Professional Documents
Culture Documents
95
Holy ScripturE
exploring our COVER: Linguist Sambanda Sivacharyar, 79, stands in front of the French Institute of Pondicherry’s extraordinary collection of
8,600 scriptures, many in their original palm leaf form. The fragile leaves (above) are brushed with lemongrass oil preservative.
www.gurudeva.org
In t er nat iona l
Feature: Join as Millions Worship Lord Siva . Food: Today’s Entree: Vegetarianism, Russian .
as an Infinite Pillar of Light 18 Style, with a Side Dish of Zesty History 62
Social Customs: Why Madhu Kishwar Thinks India’s Parenting: Storytelling—It’s Hard to Find a .
Laws Against Dowry Abuse Don’t Work 34 More Powerful Way to Teach Children 64
Education: Hindu Group Sues California Board of
Education over Hindu Depiction in Textbooks 36 opinion
Legal: A Primer on How to Run a Temple, the In My Opinion: Let’s Get Hinduism Right .
Modern American Nonprofit Corporation Way 54 in Our Public Schools 9
Legacy: The French Institute of Pondicherry . Publisher’s Desk: What Is the Soul and How Does it
Fights to Preserve Our Scriptural Heritage 60 Progress and Mature? 10
Letters 12
Li f e s t y l e From the Vedas: Who Is a True Brahmin? 17
Culture: Concerned Moms Devise Myriad Means of Commentary: God on My Desktop 67
Passing on Our Sacred Heritage 30
Insight: An Illustrated Overview of the Vast and digests
Splendid Scriptures of Sanatana Dharma 37 Diaspora 6 Digital Dharma 86
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Lord Siva’s
Night of
Light
The festival, from above and below: (Clockwise from left) Oblivious to the wet chill of a rainy
twilight, devotees gather on top of Arunachala mountain close to the large copper cauldron
that will cradle the brightly burning flame of Krittika Dipam; with a policeman’s help in down-
pouring rain, climbing pilgrims negotiate a dangerously slippery passage around a protruding
rock ledge near the summit of the mountain; at precisely 6pm on the eve of Krittika Dipam, the
lighting of a fire in the Tiruvannamalai temple signals devotees miles away on top of the moun-
tain to ignite the flame that will be seen by millions as Lord Siva’s infinite light
a l l p h o t o s : t h o m a s k e l ly
in the giant cauldron above is kept burning for 10 days, consuming
a ton of ghee and a thousand feet of thick cotton wick. Page 18 ....
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T he famed landmark
statue of the four-faced
Brahma outside the Erawan
and out of mental hospitals over
the past ten years. The popular
50-year-old image was draped
home-grown Hindu religious
leaders have been few and far
between. Immigration laws
in the southern state of
Johore, just north of Sin-
gapore.
Hotel in Central Bangkok, with sheets. The faithful prayed have not allowed ordained swa- The Mission has
Left to right: Santhalinga Ramasamy, Tamil Nadu, Somasundara was smashed with a hammer sadly and offered yellow gar- mis (or temple priests) who are evolved rapidly. Pro- Maharishi Paramahamsa Shankarananda Guruji of Johore surrounded by
Thesika Gnanasampantha, Jaffna, Bodhinatha Veylanswami USA by Thanakorn Pakdeepol, a lands and lotus flowers. not Malaysian to take up per- pounding a universal- his disciples and devotees—a new young force for Hinduism in Malaysia
manent residence. For decades istic-Hindu philosophy,
australia the only “official” swami in the swami maintains an orthodox sessions for students in schools, The Mission stands proudly
Saiva Council Conference nation was the one heading the
Divine Life Society in Kuala
Hindu ritual tradition. He
conducts pujas and festivals,
raising funds for victims of
natural disasters. Currently
as a positive force for Sanatana
Dharma in this country where
Lumpur, presently Swami Gu- teaches yoga and meditation, Guruji has a monastic order of Hindus face challenges from
See www.gurunath.org
Siva Nandi Adikalar (UK). The Council is the international life. One is Maharishi Parama- and is also active in social ser-
education arm of the London Meikandhar Aadheenam and is hamsa Shankarananda Guruji, vice, providing four free meals
exclusively oriented to Saiva Siddhanta as manifest in Tamil who was initiated in India by a a day for the public, caring for mauritius
culture and literature. Lingayat and Kashmir Saivism are not en-
compassed. This year’s gathering brought thousands of Saivites
mystic sage in the lineage of Sri
Raghavendraswami, the famed
animals through its Pet Care
Center, delivering groceries to Giant Siva
together from 10 countries. Three monastic religious leaders 16th century Tamil Vaishnava the needy, holding motivation
from Tamil Nadu, India, Jaffna, Sri Lanka and Hawaii, USA,
were present. Discussions and presentations focused on basic Bangkok’s Brahma Deity was widely worshiped by Thai Buddhists
Graces Island
Saiva Siddhanta, the challenges facing the revival of Saivism in
the modern era, clarifying the identity of Saivism within Hindu-
ism, fostering participation of women and youth, and more. usa
and culture went vir-
tually unrecognized
until 1956. Despite this,
A 108-foot tall siva
statue named “Mangal
Mahadev” now welcomes pil-
Court-Ordered Vote Settles many held on to their
faith and customs. The
grims at Ganga Talao (Grand
Bassin) crater lake, a famous
second wave of Hindus pilgrimage place on the island
usa Light a lamp, add a few flowers,
a bowl of water, open up your
New York Temple Dispute started in 1927 with
the influx of Sindhi
of Mauritius. Minister of En-
vironment Anil Baichoo, mas-
Sacred Space latest Internet dot com business
plan for review by your guard- A five-year long battle between a group of new york
Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devastanam devotees and it’s
businessmen, and the
third with Indian pro-
ter-mind behind the project,
told Hinduism Today,” It was
At Home ian spirits and sit for a twenty-
minute meditation for peace of
board of trustees came to a close in March of this year after a court-
ordered election resulted in the incumbent trustees’ being voted
fessionals in 1970.
Michelle Daswani
our dream to have something
special to welcome pilgrims
c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p : h i n d u i s m t o d ay; a d r e e s l at i f , r e u t e r s ; c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p : s h a n k a r a na n d a m i s s i o n ;
h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay; t i m s t r e e t - p o r t e r , l o s a n g e l e s t i m e s r a j e n m a n i c k ; m i c h e l l e d a s wa n i j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2006 h i n d u i s m t o d ay
Comics and Virgin usa $200,000 reconstruction and se-
in my opinion
Animation. Among
the companies’ first Minnesota curity system fund-raising drive
has been started
projects will be a A pickup truck was spotted
comic book and tele-
vision series based
Temple leaving the temple, but there
are as yet no suspects. The FBI Confronting Misconceptions
on The Ramayana,
which Gotham Cho-
Vandalized joined the investigation. A week
after the crime, a Concerned
pra (Deepak’s son
and the new venture’s T he inside of a hindu
temple under construction
Citizens Forum was held and
attended by 600 people, in-
Hinduism should be properly taught in schools
chief creative officer,) in Maple Grove, Minnesota, was cluding congress persons, state
describes as “The
Eastern equivalent of
vandalized on the night of April
5, 2006. Temple doors were
legislators, the mayor, city
council members, the city ad-
hindu renaissance team B y v a m s e e J u l u r i
The Odyssey. It is our kicked in, windows broken and ministrator, the chief of police Hinduism Today was founded January 5, 1979, induism has been dress them than in the first
Lord of the Rings.” holes smashed in walls and ceil- and representatives from other by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. It is a misrepresented and in- lessons schoolchildren receive
Chopra explains that ings of the auditorium, dining religious organizations. Temple nonprofit educational activity of Himalayan sulted in California histo- on Hinduism.
Virgin will have three hall and classrooms. Nine of the president Shashikant Sane said Academy with the following purposes:1. To ry textbooks. Even before Second, it is true that—as
distinct types of com- 14 stone Deities were broken they have also raised funds for foster Hindu solidarity as a unity in diversity the state Board of Education the textbooks state—the term
ics: the Director’s Cut into pieces. The inauguration of an Interfaith Education Fund to among all sects and lineages; 2. To inform and met in March to vote on adopt- “Hinduism” refers to a complex
line, which will show- the us$8-million temple, sched- educate the local community in inspire Hindus worldwide and people interest- ing suggested changes (See diversity of traditions that
ed in Hinduism; 3. To dispel myths, illusions
case work from Hol- uled to open in early June, was Hinduism. Minnesota is home page 36), Hindu parents were are difficult to unify or sum-
and misinformation about Hinduism; 4. To pro-
lywood; the Maverick postponed to July, 2006. New to more than 20,000 Hindus. tect, preserve and promote the sacred Vedas
outraged and the local Hindu marize in terms of founders,
line, which will de- Deities are being prepared in The new 43,000-square-foot and the Hindu religion; 5. To nurture and mon- community was at war over this dates and origins. But this is
velop graphic novels; India. Insurance only covered temple will be the largest in the itor the ongoing spiritual Hindu renaissance; issue, all at a time when Presi- Hinduism’s virtue, not its vice.
and the Shakti line, a portion of the damage, and a state and surrounding area. 6. To publish a resource for Hindu leaders and dent Bush was saying that India The presentation of Hinduism
Ramayana characters find a new home in a which will focus on educators who promote Sanatana Dharma. Join and America were “global lead- in California’s textbooks is
line of Virgin Comics featuring characters “Asian-edged” content this seva by sending letters, clippings, reports ers and good friends.” out of sync with the way that Hinduism is
from India’s rich literary heritage to capitalize on the on events and encouraging others to subscribe. I feel a moral obligation to stand with lived by its followers. For example, many
growing global inter- indignant Hindu parents in demanding that textbooks, even in India, refer to Hinduism
usa est in Indian and Asian charac- Founder: Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami changes be made in textbooks for Califor- being the religion of “Aryan invaders.” The
Virgin Comics ters. The new companies, based
in New York and Bangalore, are
Publisher: Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Editor-in-Chief: Paramacharya Palaniswami
nia middle-school students. Such perpetu-
ation of an unnecessary ignorance about
issue of an Aryan invasion in India is com-
plex. What is relevant here is that Hindus
using Asian-influenced com- Hinduism and Indian culture has not only simply don’t dwell on this matter during
Repackages ics as the platform to build a
global media company that will
Publisher’s Aide: Paramacharya Ceyonswami
Deputy Editor: Acharya Kumarswami
Managing Editor: Sannyasin Arumugaswami
hurt the feelings of immigrant children, it
has also hindered a delicate alliance that
their daily worship.
Third, the disrespect of Hindu “myths”
India’s Lore eventually create movies, video
games, digital applications and
Graphics Director: Sannyasin Natarajnathaswami
Production Manager: Sannyasin Sivakatirswami
has just begun to flower between India
and the USA. When President Bush and
in these textbooks is plainly insulting. If
Hindus think about an Elephant God writ-
How Our Soul Matures below the muladhara, has to be sealed off so
that it becomes impossible for fears, hatreds,
angers and jealousies to arise. Once this begins
to happen, the muladhara chakra is stabilized
People the world over are working for spiritual advancement. and consciousness slowly and naturally expands
into the higher chakras. As the kundalini force
But just what is the soul and how does it progress and mature? play of awareness travels along the spine, it enters
each of these higher chakras, energizing them
and awakening, in turn, each function accord-
by satgu r u bo d hinatha v eylanswami ing to the intensity of spiritual effort.
This understanding of the centrality of
n hindu thought the concept of life of the immediacy of God’s presence: “God is sealing off the lower chakras highlights how
and the soul are synonymous. For example, the so close to us. He is closer than our breathing, important emotional control is to our spiritual
Sanskrit word jiva refers to both and contains nearer to us than our hands or feet. Yes, He is progress. Certainly the emotion that is the most
the meanings of individual soul, living being, the very essence of our soul.” important for people on the spiritual path to
life, vitality, energy, spirit and strength. The Turning now to the goal of life, we know control is anger. Just possessing the knowledge
Tamil word uyir has the same double meaning of the Hindu perspective is that life’s ultimate that anger prevents us from experiencing the
life and soul. purpose is to make spiritual progress. This higher chakras increases our motivation to live
The soul, which is so perplexing and seemingly is also described as evolving, maturing or a life that is totally free from this devastating
out of reach to many, can be understood simply unfolding spiritually. All of these terms refer force. Anger comes in many forms, ranging
as life itself. One of the advantages of this simple to enjoying ever more profound realizations from frustration and resentment to uncontrol-
description is that it makes it easy to experience the of God—personal experiences that deepen our lable rage. In its simplest shade, it is an
soul. How can we do this? Just look into a mirror. understandings of life and transform our very instinctive, emotional protest to happenings at
Specifically, look deeply into your eyes and see the nature—culminating in moksha, liberation from a particular moment. “Things are just not right!”
light and sparkle within them. That life, vitality, rebirth on planet Earth. anger shrieks. The source of peace and content-
willpower and awareness is your soul, your divinity, We can usefully distinguish here the Hindu ment is the opposite sentiment—a wholesome,
the real you, that which continues on after the view of the spiritual destination—experience of intelligent acceptance of life’s conditions, based
physical body’s passing. Looking into the eyes of God and subsequent liberation—and the journey on the understanding that God has given us a
another, you can become aware of the life within that person and to that destination, which we are speaking of here. By focusing perfect universe in which to grow and learn,
thereby see the soul and acknowledge his or her divine nature. on the journey and the steps in front of us, we progress more and each challenge or seeming imperfection
The Tamil word uyirkuyir takes this concept of divinity one surely and swiftly. we encounter is an opportunity for spiritual
step further. It is translated as “God, who is the Life of life, the Let’s ask the question, “What, exactly, is it that makes this advancement. To those who are anger-prone, I
a. manivel
Soul of the soul.” A philosophical phrase that conveys the same spiritual progress?” Not the personality. Not the intellect. Not advise replacing that fuming reaction with an
meaning is “God is the essence of the soul,” implying that if you the emotions. It is, of course, the soul. In thinking of spiritual affirmation that everything is just as it should
look deeply enough into the soul, you will experience God. progress, it is helpful to understand the concept of the soul as a be in God’s perfect universe.
How do we know, when seeing the life within ourselves or human-like, self-effulgent form comprised of the life and light An initial focus on controlling anger and
others, if we are experiencing the individual, evolving soul, we previously talked about. Technically, there are two terms in thought, there are fourteen great nerve centers in the physical the other lower emotions and instincts is wisely built into the
or experiencing God as the essence of the soul, the Life of Sanskrit for this immortal soul body: anandamaya kosha, “bliss body (sthula sharira), in the astral body (sukshma sharira) and traditional concept of yoga as having eight limbs. The first limb
life? Here is one way to make that distinction. When we are body,” and karana sharira, “causal body.” Just as our physical in the body of the soul (karana sharira). These centers are called is yama, which means restraint and is exactly what we have
perceiving an individual soul or souls, there is a sense that every body matures from an infant into an adult, so too does this self- chakras in Sanskrit, which means “wheels.” Esoterically, spiritual described—controlling our base emotions and instincts. Unfor-
soul is separate from the others. However, when we perceive effulgent body of light mature in resplendence and intelligence, unfoldment relates to the raising of the kundalini force, the tunately, many modern yoga teachers and texts leave out this
God as the Life of life, that sense of separateness is replaced evolving as its consciousness expands, gradually strengthening serpent power, and the subsequent awakening of these chakras essential step that allows us to keep awareness above the lower
with a sense of oneness. Thus, if you can look at a group of its inner nerve system, progressing from ignorance of God to within our subtle bodies. Everyone has all of the chakras, though chakras. Having sealed off the lower chakras, we are naturally
people and be aware of the divine oneness that pervades them intimate communion with God. In Sanskrit, this advancing on they usually are content to live in only a few. drawn to be of service to others, to worship regularly and thereby
all, you would be seeing God in them. This deeper experience the path is called adhyatma prasara, spiritual evolution. It is a There are six chakras above the muladhara chakra, which deepen our devotion to God and to look within through medita-
is achieved through internalizing our awareness, going deeply process that takes place over many lifetimes, not just one. is located at the base of the spine. When awareness is flowing tion to experience our soul nature and eventually God’s indwelling
inside ourselves through worship or meditation. Gurudeva shared, from his own experience, a mystical descrip- through these chakras, consciousness is in the higher nature. presence as our very essence.
