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[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students chanting Slokas to stimulate their brain, improve health and develop spirituality. 

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is conducting close to 200 Bala Datta Kendras in seven States in Bharat – Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. We are committed to transmit the greatness of Sanatana by teaching about our scriptures, national heroes, Mahatma, moral stories, historical incidents, chanting of slokas and mantras and Itihasasas. 

18 Mar 2024

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[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students chanting Slokas to stimulate their brain, improve health and develop spirituality. 

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is conducting close to 200 Bala Datta Kendras in seven States in Bharat – Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. We are committed to transmit the greatness of Sanatana by teaching about our scriptures, national heroes, Mahatma, moral stories, historical incidents, chanting of slokas and mantras and Itihasasas.  As a part of this effort, we developed a comprehensive syllabus that includes the chanting of Slokas. A shloka is the one in which each line contains sixteen syllables. Shlokas, which are generally repeated to aid concentration in meditation, have their origins from the Vedic period. Chanting of shlokas has been prevalent in Indian culture for hundreds of centuries. It is the recitation of words that have spiritual meaning. Students at Advaith are taught Sanskrit Slokas every week. Every time they learn a new shloka, students are trained to pronounce each Sanskrit word clearly and in a flawless manner.  Students are also trained to recite Slokas in a particular tune and rhythm that will eventually make them well versed. The benefits of chanting of shlokas. •    The effect of breath while chanting. Research shows that a chanter’s respiration rate slows from the normal 12 to 15 breaths per minute to between five and eight breaths per minute, which is considered optimal for mind-body health. •    The audible sonic effect produced while chanting. This reflects the pleasurable sensations and healing effects of extended vowel sounds typical of sacred chants, like shlokas. •    The ultimate ‘intent’ of the person chanting. The desire to be close to God plays an important role. The synergy of the above five characteristics give chanting various powers that has been attributed to it. Advaith School in Hosur encourages students to recite Shlokas regularly, doing so has various benefits: 1. Improves Attentiveness in Kids Sanskrit sooth minds and this helps children focus on whatever they do and develop concentration. No matter what state of mind your child is in at present, you can help her calm down by taking a few simple steps. This will enhance your child’s acceptance and make her strong from within. 2. Creates values among children Prayer for peace and healing for all beings. Prayer time should be a period of joy, devotion, and piety and never of boredom or force. This will develop over time. 3. Chanting can help in healing The rhythmic up and down vibration created by chanting shlokas creates a melodious effect in the body known as the Neuro-linguistic effect (NLE). The Neuro- linguistic effect on the body is possible even if the person chanting does not know the meaning of the shloka. Another effect is the Psycho-linguistic effect (PLE), which occurs when one knows the meaning of what one is chanting. 4. Enhances clarity in speech and linguistic skills The pressure on tongue, lips, vocal cord, palate and the connecting regions in the brain generated by the continuous chanting of Shloka stimulates the hypothalamus that then functions more efficiently. (Source: Advaith International Academy) The following two slokas were taught last week in our classes: "Sarvopanishado Gavo dogdha gopalanandanah Partho vatsah sudhirbokta dugdham gitamritam mahat. (All the Upanishads are the cows milked by Krishna, the cowherd boy. Arjuna is the calf. Those who are wise and pure drink the milk, the Supreme, immortal nectar of the Gita.)" -Gita Dhyanam (Meditation on the Gita)  Vedas are the breath of the Lord. Upanishads are the defining points of the Vedas. Sort of crowns. All Upanishads are compared to cows here. If the milk is compared to Gita, then it means that the knowledge attained through a devoted study of the Gita gives the essence of all Vedas (and Upanishads in turn). In many slokas Upanishad icverses are repeated verbatim in the Gita. Foreseeing the difficulty of the forthcoming generations of Kaliyuga vasis, Krishna has prepared a digest of the consummate wisdom of the Vedas and presented them in his dialogue with Arjuna. Let us memorize this sloka today. I believe you have memorized the previous three. Hare Krishna Vasudeva Sutam Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardanam Devaki Paramaanandam  Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum  I bow to Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, who was the cause of Mother Devaki's immense happiness, and the one who killed the wicked Kamsa and Chanoora, and who is the supreme teacher of the universe. 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_1049}}
18 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Welcome the Implementation of CAA; it is to stop Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

