Global Hindu Heritage Foundation congratulates the Second Lady who was born into a rich cultural background and raised by academician parents. Usha Chilukuri Vance was born to Indian immigrants who moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s.  She was raised in the suburbs of San Diego, California. Usha Vance will become the first Indian American second lady in the White House. She will also be the first Hindu second lady, according to ABC News. This is a testimony of integration, acceptance of diversity and appreciation of inclusivity in the United States.  Her mother is a marine molecular biologist, biochemist and a provost at the University of California San Diego, according to Reuters. Her father is an engineer, according to a Scripps News report. Her father and grandfather both taught or studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, India's premier engineering college, according to Reuters, and her younger sister is a mechanical engineer with a semiconductor company in San Diego. A great-aunt, Shanthamma Chilukuri, lives in Visakhapatnam and has been celebrated in local media as the country's oldest active professor, according to Reuters. Shanthamma Chilukuri travels 40 miles most weekdays to university to teach physics. Usha Vance graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Yale University and was also a Gates Scholar at Cambridge University, where she graduated with a master’s degree in philosophy. It was at Yale that Usha Chilukuri and JD Vance met. While there, they organized a discussion group on the subject of "social decline in white America," according to The New York Times. Usha Chilukuri met JD Vance at Yale University, and both graduated from Yale in 2013. The two were married in Kentucky in 2014, and blessed by a Hindu pundit in a separate ceremony, according to New York Times. Speaking at Republican National Convention in July, she stated that “"My background is very different from JD's.”  “I grew up in San Diego, in a middle-class community with two loving parents, both immigrants from India, and a wonderful sister. That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country." In one of the interviews, Usha Vance said, "I did grow up in a religious household. My parents are Hindu and that is one of the things that made them such good parents, that made them good people. And so, I have seen the power of that," Reuters said. Usha Vance described JD Vance as a "meat and potatoes kind of guy," but one who had adapted to her vegetarian diet and even learned how to cook Indian food for her mother, according to the BBC. USA Today After law school, Usha Vance clerked for a year for Brett Kavanaugh on the District of Columbia court of appeals. Kavanaugh is now a U.S. Supreme Court justice. She then she clerked for another year with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. In 2015, Usha Vance worked as an associate and then as a corporate litigator at Munger, Tolles and Olson, a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington that describes its corporate culture as “radically progressive." Her profile describes her as “a skilled litigator specializing in complex civil litigation and appeals in higher education, local government and technology sectors” GHHF wish them a successful term, and may God bless them to serve the country and hope she will exemplify the richness of the oldest time-tested ancient culture. {{album_1289}}

Bala Samskar students of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation celebrated Rana Pratap Singh Jayanti. When Maha Rana Pratap ascended the throne of Mewar, the situation was extremely dire. Enemies were lurking on all sides. The enemy had immense wealth and other resources. There was an army in the millions. At that time, Maha Rana Pratap made a solemn vow that he would not eat on a golden plate, sleep on soft mattresses, or sleep in the royal palace until Chittod was liberated. Maharana Pratap, the brave and courageous king of Mewar, who slept in the heart of the Mughal emperor Akbar. In the history of India, Maharana Pratap's courage, bravery, sacrifice, martyrdom, and future freedom struggle have become an inspiration. Until the 6th century AD, India fought and won against foreign invaders and asserted its existence. In the 6th century AD, the last emperor to bring most of the country under his rule and provide good governance was Shri Harsha. After the death of Shri Harsha, disunity spread among the Hindu kings. They started fighting each other with arrogance and acting independently. At the same time, the attention of foreign invaders fell on India. Muslim armies like Muhammad Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori continued to attack Indian territory one after another. The Hindu kings, who were supposed to fight the foreign invaders together, became inactive. The differences and disunity between the kings of the country became a boon for the Muslim kings. Gradually, the Muslim armies conquered one king in the country and expanded their kingdom. This history of aggression continued for about 700 years and marked the beginning of the Mughal rule. By the time of the Mughal emperor Akbar, 50 percent of the territory of India came under the control of Muslims. During these 700 years, the