Dubai's The Beatles Yogathon 44 Let it Be in India 32 Ethics Culture Philosophy Vastu Religion Panchang

Issue No. 61 June 2013 Price: 2.95 ISSN 2040-1825

Krishna and Worship in Ancient 4 Cover Story

Native India 12 g y .or Hindus of Ethics .hindutoday Histor www Guyana 27 of Life 43

Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : ARJAN VEKARIA

PUBLISHER : PANNA VEKARIA

LEGAL CONSULTANT : VIJAY GOEL

USA EDITOR : VRNDAVAN BRANNON PARKER AFRICA EDITOR : MULJIBHAI PINDOLIA Native India VASTU EDITOR : CORALIE FELICITAS SRIVASTAVA n this edition of Hindu Today we are shining the light EDITORIAL, ADVERTISEMENT & CIRCULATION : upon both the past and present scenario of VASCROFT ESTATE,861, CORONATION ROAD, I PARK ROYAL, LONDON,NW 107 PT in India and around the world. Our cover story details TEL: + 44(0) 20 8961 8928 the presence of Hinduism in ancient China. Significant FAX : +44(0) 20 8961 8928 discoveries have been made confirming the popularity EMAIL : [email protected] [email protected] of many Vedic deities and Temples that once dotted the Chinese landscape. HINDU TODAY PUBLISHED BY As the two giants of Asia and the world's largest and PANNA VEKARIA VASCROFT ESTATE,861, CORONATION ROAD, ongoing civilizations, it is hoped that these ancient links PARK ROYAL, LONDON,NW 107 PT will complement the well-known Buddhist commonal- ity between China and India. These two nations repre- PRINTED BY rd EVOLUTION PRINT & DESIGN LTD. UNIT 12 sent one 3 of Humanity and many solutions to our LEWISHER ROAD, LEICESTER LE4 9LR modern conundrums can be found within these traditions and culture. Often seen as being separated by COVER ART: A CAVE PAINTING OF LORD SHIVA FROM DANDAN-UILIQ, KHOTAN, C.500-527 BC the Himalayas, China and India are in fact joined , CHINA together by the Himalayas. This is self-evident when we look at the vast cultural interplay that long flowed over ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE both the Himalayas and the Seas. REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OF BY ANY MEANS OR STORED IN ANY RETRIEVAL SYSTEM. IF ANY NATURE WITH OUR PRI- This edition also highlights the benefits of Tulsi or WRITTEN PERMISSION, EXCEPT FOR THE PERMIT-TED FAIR DEALING Holy Basil, the value of India's Indigenous traditions and UNDER COPYRIGHT, DESIGNS AND PATENTS ACT, 1988M APPLICATION the truth that millions of patriotic and humanitarian FOR PERMISSION FOR OTHER USE OF THE COPYRIGHT MATERIAL Indians, steeped in the native ethos, are actively INCLUDING PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE EXTRACT IN OTHER PUBLISHED WORK SHALL BE MADE TO THE PUBLISHERS. resolving the ongoing social crisis confronting the FULL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AUTHOR, PUBLISHER AND SOURCE OF Mother Land. Other interesting topics include a recent MATERIAL MUST BE GIVEN. HINDU TODAY LTD. 2007 OPTIONS marathon in Dubai, Aikido- the Non-Violent EXPRESSED IN HINDU TODAY ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER. THE HEALTH RELATED CONTENT IN HINDU TODAY IS Martial Art, Hindus of Guyana, the Vastu science on INTERDED ONLY TO INFORM, NOT TO PRESCRIBE AND IS NOT MEANT TO interiors, Meditation and Chanakaya on the role of the BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF A QUALIFIED HEALTH-CARE leader. May this eternal Hindu wisdom add to the PROFESSIONAL. upliftment of both the reader and our society at large. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Arjan Vekaria author and do not necessarily represent those of Hindu Today Editor in Chief Group.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [1] In This Edition

Content

From the Desk of the Editor...... 1 Letters to the Editor To The Editor...... 3 Cover story Lord and Shiva Worship in Ancient China...... 4 Management Chanakya the Eternal Management Guru ...... 11 Culture Native India - A Resurgent India ...... 12 Aikido: The Ahimsa Martial Art & Its Spirituality...... 14 Astrology Rahu and Ketu: The Journey Within ...... 19 Numerology Hindu’s Magic Numbers 18, 108, 1008...... 21 Tradition Do the Shruti Vedas Mention Krishna? ...... 23 History Hindus of Guyana ...... 27 Philosophy United Contributions of the Deities and Daemons...... 30 Society The Beatles Let it Be in India ...... 32 Wisdom Pharmacy Tulsi (The Holy Basil) 15 Benefits ...... 35 Introduction To Ayurveda ...... 37 Panchang Panchang ...... 40 Vastu Creating a Healthy Character through Interiors...... 41 Ethics Ethics of Life...... 43 News Dubai's Yogathon...... 44 A New Mandir Is Born ...... 47 The Sanatana Dharma Conference ...... 48 1000 Year Old Shiva Temple Under Threat...... 48

[2] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Letters to the Editor To The Editor

Namaste, I would really like to appre- Dr.Coralie F. Srivastava for Concerning one of your ciate the efforts of the her vastu insight. It’s a treat authors, Bhakti Ananda author of article ‘Hinduism to read your articles. Goswami, who wrote an a colourful orange’. Pandit Thank you very much. article about Lord Jagan- Lakshmeeshacharya Ji has Shyam K. Mundra natha. This article has had shown his sincere efforts in a very potent effect on my crafting such a beautiful Mumbai, India life. In my line of work I and wise piece of article on Hinduism. It is very beauti- must fight against crimi- Dear Editor, ful and rare to see how nals and I often receive Since childhood I have been different sects of Hinduism implicit threats connected fascinated by American perceive things around Indian people and culture. to my work. them and in this article As a keen Dharmic Some years ago I got into through the example of Yoga and became more and activist I also promote snake and rope pandit more immersed in Hindu veganism and vegetarian- Lakshmeeshacharya Ji Culture. At the same time I i s m t h r o u g h f a m o u s have explained it beauti- have always remained inter- actors on a vegan page fully. ested in American Indian and I am beginning my He has also explained Culture. It is quite interesting outreach efforts towards that the Hinduism is a that both of those cultures are those who publicly declare special orange that has a referred to as ‘Indian’. Some themselves as Satanists in symbolic covering that say that it is just a coinci- the hopes to help them by unites the followers but at dence, I however do not letting them know there is its core lays its beauty to agree. After reading Charlie another way. perceive things differently Lame Deer’s article ‘American So, the article by but finding the same result Indian Finds his Indian Heart’ Bhakti Ananda Goswami always. I am now convinced that it is has provided me with vital There are many ques- no accident that these two tions in life which even information regarding the peoples have shared the Google can’t answer, that’s history of God and has same name for over 500 years why we believe in god and allowed me to feel pro- now. Clearly the Indians of its elements of life. There the East and the West are tected, relieves anxiety a r e m a ny i n t e r e s t i n g ‘One People’. Just as in India and it has helped me to be bumps in life for which god we see the same traditions strong. So, thank you doesn’t come down to being represented in diverse very much for helping us solve, that’s why we have ways, the American Indians via Hindu Today. few intellect people to are clearly expressing the direct us in the path of same culture as well. Faithfully yours. righteousness. ThiThuy Nguyen, I would like to take Judy Janice Cotlliure Paris, France this opportunity to thank Baton Rouge, Louisiana