“And I would like people, as it were, to be more reverential towards the past, to try to understand it; to preserve it; instead of living in its ruins. The Old World is destroyed. That has to be understood. The ancient Hindu India was destroyed.” V S Naipaul Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 addresses the plight of minorities, who are facing brutalities, persecution, forced conversion, murders, rapes, and all kinds of atrocities in our neighboring Islamic countries, where the idea of secularism, peace and humanity just cannot survive. Under the provisions of the CAA, migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who arrived in India before the specified date and cited "religious persecution," stand eligible for citizenship. Notably, this applies to individuals belonging to six specific religious minorities: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian. Why are Muslims excluded? Muslims are not minorities in these three countries and enjoy full privileges and are even wage a war against minorities. There are 55 Islamic countries in the world. So, Muslims have enough choices to make and live as per their customs if at all they are persecuted in these three counties. In all these three counties the Muslim population is almost 99 percent in Pakistan, 99.9 percent in Afghanistan and 94 percent in Bangladesh.  Why should they be allowed in India. There are no incidents of persecution of Muslims in these three Muslim countries. On the other hand, minorities in our neighboring Islamic countries have nowhere else to go, but India. India decided to give refuge to victimized Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jainis, Parsis or Christians. They have only one country to go back while the Muslims have abundant choice to go live.   In September 2015 and July 2016, the central government exempted certain groups of illegal migrants from being imprisoned or deported. These are illegal migrants who came into India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan on or before December 31, 2014, and belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian religious communities. USA should examine their own Investigation of Bangladesh Hindu Genocide USA expressed apprehension regarding India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act, emphasizing close monitoring of its implementation. Matthew Miller, the State Department Spokesperson, conveyed the nation's concerns during a routine press briefing, highlighting the significance of religious freedom and equitable treatment under the law for all societal factions. Miller said, “We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Mar. 11." “We are closely monitoring how this act will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles," Miller responded to a question. Response to US Government’s comments on CAA Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs,  responded by saying  that "Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles". He further said, "As you are well aware, the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 is an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India's inclusive traditions and a long-standing commitment to human rights." "The act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31st December 2014." Jaiswal said, "The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship, so this must be underlined. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity, and supports human rights." Why the furor over CAA? Ever since the CAA is passed many self-serving political parties, crooked politicians, radical students, Muslims who want to make India a Muslim country, the wretched media and mindless secularists have all conspired to rake up controversy and tarnish the image of India and discredit Narendra Modi. They criticized the Modi government for excluding Muslims. But these Muslims are neither prosecuted in these three countries nor are they minorities. In fact, they are the majority religion with all the privileges the minorities are denied. Modi’s government has dismissed these criticisms that the law is discriminatory. It defends the law as a humanitarian gesture to extend citizenship to religious minorities fleeing persecution and says it would not be used against people who already are Indian citizens. It doesn’t affect the citizenship of Muslims born in India. Opponents of the law falsely accuse daily that scores of Muslims have been lynched by Hindu mobs over allegations of eating beef or smuggling cows, an animal considered holy to Hindus. Muslim businesses have been boycotted, their localities have been bulldozed and places of worship set on fire. Some open calls have been made for their genocide. Any rational, reasonable, and objective person would ask himself “Are there any Muslims leaving India because of the alleged persecution?” If they are mobbed or lynched in India as these radicals claim, don’t you think, they could have gone to 55 Islamic countries to live without getting persecuted. But nobody can find any justification to show how many left India for green pastures in those Muslim countries. Probably none.  In fact, Jamaat’s president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said: “The government of India has implemented the CAA law. I welcome this law. This should have been done much earlier but better late than never. There are a lot of misunderstandings among Muslims regarding this law. This law has nothing to do with Muslims. Earlier there was no law to provide citizenship to non-Muslims coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who faced atrocities based on religion. “Crores of Indian Muslims will not be affected by this law at all. This law is not going to take away the citizenship of any Indian Muslim. In the past, it has been seen that there were protests. Some political people created misunderstandings among Muslims. Every Muslim of India should welcome the CAA.”   Muslims VS Hindus in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh For many Hindus in America and in India as well, it seems that over the years, the Democratic Party in USA, radical Muslims as well as the western media have portrayed India as being anti-Muslim and oppressive of Muslims.  Let us present some facts about the composition of Muslims and Hindus in these four countries. Muslim Population in India: In 1947 the population was about 7.5 %; 1951 – 9.9 Percent; 2011 – 14.2 % and in 2019 it was 14.9 percent.  So, the percentage of Muslim population has doubled in India since 1947.    In addition, of the world’s Muslim population, 11.9 % live in India, which is second only to Malaysia which has 12.7 % of the world’s Muslim population. Every day Muslims cross the borders of Pakistan and Bangladesh into India. That is not a sign of persecution.                 Please note that Hindu population has declined in India since Independence while the Muslim population increased. In 1947, when India was partitioned, the Hindu population in Pakistan was about 24%. Today it is not even 1%. In 1947, the Hindu population in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was about 30%. Today it is less than 6 percent. In Afghanistan, Hindu population is less than 200,000 that is about 0.3 percent. What happened to Hindu population in these three countries.  Were they made to feel unwelcome and left or were they required to convert to Islam?                Why not these critiques look at the holocaust of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh if it intends to be fair with Hindus as much as they are with Muslims. The Muslim population has grown in India, just as it has in the United States. Muslim, Christians, and all other religions are allowed to practice their religion freely in India, just as they are in the United States. Special privileges are given to Muslims in India which include - allowance to travel to Mecca, free education in Islamic faith paid for by government, special terminals for Muslims to go to Hajj, a separate law for Muslims and many more. Does the USA give these kinds of privileges to any religion?   Please note that such allowances are not even given to Muslims even in Muslim countries and are not given to Hindus in India, which is a Hindu country.   These are not signs of oppression. India has a long history of religious tolerance.  Just to give one more example, people of Jewish faith lived freely, being allowed to practice their religion in India for 2000 years.  Upon the creation of Israel as the Jewish country, the parliament of Israel acknowledged that out of 149 countries which Jewish people lived, India is the only country which has not discriminated against the Jewish people.  Muslims are testing the patience and tolerance of Hindus. The question is - When are these facts going to be seriously considered so these critiques can start looking at Hindus and India for what we really are:   - a religion and country which has a history of accepting other religions; which does not believe in conversion and let people practice their own beliefs;  which makes immigrants feel welcome on her land.  Facts, figures, and true historical evidence should dictate political policy, not political pandering, or media bias. CAA: Citizenship Amendment Act Why we Support CAA? Every country has its own immigration policy. Why not India? CAA was passed into law by an overwhelming majority of the parliament of India in 2019.  CAA is an immigration policy of India which allowed non-Muslim illegal immigrants from majority Muslim countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan) - a path to citizenship. A brief history – when India was divided into 2 countries, Pakistan was supposed to be a Muslim country and India a Hindu country.  Pakistan declared itself as a Muslim country, while India declared itself as a secular country, not a Hindu country to accommodate other religions. The basis for division was religion.  CAA allowed for religious minorities (non-Muslims) who fled majority Muslim countries to have a legal path to citizenship even though they entered illegally. Every country uses selective methods to control the inflow of people from other countries. This is nothing new. USA adopted Lautenberg Amendment in 1990 enabling the resettlement of only Jews from the former Soviet Union. Later it amended allowing persecuted religious minorities such as Jews, Christians, and Bahais from Iran. Later it was amended to say non-Muslim minorities from Islamic Countries. Now the USA is building a WALL to prevent illegal immigration from Latin countries. In January 2020 UK like Australia developed a policy which allows only individuals with skills and those who will not burden the welfare system to enter the country. In fact, they should also be familiar with English. Israel facilitated the entry of Ethiopian Jews into Israel., not other religions. Hungary had consistently refused refugees from Iran, Syria, and North Africa on the ground that such people would not fit in. US, Canada, and Europe allowed persecuted Christians to enter their countries from Pakistan, Hindus are not included. These are just examples of different countries’ immigration policies. And please note that the above examples DO include religion as a criterion.   Again, CAA is an immigration policy of India which allowed non-Muslim illegal immigrants from majority Muslim countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan) a path to citizenship. It was passed by the government of India, and there was no need for VP Biden to comment on this in his policy paper. As noted, most countries, including the United States, have immigration policies based on religion.  The main concern we have is that of all the immigration policies of all the countries in the world, why comment on this one?  Why not comment on all of them?  This again seems like a target and misunderstanding of Hindus and India. Let us all welcome with open hands the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act and prevent the persecution of minorities in the three Islamic counties
17 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students learned about the treasury of a Greedy person with a moral that one must use resources when in need instead of being greedy not to use it when needed.