native rulers failed to resist the foreign invaders because they did not fight unitedly. That was a curse for India. Due to the corrupt policies implemented by the Mughal emperor Akbar, many Rajput kings bowed to his authority and took refuge in him. They all lost their freedom and became vassals of Akbar. Some others joined Akbar's army as soldiers. The great warrior Raja Man Singh worked hard to expand the Mughal empire as the commander-in-chief of Akbar's army. Raja Man Singh, who did not worship Shiva regularly and did not even touch fresh water, was a witness to the self-forgetfulness of Hindu kings. Birth Maharana Pratap was born about 475 years ago on May 9, 1540, AD in Chittod, Rajasthan. Rana Pratap's father was Maharana Uday Singh of the Sisodia dynasty. His mother was Rani Jaywantbai. Uday Singh had 25 sons. Rana Pratap was the eldest of them all. Uday Singh declared Junmal Singh, the son of his beloved Rani Dhirbai, as his successor. However, after Uday Singh's death, all the ministers of the Mewar kingdom discussed and anointed the valiant Rana Pratap Singh as the king of Mewar. Angered by this, Janmal Singh joined Akbar's army as a general and fought on his own homeland. The Rajputs' desire for power at that time ignored the welfare of the country. In such dire circumstances, Maharana Pratap Singh, who was anointed as the king of Mewar in 1572 AD, set out to defend his homeland. He raised a powerful army to confront Akbar Padusha. He gathered the Bhil youth living in the Aravalli hills and instilled in them a thirst for freedom and made them brave soldiers. Maharana Pratap's army consisted of brave and fearless soldiers who would even sacrifice their lives for their homeland. By the time Maharana Pratap ascended the throne of Mewar, the situation was extremely dire. Enemies were lurking on all sides. The enemy had immense wealth and other resources. He had an army of lakhs. At that time, Maha Rana Pratap took a solemn vow that he would not eat on a golden plate, sleep on soft mattresses, or sleep in the palace until Chittod was liberated. Maha Rana Pratap, who fought against Akbar for about 25 years, lived like an ordinary soldier. There are many stories in Chittodgarh that at one stage, when there was not even enough food to eat, he used to eat grass bread. A poet named Sheetal, who personally witnessed the lifestyle and valor of Maha Rana Pratap, wrote an inspiring lyrical poem on the Rana. Rana Pratap honored Sheetal by placing his turban on her. Sheetal, the poet, used to travel to the villages and sing the heroic stories of the Mewar king. Finally, in the courtyard of Akbar's palace in Agra, the poet Sheetal sang the valor of Rana Pratap. There, an incident that made people cry took place. Normally, when one enters the court of Akbar, one should bow his head and salute Emperor Akbar with his right hand. When the poet Sheetal entered the court of Akbar, Rana Pratap took off his turban, held it with his right hand, bowed his head and saluted with his left hand. The left-handed salute angered the emperor. After a moment, he restrained his anger and asked the poet Sheetal why he had done so. Then the poet Sheetal said this. ‘Padusha Ji.. Please forgive my mistake in saluting you with my left hand. There is a strong reason for that. This turban that is on my head was gifted to me by the great hero Rana Pratap Singh and he himself put it on my head with his own hands. Therefore, bowing my head with that turban in front of you would be an insult to that hero who has not surrendered to you so far. Therefore, I took off that turban and held it with my hand and bowed my head in front of you. Holding the turban of that great hero with my left hand would also be an insult to him. That is why I held the turban with my right hand and saluted you with the remaining hand. I give more importance to showing the heroism of the great Rana Pratap than to fearing you,’ said the poet Sheetal with courage and self-confidence. Akbar Padusha was stunned by Sheetal’s self-confidence. Battle of Haldighati The Battle of Haldighati has a special place in the strategies of the world war. All the attempts made by Akbar Padusha to bring Rana Pratap under his jurisdiction failed. As the embassy failed, war became inevitable. Rana Pratap became a problem for Akbar. Akbar decided to fight Rana Pratap. Akbar prepared a large army of two lakh soldiers to fight against Rana Pratap and made Raja Man Singh the commander of it. The stage was set for a Hindu king to fight another Hindu king on behalf of a foreign ruler. Prince Salim and Rana Pratap's younger brother Shaktisinha, who had fought with the Mughals, were appointed as assistants to Raja Man Singh. This army moved towards Mewar. There, Rana Pratap assessed the situation. He shifted the capital from the inaccessible hills to Kumbhavgarh. He called upon all the Rajput chiefs to unite to protect the independence of Mewar. He took a well-trained army and reached the crucial Haldighati area. This Haldighati was located between the high hills. Rana Pratap had only 22,000 troops, including 3,000 cavalry and 400 elephants. It would be a great feat for this army to fight against Akbar's army of two lakhs. The Mughal army approaching Haldighati along the narrow mountain passes was showered with