Post

Ramayana: Timeless message for Human Understanding - Part 2

Rama is a dharma purusha - always did the right thing. He never questioned his father’s orders. He accepted wholeheartedly to go to the forest because he wanted his father’s words would remain true. He is highly balanced and composed; never succumbed to the emotions. He never intended bad to anybody. After Rama was exiled as per the wish of Kaikeyi, he did not want Sita to accompanying him to the forests because of potential danger, lack of comforts and arduous journey. He explained the possible dangers of life in the forests. She loved him so dearly that she did not want part with him for fourteen years. To convince him, Sita talked about the responsibility of wife. Her reasoning was so powerful, convincing and exemplified the virtues that made her renowned, famous and ideal wife.

21 Jun 2019

Recent Posts

Post

Ramayana: Timeless message for Human Understanding - Part 2

Revised version of the paper resented at 25th International Ramayana Conference, Mysore, India. (To read Part 1 click on this link) http://savetemples.org/post/ramayana-timeless-message-for-human-understanding-part-1/613 Sita – the Ideal Wife Rama is a dharma purusha - always did the right thing. He never questioned his father’s orders. He accepted wholeheartedly to go to the forest because he wanted his father’s words would remain true. He is highly balanced and composed; never succumbed to the emotions. He never intended bad to anybody. After Rama was exiled as per the wish of Kaikeyi, he did not want Sita to accompanying him to the forests because of potential danger, lack of comforts and arduous journey. He explained the possible dangers of life in the forests. She loved him so dearly that she did not want part with him for fourteen years. To convince him, Sita talked about the responsibility of wife. Her reasoning was so powerful, convincing and exemplified the virtues that made her renowned, famous and ideal wife. Granting that husbands duty is protect his wife, care for her and fulfill her desires. In return wife should show fidelity to her husband by serving faithfully to her husband. In fact, Rama advises his mother who wanted to accompany Rama to the forests by saying, “As long as she lives, a woman’s God and master is her husband. Even a pious woman given over to fasting and spiritual practices … is treading on an evil path if she be not attentive to her lord.” Advancing the same argument, she tried to convince Rama to take her to the forests. She said: "If you had been banished to the Dandaka forest, then so have I. I will go with you, Rama; my place is at your side. With you, I would walk down the paths of ***. The jungle will be like heaven for me. I must disobey you in this, my love; forget my disobedience, as you do the water you leave behind in a glass after drinking” "But a wife, and she alone, bull among men, must share her husband's fate. Therefore I, too, have been ordered to live in the forest. "It is not her father or mother, not her son or friends or herself, but her husband, and he alone, who gives a woman permanent refuge in this world and after death. "If you must leave this very day for the trackless forest, Rāghava [Rāma), I will go in front of you, softening the thorns and sharp kuśa grass. "The shadow of a husband's feet in any circumstances surpasses the finest mansions, an aerial chariot, or even flying through the sky.  “I shall live as happily in the forests as if it were my father's house, caring for nothing in the three worlds but to be faithful to my husband. “I will obey you always and practice self-discipline and chastity. What pleasures I shall share with you, my mighty husband, in the honey-scented forests! "O Rāma, bestower of honor, you have the power to protect any other person. Why then not me? “You need not doubt that I can survive on nothing but fruit and roots; I shall not cause you any trouble by living with you.  “If I were to be offered a place to live in heaven itself, Rāghava, tiger among men, I would refuse it if you were not there. “I will go to the trackless forest teeming with deer, monkeys, and elephants, and live there as if in my father's house, clinging to your feet alone, in strict self-discipline. “I love no one else; my heart is so attached to you that were we to be parted I am resolved to die. Take me, oh please grant my request. I shall not be a burden to you. The values enshrined in Sita are appreciated by Swami Vivekananda who said, "All our mythology may vanish, even our Vedas may depart, and our Sanskrit language may vanish forever, but so long as there will be five Hindus living, even if only seeking the most *** patois, there will be the story of Sita present." Surpankha’s advice to Ravana (Aranya Khanda, Chapter 33) It will be surprising to note that of all the people, Surpankha (Ravana’s sister) talks on administration! After her mutilation (cutting off her nose and ears) by Lakshmana for her foolish misadventure, she rushes to Ravana’s court and criticizes him on his lapses in Public Administration and tenders him advice on good government. ‘A greedy king, who is addicted to sensual pleasures and who acts at his sweet will and pleasure is avoided by his subjects like the cremation fire." "A king who fails to attend to his duties personally at proper moment, hastens his downfall and ruins himself and his realm." "If a king is ruthless, stingy, indifferent, proud and arrogant, his subjects will not come to his rescue in his times of crisis." "A king who thinks too much of himself, who is evasive, self-conceited and ever irritable has to be mortally afraid even of his own kith and kin." "Kings are said to be far-sighted because they can easily visualize the distant calamities with the aid of spies." "That king alone who is discreet, erudite, self-controlled, grateful and who obeys the divine law, can rule his kingdom well." "That king is verily worshipped by his subjects, who though physically asleep is mentally awake, and does not indiscriminately punish or reward them." ‘A slanderer, one steeped in worldly pleasure, one who is not in tune with time and one who cannot discriminate the good from the bad, loses his empire and perishes soon." It will be evident from the foregoing that the rich heritage enshrined in the Ramayana shines through every facet of the epic, like the sophisticated instructions on Public Administration, that have eternal relevance to humanity. That is why the epic ‘Ramayana’ is described as the ocean full of gems and the prime role of the human Avatara (incarnation) is to educate humans on all aspects of the art of living.   Rama’s Gratitude Rama Praises His Devotees Turning to Vibhishana, Rama said, "Dear friend, you have set forth an example of loyalty to truth in face of immense adversity. Against all odds you stood behind me. As an acknowledgment of you steadfastness and devotion I would like you to take the throne of Lanka. Rule with honesty, justice, simplicity and fear of God. May you and your people prosper ever hereafter." But Vibhishana protested. He said, "O lord, a devotee has no value for the riches, wealth, wine and woman. Let me serve your holy feet; do not burden me with this duty of a king." Rama pacified the upsurge of these noble thoughts and said to Vibhishana, "No, you are the fit person to rule your people. They have already suffered a lot. Moreover, let me show to the world through you, that my devotee can be rewarded both with love and material comfort. You will have best of both the worlds." Then turning to Sugreeva, Rama praised his friendship and cooperation. Sugreeva was also given warm send off and was told to rule Kishkindha for the welfare of monkey clan. Lord Praises Hanuman Hanuman was standing with his eyes focused at the holy feet of Rama. He was modesty, humility, and devotion personified. Rama turned to him and lovingly said, "O my greatest devotee, what should I offer you! Your devotion for me cannot be described in words nor can it be compared with any other. Your superhuman efforts in locating Sita and your great feat to bring the whole mountain to save life of Laxmana will be remembered for ages to come. Your intelligence, strength, and devotion will inspire many to worship you as their Ideal God. I bless you and offer a boon that you shall have a permanent seat wherever my story is recited, heard, told, read or written. You will be known as Veer (powerful) Hanuman. O son of wind, whosoever takes your name, seeks your help, prays for assistance, whosoever remembers you in distress or difficulty or calamity, that person with your blessings will become free from the trouble. Therefore, you will also be known as Sankat-Vimochak, waiver of disaster and distress." Humble Hanuman bowed down to Rama's feet and took the dust to his head. Hanuman exemplifies selflessness, courage, devotion, energy, strength and righteous conduct. He stands for the potential that is inherent in all of us. He also represents the air, the atmosphere and thus the life-breath - the prana. Sita is believed to have bestowed on him the boon which made Hanuman ever-youthful, energetic and immortal. Sri Rama’s advice to Bharata The Ayodhya Kanda, the second chapter, contains comprehensive lessons on good governance. When Bharata, the younger brother of Rama, goes to meet the latter in the forest to request him to return to Ayodhya and rule, the two brothers enter a long and instructive dialogue. Highly principled Bharata when he came to know that his mother was responsible for Sri Rama’s exile was tortured by the agonies of grief, anger and guilt. Wearing Jata (hair bound in knot) and bark garments he proceeds from Ayodhya, along with its entire population, to persuade Sri Rama to return. After their momentous and affectionate meeting at Chitrakut, Sri Rama addressed Bharata on the art of administration, which is exhaustively detailed in the Ayodhya Kanda of the epic known as the famous '‘KacchitSarga’. When Lakshamana suspected Bharata’s intentions, Rama pacified Lakshmana by saying that Bharata was coming in agony and solely with the purpose of offering the Kingdom to Sri Rama. Hence, questions addressed to Bharata were obviously not intended for him alone, but they were guidelines meant for the benefit of those who wished to get educated on the principles and art of efficient administration! As Bharata was to rule the kingdom as per the King’s promise to queen Kaikeyi, Sri Rama enquires of Bharata whether he was ruling the Kingdom efficiently. He was also asked to explain by Sri Rama why he had left his post of duty and come to the forest. In this context, Sri Rama enquires of Bharata and instructs him extensively on the finer points of the art of administration. This address highlights the duties and responsibilities of Kingship covering all aspects and the entire range of administration in which a King should attain proficiency if he was really concerned with the happiness and welfare of his subjects. Sri Rama says to Bharata “I hope you do not eat by yourself nicely made eatable and do you share it with your friends, who seek it?, A wise and learned king, having obtained and ruled the entire earth, properly by righteousness and by administering justice to the people, indeed ascends to heaven when detached from the mortal body.”Ayodhya Kand, Chapter 100, Verses 75 and 76)             Rama counsels Bharata on governance. From quality of ministers and the importance of strategy sessions, to temperance in administration to justice, Rama expounds on all the subtleties of statecraft in a lucid manner. Apparently, Rama seems to be inquiring of Bharata his well-being, whether all is well at Ayodhya - in fact, however, in the process, the lessons on effective governance are offered in a powerful manner. Though the dialogue between the two brothers runs into several pages and a thorough reading is required to understand the intricacies, some important lessons are obvious, particularly the ones given on pages 441-449 of the Valmiki Ramayana. A critical factor in good governance is the quality of ministers. Rama asks Bharata whether he has appointed courageous, knowledgeable, strong-willed men with a high emotional quotient as his ministers, because quality advice is the key to effective governance. The emphasis is on competence and confidentiality. Rama's advice to Bharata is to take a decision on a complex issue neither unilaterally nor in consultation with too many people. There should be an efficient core group. A good administrator can ensure high returns from minimum investments. Rama tells Bharata to prefer one wise man to a thousand fools as it is the wise who can ensure prosperity during an economic crisis. Even if there is one minister who is effective, the king will gain immensely. Appointing tested men of noble lineage and integrity for strategic positions is the key to successful government. Moderate taxes should be levied on the people, lest they revolt. Rama wants Bharata to treat his soldiers well and pay their legitimate wages on time. Delays in payment of wages and other allowances can lead to dangerous consequences. Trade and agriculture are important, and Rama wants Bharata to ensure good irrigation facilities rather than being overly dependent on rains. Traders need to be ensured of a fear-free environment and their grievances should be redressed promptly. Protecting the forests and maintaining livestock have also been dealt with as important aspects of effective governance. In fact, the vision of the Ramayana has eternal relevance. Law and justice, finance and business, corruption framing of innocents for monetary gains, injustice to the poor are all mentioned. Rama's words of advice to Bharata are as relevant today as they were in the Treta period, the time when Rama is believed to have lived. It is worthwhile to ponder over the thoughts and deeds of Rama rather than expend valuable time and energy fighting over his birthplace and whether a temple should be constructed there. For the benefit of present and future generations, Rama gave valuable tips to Bharata on good governance. We should focus on this aspect rather than on outward worship. Rama’s timeless pearls of wisdom started with human relations at home, Bharata’s personal conduct and self-discipline, the questions cover his reverence and service to his parents, teachers and elders to ensure domestic harmony. His advice includes the governance of different departments in government such as Home Affairs, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Labor Relations, Agriculture and Taxation. Examples of his advice are listed below: Tender service to the father Hold high esteem toward gods and manes, dependents, elders, kinsmen of your father’s age, the aged, the physicians as well as the Brahmanas Appoint valiant ministers who have high pedigree and discretion like Bharata Accept advice given by experienced ministers well versed in the laws of truth and virtues Appoint learned people who will bring endless glory by solving knotty problems. Prefer learned men to thousands of fools and evil minded A single minister who is wise, brave, clever and discreet, he will bring fame and prosperity to a King big or small." Appoint Commander-in-chief who is gallant, talented, of spotless character and well-born and devoted and clever. Distribute the monthly salary due to the employees at the proper time without delay.   Do not patronize Atheists Brahmins since they are skilled in perverting the minds of people." Make sure that Vaisyas are they thriving well in agriculture and animal husbandry Income should be sufficiently large to meet your expenses and your expenditure comparatively less. Protect women folks well Keeping milch-cows in abundance with you Greet your teachers, and elders, ascetics, deities and unexpected visitors as well as the trees standing on crossroads Consult in accordance with only four or three (selected) counselors collectively or severally to guard against a split among them and to prevent the secrets from leaking out Sri Rama concludes the illuminating address thus: "Having obtained as his share and ruled in the right way over the entire globe, a wise king holds sway over the earth and administering justice to the people quite in consonance with righteousness, surely ascends to heaven when detached from his body." If people in Bharat are not prepared to learn, understand, digest and practice the ideals of dharma, truth and peace, who will do it?             If people of Bharat cannot protect its heritage, who will do it for her.             If people of Bharat cannot take pride in implementing the advice of Dasaratha, Rama, Vibhishan, Sita, Mandodari, Surpanakha, Hanuman and others, who will implement it?             If the sons and daughters of Bharat openly malign the values of Ramayana days, back stab them for their personal gain and greed, who will preserve them?             If the rulers of Bharat cannot even teach their children the virtues of Ramayana, what right do they have to rule the land.             How long the children of Bharat look the other way ignoring their own rich cultural heritage expounded in Ramayana.             How long do they want to remain silent and allow our heritage to be bulldozed by adharmic forces?  It is in the hands of the children of Bharat to practice it, preserve it and protect it. They must consider appropriate measures to revive, restore and revitalize the dharmic values explicated in Ramayana. Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
21 Jun 2019
Post

Dr Subramanian Swamy Visits Seven US Cities from August 2 - 12

Dear Friends: Dr. Subramanian Swamy agreed to visit seven cities in August. Names of the cities and the names of the coordinators are printed in the flyer. Please contact them for all the details and how to obtain the entrance tickets to Dr. Swamy's program. If you have few friends in these cities, please encourage them to attend. Also circulate this flyer to all your friends through social media.
20 Jun 2019
Post