There was an old man in a village. He is very greedy. It means that no matter how hungry he is, he is not able to get even a single penny from his hand. He is not a person who spends even for his family members at home. He put in every penny and collected all the money and bought some gold coins. They are fun to calculate. He put all those coins in a bag, dug a hole under a tree behind the house and covered the bag in it. Every now and then he would take out the pit, look at the bag, count the coins and cover it again. Whenever he collected some more money, he would buy another coin and add it to the fund. It has been good for a while. But one day a thief saw him taking out the bag and counting the coins. That Night itself he came, took out the pit and stole the bag. Next day, as per the old man's habit, he dug for the bag, and it was not there! He cried very loudly. But now what is the use of crying so loudly.  Lost money never comes back, right? The distraught old man went to a Swamiji in the village and told him what had happened. He asked the way to get the treasure again. Swamiji said, “Why did you take the gold and put it in the pit? If you keep it at home, you could have spent it if you needed it, wouldn’t you?" asked. "Spending! I will not spend that money in my life! There is no point in using a single coin out of it!” He said as if the old man was there. Then Swamiji smiled and said, “Put some stones in a bag and cover it, what difference do you have between gold coins and stones? They are not used for divine purposes. We don't need things that are not used. Why do you worry about the items you do not need?" Thus, he was advised and sent away,  We should not squander the money we have, nor should we be so lazy that we do not use it even in need it. Money should be used for us, for family, for the welfare of society and for charitable works. 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_1048}}
16 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Ayodhya Ram Temple stickers are being posted on Hindu Houses and Vehicles to make Hindus proud of their culture.