stones. The Mughal army was shattered by the sharp arrows fired from the bows of the Bhils. However, in the end, the Mughal army gained the upper hand. Observing this situation, King Man Singh of Jhalaku tried to stop the Mughal army. At his suggestion, Rana Pratap left the battlefield and went to a safe place. He rode his horse Chetak, which was moving at the speed of the wind, on the other side. Thousands of Rajput warriors were martyred in the defense of the motherland. Rana Pratap was pursued by two Muslim chiefs. Shakti Singh, who was following them, began to repent. He wanted to cooperate with his elder brother Rana Pratap, who was fighting to protect the Mewar throne. He immediately cut off the heads of the two Muslim chiefs with his chariot. Rana Pratap fell at his elder brother's feet and sought refuge. Rana Pratap hugged Shakti Singh to his heart and consoled him. The battle of Haldighati, which took place in July 1576 AD, stood as a witness to the valor of the Rajputs. Even after the battle of Haldighati, Rana Pratap fought many battles with Akbar's army. Rana Pratap fought the Mughal army for about 25 years. He set out with his family to the safe Indus Valley. On the way, he encountered Bhamasha, who had previously served as the minister of Mewar, and Rana Pratap asked him to give up all his wealth and rebuild the army. With renewed enthusiasm, Rana Pratap captured many forts again. However, he died on January 17, 1597, without winning Chittod. The great Maharana Pratap Singh fought for the country, religion, culture, and freedom and became an inspiration to future generations. He became a true Hindu hero. Later, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was inspired by Rana Pratap Singh's war strategy. Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979 {{album_1288}}

Global Hindu Heritage is very happy to inform that we started about 150 Bala Samskar Kendras in nine States in Bharat and four in Bangladesh and on in Congo.  The mission of these Centers is to teach about the richness of Hinduism, Hindu festivals, Hindu ethos, Hindu History, and culture and traditions.  GHHF has introduced our Bala Samskar Students to learn Surya Namaskar at a very young age to reap all the benefits for the rest of their lives. At this age they can tone up their muscles and body. It also changes their mental makeup when introduced at a very early age. It also helps reduce many ailments. They are also taught different Yoga postures to receive more benefits. Ustrasana, or Camel Pose, is a yoga pose that gets its name from the Sanskrit words Uṣṭra meaning "camel" and Ä€sana meaning "meditative pose". The pose is named for the shape the body makes, which resembles a camel's hump.  To enter this asana, kneel down, then lean back to touch the feet with both hands. The deepness of the bend varies according to the flexibility of the practitioner. Advanced practitioners are often able to bend far enough to touch their feet with their head. Some say that the camel symbolizes strength, endurance, patience, steadfastness, and sacrifice. Physical benefits •    Flexibility: Stretches the front of the body, including the chest, abdomen, thighs, and hip flexors  •    Strength: Strengthens the back, shoulders, and core muscles  •    Posture: Improves posture by straightening the back  •    Blood circulation: Increases blood flow to the body, which can improve energy and focus  •    Lung function: Opens the chest, which allows for deeper breathing and improves lung function  •    Spinal health: Improves spinal flexibility and reduces back pain  •    Organ stimulation: Stimulates the thyroid, adrenal, pineal, and pituitary glands, as well as the abdominal and neck organs  Psychological benefits  •    Stress and anxiety: Reduces stress and anxiety, and can create a sense of relaxation •    Self-esteem: Boosts self-esteem and confidence •    Creativity: Can increase creativity and revitalize the brain •    Focus: Can improve focus and concentration Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979  {{album_1286}}

In the past, there was a merchant in the city of Ujjain. He did business very wisely and earned a lot of money and fame. Despite everything, his only concern was about his children. His four children became rich as soon as they were born, and they grew up as lovers. No one was bothered by education. Others were neglected. They had no worldly knowledge. Moreover, one is not like the other. Even though they are getting older, there is no change in them. After some time, rich man fell ill. He was worried that he would die. The disease worsened due to the worry of how her children would survive if he died. After thinking carefully, he had a lightning-fast idea. He called his four sons and asked them to bring some firewood. He asked each of them to take a piece of firewood and break it. Four of them took a piece of firewood and easily broke it in half. Then he asked them to break two pieces of firewood at a time. The four of them broke them with difficulty. Then, rich man asked each of them to take four sticks and break them. No one was able to break the four sticks. He took the same four sticks and told the four of them to break them. All four of them broke the four sticks together with ease. See, you were able to do a task together. No one could do it. "Unity is strength," said the father. Therefore, take an oath that you will remain united after me. All four of them understood the truth in the father's words and swore to the father that they would do the same... Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979 {{album_1285}}

