Hinduism Today January 2009
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January/February/March, 2009 US$7.95 Affirming Sanatana Dharma and Recording the Modern History of a Billion-Strong Global Religion in Renaissance dinodia COVER: Swami Avadeshananda leads hundreds of thousands of sadhus of the Juna Akhara, page 18. (above) The principles of Positive Discipline help raise secure, happy, respectful, competent children with a strong sense of belonging, page 37. January/February/March, 2009 • Hindu Year 5110 Sarvadhari, the All-Supporting Year www.gurudeva.org INTERNATIONAL Feature: Meet Our Hindu of the Year—a Dynamic Review: Three Fine Books Illumine Archeology, Preacher and Skillful Social Innovator 18 Baba Muktananda and India’s Women 65 Pilgrimage: A Family Visit to Goddess Durga 32 Medicine: Food Allergies? Got Ayurveda? 66 Issues: Dalit Leader Pleads for Economic Parity 57 OPINION History: Journey Back to 1838 when Europe First In My Opinion: How Can Immigrants Transmit Discovered the “Dazzling Light” of Indian Dance” 60 Cultural Values to the Facebook Generation? 9 LiFESTYLE Publisher’s Desk: HINDUISM TODAY Looks Back Youth: The Next Generation of American Hindus at 30 Years of Service to the Hindu World 10 Discover Morari Bapu’s 9-Day Ramayana Katha 28 Letters 12 Television: Is it True that the “Church of Oprah From the Agamas: The Power of Mystic Diagrams 17 Winfrey” Preaches Hindu Tenets to Millions? 30 Youth: Will My Generation Lose their Hinduness? 56 Insight: Fourteen Strategies for Raising Happy, Vegetarianism: One Man’s Comic Food Torment 58 Disciplined Children in Modern Times 37 Minister’s Message: Is there a Better Way to Reach 21st-Century Youth? 67 HINDUISM Resources: Jane Nelsen’s Positive Discipline Book 53 Psychology: Understanding Your Child’s Emotions 54 TODAY DIGESTS Reference: A Look Inside Ramakrishna Mission’s Diaspora 6 Digital Dharma 86 Three-Volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism 64 Quotes & Quips 14 Letters to the editor, subscription and editorial inquiries may be sent to Hinduism Today, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA, letters@ hindu.org. HINDUISM TODAY (ISSN# 0896-0801; USPS# 023082), January/February/March, 2009, Volume 31, No. 1. Editorial: 1-808-822-7032; subscrip- Swami Avdheshananda Giri Is Our tions, copy or bulk orders: (from USA or Canada:) 1-800-850-1008 or (from all countries) 1-808-240-3108, [email protected]; advertising: 1-888- 464-1008, [email protected]. All-department fax: 1-808-822-4351. HINDUISM TODAY is published four times a year in January, April, July and October by Himalayan Academy, a nonprofit educational institution at 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Founder; Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, Publisher; Paramacharya Palaniswami, Editor-in-Chief. USA subscriptions: us$35/1 year, $65/2 years, $95/3 HINDU OF THE YEAR years, $155/5 years, $1,001/lifetime. Contact us for international rates. In India: Central News Agency Limited, 4E/4 Jhandewalan Extn., New Delhi, 110055, YEARS Tel 011-5154-1111, E-mail: [email protected]. 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Explore the resources here, enjoy our latest edition and e-mail us if you are inspired. Subscribe to the Print Hinduism Today Amazing Publications, Edition of Hinduism Today Archives Online Viewable Online Submit an Article to Read the Story of Shop at the Himalayan Hinduism Today Hinduism Today Academy Online Store Send Comments Subscribe to Hindu An Audio Library To the Editor Press International, a Of Inspired Talks (e-mail) Daily News Summary canada warfare, Sri Lankan Hindus here are moving forward. Fifteen-year-old bali Toronto Rites Vignesh Markandu writes: kept to join Suyasa’s cremation. “I have been praying at Sri Some had been buried or mum- Growing Varasithi Vinaayagar Hin- mified for months or even years, anada’s province of du temple since the year Spectacular awaiting the auspicious occasion COntario now has the larg- 2001. I have become very of a royal cremation. Although est Sri Lankan diaspora in the devoted to Lord Ganesha, Cremation cremated at the same time, the world. The 2008 annual chariot Who has become indis- t was the most specta- pyres of the commoners were in festival of Toronto’s Sri Vara- pensable in my life. There Icular royal funeral in Bali in a separate location. sithi Vinaayagar temple drew are no cultural/age differ- at least three decades. On the According to Balinese belief, a crowd of 15,000. Sri Lankan ence in this temple. It has auspicious day of July 15, 2008, the soul can return to inhabit a temple officials and devotees a balanced blend of Hindu in a roar of orange flames, the new being—generally a member pride themselves on conduct- youths, adults and seniors. body of Agung Suyasa, who had of the same family—only after it ing high-standard pujas and Although the temple is The Sri Lankan community sets high standards for Hindu rites in Canada, died in March, 2008, head of the has been freed through crema- festivals. They have carried this based on South Indian where its festivals continue to grow in size, grandeur and public recognition royal family of Ubud, and two tion. “None of us is brand new,” tradition to lands far and wide. rituals and language, it is members of his extended fam- said Raka Kerthyasa, the younger For the annual rites, the temple becoming a multicultural, mul- materials and explaining things principals. This temple is truly ily were reduced to their earthly half-brother of Suyasa, who is hired priests from India, nagas- tiethnic center. The last time I in English, and the youth are an example of opulent South elements in a mass cremation now the guardian of the ancient waram (temple horn) players went to the annual festival I saw paying more attention. The tem- Indian Hindu culture. Sri Vara- that included 68 commoners. but symbolic royal family and and 12 temple drummers, plus Caucasians and many Chinese. ple also has a school for youth sithi Vinaayagar is no ordinary In a Balinese tradition, the bod- who oversaw the cremation. an elephant from the local zoo. Everyone is accepted. and programs for seniors. The temple. It seems to have been ies of the commoners had been “We are part of the cycle of life.” While their homeland con- “Recently the temple and priests here do all the ceremo- unearthed in Jaffna and brought tinues to sink under ruinous priests have begun publishing nies according to the traditional to Toronto.” usa America are learning the sacred rites out of neccesity. Male Woman Priest brahmin priests once held a prestigious position in Hindu society. But today educated His Holiness, Swami Chidananda Saraswati was a paragon of Fillsith Shortageover 3 million hin- brahmins are taking up secular monasticism, a modern-day saint who inspired tens of thousands Wdus in the US and Can- work and looking down on the ada, attending more than 700 priesthood as a less sophisticat- india end, he left written instructions temples and mandirs, there is ed and less lucrative vocation. (see www.sivanandaonline.org) a growing shortage of priests When facing resistance from that his body was to be uncer- to perform the necessary rites conservatives, Tandon says, “Can A Great Soul emoniously disposed of within in temples and in homes. Step- you tell me who gave birth to three hours in the nearest river ping in to fill the gap is Shashi you? The mother is the true Moves On (which was the Ganges) fol- Tandon, 68, a retired teacher.