The Prana Pratishta of Ram Lalla Vigraham in the newly built Rama Temples is a historical movement Hindus have been waiting for nearly 500 years. There has been a struggle for more than 75 years even after India got its Independence. Neven ending battles came to closure two years ago which enables the construction of Rama Temple. No other country would have waited for this many years. A small group of minority religion have tested the patience of Hindus for so many years.     Hindus have so much respect for Lord Rama, even after the demolition of Rama Temple, they never wavered, forgotten, ignored the national historical figure. Millions of Hindus across the globe worship Lord Ram with an intense belief that chanting his name in times of adversity will bring peace and prosperity, and most of those who practice Hinduism keep idols of Ram in their homes. Festivals like Dussehra and Diwali are associated with the historical tales of Ram extolling the virtues of truth, dharma, sacrifice, and ethical governance.     Lord Ram is revered as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the cosmic protector. His life and the profound lessons imparted through the epic Ramayana serve as a moral guiding light for countless Hindus. The temple stands as a sacred sanctuary where adherents gather to beseech blessings, seek wisdom, and find spiritual serenity in the benevolence of Lord Ram. Why Rama is so popular and receives so much respect for centuries from Hindus. “Sri Rama is well versed in the tenets of Dharma, firm in his commitments, an epitome of propriety, uncritical, forgiving, compassionate to the poor and miserable, soft-spoken, grateful, in control of His senses, kind-hearted, endowed with a steady intellect, ever engaged in universal good, non-calumnious, agreeable in His speech to all beings and truthful.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda: 2.31, 32) Rama is known for his politeness, respect for parents, and passion for preserving dharma. Protecting his subjects. His name is given the same importance as that of Pranava mantra OM. It is said that the word Rama is divided into syllables Ra + Aa + Ma; Ra means Rudra; Aa means Brahma; Ma means Vishnu and the confluence of the three deities - Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar. The word Rama is a confluence of two letters Ra + Ma. It is believed and said that these two letters are Jivaakshara (life giving letters) carved out of the most significant Mantras the Narayana Astakshari and Shiva Panchakshari. The letter Ra is carved out of Narayana Astakshari (Om! Namo! Narayanaya!) and the letter Ma is carved out of Shiva Panchakshari (Om! Namah Shivaya!). Rama is considered an ideal son, ideal husband, ideal brother, ideal friend, and even ideal enemy. As an ideal son, he never disobeyed his father. His respect, deference, honor, and love toward her parents were unmatched. He never blamed either his father or his stepmother Kaikeyi. Tulasidas himself praised Rama by saying that “No father nor mother can get a son like Rama.” He never identified himself as Rama; he only identifies as Dasaratha’s son.  After he broke Lord Shiva’s bow during Sita Swayamvar ceremony, he told Janaka that, “I am the son of Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya. I cannot accept her until my parents accept her and find her suitable for me. So kindly send your messenger to get their approval.”  When Dasaratha was trying to stop Rama from going to exile, Rama said, “I cannot break my family tradition of keeping promise … If I must do whatever action is dearer to my revered father, that action is just done in all respects even by renouncing life. There is not indeed anything of greater performance of duty than doing service to father or than doing what he commands." (II:20: 21-22). Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com BY 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 601-918-711; +91 83096 43979 {{album_1047}}
15 Mar 2024

[GHHF] On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, Parvati-Parameswara Kalyanam was performed for the welfare of Humanity (Loka Kalyanam) In Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh.