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [3] Cover Story

Lord Krishna and Shiva Worship in Ancient China Vrndavan Brannon Parker

he civilizations of China and Central China and subsequently tradition has undoubtedly been best India have a long history of subjugated all other petty kingdoms preserved in India yet the universality of T interaction. The links bet- and thus became the emperors of Vedic culture is such that none can claim ween these two ancient civilizations perhaps the one of the largest to be the sole inheritors or originators of were numerous and were sustained empires of the world. the Vedic traditions. These traditions are for thousands of years. The Chinese The name China and the Chinese part of the basic fabric of nature and the tell of a tradition in "Schuking" in were after the Chins of India and universe and can be accessed by anyone which it is stated that the ancestors hence the scholars are unanimous anywhere at any time. of the Chinese people came to China about the Indian origin of the name of Yet just as developed in after crossing the high mountain China. What I have done novel is India and was spread throughout a large ranges to the South. highlight that the Indians did not only apart of the globe by Indian missionaries, In his book ‘The Aryans: A name a great country but also created there can thus be no doubt that India has Modern Myth’ Paramesha Caudhuri the Chinese nation.” While this always been a primary source of Vedic writes, “In my book ‘Indian origin of statement is based on the ‘Indian wisdom. As in the past, India is to this day the Chinese Origin’ pt I & II, I have Origin Theory’ as the source of the primary source of recurrent revivals spoke much of this topic trying to Chinese civilization, it is important to of the Vedic traditions throughout the prove that the original Chin race of understand that regardless of the world. The same ‘eternal’ tradition India dwelling in Kashmir, and origins of the Chinese, the evidence known as Santana Dharma is at the very several parts of South India reveals that ancient Chinese culture core of Chinese civilization. There are colonized Shensi, a province of was Vedic in nature. The Vedic many hints of this phenomenon

[4] June 2013 HINDU TODAY throughout history. For instance, of the scholar M. Sushama presented word for lion, ‘Shih’, used long before the the Imperial Tang dynasty (618–907 in her book ‘Hindu Wisdom’ Chin dynasty, was derived from the AD) used the Hindu/Vedic calendar highlights the many references to word, ‘Simha’. alongside with the Chinese China found within the Sanskrit texts. Notably the African Swahili word for calendar. Amongst the Gods, the Sushama writes, “The lion ‘Simba’ is virtually the same as the Lord of Death and the Underworld makes a reference to presents Sanskrit ‘Simha’ as well. The Greek word known in Sanskrit as Yamaraj is brought by the Chinese to the for China, ‘Tzinista’, appears to be called ‘Yanmo Wang’ within the RajasuyaYajna of the Pandavas. derived from the Sanskrit ‘Chinasthana’. Chinese tradition. In the Vana-Parva of the Maha- M. de Guigues wrote in the ‘Journal of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang bharata it is stated that the Pandava the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. v’ that, (ruled 712–56) called upon the brothers crossed the country of the ‘Magadha was known to the Chinese by Indian monk Vajrabodhi (671–741) Cinas (China) during their trek the name -kiato, and its capital was to perform ‘Tantric’ rites to avert a through the Himalayan territory recognized by both its Hindu name drought in the year 726 AD. In the Fujiyan province, in the Xinmen north of Badri. They are said to have Kusumpura, for which the Chinese wrote area of , there are the reached the realm of the Kirata King Kia-so-mo-pon-lo and Pataliputra, out of remains of a Shiva Temple. It still has Subahu. Also in the Mahabharata the which they made Patoli-tse by translat- a Shiva-linga over five meters tall. Cinas (Chinese), with the Kiratas, are ing putra, which means son in Sanskrit, An ancient stone that still stands found among the armies of King into their own corresponding word, tse. today; it has been widely identified Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisa, India’s Such translation of names has thrown a as a Shiva Linga. Chinese records modern region. In the Sabha- veil of obscurity over many a name of reveal that it was cut in half in the Parva this king is described as Hindu origin. Hindu geography has year 1011 AD and then rebuilt in the surrounded by the Kiratas and the suffered a great loss’. 1400s. Even as late as 1950, Cinas. In other words the Chinese trans- childless mothers would go to it to In the Bhisma-Parva of the lated Sanskrit words into Chinese and invoke the blessings of the deity for Mahabharata, the corps of Bhaga- thus the original pronunciation was lost. motherhood. datta, consisting of the Kiratas and We see this clearly in the Chinese version Likewise in Hsuan-wu, Lo-yang the Cinas of yellow color, are said to of the Indian city ‘Patali-Putra’. Patali- district there is a pillar with Sanskrit ‘look like a forest of Karnikaras”. In the Putra means ‘Patali’s Son’. The Chinese writings from top to bottom and Arthashashtra of Chanakya, China is kept the Patali part of the name but right to left. The scholar Henry mentioned as well. It is theorized that changed the Sanskrit word for son, Rudolph Davies wrote that besides the name China is based upon the ‘Putra’ to the Chinese word for son ‘Tse’. Buddhism, was also name of the kingdom, Ch’in, which Thus the name Pataliputra became popular in Yunan as is manifest from was established by Shih Huang Ti in obscured as ‘Patoli-tse’. Thus even those the prevalence of the cult of the year 221 BC. However according familiar with the city of Pataliputra, being Mahakala there. This ancient Indian to the French art historian, Réné- unfamiliar with the , colony in the south of China was a Grousset, the name China comes could not discern the original name as it strong link in the Sino-Indian from “an ancient Sanskrit name for was translated into the Chinese. We find cultural relationship. The research the regions to the East”. The Chinese another clear example of the impact of dialect upon a language in the Sanskrit word ‘Maṇḍala’. In Japan it becomes ‘Mandara’ but in China it is ‘Màntúluó’. The Italian writer Gerolamo Emilio Gerini Ancient Vaishnava (1860 -1913) stated: ‘During the three or Carvings Discovered in four centuries, preceding the Christian Quanzhou, China era, we find Hindu dynasties established From Top-Left Clockwise: by adventurers, claiming descent from Vamshidhar Krishna - the Kshatriya potentates of Northern -Krishna and India, ruling in upper Burma, in Siam and the Yamal-Arjuna Trees- Laos, in and Tonkin, and even in Krishna- Stealing most parts of Southeastern China’. the Garments of the Gopis A study entitled “China and India” states, “China was part of the Indian ‘Vedic Empire’. This is explained by