Ramayana Timeless message for Human Understanding – Part 1

Revised version of the paper resented at 25th International Ramayana Conference, Mysore, India. (Note: Part 2 will follow soon) "Rama, the ancient idol of the heroic ages, the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, the ideal father, above all, the ideal king, this Rama has been presented before us by the great sage, Valmiki. No language can be purer, none chaster, none more beautiful and at the same time, simpler, than the language in which the great poet has depicted the life of Rama." - Swami Vivekananda. “The work of Valmiki has been an agent of almost incalculable power in the moulding of the cultural mind of India: it has presented to it to be loved and imitated in figures like Rama and Sita, made so divinely and with such a revelation of reality as to become objects of enduring cult and worship, or like Hanuman, Lakshmana, Bharata the living human image of its ethical ideals; it has fashioned much of what is best and sweetest in the national character, and it has evoked and fixed in it those finer and exquisite yet firm soul-tones and that more delicate humanity of temperament which are a more valuable thing than the formal outsides of virtue and conduct.” Sri Aurobindo Rama's principles alone make him victorious, as he does not deviate from the path of righteousness. And by not deviating from the path of righteousness, he is truly valorous, and the question of his defeat does not arise, because he will abide by his conscience. In Hinduism, Rama is the ideal incarnation of the Divine. Though he is beyond all gunas, he reflects higher qualities such as compassion, gentleness, caring, sympathy, responsibility, purity, forgiveness, austerity, devotion (to his gurus and Lord Shiva), and courage in unlimited amounts. A considerable feature of Rama’s divine play was his extremely restrained use of divine powers. This allowed his beings to interact with and learn from him while treating him as a fellow being. Because of his unprecedented perfection in hiding his own divinity through his maya, recognizing his real nature was difficult for many of his unrealized contemporaries, including some of his “enemies.” During Sri Rama's period, subject's wish was King's wish.  Can we go back to that period where subjects wishes become the wishes of the ruler.  Will we ever have the good fortune to live in such a nation! It depends on the will of the human race to demand and expect the qualities we find in Rama – such as sacrifice, tolerance, will power, devotion to Father, maturity, concern for the citizens, selflessness!  Sri Rama, as the Ruler sacrificed everything for the welfare of His Subjects! Universally regarded as one of the world's most important literary works, Ramayana has had a profound impact on the art, culture, family relations, gender, politics, nationalism and militancy in the Indian subcontinent. The everlasting value of this epic tale has been extolled through the centuries, and it has helped in molding the Hindu character largely. However, it would be wrong to say that Ramayana belongs only to the Hindus. Ramayana is one of the greatest epic poems of the world and that, correctly understood, it leads us to understand the evolution of humanity: The Ramayana shows us also, in the story of Rama and Sita, the ideal of human love, love which is inspired by the noblest of ideas. In India, it is difficult to find  a Hindu family where the essence Ramayana has not been understood, where the divinity of Rama  is not admired, extolled, and adored; where the chastity of Sita is not extolled and venerated;  where the courage of Hanuman is not a subject of conversation, where the loyalty and faithfulness is not talked about, where Dasarath’s agony in sending his son Rama is not remembered. These heroes described in Ramayana are living personages provoking, kneading and tantalizing India’s thought, even in our modern times of upheavals and violence. It is they who would serve as our torch bearers to uphold dharma, who serve as role models for the humanity to follow, who preserve the glory of once Bharat in the India of today and whose ideals of truth and ahimsa could save the human race from it’s own destruction. Every civilization has to remember the past. Violence, terror and brutality are the path to self destruction. Unless all these nations do not adopt the culture of the spirit, they may be doomed to perish in cruelty, brutality and blood. The time has come for rethinking about the future of human race. It is time to follow the long-cherished ideals of Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Hanuman and others who serve as best example of a magnificent, inspiring spiritual ideals exemplified by their behavior, suffering, and advise. If all the nations have to live in peace, accommodate the needs of their fellow human beings, allow the freedom of speech to reign across the globe, distance themselves from the destructive policies, then peace and truth exemplified in Ramayana have to be given a chance to work their way to preserve the human race. That means the establishment of Rama Rajya. The question is “What is Rama rajya?”It is the reign of morality, truth, peace, and virtues. "Rama Rajya" means that which engenders happiness ("Ramayathi"). There should be no ill will towards anybody. Samanatva bhava is the main goal to treat people. No body lives in fear. No one should be harmed. That is Rama Rajya. When such feelings arise among the people Rama Rajya will come into existence of its own accord. Bharat is in need of Rama Rajya. It has to practice the ideals of Rama Rajya, it has to take pride in it’s eternal, immortal values, it has spread these values from young to old,  it has to advocate the value of these ideals, it has to convince other nations to adopt these ideals, and be a spiritual leader in mitigating the material supremacy. When we speak of' establishing Rama Rajya, let not Bharatiyas imagine that it is relevant only to Bharat. The whole world needs the advent of Rama Rajya. What this means is that the rulers should have three qualities. They are righteous conduct (Sathpravarthana) good counsel (sadaalochana), good qualities (Sadguna). Dharma According to Aranya Kanda, "Wealth comes out of Dharma. Happiness comes out of Dharma. Everything is obtainable from Dharma. Dharma is the essence of this universe. The adept attains Dharma by disciplining themselves by the conditions of Dharma, with great effort; one cannot get happiness from happiness.". (9-30,31) Dharma is eightfold as: "Sacrifice, Vedic study, Charity, Penance, Truth, Fortitude, Forgiveness, Non-desire." Ten are characteristics of Dharma (Dharma Lakshanam) described in various scriptures: Fortitude, forgiveness, restraint, non-stealing, purity, control over sense organs, intelligence, knowledge, truth, absence of anger. ‘Dharma’ is a term which could be understood but which cannot properly be translated into any other language. This word comes from the root ‘DRI’ which means supporting. That which is the support of this universe is Dharma. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.14) says: "Yet he did not flourish. He created that Dharma which has an excellent form. This Dharma is the controller of Kshatriya. Therefore, there is nothing higher than that. Even a weak man hopes to defeat a strong man by Dharma as one does through the king. Dharma is verily Satya or truth. A speaker of truth is said to speak Dharma or a person speaking Dharma is said to speak truth. Both these are but righteousness." "He (Rama) is the type of a perfect husband, son, and brother. Sita also rises in character far above Helen and even above Penelope, both in her sublime devotion and loyalty to her husband, and her indomitable patience and endurance under suffering and temptation.....it may be affirmed generally that the whole tone of the Ramayana is certainly above that of the Iliad." (Monier Williams) Dharma is used when Viswamitra takes the Lord to Mother Sita and the wedding takes place. “Hey Rama, I present my daughter to you. Sita is beautiful. She has a big dowry, she brings elephants, horses and jewellery with her. But the greatest dowry that she brings is her dharma.” Bharata comes along with the army to request Rama to return to Ayodhya. He wants to occupy the throne which was deceptively denied it to Rama because of the two boons she had received from her husband Dasaratha. Lakshmana grossly miscalculates and says, “Sri Rama, our killer brother, Bharata, is coming. Please get your spears, lances, swords and shields ready.” The Lord said, “You don't need any protection with weapons when Bharata, the great master of non-violence and dharma, comes to you.” Surpanaka came to meet Rama and wanted to marry him. First, she introduces herself the brother of Ravana. She mentions about the cruelty of his brother and describes his three children. She says that, “There is a third brother called Vibhishana who is a dharmatma, a righteous soul. How he came into our lives, I don't know. Every morning he prays to the Lord. He is totally different to us.” 1.  King Dasharatha’s Advice to Sri Rama King Dasharatha summoned his son Rama on the eve of coronation and offered timely advice on the role of a king in the administration his nation and also tendered his advice on the code of behavior. King Dasharatha said: "My son, although you are a storehouse of merits, I wish to offer some friendly advice to you out of sheer affection. Resorting to even greater humility (than before), constantly keep your senses under control. Avoid vices born of lust and anger." What are these vices he is talking about? Many scriptures enumerated these as hunting, playing at dice, sleeping by day, slandering others, fondness for women, vanity, violence, vindictiveness, jealousy, fault-finding, squandering one’s wealth, abusive speech, and cruelty in punishment. Rule according to both the direct and indirect methods of governance Indirect method: 1) Ascertaining the conditions and loyalty of one’s own people and the relative strength and intentions etc., of the neighboring states through a network of spies. Direct Method: 2) To make a tour of one’s dominions and ascertain things personally, to invite direct petitions from one’s subjects, hear their grievances and decide their cases on their own merits. "Please your ministers and others (namely, the Army Commanders and Civic Guards) as well as people responsible for maintenance (against future contingencies) of numerous stores (of useful materials such as jewelry, gold and silver, textiles and ornaments) along with barns and armouries." "The friends and allies of a King, who protects the earth with fostering care and whose subjects are not only loved by him as his children but are devoted to him in their turn, exult in the same way as the immortals did on securing nectar. Therefore, disciplining your mind, my son, conduct yourself well as instructed by me." The importance attached to personal discipline and far-sightedness in matters of efficient administration will be evident from the foregoing. Who is Dasaradha? Dasaratha literally means the human body which has got five working organs and five sensory organs. Dasaratha symbolises this charioteer of the human body which has got ten organs. Dasaratha also attracted three Gunas (qualities) in the form of Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. The four Purusharthas viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are symbolised by Dasaratha’s four sons. Dasaratha was one who proclaimed such a significant inner meaning to the world and he urged the people to lead an ideal life. Dasaratha and Rama were always in touch with People Among the invaluable leadership lessons that Valmiki Ramayana gives us is about the need for a ruler/leader to be in touch with his people. When Dasharatha asks the citizens of Ayodhya why they wanted his son Rama to be crowned crown prince, among the numerous reasons he gives is the fact that he was constantly in touch with the common man. The only time he was not in touch with people on the streets on an everyday basis was when he was away at a war. But as soon as he was back, he again began meeting every day the people whose prince he was and enquiring about their welfare. Samgramātpunarāgamyakunjareṇarathenavā Paurānsvajanavat nityam kuśalampariprchhati; Putreṣuagniṣudāreṣupreṣyaśiṣyagaṇeṣu ca Nikhilenaanupurvyāccapitāputrānivaaurasān. “After coming back from the war, he used to move among the people on an elephant or by chariot every day. He would then ask of their welfare as though they were members of his own family. He would enquire about their children, about the sacrificial fires they kept, about their wives, about their servants and disciples. He would enquire about them in detail, as a father enquires of his sons.” The Ramayana also speaks of Rama’s constant touch with people whose ruler he was in many other places and ways. It says he used ask the brahmanas about how well their disciples served them and the kshatriyas about how fit and ready their soldiers were. And every time there was a festivity in a common man’s home, he used to feel the man’s joy as a father would his son’s and when a misfortune befell any man, such was his empathy that he felt it as though it was his own sorrow. Rama’s Concern for all Rama's concern for everyone, on the other hand, was touching as can be seen from the instance when He chided Sugriva for his daring act of knocking down Ravana's diadem from his head in anger when he sighted him. Rama cautioned him, "Never repeat such an act any more. Had anything happened to you, I would have had nothing to do with Sita, Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna or even with My own person." Commentators highlight that one who had befriended Him just a few months ago mattered more to Rama than even His consort. Dharma should be practiced and protected When mother Kaushalya and also the citizens of Ayodhya plead with Rama not go to the forest, Rama replies that Dharma lies in obeying the words of the father and that he, being devoted to Dharma, cannot transgress the words of his father. At this stage Rama’s Dharma is to perform his duty as a son. After returning from the forest, upon being crowned as King, Rama’s Dharma as a king takes precedence over his own self or over his family. The interest of the kingdom or the nation is above that of the individual or the family of the individual (now crowned as king.) In the interest of the kingdom, Rama would sacrifice his own life; would sacrifice his family life (banish his wife Sita). Rama says: "I can renounce my life, Lakshmana, and you, Sita, but I cannot break my promise.” In every man’s heart should ring today the grand and most memorable declaration of Rama: “The fire may abandon its heat, ice its coolness, jasmine its fragrance, but I never break the promise made to my father.” Rama’s own mother, Queen Kaushalya, tries her utmost to dissuade him. She tells him how the mother is even greater than the father for has it not been said, first and foremost: “Matru Devo Bhava” – let thy mother be like a God unto thee. But no, truth is indeed the supreme God of all gods. Who is Rama? Sage Valmiki, with genuine interest and eagerness enquired of Sage Narada, who travels to all loaks, "Who, now living in this world, is the embodiment of virtuous qualities, the one with valour, knowing fully well the tenets of Dharma(Righteousness), possessing the sense of gratitude, uttering truth, adhering to vows firmly, distinct for leading a blameless life, kindly disposed to all living beings, very learned, achieving all tasks, having sweet personal appearance, possessing tremendous strength of mind, conquering anger, radiant, not envious towards others and whom, when engaged in a ferocious battle, even gods tremble to face." Sage Narada admitted that it be difficult to find anybody who possess 16 qualities in this world; but he hesitantly revealed that Rama of Ikshuvaka dynasty is the only one who adorns all these qualitied. Rama is a rare avatara where he never claimed to a God incarnation although recognize him to be. He has been described as ideal son, ideal brother, ideal husband, ideal enemy, and ideal king because of his respect for dharma. He never disobeyed his father. He did not want to live disobeying his parents. He said, “Obedience unto his parents is the virtue of a son. Disobeying the command of my father I am not eager to live…. Truth, almsgiving, honor, and sacrifices with profuse gifts are not so strengthening as the services rendered unto the parents. Health, wealth, grains, learning, son, and happiness, --- nothing remains inaccessible unto us …. Therefore, I desire to follow what my father commends me, treading the path of the path of truth, --- this is the virtual eternal.” (P. 278, Araynakandam)   Rama and Sita were close and know each other’s heart. They never considered themselves as independent of each other. When Rama and Lakshmana were preparing to the exile, Sita wanted to go with him like shadow in spite of the forest dangers and arduous life. Rama said that there are many evils in the forest, roaring lions live in the forest, wind is full of misery, animals with all their madness approach to attack, wayfares are covered with thorns and creepers, rivers are infested with crocodiles and sharks, paths are covered with reptiles and other kind of poisonous animals, and many unexpected dangers await. As an ideal husband he described in great details potential dangers in the forest dwellings. None of these dangers dissuaded Sita.             Lakshmana was to protect Sita when Rama went in search of Golden deer. As he did not return for a long time, Sita coerces Lakshman to go in search of Rama. Lakshman reluctantly agrees with a condition that she should not cross the protective line he draws. Reluctantly she crossed the line not knowing the trick played by Ravana, who then kidnapped her to Lanka. Rama and Lakshman retuned to find Sita, not finding her Rama fainted. After recovered he stated, aid Rama: "Sita is my heart's love. I cannot live without her. For my sake she deserted the royal palace to wander in this fearsome jungle. Now that she is gone, the moments seem longer than years. . . . How can I live on when she is lost to me?" We can decipher how he feels so close to Sita. After Ravana kicked Vibhishan out of the country, Vibhishana proceeded to meet Sri Rama. He was pleased thinking that now onwards he would get a chance to live with Sri Rama. When the monkeys saw him coming, they thought that some spy of the enemy had come. They stopped him at the main gate and went inside to inform Sugreev and Sri Rama about his arrival. Sri Rama asked Sugreev about his opinion. Sugreev had apprehensions in his mind regarding the real motives of Vibhishan. He said, "I am not so sure why he has come. I think it would be appropriate for us to bind him up." Sri Rama said-"Though your policy is appropriate, yet my vow is to protect such people who have taken my refuge." When Hanuman came to know about Sri Rama's decision, he was very pleased. Sri Rama said-"Even if a sinner who has committed the gravest sin of killing crores of Brahmins, seeks my refuge, I will never abandon him. Even if he has been sent by Ravan to know our secrets, it does not matter because Laxmana is capable of annihilating all the demons within seconds."             After Ravana was killed, the duty to perform the final rites fell on the shoulders of surviving brother Vibhishana who hesitated to perform his brother’s funeral rites because of Ravana’s evil deeds. On this occasion, Rama made a very powerful and profound statement for the human race to follow: "Ravana fought like a true warrior and fell fighting like a hero! Death has washed his sins. Ravana has entered heaven. It is for you now, his brother, to do the rites. I, his former foe, even I can rightly perform his obsequies. Your brother is my brother too, is he not?" His benevolence, forgiveness and respect for dharma are unrivaled knowing that Ravana abducted his beloved wife. Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
10 Jun 2019
Post

Open letter to Jagan, administer state for all Andhra people

Open letter to Jagan, administer state for all Andhra people Dear Jagan garu, Congratulations on your being elected Chief Minister of Andhra. NRI from Andhra as well as from all over India residing across the world wish you well. It is our sincere hope that you will administer the state for all people of Andhra irrespective of whether they supported you or not in the elections. Our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the way by working for the welfare of all Indians, working for aspirational India devoid of religion, region and Caste biases and propel India to regain its great economic, cultural and spiritual heritage that leads the world for many centuries. You too have an opportunity today to work the same way for all people of Andhra and play a role in moving India forward. We would like to bring to your attention some of the concerns Telugu people across the world have based on ourexperiences of your father YSR and also past experience of your counters with Hinduism. Your father has done a tremendous job in helping the marginalized sections of people and hope you continue his legacy in helping the most disadvantaged people in the state. However, there are major concerns with your father working closely with Christian missionaries that converted large swathes of combined Andhra, particularly coastal Andhra where more than 20% were converted in a span of 5 to 6 years. You have a choice to build an Andhra for all people of the state, an Andhra Rajyam, or you have a choice of creating multiple Rajyams, a Missionary Rajyam, a Reddy Rajyam and a Goonda Rajyam and bring down the state. The images of large conversion melas engineered by foreign Christian missionaries and then by your sister and brother in law with the active help of your father administration using state public lands and its infrastructure brings enormous concern among Telugu people across the world, particularly Hindus. 40% of Hindu temple lands were disposed at giving away prices to friendly corrupt developers and churches were built right on temple lands. Recently there is a video posted on WhatsApp where your sister openly saying that you will be un-caged and will bring the message of Jesus. In your manifesto Press Conference, you have mentioned that you will provide houses for every Pastor in the state and marry off the Christian brides using State money. In many ways, there are issues with this from legality as well as ethics. From a legal perspective, how can state funds from contributions of taxpayers of all Indians across all religions be used for one religion and worse, when the state is severely straightjacket for funds. Then there is another concern that only Hindu temples are under Government control, particularly Tirumala temple and to this day since 1993 there has been no audit of how the thousands of crores of funds contributed by Hindus are used. In a way, this means the funds provided by Hindu devotees will be used to build homes of Pastors while Hindu priests across the state under Government control arenot even getting minimum sustenance for their survival. Christian pastors who are already known to be aggressively converting will use this economic providence to use their time to convert more people into Christianity. Some of the slides from detailed presentations of assault on Hinduism under your father that are very widely popular on the internet are given below. (Here are links for ‘Death of Hinduism‘ and ‘Save Temples‘ ).   During your father’s regime, there was even an attempt to take 5 out of 7 Tirumala hills for tourism, which is really a front of Christian missionary Organizations the world over first target the native religions and take over them and convert them into museums. Your father, under Christian missionary instructions, has appointed Christians intoTirumalatemple and even the administration of Tirumala funded education institutions was filled by fundamentalist Christians who are openly encouraging conversions into Christianity. Such was a deception that your father engaged in while celebrating Rama Navami with your mother in traditional Hindu costumes in a Hindu temple before cameras, your father has removed Rama Navami from State Government approved holidays and in fact increased holidays for Christians who were an only small fraction of state. In 2007, few of the NRI had organized a major protest in Chicago during your father visit, expressing these concerns and awaken the Hindus across the world. In 2012, it is well known in the news that you entered Tirumala temple without making the required declaration from people of other faiths. You have now appointed Stephen Ravindra, as AP new intelligence chief, who also worked as Chief Security Officer under your father’s administration. Stephen is known to be hard core Christian and there are major concerns that he will allow the Christian conversion activity in the state and intimidate any exposure of that activity by Hindu activists, which happened under your father administration. We hope Central Government will study his credentials in stopping illegal conversion before giving nod to his appointment. There is also concern about the local and foreign Christian missionary organizations making beeline to your administration with detailed plans (covertly and overtly) for small and large scale conversions as is seen from the putting in place of the old infrastructure for protection of their activities. You have now appointed Stephen Ravindra, as AP new intelligence chief, who also worked as Chief Security Officer under your fathers administration. Stephen is known to be hard core Christian and there are major concerns he will facilitate illegal Christian conversion activity in the state and intimidate any exposure by Hindu activists, which happened under your father administration. We hope Central Government will study his credentials before giving nod to his appointment. This causes many concerns among Hindus across the world. During your campaign, you took the blessings of Hindu spiritual leaders. But it remains largely to be seen how you will administer. Your manifesto offerings to only Christiansis unfair and will trigger court cases both in the State and Supreme Courts. You are given a golden opportunity to administer the state and you have to decide whether you will administer fairly for all people of Andhra or only sections of Andhra. As Narendra Modi and BJP is saying, the current mandate across India is from aspirational India that wants to rise above Caste politics. During your father rule, every other person appointed to the state is a Reddy. But your voters are not just Reddy community, people from all communities have voted and it is wiser to select the best from the state no matter who they are. I sense that even if you try to adhere to be a Chief Minister for all sections of people in the beginning, as days go by, you will be prodded by Christian pastors and establishment to get a deal for them in form of state support for conversionand financial benefits, then there will be Reddy community saying that they helped finance your elections and will ask for return in favours to siphon off from the State projects, there will even be NR Reddy organizations looking not just for Photo opportunity but also opportunities to take personal advantage, ahead of others. This is not to say there are wonderful people from all communities including Reddy community who are very patriotic and doing yeoman service for the state and the country and will use your office to serve the state and the country. But you need to see beyond casteand look for contributions from all people of the state to help bring progress to the state. For too long, rich and powerful farming communities Chowdhary and Reddy have ridden roughshod and took undue advantage of the state resources. This is feudalism and this is what Narendra Modi-ji is attempting to go past and build a better ndia for every ndian. It is a shame in this elections we had three parties representing three different farming communities, rather than parties vying for who will do better for all the people of the state. Then there is a goonda Raj. Just a few days ago social media was circulating videos of removing garland from NTRstatue and breaking of car windows of some people, perhaps because they belong to TDP. With instant information insocial media, every single incident will be known across the world. That is not to suggest that things be done behind closed doors because truth has a way of coming out. When the rest of India is marching ahead, do you want to create a goonda Raj or a state where laws are followed un-equally for all citizens? In the United States, a cop will be fearless to give a traffic violation ticket to a Supreme Court judge but in India, the rich and powerful have different laws. Dear Jagan, the combined Andhra has a rich heritage of thousands of years. It boasts 350 years of Krishnadevaraya rule which warded off Islamic onslaught on the country for centuries. Freedom fighters such as Alluri Seetharamarajuare the pride of this state who stood against the oppressive British. Tanguturi Prakasam and Potturi Sreeramulu, and many other great Telugu people representing combined Andhra Pradesh fought selflesslyfor all Telugu people. World over people are following Yoga and meditation and craving for what Hinduism has to offer. In fact, there are many who now profess that Jesus visited India and it is here in India under the guidance of spiritual teachers of our common ancient heritage that he was enlightened and took the message to the middle east. In fact, the Bible talks about ‘Wise men of the East‘ and a channel called Sun Dance channel many years ago in the USA had a full program on this topic on Jesus visit to India. Bible has nothing to say about his early 14 years. Christian missionaries only interest is to bring more converts and rule from Europe and they have little interest in India or its welfare. Mahatma Gandhi, our father of nation abhorred Christian missionaries activities in India and there are enormous literature and writing of his opposing in the strongest terms and he called, “Stop Christian missionaries activity in India, it is the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth”. In a recent rally in front of Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, many NRIs in the USA brought the message of Mahatma Gandhi opposing the fundamentalist, break India forces of Christian missionary organizations in the West. You have an opportunity to bring Christians and Hindus together by declaring given Jesus background he is one more avatar in Hindu parlance. You are at the crossroads of the destiny of Andhra. You have a choice to build an Andhra for all people of the state, anAndhra Rajyam, or you have a choice of creating multiple Rajyams, a Missionary Rajyam, a Reddy Rajyam and a Goonda Rajyam and bring down the state. Copy to The Honorable PM, Amit Shah-ji and the entire BJP leadership. Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
04 Jun 2019
Post

Dr Subramanian Swamy is Visiting USA; Call to organize his Program in your City.

Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
14 May 2019
Post

Training Hindu Children in INDIA about Sanatana Dharma by TTD is the utmost urgency

            May 2,2019 TO: Sri B. Lakshmikantham, IAS Joint Executive Officer Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh                   Subject: Training Hindu Children in INDIA about Sanatana Dharma by TTD is the utmost urgency   Dear Sri Lakshmikantham Garu:                 On behalf of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF), I want to express my appreciation for your announcement that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams will take up classes on Hindu Sanatana Dharma to the children of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians). It appears that during your visit to Abu Dubai, you received a request from NRIs to train their children in the tenets of Hindu Dharma, Chaturveda, Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.Also, it was announced that expert scholars will travel to foreign countries in June and July to ”train” NRI children.                 The mission of Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) “is to promote, propagate and preserve Hindu Sanatana Dharma as the official dharmic face of TTD by organising spiritual discourses, dharmic and devotional programmes.” Children are our future. They would be the torchbearers of our Sanatana Dharma. The future of Hinduism would be in peril if we do not provide adequate training and transmit richness and uniqueness of our heritage. TTD should Fulfill the need to Train HINDU Children                 My purpose of writing this letter is to suggest that TTD should train the children in India under the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad for the following reasons: There is no mechanism exists at this time to teach Hindu Children about their dharma and the richness of our scriptures. In our tradition, there is no formal transition of knowledge to the next generation about Sanatana Dharma. Families are not equipped to teach their children. School curriculums are developed to teach minimum amount of Hindu dharma while other religions are glorified. Hindu Temples have not adopted a plan to teach the children about the depth and greatness of Sanatana Dharam. Conduct Classes to Hindu Children in India first                 Thus, it is imperative that HDPP should be the champion of Sanatana Dharma and train the children in INDIA starting from the age 5 and up. Earlier the better. At that age they will absorb easily and retain the maximum amount of knowledge. All the TTD supported educational institutions must teach Hinduism courses for students. TTD should take the lead to encourage all “A” grade Hindu Temples to conduct Hinduism classes in the respective cities It should also conduct Sunday schools for the children who do not go to TTD supported educational institutions. Sunday Schools for Children in USA In USA there are more than 1000 Hindu Temples. Out of which about 20-25 percent of them traditionally built based on Agama Sashtras. Majority of these Temples have been offering Hinduism classes for Children of ages 5 thru 15. They divide them into 3-4 different age groups to make sure they are taught at their levels. The Sunday schools run concurrently with the school year, that is from August thru May. Usually these classes are offered for about 9 months. The content of the material was initially developed by Swami Chinmayananda, the founder of Chinmaya Mission. It conducts classes all over the United States for children. Similarly, Satya Sai Organization and Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji organization conduct Sunday Schools teaching the classes on Sanatana Dharma, Itihasas and Puranas. They conduct dance classes, art classes, Bhajan sessions, language classes, music lessons. Under the leadership of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, more than children ages 5 thru 15 have memorized all 700 hundred verses of Bhagavad Gita.. Many of them even know the meaning of these verses. His goal is to train 1000 children to learn Bhagavad Gita in the next 2-3 years.  Many BAPS mandirs teach the arts, language, music, and philosophy that are the roots of Hindu heritage. REQUEST                 As we all know that our children are denied the opportunity to learn about their religion, culture and richness of our storehouse of knowledge hidden in our scriptures. It is this kind of knowledge will make then human. Without knowledge they are like a boat in the ocean without anchor. They will keep circling and circling without aim.                 Knowledge is power. Once you acquire the knowledge in Sanatana Dharma, they will be our future and become our ambassadors. They feel proud of their culture. Once they appreciate the depth and richness of our culture, they develop appreciation to acquire a set of morals, ethics and character.                 First thing first, please introduce Sunday Schools to teach about Sanatana Dharma to our children in India in all TTD supported educational institutions and also in the community in various neighborhoods. The effort should slowly expand to the whole State of Andhra Pradesh.                  I would appreciate your involvement in drafting the plan to enrich our children in India. Dhanyavad   Prakasarao V Velagapudi, PhD President, GHHF  
06 May 2019
Post