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation & Save Temples is very happy to announce that we have conducted Kalyan (marriage) to Sri Parvati-Parameshwari for the sake of Lok Kalyanartha and village peace in Gajulapalli village of Kalyandurg mandal. GHHF conducts the Kalyanam every year to protect humanity.      Similarly, this year also on Shivaratri Day, Kalyanam was conducted in Gajulapalli village in Lord Shiva Temple in the presence of all the villagers. First of all, everyone was blessed by putting Tilak on their forehead, tied protection bracelets and made everybody do Sankalpam by announcing their names and Gotras.   Afterwards Ganapathi Puja, Navagraha Puja, Gotra Naam of Lord Shiva and Gotra Naam of Parvati Devi were performed for Shiva and Parvati.  By conducting the Kalyanam, world peace will be achieved by undertaking this marriage, and lastly Maha Mangala Arati is given, and blessings are given to all to get the grace of Parvati Parameshwari. Legend There is a beautiful story in yogic lore. The wedding between Shiva the Adi Yogi and Parvati was a grand affair. Since Parvati was a princess, the “who’s who” of the region were invited – kings and queens, gods, and goddesses, each in their finery, one more beautiful than the other. And then came the groom, Shiva – dreadlocked, matted hair, smeared from head to toe in ash, wearing the fresh skin of an elephant, dripping with blood. He came fully inebriated, completely blessed out. His entourage was all demented and distorted beings, not of human form. They were making all kinds of noises among themselves in a language that no one could understand. Parvati’s mother, Meena, looked at this groom and fainted! Parvati went and begged Shiva, “I don’t mind the way you are. All I want is you, the way you are. But for my mother’s sake just show a little more pleasant self.” Shiva agreed and put on a very beautiful form, attired himself well, and then came to the wedding again. When they saw Shiva transformed, they said he was a Sundaramurti. That means he was the most beautiful human being they had ever seen. He was nine feet tall. They say when Shiva stood, he was level with a horse’s head. When he came down to southern India, they said he was twice the height of an average woman there, who were generally four-and-a-half to five feet tall. He was approximately nine feet tall, the most beautiful man, and everyone was awestruck by his presence. Shiv-Parvathy Kalyana Pooja is the marriage ceremony of divine couple, Lord Siva and HIS consort Goddess Parvathy. Siva-Parvathy Kalyanam is usually performed during Shivaratri. As per Legends Lord Vishnu performed Siva-Parvathy Kalyanam and performed Kanya Daanam of Parvathy to Lord Siva, Lord Brahma was the Yagna Kartha in the marriage. Benefits: •    Bestows good marriage and good married life. •    It can also be performed for materialistic gains and long life.       In the past, they used to have a lot of trouble due to financial difficulties to organize the wedding ceremony of Parvati Parameshwar, but the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation has been organizing the wedding ceremony for free since the last three years. 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_1046}}
14 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students learned about Shambhaji, his pride in being Hindu and how was tortured and killed by Aurangzeb.

Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is committed to teach about the greatness of Sanatana Dharma and teach them about the great national heroes who sacrificed their lives in the hands of British and Mughals. One such incident is about Shambhaji, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji.  Shambhaji Maharaj (son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). Everyone who knows about Chhatrapati Shivaji must know about Shivaji's eldest son Shambhaji.... Because it was our Shambhaji Maharaj who tamed even the king of the jungle lion and cut it to pieces... Shambhaji Raje Bhosle (14 May 1657 – 11 March 1689) was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. After Shivaji he ruled the Maratha Empire as his successor. Shambhaji with his advisor Kavikalash were captured by Aurangzeb's army soldier Mukarrab Khan at Sangameshwar. They were tied to camels and insulted by throwing stones and dung at them. The Vughal emperor made a bargain that he would take over all the forts of the Maratha empire and leave Shambhaji if he converted to Islam. Shambhaji glorified Lord Shiva by saying that he did not change his religion while there was life in his throat. They were kept in jail for forty days and tortured. Eyeballs and fingernails were also scratched. Skinned while still alive. He boldly said that no matter what he did, he would not convert or capture even a single fort. Despicable Aurangzeb tortured and killed Shambhaji Maharaj, the son of our Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, by cutting his limbs and eating salt and pepper every day for 45 days. If he becomes a Muslim, he will give me half of India along with his life. Anna did not agree to convert Shambhaji....I will be a Hindu as long as there is life in my throat. Our Hindu great Maratha warrior Shambhaji Maharaj who died saying. “We are still Hindus on this land of India because many warriors sacrificed their lives for Dharma and for the country. Changing religion is like selling one's mother.” Finally, Shambhaji passed away on March 11, 1689. Aurangzeb's anger did not subside with all that. Shambhaji’s body was cut into pieces and thrown in the river. The nearby Vadhu villagers went down to the river and searched for Shambhaji's body parts and put together the found ones and performed the last rites in a grand manner. Shambhaji is respected as Dharmaveer as his father has the title of Chhatrapati. Shambhaji died on March 11, 1689, when he was only 31 years old. 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_1045}}
13 Mar 2024

[GHHF] In Assam, Mega Membership drive started to enroll Ashrams and individual Hindus into GHHF (Maha Jansampark Abhiyan) via public contact Campaign.  

