of funds, protecting beneficiaries from financial inexperience. The trustee can then be given discretion to distribut~ funds to beneficiaries depending upon their needs and tax situations. Nitai M. Pathak, CPA, MST, of Kling, Lee & Pathak, Artesia',California, (888) 721-5370 and (562) 924-8610 . .
. As. public·ser. vice, HHE occasion.ally',,:,ill offer the opinio,ns of various finanGiai planners. However, it ~nd~rs«:s neither these advisor~ nor their counsel, and recommends that all lllQivlduals seek I?rofesslOnai adVIce from several sources before making Important long-term deCISions.
RECENT DONORS FOR Two MONTHS
Hindu Businessmen's Association Trust Adi Alahan $350.48 Vel Alahan $335.00 Nathan Palani $300.00 Satya Palani $115.00 Easvan Param $141.80 Deva Rajan $2,980.00 Small Gifts to Fund $192.26
Total $4,414.54
Hindu Orphanage Endowment Fund Gunasekaran Kandasamy $113.43 V Srikanth $200.00 Gokula Vani $75.00 Small Gifts to Fund $184.81
Total $573.24
Hinduism Today Endowment Trust Dustin Baumann $208.00 K. K. Parekh $50.00 Robert Sorrells $360.00 Clarence V. Williamson $100.00 Small Gifts to Fund $145.00
Total $863.00
Hinduism Today Distribution Fund Soondiren Arnasalon $54.33 Jatinder Bhan $92.00 Revuluri Chandrasekhar $600.00 Champa Rani Chatterjee $500.00 SatyavatilGeogia Ann D'Antoni $138.00 Satish Desai $250.00 Kailash Sivam Dhaksinamurthi $381.22 Ravindra Doorgiat $55.74 Wenhua Huang $526.00 Rama Dev Jager $550.00 Amravaddee Kownden $51.12 Arvind Kumar $600.00 Kartikeyen Manick $76.03 Krish & Devika Murugavel $276.00 Kanthasamy Pillaiyar $220.00 Suguneswary Ponniah $51.97 Yatrika Shivam $200.00 Marshall Silva $600.00 S. Thiruselvan $58.46 Omkar Tiku $52.00 Reid Wilburn $138.00 Anonymous $600.00 Small Gifts to Fund $524.47
Total $6,895.34
Iraivan Temple Endowment P N Ekambaram $63.62
Chitravelloo Gunasegaran Kriya Haran Edwin Hawk Selvanathan Jothiswarar Gunasekaran Kandasamy Diksha Katir Usha Devi Katir Andrzej & Beatriz Kraja Toshadeva Lynam Guhan Deva Natharaja Umah Rani Palanisamy Aran Sambandar Padmini Samuthiran Loganatha Shivam Yatrikadevi Shivam Saiva Siddhanta Church Sivaneswaran Sockanathan Gokula Vani Peshala Varadan Vayudeva Varadan Small Gifts to Fund
Total
$60.45 $182.00
$9,830.59 $206.39 $486.88 $115.80 $53.28
$100.00 $153.78 $376.00 $158.43 $720.00 $681.31 $600.00 $200.00
$6,680.23 $403.13 $450.00
$1,485.70 $2,145.25
$94.07 $25,246.91
Kauai Aadheenam Annual Archana Fund Rathi Devi Batumallah $80.00 Veerasamy Batumallah $80.00 Yatrika Shivam $200.00 Guha Skanda $80.00 Small Gifts to Fund $93.34
Total $533.34
KauaiAadheenam Monastic Endowment Vinaya Alahan $400.00 Gunasekaran Kandasamy $113.42 Dane S Karpinecz $100.00 Sinniah Sivagnanasuntharam $107.06 Small Gifts to Fund $198.33
Total $918.81
Loving Ganesha Distribution Fund Gordon L Bennett $100.00 Eric Mitchell $20.00
Total $120.00
Malaysian Hindu Youth Educational Fund Jeyasreedharan $80.00
Total $80.00
Math.vasi Medical Fund Gowri Nadason Matthew Wieczork
Total
Math.vasi Travel Fund
$60.00 $24.00 $84.00
Erasenthiran Poonjolai Total
$150.00 $150.00
Mauritius Saiva Dharmasala Endowment Shiva Sookhai $15.00
Total $15.00
Nepal Komari Goddess Education Fund Sita Murali $10.00
Total $10.00
Pori Monasteries Fund Ravi Chandrasekhara $21.00
Total $21.00
Salva AgaInas Trust Matthew Wieczork $24.00 Ramakumar & Sailaja Kosuru $20.00 Shiva Sookhai $15.00
Total $59.00
Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam 'Ih1st Shiva Sookhai $15.00
Total $15.00
Sri Subramuniya Kottam Fund Andrew Schoenbaum $25.00
Total $25.00
Sundari Perwnan Memorial Fund Markandeya Peruman $50.00
Total $50.00
Thank You Gurudeva Fund VelAlahan Dan Mackay S. Thiruselvan Vayudeva Varadan Small Gifts to Fund
Total
$51.00 $50.00 $60.03 $70.00
$224.00 $455.03
Tirwnular Sannidhi Preservation Trust Shyamadeva Dandapani $132.00 Nitya Nadesan $100.00
Total $232.00
Tirunavakkarasu Nayanar Gurukularn Fund Chellappa Deva $75.00 Deva Seyon $91.73
$81.45 Total $348.18
Total Recent Contrib. $40,919.39
Total Endowments at Market Value As of April 30, 1998 $2,447,175.24
INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND CONSULTANTS: Franklin Management Inc.; First Hawaiian'Bank, Trust & Investment Division; Brandes Investment Partners, Inc.; Pacific Century Trust (Bank of Hawaii); Alvin G. Buchignani, Esq., attorney; and Nathan palani, CPA. HrIE is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association of 1,500 foundations which interprets relevant law, inte:rnational and domestic, and qccounting, management and investment principles.
-I WANT TO PAlITICIPATE. WHERE SHOULD I SEND MY DONATION? You can send your gift to , an existing fund, create a new endowment or request information through the address below.
Credit card gifts may be made directly by E-mail. Or., use the' HHE tear-out card in this magazine. to joih our family of benefactors who are Strengthening Hinduism Worldwide. Thank you.
HINDu HERITAGE ENDOWMENT )
KAUAI'S HINDU MONASTERY
107 Kaholalele Road Kapaa, Hawaji, 96746-9304 USA
Tel: (800) 890-1008, Ext. 235 Outside US: (808) 822-3152, Ext. 235'
Fax:: (808) 822-4351 E-mail: hhe@l),indu.org
www.hindu.org/hhe/
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L..ten don't comprehend what Hindu youth face growing up in the US, but Swami Shuddhananda Brahmachari of ealcutta is different. He . knows their minds and is quite popular with youth. You can learn about his Lokenath Divine Mission at www. flash.netl-jemirtil. A disciple of Baba Lokenath (1730-1890), Swa-
Swami Shuddhananda
mi gives a fascinating account of Baba's magical 16o-year life, plus on-line short discourses. Shuddhananda designs programs for West Bengal's suffering population to achieve self-sufficiency. And he's good atitthe website has inspiring photos of his Mobile Clinic serving 195 Bengal villages and slums.
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