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation started Bala Samskar to teach the richness of our ancient culture, the meaning behind every action, the science behind our customs, the age-old traditions that were passed on for millennia. Also, the diversity of customs and the respect for our culture that has been transmitted for centuries.  Pada sparsa of parents is one such custom that is as old as Sanatana Dharma. Touching the feet of elders is an age-old Indian tradition that is considered to be a mark of respect. This gesture can be seen in almost all Hindu families, both in India and abroad. Indians believe that when a person bows down and touches the feet of their elders, their ego gets suppressed as this gesture indicates respecting the age, experience, achievements and wisdom of the person whose feet are being touched. The elder person then, in turn, blesses the person touching their feet. Here are more facts and beliefs about this common Indian practice that you should know. In the Ramayana, ne can find Rama often kneel and touch the feet of his mother and father as a gesture of respect and to seek blessings, signifying the deep reverence he held for her; this act is often depicted when he is leaving the palace or making important decisions. Also, when Rama was leaving for the forest on exile, he would touch the feet of both his parents to seek their blessings The gesture of touching feet is a mark of respect towards the elderly. Hindus believe that touching the feet of elders is indicative of respect towards the age, experience, wisdom, and achievements of the person whose feet are being touched. Moreover, the older person blesses the person touching their feet. When we bend touch the feet of our parents, The nerves in the human body, starting from our brain, spread all over our body and end at our fingertips and toes. While doing pada sparshan, when the fingertips of your hand are joined to the feet of the opposite person, a closed circuit is established between the two immediately and the energies of your bodies are connected – your fingers and hands become the receptor of that energy, while the feet of the elder person become the giver of the energy. As per Indian scholars, there are three ways of touching feet. The first one is the basic way of bending forward and touching the feet. The second is to sit on your knees and then touch the feet of the other person. The third and last one requires you to lie down on your stomach, with your forehead touching the ground, which is also known as the Sashtang Pranam, generally practiced by devotees in Hindu temples. While bending forward to touch feet, your back and waist are stretched. When you sit on your knees and then touch the feet of an elder, your knees are bent and all of the joints in your body are stretched, which relieves you from joint pain. While engaging Sashtang Pranam, your entire body stretches, and body pain is cured.  Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979 {{album_1284}}

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very happy to participate in celebrating Makara Sankranti activities. On January 13, in Kothur village of Kalyanadurgam mandal, we first performed puja at the Kollapuramma temple in the Dalit village and from there we walked along the ancient streets chanting bhajans to the Veera Brahmendra Swamy temple. While the elders were chanting bhajans, children also participated with us holding flags with the picture of Anjaneya Swamy and chanting Jai Shri Ram. While we were chanting through the streets, women lit incense sticks on the picture of Shri Ram and poured water along the way with devotion. The villagers were also happy and expressed their happiness that the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is helping the Kollapuramma temple with microphones and is doing a very good program by awakening Hindus by chanting bhajans in such streets. As a mark of respect, when a person carrying God’s picture, villagers consider his as representative of God and wash the feet of the person carrying God’s picture. Also, the ladies wash the streets where the procession is going through the streets to ensure God will be carried on streets that are purified. Nagarakirtana in Hinduism signifies a communal procession of Sankirtana, featuring collective chanting and glorification. It embodies a form of devotional singing in towns, illustrating its deep spiritual importance and the ecstasy it brings to participants. It is believed that by participating in this program, one can receive the love, blessings, and grace of Sri Rama. It’s time to let go of worldly concerns and bask in the divine presence, rejuvenating your spirit and strengthening your connection to the divine. In this age of Kali there is no other way but the glorification of the Lord by chanting his Holy name and that is the injunction of all the revealed scriptures. In Kaliyuga, Naama Sankeerthanam (Bhajan) is the way out. Our Rishis have foreseen that in Kaliyuga, there will be no time for people to engage (nor will they be interested) in religious activities due to pre-occupation. "O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, and also those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, as well as those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge." (Bhagavatam 2.1.11) Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979  {{album_1283}}