Ancient Hindu Scriptures and Stress Management - part 2

NOTE: Please click on the link to read Part 1 of the Article: https://www.savetemples.org/post/ancient-hindu-scriptures-and-business-management-part-1/606   There are many Hindu ancient books dating back to more than five thousand years ago that have addressed issues facing at the time and disposed of them with proper knowledge and time-tested wisdom. That wisdom is as relevant today as it was eons ago.  Mahabharat, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Manusmriti, Chanakya’s Arthashastra, Samarth Ramdas, Bhishmacharya, Lord Rama and many other similar scriptures revealed the storehouse of knowledge. They contain many guidelines that can be used in business management, in the family matters, and in the circle of friends.  The Companies that are concerned with material goals, financing, investments, profit making, bank balances, competition and employee morale are likely to face numerous problems with employees to motivate without proper guidance and channeling them to the higher purpose of life. The employees’ stress and constant expectations of rewards affect the morale of the company resulting in turmoil and chaos.  Hindu scriptures talk about balancing the material and spiritual dimensions.             The CEO is the main person who can guide the organization to function smoothly and achieve the goal. For successful fruition, he must work hard coordinating various departments, supervising the teams, handling the critical issues of the day and upkeep the morale among the employees. The Atharvana Veda compared the CEO as sun. It says, “O King! Take care of the welfare and growth of all your people Then you will grow as the sun grows And shines at dawn and after its rise”             Other scriptures dealt with this subject on business management that are as practical today as they were eons ago. We will examine the pertinence of some of the segments of ancient wisdom. Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita is a universal message applicable to even modern organizations and its leaders and workforce. It can be considered as a manual that helps resolve various kinds of problems, anxieties, troubles, and stress that the human beings have to go through in day to day life. For example, Bhagavad Gita informs that the most crucial and important reason for stress is an attachment to the fruits and rewards. The more one expects, the more he is entangled in the cycle of stress, anxiety, and turmoil.  The relevance of 5000-year-old Gita is acknowledged by all the contemporary business corporations. “The Gita is old in chronologybutcontemporary in essence. When basic business principles cease to work and when the rate of change outside is faster than change within, even businesses need deeper anchor points for decision-making not available in contemporary literature,” says Debashis Chatterjee. Similarly, Vivek Bindra, corporate trainer, and director, Global ACT, says, “Gita is beyond time, place and circumstances. The temporary solutions we are seeking from the West are often inadequate. And that is turning corporates to the Gita.” Many corporations recognize Gita not as a religious book but as an integral part of the business environment. S Y Siddique of Maruti Suzuki says, “Spiritual texts often contain sound management principles that can provide vital lessons in a corporate set-up. In addition to our regular programs, we thought we could turn to the Bhagavad Gita for management insights, … I clearly believe that this has nothing to do with religion or faith per se. We all recognize that the programme is management -focused and not on religious dimensions. It is about identifying the universal principles contained in the Gita and applying them to a corporate setting.” Nishkama Karma Bhagavad Gita teaches us to perform one’s duty without expectations and without rewards. Bhagavad Gita advisespeople to work without attachment which is considered as an impediment to the success in doing the things either personal or professional. “While contemplating on the objects of the senses, one develops an attachment to them. Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger. Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which results in bewilderment of the memory. When the memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.” (2:62-63). Our sense objects crave for power, money, position, excessive rewards, recognition and so on. Attachments to these objects result in anger, frustration, jealousy, greed, lust, and irritation resulting in the restlessness of mind. In general fulfillment of desires give birth to further desires. Even in Bhagavata Purana, it is recognized that “If one person were to get all the wealth, luxuries, and sensual objects in the world, that person’s desire would still not be satiated. Hence, knowing it to be the cause of misery, an intelligent person should renounce desire.” (9:19:13). Anger, obsession and excess desire cloud the intellect and flog the decision-making process. We become blind to the sense gratification.             The answer to overcoming the anger and attachment is to develop non-attachment. Nishkama karma is an action performed without any expectation of fruits, rewards or results.  It is described as a duty for the sake of duty, not for any outward fulfillment of desires.  As per Bhagavad Gita “you have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction. Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga, (2:47-48).  By detaching oneself from the desire for fruits, nishkama karma helps to fight the stress and finds peace of mind.             If we work always with a profit motive, we get attached to insatiable desires to acquire more and more. Detachment from the fruits yields better results while attachment for rewards faces turbulence. Gita does not prohibit one from pursuing Purushardhas – dharma, artha, kama and moksha. That means one is allowed to seek money, power, fame, comforts, and other desires. Gita only requires one to pursue them without attachment.              In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna expounded all kinds of managerial techniques that would lead the company to experience harmony, unity, cohesiveness, and congruence rather than experiencing tension, turmoil, conflicts, dissensions, low productivity, loss of money, high turnover and poor motivation. Management concept of vision, planning, execution, the relevance of the product, leadership qualities, teamwork, motivation, decision making, goal achievement, and profit-making are all discussed with a keen eye and sharp insight.  Leadership and Bhagavad Gita A leader in any organization should be a role model for the rest of the members to pursue and accomplish the mission of the organization. Bhagavad Gita states: “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues,” (3:21). A leader should practice what he does. He cannot be hypocritical. He should follow certain standards and code of conduct practiced by other great leaders. A leader must be visionary, righteous, goal-oriented, moral, virtuous, positive and dynamic. He also should gauge the changes in the market and adjust to the circumstances. He should inspire, influence and be trustworthy. As Steve Jos once stated that “My job is to take these great people we have and push them and make them even better.” Peter Drucker acknowledges the importance of leadership when he states, “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, and building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” As per Bhagavad Gita, a leader should possess certain type of qualities that can help the leaders to propel the organizations to move in the direction that can manage and sustain for the future. The future of any organization depends on the leaders who are unique in their ability to adjust the goals to keep abreast of the changes in the market, accommodate diverse needs, and serve as a role model to be pursued by the members of the organization. “Humbleness, sincerity, non-violence, patience, uprightness, service to guru, purity of mind and body, steadfastness, willpower, renunciation of sensory objects, devoid of egotism, understanding the inherent pains and evils of life, detachment from son, wife and home; balanced mind both in favourable and unfavourable circumstances, staunch devotion to Me, living in solitude, avoidance of social enjoyment, fixity of knowledge on the Self by ingesting it to the logical conclusion; all this is known as knowledge. Ignorance is just opposite to this.” (13:7-13).             A leader in any organization must be visionary, dynamic, virtuous, truthful, talented to pursue the dream into reality, capable of attracting good people, and muster a winning team. He should show his talents, skills and be a role model for others to emulate. He should be able to navigate the ship in the troubled waters and avoid getting it dashed. He should be inspiring and exemplary in his thinking, manners, and vision. He should be able to inspire, convince and stimulate others in the organization.  Lord Krishna says, “Whatever a great person does is followed by others; people go by the example he sets up, (3:21).             Arjuna’s despondency, fear, and feeble-mindedness is a typical situation for many people in the management world. Many people try to give up the fight and decide to abandon their dreams. Lord Krishna’s inspiring, soul searching message uplifted Arjuna’s mind, stimulated his thinking, abandonedhis inertia, followed the righteous path and convinced him his dharma in taking up the challenge. Krishna’s powerful words removed the dark clouds in Arjuna’s mind. In the end, Arjuna decides to reject his dejection and concluded that, “My delusion is destroyed. I have regained my memory through your grace, O!Achuyta. I am firm, I am free from doubt. I shall act according to Your words.” (Bhagavad Gita 18:73) CEOs who experienced the Benefits of Meditation             Yoga and meditation have helped millions of people across the globe. Patanjali Yoga Sutra has brought revolution in the way we can bring the wild animal under control. It says “yogashcitta-vrtti-nirodah.”  That means yoga is the cessation of fluctuations created by the subconscious mind. Meditation helps one to focus on a given task allowing us to exclude all kinds of non-relevant thoughts, ideas, tasks, and responsibilities. Much research has been done across the globe which provides enough evidence for all of us to enjoy the fruits of meditation.  Businessmen, athletes, actresses, TV personalities, coaches, and celebrities, are reaping the benefits of doing yoga and meditation. Research has shown that meditation reduces the anxiety level, stress, tension, heart diseases, while it enhances the performance levels, builds confidence level, increases concentration, enhances energy and vigor, improves general health and experience of peacefulness and calmness.             Many CEOs have stressful jobs creating physical, mental and health problems. Now there is a trend for many business people to embrace mediation to find solace for themselves and introduce meditation to their employees also. The CEO’s who practice mediation include Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates, Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com, Andrew Cherng of Panda Express, Bob Shapiro of Monsanto, Bill George of Medtronic, Russell Simmons of Def Jam, Oprah Winfrey, Roger Berkowitz of Legal Sea Foods, Robert Stiller of Green Mountain Coffee Roaster, Ramani Iyer of The Hartford Financial Group, Steve Rubin of United Fuels International, Nancy Slomowitz of Executive Management Associates, Marnie Abramson of Tower Companies, and Rick Goings of Tupperware.  Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn: "Part of the key to time management is carving out time to think, as opposed to constantly reacting," William Clay Ford Jr., Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company: “The practice of mindfulness kept me going during the darkest days.” Marc Benioff, Chairman, and CEO of SalesForce: “I’m trying to listen deeply, and the beginner’s mind is informing me to step back so that I can create what wants to be, not what was … I know that the future does not equal the past. I know that I have to be here at the moment.” Arianna Huffington, Cofounder of Huffington Post and Thrive Global: “Once I’m awake, I take a minute to breathe deeply, be grateful, and set my intention for the day … Then I do 20 to 30 minutes of meditation and 30 minutes on my stationary bike, on days when I’m home. I also practice yoga most mornings.” Oprah Winfrey, Media Proprietor, Actress, and Philanthropist: “Meditation is about getting still enough to know the difference between the voice and you. It's a heightened state of being that lets whatever you're doing be your best life, from moment to astonishing moment.” Katy Perry, Singer and TV Personality: “I’m on a plane more than I am on ground, and this tool helps me find moments of peace — because I don’t have a whole lot of time — that extend my day so I can live my fullest capacity,” Perry said in an interview in 2016 with the David Lynch Foundation. “It gives me two days in one day!” Sir, Paul McCartney, Singer-Songwriter: “I think it’s always very good to get a sort of still moment in your day. Whenever I have a chance in a busy schedule, I’ll do it, if I’m not rushing out the door with some crazy stuff to do.” McCartney said in an interview published in July 2014 at TMHome.com. “In moments of madness, meditation has helped me find moments of serenity — and I would like to think that it would help provide young people a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world." Steve Jobs, Apple Inc; “If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there’s room to hear more subtle things – that’s when your intuition starts to blossom, and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse at the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It’s a discipline; you have to practice it.” Mark Bertolini, CEO, and Chairman of Aetna Insurance: By letting go to attachment, we can be present, clear-minded and live life to the fullest both at work and at play. Madonna, Singer, and Actress: "Meditation showed me how much energy silence has,"             CEO’s comments on the usefulness of Meditation include, “ it burns off stress and gives me fresh eyes to clarify what’s really going on and what really matters”;  “a TM course for your employees is probably the fastest, easiest, and least expensive way of getting more out of your workers than you could ever imagine,”  "TM produced tangible, practical benefits in both their professional and personal lives," “The workplace environment soon grew from toxic to harmonious among other positive changes. And surprisingly, the company’s cost of healthcare insurance actually went down due to a reduction in sick claims.” "I have the mental clarity and alertness for both laser-like focus on the details as well as broad comprehension.” "It has demonstrably reduced my stress and helped to maintain my good health, and it has immeasurably benefited my family and business relationships. Importantly, it has helped me to make clearer, more effective decisions on the job.” "Meditation helps develop your abilities to focus better and to accomplish your tasks.'' "I meditate twice a day for 20 minutes, closing my eyes, clearing my mind, and repeating my mantra until I'm in a semi-conscious state. Sometimes, I'm wrestling with an issue before meditation, and afterward, the answer is suddenly clear.” "I enjoy meditation, which I've been doing for over a decade — probably to help relieve the stress I was going through when I was working at Oracle." Chanakya’s Arthashastra and Business Model                   It is amazing to know that Arthashastra was written by Chanakya advising King Chandragupta Maurya as to how to rule the kingdom. What was suggested at the time is as relevant today as it was 24 centuries ago!  Many of his ideas can serve as a guide for any business to establish themselves by preserving the integrity, honesty, and solidarity of the Company. He advised the King to rule the kingdom with clear vision, broad mission and proper motivation. The objectives to rule the kingdom are the acquisition of wealth, consolidation of what is acquired, expansion of the wealth and enjoyment of what is acquired. He also advised the king to avoid the six emotional evils identified as lust, anger, greed, vanity, arrogance, and overjoy.             Chanakya observed that, “The king, the minister, the country, the fortified city, the treasury, the army, and ally are the constituent elements of the state.”  A closer look at the sentence can be applied to modern business management. There are seven pillars that establish the business. The King is like a Founder or CEO who is a trailblazer with vision and a mission to achieve the envisioned goals; the minister is like the Manager of the company who is on the go to execute the plans; the country is like the market that provides the revenue for the operation of the firm; the fortified city is like head office where all major decisions are made based on the perceived demands from the market; the treasury which is the financial hub that is the heart of the financial organization; army is like your team members consisting of skilled people, salespeople and a wide variety of people with diverse talents; and the ally is like your consultants and confidants who can be counted on when the problems occur in the market.             King's happiness lies in people's happiness, the king's welfare is dependson people's welfare. Nothing is dearer to king, nothing is self of the king, whatever is dearer to people, it is dearer to king. It further says that King should not take any decision by himself, he should do it with the consultation of the council of ministers. Radhakrishnan (2005) elaborated in 12 sutras (verses) of Kautilya with regards to self-control, which includes the importance of control over the senses by giving up kama, krodha, lobha, mana, mada, and harsha, i.e. lust, anger, pride, arrogance, and foolhardiness. The first teaching of Kautilya is to conquer the internal enemies before you conquer the external ones. According to Kautilya, by casting out the group of six enemies the leader should acquire control over the senses, cultivate his intellect by association with elders, keep a watchful eye by means of spies, bring about security and well-being by activity, maintain the observance of their special duties by carrying out duties, acquire discipline by instruction in the sciences, attain popularity by association with what is of material advantage and maintain behavior  by what is beneficial (Muniapan and Shaikh, 2007). Bhishma on the Characteristics of a Minister (Manager) Bhishma in Mahabharata expounded a detailed and lengthy discourse of Raja Dharma (code of conduct for Kings). Lord Krishna and all the Pandavas went to see Bhishma who was laying on the bed of arrows waiting to close his eyes at the commencement of Uttarayana. After hearing the essential nature of Raja Dharma, Yudhishtira asked thus: “O Grandsire Bhishma! What are the qualities and characteristics of a Minister?”             To be a proper King (CEO or Leader of the Organization), Bhishma says a King should possess certain characteristics: “Should be able to suppress wrath, be truthful in speech, be able to render justice, have the ability to forgive, purity of conduct, simplicity, and maintenance of dependents. These are common to all persons. In addition, as a Kshatriya to be eligible for kingship, the person should give but not beg, be able to protect people, should be able to comfort and contain the unrighteous, be proficient in battle, and be able to discipline his people to be righteous in conduct under pain of punishment in case of a breach.”  These traits are very important for any CEO to be successful and they should not be overlooked. Bhishma elucidates the characteristics as a Minister (Manager). He stresses that the Ministers and Counsellors “should be men who are modest, self-restrained, truthful and sincere. The King should select them from diverse backgrounds to have a well-balanced team. These ministers should serve as an inner cabinet. They should be wise, have friendly relations with citizens, be good administrators, possess vigor and valor, have a clean mind without any cruelty, have love and affection towards the king, and regard pleasures and sorrows equally. A person with the above qualities alone is entitled to be a Minister. The King also shall show respect towards such Ministers.             Every businessman should learn some of these salient features to be successful in business. These characteristics are applicable to all the CEO, CCO, and anybody in any Managerial positions if they are to be successful in managing any business operations. Rama’s Advice to Bharata             Lord Shiva, considered as the first author of Ramayana, said that every letter ofRamayana has the power to remove even the most heinous sins. In fact, both Valmiki and Tulasidas acknowledged that it was only with the divine grace of Lord Shiva they composed Ramayana at different times. A. A. Macdonell stated, “That probably no other work of world literature has produced so profound an influence in the life and thought of people as the Ramayana.”              Rama's leadership qualities are recognized as being a model for all kinds of people to emulate. He is credited with providing a concrete vision to his followers as in the case of searching for Sita in Lanka; believing in the ability of his subordinates to achieve the aim as in the case of Vanaras defending against Ravana’s Rakshasa army; standing courageously in the face of great adversity as in the case of fighting with Ravana; consulting his subordinates as in the case of accepting Vibhishana by allaying their fears; and following a code of ethics as in the case of allowing Ravana to return the next day as he was rendered weaponless – ethics dictate that an unarmed enemy not to be killed. He is also considered as an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal friend and an ideal enemy. He is always known as a man of principles, ethical, moral, and courageous leader.             What are some of the qualities one can learn and / or practice? He had a clear vision where he assembled an army of monkeys to defeat Ravana and others to rescue Sita from Lanka. The second important characteristic was his ability to organize resources effectively by training the army with the skills necessary to face the enemy. Third, he was a team player. He was able to assemble leaders such as Hanuman, Lakshman, Sugriva, Vibhishana and others who worked for his mission. The fourth trait is to have a firm belief in one’s own strength             Bharata came to know that his mother Kaikeyi was responsible for Rama’ exile to forest giving up the Kingdom. Bharata was to rule the kingdom as per his father Dasaratha’s promise to his wife Kaikeyi.  Bharata goes to the forest and requested Rama to return and take the responsibility of ruling the kingdom. After refusing Bharata’s request, Rama advised him to follow the guidelines to establish Ramarajya. Lord Rama rendered a number of guidelines that would benefit not only Bharata but any personnel involved in the management of their businesses. He asked Bharata number of questions about his treatment of his parents, teachers, elders, and people to ensure domestic tranquility. Rama Counsels Bharata on a wide variety of topics such as good governance, home affairs, defense, foreign affairs, finance, and other areas. When building the bridge to cross the ocean, the rocks were sinking when placed in the water. Rama reinforced their belief by asking them to write the name of Rama on each rock that never sank again.             He was compassionate where he treated different kinds of people such as Guha, Sabari, monkey tribes and others as his own kin and kith.             Here we will select the areas that are pertinent to the management of Businesses: Rama counsels Bharata on the comprehensive lessons on governance in question format. His questions range from quality of ministers, the importance of decision making, administration to justice, the subtleties of statecraft, the wisdom of the counselors, confidentiality, and fairness to the employees. "I hope the ministers you have appointed are valiant like you- full of learning, who have controlled their senses, who are born of high pedigrees (cultured family) and know the meaning of signs (discreet and shrewd)." "The sound advice given by experienced ministers well versed in the laws of truth and virtues is the very foundation on which the prosperity of a King rests." "The learned in times of difficulty bring endless glory by solving knotty problems." "I hope you prefer learned men to thousands of fools. No help will come to a king if he seeks advice from thousands of evil advisers or even ten thousand of them." "Even if there is a single minister if only, he is wise, brave, clever and discreet, he will bring fame and prosperity to a King big or small." "He who does not get rid of a physician adept in devices of aggravating a disease, a servant intent on bringing disgrace to his master and a gallant warrior seeking kingly power, is himself destroyed by these persons." "I hope the person appointed as your Commander-in-chief is ever pleased, full of resolution, is gallant and talented, is of spotless character and well-born and devoted and clever." "Are the foremost of your skilled warriors being recognized by bestowing suitable honors by you?" (gallantry awards). "I hope you distribute (daily) provisions and distribute the monthly salary due to them at the proper time in a suitable manner and do not delay their payment (to prevent discontentment). For, salaried servants surely and positively get enraged even at their master when the distribution of their provisions and the disbursal of their salaries are delayed and that itself is very great harm done to the State." (Labor Relations). "Has a man of your own State, who is learned, clever, ready-witted and capable of delivering messages correctly, who is able to distinguish between right and wrong, been appointed by you as an Ambassador, O Bharata?" (Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic assignment). "Do you keep an eye on the eighteen functionaries of the enemies and fifteen functionaries of your side through three unknown, independent spies?" “I hope you do not patronize Atheists Brahmins, for being ignorant and conceited since they are skilled in perverting the minds of people." Samarth Ramdas Letter to Sambhaji When KingSambhaji seized power, he invited his father’s advisor, saint Ramadas to meet him. However, Ramadas displeased by Sambhaji’s brutalities that accompanied his accession refused to meet him. His disciples, however, begged him to advise the prince. Accordingly, he sent him the following letter: “Always be on guard and never lower your guard. Control your temper and be good and kind towards others. Forgive your subjects for their faults and bind them to your person by making them happy. The happier they are, easier would be your task. If they are against you, your task would be hard. If you and your generals break apart your enemies will profit. Let all of you live in unity. Seek out your Mohammedan enemies and remove them from your path. Create fear in others not by your cruelty but by your valor. Otherwise, your State will be in danger. Deal with each difficulty as it arises. Keep your anger under control or at least do not betray it in the presence of others. Make your subjects your friends. Let them love rather than fear you. Make the people one; fill their minds with the single thought of resisting the Mleccha enemy. Guard what you already have, add to it by your own exertions and so extend the Maharatta kingdom. Be dignified and wear the sword of ambition. That way lies the path to success. Bear Shivaji Raje in mind. Consider yourself a mere trifle and place yourself in the quest for fame in this world and thereafter. Keep the model of Shivaji before your eyes and think of his valor and deeds. Remember always what he did in battle and how he acted towards his friends. Give up sloth and love of ease. Keep before you a certain goal and try to reach it. Never forget how Shivaji won Svarajya. If you call yourself a man, try and do better than he did.”     Business Sutras from Mahabharata and Ramayana DevduttPattanaik’s book “Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management”, describes the relevance of so many stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata and other scriptures to be successful in Business. He used stories, symbols, and rituals drawn from Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology to understand a wide variety of business situations that range from running a successful tea stall to nurturing talent in a large multinational corporation.  If we believe that wealth needs to be chased, the workplace becomes a Rana-Bhoomi — a battleground of investors, regulators, employers, employees, vendors, competitors and customers; if we believe that wealth needs to be attracted, the workplace becomes a Ranga-Bhoomi — a playground where everyone is happy. Business Sutra presents a radical and nuanced approach to management, business, and leadership in a diverse, fast-changing, and increasingly polarized world.”              Many myths, stories, images and symbols that we have heard, read, and seen leave permanent imprints on our minds and impact our way of thinking and influence our decision-making process whether it is in business or in family life on our point to the way we think. Since business is about people and their needs, we have to pay attention to their thought process and their cultural background. Businesses should balance the wealth (Lakshmi), emotions and power (Durga) and knowledge and wisdom (Saraswati). Any time we concentrate only on wealth and concentrate on targets without due consideration for the emotions and knowledge; businesses will run into hardships.  Hindu scriptures will provide enough resource material to dive deep into the ocean of knowledge to guide the businesses as well as private life. Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
22 Apr 2019
Post

Dr Prakasarao V Velagapudi is planning three Lectures in California.