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [5] Professor G. Phillips on page 585 in obvious that contacts between India Eberhard, the Chinese Creation ‘Myth’ the 1965 edition of the ‘Journal of and China existed long before 680 involves a ‘Boy of the White Crane'. He is the Royal Asiatic Society’. He B.C. Indeed India had interactions said to live in the palace of ‘jade empti- remarks, ‘The maritime intercourse China from very ancient times. ness’. This is believed to represent the of India and China dates from a Cultural connectivity was maintained ‘Primeval Ocean’ and Lord who much earlier period, from about through several methods and of rides a white swan and is born from the 680 B.C. when the sea traders of the these there were three main routes. navel of Lord Vishnu as he rest in the Indian Ocean whose chiefs were The first was through Yunan and Primeval Ocean. Also the "Supreme God Hindus founded a colony called Burma and the second was through in Chinese popular religion" is called ‘Yù- Lang-ga, after the Indian named the Central Asian region. The third huáng[-dà]-dì’, which translates as "Jade- Lanka of Ceylon, about the present was by the seas. Emperor-Big-Supreme Being". gulf of Kias-Tehoa, where they Currently Orissa’s coastline is Thus we find that, like Quetza-lcoatl, arrived in vessels having prows blocked in by massive sand bars but in the Supreme Being of the Mayans and shaped like the heads of birds or ancient times prior to 1000 AD, Orissa Aztecs, and Rama-chandra, who is animals after the pattern specified was a major maritime power. Many Vishnu, the Supreme Being within the in the YuktiKalpataru (an ancient discoveries from the ancient civiliza- Vedic tradition, the Chinese Supreme Sanskrit technological text) and tions of Babylon, Sumeria, China, Being Yu-Huang di is green as well. Since exemplified in the ships and boats of Greece and Rome have been this ‘Jade-Green’ is considered to be sea- old Indian arts’. discovered throughout Orissa. Along colored green we see yet another YuagXianji, member of the with Orissa, ships from India’s Supreme Being connected with the color Chinese People's Political Consulta- southern ports frequented the ports of water which iconically means the color tive Conference, speaking at the C. of the China and Japan in the East and blue. P. Ramas-wamyAiyar Foundation, Rome, Alexandria and Greece in the China’s leading expert on connec- Madras on March 27, 1984 revealed West. It was through these routes tions between India and China, the late that, “Recent discoveries of ruins of that India’s Vedic and Buddhist Professor Huang Xinchuan of the Hindu temples in Southeast China cultures were spread throughout the Department of Oriental Philosophy in provided further evidence of world. University stated that ancient Hinduism in China. Both Buddhism Theories positing an invasion by China once had many Vishnu and Shiva and Hinduism were patronized by outsiders as the source of Vedic Indian Temples. During an interview with the the rulers. In the 6th century A.D. civilization are unsubstantiated yet they Professor he personally informed me of the Chinese royal family was Hindu are taught as fact by nearly every the many evidences regarding China’s for two generations. The following school, college and university in the Vedic past. He also referred to himself as Tang dynasty (7th to the 9th century world. On one hand we have a vast ‘The Last Chinese Hindu’. According to A.D.) also patronized both Hinduism tradition and culture that developed his research the location of these early and Buddhism because the latter over many millennia and which has the Chinese Vedic Temples can be traced by was but a branch of Hinduism.” and Mahabharata at its very following the ancient Incense trade Albert Etienne Terrien de basis. On the other hand we have routes between India, Nepal, Tibet and Lacouperie also highlighted the theories that were developed by China. He also referred to himself in a maritime intercourse of India with outsiders that completely contradict meeting I arranged between the China dating it from about 680 B.C. the perspective of those who live and Professor and Ram Madhav (RSS Natinal That was the year sea traders of the breathe the culture. The native peoples Executive) as ‘The Last Chinese Hindu’. Indian Ocean whose ‘Chiefs were of the world are not allowed to own In a paper Professor Huang Xinchuan wrote, “Following the Buddhist Hindus’ founded a colony, called their past. Their traditional perspectives and Hindu religious activities, the Indian Lang-ga. Named after the Indian of themselves are discounted as orthodoxy philosophy---the Six word Lanka it was located near the imagined myth or exaggerated legend. Darsanas, Vedanta in particular once present gulf of Kiaotchoa. It is thus imperative to develop flourished in China. Vedanta had exerted It is obvious that India and timelines and histories that actually also some influences on Chinese China were connected far earlier coincide, not only with the scientific Buddhism and in its own way.In and this date only refers to founding evidences, but with the living traditions of the people as well. Using this China we have preserved abundant of the Indian colony of Lang-ga. historical records and relics of Hinduism Since the incidents of the Maha- method we find that the Chinese traditions have many correlations with as well as Buddhism. Since the third bharata have been proven to have century AD, China has discovered occurred over 5100 years ago it is the Vedic. According to the research of numerous Hindu scriptures in Sanskrit.

[6] June 2013 HINDU TODAY There are records in Buddhist and Province, southeastern China Obeisance to Hara [Siva], Let there be Hindu scriptures either systematic is home to several Vedic/Hindu sites. prosperity! On the day [having] Chitra or piecemeal. For example, the A striking series of Hindu carvings in the month of Chittirai of the Saka year Vedas and Upanishads as seen in bas relief from a pillar of a Hindu 1203, the Tavachcha-kkarvattigal alias Chinese historical record were temple was later built-into the Sambandhaperumal caused, in accor- translated freely into Chinese as Kaiyuan Buddhist monastery. Many dance with firman of Chekachai Khan, to Ming-Lun (the Science of Knowl- Vedic deities and carvings are now be graciously installed the God Udaiyar edge), Zhi-Lun (the Science of located at the Quanzhou Maritime Tirukka-dalisvaram Udaiyanayinar, for Intelligence) or transliterated into Museum. The items are arranged by the welfare of the illustrious body of the Chinese as Feituo, Pituo, etc. religion into seven sections—Islam, illustrious Chekachai Khan, Besides, there are Chinese historical Christianity, Manicheanism, Hindu- The dedication implies that the sources of Vedangas… Chinese ism, Budd-hism, Daoism and Folk inscription was commissioned for Taoism has something in common installation in a new temple dedicated to with Saktism…we can find some Religion. examples. One text in which the Historical remains of China’s Siva, though it is possible that it was to Tung Hsuan Section of the Tao Tsung ancient Vedic presence remain and mark the installation of a new image of (Taoist Canon) originated goes by were a part of Quanzhou’s culture for Siva in an existing temple. The donor is a the name Lin PaoChing (Book of the centuries. Much of these artifacts Tamilian named Sambandh Perumal and, Marvelous Jewel). were destroyed during Mao’s ‘Cult- according to H. Ray, may be linked In this text, we can find the ural Revolution’. Some artifacts through the preface to his name, influence of Brahmanism and survived as its deities and carvings Tavachchak katavarttigal, to the area of Upanishad (Vedanta) in particular. It were used as the décor of other Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil- has a portrait of Yuan Shih TienTsun structures and monuments. nadu. A possible link with this important (the Highest God of Taoism) based Behind the main hall "the temple city is supported by the subject on the portrait of the Maha Brahma ” of the famous Kaiyuan matter of at least two of the Quanzhou of Brahmanism at the numerous Buddhist Temple there are some sculptures, as will be illustrated shortly. kalpas in the unlimited darkness of columns decorated by Hindu/Vedic The dedication asserts that the image of Chaos. Thus, He transforms himself cravings In the book ‘The Emporium Siva was installed with the imperiaI into thirty-three devas, , Ten of the World: Maritime Quanzhou, authority (firman) of Chekachai Khan, directions of the Universe etc.” 1000-1400’ Professor John Guy possibly Kubilai Khan's son Chimkin. Among many other rare insights reveals many details about the Unlike the mainstream scholar's into Chinese Hinduism Professor presence of Vedic/Hindu culture in view of the residing in China, they Huang Xinchuan stated that the China. It clearly indicates the indi- did not act as an enclosed alien commu- , Sun Wukong, is genous Chinese participation in the nity. Thus we see a Shiva temple whose indeed . worship of Lord Shiva. 'donor' was a Tamil was stated to have been rebuilt for the wellbeing of the On the river (of Guangzhou) there were Chinese emperor and the Shiva deity was merchantmen belonging to the Polomen installed 'in accordance with the 'firman' (Indians), the Po-ssen (Persians), the K'oun- (imperial authority) of Chekachai Khan' loeun (Malays), and others besides of which Genghis Khans descendant who ruled it is difficult to determine the number... There were also three monasteries of the China at the time. In other words the Polo-men where Brahmans were residing. Mongol ruler of China was intimately Kanshin, c. 750' involved with its dedication. In fact when we look closely at the evidence the Shiva John Guy writes about an ancient temple connected to the Tamil appears inscription that was discovered in to have been commissioned by the China. “The inscription consists of six Imperial Chinese government. And as lines in Tamil script, with the last line noted by Professor Guy the Shiva Temple in Chinese characters." may have already been in existence, The Tamil letters are poorly formed which is highly likely, and it is only the Deity of Lord Shiva that was new. and often erroneous, indicating that Chinese Most Ancient Known Scholars have stated that the Shiva they were executed by a non-Tamil Pictogram Ganshu, temple had originally been built in 685 or speaker. The religious affiliation is China, 2200-1800 BC features 686 AD during the Tang Dynasty but was Vedic Swastika. Scoyen Hindu, the passage opening with is rebuilt by the Tamil Hindu community in ThCollection,e city of QAscuaona,nzho Suwitz in erlandcoastal homage to Siva: the city in the late 13th century who