"From the Hindu perspective, all of life is sacred, and performing our duty is dharma. Dharma is a rich term that means "way of righteousness, religion and fulfillment of duty." From this lofty view, every deed is a part of our religious practice. Everything we do is an act of worship and faith. There are no purely secular activities. Our worship in the temple is part of our dharma, and our work or occupation is part of our dharma.' Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami  As part of our Jan Sampark Abhiyan i.e. Public Contact campaign today Me and my team contacted many Sadhus, Saints, Temple committees. We gave them our activity report card of ten pages. I am delighted to announce that all of them appreciated our work and applaud GHHF Assam. Many of them gave consent to participate in our program whenever and wherever we called them. The main purpose of Sanatana Dharma is to make life better for everyone, live in peace, allow freedom of speech without abusing others, develop the national spiritually, socially and culturally. Encourage to live and abide by Dharmic way of life. In fact, Sanatana Dharma believes in concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” with a belief that the entire world is one family. The concept “Vasudhaiva Kutumbam” asks us to go beyond our homes, beyond our communities, beyond our countries, beyond our planet and consider the whole universe as a family. That is how we will be able to achieve complete harmony with each other and with everything around us.      GHHF team headed by Sri Samrat Dutt embarked on a mega event to spread the greatness of Sanatana Dharma and all the activities we are conducting to bring unity among Hindus and seek the advice of all the Sadhus, Peetadhipathis, Swamijis and their blessings as well as their active participation in spreading the ideals of Sanatana Dharma.  We feel all the religious leaders should get involved in awakening the Hindus about the plight of Hinduism in Bharat and encourage them to get involved for the protection of Sanatana Dharma. Our history is replete with so many examples where our religious leaders have worked to protect Sanatana Dharma.      Lord Krishna aided Arjuna to fight against adharma to restore Dharma where everyone lives in peace. Chanakya helped Chandragupta Mourya to regain the throne of Magadh. Samarth Ramdas helped Chhatrapati Shivaji to fight valiantly against Muslim rulers. He helped to stop the conversion of Hindus into Islam.      Thus, GHHF Assam decided to approach as many as 45 Ashram to participate in this movement to help Hindus to actively involved in this mega event, encourage Hindus to work for unity and preserve Sanatan Dharma.      GHHF will serve as platform for all the Hindus and all the religious leaders to join hands to create unity which is essential for survival of Sanatana Dharma. Only through unity, we can defend our selves and prevent external forces to take advantage of our tolerance and patience.   Amongst 45 Ashrams, Sadhu's, Temples, the List of prominent Ashram, Sadhu's, Temple committees are as follows - Swami Gurupadanandaji Maharaj - Bharat Sevashram Sangha Brijendra Gosai- Ramakrishna Gosai Akhra Hansaraj Kathiya babaji maharaj - Vaishnava Nimbarka Ashram Swami of Sadhuthakur Ashram (Bishnu Priya Manipuri) Swami Bholananda - Bholagiri Ashram Kashi Swami Ritu Binay Brahmachari - Girdharilalji Ashram. Radharaman Jiu Ashram Gauriya Matt Bana Durga Mandir Maa Kali Temple, Taruni Road. Your donations are appreciated; By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com By 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_1044}}
12 Mar 2024

[GHHF] “Global Hindu Heritage Foundation: American Friend of Bharat.” An Article Published in Medium Magazine.