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very proud to say that we are teaching our Bala Samskar Students about the greatness and life stories of national heroes, famous people, and great saints. This week we talked about Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda’s original name was Narendra Nath. He was born on 12th January 1863 at Kolkata (Swamiji's Jayanti i.e. birth anniversary is celebrated as 'International Youth Day'). Right from childhood, two aspects of his behavior could clearly be noticed. One was his devout and compassionate nature and the other was his readiness to perform any act of courage. Since his whole family was spiritually inclined, he received an appropriate religious upbringing. Swami Vivekananda was admitted to the school founded by Mr. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in 1870. While in school he focused both on studies as well as bodybuilding. He had great respect for his mother tongue. One such incident was when he had an English language class in school, he said, "I shall not learn the language of the white master." At least for 7 - 8 months, he abstained from learning that language. Later he learned English owing to compulsion.  Swami Vivekananda stood first in his matriculation examination and added to the glory of his family and school. Then he joined the Presidency College in Kolkata and completed his M.A. in Philosophy. Meeting his Guru and accepting Sanyas by Swami Vivekananda Dr. Ramchandra Dutt, a relative of Narendra who had been raised in his house was a disciple of Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa. He noticed that Narendra was inspired by religious feelings to such an extent that he was contemplating renunciation in his childhood itself. He once told Narendra, “Brother, if your only goal in life is to further the enhancement of our religion, then do not get involved in the Brahmo Samaj or others. You go to Dakshineshwari and meet Shri Ramkrishna.” Narendra met Shri Ramkrishna at his neighbor Surendranath’s house itself. Initially, for some days Shri Ramkrishna did not allow Narendranath to leave his side even for a moment. He made Narendra sit next to him and gave him a lot of advice & counsel. The two of them would have great discussions when alone. Establishment of Ramkrishna Mission by Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda along with Taraknath, another disciple of Ramkrishna, established the Ramkrishna Mission after the Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa. It began its activities from a dilapidated building at Varahnagar, near Kolkata. Earlier it was believed that this place was a haunted house. Vivekanandakept Shri Ramkrishna’s mortal ashes and some other objects used by him, at this place. Soon Shri Ramkrishna’s disciples started living there. Importance of Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda putting a curb on conversions with his stormy propagation of ‘Vedanta’ in other countries India was ruled by the British during the period of Swami Vivekananda. Owing to the influence of the British education system, their culture, the strategies of Christian missionaries misleading people, and their literature, the affluent class in Bharat developed an inferiority complex feeling that Hindu Dharma and culture are of very low standard, inhuman and barbarian. Many Hindus would have been baptized and adopted Christianity, but there is no doubt that it was curbed due to the fiery propagation of ‘Vedanta’ in other countries by Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda gave the message of spiritual unison and creating new consciousness among the youth Swami Vivekananda represented India and consequently, Hindu Dharma in a world conference held in Chicago for all religions in the year 1893. Swami Vivekananda gave a message of spiritual unity to the world at this conference. He also emphasized that along with spiritual progress, materialistic/worldly progress was equally important. Swami Vivekananda's guidance helped to generate new consciousness and enthusiasm amongst the youth. Swami Vivekananda shines at the World Parliament of Religions The premonition regarding the visit to Chicago Swami Vivekananda was half asleep one night; he had a miraculous dream. Shri Ramkrishna’s blazing form was moving ahead over the seas and beckoning Swamiji to follow him. Swami Vivekananda opened his eyes. His heart was filled with indescribable ecstasy. At the same time, he heard very clearly a divine voice saying, “Go”. Then he resolved to go abroad and completed all arrangements within a day or two. Departure for the World Parliament of Religions Swami Vivekananda left the Indian shores, aboard the ship, ‘Peninsular’ on 31st May 1893. He reached Vancouver port in Canada on 15th July. From there he traveled by train to the famous city of Chicago