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [7] dedicated it to Lord Shiva. There is connected to this Shiva temple is such Vaisnavite themes: direct evidence of that there were that it is 'poorly formed and often The two pillars on the Kaiyuan indeed Hindu temples in China as erroneous'. It had to be done by those temple are decorated with twenty- early as the 6th century AD. In the for whom Tamil was not a native four roundels, seven of which are paper “Rethinking Community – tongue thus it is quite possible and devoted to Vishnu, and one to Siva The Indic Carvings of Quanzhou, highly likely that the Deity was as an ascetic; the remainders are Risha Lee writes, “A Chinese source brought from India but the temple purely decorative. The subjects are states that in 720 AD the Pallava carvings and the temple itself were standard popular devotional King Narasimhavarman II ‘cons- also crafted by Chinese. So rather themes and many are concer-ned tructed a temple (in , than a mere off-shoot of the Tamil with the exploits of Krishna: India) on account of the empire of Hindu tradition, Chinese Vedic  Vishnu enthroned with Laksmi and China”, and another text cites the culture was deeply integrated into Bhudevi . existence of three Hindu temples in the socio-political framework of Vishnu on (Garudasana) southern China where ‘Brahmans’ Chinese society and civilization.  Vishnu in his man-lion aspect resided during the 8th century.” As A brief look into the Cham (Narasimba). noted the Tamil language was so Vietnamese Hindu sculptures reveals  Deliverance of the king of the unfamiliar that the Tamil inscription a highly evolved Native expression of elephants (Gajendramoksa) . Hindu/Vedic art and sculpture. These Infant Krishna fells the Arjuna trees . same non-Indian Vietnamese Hindus Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya are on record as having migrated in (Kalia-damana) . masse to China’s Hainan Island as Krishna steals the milkmaids cloths. well. The details regarding the various Vedic carvings of the Chinese Vedic The presence of carvings depicting Krishna’s activities as a child in Vrindavan is quite remarkable. Despite theories that Ancient Chinese present the evidence of Chinese Vedic Vedic Pillar carved culture as a mere offshoot of the Tamil with God & Goddesses merchant community, the presence of Devas and . carvings based on Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes suggest much more. The fact is just as Buddhism was adopted and Te m p l e s reveal the depth of practiced by billions of non-Indians it is China’s Vedic culture. Once again highly probable that Vedic culture was just referencing Prof John Guy’s ‘The as prevalent. Emporium of the World: Maritime Thus the labeling of China’s Vedic Quanzhou, 1000-1400’. presence as a mere by-product of South Indian Tamil merchants alone does not fit the evidence. Undoubtedly, Tamils were intimately involved with the Hindu/Vedic culture of China yet they were not alone. Indians from other regions, as well as Cambodian, Vietnamese and Indonesian Hindus frequented the East China Seas. Ancient Shaivite These diverse groupings all provided their Carvings Discovered in own unique imprint upon the culture of Quanzhou, China China. At this time in history, much of From Top-Left South East Asia was Vedic/Hindu. No Clockwise: Shiva Chinese 'Wall' was ever built to obstruct Bhairava-Shiva Linga this Vedic influence and no ancient wave of and Cow Beijing Mao’s anti-Vedic iconoclasm is recorded. Museum-Nandi Now Prof John Guy further writes Lost-Shiva Nataraja from regarding the presence of Shaivism in Ancient Chinese Hindu ancient China: Temple Now Lost

[8] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Saivite themes: from within the context of Vedic / long sent out its cultural emissaries to Several reliefs depict devotees of the Hindu culture were present in China revive humanities ancient sacred Hindu god Siva venerating the deity, as well. The fact is wherever you find a traditions it is erroneous to label these and one relief (now lost) depicts strong Buddhist presence you will traditions as being solely Indian. Vedic Nataraja, Siva as Lord of the Dance.' have an earlier Vedic/Hindu culture is a universal phenomenon. This theme emerged in the early Chola presence. As it was in Cham Vietnam Today’s India is still called Bharat but period. or Indonesia, or Philippines it was in it only represents an extremely China, Mongolia and Japan. They all truncated Bharat. True Bharat is the Clearly Scholars do not attempt had a strong native indigenous entire world and this Vedic culture is the to deny the ancient presence of expression of Hindu art and culture. entire humanity's heritage. As we see in Vedic culture in China. However The Buddhist missionaries from India India so many reflections of the same they do attempt to portray this came not to convert but reveal the culture, Krsna as Jagannath is the same presence as being foreign to China. latest expression of Dharma. Rama is the same Tirupathi is the same While agreeing that there were They did not work in a cultural Nara-simha is the same Chaitanya is the indeed Hindu / Vedic Temples in vacuum with a people unfamiliar with same Buddha is the same Vamana is the China many modern scholars pre- Dharma or Sanskriti or culture. same Varaha etc. This same phenome- sent the culture as being practiced Rather Buddhism was recognized as a non once extended globally. Now we solely by Indian merchants that new wave of the same ocean and thus have a culture called 'Indian' based upon frequented the region. Using this it spread rapidly. The numerous the Greek name for the Indus River that same reasoning one could also deny examples of native Vedic culture no longer remains within the boundaries that the Chinese ever practiced throughout Mongolia and Japan are of India. Thus the term ‘Bharatiya’ is used Buddhism. conclusive. The Vedic based civiliza- yet according to the Vedic scriptures tions that spread and flourished Bharat was originally global. It is my throughout these areas north and opinion that the region of modern India east of China and in the region of was the epicenter and capital but South Asia and South East Asia were everyone, be they Yavanas, Kiratas, just as prevalent in ancient China. Hunas, Shakas, Chinas etc. were all equal We find a distinct native artistic members of Bharat. Thus they fought for style being expressed in many the same cause in the Mahabharat war. Chinese examples of Vedic architec- All this Vedic culture is primal and ture, sculptures, carvings and art. The India preserved the ancient truths as the Vedic Chinese artifacts clearly reveal rest forgot. Just as the whole world was a uniquely Chinese style regardless of once Bharat, including the Sindh region any external influence. We see this of Pakistan, yet today we see how Vedic phenomenon throughout Asia. A culture has been basically removed from massive Shiva Linga(known as the that formerly 'Indian' region. So this “Stone Bamboo Shoot” or Shixun) same process that we see happening located in Xinmen area of Quanzhou, today in Pakistan happened globally as "Further isolated remains of Hindu China has been dismissed as a Shiva Yuga progressed. God and the Devas Temples have been made, most Linga merely because it does not are universal realities. They have notably a freestanding scultpture of exhibit a South Indian Chola artistic authentic markers that trace their Vishnu over a meter in height, style. However by recognizing that presence whenever revealed or experi- recovered in the Nanjiaochang area China’s Vedic culture predated the enced. Thus Krsna is Krsna with the same of Quanzhou in 1934." Prof John Guy arrival of Indian Chola merchants it qualities and characteristics wherever he becomes obvious that the Quanzhou has revealed himself. Though he However since Buddhism itself Shiva Linga is a native Chinese performed his Lila, along with Buddha in grew from the Vedic tree it was expression of devotion to Shiva. Vedic India, he is not an Indian invention and adopted by the Chinese. The same does not necessarily always mean some have stated that he traveled far synchronistic processes that led Indian. As long as people see every beyond the borders of modern India as Indians, Sri Lankans, Cambodians, example of Vedic civilization as a sign well. The Pandavas surely did before the Laotians, Vietnamese, Thais, of an Indian presence the facts RajasuyaYajna. The Rishis have faithfully Indonesians, Malaysians and others regarding the history of religion will recorded Krishna's characteristics and to accept the teachings of Buddha always elude them. While India has thus evidence of his worship and