An analogy can be made to japa beads. We can focus on tion of the soul body in Merging with Siva: “One day you will see There are seven chakras below the muladhara chakra, and when The regular practice of these traditional spiritual disciplines
the beads and perceive them as 109 separate beads. We can the being of you, your divine soul body. You will see it inside the awareness is flowing through them, consciousness is in the lower not only keeps our awareness in the higher chakras, it also
also focus on the cord on which they are strung and see the physical body. It looks like clean, clear plastic. Around it is a blue nature. Most Hindu teachings regarding the chakras focus on the provides nourishment to our soul body. The soul body starts
oneness that connects all the beads. A popular story about light, and the outline of it is whitish yellow. Inside of it is blue- yogi’s awakening, balancing or stimulating the muladhara chakra to grow within the emotional body. Gurudeva described this
Paramaguru Yogaswami illustrates this point. There were four yellowish light, and there are trillions of little nerve currents, and the six above. These seven centers of consciousness govern, growth process by saying that the soul body grows like a child,
people gathered to sing devotional songs in his small hut one or quantums, and light scintillating all through that. This body in order, memory, reason, willpower, direct cognition, divine love, fed by all of our good deeds. All of our service and selfless
day. Yogaswami asked, “How many are here?” Someone replied, stands on a lotus flower. Inwardly looking down through your divine sight and illumination/Godliness. However, my guru has actions toward others feed that body. All of our working with
“Four, swami.” Yogaswami countered, “No. Only one is here.” He feet, you see you are standing on a big, beautiful lotus flower. a different emphasis. He states that spiritual unfoldment is not a ourselves to conquer instinctive emotions is food for that body,
saw the unity; they saw the diversity. This body has a head, it has eyes, and it has infinite intelligence. process of awakening the higher chakras, but of closing off the as it draws from the central source of energy. Finally, the spiri-
The Hindu idea that God is inside every person as the essence It is tuned into and feeds from the source of all energy.” Similar chakras below the muladhara. The seven chakras, or talas, below tual body matures to the point where it becomes aware in the
of the soul, which can be experienced today, is quite different descriptions of the soul as a body of light are found in our sacred the spine, down to the feet, are all seats of instinctive conscious- superconscious, intuitive mind, taking on more spiritual force
from the concept of Western religions that God is up in heaven scriptures and in yogis’ writings. ness, the origin, respectively, of fear, anger, jealousy, confusion, from the Infinite. Ultimately, it takes over the astral emotional-
and cannot be experienced by those living on Earth. They Hastening progress: Let’s turn now to the question of what selfishness, absence of conscience and malice. intellectual body. And after moksha is achieved, it continues
believe they have to die to meet God. Gurudeva often spoke can we do to hasten the unfoldment of our soul. In Hindu Brahmadvara, the doorway to the Narakaloka located just maturing in the inner worlds.
12 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 13
basics of hinduism
Your duty is to treat everybody with love, Karma, the Natural Law
will reap evil. Karma refers to the
as a manifestation of the Lord. arma literally means “deed”
or “act” and more broadly names totality of our actions and their con-
the universal principle of cause comitant reactions in this and pre-
Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh and effect, action and reaction which vious lives, all of which determines
governs all life. Karma is a natural law our future.
Once a British author named Stuart the changing seasons, and it is difficult to a sign of insanity. There is no sin greater of the mind, just as gravity is a law of It is the interplay between our
wrote a book about Ramana Maharshi judge their essential nature. When spring than ignorance. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, matter. experience and how we respond to
jam
after living in his ashram. Some disciples approaches, the tree sheds its leaves and spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shree Ak- Karma is not fate, for man acts with it that makes karma devastating or
ra
of the saint wrote to him seeking a dona- draws upon its vital roots to bring forth shar Puroshottam Swaminarayan Sanstha free will, creating his own destiny. The helpfully invigorating. The conquest of
s.
tion for the ashram in view of the substan- healthy, new leaves. I shall be beholden to Vedas tell us, if we sow goodness, we karma lies in intelligent action and dis-
tive income he received from the book. you for bringing to us such a spring of life. Good thoughts are the foundation stones will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we passionate reaction.
This brought about the coarse aspect If any permission from our side is needed in the mansion of good conduct. If the
of Stuart’s character: “I had thought of for publishing the book, it is granted foundation is strong, the mansion will
you people as being very dedicated and herewith. In case you are beset with any endure. Sri Rameshbhai Oza, inspired According as one acts, so does he become. nonmilitary principles, there is no wonder is your idea of “real food for real people,”
sincere. Now, after receiving your letter, financial difficulty therein, please apprise performer of Vaishnava kathas One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, that Hinduism did not even have a name you’d better live real close to a real good
I am going to write a book against you.” me of it and we will fund-raise for you bad by bad action. Yajur Veda, Brihad for itself. Ram Swarup (1920-1998), fore- hospital. Neal D. Barnard, medical doctor,
This was a shocking indictment for the through subscriptions.” How the author It cannot be seen by the eye, and yet it aranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5 most spokesperson of Hindu spirituality author and president of the Physicians
calm and peaceful community of young responded is not known. is the eye within the eye. It cannot be and culture in India Committee for Responsible Medicine
brahmacharis. Maharshi expressed his heard by the ear, and yet it is the ear Hinduism was organized for peaceful and
disapproval of the request for a donation I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn within the ear. It cannot be smelt by the harmonious coexistence, not for continued If I were two-faced, would I be wearing Do not resist change. Accept change as
and sent a letter to Stuart. He wrote, “I up the intelligence. There’s a knob called nose, and yet it is that which makes the confrontation with external enemies in this one? Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), one of the prerequisites in your life to
am very pleased by your plan to write a brightness, but it doesn’t work. Swami Anu nose to smell. It cannot be uttered by the the shape of unbelievers. It is no accident sixteenth president of the United States spiritual illumination. A positive mental
book against me. You will be doing me a bhavananda, humorous author, lecturer mouth, and yet it is that which makes the of history that, though Hinduism knew attitude overlooks many things that hap-
service, something within a short month mouth to speak. It cannot be grasped by internal feuds like any social polity, it The beef industry has contributed to pen and sees the overall picture of what
which we would have failed to achieve Books are the way the dead talk to the the hand, and yet it is that which makes never crossed its borders to wage wars more American deaths than all the wars is progressing in your life. Satguru Sivaya
during a lifetime of effort. Followers living. Violence is the diplomacy of the the hand to grasp. It cannot be reached against people simply because they wor- of this century, all natural disasters and Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder
come and go like the leaves of a tree with incompetent. Do not speak quickly; it is by the feet, and yet it is that which makes shiped different Gods. Organized on such all automobile accidents combined. If beef of Hinduism Today
the feet to walk. It cannot be thought by
the mind, and yet it is the mind within
the mind. It is the Primal One without D id Y ou K now ?
past or future. Its form is free from age
b o n d i o l i / m a c c h i a r e l l i / s i pa
and sickness. It manifests as father and Ancient India Produced the First Dentists
mother. It blossoms as the Self-Existent.
It cannot be described as one or two. No ccording to the the Mehrgarh site in what is faces of their molars,
artist can portray It. It is That which lies New York Times, man’s now western Pakistan, be- probably using a flint
’twixt good and evil. It ever abides in the first-known trip to the lieved to be the oldest Stone point attached to a bow
hearts of the wise. It permits no distinc- dentist occurred as early Age complex in the Indus that made a high-speed
tion between Vedanta and Siddhanta. It is as 9,000 years ago, when at River valley. “This is certain- drill, the researchers
That which dances at the zenith beyond least nine people living in a ly the first case of drilling a say. Concentric ridges
the realm of sound. Satguru Siva Yoga Neolithic village in ancient person’s teeth,” said David carved by the drilling device the bad teeth to the Neolith-
swami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka’s most re- India had holes drilled into Frayer, professor of anthro- were found inside the holes. ic diet, which included newly
nowned contemporary spiritual master their molars. The findings, pology at the University of Dental health was poor at domesticated wheat and bar-
reported in the scientific re- Kansas. “But even more sig- Mehrgarh, though the prob- ley. “A lot of abrasive mineral
If evil is spoken of you and it’s true, do view Nature, push back the nificant, this practice lasted lems were less often tooth material was introduced
something about it. If untrue, ignore it. dawn of dentistry by 4,000 some 1,500 years and was a decay than brutal wear and when grains were ground
years to around 7000 bc. tradition at this site. It wasn’t tear. Roberto Macchiarelli, on a stone,” Professor Mac-
I have nothing new to teach the world, The drilled molars come just a sporadic event.” professor of paleoanthro- chiarelli said, “and as these
Truth and nonviolence are as old as the from a sample of 300 indi- Most of the drilling was pology at the University of people moved to a grain diet,
hills. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) viduals buried in graves at done on the chewing sur- Poitiers, France, attributed their teeth wore down.”
14 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 15
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rma caste is determined by character, conduct and attainment, not by
birth.
na n d h i n i na g a r at na m
alts those endowed with the eye of knowledge.
The brahmana, the kshatriya, the vaishya and the sudra are the
four castes. That the brahmana is the chief among these classes
is in accord with the Vedic texts and is affirmed by the Smritis.
Here there is a point worthy of investigation. Who is, verily, the
brahmana? Is he the individual soul? Is he the body? Is he the
class based on birth? Is he knowledge? Is he the deeds (previous,
present or prospective)? Is he the performer of the rites? Conscious that it is God who sustains him, the good soul cares for
To assume that the jiva, or the individual soul, is brahmana, it the other creatures of the Earth, the hallmark of a true brahmana
is not so, for the individual’s form is one and the same in the large
number of previous and prospective bodies. Even though the jiva former of religious rites is not the brahmana.
is one, it assumes many bodies due to the stress of (past) karma, Then who, verily, is the brahmana? He who, after directly perceiv-
Your Keys To Unlock the proof of their wisdom. Therefore birth does not make a brahmana.
If it is said that knowledge makes a brahmana, it is not so, be-
cause among kshatriyas and others there are many who have seen
ble. Meditate on Brahman, the Self who is being, consciousness and
bliss, without a second; meditate on Brahman, the Self who is being,
consciousness and bliss without a second. This is the Upanishad.
Mysteri es of Hinduism
the highest Reality and attained wisdom. Therefore knowledge Sama Veda, Vajrasucika Upanishad 1-9
does not make a brahmana. Translated by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Then if it is said that work makes a brahmana, it is not so, for
we see that the work commenced in the present embodiment Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1888-1975), born in Tamil Nadu, world-
or accumulated during the previous or to commence on a future renowned philosopher, statesman and President of India, was a
embodiment is common to all living creatures and that good men gifted and prolific commentator on Hindu philosophy.
ca
ti o Visit www.himalayanacademy.com/teachingtools perform works impelled by their past karma. Therefore work does
not make a brahmana. The Vedas are the divinely revealed and most revered scriptures, sruti, of
u
(or call 1-800-890-1008) for contemporary, practical brochures to Hinduism, likened to the Torah (1,200 bce), Bible New Testament (100 ce),
a
ed
Then if it is said that the performer of religious duties is a brah- Koran (630 ce) or Zend Avesta (600 bce). Four in number, Rig, Yajur, Sama
l
help you fathom and explain the world’s most venerable faith. mana, it is not so, for there have been many kshatriyas and others and Atharva, the Vedas include over 100,000 verses. Oldest portions may date
n who have given away gold—a religious duty. Therefore the per- back as far as 6,000 bce.
s
i
si
g h
t
Created with the needs of parents and educators in mind.
j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 17
t h o m a s k e l ly
A humble servant: A fisherman is chosen to
light the ceremonial flame atop Arunachala
sethu
Tiruvannamalai Siva temple with Arunachala
mountain looming in the background
18 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 j ujly,
u lyau
/ au
gguu s t /sseepptteemmbbeerr, 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 19
s t,
I am also attending this sacred event as a correspon- congregation of devotees, holy men, officials, Legend of Fire). there. Imagine the thrill I felt when I was
dent for Hinduism Today. In that capacity, I am ever police personnel and media squeeze to- At 6 pm, a roaring fire is ignited in the tem- asked to write this story.
at the ready for a good quote. As soon as the bharani gether, shoulder to shoulder, to witness the ple at the base of Arunachala. This signals As I enter the ancient temple town on the
dipam concludes, I approach a very official looking per- festival’s magnificent consummation. the lighting of a similar blaze on the summit. day before Krittika Dipam, it is raining—a
son. With one finger poised on the “start”-button of my “Preparations for this holy day begin one When that flame is seen by the thousands blessing, so they say. We become abruptly
handy, pocket-size tape recorder, I introduce myself and month in advance with the local administra- of devotees below, the entire countryside aware that we are but four of thousands, per-
begin an informal conversation. The lady I am talking tion, revenue department, police and temple explodes with flashing luminescence. Bon- haps millions. Mothers with babies cradled
to tells me her name is Dr. Malathi and that she is a authorities synergizing their efforts,” says fires, lamps, neon lights and fireworks light in their arms, men with children perched
government doctor on duty here in service to devotees Mr. Jayram, deputy commissioner of Tiru- the night like day as a surging, thronging, on their shoulders, pilgrims of all shapes,
attending the festival. vannamalai. “It’s not an easy task managing emotionally charged mass of devotees chant, sizes and ages are streaming in from all di-
“There is immense significance in this first Krittika tens of millions of people. Even a small lapse “Arunachala Siva,” “Annamalai” and “Anna- rections. Public and private transports are
Dipam ceremony called bharani dipam,” she explains. can be very costly. It is God who guides us malai Harohara.” packed beyond capacity. Hotels have been
“At this time, the universal Lord manifests as the five ele- and gives us the strength we need. We en- Long-time pilgrims assert that, even years booked for months. Yet, none of this seems
ments, which will later fully merge to become one when deavor to see that we give our best to those later, the very thought of an otherworldly chaotic. It’s all somehow just wonderful.
the Krittika Dipam flame is lit in the evening. From one who come seeking Arunachala.” moment like this recreates it, just as if it is I have never witnessed a congregation of
to many and many to one. This is the whole essence of Since early morning, temple staff and vol- happening fresh and new. I can certainly such gigantic proportions. When we move
Saivism and the meaning of Krittika Dipam.” unteers have been carrying five-gallon con- say with full assurance that it is not an ex- in the street, we are all so tightly packed
All across India, millions of bonfires are lit on hills and tainers of ghee and large pots of thick, perience I will ever forget. No words in together we can’t even see our own feet. I
in temples on Krittika Dipam. But nowhere is this festi- braided cloth wicks to the top of any language—spoken, whispered or quickly discover that a crowd like this has a
val celebrated like it is in Tiruvannamallai, also known Arunachala mountain. Once the thought—could ever express even mind of its own. When it moves, we do, too.
as Annamalai, Arunachala, Arunadri and Tiruvarunai— mountaintop flame has been a hint of the intense spiritual- We have no choice.
and famous as the home of Sri Ramana Maharshi. lit, it must be kept burning ity I felt right then and there Maneuvering about is also difficult be-
Krittika Dipam occurs annually in the lunar month for ten days, which requires in the middle of that perfect cause the roads are so muddy from the inces-
of Kartika, which occurs in November/December, on vast quantities of wick and devotion. sant rain. Although many pilgrims fervently
the last day of the 10-day festival called Brahmotsavam. clarified butter. pray for the skies to clear so the festivities
It is on this auspicious day that, at precisely 6:00 in the As the day wanes into Through my eyes only will not be disrupted, none of the activities
evening, a sacred fire is lit on top of the 2,682-foot-high dusk and night begins to Although Tiruvannamalai is actually thwarted by the weather.