in America. He came to know that a World Parliament of Religions was going to be held on 11th September. Swami Vivekananda proved to be a true representative of Hinduism as he made his fervent appeal for tolerance to the whole world from the dais of the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on 11th September 1893. It must have been a divine plan to allow this saint to introduce the world to the great Hindu Dharma. This conference was inaugurated with the Chanting of Hymns by the various religious heads. It was a melodious beginning to the conference. On the dais, at the center, was the religious head of the Roman Catholic Sect of America. Swami Vivekananda was not the representative of any particular sect. He had arrived at the conference as the representative of the Sanatan Hindu Vaidik Dharma of all Bharatvarsha. The conference was attended by almost 6 to 7 thousand ladies and gentlemen. As per the instructions from the chairperson, each representative on the dais was reading his pre-prepared speech. Swami Vivekananda had not prepared any written speech. Finally, he stood up from his seat having sent a silent prayer to his Guru. He addressed the conference with the words, “Sisters and brothers of America”. These words had such miraculous strength in them that those thousands gathered stood up and there was continuous applause. The emotional appeal in those compassionate words had stirred every heart. It was the first time ever that any orator had referred to the whole of mankind as ‘Sisters and brothers. Further, he entered all presents with his brilliant and powerful oration. Swami Vivekananda felt that the Hindu Samaj has the potential to become the spiritual teacher to the world. After centuries someone had again shown the Hindu society its own wide horizons. Yet Swami ji did not criticize any religion. He did not degrade any religion. He only wiped the dirt that had accumulated on the Hindu Dharma owing to its ill-treatment and affronts at the hands of its invaders. Swami Vivekananda showed Hindu Dharma its own irradiant self and placed it on the highest pedestal of the World Parliament of Religions. When speaking about Hindustan, he says that it is sacred land, a land with a divine purpose. Hindustan is the abode of spirituality and introspection. Right from the ancient ages, founders of religious tenets were born here. They satiated the scorched earth with the cooling waters of the Eternal truth - Sanatan Satya. It’s the only land where one can experience not only tolerance but also affection for other religions.  Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979  {{album_1282}}

Mumtaz Hotel is being built illegally at the foothills of Tirumala in spite of the opposition by Tirupati Urban Development, B R Naidu, Chairman of TTD, TTD Trust Board, Peruru Panchayat, several Hindu Organization. It even discussed in AP Assembly. requesting Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to demolish this structure and restart Devlok.  Implement G O 746. The Jagan Mohan Reddy government wrested 28 acres of land meant for building Devlok, a theme park for Children on Hinduism and gave it to Muslims to build a five-star hotel, when rules expressly forbid it. Is the Naidu-Kalyan combine going to act to ensure that this is reversed and the land returned to the original owner?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDTtSRgWXVQ  

Global Hindu Heritage is very happy to inform that we started about 150 Bala Samskar Kendras in nine States in Bharat and four in Bangladesh and also on in Conago.  The mission of these Centers is to teach about the richness of Hinduism, Hindu festivals, Hindu ethos, Hindu History, and culture and traditions. Sri Rajesh is a very active member in the community championing the Hindu Values not only to the children but also actively involved in making the Hindus proud of their culture. Our Children are taught about the richness of our culture by teaching about various scriptures and the timeless wisdom found in them.  Our students will learn how Hindus conceive the abstract concept of God, their features, physical features and the divine qualities. We talk about the characteristics of Lord Rama, the attributes and his behavior and the qualities that we can emulate. Many of our Gods are incarnated at different times and we try to explain about different Avataras and the purpose of incarnating at a particular time. What is Bala Samskar? Our children are our strength. They are our future. They are going to be our Ambassadors to Hindu Dharma in preserving, protecting, and propagating our ancient civilization. For centuries, we as Hindus have failed to transmit knowledge to the next generations. With no knowledge about our faith and with no pride in the universality and non-violence of Sanatana Dharma, our children, as well as adults, have become targets for Christians to convert. They have used a plethora of deceptive tactics to woo our Hindus to Christianity as we are not able to defend our religion and also not able to question the barbaric nature of the Bible. We have become defenseless and not equipped with any knowledge about our heritage.     