https://shishirkatote.medium.com/global-hindu-heritage-foundation-american-friend-of-bharat-2ac463f365f2 Shishir Katote We often wonder if the Non-Resident Indians even care for the pitiful situation of Hindus in Bharat. We often blame them for “escaping” from Bharat to live a good life, instead of fixing the situation themselves and turning Bharat into a better place for Hindus. Unfortunately, I was also a victim of the same mentality. But recently, which studying the Save Temples initiative, I came across the organization, known as GHHF, which originally started this movement. Initially, I had a feeling that this must be a BJP or RSS backed trust. But as I opened its website, I was appalled to learn that it is founded by the Indians who settled in America and have not forgotten the debt of Bharat.   American Robin Hood For Bharat A beautiful verse in Mahabharat says, dvau ambhasi niveShTavyau gale baddhvaa druDhaam shilaam dhanavantam adaataaram daridram cha atapasvinam There are two types of persons on the earth, who should be thrown in the deep waters with huge stones tied to their necks, one who is wealthy, but does not donate it to the poor, and one who is poor but does not endeavor to become prosperous. This verse may seem quite extreme. But this is how Hinduism fervently promotes the symbiotic growth of all classes in society. To exemplify the practical implementation of this instruction, the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) works towards helping the wealthy do their duty towards Bharat by providing financial and other support to the deprived Hindus, thus empowering them to fulfill their material and spiritual necessities. In simple words, the GHHF embodies this verse. Objective of GHHF According to their, objective of GHHF is to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, peethams, endowments, Trusts and other institutions globally. Also, GHHF remains cognizant of the status of Hindu culture and Hindu Temples globally and take necessary action to eliminate discriminatory practices. Now, who is the real victim of these discriminatory practices? Not the wealthy, but the downtrodden society of Bharat who live on shoestrings to fulfill their basic needs, like food, water and shelter, and the fundamental need, that is the right to moksha. Softer Than Butter In this regard, many gentlemen or sajjanas at GHHF have joined their hands together to create an ecosystem to help these people live materially and spiritually empowered lives. In this regard, we have a beautiful samskrit subhasita explaining the hearts of these gentlemen. sajjanasya hṛdayaṃ navanītaṃ yadvadanti kavayastadalīkam anya-deha-vilasat-paritāpāt sajjano dravati na navanītam The statement made by the poets that “The heart of a good and virtuous person (sajjana) is like butter, is not true. Because, even by seeing the pain of others, the heart of a sajjana melts, whereas the butter melts only when it comes in direct contact with heat. This natural trait of the gentlemen at Global Hindu Heritage Foundation enables them to understand the pain of Indian people, who are materially and spiritually poor but rich by heart. And the pain felt by our gentlemen is not limited to the sympathy or empathy, but hard work on the ground as well. Nationwide Centers The hard work here refers to the 200 centers of GHHF that are working day and night to bring the people back to Hinduism, who either under coercion or by brainwashing, are converted into Abrahmic faiths. In addition to this ghar-wapasi, these people are helped with classes, where they are taught about the original Hinduism and off course, these classes are adorned by the snacks to keep their bellies filled. These centers are known as Bala Samskar Kendras. GHHF runs more than 200 centers of Bala Samskar Kendras across Bharat, with the help of empowering the tribal children to live a materially and spiritually powerful life. Blend of Dharma & Patriotism One of the most noteworthy things about these Bala Samskar Kendras is their promotion of patriotism, in addition to dharma. Recently they organized a program for the children of Bharat (via a Bala Samskar Kendra) where students were inspired by listening to life, patriotism and sacrifice of Chandrasekhar Azad who fought for the liberation of Bharat from the British. Indeed, patriotism and dharma are unalienable. Because the land of Bharat in the birthplace of Dharma. There is no other country besides Bharat that provides the opportunity to learn the esoteric aspects of Hindu dharma. Off course, we do have Nepal. But keeping the national boundaries aside, Nepal may not be a part of India, but definitely Bharat. This aspect is especially important as the national integrity is as important as shraddha in Hinduism, to protect Hindus and Vedic cultures. In this context, I recall the approach of Shri Samarth Ramdas, the guru of Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj, who promoted serious nationalism besides dharma and adhyaatma. Only because of him, we were able to bring back the past glory of vedic culture, which is enabling us to enjoy the flavor of Vedic culture even today. Hence, according to me, the combination of patriotism and dharma is utmost importance of the survival of Hinduism. And GHHF seems to have realized this and are doing their best to instill both in the fertile brains of the students in Bala Samaskara Kendras. Bringing Wealth Back to Bharat After knowing about GHHF, I contacted few friends who are in touch with GHHF and I realized that it is not taking donations from Bharat to keep these Kendras functioning. They are collecting funds from NRIs and are utilizing those for the upliftment of the destitutes of Hinduism. In this manner, GHHF is doing a great work for Hindus, without getting much appreciated by the Indians like myself. I hope this article reaches enough people of Bharat, so that the GHHF gets its due credit. I will be writing more about the GHHF and other organizations which are relentlessly working for the Hindu cause but are not being noticed by the general Hindus. Meanwhile, I have posted a lot of interesting content based on Vedanta on my YouTube channel, which can be accessed here. Shriram! — Shishir R Katote  
11 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Maha Shivaratri celebration was conducted in Visakhapatnam by making Shiva Linga with Sand and observing Vigil the whole night.

On the occasion of Mahasivaratri, a Shiva Lingam was made out of sand (Saitaka) and all the colonists of Mandada Ward Colony in Visakhapatnam were kept awake and a flame lamp was lit, and a vigil was held till 4 am and explained for Sanatana Dharma and how to go to the temples with devotion and how to take their children. This program was conducted by Sri Kollu Srinivasa Raju under the auspices of the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation. All the colonists expressed their gratitude to the Pinnamaneni Srinivasa Rao for organizing this program and for giving us permission. Thanks to the administration system for every campaign working in the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation.   In India, festivals are an important part of life many Hindus celebrate them with zeal, enthusiasm, and dedication. They play an important role in fostering a sense of community and cultural identity. They provide great opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared customs, beliefs, and values. The practice of these festivals will help parents to transmit the richness of our culture to the next generation, thus helping preserve our cultural heritage. Sri Srinivas coordinated the event in Visakhapatnam, prepared Shiva Linga with sand for the occasion in a neighborhood and reminisced the importance of Maha Shivaratri. They have participated singing bhajans, personally performing Abhishekam to Siva Linga, learned about the essence of Maha Shivaratri and chanting Lingashtakam. Many stories are associated with the Mahasivaratri. According to one story, during Samudra Mantana (the churning of the great ocean) poison came out of the sea. It had the power to destroy the whole creation. However, Lord Shiva drank the poison and saved the whole world from annihilation. Hence, Maha Shivaratri is observed by Lord Shiva's devotees to thank him for preserving the universe. According to another Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva married Parvati Devi, his divine consort, for a second time on this night. It is in celebration of their divine union that the day is celebrated as 'The Night of Lord Shiva'. While Lord Shiva signifies Purusha - which is mindfulness, Maa Parvati signifies Prakriti - which is nature. The union of this consciousness and energy promotes creation.  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_1043}}
10 Mar 2024