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
Arunachala mountain to symbolize the merging of all darken the sky, pilgrims is only a five-hour drive Our first objective is to make our way
manifest existence back into the one source of all things. stand or sit, motionless from Bangalore, where through the crowds to Kailas Ashram, where
It is said that those who witness this sacred ceremony with anticipation, at the I live, I have never been we will be most cordially hosted for the next
receive the blessings of Siva and Parvati in person. All base of Arunachala moun-
of the traditional temple rituals that are performed dur- tain, preparing to worship The moment of magic: At 6 pm on Krittika day, a flame lit in Tiruvanna-
The infinite God: Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma worship Lord Siva as a col- ing Brahmotsavam create a spiritual fervency that cul- God Siva as an infinite pil- malai temple signals the lighting of another fire atop Mount Arunachala.
umn of light that extends, both up and down, into infinity minates with great power on Krittika Dipam as a grand lar of light (See sidebar: A (Inset) The temple flame, fully ablaze.
Earth, seeking the beginning of the light. has indeed come to pass. There are no Along its way are more than 360 tirthams
Alas, he returned disappointed. Brahma Brahma temples (except for one), and no- (holy tanks) and 400 lingams. Ramana Ma-
became a swan and flew up and up, seek- body ever worships with screw pine flow- harshi’s ashram is situated on this circuit,
ing the light’s end. He, too, was about to ers. It goes without saying that Vishnu was making it all the more famous. ∏π
20 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 c l i c k t h e p l ay b u t t o n a b o v e t o v i e w a s l i d e s h o w o f a d -
d i t i o na l , r e m a r k a b l e p h o t o s t h at t h o m a s k e l ly s h o t f o r j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 21
t h i s t i r u va n na m a l a i a r t i c l e
two days, thanks to the caring hospitality of the bharani dipam in the temple.
Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji (See sidebar: Heir This lamp, also called bharani di-
to the Throne). Due to a shortage of accom- pam, will be taken by the fisher- An Historic Temple
modations, many people are literally living men to the top of the mountain.
on the streets, finding shelter wherever they Local fishermen are tradition- he 1,300-year-old arunachala
can. Even the hundreds of ashrams in this ally given the privilege of car- Siva temple of Tiruvannamalai in
holy town are full. rying the bharani dipam up the Tamil Nadu, with its giant, 217-foot
Internationally renowned photographer mountain and lighting the krit- gopurams (entrance towers), is In-
Thomas Kelly—also on assignment for tika dipam in the evening, be- dia’s second largest temple and one of its
Hinduism Today—is working with me on cause—according to a popular most sought-after pilgrimage destinations.
this story. He arrived before me and is al- myth—Parvati (the wife of Lord Great South Indian kings—including Ra-
ready snapping photos with great enthusi- Siva) was born in a fishing village. jaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola, Harihara
asm and inspiration. When we first connect, “There are around 75 fishing fami- Bukkar, Krishna Deva Rayar, as well as
he is bubbling with excitement at the abun- lies that are bestowed with this the kings of the Chera, Pallava, Pandya,
dant photographic opportunities that have hereditary privilege,” explains Rashtrakotta, Hoysala and Naik dynas-
already come his way. After he gives me a Saravana, a young fisherman who ties—were proud to have this sanctuary
quick update of what he has done thus far, lives nearby. “Three of them car- within their kingdom boundaries.
we set off together to explore new festival ry the dipam. Each year, the duty Historical details about it are revealed
adventures. rotates. There is never infighting in stone inscriptions on the walls and
a l l p h o t o s : t h o m a s k e l ly
The devotees around us are firmly focused amongst those who share this copper plates of the temple itself. These
and seem to know exactly what they are do- duty. The elders decide.” inscriptions, which refer to a period of
ing. Although many of them do not live here, After their consecration ritual, time spanning a thousand years, starting
few are first-time pilgrims like Thomas and the fishermen take off up the from 750 ce, indicate that the greatness
me. Still, their faces betray a newcomer’s mountain. Their hike up the steep, of this holy, pilgrimage destination was
fresh sense of anticipation. All day long, rugged slopes will take about four made known to the kings of the times,
devotees have been climbing Arunachala hours. They take their sacred task primarily through important South In-
just to touch the vessel that will hold the seriously, never losing sight of the dian devotional literature like the The-
flame that will be lit that evening. fact that the flame they carry will varam and Thiruvasagam.
“They look like ants on a march,” exclaimed At the cauldron: Devotees clamor to touch the vessel be seen by thousands as the eter- Aruna means “force” and achala means
Thomas, pointing to the continuous stream that will hold the krittika dipam on the mountaintop nal light of Lord Siva. “that which cannot be moved.” Thus, the
of people trekking up the slopes. Ah, yes! After photographing the pujas Arunachaleswarar Temple represents
Another photo opportunity. In a flash, he is ceremony of bharani dipam is kept burning in the temple, Thomas—an experienced Lord Siva as an indomitable, unmovable
capturing the scene on camera. Although in the temple throughout the day as a sym- mountaineer—takes off barefoot up the hill, power. This special Siva temple is located
devotees are discouraged from climbing the bol of the merging of manifestation back hunched forward under the considerable 125 miles from Chennai, the capital of
mountain because it is said to be Lord Siva into God, the one source of all. This single weight of his large, heavy camera bags (See Tamil Nadu.
incarnate, thousands still scale the slopes flame is referred to as the bharani dipam. At sidebar, page 24: OK, I Can Do This). He Its day-to-day administration is cur-
unabashedly on Krittika Dipam. 10:00 in the morning, a select group of fish- moves quickly to keep up with the fisher- rently controlled by the Hindu Religious
ermen are blessed by the temple priest with men, who are waiting for no one. It was not and Charitable Endowments department
The chosen fishermen a small ceremony. At this time—amidst ring- exactly our plan that Thomas would go up of the Tamil Nadu Government.
A flame taken from the five earthen pots that ing bells and temple music—the priest gives the mountain at this time, but he is moving
were lit just after the early morning temple the fishermen a lamp that has been lit from on inspiration, and I don’t want to impede
22 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 23
him. constantly dispatching a bar- rying this celestial cargo some-
In the temple, all is quiet after rage of questions to people how manage to dance with
the fishermen leave. The rains around me. While some of abandon, rocking the Deity joy-
continue. No one cares. Everyone these kindly folks answer me ously. I ask the person next to
is engrossed in preparing for the with courteous patience, oth- me which Deity this is. “Subra-
coming evening. Some wait to en- ers find me a distraction and manya,” he snaps impatiently.
joy entertaining events scheduled slowly inch away or pretend No one wants to shift their
for the afternoon. The festival ad- not to hear. gaze even for a moment. I’m
ministration is busy making seat- Suddenly, the crowd’s atten- beginning to think that maybe
ing and security arrangements tion shifts to the temple en- I had better do the same—oth-
a l l p h o t o s : t h o m a s k e l ly
in and around the temple for the trance from behind the flag erwise, I might miss something
scores of VIP guests—politicians, pole. Some devotees jump up important. I try to get closer to
film stars, senior court judges, bu- to get a better view. The police the flag pole, but a policewom-
reaucrats and more. shout at them to be seated. The en stops me.
A lot of people are seeking spe- first palanquin arrives with a Now another palanquin is ar-
cial treatment, but few are getting dramatic flair. It’s the Vinayaka riving, rocking to and fro. “Swa-
it. Temple officials are constantly Deity, a form of Lord Ganesha. mi, Swami,” the crowd shouts.
hassled for “festival passes.” Al- Exquisitely bedecked with a Here, “Swami” is referring to
though some devotees just want variety of flowers artistically Siva. Amba (Goddess Parvati) is
these tickets so they can snuggle Braids of fire: It is considered a blessing to carry or even touch the arranged, this relatively small right behind, followed by Chan-
up close to VIPs, others have a thick braided cotton wicks that will be lit on Krittika Dipam Deity seems magically large in dikeshwara. I have learned that,
better reason. On Krittika Di- its luxurious setting. More than when the crowd shifts its gaze, The summit: Within sight of the peak of Arunachala and oblivious to pouring rain, devotees struggle to
pam day, the temple is closed after 3 pm to are constantly moving and adjusting their eight people are carrying the heavy wooden something new and important is catch a glimpse of the holy vessel that will contain the sacred Krittika flame
those without passes. Luckily, I have one. positions to get a better view and to make palanquin. They dance with graceful dig- about to happen.
By 5:00 in the evening, the area surround- way for still more people pouring in. Expe- nity to the accompaniment of temple mu- Within about 30 minutes, five palanquins a better vantage point. Everyone wants to thundering firecrackers, ringing temple
ing the temple flagpole, as well as the ad- rienced pilgrims know exactly what’s going sic, devotional singing and Sanskrit prayers. have arrived in all their spiritual pageantry. be able to see the mountaintop. The drizzle bells and a frenzy of rhythmic chanting
joining terrace, is packed. Unmindful of the to happen. For first-timers like me, the an- Soon enough, they reach their designated Now, we wait for the climax, the coming continues. There is a bit of agitated commo- merge to create a cacophony of chaotic
incessant drizzle, people are grabbing seats ticipation is enhanced by a sort of blessed position in front of the flag pole and come of Ardhanarishvara (Lord Siva as half man, tion, but it is of little consequence. All eyes splendor. Camphor is lit in a cauldron by
to observe the dramatic arrival of five ex- ignorance. to a stop. half woman). I am told that this will occur are looking up. the temple flag pole, signaling priests on top
quisitely decorated palanquins, carrying the Not wanting to miss even the smallest de- In a few minutes, the next palanquin ar- immediately after the krittika dipam is lit. Finally, the appointed moment ar- of the mountain to light their flame. The
Hindu Gods Vinayaka, Subramanya, Siva, tail of what is going on and fully determined rives, as if in competition. It’s a little bigger. People are now either stubbornly holding rives. Against the backdrop of a sunset sky, timing is perfectly synchronized. The air is
Amba and Chandikeshwara. The devotees to perform my duty as a reporter well, I am Unmindful of its weight, those who are car- their seated positions or inching forward for crowned with the rising star of Kartika, charged as the overpowering sight of light,
24
24 hhiinndduuiissmm ttoodday
ay
jjuuly
ly//au
augguusstt//sseepptteemmbbeerr 22000066 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 25
signifying Siva in the form of Jyoti hil, one of the fisherman. “Only informs me that there has not been a single
(divine light), merges with Parvati after returning from the hill late instance of misbehavior, theft or crime dur-
to become Siva/Sakti. Now, finally, at night do we take prasadam (sa- ing the festival.
Ardhanarishvara is brought out of cred food offering)—and even then, “Nearly 2,500 police personnel are on duty
a l l p h o t o s : t h o m a s k e l ly
the temple with great ceremonial only from the temple.” during the festival,” he explains. “They have
fanfare. This is the only day of the Thomas, our photographer, also been briefed that this is a religious congre-
year that this particular Deity is fasted. To be honest, he really gation, and devotees should not be harassed
ever moved. It is most auspicious. didn’t have a choice. When he fol- or dealt with harshly. Our work has mainly
The sight of the krittika dipam is lowed the fishermen up the hill in been crowd control.”
magical. It brings an inexplicable joy. the morning, he carried no food or When the dipam was lit, I saw scores
People are ecstatic, mesmerized by water. Little did he know that his of policemen and policewomen forgetting
the light. In a moment of complete next opportunity to eat or drink themselves in devotion as they merged in
absorption, I forget myself and lose anything at all would be only late the experience of Arunachala.
consciousness of everything and ev- No seating room: The colorful festivities prior to the flame that night. When I catch up with The residents of Tiruvannamalai take
eryone around me. The rain clouds lighting in the temple at 6 pm draw record crowds him in the evening, he is famished. great pride in the spiritual heritage of their
that have intermittently masked the “You have certainly become an ar- famously powerful temple town. “I grew up
dipam now create a diffusion of light and A few minutes after the dipam is lit, the dent devotee of Arunachala,” I tell him jok- here and never miss a single cerebration,”
color that produces a most striking effect. crowds reluctantly and slowly disperse. Yet, ingly. He laughs. He is happy. says Dhanalakshmi, who sells coconuts in
Even though this is uniquely beautiful, I the experience is not over. In a sense, it has After nightfall, we see groups of people front of the temple. “See how many people
am aching for at least one moment of per- only just begun. Wherever we all go, we lighting lamps in the streets. Every house, come to see our God here.” She is not dis-
fect visual clarity so that I can witness the will carry with us the sublime thrill of the every shop, every temple—not only in Tiru- turbed that the crowds attending the temple
mountaintop flame unobstructed. I shout divine adventure the we have all just shared. vannamalai but in all surrounding villages might place a burden on her small town.
loudly with impatience, “Arunachala, please The overwhelming aftermath of our exalta- and towns—is bedecked with beautifully The temple is closed for a day after Kritti-
remove that cloud for just a moment.” In a tion takes a long time to settle down into the flickering lamps. ka Dipam, because it is believed that, when
jiffy, as if in answer to my plea, the cloud reality of routine life. I resolve to return to Throughout the day, street merchants Arunachala manifested Himself in the di-
vanishes like a curtain pulled aside. The this holy place again and again. have been performing annadana (free pam, He temporarily shifted His abode from
people nearby look at me in surprise as if On Krittika Dipam day, many devotees distribution of food). For this one day, the the temple to the hilltop.
to ask, “How did you do that?” Well, that’s fast all day, taking food only after the light- entire town has merged as one family of
Arunachala! My aged parents are standing ing of the sacred fire in the evening. This unforgettable warmth, amity and cordiality. Walking around the mountain
there with me at this precious time. The is the traditional practice of the fishermen Even amidst the discomfort of the crowded One of many distinctive features at Tiruvan-
glow on their faces betrays their fulfillment who light the krittika dipam. “We don’t streets, life runs smoothly and everyone gets namalai is the custom of giri pradakshina, or Feeding mendicants: Sri Ramana Maharshi’s busy and thriving ashram, one of many in
and brings me great joy. drink even water the entire day,” says Sent- along harmoniously. A senior police officer girivala, as it is sometimes called—the eight- Tiruvannamalai, provides a daily vegetarian meal to hundreds of local sadhus
26 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 27
dakshina in the worst of weather. erably. Yet, sincere devotees strive to main- posed to have burnt out on the previous day, jas (worship ceremonies), abhisheka (water
Giri pradakshina is best per- tain a selfless purity in their worship by not yet there it was—still burning. ceremonies) and homas (fire ceremonies) to
formed early in the morning, on a seeking personal reward. “Girivala should We started our giri pradakshina just before be performed in their names.
day when the sun is just rising be- be done on foot and with devotion. Then, dawn. It was beautiful. Yes, my feet did hurt Countless holy men—including Agas-
hind Arunachala, yielding the subtle automatically, Arunachala will answer your and there were pebbles and thorns, but the thya, Brighu, Valmiki, Vyasa, Narada, Ap-
pastels of daybreak. Eight temples, prayers. He knows what you need. Perform- trek was certainly not tiring. Elderly pilgrims, asthambha, Vashistha, Sambandar, Guhai
constructed to face in the four pri- ing this act with a motive dilutes devotion,” even people with disabilities, were walking Namasivayar, Manikyavachagar, Arunagiri-
mary and four secondary directions, asserts Mani, a local auto driver. without too much difficulty. They took their nathar, Seshadri Swamigal, Siva Yogaswami
constitute important stops for the time, and their devotion was exemplary. and Sivaya Subramuniyaswami—have re-
devotee as he treads the path around I could not stay away During the 10 days that the flame burns ceived divine inspiration in this holy place.