Dr Prakasarao V Velagapudi is planning three Lectures in California. April 26 thru 28, he is planning to have three lectures in three different Temples in California. We request you to attend or forward to all your friends in San Jose area.     Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
18 Apr 2019
Post

Speech Welcoming Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji to Hanuman Temple, Frisco TX on April 3, 2018

Welcoming Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji 2019 Prakasarao Velagapudi, PhD Chairman, Datta Yoga Center   On behalf of Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple and Datta Yoga Center, it is a rare, unique and special privilege to welcome Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (whom we call fondly Sri Bala Swamiji), the Junior pontiff of Avadhuta Datta Peetham to this new, majestic, magnificent Temple. This is the Temple that was conceived, planned, guided, supported, and inaugurated by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. As many of us are aware that Sri Bala Swamiji has given saptahas on almost all the Gods and Goddesses, lectured on Vedas and Upanishad, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, spiritual matters and other scriptures. What was the reason He has taken so much time and energy to deliver these discourses? Sri Bala Swamiji intends to two things: 1) transmit the knowledge that would enable the devotees to be equipped with pride and prestige, and 2) also to appreciate, absorb and digest the qualities of each of these deities.         Sri Bala Swamiji not only wants to narrate the story and make it relevant to the modern society, but he also enumerates all the uniqueness of the personalities of these deities for all of us to appreciate, acquire, absorb and digest them to make them part of our own personality. While talking about Lord Krishna, being a purnavatara, attributes such as his compassion, patience, wise counsel, forgiveness, justice, friendship, respect for the elderly, impartiality, detachment, bestower of wealth, dharma, honesty, truthfulness, and others are highlighted. Similarly, the characteristics of Lord Hanuman such as perseverance, selfless service, knowledge, strength, pragmatism, loyalty, humility, obedience, self- discipline, trustworthy, intelligence, and brave. Swami Vivekananda described Lord Rama “as the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all ideal king.” Sri Bala Swamiji described him as maryadapurusha, never spoke lies, honest, never boasted about his strength or qualities, never missed the comforts during his 13 years of forest dwelling, never disobeyed his parents and so on.   Bhishma, Durga Mata, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganapathy, Subramanya, and other deities will inspire the devotees to take them as role models to follow.  In fact, Lord Krishna says, “By performing their prescribed duties, King Janaka and others attained perfection. You should also perform your work to set an example for the good of the world. Whatever actions great persons perform, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues.” (Bhagavad Gita: 20-21). These traits and personality characters are described to serve as role models for all of us imbibe and make them part of our personalities. These discourses are also meant to equip us with eternal knowledge that Guru and God are one and the same. We may have read any number of books such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Guru Gita, Yoga Vasishta, Puranas and other scriptures, but we may not have grown spiritually and elevated to higher levels shaking off the mundane day to day problems. The mind has not been shielded by tranquility, peace, and harmony. However, without Guru’s grace, it is difficult to grow spirituality. As Swami Muktananda stated, “Knowledge bears fruit immediately for a person who has no detachment, discrimination, control over the senses, self-restraint, and sincere longing for self-realization. Otherwise, his knowledge is like a parrot’s repetition of words.” Knowing knowledge is power and an essential step toward spiritual growth, even Bhartrihari praises the virtues of knowledge: Knowledge is a man’s crowning mark, A treasure secretly buried, The source of luxury, fame, and bliss, A Guru most venerable, a friend on foreign journeys, The pinnacle of divinity, Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth --- When he lacks it, a man is a brute. A devotee should heed the essence of Sri Bala Swamiji’s discourses and receive the blessings. Hence, we should not consider their discourses as mere words, they are loaded with so much power that would churn our hearts to change forever. Let us turn to humans from being brute with adequate knowledge. Devotion to Guru Sri Bala Swamy has been consistently and persistently enumerating the need to follow Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji to develop unflinching faith in his words and deeds. To reap the benefits of our association with our Guru, we need to be attracted to the virtues and wisdom of our Sadguru. A devotee should always think that a moment spent with Guru is more precious than any riches one can acquire. He gets elated and overjoyed to hear any news from His Guru; energy reinvigorated his energy and his life gets activated. Jnaneshvar describes the devotee as, “He must become the sole receptacle of the instructions of his Guru; he should feel himself of a high lineage on account of his Guru, and must find his nobility in the good actions of his brother-pupils; his sole absorbing topic should be the constant service of his Guru; the line which his Guru lays down for carrying on his spiritual work, he should regard as binding upon him like rules of Castes and Asramas.... The Guru must be his place of pilgrimage; the Guru his deity, the Guru his mother and father; ...the only thing that ought to fill the mouth of such a devotee, is the Mantra which his Guru has taught him; he should hold no book in his hands which does not contain the words of his master; the water which has touched his Guru's feet, he should regard as superior in spiritual efficacy to the waters of any place of pilgrimage in the world; when he gets a morsel of food which his Guru has thrown before him, he should regard even spiritual ecstasy as insignificant as compared with it; in order that he should enjoy the happiness of atonement, he should accept on his head the dust that is raised when his Guru walks; …” Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara Sri Bala Swamiji has been talking extensively over the years about the greatness of dharma and truth, why we should protect it and what is our utmost duty to protect dharma for the welfare of the cosmos. Dharma is unique to Sanatana Dharma. No trace of secularism, exclusion, deception, terrorism, and elimination of others is included in the concept of Dharma. Sri Bala Swamiji is exhorting all of us to follow, practice, promote and share the concept dharma. It is dharma that upholds supports, sustains the people, nature, and in fact the entire cosmos. Dharma means righteous behavior based on truth and capable of bringing good to the whole creation. It includes individual duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘‘right way of living’’ Every element in the universe has the obligation to perform their dharma/ duty. Sun performs its duty. Wind performs its duty. Similarly, it is our obligation to do our dharma to sustain humanity. He also mentioned about 10 essential rules for the observance of dharma: Patience (dhriti), forgiveness (kshama), piety or self-control (dama), honesty (asteya), sanctity (shauch), control of senses (indriya-nigrah), reason (Dhi), knowledge or learning (vidya), truthfulness (Satya) and absence of anger (krodha). "Yato Dharmaha Tato Jayah" - Where Dharma exists victory is guaranteed. Sri Bala Swamiji exhorted the devotees to their dharma and protect our country on a number of occasions. On December 28, 2018, he urged them by saying that “We should only engage in good deeds. We should always be truthful and pure. That is when we understand the secret of our birth. We should have a fear of Dharma. People live selfishly for their own happiness and do not care for Dharma, “I am happy if I can eat and be well and profit in this world”. They do not care for others. They accumulate enough wealth for ten future generations. Do you know if you will have ten future generations? You never know when your lineage will end. The wealth accumulated by ants in anthills is in the end usurped by snakes and hens. The wealth of great kings and other rich people of the past have already been lost. Dishonest earnings are easily lost. People gamble to make more money but lose everything in return. These are the things happening in your world. Greed is bad. Desires need to be limited … you (Must) live with compassion, purity, and Dharma starting at least now by the grace of Guru who transforms you, you may be able to save one million births. How wonderful would that be! You can only gradually reduce the number of births. You cannot attain liberation immediately.” Dharma teaches us to follow the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that all living beings in the universe comprise one family, and as such all beings are spiritually equal and should be respected as members within that family of the Supreme. Bhishma who is adorned with knowledge on Rajaneethi, says that, It is most difficult to define Dharma. Dharma has been explained to be that which helps the upliftment of living beings. Therefore, that which ensures the welfare of living beings is surely Dharma. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma. In Karna Parva, it stated more precisely the function of Dharma: Dharma sustains society Dharma maintains the social order Dharma ensures well being and progress of Humanity Dharma is surely that which fulfills these objectives Manu Dharma Sastra says: Those who indulge in adharma attain immediate success and secure fulfillment of their desires. They overpower their opponents. But ultimately their ruin down to the roots is certain. Is tolerance of other religions a boon or a curse for Hindus? Recently, answering to a question about consequences of tolerances on the survival of Hinduism, Sri Bala Swamiji said that: “Having tolerance is always a boon. It is never a curse. It may appear as if it creates some unfavorable consequences. But it is not so. There is no need for us to change our stand.” But, He was equally emphatic about protecting our culture from the non-tolerance. Our house should not be allowed to be blown away. We have invited other faiths, honored them as our guests and even built their houses of worships. He said, “we should not get evicted from our own homes and end up in the streets. That is what has happened to us. That is what Swamiji says. Relinquishing your own Dharma in the name of tolerance is not Dharma. It is our Dharma which has taught us to be tolerance. By giving that up, you are going against your own Dharma. You are forgetting your values and those others are making you forget them. That is not correct. You must not reject your own Dharma and your family. That is very wrong. We cannot forever be only like Vasishta (peaceful). The Vishwamitra (aggression) in us also should sometimes raise his head. Only then we can survive in this society. Parasurama went around the earth 21 times and killed many kings. It is wrong to believe that he killed kings who were innocent. He killed only those who became ruthless out of pride. That is why Dasaratha escaped death. Parasurama later told Dasaratha, “You are following a righteous path. You begged forgiveness for your wrongs. That is why I have spared you.” Parasurama allowed many good kings to live. His purpose was not to destroy the entire race of ruling dynasties. It was to put an end to unrighteous warriors and to establish kings who followed Dharma. This we must understand. BALA SWAMIJI’S SPEECH We do not have the vision to preach. We do not understand that our Dharma and its philosophy never advocated NOT TO PREACH. We have to understand its depth. We just visit the temples, do Namaskaram, break a coconut, when our wishes are fulfilled and get out. I am invited to different discussion groups and their motive is to see if I make negative comments about their religious beliefs. I always advocate living in harmony with other religious groups. But today, I am going to loudly and clearly say without hesitation that each one of us has the responsibility to protect Hindu Dharma. If we do not teach our religion to our children and others, Bharath Desham will sink. It will falter if we do not protect it. We are interested in receiving the blessings. We go to the Temples and pray to get the wishes fulfilled. But, we never do anything to protect our religion. We have become somewhat selfish. Bharath always has represented and distinguished herself as a country whose religion guides our life and shows a direction for our conduct. Guru Sampradaya or Parampara or tradition is the foundation of our religion thru which we teach how to interact with others based on right and wrong conduct and other scientific knowledge. We all need to march in the chariot of Vedas with Shastras as our weapons. Each one of us has to ask ourselves how and what can we do to protect our Dharma/ religion. Do not give an excuse by saying that I do not know any Sanskrit, how can I propagate. You can do your dharma with whatever knowledge you have in whatever language you can speak. As Datta devotees, we should not be afraid even if the sky falls down. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji himself talked about the deception of the Christian religion and how to counter this menace. Talking in Eluru on February 17, 2014, He said that the people who resort to conversions here are extremely selfish and mean-minded. Like animals, people marry and keep having children. They are manipulating our intelligence and our strength to serve their own ends. They have robbed us. Now they have introduced chanting Namaha and puja in their religions. Is this in the Bible? Now they say, Mary Mataya namaha. Yes, I agree, Christ is an Avadhuta, but only 2000 years ago. Do you even know our ancient history? You must recognize the greatness of our history. If we help our needy and destitute, and if we help our own community, those who are trying to convert to other religions will not gain an upper hand… Please preserve and protect our dharma. Teach your children. We will become a minority if we do not take action. Then we will have to fight for reservations for seats in educational institutions and for jobs. We can worship our own God. God is one. Why should we go to another God to offer worship? Some only say I offer worship to Sadguru. It is okay to respect others and to offer them hospitality. But do not destroy yourselves in the process. Thus, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamiji publicly and openly challenging all Hindus to take full responsibility of supporting, sustaining, promoting, propagating and protecting the Hindu universal values that are eternal, irrespective of time and place, so that the whole human race will live in peace and harmony. Ahimsa is the basis for all human existence. Any form of violence in the name of religion is the root cause of terror, torment, atrocities, cruelty, destruction, brutality, and massacres. Hindus and Hindu Institutions have a special obligation to protect their religion from being attacked. Any dereliction of duty on the part of these Institutions will result in untold misery. Some reflection of their responsibility will avoid the catastrophe that may be inflicted on Hindus by other religions whose sole mission is to convert with whatever methods that are available to them. Let us remember the words of Anne Besant, “After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will love it; the more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it. Make no mistake; without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into which India’s roots are struck, and torn off that she will inevitably wither, as a tree torn out from its place.” Guru’s Grace to Protect Sanatana Dharma Sri Bala Swamiji is saying that with the blessings and grace of a Sadguru, a disciple should be able to shoulder the responsibility of upholding the dharma, should become a warrior to protect dharma for the lokakalyana and should champion the cause of protecting Bharat from being uprooted by other faiths. We should not allow the history of eight centuries repeated in front of our eyes. Sri Swamiji’s WORD is very powerful, is charged with energy, and filled with unlimited power. It never fails. Any word that comes from Swamiji’s lips becomes a reality. Ver rarely these words come randomly. They are divine words that cannot go wrong. Swami Sivabala Yogi says, “How can the word of the divine Guru go unfulfilled. It is immaterial whether Swamiji in this form or that form. It is his all-pervasive and omnipotent tapas shakti, which acts and it is not confined to any particular body. Swamiji still lives in a subtle body.” (Guruprasad, Laghu Guru Upanishad). The concept of Guru is widespread in the scriptures of Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Mahavir, and other Asian religions. The WORD of Guru has taken a central position in the Holy book of Sikhs, Adi Granth. Word of Guru is considered the cure for all cravings, underpinning of all existence, supposed to tame the wandering mind, stop the cycle of life and death, and finds meaning in life. Shiva Samhita talks about the importance of Guru’s word: [Only] knowledge imparted from the guru's mouth is productive [of liberation]; otherwise it is fruitless, weak, and the cause of much affliction. He who makes an effort to please the guru [through his dedication to self-discipline and service] receives the [secret] knowledge. In due course, he will also obtain the fruit of that knowledge. The guru undoubtedly is a father, the guru is a mother, the guru is a deity (deva). Therefore, one should follow him in all one's actions, thoughts, and speech. By the guru's grace one obtains everything auspicious. Hence one should always follow one's guru, or else there will be no benefit. Let us heed these words of wisdom from Sri Bala Swamiji and Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji to stand up and fight to preserve our ancient time-tested Santana dharma, counter the deception and terror with firm conviction, commit to promote and propagate our rich culture, and accept the challenge to follow the advice of our Gurus. Don’t say they did not tell us about the impending danger. Let us remember the words of Veera Brahmam Garu: Listen, if you reach the guru and bow to him You will live The Guru’s word never fails. The spirits will chew up all those who go the wrong way. In youth, you fail to know. In pride, you fail to see. You can’t say when – now or tomorrow. Someday, sometimes no one knows but You will clearly hear the sounds of his horse’s hoofs. Don’t say I did not tell you. Our both Swamijis told us. We can’t say they did not tell us. With their grace, march forward. Preserve our dharma. Protect our dharma. Fulfill your dharma. With this, let us all welcome Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji to Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple with a round of applause.   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
06 Apr 2019
Post