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [9] Left: This Ancient Chinese Kali- was rediscovered buried in a wall in the 1980s. The Local Chinese reinstated her worship as Kuanyin and a small shrine has been built to house her. Right: Ancient Cave Painting of Prehistoric Chinese style Shiva Linga" Stone Shiva left and Ganesh on right from , China, cave 285, from the Bamboo Shoot". Western Wei Dynasty 6th cent. AD presence can be accurately traced truths that have been carefully the footsteps of their Vedic ancestors. throughout history. Thus by using preserved and maintained within the The fact is Vedic culture has never relied that template we can trace out Vedic Sampradayas current in India. upon exclusively one race or nationality. evidence of Krsna and Shiva worship And now by applying the template India is fortunate to have retained the throughout the entire world. and Siddhanta of these Sampradayas, essence of ancient Vedic culture and the There is no minimizing the lo and behold, we can find ancient links to its past have remained strong. impact and influence of India's great and at times onging examples of Thus today India’s Hindu culture is at the Saints and culture. But rather than a Vedic culture globally. This is not forefront of restoring the ancient world’s conversionary force India had a because Indians traveled the world Vedic Heritage. While it is only India that reinforcing influence that repeat- promoting and converting people. Its is today called Bharat, this entire planet, edly revived the world's ancient because Vedic culture and Worship including China, was once known as Vedic heritage in all its expressions. was once practiced throughout the Bharat Varsha. This is ongoing even today. During a entire world. The ancient presence of recent trip to India I personally met and Shaivism (along with a large group of Chinese with related Devi Worship) can be Vrndavan Brannon Parker Vaishnava pilgrims. found at at the root of every ancient Vrndavan Brannon Parker attended Vedic Gurukula They represent just one exa- cultural group on the planet. mple of the modern revival of schools from the age of 4 to The Indians that have traveled 14 years. He studied in the China’s ancient Vedic heritage. We the world as ambassadors of these U S A , C a n a d a a n d i n thus have many non-indian Vaish- traditions represented the lineages vrindavan, India. navas and Yogis in China and that maintained these traditions. Thus His main focus has been on highlighting elsewhere but still Indian Gurus, the similarities between the ancient they were able to revive the natural cultures and civilizations around the world books etc. will guide them. However Vedic culture that is inherent in all and defining their Vedic roots and he has they do not guide them on how to Bharaters (Brothers) or People of been researching and publicly presenting be Indians but on how to revive Bharata, this Blessed Planet Earth.The Vedic Historical and Cross-cultural connections since 1996. Brannon their original traditions. These universal appeal of Vedic culture is indigenous expressions of the Vedic dedicates his time to working with obvious as millions of people from organizations that promote Vedic Dharma. traditions are the same universal around the world are now following in

[10] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Management Chanakya the Eternal Management Guru Radhakrishnan Pillai

uring one of my training person from lethargy to activity. always support those who are right, even if programmes, while discussing “Reasons for dissatisfaction of the they are not known to you. P a r t i a l i t y D the leadership qualities subjects: By doing harm to principal men demoralises everyone in an organisation. So described by Chanakya, a participant and dishonouring those worthy of honour, be even-minded, and take an objective view observed, “It would have sounded more by opposing the elders, by partiality and before making any more. positive if the session was called ‘What falsehood.” a leader should do?’”I explained that (7.5.19-26) • Not Indulging In Falsehood the title of the session which In the above verses, the emphasis is SatyamevJayate, says the Indian national emphasised what leaders should not do on three key ideas – respect for elders, emblem. But almost everyone thinks that this was by design, rather not by fault. The being impartial, not engaging in cannot be practiced in today’s world. This is human mind works in certain pattern falsehood. not true. The reality is that we do not have and studies reveal that we become more the patience to wait. All the top companies alert when we hear negative words. • Respect Elders And Principal Man that practice good governance look for long Words such as ‘danger’, ‘death’ and A society which does not respect elders term benefits. Focusing on research and ‘destruction’ have the power to move a and men of knowledge cannot survive for development, people, strategy over tactics, long. The Sanskrit word is ‘vriddha’. The etc are key aspects of success for such word ‘elder’ here has two meanings: (i) A organizations. Therefore, you should not person who is elder by age and (ii) A support falsehood. person who is elder by wisdom. Radhakrishnan Pillai It is natural to respect any person who is Radhakrishnan Pillai from elder to us by age. We find that Asian the university of mumbai, cultures, respecting elders has been department of Philosophy considered a noble virtue. However, there is the founder director of are young people with lot of knowledge or Chanakya institute of Public wisdom who also command respect. leadership (CiPl) a research based organisation that is working to Even they are Vriddhas. One of the promote indian concepts in management. reasons why young managers from top he has done an extensive research on business schools land on high salaries “kautilya’s Arthashastra”, the well known and top positions is the knowledge they book on management written in 4th bC bring in the company. Such young, but from Chinmaya international foundation senior, people should always be (Cif), kerala under the guidance of dr gangadharan nair, the dean of Adi respected and never dishonoured. Do not shankara samskrit university. he later oppose them. Listen to their views before proceeded to do his mA in sanskrit and a taking any decision. Phd. in the subject. he is a certified management consultant from the • Not Being Partial international institute of management consultants. he is the director at sPm In conflict management, the best thing to foundation and founder director of Atma do is to do what is ‘correct’. Do not favour darshan a spiritual tourism company. in those who are wrong even if they are the this article, part of a series, prof pillai people closest to you. On the other hand, focuses on kautilya guide to leadership.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [11] Culture Native India - A Resurgent India Vrndavan Brannon Parker

n this world where a smile is seen as a threat or a predatory move; a world where a measure of I restraint and thoughtfulness is misperceive as disinterest and unfriendliness the soft hearted being is often dismayed. This dismay can approach hopelessness when we consider the history of the many great Saints and Avatars who have come to this world. Lord Jesus Tapan Ghosh, the President of the Hindu Samhati, a Hindu Human Christ taught love and compassion and he also ejected Rights Group, leads the Relief Efforts on the behalf of the many the Money-Changers from the Temple. In other words, he Hindu victims of Religious Persecution in West Bengal, India cleared the Heart of the City, the Temple, a place meant for Love, from the parasitic activities of the Heartless. In this world the soft-hearted are frequently criticized and Yet this act of integrity led to his being crucified. E v e n defamed in a variety of ways. At times it can be heart rending as Lord Krishna was defamed within his own city by his own one's positive intentions are misrepresented or seen as a threat people. This was a city he had built in order to save His towards other's potential status. This happens at the individual people from the repeated assaults (18 invasions) of level and at the political level as well. Thus political parties embittered human sacrificing Kings and their Allies. Yet even Lord Krishna was slandered by his very own people attempt to destroy the image of their rivals without any regard who owed him everything. of the facts. From the Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto Ch. 56 entitled 'How the Syamantaka jewel Brought Krishna Today the media is overwhelming us with stories of death, rape, murder Jambavatî and Satyabhama' and mayhem. As they ignore the millions of righteous and compassionate "Once Satrājit’s brother, Prasena, having hung the works of countless selfless individuals, society is being perceived as brilliant jewel about his neck, mounted a horse and went decayed and barbaric. However we find that even in Lord Krishna's own hunting in the forest...A lion killed Prasena and his horse Dwarka city murder most heinous did indeed take place, as seen in the and took the jewel. But when the lion entered a mountain chapter entitled ‘The Killing of Satrajit and Satadhanva’. cave he was killed by Jāmbavān, the Bear King, who www.krsnabook.com/ch57.html Thus there have always been a very small minority of people that wanted the jewel. Within the cave Jāmbavān let his engage in wicked acts. Yet today the media is controlled by those of a young son have the Syamantaka jewel as a toy to play wicked nature and they intentionally try to impose their own ruthlessness with. Meanwhile Satrājit, not seeing his brother return, upon society at large. The narrative is false yet it is compelling and it is became deeply troubled. He said, “Krishna probably skewing humanity's perception of reality. In today's India the media is killed my brother, who went to the forest wearing the using the horrific acts of an absolute minority to traumatize the public jewel on his neck.” The general populace heard this majority. It is of course important not to ignore such acts and they must accusation and began whispering it in one another’s be responded to. Yet the narrative is artificial for there are in fact millions ears. When Lord Krishna heard this rumor, He wanted to of Indians who have long been addressing these very same issues of remove the stain on His reputation. injustice, corruption and inequality. Yet because they are addressing these So he took some of Dvaraka’s citizens with him and issues from within the Indigenous framework and applying solutions set out to retrace Prasena’s path." Full Story here www. based upon the Native ethos, they are completely ignored. Once again krsnabook.com/ch56.html. It is significant that Lord the Colonial mindset is at play. By nurturing and stimulating the basest of Krishna did not ignore being defamed. Rather he took human emotions through an onslaught of degradation and the media’s