the holy mountain. There are also I performed the giri pradakshina when I re- on Arunachala after Krittika Dipam, it con- Illumined saints and sages, most notably
many other temples to visit along turned to Arunachala, one week after Krit- sumes a ton of ghee and 1,000 feet of thick, Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi, have made
the way. This journey is tradition- tika Dipam. This time I came with my hus- cotton wick. The fishermen who have been Arunachala their home. That these great
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
ally performed barefooted, starting band and children. As we entered the town chosen to light the dipam hike up the moun- souls lived and influenced so many is proof
at Ramanashram. It is considered at two in the morning, we eagerly looked for tain every day to restock the cauldron and of the power of a spirituality that is un-
especially auspicious to perform this the dipam atop the mountain. Nothing was keep the flame alive. They consider their known to many of us who spend so much
holy practice on purnima (full moon visible. Suddenly, my daughter spotted the task a sacred privilege. time absorbed in the problems of everyday
day), when the crowd is said to be as fire, flickering daintily. For hours, we stayed A month after the celebration has ended life. I can say from my own experience that
massive as during Krittika Dipam. up watching the divine flame. It was sup- they perform fire-walking to absolve them- anyone who makes a pilgrimage to Tiruvan- The author: Choodie Shivram has been a
The entire road around the moun- selves of any sins they have accrued by set- namalai at any time will come away feeling journalist for 25 years. She holds a BA degree
tain has been recently resurfaced, ting foot on the mountain while carrying completely recharged, cleansed and born and a full law degree. She resides in Banga-
thanks to a donation from the fa- the dipam. They also arrange for special pu- anew. ∏π lore with her husband and two children.
mous Tamil movie actor, Rajni-
s. rajam
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
cautioned devotees. He offered a hut where he remained unconscious for famous austerities.
a unique interpretation of the some time. When he opened his eyes, Ra- Today that ashram is still a living, thriv-
word pradakshina (literally “cir- mana Maharshi was sitting by his bed. “He ing place. Although it is located on the edge
cumambulation”): “Pra stands for bore himself with naturalness and at the of town, it is a world unto itself, comprised
‘removal of all sins,’ da stands for same time with dignity,” the famous author of a temple, a meditation hall, library, large
‘fulfilling of desires,’ kshi stands later wrote. “His mien was cheerful, smiling, dining hall with excellent food, gardens, pea-
for ‘freedom from future births,’ polite. His eyes with a gentle benignity rested cocks and lots of guest cottages. A free mid-
na stands for ‘deliverance re- on my face. His body was absolutely still. He day meal is served to the local holy men.
ceived through jnana.’ ” said, ‘Silence is also conversation.’ ” Ramana Maharshi taught a method called
The attitude of the people Ramana Maharshi was born with the name self-inquiry, in which the seeker focuses contin-
coming here, even during non- Venkataraman in Tirucculi near Madurai in South ued attention on the I-thought in order to find its
festival times, is strikingly fo- India. His father died when he was 12. At that time, source. Those who have practiced this method tes-
cused. Completely unmindful of he was sent to live with his uncle in Madurai where he tify that in the beginning, a relentless effort of concen-
formalities and protocols, most attended school, played with friends, swam in the village tration is necessary. Yet eventually, long-term consistency
of them could not care less about lake and frequently won in games of competition that he played yields a blissful sense of oneness as the mind dissolves into the
VIPs who might also be visiting. with local neighborhood boys. Even as a child, he was religiously heart center.
t h o m a s k e l ly
They also seem oblivious to in- devout—yet open-minded. One of his closest friends was a Muslim Although Ramana Maharshi left no formal successor, his teach-
conveniences or discomforts of named Sab Jan. “God’s creation is alike,” he told his friend. “There ings today guide thousands around the world. Some read his books
any sort. These rare pilgrims is no differentiation in creation. God is the same. The apparent dif- and visit his ashram; others follow one of several teachers who per-
wait patiently in long queues for ferences in God are created by men.” petuate his wisdom. “The mind is a form of energy,” said the sage.
hours, just for an instant of eye Hermitage: Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi spent a year absorbed in yogic contemplation in the cave One day, when Venkataraman was alone in his home, the fear of “It manifests as the world. When the mind sinks into the Self, then
contact with their precious Lord. here known as Skandashram. Tucked away in the jungle foilage at the base of the mountain, the hut death overwhelmed him. He explained, “The shock drove my mind the Self is realized; when the mind issues forth, the world appears
And they will perform giri pra- built out from the cave (magnified inset) is still accessible. inwards, and I said to myself mentally ‘Now death has come. What and the Self is not realized.”
28 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 29
parenting Indeed, the good news is that cul-
tural organizations and schools are
sprouting up everywhere, and a dance
kahani
seasons. The Hindu way of life wafts in the food! She also suggests cook- without that there is no depth to any of the
very air they breathe. ing meals when the children other activities. You do bharatanatyam, and
But what about Hindu children born in are around, rather than away the patron God is Lord Siva. If the child
fast-moving America, where there are few book provides a useful blueprint for achiev- at school, so that they can participate doesn’t have some ongoing education of the
markers of Indian life? Religion and culture ing success. Pandya discusses such topics as and the spices and aromas become an spiritual basis of it, then that education is
are best absorbed in childhood, yet these both parents working as a team, how to deal integral and natural part of their lives. incomplete.”
children do not see Hindu culture echoed with a child’s resentment and even choosing For parents who themselves may not The Vedic curriculum at the center,
in the world around them, especially if they the values you want to pass on. know enough about Hindu samskaras (rites called Vedic Heritage, focuses on the sym-
live in Smalltown, USA, where there may be She talks about the importance of the of passage) or ritual ceremonies and festi- bolism in the Hindu tradition—units on Ra-
few people who look or worship like them. name you give your child and of imparting vals, the book provides useful information mayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita
Well, now there’s good news for such families: language, music and dance at an early age. on bringing Hindu culture into everyday life. and also a five-year program on the Gita,
they are not alone. A number of enterprising They will always learn about the dominant which starts with children in the middle
women—all of them mothers—have created in- Western culture they live in, but what’s Culture through dramatic arts school. “It’s a very solid program that takes
novative ways to pass on language and culture learned in babyhood becomes inborn. For Indian children, as with all young ones, up certain chapters of the Gita and through
to American-born Indian children. Culture bound: (above) Students at the Young Indian Cultural Group at a rehearsal of the Pandya suggests exposing young children it’s important that the mainstream knows that really opens the window to the broad
Meenal Pandya, a writer and consultant, Ramayana and (below) in a group picture with the founder, Rathi Raja (center) to the many religious ceremonies that take of and accepts their culture. In New York, philosophical underpinnings of Hinduism,”
has brought up two daughters in Massachu- place in the community. “These activities noted bharatanatyam dancer Swati Bhise says Raja. “I find high school students are
setts and successfully taught them about offer a wonderful opportunity to teach our has been teaching and performing for more very satisfied in terms of the study of who
their religion and culture. She has written children the fundamentals of puja rituals, than 20 years and has taken Indian dance they are and what their roots are. With that
several popular books about Indian culture, some shlokas and some religious stories. to scores of American public schools, teach- interest, they may take up the study for the
including children’s books on Holi and Diwali. In fact, these events are so beautifully in- ing children from all cultures the music and rest of their lives.”
But especially valuable to Indian parents is tertwined that it is as amazing to see how dance of India. The center has a unique way of celebrat-
The Indian Parenting Book: Imparting Your religion and social needs are seamlessly In 2004 she founded Sanskriti Institute ing festivals through a combination of sto-
Cultural Heritage to the Next Generation. integrated within a society. For example, a for Indian Culture with classes taking place rytelling and bhajanas. It goes back to the
In it, she points out that Indian culture has Satyanarayan puja can combine ritualistic at All Souls Church in Manhattan. The ancient oral tradition with stories told in
evolved around the Hindu way of life that is aspects, storytelling and delicious food all in school integrates the ethos of Indian dance, a musical fashion emphasizing values and
based on three principles: all creation is one one event.” music, literature and philosophy. While making a connection between the story-
family; every life is potentially divine; and As she points out, religious ceremonies bharatanatyam is the basis, the curricu- teller and the listeners.
there are many different paths to arrive at and rituals are the backbone of Hindu life, lum includes the teaching of Carnatic mu- “It touches the spirit of all these stories,”
the same truth. “Cultural parenting is, in es- and it’s important to get children involved sic, yoga, Hindi classes and Sanskrit slokas, says Raja. “With all the automation and
p h o t o s : c o u r t e s y r at h i r a j a
sence, helping your next generation on the right from the start. She suggests familiar- along with cultural history. making Ramayana into shows and cartoons,
path of this journey,” she says. “On a more izing the child with puja items and getting Many of the Indian parents who come are children may know these stories but I don’t
practical level, it is what you teach your them to participate in small gestures, such pleasantly surprised that it’s not just about think the bhakti is there. So, in a sense, we
children, how you teach your children and as ringing bells and introducing them to dif- dance but also about asanas, the navagra- have to go back to our roots, to the ancient
what you emphasize in your own life. Every ferent Gods and Goddesses. has and even Hindu iconography, be it in a traditions of storytelling to make human
act of a parent becomes a learning process Other useful suggestions she makes are temple or the Metropolitan Museum. Since connections with children and families,
and creates a cultural imprint for the child.” taking children frequently to India and the students are from many religions, Bhise which helps bhakti to flower.”
For those struggling to impart Indian showing rather than telling them about and Bunty Sawhney, the director, teach There are bhajanas for the younger children
culture to their children in a new country culture. She recently took her teenage about the Indian ethos but not directly and chanting for the older ones. As Raja ob-
without the help of extended family, the daughters to the spice markets of Kerala about religion. serves, “In our tradition there is such a vast ar-
30 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 31
India and can read and write Hindi.
She came up with original nursery
rhymes and translated some popu-
lar American ones for the children’s
book collection, the Khush Manäo
Series. It offers five books of popu-
lar rhymes along with an audio CD
to assist with Hindi pronunciation
and tone. It is targeted at kids from
birth to five years, the formative
years for learning a language.
The cheerfully illustrated books
are written in Hindi with English
transliteration, which is helpful for
those who don’t know how to write
the script. Their next book is Var-
namala Geet, the equivalent of the
ABC song—in Hindi. The sisters
plan to do high-quality books in oth-
er Indian languages, too. Says Sonali,
meeramasi
who is in marketing, “We think it’s
s h e e ta l s i n g h a l
a whole cycle of life approach, the sofa in front of the VCR. getting to know her and understanding his dian tradition—be it the Hindu Temple So- Conclusion as they get older, the outside influence will
and children grow up and Another useful tool comes own ancestry. ciety of North America in New York, the The Hindu children who grew up in Ameri- start weighing more into their lives.
then come back with their from MeeraMasi (“Aunty The kolu story, for example, is as much a Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh or the ca 20 years ago had few resources and were Hindu parents can expose their children to
children,” says Raja. “Their Meera”), a company created Hindu story as it is an Indian story, because Meenakshi Temple in Texas. basically alone in a mainstream environment. the rich traditions of dance, music and lan-
system works, and I think it’s by two sisters, Sheetal Sing- it teaches children about their Indian cul- In fact, many Hindu temples have taken Now many of them are having children of guage and make it an intrinsic part of their
because they’ve institutional- Meenal Pandya’s excel- hal and Sonali Herrera of San ture. “So although we don’t write specific on the task of imparting Indian classical their own, and for them it’s a challenge to lives, rather than something that is a tacked-
ized things and if a new per- lent book of advice Jose, California. Sonali can stories about any religion in particular, we dance and music, regional language lessons pass on something they never had them- on option. If children absorb the culture as
son comes in, there are places speak and understand Hindi, touch upon all those cultures through our and yoga to the children. For example, the selves. In many cases, language and rituals they learn to walk and talk and dream, it will
where they could go.” but not read or write. She decided to create stories,” says Chawla. “It’s a secular maga- Ganesha Pathashala at the Hindu Temple in have been lost. So these books, CDs videos not be something alien to them; it will belong
books that would fill that need for second- zine, but we do teach them about Indian cul- Flushing, New York, runs religion classes, as and classes are a useful resource for them. to them, as do the family’s precious silver De-
Teaching language generation Indian-Americans who may be ture, science, geography and history so that well as language classes, teaching Hindi, Tele- Many of today’s young adults are so com- ities and puja paraphernalia, to be cherished
Out in Fremont, California, Ruchira Agar- in the same boat. Sheetal, who is older and they can be proud of their Indian heritage.” gu, Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit to children. pletely mainstreamed that they are lost to and passed on to the next generation. ∏π
wal, who was in the IT industry, decided a bharatanatyam dance teacher, grew up in Jain emphasizes that Kahani is about con- But the temples are still scattered and the culture, especially if they did not see it
32 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 33
editorial and moneymaking potential. That is why IAS or IPS officers giving and taking of dowry; it has only provided a powerful
command the highest dowries, while schoolteachers command weapon for revenge. Lawyers and even police routinely advise
not be taken as the actual cause of that never an instance where a bride’s family is to stay with their in-laws, the insecurity of the groom’s parents some of the glaring gender inequities, but there is no evidence
violence. Most explanations are only an excuse prosecuted for giving dowry. The assump- triggers an impulse to extract what they can from the bride’s that the government has an effective implementation plan to
to destroy a woman’s sense of self-worth. The tion is that “takers” are guilty and “givers” family at the time of their son’s marriage. make that law a living force in property devolution.
same logic applies to dowry-related violence. are hapless victims. Those campaigning An important reason for the increase in domestic conflicts, However, the real battle lies in building a social consensus
Although the terms “dowry death” and “dowry against dowry make it appear as if escalat- rising dowry demands and the transformation of stridhan whereby parents begin to consider it a primary duty to provide
violence” have recently become popular, it is ing dowries are solely due to the greed of to groom price is that our legal enactments, administrative the means of a secure and dignified life with or without mar-
rare to find instances where a man batters the groom’s family. This is not true. If greed interventions and state policies are forcing the neutralization riage. Parents of brides should be urged to give their daughters
a woman solely to extract additional dowry were the sole cause of dowry, India would of families without due attention to the fact that the primary income-generating forms of property, instead of spending huge
items or money from his in-laws. The beating is aimed at consist of two distinct sets of families: those who produced only security for the vast majority of the elderly of India must come amounts of money on expensive consumer items, which soon
destroying her sense of self-worth. This is why a large dowry sons and those who produced only daughters. The “son-blessed” from their children, especially their sons. Parents invest all depreciate in value and therefore provide no long-term security
is no guarantee against domestic violence. I have learned of families would be permanent winners and “daughter-cursed” they can in their son’s education and career with the hope to the woman. They should also endeavor to provide them with
numerous situations where a woman suffers violence because her families would be permanent losers. This is clearly not the case, and expectation that those sons will get jobs that bring about a house of their own (no matter how small and modest), so that
husband’s family feels she might start considering herself high since the family that gives on its daughter’s wedding receives upward mobility for the whole family. Sons are expected to con- their daughters have a safe dwelling from which no husband
and mighty just because her natal family paid a large dowry. when its sons get married. tribute to the education and marriage costs of younger siblings, can throw them out. ∏π
Although I do not believe that dowry is the sole cause of Among the most misleading and harmful aspects of the as well as take care of parents in their old age. However, too
domestic violence, there is no denying the fact that the sharp anti-dowry laws is the blurring of definition between the ancient many parents find this expectation unfulfilled when their sons Madhu Kishwar lives in New Delhi and is editor of Manushi,
escalation in the amounts of money being spent on dowries has tradition of stridhan, “woman’s gift,” with rapidly changing, get married, especially if those sons take up well-paying jobs or India’s leading magazine on social issues and human rights, espe-
contributed to an increased perception of daughters as family modern-day marriage transactions described as dowry-giving. succeed in independent enterprises that are separate from the cially women’s rights. E-mail: editor@manushi-india.org
burdens. Dowry-giving is now spreading even to communities Stridhan is that portion of family wealth which belongs exclu- joint family economy. Not just in metropolitan cities, but
that had no such tradition a generation or two ago, despite the sively to women. It is usually passed from mother to daughter. It even in small towns and villages of India, young wives
fact that in the last two decades anti-dowry laws have become includes gifts of money, property, jewelry or a share in a family are increasingly prone to insist on moving away from
very stringent. Many interpret the failure of these laws to lessen business. Stridhan also includes wealth generated by a woman the joint family and setting up independent lives,
dowry-giving as a sign of their poor implementation. It is my through her own work or wealth coming to her through inheri- even when their in-laws are not abusive.