Ancient Hindu Scriptures and Business Management – Part 1

(NOTE:In this section, we concentrated on the reasons for the failure of the corporations, how to control the stress, importance of controlling the mind and benefits of meditation. In the next article we will extract the guidelines hidden in Bhagavad Gita, Chanakya Arthashastra, Bhishma’s message, Rama’s advice to Lakshman, and Sant Ramdas’ letter on RajNeeti to Shambhaji Maharaj). Hindus have been dealing with various dimensions of human life ranging from science, religion, society, culture, guru tattva, dharma, karma and reincarnation, four ashramas, Purushardhas, leadership qualities, ethics and morals, traditions and rituals and management of kingdoms through multitude of books such as Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Arthasashtra and other scriptures. These scriptures are filled with ancient wisdom that is as applicable today as it was eons ago.  The ideas of various instances of managerial practices such as the vision, planning, execution, organization, coordination, controlling, conciliation, cooperation, winning methods, treatment of the people, appointment of right people to the top position and so on.  India, as well as the West, is looking at the pearls of wisdom scattered across these timeless and boundary-less messages found in these ancient scriptures.  We will examine the current situation in the business climate of USA, reasons for a high percentage of business failures, stress that is taking a toll on the member's productivity and how the Hindu scriptures are coming to the rescue to salvage these organizations by providing guidelines needed to revitalize them. Innumerable ideas, multiple guidelines, ageless wisdom, and perennial philosophy ishidden in numerous Hindu scriptures. These are not confined only to India; they are spread across many business organizations across the globe. It is our responsibility to pull them from all the scriptures and make them available for Lokasangraham, which is defined by BG Tilak as, “binding men together, and protecting, maintaining and regulating them in such a way that they might acquire that strength, which results from mutual cooperation, thereby putting them on the path of acquiring merit while maintaining their good condition.” (Gita Rahasyam, P:456) Before we pluck the guidelines and hidden pearls from the Hindu ancient books, let us examine the conditions under which businesses are failing and some of the possible solutions to prevent their collapse. Once we know why they fail, it is possible to decipher solutions to help revitalize them. Then we can determine the relevance of Hindu scriptures to address the issues facing the management. How Many Businesses are Failing? Lara McCaffrey reported that retail bankruptcies hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2018, even more than last year according to Business Insider. More defaults and bankruptcies are expected to come, says a report from S&P Global Ratings, with retail liquidations speeding up. The report also says the U.S. remains oversaturated with retail despite this. Some of the businesses that have made this list might surprise you! Onthe surface they might look fine — the clerks still have smiling faces when you walk in and the clothing is still folded neatly on the shelves. But behind the scenes, there’s turmoil! Curious to see if your favorite store is on the list?  (Finance 101, September 1, 2018) According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 50% of all new businesses survive five years or more, and about one-third survive for 10 years or more.A number of studies have reported that nearly 90 % of businesses fail in ten years, as per Bill Carmody.  Whenever these businesses are started many owners are more optimistic about their success, less concerned about back up plan to counter the potential failure and not competent to calculate the risk. Passion to start the company takes over reason and objectivity. Fewer than 12% of the Fortune 500 companies included in 1955 were still on the list 62 years later in 2017, and 88% of the companies in 1955 went bankrupt, or merged with (or were acquired by) another firmor they still existed but had fallen from the top Fortune 500 companies (ranked by total revenues). Many of the companies on the list in 1955 are unrecognizableor forgotten companies today (e.g., Armstrong Rubber, Cone Mills, Hines Lumber, Pacific Vegetable Oil, and Riegel Textile). According to a 2016 report by Innosight(“Corporate Longevity: Turbulence Ahead for Large Organizations“) corporations in the S&P 500 Index in 1965 stayed in the Index for an average of 33 years. By 1990, average tenure in the S&P 500 had narrowed to 20 years and is now forecast to shrink to 14 years by 2026. At the currentrate, about half of today’s S&P 500 firms will be replaced over the next 10 years as “we enter a period of heightened volatility for leading companies across a range of industries, with the next ten years shaping up to be the most potentially turbulent in modern history” according to Innosight. Reasons for Failure  Many reasons are suggested for the failure of the businesses. Some founders and CEOs in the study cited did not have a partner to balance them, while others mentioned that their founding team was inadequate for building the MVP they needed to launch the business,. (Chad Otar, Forbes, October 8, 2018). Many start-ups do not have enough time to deal with their clients and their need. They rely more on vendors to fulfill the needs of their clientele. They are not able to cope up with the competition. Complacency with success in the initial years of success in business leads to the neglect of the customer needs and assessment of the future needs to satisfy the customers.  They become fixed in their ideas and fail to adjust their strategies to be competitive. Many Business leaders are busy with day to day problems, they are unable to build a winning team. Business success depends to a large extent on forming a talented, dynamic, and winning team. Many businesses are not able to communicate clearly, compellingly and concisely about their products and how they are different from others. Eric T Wagner reports that 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within 18 months. He mentions five reasons for failure of the businesses: 1) Once they start the business they retreat to planning and dreaming of the success without having a meaningful dialogue with real customers.  2) their product or service is not unique that sets them apart from the rest. 3) Lack of communication in a clear, concise and compelling manner about the mission of their organization. 4) Leadership breakdown at the top – not able to make right decision at the right time. Need for personal development to acquire the leadership qualities and others to emulate. 5) Startups should move quickly to develop the product without spending huge sums of money. How to Manage the Stress Ample evidence suggests that 80 percent of Americans experience stress either frequently or sometimes. Work and family obligations are cited as the major factors in encountering stress and anxiety. They feel that they do not have enough time to meet the demands of the work and the family. Stress is more damaging to the individual than any other factor. If stress is not addressed and left untreated then it may lead to mental and physical ailments as well as performance levels at work. Stress, as defined by stress researcher Hans Selye in Organizational Behavior, is "the nonspecific response of the body to any demands made upon it." J. Clarkedefines stress in Stress management as an "internal state or reaction to anything we consciously or unconsciously perceive as a threat, either real or imagined."             Stress affects our body, health, feelings, judgment, mind, thought process, relations, and behavior. If it is not addressed, it can affect our blood pressure, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes. Stress can debilitate one’s performance of doing good to himself, for others and in his own world of work. A survey conducted by employment search site Monster.com of nearly 7,000 U.S. workers found that while a less-than-surprising 35% had contemplated leaving a job to flee a stressful work environment, a more significant number--42%--had "purposely" left a position because of such a workplace. "People feel stressed out because there’s that continuingpressure to do more with less. Workers feel pressure to get more accomplished," says Mary Ellen Slayter, Career Advice Expert at Monster Kathryn Dill reported that a separate survey of more than 900 workers found that an employee's relationship with their boss is the most common cause of workplace stress, followed closely by workload, work-life balance, and relationships with coworkers. Nearly half of employees surveyed report having missed time at work due to work-related stress, and an even greater number, 61%, say that workplace stress has caused them actual physical illness, with insomnia, depression, and family issues cited as results. Stress comes from all directions – friends, family members, co-workers, bosses and even strangers. The pressure from work can cause frustration, fear, and stress. It agitates the mind resulting in losing the judgment, clouding our thinking, fogging our goals and bewildering our existence itself. We all have to work patiently and intensely to restore our judgment and balance our wavering mind. Bhagavad Gita regards equanimity as essential to making the right decisions either at a personal or professional sphere. “Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga.” (2:48).  The mind is unstable, keeps changing like a wind, and does not remain focused. The mind gets elated when in happiness while dejected when in sorrow. The uneven mind is restless and unstable. Even the mind is considered Sthithipragna. In this state, one is at peace where success and failure would not disappoint or exalt him since his efforts are done without attachment and with no expectation of fruits. The unperturbed mind will be able to concentrate on his efforts, focus on the planning and execution, and gain clarity in the future course of action. He is emotionally stable, always at peace, undisturbed by the vicissitudes, free from fear, firmly grounded on the wisdom, egoless and self-controlled. Whether your stress comes from your family or your job, you feel very heavy as if something is pushing you down with so much weight. That weight will make you feel dizzy, fuzzy, and giddy for you to make right decisions. Te remove this weight hanging over your shoulders, you need to make every effort to control your mind that would enable you to create the things that would enable you to dissolve the weight that you do not want. If you can slow down your mind and body long enough to realize that you are not in mortal danger, you will remain calm. One way to do this is by breathing deeply. Another straightforward technique is to focus on a word or phrase that has significance for you. Repeat this word or phrase if you find yourself becoming tense. Relaxation lowers your pulse rate, respiration, and blood pressure. When you combine different techniques such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga, you can significantly lower your stress levels. You will also elevate your mood and improve your ability to focus. Mind and How to Subdue As per Oxford University, “The mind (not to be confused with the brain) is a set of cognitive faculties including consciousness, imagination, perception, thinking, judgment, language, and memory. It is usually defined as the faculty of an entity's thoughts and consciousness.” It is responsible for expressing your thoughts, likes and dislikes, feelings and emotions, resulting in attitudes and actions. The mind thinks involuntarily. Nobody can think of how it reacts and receives.             Swami Sivananda discussed and unraveled the mystery of mind through Vedantic philosophy. “He who knows the receptacle (Ayatana) verily becomes the receptacle of his people. Mind is verily the receptacle (of all our knowledge).” (Chhandogya Upanishad, V-i-5) That which separates you from God is mind. The wall that stands between you and God is mind. Pull the wall down through Om-Chintana or devotion and you will come face to face with God.             Bhagavad Gita says that agitated, unruly, unstable mind is the enemy while the stable even and calm mind is a friend. The mind has a tendency to go after fulfilling the sensate desires and material aspirations resulting in falling in the mire of never ending desires. The more one desires more will sprout. With it, the mind experiences stress, frustration, and agitation dominating the very existence of life. This is experienced by one and all irrespective of the position one occupies. Whether it is on the battlefield, organizations, institutions, family, or friendship circles, mind whirls.     In fact, this is exactly what happened to Arjuna on the battlefield. Arjuna acknowledges that, “I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up. My whole body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end. My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning. I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I foresee only evil, O killer of the Kesi demon. (1;28-30) The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind. (6:34) O Arjuna, the senses are so turbulent they can forcibly lead astray the mind of even a wise person striving for perfection. (2:60) For the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his discrimination, as a wind which carries off its course a boat on the waters.             From these statements, we can discern that controlling the mind is the most difficult task in the work. Occasional failures should not be taken seriously.  They should not be in the way oy dreaming the dreams and achieving the vision of your interest. They should inspire, stimulate and spur us to be more determined than ever to pursue the set goals. Paramahamsa Yogananda’s description of a restless mind is worth remembering. His way of comparing the mind to the very nature of animals is beyond anybody’s imagination. He says, “You may control a mad elephant; You may shut the mouth of the bear and the tiger; Ride the lion and play with the cobra; By alchemy you may earn your livelihood; You may wander through the universe incognito; Make vassals of the gods; be ever youthful; You may walk in water and live in fire; But control of the mind is better and more difficult.” The mind has to be controlled, subdued and disciplined if we have to make the right decision either in the organizations or in the family matters.  To be disciplined, to perform one’s own dharma, to accomplish the task at hand successfully and lead personal or professional life without ego, the mind must be controlled.  Sri Krishna himself acknowledges that it is difficult to subdue, He says, "Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, to control it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind." “O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.” "Lord Sri Krishna said: For one whose mind is unbridled, uncontrolled, self-realization is difficult to work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion." (Bhagavad Gita 6:34-36).  It is natural for all of us to crave after material objects, to get addicted to sense objects and to get disparaged with vicissitudes of events. It is only by swimming repeatedly, one masters swimming. Without detachment and constant practice, one can control the fickle mind. He also suggests that one should perform his duty with even-minded in success and failure. It is only with an unperturbed mind, the mind can gain clarity, firmness, calmness, and focus. Meditation As M. Brieux, a member of the French Academy writes:  "The noble minds of India, without having had the necessity of having recourse to experimental science like us, discovered the truths which we discover after them.  By the unaided power of meditation, they have given an explanation of the universe which appeared ridiculous to us for a long time, but which our scholars are now beginning to accept." Arnold Toynbee recognizes the spiritual power of ancient wisdom by saying, “So now we turn to India. This spiritual gift, that makes a man human, is still alive in Indian souls. Go on giving the world Indian examples of it. Nothing else can do so much to help mankind to save itself from destruction.” According to Patanjali Yoga Sutras, meditation is said to increase prana (life energy). It is the basis of well-being and health. Meditation increases prana, and when you have more prana, you feel more energetic, alert, and more positive. Lack of prana results in lethargy, carelessness, and negativity. Meditation is defined as an intentional regulated breathing.  Concentrate on your thinking process, visualize the higher realms by regulating the mind from wandering in order to regulate the stress anxiety and depression with a deliberate attempt to calm the mind and body. Regular meditation will make the difference over a period of time as neurons in the brain stop bouncing back and forth.  It is a panacea for all the stress, anxiety, tensions and pressures of day to day work. It is very difficult to understand the workings of the mind. In one of the scriptures, it is stated that it is easier to go all the way to the sky, fold it and bring back to the earth than understanding the mind.  The mindbecomes agitated, aggrandized, tensed up, impatient, restless and listless. Our Rishis have understood the nature of mind and devised a plan to bring quietude, calmness, and tranquility. “The method is yoga with the Supreme Soul, God. Yoga is connecting with the Source through which spiritual might is received and the will power in human souls is activated by an enlightened conscience. "Shakti" is spiritual might and it comes directly from God and is the only energy that can purify souls and remove the toxic waste of anger, attachment, ego, greed, and lust. The teachings of Raja Yoga connect the soul to its original, authentic Self, to the treasures within -- wisdom, virtues, and spiritual powers. It provides the basis of life-changing experiences through understanding the non-negotiable laws of life, making meaning out of intention and purpose, discerning truth from facts and figures, and seeing clearly the distinction between maps and territory.” (B K Gayatri Naraine) In a 2010 study published in Consciousness and Cognition Journal, researchers assigned 24 people in the intervention group. They received four sessions of mindfulness meditation training. The control had 25 people, and this group listened to an audiobook. Results showed that both the mindfulness meditation training group and the control group showed improved mood, but only meditation training reduced fatigue and anxiety and increased mindfulness. Moreover, brief mindfulness training significantly improved visuospatial processing, working memory, and executive functioning. Researchers concluded, “Our findings suggest that four days of meditation training can enhance the ability to sustain attention; benefits that have previously been reported with long-term meditators.” Meditation has been proven to offer benefits such as stress reduction, relaxation, fatigue, concentration, calmness, creativity, performance, and peace of mind. “During meditation, you focus your attention and quiet the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Meditation can instill a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.” (Mayo Clinic Staff, April 21, 2016) Benefits of Meditation Numerous studies have been conducted to find out the benefits one would accrue by doing meditation. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may help you manage symptoms of certain medical conditions. About 4000 studies have accumulated benefits of meditation that would include: Gain a new perspective on stressful situations Increase in social connections Increase in focus and attention Improve the ability to do multitask Build skills to manage stress Makes one more compassionate Increased self-awareness Focus on the present Reduced negative emotions Decrease in depression and anxiety Improved in the ability to be creative and think outside the box Increase in imagination and creativity Improved ability to retrospect Increased patience and tolerance  Increase in mental strength and focus Increased memory retention and recall Better cognitive skills and creative thinking Better decision making and problem solving Better information processing Numerous health benefits are credited to meditation. Mayo Clinic Staff summarized a number of studies and concluded that the research on the benefits of Yoga and Meditation is accumulating consistently over many decades. Most of the businesses as well as ordinary average individuals are recognizing the need to reduce the stress and importance of improving their situations. Not only meditation can affect the functioning of their organizations but also improvesproductivity, decreases the turnover, counters the stress, reduces the fatigue and improves the physical and mental health. (October 17, 2017)             Meditation helps to concentrate and focus on one thing at a time instead of dealing with many things creating chaos and confusion. The more one focuses, more concentration one develops, the more one concentrates, one performs better and with ease. It also minimizes the use of energy and helps one to be productive and be at peace. This article additionally describes that severe stress causes an increase in some of the regions of the amygdala, (emotional center related to fear) and decrease in regions of the hippocampus (memory and learning), and prefrontal cortex (decision-making).  It notes that meditation counteracts these stress-related brain changes. Meditation decreases anxiety and fear and increases memory and cognitive abilities. Deep breathing when stressed out helps them to remain focused and have clarity in thinking, calms down the cluttered mind, and increases blood circulation to the brain.             In aresearch conducted over a period of eight weeks by David M Levy, et al;they recruited three groups of people.  They measured the participants’ speed, accuracy, and the extent to which they switched tasks. They concluded, “The meditation group reported lower levels of stress during the multi-tasking test while those in the control group or who received only relaxation training did not. When the control group was given meditation training, however, its members reported lower stress during the test just as had the original meditation group.” Meditation and Serotonin Levels Research has indicated that low serotonin levels have been linked to depression, obesity, various sleep disorders, migraine headaches, and PMS. ... Given the fact that many complain these days of one or more of these problems, it would seem that many would benefit from this in order to naturally stimulate an increase in serotonin levels. But there have also been studies to warn of "serotonin syndrome," with possible negative effects from manipulating the serotonin levels by using meditation. ... see the second link on my sources list for a selection of journal articles on that subject. Some believe there may also be a question as to whether meditation differs from more informal relaxation in its stimulation of serotonin levels. A formal study on the effects of long meditation on plasma melatonin and blood serotonin, conducted in Oslo, Norway at Ulleval University Hospital, arrived at a conclusion that "Serotonin declines after both one-hour meditation and rest, indicating that serotonin may be a marker of general rest and not meditation-specific relaxation." (See the third link on my list for detail on this study). But overall, I think we can safely say that meditating would be a benefit for a good many people, with the increased serotonin levels contributing in a very favorable way to their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
22 Mar 2019

Popular Posts

Post

Western Media’s voracious Thirst for Depreciating Hindu and Modi Continues

Western media have mostly painted a negative picture of India and cherry picked the topics that discredit the Hindu way of life to please the minorities. These media have been supported by many Muslim countries. They always sided with Pakistan to break India even further. The only major religion that advocated the peaceful coexistence, embraced non-violence as the pillar of peaceful living, practicing democratic ideals for political stability, provided special opportunities to the minorities, allowed the minorities to have a special status in the constitution whereby they do not adhere to the uniform civil law, never condemned the other religions to hell, never called them as kafirs or Satans, and so on.  It appears that the media have been on a mission to wipe out Hinduism and demean the Hindu leaders and denigrate the Hindu customs and traditions.  They seem to abhor the largest democracy on the planet.  With all the basic principles of civility, humanity and freedom so inherent in Hindu philosophy, one wonders why CNN, New York Times, The Washington Post, The Independent, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, BBC and many western journalists haves been particularly revolting against the BJP and repulsive against Narendra Modi, even after he was democratically elected by unprecedented majority. They are engaged in a biased witch-hunt than actual reporting. Swapna Dasgupta writing in the Daily Pioneer stated that, “Since the summer of 2014, the foreign journalists reporting India have increasingly come to live in an ecosystem that is both wary of and hostile to the winds of change blowing over India. The Economist doesn’t seem to have gotten over its disappointment that its endorsement of Rahul Gandhi in the 2014 general election was disregarded and the editorial board of the New York Times seems to be dominated by supporters of the Maoist insurgency and Kashmiri separatism. When Modi visited London in October 2015, the Guardian even carried a long article by a staff columnist arguing that the UK Government should have no truck with him.” British Media                 Nitin Mehta has analyzed the British media by saying that UK media’s Anti India bias is all too evident.  Anti-media did not expect the overwhelming majority that elected Modi as Prime Minister. They did not even expect that his government would even last this long. They are shocked to find that his strength is increasing with UP elections. They do not report any atrocities committed daily in totalitarian Muslim countries and how they reduced the minorities (Hindus) to less than one percent. They do not talk about triple talaaq, sharia law, Muslim women rights in Islamic countries. Their life could be in danger to report on these totalitarian countries. Unable to find their space in Muslim countries, the only country democratic country, India, that allows freedom of speech has become their vicious target to criminalize it, demonize it and dismantle it. They made it a point to write dark stories and blow it to disproportionate level and magnify them multifold to sway the public opinion. Nitin Mehta observed “For the secularists, any expression of India’s heritage, culture and spiritual beliefs is anathema. For these social scientists and economists, most of whom are of Indian origin and live in Britain, India always falls short of their expectations. Democracy? It is caste based; it is corrupt. They did not play any part in nation building.” (The Guardian, September 10, 2017) For more than a decade, his critics have been questioning Mr Modi over his controversial role in the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western state of Gujarat. He was accused of having done little to stop the riots in which more than 1,000 people died - an allegation he has always denied. These journalists have no respect for the legal system and keep criticizing Modi even though Supreme Court of India has absolved all the charges against Narendra Modi. The Guardian’s hatred toward Modi is reflected on tits editorial and the article published. In their editorial, it keeps harping on the Gujarati riots. It says that the “role he played in the Gujarat massacres of 2002 remains unresolved.” Some of the titles of the articles published include: “India is a ‘republic of fear’. The UK must keep the pressure on Modi,” “Narendra Modi: the divisive manipulator who charmed the world,” “Modi’s government fails to act on rape,”” If Modi is elected, it will bode ill for India's future,” “Narendra Modi: India's saviour or its worst nightmare?” “Narendra Modi, a man with a massacre on his hands, is not the reasonable choice for India”; “India is being ruled by a Hindu Taliban”; and so on. Mihir Bose’s article on 2 August 2017. After listing some Indian achievements, he had the following to say: “After the victory of Narendra Modi the country seems to be turning its back on the tolerant, secular society that India’s founding fathers wanted. Modi has always ridden two chariots: what one prominent Indian businessman, and an old friend of mine, called Modi’s real business of making India prosperous; and his Hindu business of appeasing his fanatical Hindu followers. Modi has proved a timid reformer, whose tinkering has included an overnight demonetization that led to such chaos that people died. In contrast, his Hindu followers have been given free rein to believe that Ram Rajya, the mythical rule by the revered Hindu god Ram, has finally arrived. This has seen a ban on the slaughter of cows, and a growing intolerance of minorities.”                 Amrit Wilson laments about the horrific rapes committed in the name of Hindu nationalism. He talked about two horrific rape cases in Indi and how India is being rocked by huge protests. (The Guardian, April 18, 2018). Jason Burke scathing attack started even before he was chosen as leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. He says that Modi “is a divisive figure in India. Some see him as an extremist who sided with mobs who attacked Muslims in towns and cities across Gujarat, following a lethal fire supposedly started by Muslims on a train full of Hindu pilgrims in 2002 – a charge he denies.” (The Guardian, October 22, 2012). In another article Jason Burke criticizes him for the 202 riots even though, he was exonerated by the Supreme court.  “Repeatedly accused of allowing, even encouraging, Hindus whipped up by hardline activists to vent their fury, Modi has consistently denied all wrongdoing and has been cleared by a succession of high-powered legal inquiries. It was after a key court decision that the UK decided in 2012 to end a boycott of Modi by senior officials. Only weeks ago, the US followed. Nonetheless, Modi has yet to shake off the controversy.”                 Salman Rushdie, Imran Khan, John McDonnell, Fiona Mactaggart, Pragna Patel, Jayati Ghosh, Suresh Grover and other leftist brains published an opinion letter in The Guardian criticizing the role he played in Gujarat Riots. They say that his political ethics and moral character is incompatible with secular constitution. The they conclude that “Were he to be elected prime minister, it would bode ill for India's future as a country that cherishes the ideals of inclusion and protection for all its peoples and communities.” (April 10, 2014). Similarly, Aditya Chakraborty says that Modi is responsible for some of the worst religious violence even seen in independent India. “Given the enormity of the allegations against Modi, this is frankly pathetic. First, the Gujarat massacres have not safely been consigned to the past”           Anish Kuman in The Guardian (November 12, 2015) says that Narendra Modi is clamping down on tolerance and freedom of expression. The openness to the minorities and regional differences is at serious risk. He says, “a saffron-clad army of Hindu activists who monitor and violently discipline those suspected of eating beef, disobeying caste rules or betraying the “Hindu nation”.”  The writer continues to smear the government with his jaundiced eyes with the statement, A Hindu version of the Taliban is asserting itself, in which Indians are being told: “It’s either this view – or else.”” These journalists are ignoring four important points when they spit out their venom.  First that overwhelming majority of the Indian citizens wanted change and voted BJP into power.  Second, Modi is trying to implement what is written in the constitution about protecting the cow. Third that majority of the people wanted to see changes in the appeasement policies. Fourth, the many foreign funded Christians are using the funds for conversion of Hindus into Christianity by flouting the Constitutions. These journalists have not yet realized the depth of citizens’ passion to see changes in the government policies. They do not acknowledge that that it was not Hindu militant who went on jihad in Mumbai killing several people, nor Hindu militant that bombed Varanasi, or set fire first to the railway compartments in Gujarat in 2002. By comparing Indian democracy to Taliban government of Afghanistan and other countries, the writer is completely shut his eyes to more than 50 countries where the Muslims have declared their countries as Islamic with no concern for the rights of other religions such as Hindus. In many countries, Hinduscannot even carry the Hindus cannot even carry the picture of their Gods. Journalists have become Presstitudes to the cause of Muslims and Christians who know how to woo them and make them as their mouthpieces. Consequently, they live in a moments life ignoring the realities on the ground and the richness of India’s history. Why India is having with these two religions? This is the country that sheltered Parsis, Jews, Buddhists and other religions and guaranteed their right to worship and helped them to maintain their culture. These religions lived in peace and contributed to the richness of Indian culture of tolerance, freedom and non-violence.  After state of Israel was established, they passed a resolution by saying that India is the only country that has not discriminated the Jews out of 126 countries they lived.  Dalai Lamas praise for India’s tolerance and spiritual heritage was unmatched in the human annals. Then, why Muslims and Christians have problems in India. It because of their missionary zeal to convert India into either a Christian country or Islamic country. They have been working relentlessly and tirelessly to break the backbone of India and consign it to past unknown.                 Ever since Modi was elected, BBC has started a vicious campaign against him labeling him as a “mass murderer” and accused him as a man who started persecuting minorities. BBC is in bed with Congress party. When Home Minister Rajnath Singh (August 1, 2015) stated that Congress government has coined the term “Hindu Terror” to undermine the efforts to deal with domestic terror, BBC jumped into the fray to refute the report that charges Muslims are the most likely terrorists in India along with the communists. Pakistan was places in the first tier that list all the countries that represent the worst situation in the world for religious freedom. Additionally, biggest number of asylum requests come from Pakistan to UK, not India. If the Muslims are persecuted why there is no exodus of them to other countries. BBC wanted to support Rahul Gandhi claim expressed to US Ambassador to India that growth of “radicalised Hindu groups” posed a great threat to the country than militant groups like LeT. BBC would not heed the former Prime Minister Tony Blair who warned that “The threat of this radical Islam is not abating. It is growing. It is spreading across the world. It is destabilizing communities and even nations. It is undermining the possibility of peaceful co-existence in an era of globalization.”   BBC held a program on Modi on May 1, 2015 where guest speakers totally slanted and sneered him.  Modi was described as a controversial figure by all the participants with no other person to challenge in the program. The Programs presenter, YaldaYakim, stated that Modi had blood on his hands and he was India’s most divisive politician.  Anish Kapoor quantified him as “India’s dreamed itself a dream with a mass murderer as its main character”. BBC should have contested these statements by demanding the relevant statistics and compare them with other countries. Priti Patel wrote a letter to BBC Director General bring his attention about the anti-Modi program. “Modi’s political opponents have portrayed him as being ‘controversial’, so by using this reference, the BBC, who should be impartial, is giving acceptance to the political position of Modi’s opponents rather than reporting objectively … Claiming someone who is a democratically elected politician is a ‘mass murderer’ is an extremely serious allegation and unless such a claim is substantiated with meaningful evidence, the BBC should not be broadcasting this slur.” Obviously, BBC would not respond with any kind of justification for their one-sided, contemptuous program on Modi.                 Th Economist also joined the anti-Modi chorus denouncing his as a man focusing on the appearance and loosing sheen. Recognizing his popularity in the public and acknowledging the recent victories in different states, it criticized the demonetization as causing great hardship and disruption.  The paper described Modi not as a reformer.  It claims that GST has become unnecessarily complicated and bureaucratic. “If Mr Modi wants to keep winning votes, he must concentrate not just on campaigns; he must also show that he knows how to run the country. Sooner or later, voters will tire of grandstanding.” (November 2 2017). Similarly, The Economist criticized Modi by saying, “Mr Modi, in short, is squandering a golden opportunity. Some apologists claim that he is waiting until he wins a majority in the upper house before taking on bigger reforms. If so, he has given no inkling of what he is planning. In fact, he has not even made clear that economic reform is his priority.” (June 24, 2017)   US Media The New York Times Maligns Narendra Modi and Hindus The New York Times published articles that are mostly critical of Modi, BJP and any other news critical of India. Their bias toward Modi is vicious and groundless. Even before he got elected, NYT accused him of killing so many Muslims in 2002 without ever mentioning the root case of the unrest. They never indicated that the Muslims closed all the doors of the train where Hindu were returning from Pilgrimage and set fire killing all the Hindus. They could not even open the doors of the compartments and were scorched. After he was elected NYT doubled their efforts to charge him as an extreme Hindutva advocate denying the Muslims safely, Al l the studies across the globe revealed that Muslims feel safer, secure, happier and more comfortable in India than Muslims in their own Muslim countries. The newspaper would not dare say about the minority rights of Hindus in many of these Muslims countries. A Hindu cannot carry even the pictures of their own Gods and Goddesses, cannot read their Bhagavad Gita, and cannot do even the pujas to their chosen Gods in many Muslim countries. Any violation by the Hindus would result either in expulsion, imprisonment or death. NYT has nothing to do with human rights violation in these Muslim countries. No other country gives as many privileges, opportunities and freedom to Muslims in India. But NYT times is not concerned about enforcing the Constitution that requires all the states to protect and preserve the cows.                 Would Muslim counties allow pigs to killed and eat?                 Would USA or UK allow slaughter horses in the US or UK?                 Would USA or UK allow killing of pets such as cats or dogs indiscriminately?          Hartosh Singh Bal wrote an Opinion in New York Times (May 30, 2018) listing several incidents such as no confidence, Supreme Court intervention, Modi government, election commissions decisions and Karnataka elections. The writer’s bias is blatantly visible. All the incidents that he described have not violated any aspect of Constitution. The author says, "As India prepares for the national elections next year, Mr. Modi’s ratings are falling" only to create doubts among his supporters. The author has conveniently negligent the opinion poll conducted few days before he wrote his opinion. Mega Times Group reveals that 71.9 percent of Indians say that they would vote for Narendra Modi. He is one of the members of a fringe group that was supported by the elite groups and the Congress Party who were unable wake up to the reality. These journalists are trying to find niche to accept the fact that overwhelming majority of Indians elected Modi as Prime Minister. But they failed. The writer went as far as accusing Modi as subverting the democracy. He stated that “If Mr. Modi was willing to drown dissent and subvert national institutions when his government enjoyed popular support, how far down an undemocratic path might he and his party go to ensure a victory?” Pew Research published on May 2018 the percentage of people who are satisfied with the way democracy is working. India topped the list with 79 percent. The New York Times would not worry about the way people feel and would not reflect the views and trust of Indian people as they are sold to the special interest groups.   The New York Times has a long history of warped, biased and insulting views toward India and Hindu way of life. They will find writers who are offensive and who can aggressively attack Hindus. Wendy Doniger, Joseph Manu, Arundhati Roy, William Broad, Ellen Berry and other leftist writers whose job it is to demonize India as anti-Muslim and Anti-Christian. Even before the elections in 2014, the editorial Board concluded that, “His rise to power is deeply troubling to many Indians, especially the country’s 138 million Muslims and its many other minorities. They worry he would exacerbate sectarian tensions that have subsided somewhat in the last decade …  Mr. Modi cannot hope to lead it (India) effectively if he inspires fear and antipathy among many of its people” (May 2013). Similarly, the prejudiced, hateful and spiteful editorial stated two days after the elections, ... whether he will be the strident Hindu nationalist who might impose a sectarian agenda on a largely secular state…but he can’t achieve those goals if he exacerbates sectarian divisions, for example, by using divisive rhetoric against Muslims.” This kind of editorial is aimed at pleasing the minorities, elites, intellectuals and Congress Party leadership where the journalists cohabit for their livelihood and survival. Why they completely ignore the wishes of one billion people for the sake of 138 million Muslims? With so much terror inflicted all over the world by ISIS, Al Qaeda and other terror groups, why New York Times would not criticize the Muslims. They must be handsomely paid by Muslim countries to be their succors. They are also in bed with their Christian faith which calls for the elimination of Hindus by conversions. Pope Paul was their mentor who wanted to establish cross over India. The New York Times bemoaned and cried out loud in its editorial “India’s Battered Free Press” by saying that, “Press freedom in India suffered a fresh blow on Monday when the country’s main investigative agency raided homes and offices connected to the founders of NDTV, India’s oldest television news station. The raids mark an alarming new level of intimidation of India’s news media under Prime Minister Narendra Modi … Since Mr. Modi took office in 2014, journalists have faced increasing pressures. They risk their careers — or lives — to report news that is critical of the government or delves into matters that powerful politicians and business interests do not want exposed.” (June 7, 2017). In another editorial, NYT talks about alarming rise in the mob attacks and cried out loud that under Modi government “what has actually been unleashed is virulent intolerance that threatens the foundation of the secular nation envisioned by its founders.” (July 17, 2017). It never acknowledges that it is only because of Hindu ideology and principles of tolerance and pluralism, Muslims numbers are increasing day by day, If Hindus are made responsible to threaten the foundation of secularism, why you do not see an exodus of Muslims to other Muslim countries. How many Muslim countries are secular where Hindus can practice their religion and worship their Gods.  NYT never acknowledge the fact that Islam is incompatible with democracy, secularism, pluralism and freedom of speech. NYT’s assessment is a blatant lie and deliberately misleading the readers as well distorting the facts. CBI clearly stated that the raid was not about debt payment but about the collusion between Roys and the unknown official at the bank. It is a criminal conspiracy. CBI says that the raid was financial transgression these investors committed and not interfered with the operation of the programs. NYT conveniently ignored the fact that NDTV had floated 20 wholly-owned subsidiaries in different parts of the world. It would not even acknowledge that CBI raided number of people during demonetization, IAS officers, Bank officials, IT officials, Accountants and so on. This is s not a raid to interfere with free press. New York Time’s vicious, mean, spiteful and rancorous reporting on saree being attributed to the revival of Hindu nationalism and fundamentalism. Even BurkhaDutt, who is an anti-Hindu herself, felt insulted to insult the saree by saying that NYT has become a laughingstock of India. She was appalled at linking Sari to politics and Hindu nationalism.  Sari was the most democratic clothing which cuts across class, caste, religion, region and even counties. The poorest and the richest alike wear sari. Dutt says that any suggestion that the sari is about Hindu identity is rubbish and laments on the accusation of NYT that Indian government is promoting Sari as if it was a crime. She admonishes the editorial board by saying that “To fabricate a conspiracy theory around our beloved sari is not only Orientalist; it’s just plain stupid. And poor journalism to boot.”(Washington Post, November 17, 2017). Why do these Western media paint Hindu leaders and Hinduism in such dark sketches? For these liberal, secular and anti-Hindu journalists to be accepted by their peers they must prostitute themselves with India’s media that is controlled by Muslims, Christians and Communists.  Ideological ghettoization of the foreign correspondents starts developing by mixing with their co-journalists of the similar mentally deranged Indian media particularly in Delhi. The Indian media’s anathema to their own culture, hatred toward Hindu leaders, passion to take up the cause of minority rights at the expense of overwhelming Hindu rights, greed for accumulation of unaccounted income, and deliberate effort to ignore Islamic terrorism, and conscious endeavour to overlook Christian deceptive practices to break up India slowly infiltrate the minds of foreign journalist. To remain in the ghetto and to be accepted by Indian media, the foreign correspondents become the mouthpiece of Indian media. They become traitor like the Indian secular and liberal media who are vowed to burn the Hindu house that has given the unlimited freedom. Consequently, they would not be able to break the ghetto boundaries. They dare not go to the villages and find out how the peasants feel about the present government. A single incident is blown up to new heights to make it appear as a routine and normal course of event. They paint every incident as an incident caused by Hindutva forces and flash them around the globe insinuating Modi and BJP. It must stop.                    It is worth looking at the mindset of western journalist as explained by one of the western scholars, Thomas Jackson who penned an article, “Wrong on Right.”  He went to India with many preconceived notions and earful of biases against India to spend few months with right wing think tank. He realised that the Congress leaders, still bitter that it is out of power, are creating false narrative of their own country in the west. He even heard these liberals equating BJP as an organization supportive of the Nazi Party in 1930’s.  He was even warned to be wary of RSS members who would treat him terribly for a lifestyle that is typical of any Western person of his age. He says that he was relieved to find out that every single preconceived notion was false. In fact, he says, “I am no more out of place in my office than any single one of my colleagues would be in liberal metropolitan London. I now feel rather foolish for having ever entertained any of these ideas.” He was even surprised to find out “how unaware and out of touch Western media and left-wing academics are on the topic of the modern Indian Right. Fake news has been the political buzzword of the last year, but just how fake the news on India is still surprised me.” The western media have become succors of the Indian media in painting a nasty repulsive and revolting picture of India. He summarized his experience with these sobering words. “A picture is being painted of a country where you will be murdered for eating beef, attacked for being out in public in a mixed gender group and where the Government is doing everything it can to encourage such actions. The idea that Indian liberalism and tolerance are dead, if they did in fact ever exist, is firmly planted in the mind of the Western media and academics. My experience suggests that this cannot be further from the truth, and I’ve even heard many people I work with make the claim that Hinduism and the Indian way of life encourage liberalism, pluralism and tolerance. I am inclined to believe this.”(Open the Magazine, June 1, 2018                 Has any western journalist read this article?Is there any consciousness left among western journalists to re-examine their philosophy of hatred and their manufactured fake news? They have sunned their objectivity, eschewed their morals, sold their souls, committed to wipe out rich Indian cultural heritage, and acting like stupid persons. They are acting like fools without regard for accountability, responsibility, reasoning, and logic. They misinterpret all the statistics and ignore the reality. One is reminded of Bhartihari who says that you can never change the mindset of a fool (person who lacks judgement).                 You may boldly take a gem from te jaws ofa crocodile,                 You may swim the ocean with its tossing wreath of waves,                 You may wear an angry serpent like a flower in your hair,                 But you’ll never satisfy a fool who is set in his opinions! Prakasarao V Velagapudi, PhD President, GHHF Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
02 Jul 2018
Post