[12] June 2013 HINDU TODAY promotion of dehumanizing concepts of efforts are never in the news is quite based upon the prominent display of horrific sexuality and self-aggrandizement, telling. The Indian media and the World rapes and murders is the latest weapon in the people are becoming disconnected from Media ignore this fact and are having a arsenal of the Globalist Elite. their hearts. Then these same forces at field day presenting India as ‘The Rape As long as India was a ‘Third World the forefront of the media’s Nation’ filled with a ‘Misogynistic Man Backwater’ it was easy for foreign debasement of humane values step in Culture’. A few incidents of horror are organizations to operate as they flaunted to ‘save the day’ and issue calls to artificially being used to color the image their financial and technological superiority. ‘protect minorities and women’. of an entire Nation. Meanwhile the untold Yet suddenly India is no longer the broken The very facts are ignored and are sacrifice of millions of dedicated Indians society and the heartless caste-based far from the public perception of what who have volunteered their entire lives tyranny the West perceived. India is is happening at the ground level. There for the betterment of India’s people at prospering on her own. India does not require are indeed hundreds of Native the root level is the reality and that is the the cynical support of these outsiders and organizations who have developed true story regarding modern India. Never their Native pawns. effective infrastructures that have in the history of the world has there been The millions of volunteers of India, both brought free education to millions of such a massive response by so many to men and women from every walk of life India’s children, empowered millions of help the helpless. Yet how many know regardless of caste, clan, religion or class, Indian Women whether it be jobs, about this reality? have done more for India’s downtrodden than education or support for marriages or There is in fact an effective the entire combine of these contemptuous protection from unscrupulous demands operational Indigenous response in place and opportunistic interlopers have, can or from dowry (which has been illegal in for every single one of India’s social ever will do for India. India since Independence) or finding problems. The efforts to malign India and Thus the real question here is not, why husbands for rape victims and other its Indigenous response to its social are bad things happening and what must be such important social programs. Native imbalance have a direct correlation with done about it? The real question is why are India has long been addressing these the effectiveness of the Native efforts. so many good things happening and so many concerns. However India’s people are, in general, so positive solutions and effective responses And unlike the highly paid foreign rooted in their traditional and cultural being overlooked and disregarded? based Human Rights groups a vast values that the agents of defamation In short the answer can be given in one majority of the Indigenous efforts are have basically failed to convince the word – Bigotry. Bigotry combined with a volunteer base. Without money they masses of the alleged faults of authentic calculated effort to debase the Heart of rely upon the real wealth of a Nation, its Hindu society. Thus a new campaign Civilization. Human Resource potential. Why these

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [13] Culture

Morihei Ueshiba- Developer/Father of Aikido December 14,1883 - April 26, 1969. Incorporated peaceful spirit of Oomoto religious beliefs into Daitoryu Aikijutsu to evolve Aikido: The Ahimsa to Aikido. Martial Art & Its Spirituality

Mark DeFillo

hat?! How can a attacker, but is also, if the complete self defence system that “martial art” have student approaches it in the protects you and your loved ones W anything to do right way, a non-sectarian while minimizing injury to your with “ahimsa”, non-violence?” spiritual system. As such, it attackers." Neiman Sensei As we shall see, the martial art should be ethically and morally elaborates on how this is done: Aikido, founded in the mid-20th acceptable to most Hindus and "Aikido's effectiveness is in its century by Morihei Ueshiba, most other religions of this unique addition of joint locks, pins was refined out of older world too. and throws to basic strikes, kicks m a r t i a l a r t s t o c r e a t e One present-day expert, and blocks: it instantly ends something new that not only Sensei James Neiman, Dojo- violent conflicts, and is one of the allows a skilled practitioner to Cho (head instructor) at the world's most respected arts prevent oneself or others from Shugyo Aikido Dojo in Union because of its philosophy of being harmed while doing as City, California, defines the art peaceful security. The training is little harm as possible to the in these words: "Aikido is a combined with many other self

[14] June 2013 HINDU TODAY defense skills to help you martial arts traditions, both their knowledge more widely, develop into a complete armed and unarmed. Indian after seeing and objecting to the martial artist, giving you martial arts are not widely commercialization of the various peace in your mind and spirit known outside of India, though Far Eastern martial arts in the 20th while developing your body. a few books have mentioned century. Even taking the principle Often the key to safety is them. One reason is probably of ahimsa including the violent recognizing danger before it because most Indian martial prevention of violence for granted, becomes a reality. Aikido is arts are connected with certainly it is more truly ahimsa if focused on how to maintain religious bodies. the aggression can be prevented peaceful relations with people For example, the wrestling without harming the attacker or at and eliminate physical and arts are especially known in least doing the least possible interpersonal conflict. Peace, religious orders dedicated to injury to him or her. Aikido was honor, compassion, and Hanuman; and the Sikh religion designed to allow its students to spiritual discipline are among has especially cultivated martial do just that. the chief values of Aikido skills, both in a traditional form, practitioners." ShastarVidya, and a ritualized, AIKIDO HISTORY somewhat sport-like form Now let's have a brief look at its AHIMSA called Gatka, of which the latter roots and origins. As already Now, let us consider ahimsa, is more widely known, with s t a t e d , i t w a s f o u n d b y so that we can explore how demonstrations occurring at MoriheiUeshiba, a 20th century Aikido relates to it. Ahimsa, a Sikh festivals and during Japanese martial artist. In his Sanskrit word is usually parades. Reportedly, some youth, he studied Shingon translated “non-violence”, but Indian martial art masters have Buddhism, which is Japan's form another meaning is “non- deliberately chose to not share of Vajrayana Buddhism, and which injury.” There is a statement in the Mahabharata that ahimsa is the highest dharma. H o w t h i s w o r d a n d principle is applied can vary according to a person's specific dharma. For example, the duty of a kshatriya (Hindu warrior) includes combat against invaders, bandits and other unjust aggressors. Hindu dharma is practical as well as holding high ideals, and in fact, particularly for kshatriyas and others in authority, preventing himsa (violence or harm) is a paramount form of ahimsa. For example, protecting the innocent by fighting, even if it means killing, invaders or robbers is ahimsa, not himsa. Therefore, Indian civilization includes a wide variety of effective

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [15] ultimate of Aikido. He was, it should be noted, perfectly capable of taking the sword from the challenger; sword-taking (“tachi- dori”) is part of the Aikido curriculum.