belief, however, that these laws have so many inherent flaws that tance. It includes gifts given to a woman when she is married, The anti-dowry agitators do not take these
their honest implementation is virtually impossible. This is one not only from her mother but also from her in-laws. A defining new dynamics into account. They rely upon
of several reasons why these laws have created more problems characteristic of stridhan is that no one in the family has rights pious outrage and emotional outbursts when
than they have solved. over it, except the woman to whom it is given. they demand that the law be made more and
A great many of these problems arise from ambiguous Unlike stridhan, present-day dowries include gifts and wealth more stringent to abolish what they define as
definitions of “dowry,” combined with draconian provisions for given at a daughter’s wedding, not only to her, but to her husband a “social evil.” The only effect of the anti-dowry
breaking the dowry law. For example, “dowry” is prohibited, and his relatives as well. This includes household goods as well as laws and campaign has been that the giving and
but voluntary “presents” to the bride and groom are allowed, simple gifts ranging from clothing and jewelry for the daughter to taking of dowry has become more surreptitious.
provided that “such presents are of customary nature and the exorbitant sums of cash and expensive pieces of property for the Earlier, families ensured that proper lists and
value thereof is not excessive and provided that such presents groom and his parents. The amount given as stridhan is supposed accounts were prepared. The groom’s family was
are recorded on a list maintained in accordance with the rules.” to be in proportion to the traditionally defined norms of what made to sign lists of the things they received, and
Who decides which gifts are voluntary and which ones constitutes a woman’s share in the family wealth. the dowry itself was put on display for all to see.
are given under pressure of demand? Often, the very same However, the amount of dowry commanded by a groom has There were numerous witnesses to the transaction.
family that declares, at the time of marriage, that they gave a direct relationship to his social status, income potential and Today, no such lists are signed and most of the
only “voluntary gifts” to the groom’s family will not hesitate to social-familial connections. For this reason, that which is given giving and receiving is shrouded in secrecy.
attribute all their “gift-giving” to extortionist demands once the to the groom and his family has assumed more the form of To further complicate the problem, many of
marriage turns sour and is headed for a breakdown. Moreover, “groom price,” paid with an intention of passing off the burden today’s women use the anti-dowry law to book
how can it be decided when a gift is excessive, relative to the of an “unwanted” daughter to the groom’s family. High dowry husbands for maltreatment even if dowry is
dinodia
gift-giver’s income, when, in India, very few people declare what payments are more like an investment by the bride’s family not the cause of marital breakdown. Thus,
they earn, and those who do often grossly under-report? How to gain an alliance with the groom’s powerful connections the anti-dowry law has not curbed the
34 h i n du i s m t o day j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 35
education rule out a major invasion of Europeans. This
is why I believe that it would be inaccurate
36 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6
Hindu Scriptures
Ancient holy texts revealed by God and man
ti o
ca
u
n
ed
al
n
s
i
si t
g h
The Word, verily, is greater than name. The Word, in fact, makes Than whom there is naught else higher,
known the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda, the Atharva than whom there is naught smaller,
Veda as the fourth, and the ancient lore as the fifth: the Veda naught greater, the One stands like
of Vedas, the ritual for ancestors, calculus, the augural sciences, a tree established in heaven. By Him,
the knowledge of the signs of the times, ethics, political science, the Person, is this whole universe filled.
sacred knowledge, theology, knowledge of the spirits, military Krishna Yajur Veda, Shvetashvatara
science, astrology, the science of snakes and of celestial beings. Upanishad ., The Principal
Upanishads, Radhakrishnan, p.
Sama Veda, Chandogya Upanishad ...
The Vedic Experience, Panikkar, p.
j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-1
Presenting a mountaintop view
of the vast library of wisdom that
b a c k g r o u n d p h o t o , t h o m a s k e l ly
molds and influences Hindu life What Are
Hindu Revealed
induism proudly embraces an incredibly
art by s. rajam
are reflected in an assembly of texts known as Ve-
dangas and Upavedas. Moreover, through the ages
God-realized souls, sharing their experience, have
poured forth volume upon volume that reveal the
wonders of yoga and offer passionate hymns of de-
votion. The creation of Hindu scripture continues
to this day, as contemporary masters reiterate the Above, God holds the holiest of scriptures, the Vedas and
timeless truths to guide souls on the path to Divin- Agamas. Around these are an array of other scriptures,
ity. In this Educational Insight, we offer a simple enscribed on stone, wood, pillars and scrolls. At left, we
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overview of Hindu scripture and an anthology of see a copy of the Rig Veda Samhita. In the dimmed back-
verses from this luminous library of dharma. ground, lamps are offered, as prescribed in the Agamas,
by priests at Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Sri Lanka.
eda, from vid, “to know,” means “supreme written down in Sanskrit in the last few millennia.
V wisdom or science.” Similarly, Agama, The subtly symbolic language of shruti, the cher-
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which names the sacred sectarian revela- ished word of God, is lyrical and lofty. In imparting
tions, means “descent of knowledge.” The Vedas religious practice, rules and doctrine, the Vedas are
and Agamas are eternal truths transmitted by general and the Agamas specific. The Vedas extol
The stack of books at left holds one bound volume from
The man who rejects the words of the scriptures God through great clairaudient and clairvoyant and invoke a multiplicity of Gods through elabo-
each of the four Vedas in the Sanskrit language. For cen-
and follows the impulse of desire attains neither rishis. They are Hinduism’s primary and most au- rate fire rituals called yajna. The Agamas center
turies they have been the basis of philosophical discussion,
his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path Supreme. Let thoritative scriptures, expounding life’s sacredness around a single Deity and His worship with wa-
study and commentary. The Vedas are also the subject of
the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to
deep study and meditation, to realize the wisdom of the and man’s purpose on the planet. These psalms ter, flowers and lights in sanctified temples and
what is right and what is not right.
Bhagavad Gita .-, Mascaro, p.
ancients within oneself. Their mantras are chanted and of wisdom were disclosed over many centuries, shrines. The Tirumantiram lauds, “Two are the
used in rites of worship, prayer and japa. memorized and orally conveyed from generation scriptures that Lord Siva revealed—the primal Ve-
to generation within priestly families, then finally das and the perfect Agamas.” Aum Namah Sivaya.
© 2006 by Himalayan Academy, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746 To order additional copies of
this booklet, as well as other Educational Insights, visit www.himalayanacademy.com/teachingtools j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-3
b a c k g r o u n d : a f p p h o t o / d e s h a k a lya n c h o w d h u r y
b a c k g r o u n d p h o t o , h i n d u i s m t o d ay
What Is the How Are the
Nature of the Vedas Significant
Veda Texts? Today?
The holy Vedas, man’s oldest The Vedas, the ultimate scriptural
scripture, dating back 6,000 authority, permeate Hinduism’s
to 8,000 years, are a collection thought, ritual and meditation.
of four books: the Rig, Sama, They open a rare window
Yajur and Atharva. Each into ancient Bharata society,
has four sections: hymns, proclaiming life’s sacredness and
rites, interpretation and the way to oneness with God. Aum.
r e u t e r s / r a j pat i d a r
philosophical instruction. Aum.
art by s. rajam
reuters/jitendra prakash
Above, using the traditional elutani, stylus, a pandit Above, a young Smarta priest conducts a fire ceremony,
scribes memorized Vedic verses on dried palm leaves. havana, as decreed in the Vedas. At left, a Vaishnava
t h o m a s k e l ly
For centuries the Vedas were passed on orally, then priest blows a conch horn during prayers in Allahabad.
finally transcribed. Left, a devotee leafs through his Background photo, at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, a
holy text as he performs his morning sadhana. priest performs antyeshti, the cremation ritual, last in the
series of rites of passage prescribed in the Vedas.
he oldest and core portions of the the Rig, whereas most of the Atharva Samhita’s ike the taoist tao te ching, the bud- All Hindus wholeheartedly accept the Vedas, yet
I-4 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-5
What Is the How Are
b a c k g r o u n d p h o t o , h i n d u i s m t o d ay
Nature of the the Agamas
b a c k g r o u n d , t h o m a s k e l ly
Holy Agamas? Significant Today?
The Agamas, Sanatana While the Vedas, with myriad
Dharma’s second authority, Deities, bind all Hindus together,
are revelations on sacred the Agamas, with a single
living, worship, yoga supreme God, unify each sect in a
french institute of pondicherry
t h o m a s k e l ly
2,000 years old. Aum.
fr. institute of pondicherry
Above, Dr. Ganesan, a scholar at the French Institute of Pondi- Like millions of Hindus before them, the youth in these
cherry, India, shows the volumes of Saiva Agamas they have two photos are learning precise recitation of liturgy from
t h o m a s k e l ly
printed to date. They are keepers of 8,000 ancient manu- the Agamas and Vedas. They will spend years perfecting
scripts, mostly palm-leaf books, such as those seen stored on this training, enabling them to perform ritual worship,
shelves on the left, which one day will be published to the puja, in temples around the world. In their priest school in
world. In the background, a devotee offers flowers to the Lord. Tirupati, India, they will memorize hundreds of mantras.
n the vast agamic literature, tradition nography, to rules for priests and the intricacies od is love, and to love god is the trology and cosmology. So overwhelming is Agamic
I-6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-7
s e s h u b a d r i nat h / p i pa l p r o d u c t i o n s
b a c k g r o u n d p h o t o b y t h o m a s k e l ly
Do Smriti and What Texts
Sacred Literature Amplify Vedas
Differ? and Agamas?
Hindu sacred literature is a Many texts support the Vedas
treasury of hymns, legend, and Agamas. Vedangas detail
mythology, philosophy, science conduct, astrology, language
and ethics. From among this and etymology. Upavedas
vast body of writings, each unfold politics, health, warfare
lineage recognizes a select and music. Upagamas and
portion as its secondary Paddhatis elaborate the
scripture, called smriti. Aum. Agamic wisdom. Aum.
m a na s d a s
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Above, Masako Ono voyaged from Japan to India to learn Above, a bride and groom are in the midst of their wed-
the ancient Odissi dance style and remained there to ding; at left they hold an offering of sacred grasses; wed-
teach it. The many human arts are found in ancient scrip- ding chants derive from the Vedas, Agamas and ancillary
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ture. At left, a collection of Hindu holy texts stacked in a texts; attitudes and guidelines for family life are found in
Delhi store. In the background, two girls reverently touch the Sutras and Shastras. In the background photo, a girl
the holy feet of Lord Vishnu at a shrine in Tirupati. receives sacraments after a puja.
hile the vedas and agamas are shared tradition,” for it derives from human insight and uch of hinduism’s practical knowl- The Upavedas expound profound sciences: Arthave-
I-8 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-9
b a c k g r o u n d p h o t o b y t h o m a s k e l ly
Does Hinduism Are There
Have Epics and Other Types of
Myths? Sacred Texts?
The Mahabharata and Ramayana India’s lofty philosophical texts
are Hinduism’s most renowned expound diverse views in exacting
epic histories, called Itihasa. dialectics. Yoga treatises unveil
The Puranas are popular folk the mysterious path to ultimate
narratives, teaching faith, belief samadhis. Intimate devotional
and ethics in mythology, allegory, hymns disclose the raptures of
legend and symbolism. Aum. consummate Divine love. Aum.
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Above, a woman performs a dance depicting a scene from Above, a recluse, clearly immersed in his yoga sadhana,
the Ramayana in Java, where the world-renowned epic sits in meditation beneath a gnarled banyan tree. At
is widely depicted in gala dance and theater. At left, San- left are displayed two primary yoga scriptures, Yoga
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skrit volumes of the famed poem are shown, along with Sutras and Yoga Vashishtha. In the background, a
Hinduism’s other epic, the Mahabharata. young lady lights a ghee lamp to offer in personal
worship, as her ancestors have done for centuries.
induism’s poetic stories of rishis, philosophy, dharma, ritual, language and the arts, n addition to the epics, legends and sup- bhakti literature are the Bhagavad Gita, Narada
I-10 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-11
As when a fire is lit with damp fuel,
t h o m a s k e l ly
Sage of Kanchi
Extol the Vedas?
Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati
wrote, “The Vedas are eternal and
art by s. rajam
a g e n c e f r a n c e p r e s s e , m a h a d e vo s e n
greatness is to be known in many
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ways. Their sound produces in
our nadis (subtle nerve channels),
as well as in the atmosphere,
Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati [1894–1994], 68th Above, an Indian boy piously pours ghee on the sacred
vibrations that are salutary not only pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Pitham, depicted above, fire, keeping the flame of devotion alive. At left, devotees
to our own Self but to the entire walked throughout India teaching of the Vedas. Here he worship the Sun in Bihar during Chhat festival, when, for
world—to the good of mankind is shown before an image of Siva as Dakshinamurti, the one night and day, the people live on the banks of the
silent guru seated beneath a banyan tree. Above left, an river Ganga making offerings to Surya, the gracious Sun
as well as of all other creatures.” earthen mandala on a wall of Muktinath Temple in Nepal. God, a primary Deity honored in the Vedas.
“T
he concern for all creation that finds tures have aroused the wonder of people of other they have the mantric power to do immense good to follow: an answer to these—stated in the form of
e xpression in the Vedas is not shared by any lands, of other faiths. They are moved by the poetic to each one of us and to the world, they also contain laws—is to be found in these scriptures.
other religion. Shanno astu dvipade shancha- beauty of the hymns, the subtle manner in which teachings embodying great metaphysical truths. “My duty is to impress upon you that it is your
tushpade—this occurs in a mantra. The Vedas pray principles of social life are dealt with, the metaphys- “It must here be emphasized that on the doctri- responsibility to keep the Vedic tradition alive. If
for the good of all creatures including bipeds, quad- ical truths embedded and expounded in them, and nal level the Vedas deal both with worldly life and in India the Vedas retain their original vitality even
rupeds, etc. Even grass, shrubs, trees, mountains and their moral instruction as well as scientific truths. the inner life of the Self. They teach how to conduct today, it is because they are being continuously re-
the rivers are not excluded from their benign pur- “There are mantras that are specially valuable for ourselves in such a manner as to create atmic well- peated by students and teachers of the Vedas, and
view. The happy state of all these sentient creatures their sound but are otherwise meaningless. Similarly, being. And their concern is not with the liberation the purity of the sounds and accents of the words
and inert objects is brought about through the special there are works pregnant with meaning but with no of the individual alone; they speak about the ideals are retained in that process. But it is only by prac-
quality of the Vedas. mantric power. The remarkable thing about the Ve- of social life and about the duties of the public. How ticing the Vedic injunctions that we can obtain the
“The Vedas are also notable for the lofty truths das is that they are of immeasurable value as much the brahmin ought to lead his life and how the king grace of God, both for our individual welfare and
expressed in the mantras. The tenets of these scrip- for their sound as for their verbal content. While must rule his subjects and what ideals women are for the welfare of the whole world.”