Welcome to the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation

Welcome to the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation. Our objective is to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, peethams, endowments, Trusts and other institutions globally. To achieve this objective, the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) formed to take the necessary and appropriate non-violent actions against all laws, policies, activities undertaken by any government, individuals and/or any organizations that adversely affect the Hindu religion, Hindu Temples and other Hindu institutions. One of the main goals is to take necessary legal steps to abolish the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Acts across India and ensure all the Hindu Temples and other Hindu institutions become independent of state government control. Just as other religions and their facilities are independent of government control, the Hindu religion and its facilities should be independent. GHHF will remain cognizant of the status of Hindu culture and Hindu Temples globally and take necessary action to eliminate discriminatory practices. To this end, our group should do the following: 1. Legally contest the sale or auction of Hindu Temples and other institutions by the state governments (including obtaining stay order and contempt of court order if necessary) 2. Legally contest the overtaking of any Hindu Temples and institutions; and Hindu Temple lands by the state governments. 3. Legally contest the advocated policies of the state governments allowing the people to occupy/encroach the Hindu Temple lands illegally. 4. Take appropriate legal action to evict all the people or organizations that have already occupied/encroached the Hindu Temple lands illegally. 5. Advocate the utilization of all the revenues generated by the Hindu Temples and Hindu Lands for the preservation and promotion of Hindu Temples and Hindu culture only. 6. Take appropriate legal actions to prevent the donations and other revenues generated at Hindu Temples being distributed to other religions and general fund of the state governments. 7. Legally contest any subsidy or aid to any religious institutions or a group of people based on religion. 8. Legally contest any policy and law that allows reservations to the educational institutions, employment, promotions, etc. solely based on religion. 9.  Since no other religious institutions are included in the Endowment Act except Hindu institutions, legally contest the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act in all state governments as illegal and unconstitutional. 10. Ultimate goal is to legally contest the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Acts of all state governments at the Supreme Court to make them illegal and unconstitutional in India itself so that no state government would have control of Hindu Temples and other Hindu institutions. 11. Support the renovations of the existing Hindu Temples and the construction of new Hindu Temples where ever the interest is expressed by the Hindus. 12. Management of Hindu Temples and Hindu institutions should be handed over to the Hindus without government interference similar to the management of Churches and Mosques which are not under the control of Endowment Act of the state Governments. All religious institutions must be free from government control or interference. 13. Bring political pressure on the Governments using different organizations and networking with other organizations having similar goals. 14. Educating the public through prominent people about illegal and unethical acts committed by different governments through the guise of Endowment Act and ensuring the issue becomes visible at the political level. 15. Publicizing the unfair legal policies in print, web, mobile, television and other media channels to ensure this knowledge and discussion becomes common place at the political level. 16. Protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, peethams, endowments, Trusts and other institutions globally.   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples  
01 Jan 2000
Post

Pro-Hindu Activists Organizations

GHHF takes pride to list some of the very active Worldwide Pro-Hindu Activists / Organizations working all over the globe. Most of the Hindu Activists / Organizations have Global presence working in co-ordination with like minded Hindus. GHHF wishes them good luck for all their efforts.      Dr. Subramanian Swamy (National President, Janata Party) Address: A-77, Nizamuddin(East), New Delhi-110013, India Website: http://swamy39.blogspot.com http://www.janataparty.org Phone/Fax: 011-24357388 (India) Email: swamy39 at gmail.com   Hinduism Today Address: 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, HI – 96746-9304, USA Website: http://www.hinduismtoday.com Phone: (877)255-1540 (USA or Canada), 808-240-3109 (All countries) Email: subscribe at hindu.org   Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Address: 910 17th St, NW, Suite 1180, Washington, DC 20006, USA Website: http://www.hafsite.org Phone: (202)223-8222 Email: office at hafsite.org   Vishva Hindu Parishad, America Address: VHP of America, P.O. Box 611, Iselin, NJ 08830, USA Website: http://www.vhp-america.org Phone: (732)744-0851 Email: office at vhp-america.org   Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi (HDPS) Swami Kamalananda Bharathi Address: 1-7-145/13, Srinivas Nagar Colony, Musheerabad, Hyderabad – 5000020, India Website: http://www.hinduaalayam.com Phone: 040-27634448; Cell: 94408 96915 Email: hinduaalayam at gmail.com   Sanatana Dharma Foundation Address: 6823 Windrock Road, Dallas, TX 75252, USA Website: http://www.sdfglobal.org http://www.sanatanadharmafoundation.com Phone: (614)668-1668 Email: info at sdfglobal.org   Infinity Foundation Address: 66 Witherspoon Street, PMB 400, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA Website: http://www.infinityfoundation.com http://www.rajivmalhotra.com Phone: (609)683-0548 Email: mail at infinityfoundation.com   Hindu Jana Jagruti Samithi Address: Saurav Banglow, Road no. 1, Sector no. 1, New Panvel, Behind Raigad Bank, Raigad 410206, India Website: http://www.hindujagruti.org Email: contact at hindujagruti.org   International Sanatana Dharma Society Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya (Dr. Frank Morales, Ph.D.) Address: 13917 P St., Omaha, NE 68137-1533, USA Website: http://www.dharmacentral.com Phone: (402)896-4294 Email: info at dharmacentral.com   Forum for Hindu Awakening Address: PMB 220, 3111 Rt.38, Ste. #11, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, USA Website: http://www.forumforhinduawakening.org Phone: (877)303-3FHA (3342) Email: info at forumforhinduawakening.org   Viveka Jyothi Foundation Website: http://www.vivekajyoti.org http://vivekajyoti.blogspot.com   Hindu Samhati Foundation Sri Tapan Ghosh Website: http://www.hindusamhati.org http://hindusamhati.blogspot.com Address: 5, Bhuban Dhar Lane, Kolkata – 700 012, India Email: hindusamhati at gmail.com   Back to the Roots Project Sudhakar Veeravalli, Director Address: 12 Murphy Drive, Nashua, NH 03062, USA 21st Km., Kanakpura Road, Udayapura, Bangalore South, Karnataka – 500082, India Website: http://www.backtotherootsproject.org Phone: (408)373-6959, (603)943-5846 (USA); (+91) 95337-80640 (India) Email: info at backtotherootsproject.org   Hindu Students Council Address: 5 Rozalyn Lane, Laurence Harbor, NJ 08879, USA Website: http://hindustudentscouncil.org Phone: (856)438-6421 Email: info at hindustudentscouncil.org   Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh Address: 121 Hawthorne Ct, Rockaway, Nj 07866, USA Website: http://www.hssus.org Phone: (973)500-8HSS (8477) Email: info at hssus.org; abhi at hssus.org   American Institute for Vedic Studies Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) Address: P. O. Box 8357, Santa Fe, NM 87504, USA Website: http://www.vedanet.com Phone: (505)983-9385 Email: vedicinst at aol.com   Indian American Intellectuals Forum (IAIF) Narayan Kataria Website: http://narainkataria.blogspot.com http://intellectualsforum.blogspot.com Phone: (718)478-5735 Email: katarian at aol.com   Interfaith Strength Foundation Dr. Richard L. Benkin Website: http://www.interfaithstrength.com Email: drrbenkin at comcast.net   The World Relief Network Stephen Knapp Address: P. O. Box 15082, Detroit, MI – 48215-0082, USA Website: http://www.stephen-knapp.com Email: srinandan at aol.com   World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES) Address: 780 Ullswater Cove, Alpharetta, GA 30022, USA Website: http://www.wavesinternational.net Sashi Kejriwal, Phone: (972)478-5641 x-221, Email: sashi at kejriwal.net Dhirendra A. Shah, Phone: (770)664-8779, Email: treasurer at wavesinternational.net   Caribbean and American Hindu Organization Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Caribbean-and-American-Hindu-Organization/123930631033008 Address: P. O. BOX 2286, NA Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago   Notable Congressmen/Politicians supporting Hindu Cause Dr. Subramanian Swamy (India)   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
01 Jan 2017
Post

GHHF Hinduism Suggested Books to Read

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF), Save Temples organization Suggested Reading for Hindus about Books on Hinduism, Books on Hindu Identity, Books on Hindu Temples and history.   "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramhansa Yogananda "Crimes Against India and the Need to Protect its Ancient Vedic Traditions" by Stephen Knapp "The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination" by Stephen Knapp "Hindu Temples - What Happened to Them Vol. I" by Sita Ram Goel, Arun Shourie "Hindu Masjids" by Prafull Goradia "Being Different" by Rajiv Malhotra "Breaking India" by Rajiv Malhotra & Aravindan Neelakandan "Rewriting Indian History" by François Gautier "India's self denial" by François Gautier "Negationism in India: Concealing the Record of Islam" by Koenraad Elst "Decolonizing the Hindu Mind - Ideological Development of Hindu Revivalism" by Koenraad Elst "Invading the Scared" by Krishnan Ramaswamy, Antonio de Nicolas and Aditi Banerjee "American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West" by Philip Goldberg "How I Became a Hindu: My Discovery of Vedic Dharma" by David Frawley "Universal Hinduism Towards a New Vision of Sanatana Dharma" by David Frawley "Am I A Hindu? The Hinduism Primer" by Ed Viswanathan "Indian Mind Then and Now" by Michael Danino "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, 2nd Edition" by Linda Johnsen "An Introduction to Hinduism" by Gavin D. Flood "Hinduism under Siege" by Subramanian Swamy "Rama Sethu" by Subramanian Swamy "Dancing with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism"by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami "Living with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Culture" by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami "Merging with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Metaphysics" by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami "How to Become a Hindu, A Guide for Seekers and Born Hindus" by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami "What Is Hinduism?" by Himalayan Academy "Vedic Experience" by Raimundo Panikkar "Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Natural Way" by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya "The Vedic Way of Knowing God" by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya "Radical Universalism: Does Hinduism Teach that All Religions are the Same?" by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya "Books on or" by Sri Swami Vivekananda "Biography of a number of Hindu Saints over the Centuries" "Mahabharata; Ramayana; Vedas; Upanishads and Puranas"   Tags: Hinduism Suggested Books to Read, Popular Hinduism Books, Recommended Reading on Hinduism, Suggest good books to students, teachers and research scholars.   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples  
14 May 2012
Post

Swami Paripoornanda Lecture on May 12 in Frisco. Find out Who He is?