A TASTE OF PRACTICAL AIKIDO Daito-ryu techniques were originally designed for battlefield use by samurai, the “kshatriyas” of Japan. Although of course students have to train safely, Daito-ryu techniques are often designed to be injurious or even fatal in real fighting. Ueshiba refined the art, shares many things with of the attacker and the creating Aikido, in such a way that Hinduism. He also began defender. Therefore, the an attacker is either deflected studying the martial arts of earliest things taught to the away or captured and restrained Japan, starting with the sumo student are how to safely safely; many techniques even wrestling and culminating in receive the techniques of the include nuances that are designed his study of Daito-ryuAiki- defender, when one plays the for the safety of the attacker. jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda. part of the attacker. Most For example, some methods While he later also took up importantly, that means how to of throwing an attacker are done study of some other arts to fall safely and get back up again so as to encourage the attacker to augment his own training, it quickly and smoothly. Another put a hand on the ground prior to was Daito-ryu that became important basic point is proper being tipped over or thrown, the linch-pin of his martial footwork, allowing the practi- making it far less likely that the arts. tioner to sidestep attacks and head or neck would be injured. To After intensive study of move in close to the attacker. be fair, people who have not D a i t o - r y u , h e b e c a m e One of the seminal episodes for trained in Aikido or similar arts qualified to teach it and then Founder Ueshiba happened may not know how to fall safely, over years of further training, when a skilled swordsman and won't have the ingrained along with spiritual experi- challenged him to a match. reactions to being on the receiving ence, he gradually refined it to Instead of taking up a sword end of the techniques that help what we now know as Aikido. h i m s e l f, U e s h i b a s i m p l y making training safe, so it is Most martial arts, even avoided each sword-stroke, inherently more dangerous for a defensive ones, have as their until the attacker grew tired real attacker than it is for a well- goal to defeat the enemy. and conceded that Ueshiba was prepared training partner, but Aikido, by contrast, enables superior in skill. even so, the Aikido-ist aims at the skilled practitioner to Immediately afterwards, avoiding harm to his attacker as avoid being defeated; and as Ueshiba had one of his most far as possible. has been said before, to do so important spiritual experi- Basic Aikido training first of all doing as little injury as ences, but regardless of that, in includes falling safely, stable possible to an attacker. In some ways, the technique he posture and mobility. Then training, students of Aikido u s e d i n t h a t c a s e w a s students can begin the tech- take it in turn to play the parts simultaneously basic to, and an niques. There is a common thread

[16] June 2013 HINDU TODAY to everything done in Aikido, energy of others. This includes that the key of everything in Aikido which is “aiki”. This Japanese the energy of the earth, which is simply “aiki”; thus, although one word can be translated as we see in the art of safe falling: studies specific techniques, and “harmonizing energy”, energy if you harmonize with it, you fall they can be productively used if being “ki”. Often this word is smoothly and safely, if you one is attacked, in the end they considered hard to translate clash with the ground, and it are all really exercises in “ai-ing or understand in English, but hurts and you may well be your ki”. The Founder more or less it works quite well to simply injured; and it includes the tells us so by defining the highest think of it as meaning energy of the practice partner, s t a n d a r d o f A i k i d o t o b e “energy”, in a wide sense or the attacker. The Aikido “TakemusuAiki”, which can be which does in fact exist in practitioner, by blending his or roughly translated as something English: it refers not only to her energy with the partner or like “spontaneously-generating what scientists call “energy”, attacker is able to use that martial energy harmonization”; but also breath and mental person's own energy to control but rather than translating, it is energy. and move them. easier to understand through For Hindus, an important The Founder also said that description of what it is: Take- clue can be found in the fact Aikido is “not a catalog of musuAiki is the ability to blend that the Founder occasionally techniques”. Yet, Aikido with the attacker's energy so defined “ki” as “prana”, breath practice includes practice of perfectly as to automatically and energy. In a later section, we many techniques, and typically effortlessly control his or her will look briefly at inner A i k i d o s c h o o l s h a v e a movements, neutralizing the dimensions of aiki, but in curriculum of different tech- attack, free of constraint of any practical terms, it means that niques that one must learn in learned techniques. In other the Aikido student learns to order to progress in rank. words, at this level, one simply harmonize his or her energy – H o w m i g h t t h i s b e does naturally exactly what is rather than clashing – with the reconciled? By remembering needed. Thus, all techniques are

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [17] really practice in harmonizing There are many Aikido-ists who k i i n t h o s e p a r t i c u l a r ignore or do not practice these movements, with the aim of deeper aspects of Aikido, and that leading to a level of sufficient is all right, since according to the ability in this blending that it Founder's own descriptions of the simply happens when needed. practice as “misogi”, even basic practice itself has spiritual benefit. SPIRITUAL AIKIDO his teachings, it seems likely For Hindus and other Dharmis, T h e F o u n d e r a n d h i s t h a t U e s h i b a a c h i e v e d though, many if not all of these successors (son Kisshomaru something like the “sama- spiritual practices are already Ueshiba and grandson Mori- darshinah” state described in familiar, except in so far as the teruUeshiba) have consi- Bhagavad-Gita: “equal vision”, external cultural differences stently maintained that Aikido not seeing the material between Japan and India. is not merely a self-defense circumstances of people and In this way, a close look at the system, a sport, or a health other living things, but rather various features of this martial art, system. Instead, they, and seeing their true, spiritual Aikido, show that it appears to be particularly the Founder, have selves. From this, he denied quite suitable for Hindus, even described Aikido as a spiritual that anyone is a genuine though coming from a different, p r a c t i c e . A l t h o u g h h e enemy: an attacker is simply in sometimes incompatible, culture. generally used Japanese and illusion, and hence the Aikido- In particular, its ethics and morals Shinto words and concepts, ist should be compassionate in place very high value on non- he also sometimes used preventing the attack. T h i s , injury, ahimsa, and ultimately Buddhist concepts, many of then, appears to be the spiritual does so on the basis of the which are of course shared root of the ahimsa in Aikido. illusionary nature of hostility and with Hindu dharma and other The Founder also said that all of in the underlying truth that we are Indian religions. Aikido practice is “misogi”. This all spiritual entities. Aikido teaches In broad principle, for Japanese word refers to ascetic its people to care about humanity example, he said that Aiki also practices and rituals intended and the world and to seek to make i n c l u d e s b r i n g i n g i n t o for purification, and which have the world a better place. harmony the energy of the aim of “chinkonkishin”, Heaven, Man and Earth, both which means calming the spirit on the large scale and the and returning to the divine. individual scale. Thus he Misogi is thus close to Hindu Mark DeFillo defined Aikido as the “eternal “tapasya” or penance, and He has contributed to a principle of the universe”. chinkonkishin is basically the v a r i e t y o f H i n d u Probably a good way to same thing as yogic meditation. publications in North translate that into Sanskrit America and India. He has Another important spiritual regularly volunteered since would be none other than practice is kototama, which is the early-mid 1990’s in the “Sanatana Dharma”, not the chanting of sacred sounds. Jagannatha Ratha-Yatra of New York City, and participates in other festivals of the referring to Hinduism as such, Does that not sound like but to the underlying nature of Hindu and Sikh communities. His “mantra”? In fact, the Founder particular interests include language and reality which the wise see as often makes reference to linguistics, including and especially India’s the real sanatana dharma of “AUN”, which the Japanese own ancient field of “Vyakarana” and its underestimated influence on the Western all bona fide religions. In that pronunciation of AUM or OM. regard, Ueshiba belonged to a science of linguistics; ancient history, (The Japanese final “N” sound including the relationships and influences particular tradition of Shinto is similar to the “anusvara” of between India and other peoples, both called Omoto-kyo, which does Sanskrit, so the transliteration related and unrelated; in the religious sphere, bhakti, especially Nam-bhakti, as recognize shared truth among is really of the same sound.) the world's religions. Based on found in several major parts of Hinduism.