Surya Namaskar is made into our syllabus where all our youngsters will do Surya Namaskar every Sunday for about 20 minutes. They also practice different types of Surya Namaskar such as Chaturanga Surya Namaskar, Ashtanga Surya Namaskar and so on.  Why Surya Namaskar Asanas. According to Sage Sushrutha (Master of Ayurveda), health is defined as  "sama dosha sama agni scha sama dhatu mala kriyaaha| Prasanna atma indriya manaha swastha iti abhidheeyate" Translation: One is in perfect health when the Three doshas (vata, pitta and Kapha), metabolic fire (digestion, assimilation and transformation), all the bodily tissues & components (the entire physical body) all the excretory functions (urination, sweat, and defecation) are in perfect order with a pleasantly disposed and contented mind, senses and spirit. There are twelve Asanas - one is taught standing in front of the sun in the morning wherever it is possible, it can be done other times facing east. Ten minutes of doing Surya Namaskar would have a dramatic effect on various aspects of one’s life. We all know that without sun, there is no life. Sun radiates energy and heat, without which there is no life.  Why Children? We all know that children are unable to concentrate on academics. While reading about the parts of a flower and understanding the composition of water, the mind  keeps slipping away for a little walk. They are: Pranayama, Hastauttanasana, Padhastaasana, Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Parvtasana, Dandasana, Ashtanga Namaskar, Bhujangasana, Parvatasana, Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Padasastasan, Hastauttanasa. Benefits of Surya Namaskar Improves Concentration Inculcates sense of discipline Calms the mind and get rid of restlessness Enhances memory power Increases energy levels Increased learning capacity Tones muscles and improves flexibility Great cardio training and hormonal balance Improves digestion and promotes weight loss Increases energy and awareness levels Reduces moods swings and brings more emotional stability Improves Your Skin’s Glow. GHHF has introduced our Bala Samskar Students to encourage children to start leaning Surya Namaskar at a very young age to reap all the benefits for the rest of their lives. At this age they can tone up their muscles and body. It also changes their mental makeup when introduced at a very early age. It also helps reduce many ailments.  Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979 {{album_1281}}

“It is our duty to encourage the efforts of every individual to live in accordance with his lofty aspirations and ideals. At the same time, it is also our responsibility to bring that ideal as close to reality as possible” - Swami Vivekananda. On January 12, 1863, a little before sunrise, a boy was born to Vishwanath Dutta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi in Calcutta. They named the boy Narendranath Dutta. That boy later guided the world and earned a place as one of the spiritual gurus. His name is Swami Vivekananda. Let us review the teachings of Vivekananda, who gave us the path of knowledge and a good message. Narendra had a habit of researching everything he knew since childhood. Why something? What? They were not the ones who would leave anything unexplored. H developed a curiosity about spirituality at an early age. Saints and monks attracted his attention. One day, a monk came to Narendra's house and asked for alms. Without a second thought, Narendra ran into the house, brought a beautiful cloth, and gave it to the monk. Due to such feelings, Vivekananda got used to meditating from a young age. Vivekananda was a child genius. Along with studies, he also excelled in music and gymnastics. His specialty was reading quickly and understanding it well. Once, he borrowed some books from Sir John Lubbock's library and returned them the next day. The librarian asked him, "Have you read so many books daily?" He took a book and asked some questions about it. Narendra answered all of them quickly and without any hesitation. The librarian was surprised to learn that Narendra had read all the books. Narendra had a keen interest in matters related to God and His existence. This interest led him to the Kali temple in Dakshineswar, where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa resided. Initially, Narendra did not accept Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as his guru. As he learned more about his guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Swami became the most critical person in Vivekananda's life. Although he came from a wealthy family, Vivekananda, who experienced severe financial problems after his father's death, changed the course of the entire Indian state with his spiritual consciousness at this stage. In 1887, after Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa became a Siva, Narendra and some other disciples took up sannyasa. It was then that his name changed from Narendra to Vivekananda. Vivekananda means ‘joy through wisdom and knowledge’. After taking up sannyasa, Swami Vivekananda made spiritual journeys to all parts of India. As part of his journey, Vivekananda, faced with hardships by the people, vowed to find a solution. In 1893, he introduced Vedanta knowledge to the Western world through the platform of the World Conference of All Religions held in Chicago, America. He encouraged the whole world to be curious about India's glorious culture and traditions. National Youth Day: Sri Aurobindo stated that on one occasion, Swami Vivekananda awakened India’s spirituality. Vivekananda, who added nationalism to this consciousness and this awakening, explained how crucial nationalism among the youth of that country is for the existence of a country. Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Dr. B.R. Swami Vivekananda have inspired many like Ambedkar. With his impressive eloquence and excellent subject knowledge, he worked hard to awaken society. He awakened the youth of the country. He taught them what to do. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of such a great man, India is celebrating ‘National Youth Day’ on January 12. Swamiji’s ideals and his messages guide the youth. It is essential for today’s youth, striving to achieve more progress in a shorter time than the conditions of that time, to understand Vivekananda’s teachings. It is also timely. In his speech on Raja Yoga, he said, ‘Take a good subject. Make it your life’s desire. That should be the supreme goal in your thoughts, dreams, and life. Your brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body should think the same. Put aside all other thoughts. Only then will you be able to achieve success,’ Vivekananda revealed. Whether you want to be a talented athlete or start a budding organization, I believe that if you stick to this principle taught by Vivekananda, you will never be able to go back. Never give up on your goal. You should pursue it, and move forward with perseverance and determination in achieving your goal. Swami Vivekananda emphasized that it is good to get inspiration and motivation from the lives of others, but we should not give up on our individuality. For this, he explained a seed as an example. A seed takes the help of earth, soil, air, and water to become a tree. But when it is planted in the ground, it does not become soil, when it meets the air, it does not become air, or when it consumes water, it does not become water. It simply turns them into steps and grows on its own. It transforms into a plant and then into a tree. Today's youth have a habit of imitating movie heroes and idols. It is good to get inspiration from the lives of successful people, but it is better to choose your path and move forward without blindly following the ways and instructions others give to achieve success in your life. This applies to people from all walks of life. Knowing the best practices from around the world is good, but we should not ignore our rich culture, glorious history, and socio-economic reality. Let us never forget that we must lead our own success story. Today's youth face challenges in the form of excessive propaganda, incomplete information, and domination. The youth's mind can accept different ideas and concepts and understand their reality. As Vivekananda once said, just as a frog in a well thinks it knows everything, one should keep abreast of the changes in the world and society and move forward. One should keep learning new things throughout one's life. There is no end to learning. Everyone should learn new things as well as know the good ideals and qualities in others. If they like it, they should practice it. Along with this, one should never ignore the roots of our culture and traditions. Swami Vivekananda believed that the whole world should live together as brothers. He also emphasized that the essence of all religions is to know the divinity in humans and respect it. Referring to a verse from the Bhagavad Gita, he said, “Just as the canals and rivers that originate in different places... all the different rivers meet in the ocean... the final destination of different thoughts and worship methods is also the same.” At the same meeting, he described fanaticism and bigotry over caste and religion as terrible monsters in the face of humanity. He said that if these terrible monsters had not been there, humanity would have already made much more progress. Although they warned us in 1893, these teachings are still relevant today. Inspired by their teachings, today’s youth should fight against narrow-minded casteism, fanaticism, and intolerance. We should move forward with the inspiration of our basic principle, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, to build a broad world. Swami Vivekananda, while removing the entrenched superstitions in Indian society, introduced the world to the greatness and profound knowledge of the Indian philosophical tradition. A spiritual master with incredible charm, he guided millions of people worldwide and gave a message to the coming generations. ‘Whatever you think, it is a reflection of your mind. If you think of yourself as weak, you will remain weak. If you consider yourself intense, you can move forward boldly.’ I hope the country's youth will move forward by taking Vivekananda’s divine words as an example. On the occasion of Vivekananda’s Jayanti, along with reading and understanding his life, we can also practice the message he gave in our lives. Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com PayPal: savetemples.org By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, TX 75035. It is tax-deductible. By Rupees: call 601-918-7111; +91 83096 43979  {{album_1280}}