Invited to attend his lecture on “In Danger of Losing Hinduism in India? Khadreme Hindu Samaj (In Hindi/English) Date: May 12 at 6:00pm Venue: Billy Thompson Vandeventer Middle School            6975 Independence Pkwy, Frisco, TX   Who is Pujya Sri Paripoornananda Swamiji? Born (1972) and brought up in a traditional family, he took his early schooling in Nellore of Andhra Pradesh, followed by study of Sanskrit and basics of Vedic literature at Gurukulam. Inspired by his mother, he got initiated into Sanyas Ashrama at the world-renowned Guru Pujyasri Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s Ashram, Rishikesh. Under the able guidance of his Guru, Swami Paripoornananda Saraswati imbibed knowledge of Vedanta and Hindu literature, and later chose Telugu soil for restoration of erstwhile glory of the Hindu Dharma. Swamiji established ‘Sree Peetam‘in a serene ambience at Kakinada in the beginning of this millennium.   A temple of Goddess Aiswaryambika and Sudareswara, spacious Gow-saala with all indigenous cows, Veda Paatasala and Nityaannadana facility adorn the pious hub of spiritual and service activities, i.e‘Sree Peetam’. In no time, he endeared lakhs of people of all sections with his scintillating, convincing and thought-provoking discourses in almost all districts Telugu land. His discourses made him as one of the most sought-after Gurus as they are known for inspiring messages with direction to youth on purpose and values of life, guidance to women to make their role more meaningful in family and society, and motivation to senior citizens on leading peaceful and spiritual life. Driven by his innate vision, Swamiji embarked upon a 3G-mission, Gurukulam-Gokulam-Gopuram, making vigorous campaign for the uplift of orphan children, protection of cows and cow-based farming, and restoration of temples in dilapidated conditions respectively. Construction of this mission is at different stages. Swamiji’s activities include …. Installation of Reverse Osmosis water plants in agency areas for supplying protected water to tribals Construction of Hindu temples, in association with Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Trust and SSF (an NGO), in neglected villages/hamlets Promotion of Bhajan Gurus to encourage satsang in villages/hamlets in the form of dancing and singing keertans in groups  Distribution of blankets to tribals suffering from severe winter in agency areas Relentless efforts for protection or reconstruction of temples in dilapidated condition (Bhagyalaxmi temple in Hyderabad, Vakulamata in Tirupati and so on) Establishment of ‘Sandhya Gurukulas’ (free tuitions in evenings) to inculcate samskara to school going children in association with SSF Publication of ‘Sreepeetam’ monthly journal to spread spiritual knowledge Launch of a mass movement on Vijayadasami day (September 30, 2017) in the form of Hindu SarvajanaSanghatanto promotea sense ofoneness among allHindus so that Hindu Dharma could be protected from onslaught of Christianity and Islam. (To fulfill this mission, he launched ‘Rashtreeya Hindu Sena’ with vibrant and patriotic youth.) Felicitation with 'Dharma Rakshak' award by the Golden Temple of Goddess of Laxmidevi, Vellore, TN, on March 07, 2018.   Today, Swamiji is a force to reckon with in protecting Bhaarateeya Dharma and eternal culture of Bhaarat among Telugus, which is also evident from promotion of a news TV channel, Bhaarat Today, in 2015. Prakasarao Velagapudi   601-918-7111       Prashant Patel   408-455-2148 Gopal Ponangi    214-868-7538                  Sashi Kejriwal 972-333-5705 Hasmukh Patel    248-842-8701                   Satyan Kalyandurg 972-612-5042 Srikanth Konda   214-500-5890                   Madhumathi Vysyraraju  848-667-1507 Vishnu Chimmula  952-465-4778                 Rao DuIla  951-662-5632 R K Panditi  972-516-8325                           Siva Agnoor  214-542-6616 Sunil T Patel  214-293-4740                        Kamesh Nemana  469-675-6160 Suresh Muktapuram    214-674-4997          Ajay Reddy  972-365-9053 Sandeep Mamidenna 601-918-9512           Mahesh Choppa  732-429-5217 Shri Gaur  214-727-7200                            Srinivas Kannan  202-957-3033 Kishor Fruitwala  214-797-1162                  Ravi Pattisam  617-304-3577 Krishna Athota  214-912-3724                    Vijay Todupnoori  469-387-1689      Arun Chandrakantan  214-952-0928          Manjari Gangwar Warty  214-662-2704      Vasanth Suri  408-239-3436                       Rajkumar Dandu  972-646-0405      Srinivas Vaddadi  408-768-1990                 Phani Aduri  214-774-2139          Sharada Sangireddy  214-909-9831           Tejas Patel  972-697=8467          Brijender Tanwar 718-219-7467   DONATIONS Please DONATE. Your donations are appreciated to continue the work. NOTE: GHHF is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue code.    Our tax ID # 41-2258630 Donate at:  https://www.savetemples.org (click ‘Donate’ button on right side). Where to send your DONATIONS? Global Hindu Heritage Foundation 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. Your donations are tax deductible. Our Tax ID: # 41-2258630 Any questions, call: Prakasarao Velagapudi 601-918-7111   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
02 May 2018
Post

THE DOCTRINE OF REINCARNATION: What Hindu Scriptures reveal?

“Birth and death are doors through which you pass from one dream to another. Someone is born on Earth in France as a powerful king, rules for a time, then dies. He may be reborn in India, and travel in a bullock cart into the forest to meditate. He may next find rebirth in America as a successful businessman; and when he dreams death again, reincarnates perhaps in Tibet as a devotee of Buddha and spend his entire life in a lamasery… What is the difference? Each existence is a dream within a dream, is it not?” Pramahamsa Yogananada "It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but only retire a little from sight and afterwards return again. Nothing is dead; men feign themselves dead, and endure mock funerals… and there they stand looking out of the window, sound and well, in some strange new disguise." —Ralph Waldo Emerson The doctrine of transmigration / reincarnation as a dominant ideology has exercised significant influence on almost every aspect of Indian thought. In fact the belief in reincarnation is usually associated with the philosophies and religions of India such as Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Although the belief in reincarnation is pervasive in the religious tradition of eastern traditions, it is also found throughout the world. It is also remarkable to find that the belief in birth, death, rebirth and other world is prevalent among majority of the countries. Although majority of the Christians have considered the belief in life after death an anathema for many centuries, the twentieth century is witnessing a remarkable change in attracting all great-religions to the idea of reincarnation.   In Hindu religion, samsara and punarjanma are identified with the concept of reincarnation. Punarjanma is simply defined as rebirth while Samsara is defined as the continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth.  It is body that goes through the continuous cycle of birth and death while soul or jive remains permanent which is connected to the Paramatma. The belief in samsara is closely connected to the theory of karma which states that every action has a consequence. The previous life experience determines the present which in turn determines the future course of action.    The endless life cycle can be terminated by moksha – the liberation from this cycle by uniting with God. Because of our ego, unfulfilled desires, karma, unfinished sadhana, failure to pay off the three runas (debts), and avidya (ignorance), we get entangled in this samsara.   Swami Vivekananda also talks about “the doctrine of the Atman and the reincarnation of the soul; it maintains that innumerable individual souls, having taken body after body again and again, go round and round in the wheel of birth and death according to their respective Karmas; this is Samsâravâda, or as it is commonly called the doctrine of rebirth.” There are four basic principles involved in the explanation of Hindu doctrine of reincarnation. First, the belief in the permanence of the essential self (Soul, atma). Without this belief of Soul's permanent nature, the discussion of reincarnation is meaningless. Second, the belief in avidya (ignorance) which causes the self assume an individuality of its own resulting in multiple births. Third, the belief in the concept of liberation (Moksha), Moksha implies that one has the potential to realize one's own true self. It is considered the birthright of every Hindu to be liberated from human bondage and be united with the Brahman (God, the Supreme Spirit) provided one is released from the ignorance. Fourth, the law of Karma affects the theory of rebirth. According to this law, every action of the individual leads to an inevitable result, good or bad. The actions in the present life conditions future nature of birth the same way as the actions in the previous life impacted the present life.   Belief in the theory of reincarnation is widespread in many religion of the work at one time or the other. However, contribution of Hinduism to the doctrine of transformation is distinction and more significant. Since the Vedic times, the concept of rebirth has been well established and is abound in the Hindu literature --Upanishads, Puranas, Gita, Itihasas and other books written by prominent sages and scholars. The basic tenets of the belief is transmigration are summarized by Bloomfield as follows: "Every living creature is reborn in some organic shape: every living creation had a previous existence; and every living creature is again and again in the prey of death, until in some life all desire and all activity as the outcome of desire shall have been laid aside.” (1908: 258). W. R. Alger describes the importance of the doctrine of metempsychosis in his monumental work, A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life. "No other doctrine has exerted so extensive, controlling, and permanent an influence upon mankind as that of the metempsychosis, ‑‑ the notion that when the soul leaves the body it is born anew in another body, its rank, character, circumstances and experience in each successive existence depending on its qualities, deeds, and attainments in its preceding lives."     Vedic Period It is believed that the Vedic period was not known to expound the doctrine of the Soul's migration. Richard Garbe observed that "in the ancient Vedic period it had as yet no existence. At the time the Indian people...believed that good men ascended to the heaven to the companionship of the gods... [while] the Souls of the wicked sank down into the abyss of hell." (1921: 436), Albert Schweitzer also stated that "the hymns of the Rig-Veda knew nothing as yet of a cycle of birth." (1957:47). However, S. Radhakrishnan observes that the elements of the doctrine of reincarnation are traced back to the Vedas. "The passage of the Soul from the body, its dwelling in other forms of existence, its return to human form, the determination of future existence by the principle of Karma are all  mentioned.: In fact Upanishads themselves ascribe the elements of soul's migration of the Rigveda. Vamadeva, believed to be the poet of Rigveda IV, recognized himself as Brahman and as a proof he indicated his acquaintance with his former lives as moon and sun. "The Rishi Vamadeva saw and understood it, singing, 'I was Manu (moon), I was the Sun'" (26.1) He further goes on to sing that "while still in the womb, I knew all the generations of these gods. A hundred iron fortresses guard me, but still, like an eagle, swiftly flew away." (Rigveda VI. 27.1) This quotation would be meaningful only if we refer to the eagle as the soul and the iron fortresses as the bodies through which the soul wanders. However, Paul Deussen(1966: 319) states that "The hymns of the Rigveda therefore know nothing yet of a migration of the soul, but teach for the good a continued existence with the gods." Although Vedas did not address the issue of the mechanics of soul's migration, they illustrated a number of instances dealing with the concepts of death and rebirth.   “He, born afresh, is new and new forever." Rigveda X: 85:19) "The ancient goddess [Dawn], born again and again, dressed in the same color." (Rigveda I: 92.10) "I seek neither release nor return." (Rigveda V. 46.1) "The immortal self will be reborn in a new body due to its meritorious deeds." (Rigveda I. 164.48) "With your gentle forms, O known of creatures, carry this man to the world of those who have done good deeds... let his reach his own descendants, dressing himself in a life-span. O known of creatures, let him join with a body." (I. 16. 4-5) These statements illustrate that the Vedic man refused to succumb to death as the final of irreversible phase of life and made numerous efforts to bring the decreased back to life again. One of the hymns describes all the possible places where the spirit of the dead man may have gone and urging to come back again to earth. The places the spirit of the dead man may have gone include: Yama, heaven and hell, four corners of the earth, four directions of space, waves of ocean, shining light rays, the waters and the planets, the sun an dawn, highest mountains, the whole world, the farthest realms, and the past and the future. Since return to earth was considered the greatest blessing, referring to the spirit, hymn states: "may it return to you again, that it may live and dwell here" from all the above mentioned places (Rigveda X 58. 1-12). In a similar manner, another hymn appeals impassionately for the dead man's return, for his prolongation of human life and for rejuvenation of live. “Now may his life be renewed and further extended ...let us do many noble deeds to win glory.... May we surpass our foes by deeds of Valor, as heaven surpasses earth and mountains surpass the plains..." (Rigveda, X: 59)   Although the doctrine of reincarnation in Vedas is not as explicit as in Upanishads, which we shall examine next, we cannot deny its prevalence during the early Aryan and Vedic period. Max  Muller argues that if the references seem rare it is because that "we have no right to suppose that we have even a hundredth part of the religions and popular poetry that existed during the Vedic age." (1899: 41) Upanishads The doctrine of reincarnation deals with the rebirth of the atma (soul) in a series of physical bodies which are basically either human or animal in nature. There are also instances where the soul takes birth in divine, demonic, and vegetative embodiments. This doctrine of reincarnation is more elaborately developed in Upanishads over a period of time. They believed in the continuity of life after death of the physical body and also indicate some definite ideas about the destinies of the soul after it departs the body. The soul passes through different paths, experience the consequences of their activities and are reborn as different persons depending on the code of conduct. "According, those who are of pleasant conduct here-- the prospect is indeed, that they will enter a pleasant womb, either the womb of a Brahman, of the womb of a Kshatriya, or the womb of a Vaisya. But those who are of stinking conduct here - the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a stinking womb, either the worn of a dog, or the womb of a swine, or the womb of an outcast." (Chandogya Upanishad 5.10.7). Similar discussion was also found where the deeds based on the knowledge determined the nature of birth. "One goes into the womb of a mother becoming incarnated in bodily form; another enters into a plant. Each according to his deeds, according to his knowledge." (Katha Upanishad 5.7). The character, that determines one's position in the future life, is formed not only by action but also by knowledge." Either as a worm, or as a moth, or as a fish, or as a bird, or as a snake, or as a tiger, or as a person, or as some others' in this or that condition, he is born again here according to this deeds, according to his knowledge." Kaushika Upanishad 1.2). Brihadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the subject of death and rebirth. The knowledge gained by performing various deeds in this life along with past experience follow the self after leaving its present body and enters another physical body: "An just as a leach moving on a blade of grass reaches its end, takes hold of another, and draws itself together towards it so does the self, after throwing off his body, is to say, after making it unconscious, take hold of another support and draw itself together towards it." "And just as a goldsmith takes a small quantity of gold and fashions [that of it] another -- a newer and better -- form so does the self, after throwing off his body, that is to say, after making it unconscious, fashion another -- a newer and better -- form suited to the Manes or the gandharvas, or the gods, or viraj, or Hiranyagarbha, or other beings." (IV: IV: 3-4) Based on these statement, it is evident that the new body will engage in somewhat similar activities depending on the previous life’s experiences. The individual self is believed to enter a new body made of five gross elements - ether, fire, wind, water, and earth. What kind of body the soul enters and what kind of individuality it develop depend on desires, words and actions. "As a man acts, so does he become. A man of good deeds becomes good, a man of evil deeds become evil. A man become pure through pure deeds, impure through impure deeds." As a man's desire is, so is his destiny. For as his desire is, so is his will; and his will, so is his deed; and as his deed is, so is his reward, whether good or bad. A man acts in the new life depending on his previous life’s experiences, desires and sadhanas. After death he goes to the next world, enjoys the fruits of his deeds, and then returns to the next life to fulfill the unfulfilled desires. No desires, no rebirth. More desires, more births. "But he in whom desire is stilled suffers no rebirth. After death, having attained to the highest, desiring only the self, he goes to no other world. Realizing Brahman, be becomes Brahman. "When all the desires which once entered into his heart have been driven out by desire knowledge, the mortal, attaining to Brahman become immortal. As the slough of a snake lies cast off on an anthill, so lies the body of a man at death; while he, freed from the body, becomes one with the immortal spirit, Brahman, the light eternal" (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: IV: 5-7). Karma theory is a very powerful doctrine that holds an important place in the Hindu religion. According to this theory, one's actions, bad or good, in this life one passes into the body of a higher or lower embodiment after the soul departs the body. The numbersamsaras one goes through depends on the kind and qualities of actions. “According unto his deeds the embodied one successively assumes forms in various conditions. Coarse and fine, many in number, The embodied one chooses forms according to his own qualities. [Each] subsequent cause of his union with them is seen to be because of the quality of his acts and of himself."  (Svetasvatara Upanishad 5.11-12) Upanishads provide their own explanation of rebirth. Since Karma (actions) is believed to be an accurate determinant of the state of the mind, it determines the rebirth. They explain the process through which one attains rebirth. A person consists of desire. As is his desire, so is his will; as is his will, so is the deed he does, whatever deed he does, that he attains." (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5)   Bhagavad Gita “As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.“ Bhagavad-gita 2.13  “For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” Bhagavad-gita 2.20 “As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.”      Bhagavad-gita 2.22 “It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.”Bhagavad-gita 2.25 After explaining the concept of samsara – the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth – Lord Krishna explains that nobody can escape from being engaged in some kind of activity which traps one to repeated births. But there is a way to escape the samsara to attain moksha.  Lord Krishna says, "Not by abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from karma, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection" (3:4). It is through nishkama karma - detachment from its fruits - one is freed from the bondage, free from the repeated births. According to Krishna: “Be focused on action and not on the fruits of action. Do not become confused in attachment to the fruit of your actions and do not become confused in the desire for inaction.” (2:47). As a result, Krishna advises Arjuna thus: "Always act with detachment to the fruits of actions. The one who is acting without attachment attains God" (3:19)   Karma theory explains the reasons for the repeated births and deaths. It is karma that explains the apparent disparity among people, inequality, injustice and partiality. When we look around we see that some people are born poor while others rich; some ignorant, others intelligent; some paupers, others philosophers; some born with deformities, others with good physical forms; some with health problems, others with excellent health; some starve, others over eat; some uneducated, others highly educated; some suffer continuously, others enjoy life; some born in royal families, other in poor families; some with tranquility, others with bad temper; some born in one country, others in other countries; some die within few minutes after birth, others live be more than hundred years; Some always successful, others always a failure; some honest, some dishonest; some commit crimes, some practice nonviolence; some are vegetarian, some non-vegetarian; some are women, others are men; some tall, others short; some with excellent talents and skills, others with no skills, etc. The list goes on. These disparities are mainly the result of their actions in previous lives and the present conditions.  Men's present dispositions are the results of their past, and their present actions create their future.  What is called fate or destiny is nothing but the accumulation of tendencies created by past actions and thoughts.  The present station of the individual can be altered by new actions and thought process.  A man can shape his own future either for this life or for future lives. If we accept that the present condition is the result of the past deeds, a thoughtful man should engage in actions that are conducive to improve his current status and also willingness to avoid the sinful acts. Veil of ignorance must be lifted to allow more knowledge to flow to reach moksha and avoid the samsara trap. Every action has a consequence. A good deed always brings its good fruits while bad ones bad fruits.  You will find in Mahabharata: “Just as a calf finds out its mother among a thousand cows, so also an action that was performed in a previous birth follows the doer.” Yadrisam kriyate karma tadrisam bhujyate phalam, Yadrisam vapyate, bijam tadrisam prapyate phalam. The Karma theory teaches us that we reap what we sow. The fruit of the tree corresponds to the seed that has been sown. Similarly, rewards or punishments always correspond to the kind of activities. That is the nature of law. A person who engages in evil actions cannot expect happiness, peace and prosperity either in this or in his next life.   Yoga Vasishta also describes the past and future lives. “Many are the times we have been together in the past, and also been separated and so again shall it be in the future. Even as a heap of grain removed from granary to granary ever assumes new order of arrangement and new combination, so is the case with Jiva (human being) in the universe through his arrangement.” In a similar vein, Thirumantiram stated that at the time of death, the soul is simply released from the current body and moves on to another. "Even as the snake sloughs off its skin, even as the bird leaves its shell, even as in its waking state the soul forgets happenings of the dream state, thus does the soul migrate from one body to another..." (Tirumantiram 2132) Adi Shankara, the great Advaita philosopher, believed that the whole world is maya (illusion). It is like dream. Ignorance (avidya) of the real nature of life has trapped one into this cycle of birth, death and rebirth. After repeated births, one would realize that the real happiness (ananda) does not come from this physical body but only through higher forms of spiritual experience.  Thus, Adi Shankara begs Lord Krishna to redeem us from samsara in his composition entitled “Bhaja Govindam:” pun arapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi jananii jathare shayanam iha samsaare bahudustaare kripayaa apaare paahi muraare ("Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari! Redeem me through Thy mercy."). The question is how do we redeem ourselves from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth? According to Adi Shankra only the knowledge of the saintly seer can bring that moksh (salvation) which recognizes the close relationship between self and the universe, Atman and Brahman, soul and God, and the merging or absorption of the part in the whole. Only when this absorption is complete, the cycle of birth and rebirth stops. Once they merge into Brahman, they will enjoy the eternal bills: "This is a place of intensely spiritual atmosphere, whose inhabitants live, free from disease, old age, and death, enjoying uninterrupted bliss in the companionship of the Deity." Till then, everything is maya (illusion). Part of this speech was presented at the Hindu Temple of Amarillo, Texas.       Donations                                   As many of you know that SaveTemple Office was opened in June 2012 in Hyderabad.  Office is located in Khairatabad. Four full time employees are working on the update of our website, Aalayavani Web Radio, Aalayavani magazine, conducting various activities to preserve and protect Hindu Temples and Culture. Our budget is approximately 2 lakh rupees per month.  We request your generous donation to conduct activities to promote unity among Hindus and restore the glory of Hinduism.   Please DONATE. Your donations are appreciated to continue the work.   NOTE: GHHF is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue code.    Our tax ID # 41-2258630 Please send your tax-deductible donations to: Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, Texas 75035   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples   GHHF Board of Directors: Prakasarao Velagapudi PhD, (601-918-7111 cell), (601-856-4783 home); Prasad Yalamanchi (630-832-2665; 630-359-5041); Satya Dosapati (732-939-2060); Satya Nemana (732-762-7104); Sekhar Reddy (954-895-1947); Vinay Boppana (248-842-6964); Tulasichand Tummala (408-786-8357); Raju Polavaram, MD (919-959-6141); Nandini Velagapudi, PhD (601-942-2248); Rama Kasibhatla (678-570-1151); Shankar Adusumilli MD (919-961-9584); Sireesha Muppalla (631-421-8686); Prasad Garimella MD (770-595-8033); Raghavendra Prasad MD (214-325-1969); Murali Alloju MD (703-953-1122); Veeraiah Choudary Perni MD (330-646-8004); Vishnu Kalidindi MD; Srivas Chebrolu MD; Avadesh Agarwal; Sudheer Gurram MD; Rajendrarao Gavini MD; Srinath Vattam MD; and Dr. Ghazal Srinivas, Honorary Brand Ambassador. GHHF Dallas Core Group Mahesh Rao Choppa (732-429-5217); ); Srinivas Pamidimukkala (832-444-6460); Gopal Ponangi (214-868-7538); Ram Yalamanchili (214-663-6363); Ravi Pattisam (617-304-3577); Krishna Athota (214-912-3724); Sesharao Boddu (972-489-6949}; P. Viswanadham, PhD (972-355-7107); I V Rao (214-284-6227); Rajesh Veerapaneni (773-704-0405); Sunil T Patel (214-293-4740); Vijay Kollapaneni (818-325-9576); Ghanashyam Kakadia (469-583-1682); R K Panditi (972-516-8325); Viswas Mudigonda (972-814-5961); Srikanth Akula (952-334-9990); Kalyan Jarajapu (972-896-8352); Sitaram Panchagnula (714-322-3430); Vasanth Suri (408-239-3436); Phani Aduri (214-774-2139); Konda Srikanth (214-500-5890); Siva Agnoor (214-542-661).
28 May 2015
Post

Pro-Hindu Blogs Websites

Please note that neither GHHF nor SaveTemples.org endorse or support the content of the website URLs listed below. They are listed as a collection of Global or Worldwide Pro-Hindu Blogs / Websites for archiving or listing purposes. Dr. Subramanian Swamy Blog (National President, Janata Party) http://swamy39.blogspot.com   Hinduism Today http://www.hinduismtoday.com   Hindu American Foundation (HAF) http://www.hafsite.org   Vishva Hindu Parishad, America http://www.vhp-america.org   Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi (HDPS) http://www.hinduaalayam.com   Sanatana Dharma Foundation http://www.sdfglobal.org http://www.sanatanadharmafoundation.com   Infinity Foundation http://www.infinityfoundation.com http://www.rajivmalhotra.com   Hindu Jana Jagruti Samithi http://www.hindujagruti.org   International Sanatana Dharma Society http://www.dharmacentral.com   Forum for Hindu Awakening http://www.forumforhinduawakening.org   Viveka Jyothi Foundation http://www.vivekajyoti.org http://vivekajyoti.blogspot.com   Hindu Samhati Foundation http://www.hindusamhati.org http://hindusamhati.blogspot.com   Back to the Roots Project http://www.backtotherootsproject.org   Hindu Students Council http://hindustudentscouncil.org   Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh http://www.hssus.org   American Institute for Vedic Studies http://www.vedanet.com   Indian American Intellectuals Forum (IAIF) http://narainkataria.blogspot.com http://intellectualsforum.blogspot.com   Interfaith Strength Foundation http://www.interfaithstrength.com   The World Relief Network http://www.stephen-knapp.com   World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES) http://www.wavesinternational.net   Caribbean and American Hindu Organization http://www.facebook.com/pages/Caribbean-and-American-Hindu-Organization/123930631033008   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
01 Jan 2017
Post

GHHF References Publications

Please note that some of the documents listed are for archiving and better availability purposes only. The material published not owned by GHHF, is the copyright of their respective copy right owners. GHHF and SaveTemples.org neither endorses not supports the content.   Andhrajyothy-Jan20-2011-Corruption-In-India-Telugu-Report.pdf Conservation-of-Srikurmam-Temple-report.pdf Corruption-In-India-2010-And-Before.pdf Corruption-In-India-Presentation-BabaRamdevSlides-V5.pdf Dalits-Are-Disciminated-By-Christians.pdf Endowment-Act-&-Government-Control-2008.pdf GHHF-Basics-of-Hinduism-Presentation-v1-012512.pdf GHHF-Plight-Of-Hinduism-&-Hindu-Temples-052211.pdf GHHF SaveTemples Generic Wall Banner Backdrop Image Hindu-Rituals-and-Routines.pdf Hindu-Websites-Blogs-sorted-Alphabetically-List1.pdf Hindu-Websites-Blogs-sorted-Alphabetically-List2.pdf Hindu-Websites-Blogs-sorted-Alphabetically-List3.pdf Hinduism-10-Questions.pdf Hinduism-Under-Threat-Christian-Conversions-Death-Of-Hinduism-030111.pdf Hindusin-Bangladesh-Pakistan-Human-rights-violations.pdf India’s-Eastern-Frontiers-Hindu-Samhati-Threat-Perceptions-Realities.pdf Legalizing-Religion-The-Indian-Supreme-Court-and-Secularism-Ronojoy-Sen.pdf Looting-Hindu-Temples-Techniques.pdf Parallax-Between-Science-&-Gita-A-Tribute-to-Hinduism.pdf Report-on-Dharmalingeswara-Temple-Panchadarla.pdf Report-on-Mangalagiri.pdf Report-on-Simmachalam.pdf Sri-Kurmam-Temple-Stay-Order-19009300.pdf Sri-Surya-Narayana-Temple-Punah-Pratishtha-031811.pdf Stay-order-not-to-sell-Temple-lands-19036017.pdf TTD-Brahmana-Pattu-Lands-Stay.pdf Terrorism-In-India-Hindus-Suffering-022411.pdf The-Sandhyavandanam-of-Rig,-Yajus,-and-Sama-Vedins-by-Kamesvara-Aiyar.pdf The-Truth-Behind-Holy-Amarnath-Temple.pdf Violence-Against-Women-India.pdf What-is-Hinduism-Bansi-Pandit.pdf   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
01 Jan 2017
Post

GHHF - Save Temples - Downloads Page

Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
01 Jan 2017
Post

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation condemn the government for house arresting Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi.