I-12 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-13
Life illumined with scriptural wisdom
urudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of genetic code that makes a starfish a starfish. It is reflected
Hinduism Today, was once asked, “What can I in the beautiful Hindu style of music, art, drama, dance,
e d w i n b e r n b au m
say if a missionary comes to my door and asks, work ethics, law, domestic values, spiritual striving, rela-
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
‘Does Hinduism have a Bible?’ ” He answered, “You can tionships, rites of passage, astrology, medicine, games, love
say, ‘Yes, we have the Vedas and Agamas, plus a hundred and business, architecture and storytelling, government
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other scriptures that serve us very well, thank you.’ ” In- and diplomacy, and the working together of this physical
deed, this diverse body of knowledge is unlike the one world with the heavenly realms of existence. This grand venerating gurus blessing a new home love of nature
Holy Book of other world faiths. It is diverse, a bit neglect- legacy helps make Hindus the gracious people they are,
ed, some nearly lost, some actually lost, but all of it pre- with qualities of humility, appreciation, love of God, for-
cious. In truth, it yet defines and colors Hindu life like the bearance, joy and soulful depth of character. Mantra yields early success due to practice up his personal discipline by receiving lessons in the
done in previous life. Self-fulfilling, too, is the sciences; and endear himself to the people by bringing
mantra which is received according to the line of them in contact with wealth and doing good to them.
The soul is born and unfolds in If daily to his home the friends tradition, with due diksha, obtained in the right Book I, Chapter 7, The Life of a Holy King, Kautilya’s
a body, with dreams and desires who love him come, and coming, way. Innumerable are the mantras; they but distract Arthashastra, R. Shamasastry
and the food of life. And then it is bring delight to eyes that kindle the mind. Only that mantra which is received
reborn in new bodies in accordance bright, a man has found the through the grace of the guru gives all fulfillment. Once Rama asked Hanuman, “How do you look at
with its former works. The quality whole of life within his soul. Kularnava Tantra ., Woodroff & Pandit, p. Me?” And Hanuman replied: “O Rama, as long as I
of the soul determines its future Panchatantra, Ryder, p. have the feeling of ‘I’, I see that Thou art the whole
body—earthly or airy, heavy or light. O thou who pervades all space, both now and and I am a part; Thou art the Master and I am Thy
In the beginning of worship, at hereafter, as the Soul of souls! The Vedas, Agamas, servant. But when, O Rama, I have the knowledge of
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check. Controlling the breath, regulate image, in the offering of light, in the
the vital activities. As a charioteer sprinkling of the image with sandal, and is admitted by the dualists and nondualists. with people who are strangers to us. Aßvins, create
holds back his restive horses, so does a in the bathing of the image with Tayumanavar, ., The Poems of Tayumanavar, Coomaraswamy, p. between us and the strangers a unity of hearts.
persevering aspirant restrain his mind. consecrated liquids, in the offering Atharva Veda Samhita, ..
Shvetashvatara Upanishad, .. The Upanishads, of incense, in the act of worship, and By overthrowing the aggregate of the six enemies
Prabhavananda & Manchester, p. in all other things to be done, the [lust, anger, greed, vanity, haughtiness and overjoy], In him who is pure of mind, intellect and ego,
Sivacharya should strike the great bell. he shall restrain the organs of sense; acquire wisdom the senses and their perceptions are pure, in
The guru who has attained Karana Agama -, Motivations of Temple by keeping company with the aged; see through his fact, and he finds everything pure as well.
Self Realization can alone help Architecture in Saiva Siddhanta, p. spies; establish safety and security by being ever Sarvajnanottara Agama, Atma Sakshatkara 62,
the aspirant in acquiring it. active; maintain his subjects in the observance of Collected Works of Ramana Mararshi, p.110
Siva Sutras ., Jaideva Singh, p. their respective duties by exercising authority; keep
blessings
u p i p h o t o s e r v i c e , a m i n wa r
pa n d i t h i n d r a j d i v e k a r
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baps
I-14 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay I-15
One who is established in the At the time of the sacrifice, O Lord
contemplation of nondual unity will of the wood [Agni], the worshipers
abide in the Self of everyone and smear you with sacred oil. When you
realize the immanent, all-pervading stand upright or when you repose
One. There is no doubt of this. on Earth’s bosom, you still will grant
Sarvajnanottara Agama, Atma Sakshatkara , us good fortune. Set up to the East
Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi, p. of the sacred fire, you accept our
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
prayer, intense and unflagging. Hold
The Self resides within the lotus of yourself high to bring us prosperity.
the heart. Knowing this, consecrated Drive far away dearth of inspiration.
to the Self, the sage enters daily Lord of the wood, take now your
that holy sanctuary. Absorbed in stance on this, the loftiest spot of all meditation
the Self, the sage is freed from Earth. Well-fixed and measured one,
identity with the body and lives give to the worshiper, who brings a
in blissful consciousness. sacrifice, honor and glory.
Sama Veda, Chandogya Rig Veda 3.8.1-3, The Vedic
Upanishad ..-, The Upanishads, Experience, Pannikar, p. 373-374
The Lord of Appati is both inside As wide Earth, as fire and water, as
and outside, form and no form. He is sacrificer and wind that blows, as
both the flood and the bank. He is the eternal moon and sun, as ether, as
pau l e s t c o u r t / h e r a l d p i c t u r e
broad-rayed sun. Himself the highest the eight-formed God, as cosmic good
mystery, He is in all hidden thoughts. and evil, woman and man, all other
He is thought and meaning, and forms and His own form, and all these
embraces all who embrace Him. as Himself, as yesterday and today
Tirumurai ... Poems to Siva, The Hymns and tomorrow, the God of the long,
of the Tamil Saints, Peterson, p. red hair stands, O Wonder!
Tirumurai ... Poems to Siva, The Hymns
of the Tamil Saints, Peterson, p.
dance
r e u t e r s , d i pa k k u m a r
h i n d u i s m t o d ay
baps
I-16 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6
ayur v eda
j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 53
from contracts or personal injuries. nature. A Hindu temple set up under a dom- rent. Failure to do so may result in suspen-
A temple is generally set up as a not-for- inant religious leader can adopt a set of rules sion of the temple’s corporate standing. The
profit or nonprofit corporation under the and guidelines as a part of the constitution state also has the authority to suspend any
laws of the state. There is no one set of rules or articles of incorporation and bylaws of the corporation if it violates state law or policy.
governing all the 50 American states and the temple that recognize the leader’s preemi-
District of Columbia, so the temple’s own at- nence in deciding matters of both religious Designate the temple as a “church”?
torney will be the best source of informa- teaching and organization. For example, by- When they hear the word church, many
tion about this, as well as all other aspects laws of this type of temple organization can people do not realize that under American
of the operation. provide that its religious leader may appoint law and tax codes the term includes the in-
Being a nonprofit corporation means that all or a certain number of members of the stitutions of all types of religious faiths, not
no one can profit personally from the activ- board. Or it may provide that the leader has just Christian. In fact, the designation of a
ity of the temple: any economic Hindu temple as a “church” de-
activity can only be for the tax- clares the truth of our existence
exempt purposes of the temple. as religious institutions on equal
The fact that no one can profit par with all others. We enthusi-
does not, of course, mean that astically acknowledge our status
the temple cannot pay a reason- as members of the rich diversity
54 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 55
in the temple’s leadership.
Especially in these days of Catholic management: Bishop William
public mistrust, a temple Skylstad of Spokane, Washington, the
can protect its public im- newly elected president of the US Con-
age by demonstrating that ference of Catholic Bishops, meets with
it is open to scrutiny. President Bush in the Oval Office. As
It is especially incumbent bishop, Skylstad is the “corporate sole”
upon the temple board to of all church properties in the Spokane
keep the administrative diocese and answerable to no lay board
56 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 57
Money
important that not only the conflict but even Transparent accounting: Money should to freeze people’s positions, leaving little
the appearance of a possible conflict must be handled most carefully in the temple, chance of reaching a truly amicable resolu-
be avoided. In the roofing illustration, Di- as shown here by the priest counting the tion or settlement. ADR, on the other hand, is
rector X can avoid the conflict by disclosing day’s receipts on the temple floor in front a way of resolving disputes that honors both
his relation to the roofing company, telling of the Deity and devotees sides and aims to reach a win-win solution.
the board it needs to receive a number of It is a good idea to include a clause providing
competitive bids and removing himself to the smallest consideration, like acciden- for disputes to be submitted to arbitration or
from consideration of the contract. Then tally walking off with a pen that belongs to mediation in all organizational documents,
the board is able to weigh all the factors—in- the temple in one’s pocket. Maintaining the including bylaws, as well as in all contracts
cluding the fact that the brother-in-law is a highest standards of honesty and integrity in and agreements to which the temple is a
good friend of the temple—before granting our behavior as temple leaders is a minimal party. In this process, which is less formal
the contract to him or another. ethical requirement to fulfill our service. than litigation, a religious elder or other in-
As another illustration that is not so obvi- dividual respected by both parties may act
ous, temple fund-raisers often casually sug- Practical Temple Management as the arbitrator/mediator, or it can be done
gest to potential donors that their gifts to In dealing with management, a few good by a person trained in ADR. The American
the temple might be advantageous for their practices will help keep the temple running Arbitration Association (AAA) has offices in
tax situation, without realizing that they are smoothly and demonstrate integrity for all most every city and has experienced people
1) giving unqualified tax advice and 2) in a to see: who will get acquainted with the basic facts
position of a direct conflict of interest. The • State the manager’s authority clearly in of the situation and then allow both sides
58 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 59
Of palm leaves and people: (Left) Vima-
lanathan peruses palm-leaf bundles in the
air-conditioned storage room. (Right) The
manuscripts come in many shapes and
sizes. (Middle left) Vimalanathan applies
lemongrass oil to the leaves to deter insects.
“ just cannot sit idle,” says s. sam- Filliozat, late founder-director of the Insti-
banda Sivacharyar of Cuddalore. “One tute and director of the French School of
day, if I don’t read or see a manuscript, the Far East, wished to explain the Hindu
scripts transmitting approximately 60,000
texts. Jointly with the French School of the Far
East, the total collection of over 11,000 man-
lating seven of the 28 Saiva Agamas into
French. More translations are underway,
but the bulk of the department’s energy is
that day I shall be very uncomfortable.” temple and what happens in it. He set out uscripts includes the world’s largest assem- currently being consumed in an effort to
The white-bearded, wisened Sivacha- to collect as many of the materials he could blage of texts of Hinduism’s Saiva Siddhanta digitally photograph and catalog the entire
ryar has been with the French Institute of find relating to South India’s rich Saivite tra- tradition. More than half of these are Saiva manuscript collection. This is no easy task.
Pondicherry for 37 years, purchasing, or- dition. Pandit N.R. Bhatt, 81, a scholar of Agamas, honored along with the Vedas as Describing the texts contained in the manu-
ganizing, cataloging and assisting with the the French School and now retired head of Hinduism’s revealed scriptures, and pad- scripts is difficult and tedious, considering
critical editing and translation of ancient Indology at the Institute, spearheaded the dhatis, ritual manuals based on the Agamas. that a single palm-leaf bundle can contain
Saiva manuscripts. Even at 79, having au- collection effort in the late ’50s. The manu- Included in the collection are significant dozens of texts. The tiny letters are typically
thored five books on temple rituals himself, scripts were gathered from private collec- numbers of devotional hymns and legends engraved without spaces between words or
he’s not ready to retire. There is much work tions of temples, priests and monasteries about holy places, Vedic astrology texts, ep- between where one text ends and another
yet to be done to preserve and bring forth across South India. Bhatt scoured the Tamil ics, myths and legends, traditional medi- begins. There is not even any emphasis to
tens of thousands of texts which record the countryside for Saiva manuscripts, some- cal texts, Vedas and other literary works. indicate chapter titles.
ritual and philosophical knowledge that has times bringing back entire collections that in- Among the manuscripts, 6,850 are written Thus, this process is a slow one, requiring
been locked within his Adisaiva priest tra- cluded many other categories of texts as well. in Sanskrit, 1,200 in Tamil, with others in not only great physical care but intimate fa-
dition for millennia. The Adisaivas, Tamil Nadu’s hereditary Tulu, Telugu, Malayalam, Manipravalam (a miliarity with Sanskrit scriptures. The Insti-
The French Institute of Pondicherry is a clan of Sivacharya temple priests, trusting- combination of Malayalam and Sanskrit) and tute’s goal is to make the collection available
research institute of the French Ministry of ly sold and sometimes gifted manuscripts, Kannada. The Sanskrit texts are inscribed in in a searchable online database for anyone
Foreign Affairs. Most of the Institute’s ac- mostly in the form of palm-leaf bundles, all of the nine Indian scripts used to write researching Saiva religion and philosophy. A
tivities fall into the areas of social sciences which had been in their families for cen- Sanskrit: Devanagari, Grantha, Tamil, Ma- pilot CD entitled “Parampara” was released
and ecology. The Indology department is turies. Sambanda Sivacharyar recalls, “In layalam, Kannada, Nandinagari, Sarada in 1999. The first complete section of the
working to preserve the subcontinent’s ex- 1975, a priest in Chennai who was so poor (Kashmiri), Tulu and Nepali. In addition catalog, covering the 1,144 paper transcripts,
traordinary heritage of ancient religious willingly gave us a bag full of manuscripts to plain text, there are Oriya manuscripts is to be published on the web by the end of
manuscripts, one of only a handful of such unconditionally.” The Institute’s promise in that have abundant drawings and diagrams. 2006. Indeed, after 50 years of effort, the
bodies in the world. return was to carefully protect and preserve, Some Tamil manuscripts show yantras, and bulk of the project is yet to be done. ∏π
The collection began in 1955, shortly af- and eventually transcribe and translate, it all. a few Malayalam manuscripts show illustra- With Kesava Mallia, Hyderabad, India
ter the Institute’s founding, when Dr. Jean The Institute now has about 8,600 manu- tions of the human body. for more information visit www.ifpindia.org
60 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 61
food Still, there are currently precious few veg- per and sugar. Turn to coat well, then add to Hot beet borscht: This winter soup is Rus-
etarians in Russia. The majority of Russians the cooked potatoes and cabbage. Serve gar- sia’s most famous dish
Russian Vegetarianism?
are still skeptical about vegetarians and nished with sour cream and dark-rye bread.
vegetarian lifestyle, and new vegetarians of- Makes about six servings. the flour to make the consistency of thick
ten do not find support and understanding The next recipe is for buttermilk and sour cream. Stir well. Heat about four table-
from their friends and family. Many Rus- apple oladyi. Russian pancakes are of two spoons of oil in a large frying pan. There
Famous for its meat and potatoes, the country has sians think that voluntarily foregoing meat
is crazy and may even harm your health. It’s
kinds: oladyi (similar to the American pan-
cakes but smaller in size) and blini (similar
should be enough oil that the oladyi don’t
stick. When the pan is hot, take a tablespoon
a real style with veggies—and here are two recipes not easy to be Russian and vegetarian when
the rest of the community offers you a cold
to crepes). The ingredients are one cup plus
two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, two
and make several three-inch pancakes, cook
and turn several times until golden brown.
shoulder. Moskovite veggies are in need of cups of buttermilk, one teaspoon of corn Add more oil as you put on a new batch of
support and encouragement of their lifestyle. meal, one apple, a quarter-cup raisins, one- pancakes. If you have enough oil in the pan,
j a n e s r i va s tava
B y J ane S rivastava , USA ian societies have been created to promote Visitors to Russia should not expect many half tablespoon of sugar, a pinch of baking but can’t turn the pancakes or they stick,
joke from my birthplace goes healthy lifestyles and oppose animal killing. vegetarian choices in most restaurants and soda and salt, and oil or ghee for frying. you will probably need to add the flour to
something like this: Someone not All-vegetarian restaurants can now be found private fares. You can find a list of Moscow Pour buttermilk into a bowl. Grate one the mixture. This makes about 15 oladyi.
familiar with Russia asks a Russian: in big cities, such as Moscow, Saint-Peters- vegetarian restaurants at www.unclepasha. large peeled apple into the buttermilk. Add Serve with jam and a dollop of sour cream.