[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students learned about the importance of Mahasivaratri, rules to do Jagarana and Mantras to Chant.

Shivaratri is very important in worshiping Lord Shiva. Shivaratri There are twelve Shivaratri in twelve months, one in each month. Only one of these falls during the Mahasivaratri season. Mahasivaratri is one of the most prominent Hindu festivals. Pundits say that this Mahasivaratri occurs on the day of Magha Mahana Chaturthi, i.e. when the Moon aligns with Arudra, the birth star of Shiva, and it is said in the Shiva Purana that Lord Shiva appeared as Linga Kara on this day. On Mahasivaratri, devotees of Shiva visit Shiva temples all over the country to worship Shiva. They wake up early in the morning, take a head bath, wear traditional clothes, worship Lord Shiva at home and visit the nearest Shiva temple. Anointed with leaves, cow's milk, honey and Panchamruta which are pleasing to Lord Shiva. Fasting the whole day and staying awake all night remembering the name of Shiva and keeping vigil on Mahasivaratri will be blessed by Shiva. Stories of Shivaratri: 1.    Samudramantana There are many stories in the Puranas about how Shivaratri came about. Gods and demons were dismayed when Kalakoota poison emerged in Ksheerasagaramadhana. This kalakuta poison has the power to destroy the world. Not knowing how to save the world from this, the gods and demons ran to Shankara and begged for refuge. Then Maha Shiva became the world's helper and swallowed the saliva and hid it in his throat. Kantaseema's entire throat turned blue as he hid a powerful world-destroying shriek in his throat. That is why Lord Shiva got the name Nilakantha. Hindus celebrate Mahasivaratri on that night when the threat to the world is removed. 2.    Shivaratri vigil done by the hunter in the forest. Once upon a time there lived a hunter in a mountain area. Every day he used to go to the forest and hunt any animal and bring it as food for his family. One day, when he went hunting in the forest as usual, he found not a single animal, and Nana was distressed. Not wanting to go back without hunting a single animal, he roamed the forest. Not a single animal could be seen, and it was already dark. The hunter found himself in the middle of a thick forest and having no chance of reaching his den, he climbed a tree there. Wild animals roam in that forest at night. Thinking of these, the hunter was running around in fear, picking the leaves of the tree, and throwing them down. He spent his days reciting Lord Shiva's name to gain courage so as not to fall asleep for fear of becoming prey to wild animals if he fell down. Just as the sun rose, Lord Shiva appeared and gave the hunter access to Shiv Loka. The tree that the hunter climbed in fear is the Bilva tree! Mahasivaratri is the night of vigil with the remembrance of Shiva's name!! This second story is that the hunter is worthy of Shiva's grace and attains Shiva's world!! Rules to be followed on Mahasivaratri Puja: ➤ Wake up before sunrise. ➤ Head should be bathed in fresh water, in a flowing river, or in a nearby pool or pond. ➤ One should fast all day. ➤ Jagarana Diksha (waking up the whole night) should be performed by chanting the following mantras while remaining in Yoga Diksha throughout the day: ⟾ Shiva Bijakshari Mantra          Om Namah Shivaya ⟾ Mrityunjaya Mantra :        Om Triambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardanam        Urwarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat ⟾ Rudra Gayatri:        Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe        Maha Devaya Dhimahi        Tanno Rudra Prachodayat Recite the above mantras to the best of your ability. First time Rudraksha wearer, wearing Rudraksha today is very good. On the day of Mahasivaratri it is good to worship with Bilva leaves. If you anoint Shivalinga with Panchamruta (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) on Mahasivaratri, you will be eligible for Shiva's grace. Night vigilance’s importance is high among all the rules observed today. When Mahasivaratri comes, children and adults all observe the ritual of vigil very faithfully and compete for the grace of Lord Shiva, the god of gods and goddesses. Many cultural programs and Vedic preaching programs are organized for the vigilance of Shiva devotees. Harahara Mahadeva Sambho Sankara... 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_1042}}
09 Mar 2024