It appears that Government is supporting and sponsoring the people who are hurting the sentiments and feelings of Hindus. Swamiji is only interested in expressing the sentiments of all Hindus who have been denied of their rights. The government is working against Dharma and supporting the unrighteous activities. Dharma is taken back seat in Telangana and adharma is being encouraged. Dharma is stabbed at the expense of adharma                 It is shameful to realize that the government has not taken any concrete steps to arrest people who demeaned Hindu Gods and Goddesses.                   It is disgraceful to see that Sri Swamiji is arrested, in spite of his announcement that it would be peaceful, the government cancelled that permission granted earlier.                 Global Hindu Heritage Foundation condemns the government for arresting Swami Paripoornananda for this reckless, inhuman, political and anti-Hindu action.                 We demand the release of Sri Swamiji and grant permission to proceed with peaceful march from Hyderabad to Yadagiri Gutta. We also demand the government apologize to Swami Paripoornananda and all Hindus for their anti-Hindu decision in denying the permission.   Hundreds of Hindus who were planning to participate in the march peacefully are being arrested, bullied, harassed, humiliated and put in jails. {{album_17}}   Please subscribe to Save Temples Telegram channel at https://t.me/savetemples
08 Jul 2018

Search

Live updates

Donate

$

Categories

  • Articles (8)
  • Events (12)
  • Hindu Digest (4)
  • Hindu News & Press (25)
  • Hinduism (599)
  • India (21)
  • – Andhra Pradesh (15)
  • – Karnataka (0)
  • – Kerala (1)
  • – Tamil Nadu (0)
  • – Telangana (12)
  • Pages (6)
  • Posts (597)
  • Swami Paripoornananda (14)
  • Temples (12)
  • USA (17)

    • Tags

    19th Century 200 Reconverted Dalits 2000 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 24/7 Telugu Web Radio 3000 Dalits 40 Guests 43 Kids 7 Billion Times Aalayavani Aalayavani Narada Tumbura Aalayavani Web Magazine Aalayavani Web Radio Aaloyodharakulu Aarathi Abdul Kalam Abuse ACB Accomplishments Achievements Action Activities Activties Administer Adopt a Temple Advertisement Against Hinduism Akbaruddin Owaisi Akhilesh Yadav akulamata Temple built ALAMPUR Alas Alayadarhini Allahabad Court Allegations ALLOCATE Amaravathi Ambushing Ambushing Hinduism American Soil American Women Americans Anandiben Patel Anantapur Andhra Andhra Hindus Andhra Jyothy ANDHRA PRADESH Anna Hazare Annadana Annadanam Antarvedi AP AP government Apologize Applauds Batra Appreciation Aravinda Rao Archaka archakas Archakas case Archakas threaten Arrested Arthi Articles AUCTION Audio August Aussie Indo Lanka Austin College autonomy Award Awards Ayodhya Ayodhya verdict Ayyappa B.R.Haran Bail Bala Swamiji Balaji Balaji Temple Bali Ban TV9 BAND BANGALORE Bapatla beasts Beef Benign Dictatorship Bhaarat Today Bhaarath Today Bhadrachalam Bhagavad Gita Bhagwal Bhajans Bhakta Sangam Bhakthi Geetha Malika Bhakti Bharat Bharat Mata Bharath Bhimavaram Bhishma Bible Birthday BJP Black day Blog Blogs Board Bombing Book Booklet Books Brand Ambassador Bravo Bridge Brochure build Vakula Mata Temple bulldozes Burning business C Ramachandraiah C. Ramachandraiah California Campaign Caretaker Carnatic Musician Caste organization CD Chanakya Chandrababu Naidu Channel Chant Chanting Charges Chennai Chicago Chidambaram Chidambaram temple Chidambarams Chief Minister of Andhra children Chilkur Chilkur temple Christian Christian atrocities Christian Conversion Christian deceptive conversion Christian Missionaries Christian missionary Christian Sadhus Christian Students Christianity Christians Christmas Churches Closing CIIS Civil civil disobedience CM Collapse Collapsed Commissioner Committee Competition condemns Congress Construct Construction Contact Us Control convert innocent Hindus Coriander corrections Corruption Court Cow Cow Products Cow Slaughter Cows Cows are Sacred Cricket Stadium Crisis Crossroads Culmination Culture CVR Channel Daily Herald Dairy Queen Dalith Dalith Community Dalits Dallas Dallas NRIs Dance Dasaradha Datta Giri Datta Yoga Center DC Debate December December 20 Democracy Demolish Demolished Denikaina Ready Dereliction Desecration case Desi Cows Desi Plaza TV Detroit Devaalayam Devaalayam Audio Devaalyam Devalaya Parirakshana Samithi Devalayam Audio Devotees DGP Press Meet Dharma Dharma Sadassu Dharmagraha yatra Dharmika Mandal DIALOGUE Dindugual Dindugual DattaPeetham Ashram Disaster Relief DISCRIMINATION Discrimnation divine property Diwali DOCTRINE Documentaries Documentary DONATIONS Doniger Download Download Mp3 Downloads Dr Ghazal Srinivas Dr Prakasarao V Velagapudi Dr S P Mukherjee Dr Subramanian Swamy Dr. Angana Chatterji Dr. Ghazal Srinivas Dr. Medasani Mohan Dr. Prakasarao Velagapudi Dr. Remella Avadhanulu Dr. Subrahmanian Swamy Dr. Subramanian Swamy Dr. Swamy Dr. V. V. Prakasa Rao Dr.Ghazal Srinavas Dr.Ghazal Srinivas Dr.VV Prakasarao Garu Drawing Durga Durga Temple Dwaraka Tirumala Economic Educational Educational Curriculum Eenadu EEnadu Press Efforts Elections Embodiment Emerson employees encroached Endowment Endowment Act Endowment Department Endowment Minister Endowments Endowments Act Endowments Department Endowments Minister ENews English Eternal Universal Event Flyer Evil EVM Expelled From Hyderabad Export Beef Externment Order Externmnet Order Externmnet Order against Extinction FAS Fasting and Bhajans Fate February Festival of Lights Film Awards Film Festival filthy FIR First Generation First request FLAWED BOOK flights Flyer Foot Hills Forest Department Foreword Form Frisco Fund Fund Raising Fundraising Funds GandaBherunda Lakshmi Narasimha Gandhi Gangavati Gantasala Gauraksha Puja Gauri Lankesh Murder Gaushala Gayatri Maha Yagam Gemini Genocide Genocide of Yazidis Get Out From Hyderabad Ghazal Srinivas GHHF GHHF 2018 GHHF Activities GHHF Committee Girish Karnad Gita Jayanthi Gita Yagnam Githa Jayanthi Global Dharma Global Hindu Heritage Foundation Glorifying glorifying Mother Gnana Shankara GOA God God of Equality Godavari Godavari Maha Pushkaralu Godavari Pushkara Godavari Pushkaralu Goddess Sita Gods Rejoice God’s land God’s lands gold covering Gopal Ponangi GOPUJA DINOTSAVAM Gorakhpur Government Growth of Hinduism Gujarat CM Guru Purnima Gurukul Gurukul lands Gurukulam Halderman of US Hanuman Hanuman Chalisa Hanuman Mandir Hanuman Temple Happy Holidays Happy Lord Hari K Prasad Harold Trent Frank Harvard Harvard University hatred Toward Hinduism HDPS hereditary hereditary rights HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji HH Sri Ramanujacharya High Court Himachal Pradesh Himalayan Academy Hindi Hindu Hindu Alliance Hindu Americans Hindu Culture Hindu Devalaya Hindu Dharma Hindu Dharmic Hindu Dharmic Sammelan Hindu Genocide HINDU HISTORY Hindu Holocaust Hindu Identity Hindu Mahasabha Hindu Monastery Hindu Organizations Hindu Organizations & Leaders Hindu Rashtra Hindu Ratha Yathra Hindu Ratha Yatra HINDU RATNA Hindu religion Hindu Sammelana Hindu Scriptures Hindu shrine Hindu Temple Hindu Temples Hindu Terror Hindu Trust Land Hindu Unity Day Hindu Voice Hindu Woman Hinduism Hinduism Today Magazine Hindus Hindusim Books Hindustan Hindustan Times hockey tournament Holiday Homage to Soldiers HOMELAND Hospitals House arrested house arresting Houses Built Houston How to tell Hinduism to Your Child HP HP Governor Human Human Extinction Human Survival Hyderabad Hyderabad Police IAS Officer Idol Idol-lifters ignored Illegal miners Illegal Proselytizing Immaculate inside Improve and Protect Hindu Temples Improvements Independence India India Flood India Office India Tribune Indian Indian Music Indian Soldiers Indiramma Indo-American Inquiry Intents International Conference International Documentary International Hindu Dharmic International Short Film International Symposium Internet Interview Intolerant Intellectuals introspection and Silence Investigate Invitation Invites ISKCON ISKCON Temple Islam Islamic Islamic College Islamic Conversions Islamic Onslaught Islamic Terrorism Islamic University Island Island Bali Jagan Jail Jala Yagnam Jaladeeswara Swamy Janmashtami January Jews Jogulamba Devi temple Journal journalists Journalists Criticism Judge Judgement Julia Roberts July June K Aravinda Rao K T Thomas K'taka Govt K.V.Satyanarayana Kadiri Kafirs Kailash Giri Kakatiya temple Kakinada Kancha Ilaiah Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd Kancheepuram Karnataka Karnataka choultries Karthik Purnima Karthika Purnima Karya Siddhi Hanuman Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple Kashmir KASHMIRI PANDITS Kathi Mahesh Kauai Kavali KCR Kemah Kempe Gowda airport Kottagudem Rajesh Krishna KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI Krishna Pushkara Krishna Pushkarala Kuchipudi Kuchipudi Dance Kudos KUDOS WITH ALAS Kumara Sambhavam Kumbabhishekam Kumbhabhishekam Kuppam Kuppam Land KVSN Lalgudi Jayaraman Land Land Allocation land demanded land donated Land scam Land sharks Lands Lanka Leaders lease scam Lecture Lectures Legal Battles Legendary violinist Letter Liberals Liberate Lifters Lincoln Lord Lord Ganesh Lord Shiva Lord Sri Rama Lord Subramanya Lord Venkateswara M L Mehta Madanapalle Madanapalli Madras Maestro Mafia Magazine Magnificent and majestic Marakata Maha Kumbabhishekam Maha Pada Yatra Maha Padayatra Maha Yagam Mahabharat Mahankali Temple Maharashtra Government Mahasabha Mahasivaratri Mahatma Gandhi Main Speakers Malayala Malayala Manorama Malaysia Malysia Malysia Sun Mana Gudi Pilustondi Mandir MANDIR LANDS Mangalagiri Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna Manifesto Manimahesh temple March Marxist Loot Mastitime Telugu May Media Meditation Meet-Greet Nara Lokesh Meeting Memorable Pilgrimage Memorandum Memorandum of Concerns Memorandum Submitted memorizing memorizing and Chanting Memphis Message Millennia Minister Minister and Commissioner Minister's wife Missionary MLA Modern Society Modi Modi Speech Mohan Babu Moive money Monkey Mother MP MP3 MPs and MLAs MSR Mumbai Murals Murder attempt museum Music Musical Musical Band Musical Message Muslim Muslim Terrorism Mutts Muzaffarnagar My Ancient Temple Mythology Naidu Namo Venkatesa Narasapuram Narendra Modi National Herald Newspaper NATS Nellore networked NEW Cities New Delhi New Delhi Airport New Jersey New York New York Times News News Papers Newspaper Newsweek NGO NJ Notice November NRI NRIs NSS NYC NYT Obama Obama’s comparison October Office Officer's House Old Jail On Spot Drawing Competition Onslaught on Hindus Our Ancient Our Native Place Our Native Place – Our Ancient Temple – Past & Present Pada Yatra Padatyatra Padayatra Padayatra -II Palagummi Viswanadham Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple Pandit Ravi Shankar Panel Discussion Panel submits Paripoornananda Swami Paripoornananda Swamiji Paripoornananda Swamy Parirakshna Samiti Parliament Parlin Part - 1 Part - 2 Part 1 Part 2 Part I Part II Part-2 Part2 Passed away passes away Pastor Patriots Pattas Pay Revision Commission Peaceful Protest Pedakakani temple PENGUIN People protest Petition Photography Photography Award Photography Contest Photos Pilgrimage PILGRIMS Pioneer Award Plano Plano TX Plastic plastic Waste Plight Polavaram Polavaram Project Police Police brutality inflicted Political leaders Politician vultures Politics Polytheism poojas Poorvaka Aruna Yaga Mahotsavam Postal Stamp Prakasa Rao Prakasarao Prakasarao V Velagapudi Prakasarao Velagapudi Prakasarao Velagapudi PhD Prakash Rao Velagapudi Presentations President President Abdul Kalam Press PRESS NOTE Press Release priesthood lessons Priests Prime Minister Prizes Pro-Hindu programmes Progress Report Protect Protect Cow Protect Gomata Protect Goshalas Protection Protection & Restoration Protest protestor Public Demonstration Public Forum Puja Pujyasri Paripoornananda Saraswati Swamiji Pulivendula Pulwama Pushkarala PVRK Prasad Question Quran Radha Saptami Radha Yatra Radio Railway Station Rajagopuram Ram Janmasthala Rama Rama Janmabhumi Rama Sethu RAMA SETU Rama Temple Ramayana Rameswaram temple Rampant Rampant Increase of Corruption Raped Rare Workshop Ratha Yatra Razed temple rebuilt REBUTTAL Recognized and Honored Recoils Recommendations Records Red sea Reference Reforms REGISTER Registration regularise houses REINCARNATION Relevance Religion Religious Religious Conversions Religious Minorities Relocation Temples Remove the posters Renovated 13th Century Renowned Music Composer Replacing the Board Report Resolution Restore Retake Return Return to Hyderabad revenue Revive and Preserve Reviving Reviving Hinduism Robbery Role Model Ronggiip of Netherland Rosemont Journal Route RSS RSVP Russian Russian Government Sabarimala Sabarimala pilgrims SABARIMALA RALLY Sachchidananda Swamiji Sacrifice and Protection Sai Datta Jayanthi Savithri Sakshi Salaries Salaries for Priests Sale Samarth Ramdas Sammelan San Diego Sanatana Dharma Sankalpa Deeksha Sankaracharya Sankaracharya Hill Santhana Dharma Sastris Satyanarayana Puja Save Hindu Temples save Indian culture Save Temple Save Temples SaveTemples SaveTemples Office savior SC SC relief scheme Schools Scientific Evidence Reveals Scrap scrap Endowment Scriptures Sealdah Sealdah Railway Station Second request Secular Syndrome Secularism September Seven Hills Sharks Shepherd Shiva Temple Shiva temples Short Film Short Film Festival Short Films Siddhis Siege SIFC Sign Petition Simhachalam SIMHACHALAM TEMPLE Sita Sitar maestro Sites Six archaka Slaughter Slipping Sneha TV Social Song Songs Sonia Sonia sleaze Speech Speeches SpiceJet Spiritual Spirituality Sponsor Sponsor a Cow Sree Kriya Yoga Sreevatsanka Sri Bala Swamiji Sri Bhavanarayana Temple Sri Chaganti Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao Sri Chandrababu Naidu Sri China Jeeyar Swamji Sri Datta Vijayananda Swamy Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji Sri Kamal Kumar Swami Sri Kamal Kumar Swamy Sri KamalKumar Swamiji Sri Kanaka Durga Temple Sri Kokila Sri Krishna Janmashtami Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Temple Sri Kurmanadha Temple Sri Paripoornananda Swamiji Sri Rama Navami Sri Rama Temple Sri Ramachandraiah Sri Ramachandraih Sri Ramalingeswara Sri Ramanama Sankeerthana Sangham Sri Ramanujacharya Sri Ramanujacharya Swami Sri Seeta Ramaswamy Temple Sri Subramanian Swamy Sri Sudarshan Bharatiya Sri Swami Paripoornanand Sri Swami Paripoornananda Sri Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi Sri Swami Paripoornananda Swamiji Sri Swamy Paripoornananda Srikalahasti Srikalahasti Rajagopuram Srikurmam Srinivasa Ramanujan Srirama Staff Stamp Standing Room State State committed State Temple Sthala Vriksham Stock stolen Stop Genocide of Yazidis Stop the Hindu Holocaust STRATEGIES Students Subramanian Swamy Suggested Books Sun Temple Sunkulamma temple Supplement Suprabatham Suprabathams Suprabhatams Supreme Supreme Court Supreme Court Judge supreme soul Surya Temple Sushilkumar Shinde suspended Suspends Suspension Svae Hinduism Swami Swami Kamalananda Bharati Swami Paripoornanada Swami Paripoornananda Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi Swami Paripoornananda Swamiji Swami Paripoornanda Swami Paripoornanda Saraswathi Swamiji Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Swamy Lecture Swamy Paripoornananda Swamy Vivekananda Swaroopanandendra Swamiji Symbolism Symbology Symposium Taj Mahal Taj Mahal evidence Taj Mahal was a Shiva Temple Take over Act Tamil Nadu Task Force TDP Telangana Telangana Elections Telangana Government Telangana Govt Telugu Telugu channel Temple temple demolition temple idea recoils temple land temple lands Temple reforms temple staff Temples Tenali Terrorism Terrorist Attacks Texas Tharoor Tharoor’s The Holy Cows The Holy Cows That weren’t The Plight of Religious Minorities in India The real story the terrible religion Theory Implementation THIRD EYE Thirumala Thirumala Giri Thunga Bhadra Time Time line Times of India Tipu Sultan Tiranga Yatra Tirumal (TTD) lands Tirumala Tirumala Issue Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Tirupathi Tirupati TIRUVANNAMALAI Tiruvannamalai temple Title Award Tolerant Hinduism TORTOISES Torture Tour Training training centre Traitor treasures TRS TTD TTD Employees TV1 TV9 Twin Cities Udupi temple Ugravaadam Ugravaadam Song Under Siege undertaken Unions Uniqueness Unquestionable UPA urban US US cities US Congress US Postal USA Utsav VigrahPrathishta V.V. Prakasa Rao Vaartha Vacant vacant temple Vakula Mata Temple Vakulamata Temple Varadarajan Varadhi Veda Pathasalas Vedas Vedict Venkateshwara Temple Venkateswara temple Venkateswarlu Verdict VICTIMS Victory VIDEO VIDEO presentation Videos Vijayawada Visakhapatnam Vishakapatnam Vishnu Hari Dalmia Vishwa Hindu Vivekananda Vizag Voice VUDA Walkathon Washington Web radio Websites welfare West Bengal Western Media Wharton Cancellation What is Hinduism White Paper Why Cow is Sacred Why I Am a Hindu Wishes withdrawing the Case Women World Hindu Economic Forum World Record Worship Y S Rajasekhar Reddy Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Yadava Community Yaga Mahotsavam Yazidis Year End Report Yoga Yogi Yogi Adityanath Youth enthusiasm YouTube YS Jagan YSR