“Are there any vegetarians in Russia?” burg and Vladivostok. Supermarkets of the com/vegetarian_russia.htm. One is the up- sugar, raisins, a pinch of baking soda and all Priyatnogo appetita! ∏π
To which the Russian responds: “I scale, pure vegetarian restaurant
personally don’t know any, but those “Avocado” on Chistoprudny Boule-
who tried it have not survived.” This
joke rings true because for many
years it had been virtually impos-
vard, with mostly Russian cuisine.
The traditional Russian table of-
fers plenty of wonderful vegetable-
Tolstoy’s 19th Century Vegetarian Crusade
sible for Russians to be vegetarians. based dishes. However, the unique
The Soviet regime considered veg- meat and fish dishes are still essen- The following article is excerpted from of clinching an argument with a sister-
etarianism a pseudoscientific and tial to any spread. In fact, to most the address of Valentin Bulgakov to the in-law who was a confirmed flesh-eater
bourgeois theory that contravened Russians, absence of meat on the 8th World Vegetarian Congress held in ordered a live fowl to be tied near her
Soviet ideology. They severely per- table is considered a sign of poverty Berlin and Hamburg, Germany, in 1932 place at the luncheon table and called
secuted followers of vegetarian life- or inhospitality. Travelers who are (posted at www.ivu.org/congress/wvc32/ for a plate and large knife likewise to be
styles. During Soviet times, due to willing to cook their own meals will bulgakov.html). Bulgakov was at one time provided, whereupon he proceeded to
the year-round shortage of food find in local supermarkets most of Tolstoy’s private secretary. It is translated address her somewhat as follows: “We
of any kind, people simply could the necessary ingredients to whip from a summary of the talk given in Rus- all know, dear one, how fond you are of
not survive on vegetarian diets. up a vegetarian meal. sian and published in The Vegetarian flesh, and we should like to provide you
The idea of abstention from meat In my own kitchen in the Unit- News (London), September, 1932. with what you wish, but the difficulty
is not foreign to the Russians. Be- ed States, I utilize the best of the is that none of us can bring himself to
fore the Revolution of 1917, the cuisines I grew up with—Russian, t is now four years since the slay the bird for you. Therefore, there
g e t t y h u lt o n a r c h i v e
majority of Russians observed Or- Jewish and Lithuanian—and, to ac- centenary of the birth of Leo Tolstoy, seems to be no other way but to ask that
thodox Christian traditional fasts, commodate my husband, recently who certainly must be accounted one you should do it for yourself.” His guest,
which excluded meat. In 1901, the acquired Indian cooking skills. My of the great ones of the earth, was however, who was much perturbed,
first vegetarian society opened in interest in Indian culture, religion celebrated. During the last twenty-three could not bring herself to do as was sug-
Saint Petersburg. In the following and cuisine led me to re-examine years of his life he was a vegetarian and gested and was obliged, for that occasion
j a n e s r i va s tava
years, nine other vegetarian societ- my eating habits. As a result, I start- ,by reason of his great fame and moral at least, to deny herself the right to eat
ies were founded that carried out a ed to make more healthful vegetable, authority, he has done great service to flesh, which she had hitherto so vehe-
variety of activities. They opened grain and legume dishes, while at the vegetarian movement. Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910): The renowned mently claimed to be her due.
vegetarian restaurants and cafes the same time experimenting with He understood thoroughly the hygienic author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina The friends and followers of Tolstoy
in many cities, operated vegetar- the recipes I grew up with. I want grounds for vegetarianism, but it was not played a great part in the work of the
ian hospitals, published vegetarian Buttermilk and apple oladyi: These small pancakes are to share some of my favorite healthy for such reasons that he became a vegetarian. Most assuredly, it Moscow Vegetarian Society; but the whole of its possessions were
newspapers and magazines. Among served with jam and sour cream and easy recipes with HT readers. was the ethical standpoint that influenced him. Nor was the idea confiscated three years ago in 1929 by the Soviet Government,
some of the famous Russian veg- The first is that quintessential Rus- that was in his mind either detached or isolated. On the contrary, and today in Russia there is no organized vegetarian movement.
etarians of the end of 19th, beginning of new Russia carry a variety of vegetables sian dish, borscht, a beet soup. The tradi- that idea was essentially associated with his world outlook, that So weak, it seems, is the position of the dictator that even the
the 20th, centuries were writers Leo Tol- year-round that make it possible to maintain tional version calls for a meat base, but my outlook, perhaps, being most correctly summarized in all that is vegetarian idea is accounted dangerous! Russian vegetarians,
stoy and Ivan Bunin, composer Alexander a non-meat lifestyle. vegetarian variant of this winter soup is expressed in the word humane. Tolstoy always declared that he amid all their difficulties, yet continue to show a spirit of “victo-
Skriabin and painter Isaac Levitan. Tolstoy, Many Russians have discovered vegetari- just as flavorful. The ingredients are: three was a Christian, by which he meant he had no new teaching to rious earnestness.”
incidentally, carried on a lengthy and influ- anism as part of their interest in Eastern or four medium-sized beets, peeled and promulgate, his business being simply to translate the teachings Many economic communities were also established by followers
ential correspondence with the young Ma- religions and philosophy, which are gain- grated; four grated carrots, one thinly sliced of the gospels into modern speech and practice. Man, he held, of Tolstoy, but, finally, I must tell you something about the Douk-
hatma Gandhi in South Africa. Gandhi, in ing popularity among the Russians. Some onion, two thinly cut medium potatoes, one though confined within the limits of the flesh, yet remains the hobors, a people (the name means “warriors of the spirit”) whose
fact, used his ideas to found Tolstoy Farm have chosen not to eat meat in their desire shredded small head of cabbage, three ta- expression of an eternal Principle. In a word, he is a son of God, existence, as a following, goes back even to the middle of the eigh-
in South Africa, which served as a training to achieve optimal health. Others do so just blespoons each of ketchup and tomato paste, and by inference all men are brothers. The natural bond between teenth century. The Doukhohors are, in fact, a Christian peasant
ground for the passive resistance movement because it is fashionable. Whatever the mo- a half teaspoon of sugar, a small bunch of them is the bond of love, and this should extend also to all living society, existing without the fold of the Church, whose message
(see www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/peo- tivation, vegetarian lifestyle is not afford- dill, oil, salt and pepper. creatures. One and the same “soul” is common to all; and, realiz- received an added strength by reason of the influx of the teaching
ple/gandhi/bhana.html). able to everyone. A poll conducted by Eur- Cook the potatoes and cabbage until ten- ing this, it becomes impossible that men should either slay or hurt of Tolstoy, the whole society in 1890, under the direct influence
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, asian Vegetarian Society (founded in 2001) der in six to eight cups of boiling water or animals. The publication of Tolstoy’s essay, “The First Step” had a of one Peter Werigin by name, electing to become vegetarians. In
interest in vegetarianism and the number of learned that most vegetarians are among prepared vegetable stock. Saute the onions, quite staggering effect upon the Russian society of his day, many 1898, under the Russian regime at that time, and with the direct
vegetarians have continued to rise. The new the intelligentsia and the wealthy. Manual beets and carrots on medium heat for about fine and sensitive people thus becoming vegetarians. assistance of Tolstoy, about 8,000 Doukhobors decided to mi-
Russia offers freedom and the link to the laborers, retired and the poor have the least 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When Tolstoy felt very keenly the absolute inhumanity of eating grate to Canada, where their numbers have since grown to about
rest of the world that citizens had not expe- interest in vegetarian lifestyle, or means too the vegetables take on a nice aroma, add flesh, and on one occasion (as has so often been told), by way 15,000—all, with but few exceptions, still being vegetarians.
rienced for over 70 years. Several vegetar- meager to adopt it. ketchup, tomato paste, dill, salt, black pep-
62 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 63
pa r e n t i n g Never outgrown: In Hindu culture, storytelling isn’t method that has always served to bring
only important for our children, but is a means of com- people together and to stimulate creative
municating the deeper concepts, principles and values imagination, wisdom and compassion.”
It is, therefore, no wonder that storytell- scholar of mythology, states pithily, “The When I was a child, little did I realize the
ing has been employed as a powerful tool folktale is the primer of the picture-lan- importance of storytelling in my life! Neither
64 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 65
did I know that reading and telling stories
would eventually become an integral part of
my hospital stay. Ever since, it has become a
daily ritual in our house to share stories from
played in my self-development. As Joseph
Campbell claims, these stories became the
Commentary that it was formerly someone’s house and
that most Hindu temples in the US bear
God on My Desktop
my parenting philosophy and style. My elev- mythology and scriptures at bedtime. launching pad for my spiritual journey, as architectural affinity to this one. It also
en-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter During the last decade, I have observed the writers and narrators had a clear, un- frustrated me that I had to increasingly
have been exposed to myths, fables, legends, my children responding to storytellers and mistakable goal in sight: to evoke inspiration depend on long-distance phone calls to
folktales and spiritual stories from birth. readers with varied reactions—ranging from and deeper thinking in the young listener’s my family and friendly e-mail reminders
The very first piece of music my son heard interest and rapt attention to passiveness and heart and mind. ∏π from my mother to alert me to the arrival
a few hours after coming into this world plain disinterest—at school, in the libraries of each of those festivities I had once
was the heartfelt devotional rendition of the and in the comfort of our home. Watching
rama devagupta, ph.d., is a full-time mother and free-
lance writer. she has been published in hinduism to-
day, parabola, yoga international, u: you can change
Moving to America didn’t mean I had to leave taken for granted. Let’s just say that it was
Ramcharitmanas by the late Indian singer their love for stories, I am nostalgically re- a humbling experience for me and a tad
Mukesh—thanks to the audiotapes I had de- minded of my father’s gift for storytelling
the world, tri-city herald, constant remembrance,
the new times, sirs renaissance and ascent. she may
be reached at rama_devagupta@msn.com.
my favorite Deities and festivals behind in India amusing for my parents, who saw a deeply
liberately packed in the maternity bag for and the role that mythology and folktales religious side of their daughter surface on
a different continent.
b y K ausal y a sa p tharishi Within a few months of my newfound
spiritual awakening on foreign shores, I
Storytelling: A Dozen Practical Tips ver since i can remember, god always played an
integral part in my traditional Tamil brahmin upbringing
in Delhi. I would wake up to the sound of tinkling bells
realized the need to connect with God
in ways my parents had taught me to. I
set up a small puja space in the bedroom,
n light of the wise thusiastic response. emanating from our shrine room where my parents would visited the temple as often as I could and
words of scholars and spir- Simple gestures, like be seated on cane mats reciting aloud Sanskrit chants and offer- recited all those chants with alarming
itual teachers in my story a sparkle in the eyes, ing fresh flowers before a bevy of Gods, the morning sun adding regularity. But this wasn’t enough to nour-
above, I hope parents will happy smile, anger even more dazzle to the Deities’ ornamental glory. ish me spiritually.
find it worthwhile to reflect or sadness in the When I would come back from school, the lingering redo- Now in the US, in the absence of my
on the significance of the art voice, can success- lence of incense from the day’s puja worship would tickle my folks’ guiding presence to veer my re-
and craft of storytelling for the fully recreate the nostrils even before the delectable aroma of the special dishes ligious destiny, my hunger for finding
benefit of the younger genera- story’s original atmo- to be offered in the worship, such as payasam and kesari from God led me to rediscovering Him on the
tion. I hope parents will try sphere. my mother’s kitchen, could enslave my olfactory senses. Internet. It all started with my Googling
to claim the torch of storytell- 7) You are not giv-
Helping hands: Doing right by your elder parents now means your children should do right In my devout Hindu family, not a day passed without a puja, “Saibaba,” which took me to the home page
ing by following a few of the ing a performance
by you not a week elapsed without at least one visit to temples and not of the Shirdi Saibaba web site (www.saibaba.org), where not only
tips listed below. At one time for a critical adult a month went by without marking some festival or other on the did I have His darshan (sight of the divine), but was also treated
or another, I have used them audience. Don’t be Tamil Hindu calendar. By the time I hit my teens, in addition to to melodious Saibaba hymns. For a divine moment I was magically
myself and it has been an en- stiff-necked and self- popular festivals such as Janmashtami, I was also able to rattle off transported to the Shirdi shrine in Nasik, Maharashtra—which
joyable experience for me and conscious, worried the names of numerous lesser-known religious occasions such as I have visited in the past—but this time minus the meandering
my children. about appearing silly. Karadayan Nombu (observed by married women for the longevity queues leading up to his enshrined statue.
1) Read the story for your- Your prime objective of their husbands) or Maavilakku (for the prosperity of the family). This e-experience had me hooked. And still has, in my seventh
self before you read it to the should be to nar- Just a glance at the special dishes being prepared for a specific year in the US. It’s like fast food for the soul. Whenever I am in
c o u r t e s y r a m a d e v g u p ta
child. Absorb it, digest it and rate in a pleasurable puja was enough for me to guess the festival being celebrated. the mood for having a darshan of a particular God, all I have to
try to capture not just its manner. For instance, ezhu thaan kootu—a stew prepared with seven veg- do is Google His name. The God of my preference lights up my
moral, but also its essence. 8) Some story etables—meant it was Thiruvadarai in honor of Lord Siva, or the computer screen with a click of the mouse and I don’t even have
2) Know the story well so books come with pointed tips of glistening sweet modakams signaled the arrival of to struggle for His glimpse like in an actual temple. I take my own
that if you are interrupted, commentaries. Do Ganesh Chathurti. time savoring the beauteous image of Balaji and His two consorts
you can jump back into it not read the com- My grandparents and parents never lost an opportunity to teach on Tirupati’s official web site (www.tirumala.org) without having to
comfortably. mentaries to young me new chants, explaining the significance of each and the God for bother with jostling crowds and strict temple authorities interrupt-
3) Identify yourself mentally children as they whom it must be recited. I understood that each God has specific ing my darshan as they generally do in the Tirupati Devasthana.
with the child. Listen to the might sound like powers in the celestial space: Ganesha removes obstacles, Lakshmi My e-pilgrimages not only take me to temples I have never vis-
story with a child’s ears and a lecture. Mention Story-tellling friends: The author’s children, Sriram and Shanta (at right) showers wealth, Hanuman gives prowess, Siva blesses women with ited, but also offer added privileges, like allowing me to partake
see how you might make it the moral in fleeting with their friend Mukthi and their favorite auntie, Prashaanti, at the Rich- good husbands, and so on. Such constant familiarity with God had in real-time worship and order special pujas of my choice—all
more appealing. Feel free to reference. Wait for land Public Library during children’s storytime. me sometimes grumbling to my parents about going to temples from the convenience of my laptop. Moreover, unlike real temples,
adapt and revise depending them to ask ques- more often than necessary. And it wasn’t as if I saw a simultane- these e-darshans are accessible 24/7, paying scant heed to God’s
on the age of your child. tions and when they do, guide hint of adult scepticism, and 12) Shri Ram Chandra of ous reflection of rewards from the heavens in return for my dutiful noon-time or late-night rest requirements. However, I do make it a
4) Don’t use a monotonous them in their thinking. children will see through it Shahjahanpur, affectionately religious actions, such as inscribing “Shri Ramajayam” in Sanskrit point to remove my footwear before I enter God’s online sanctum
voice. Polish up your tone and 9) Allow time and space for immediately. Remember the known as Babuji, the founder atop a letter addressed to my grandmother. My faith in the al- sanctorum. There are no shortcuts for some habits.
style with some drama. a dialogue with your children power of thought: Your de- president of Shri Ram Chan- mighty was especially shaken when I once flunked math in spite My parents are now so accustomed to my online temple visits that
5) Allow yourself to get into to instill the higher values of meanor will radiate whatever dra Mission, once said: “Spiri- of memorizing the difficult Shyamaladandakam, the powerful San- they occasionally advise me to go to a particular Deity’s web site for
the heart of the characters to life. Reflection doesn’t have to you feel—whether it be faith tuality is a science of wonder” skirt chant for Saraswati that assures success in academics. Once adding to my treasury of punya, religious merit. Like the other day,
make the tale come alive. It take place immediately after or cynicism. and “Doubt is a poison for again I questioned the existence of Gods when my pimples didn’t my mother told me to visit Garbaratchambikai Devi’s web site (www.
is important for the child to completing the reading; it can 11) Learn to live in the mo- the will.” So let us remember miraculously disappear after a dip in the holy Ganges in Haridwar. garbaratchambigai.com) to seek Her blessings for progeny. The God-
identify with the emotions be done during the ordinary ment. Consider why we love to read these spiritual adven- I only hope, to this day, that I had better luck with my sins. dess, who is known to grant children to couples, is now on my favorite
and feelings of the characters. moments of your family life, reading the stories narrated tures with a feeling of wonder, My protests about my family’s overly religious ways came to lists. While vacationing in India, I no longer take my temple visits for
6) Be natural. Allow the during garden work, an eve- by spiritual masters like Bud- narrate them with wonder, an abrupt halt when I moved to the US. Suddenly, there were granted. I genuinely feel happy to go “temple-hopping” (the term used
story to flow through you. ning walk or even at dinner dha and Shri Ramakrishna and somewhere along the way, no bells to wake me up, lighting incense sticks became bother- by my amused husband) with my parents and feel equally blessed to
For smaller children, facial time. Paramahansa with such en- we would have taught our chil- some due to the sensitive smoke alarm in the apartment, and the see God on my desktop when I return to the US.
expressions and hand move- 10) Sincerity is important in chantment. It is due to their dren the art and craft of living nearest “temple” was a distant sixty miles away. To make matters
ments used in a spontaneous, stories that deal with ethics simplicity, faith and surrender a well-integrated, balanced, worse, I was in for a disappointment when I first saw the “Hindu Kausalya Saptharishi is a freelance journalist living in New
creative way evoke an en- and spirituality. The slightest to the Divine. happy life. ∏π Cultural Center,” which didn’t boast of any statuesque Chola-type Jersey with her husband. She is grateful to the Internet for bring-
temple architecture replete with ornate entrance towers. I learned ing her closer to God.
66 h i n d u i s m t o d ay j u ly / au g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 j u ly / a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 6 h i n d u i s m t o d ay 67
Visit www.hindu.org
hi s t o r y
Kauai Aadheenam Monastic Endowment Hindu Orphanage Endowment Fund Sakuntalai Krishnan 29.21 Karnataka Temple Development Fund
Anonymous US$100.00 Kailasa Peedam Gift Fund Anonymous 225.00 Manoharan Navaratnarajah 150.00 Rajendra Giri 21.00
to Gunasekaran Kandasamy
Niraj Thaker
320.00
14.20
Total 21.00 Rajendra Giri
Gunasekaran Kandasamy
21.00
320.00
Alex Ruberto
Chamundi Sabanathan
45.00
101.00
Total 627.16
Other Donations 81,452.73 Hindu of the Year Fund Ramakumar & Sailaja Kosuru 30.00 Niraj Thaker 14.20 Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of
What is planned giving? A planned gift can be any kind of gift, large or small, Total 81,907.93 Rajendra Giri
Amit Kale
21.00
8.33
Sukesh Parasher
Alex Ruberto
50.00
55.00
Jeremiah Umakanthan
Vayudeva Varadan
25.50
18.00
Utah Endowment Fund
Rajendra Giri 21.00
and can be for any purpose. While gifts of cash are the largest source of chari- Iraivan Temple Endowment
Anonymous 516.50
Total 29.33 Rakesh Sood
Rodney & Ilene Standen
125.00
30.00
Total 957.91 Total 21.00
table gifts, planned gifts are typically not outright cash gifts. Rather, they are Maruthu Pandian Dharmalingam
T. Sri Ganesan
26.82
26.30
Boys School for Iraivan Priesthood
Anonymous 100.00
Rajeswari Sundararajan
Niraj Thaker
10.00
14.20
Mathavasi Travel Fund
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Swami Vipulananta Children’s
Home Endowment
sizeable asset gifts, such as life insurance, real estate, stocks and bonds or mu- Rajendra Giri
Victoria Johnson
240.00
9.00
Maruthu Pandian Dharmalingam
Rajendra Giri
13.30
21.00
Total 1,005.20 Total 21.00 Anonymous
Rajendra Giri
50.00
21.00
tual funds to be used in the future. Charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities Mohan Rao Korukonda
S.V. Ravi Rahavendran
75.50
903.00
Bala Sivaceyon
Total
20.98
155.28
Hindu Education Endowment
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Udayan Care Endowment Fund
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Total 71.00
and other gift-planning arrangements are regularly funded using assets other Rakesh Sood
Rajeswari Sundararajan
325.00
90.00 Kauai Aadheenam Matavasi
Total 21.00 Total 21.00 Hindu Literature Fund
Daren Clare 7.00
than cash. Another definition of planned giving is the process of making a Niraj Thaker
Other Donations
14.20
27,773.68
Medical Fund
Anonymous 474.00
Suntheram Family Trust Fund
Suntheram Family Trust Fund 1,500.00
Saivite Hindu Scriptural Fund
for the Visually Impaired
Rajendra Giri
Shirin Stave-Matias
21.00
11.61
charitable gift of estate assets to one or more nonprofit organizations, such as Total 30,000.00 William & Barbara Bachmann
Rajendra Giri
100.00
21.00
Total 1,500.00 Maruthu Pandian Dharmalingam
Rajendra Giri
13.30
21.00
Total 39.61
The most common example of a planned gift is through a Will. A revocable Living Trust resembles Sukanta Caremben 2.41
Maruthu Pandian Dharmalingam 359.94
Vayudeva Varadan
Other Donations
18.00
6,300.00
Total 51.00 Debnath Endowment
Shyamal Chandra Debnath 100.00
Total 174.00
a Will, and setting it up is more involved, but it may have advantages for some people. Another ex- Rajendra Giri
Tirunyanam Gunasegaran
21.00
4.95
Total 7,785.24 Loving Ganesha Distribution Fund
Anonymous 401.00
Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
121.00
Himalayan Academy Book
Distribution Fund
ample is a charitable remainder trust. During the life of a person, he or another person receives an Victoria Johnson
Kartikeya Easan Katir
3.00
243.11
Iyarappan Temple Trust
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Rajendra Giri
Manoharan Navaratnarajah
21.00
75.00 Murugan Temple Yalpanam
Daren Clare
Yuvraj Saharan
7.00
10.00
income from the trust and then the remaining assets would go to one or more charities. In 2005 the Dasan Mahadevan
Saroja Devi Manickam
720.00
11.03
Total 21.00 Gassa Patten
Total
802.00
1,299.00
Festival Fund
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Niraj Thaker
Total
14.20
31.20
Iraivan Hindu Temple Fund, HHE fund #2, received over US$1.3 million from a charitable remain- Bhaveshan Moorghen
Shanda Kumaran Moorghen
27.37
27.37
Kauai Aadheenam Renovation
Endowment Swami Agnivesh Endowment Fund
Jeremiah Umakanthan
Total
51.00
72.00 Kauai Aadheenam Yagam Fund
Life insurance policies provide the means by which a donor can make a large charitable gift at a Nutanaya Sivaceyon
Patudeva Sivaceyon
5.25
5.25
Scholarship Fund
Rajendra Giri 21.00
Saiva Agamas Trust
Rajendra Giri 21.00 Tiptur Shiva Temple & Youth Hostel Fund Yogaswami Hindu Girls’ Home
modest out-of-pocket cost. There are three ways to give through life insurance: (1) the charity is the Hemavalli Sivalingam
Kantha Ruben Sivalingam
1.61
1.61
Total 21.00 Total 21.00 Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
21.00
of Sittandy Endowment
Anonymous 146.00
beneficiary of the policy; (2) the charity is the owner and beneficiary of the policy; and (3) the life Rohini Sivalingam
Potriyan Sivanathan
1.61
4.01
Sri Subramuniya Kottam Fund
Anonymous 50.00
Spiritual Park of Mauritius Endowment
Rajendra Giri 21.00 Kerala Temple Trust
Daren Clare
Lila Shakti Devi
7.00
72.50
insurance policy is a replacement for donated assets. Several HHE endowments are beneficiaries of Girish Skanda
Javanya Skanda
13.00
4.52
Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
71.00
Total 21.00 Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
21.00
Maruthu Pandian Dharmalingam
Rajendra Giri
40.13
21.00
A popular deferred gift is the charitable gift annuity, which is a lifetime contract between the do- Hinduism Today Lifetime
Subscription Fund Kumbhalavalai Ganesha
Mauritius Saiva Dharmasala Endowment
Rajendra Giri 21.00 Kapaleeshwara Temple Orphanage
Silas H. Zirkle
Total
375.00
1,178.63
nor and the charity. It is relatively simple to understand and establish. The donor can also name Ved Chaudhary
Sundar Mani Dixit
240.00
240.00
Temple Endowment
Anonymous 50.00
Total 21.00 Anonymous
Rajendra Giri
125.00
21.00 Siva Poomi School Trust
someone else as the annuitant to receive the annuity payments. The donor gives a gift, $50,000 for Suresh Gadasalli
Suguneswary Gunasegaran
800.00
55.90
Rajendra Giri
Manoharan Navaratnarajah
21.00
75.00
Alaveddy Pasupatheeswarar
Temple Fund
Prasad Krishnan 7.50
Ganesan & Rajalakshmi Ramalingam 75.00
Shun K. Sunder
Total
5,000.00
5,000.00
example, and receives a set amount of money every year for the rest of his or her life. Kriya Haran
Kartikeya Easan Katir
101.00
1,001.00
Total 146.00 Anonymous
Rajendra Giri
50.00
21.00
Sundaresan Subramanian
Total
10.00
238.50 Pooled Income Fund
Amravadee Kownden 96.64 Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Jeremiah Umakanthan 25.50 Rajendra Giri 1,000.00
Sevanti Kumaran 10.00 Devasthanam Trust Total 96.50 Kapaleeshwara Temple Orphanage Satya Palani 1,875.00
Some planned gifts, such a charitable gift annuity, are irrevocable. Others, such as will bequests, Panna Nagarsenker
Charles & Jan Roberts
765.00
30.00
Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
21.00 Hindu Heritage Endowment
Jayanthi Vasudevan Naiker
Total
300.00
300.00
Total 2,875.00
can be revoked. Depending on the country of the donor, an irrevocable gift can generate an imme- Jacob Russell
Nalayini Shanmugarajah
80.00
160.00 Malaysia Hindu Renaissance Fund
Administrative Fund
Anonymous 100.00 Manjung Hindu Sabha Orphanage Fund Total Contributions $158,730.38
diate income tax charitable deduction, whereas revocable gifts do not. A planned gift requires care- Lavanadevi Sivam
Meghasyamarao Theertham
45.00
161.25
Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
21.00
Amit Kale
Total
8.34
108.34
Rajendra Giri
Eesan Sankara
21.00
20.00
ful thought on the part of the donor, considering his or her overall estate plan. Legal documents, Other Donations
Total
16,000.00
19,785.79 Hinduism Today Production Fund Kauai Aadheenam Religious
Total 41.00 Funds at Market Value, March 31, 2006
Total Endowment Funds $7,147,514.82
created with the help of planned giving professionals, are often required. Planned gifts are usually Hindu Businessmen’s Association Trust
Rajendra Giri
Amit Kale
21.00
8.33
Art and Artifacts Fund
Rajadeva Alahan 153.00
Pazhassi Balamandiram
Orphanage Fund
Total Pooled Income Funds $205,964.42
arranged now and fulfilled later. There are numerous professional advisors in the charitable gift- Vel Mahalingum
Manogaran Mardemootoo
12.88
32.21
Total 29.33 Rajendra Giri
Total
21.00
174.00
Rajendra Giri
Natraj Narayanswami
21.00
15.00 Grand Total $7,353,479.24
planning field: certified financial planners; estate planning attorneys; life insurance professionals; Vishwanaden Moorooven
Janaka Param
19.33
20.00
Vishwamata Gayatri Trust Fund
Mohan Rao Korukonda 75.50 Thank You Bodhinatha Fund
Ganesan & Rajalakshmi Ramalingam 75.00
Total 111.00
In the US, the National Committee on Planned Giving is the primary association linking planned
giving officers and allied professionals. More than 120 planned giving councils represent 11,000
gift planners. For the council nearest you call 317-269-6274 or visit www.ncpg.org. In Canada the
Canadian Association of Gift Planners represents 1,000 gift planners throughout the country. Their
MISSION STATEMENT: Hindu Heritage Endowment is a publicly supported, charitable organization
website is www.cagp-acpdp.org and the contact number is 888-430-9494.
recognized as tax exempt by the IRS on April 22, 1994. Employer ID 99-0308924. Founded by Sat-
guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, its philanthropic mission is to provide secure, professionally man-
The Charities Aid Foundation in the UK is committed to helping donors give in a tax-efficient and
aged financial support for institutions and religious leaders of all lineages of Sanatana Dharma.
easy way. Visit their website at www.cafonline.org/individual/ and download their guide to tax-ef-
fective giving. CAF also has offices in India, Australia, Bulgaria, Brussels, Russia, Southern Africa PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS: Halbert, Hargrove/Russell, Investment Counsel; Alvin G. Buchignani,
and the USA. Esq., Legal Counsel; and Sonoda & Isara, LLP, CPA. HHE is a member of the Council on Founda-
tions, an association of more than 2,000 foundations which interprets relevant law and management
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while eventually providing much-needed gifts to one or more of the 65 HHE endowments and Kauai’s Hindu MONASTERY, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii, 96746-9304 USA
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planetarytypes typesofof the
the two two systems
systems
interrelate.
interrelate.ItItexamines
examinesdisease
disease factors
factors
from
fromananastrological
astrological perspective
perspective and and
goes
goesintointodepth
depth into
into astrological
astrological
remedialmeasures,
remedial measures, particularly
particularly gem gem
therapy.ItItalso
therapy. alsocontains
containsmany many notable
notable
examplecharts.
example charts.
Dr.Dr. DavidFrawley
David Frawley(Pandit
(PanditVamadeva
Vamadeva Shastri)
Shastri) is
is aa recognized
recognizedexpert
expert
ononboth
bothAyurveda
AyurvedaandandVedic
Vedic astrology,
astrology, having
having already
already authored
authored
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numerous booksand
andcourse
coursematerials
materials on
on both
both subjects.
subjects.The
Thecurrent
current
bookis isa aculmination
book culminationofofhis
histwenty
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years of
of research
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American Institute of Vedic Studies: 505.983.9385 • vedicinst@aol.com • www.vedanet.com
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82 83
Matter is art, and in a World of matter,
Matter matters to the spirit:
Give me three meals a day
A roof over my head;
Money to travel;
And I shall take a boat on the Nile
T he Artist
Contemplating on Art all the Way.
84