[18] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Astrology Rahu & Ketu: The Journey Within

Rahu and Ketu are known as shadow graha’s or planets in Vedic Astrology and are a part of the Navagrahas or the nine planets which form the basis and cornerstone of predictive astrology. In fact neither is a planet in the astronomical sense of the word but are nodes or points where the moon’s orbit intersects the sun’s solar path. Richa Gupta

ccording to mythological reference, it is head from his body- however it was not fast said that once the Devtas (Gods) and the enough for Rahu had already tasted the Amrit A Asuras (Demons) formed an alliance to ….however the Amrit had not reached below his look for the immortality potion or Amrit. The neck ,so his head has immortality and is called Samundra Manthan of the Ksheera Sagar or the Rahu while the body to which the Amrit had not Ocean of Milk began with Mount Meru as the pivot reached is known as Ketu. stone and Vasuki the King of Serpents as the Rahu is referred in western astrology as the churning rope. Various objects emerged from the Dragon’s Head while Ketu is known as the ocean, one of which was the Amrit Kalasa Dragon’s Tail. Sun and Moon are their sworn containing Amrit. enemies and whenever the Solar or Seeing the Amrit fierce Lunar eclipse occurs, it is said fighting ensued between the that the luminaries are Asuras and the Devtas. The swallowed by Rahu or Ketu, Devtas appealed to Lord t h u s m y t h o l o g i c a l l y Vishnu to come to their explaining the concept of aid and he appeared in an eclipse. the Mohini avataar - the I n t r a d i t i o n a l ultimate seductress or sculptures and pain- m a y a v i f o r m a n d tings, Rahu is depicted enchanted the Asuras in as a serpent with a agreeing to wait for gaping mouth and no their turn to drink the body riding a chariot A m r i t a n d s t a r t e d drawn by eight black distributing it to the horses. He is considered to Devtas. One of the Asuras, be the legendary master of Rahu was able to see through deception and signifies Mohini’s trick so he disguised cheaters, pleasure-seekers, drug himself as a Devta and went and or poison dealers, immoral acts, quietly sat amongst the Devtas to partake his indulgence and obsession. portion of the Amrit. Rahu is said to be the giver while Ketu the The Sun and Moon gods who were seated taker while in reality Rahu is a giver in the same near him recognized his qualities and manner as an addiction which is designed to alerted Lord Vishnu .Lord Vishnu immediately addict us and become a need which leads to one’s used the Sudarshan Chakra to severe Rahu’s self destruction. Snakes encountered in dreams

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [19] are said to be a manifestation t e s t e d w i t h d i ff i c u l t i e s , excess karmic baggage taking us of Rahu. He rules the South obstacles, mental agony, further and further away from West direction and the age of hidden enemies, rifts and Moksha while Ketu is the Karmic 42 years is the time when tragedies in the family. Ketu is Renunciator and throws in our life Rahu comes to full fruitation. said to be spiritually benefic path severe obstacles and testing The colour black or smokey- and materialistically malefic. times and through this leads us grey is associated with Rahu. He tests in the material towards the path of Spirituality Ketu on the other hand is world before leading man and Moksha. depicted headless but there towards God and spirituality. Richa Gupta are a few renditions of him Ketu gives proficiency in foreign both in art and sculpture languages ,artificial languages Jyotish Shastracharya Richa Gupta is a 3rd generation where he is shown with the (computers) psychic abilities, a Astrologer and Occult head of a snake and an Asuras pull towards occult and Spiritualist. She has spent body. His vahana is the mighty religious practices and esoteric over 20 years in Vedic Study eagle. He is the karaka of learning’s. and Spiritual Research . She has expertise detachment, enlightenment Rahu is the Karmic Enticer in Astrology, Pranic Healing, Space Healing of the soul and salvation - the giving us material opulence and ,Vedic Vastu ,Crystal Healing and Gem ultimate moksha. pulling us deeper and deeper Therapy. She has learnt under many gurus However this path of into the web of Karma and is in different parts of India especially moksha does not come easily, true to his name of being the Rishikesh and is constantly striving to to achieve it, a person is “Ultimate Giver” he gives us amalgamate our ancient Vedic knowledge to today's modern lifestyle.

[20] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Numerology Hindu’s Magic Numbers 18, 108, 1008 SnathamSwaminathan

n Hinduism numbers KrsnaYajur Veda). But 108 and (parvas) and the Bhagavad Gita have a lot of signi- 1008 are used for all the Gods in also has 18 chapters. The original I ficance. In some places A s h t o t h a r a m ( 1 0 8 ) a n d name of the Mahabharata was it is used as a symbol or S a h a s r a n a m a m ( 1 0 0 8 ) , JAYA and according to Sanskrit metaphor. Vedas also have a particularly in all the South numerical system (Ka Ta Pa lot of numbers and their Indian Temples on day to day Yathisankhya) Jaya is 18. The meanings are still mysterious. basis. architect of the war Sri Krishna’s One example is the odd and Hindu epic Mahabharata is Yadava caste - which had 18 clans. even numbers up to 33 and 44 associated with number 18 in The army number of divisions that respectively in the Chamakam several ways. The Mahabharata took part in the war were also 18 (a part of the Rudram in the is divided in to 18 books ( 1 1 d i v i s i o n s / A k s h a u n i o f

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [21] Kauravas and 7 Akshauni of we multiply 8 with other numbers Pandavas).There is a beautiful it will go down when we bring description about the number them down to single digit (e.g. 1 8 i n t h e Ta m i l e p i c 1x8= 8, 2 x 8 = 16, 3 x 8 = 24, 4 x 8 Cilappatikaram: The war = 32, 5 x 8 = 40, 6 x 8 = 48 etc. between the Devas and One digit numbers will be 8, 7, 6, Asuras went for 18 Years. The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). fight between Rama and “With each breath you are Ravana went on for 18 positively affirming 'Soham (I am Months. The war between the He)'. Not only have you, every Pandavas and Kauravas went being thus affirmed it. ... When on for 18 Days, but the battle you watch your breath and between the King Cheran- meditate on that grand truth, Senguttuvan and Kanaka 21,600 (half of 43,200) times a slowly the 'I' and the 'He' will Vijayan went on only for 18 day, on average. The book merge; Soham will become Nazikas! (A day consists of 60 written by Romarishi calculated transformed into Om, the primal Nazika and one Nazika is 24 this on the basis of 15 breaths sound, which the Vedas (ancient minutes). for every minute. This is scriptures) proclaim as the symbol CheranSenguttuvan was a reflected in the famous of the formless, all-knowing God." great Chera (Kerala) king who N a t a r a j a t e m p l e i n SathyaSai Speaks X, went up to the Himalayas and Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 'Meditation' brought a stone from the holy where the Golden Roof of the The Devas spent 10,800 days (in Himalayas to erect a statue for temple contains 21,600 gold other words 29 years and 5 the Tamil heroine Kannaki. He tiles. They used 72,000 nails to months) to churn the Ocean of washed the stone in the holy fix them. Milk to extract Amrit (ambrosia). Ganges and brought it on the SathyaSai Baba’s The planet Saturn, which plays a heads of Kanka and Vijayan who interpretation significant role in our lives, also were defeated by him in seven Sri SathyaSai Baba went one takes the same time to complete hours. step ahead of others in one circuit of the Solar System. The Number 10,008 explaining the significance of Tamils have divided their T h e p r i e s t s w h o d i d these numbers. A man breaths 2,000 year old Sangam Literature havan/yagna erected the 21,600 time a day (at the rate in to 18 books (PathuPaattu & yagakund (fire altar) with of 15 a minute and 900 times an EttuThokai) and the post-Sangam 10,008 bricks in the shape of hour). During the day time he ethical literature in to another 18 an eagle. The reason for this breaths 10,800 times. During books! (PathinenKeezKanakku). may be the Deva year was this day time one must say the These numbers have also got equivalent to (360 X 30) mantra ‘soham’ (sa=He, some significance in the Buddhist 10,800 days and Brahma’s aham=I; in other words – God and Greek literatures as well. kalpa was 40 times of this i.e. and I are one) and to signify SnathamSwaminathan 432,000 years. If we add any this we have 108, 1,008 and of these figures and bring it to 10,008. Baba added by saying Santanam Swaminathan one digit it will always be 9. was born in Nagappattinam that number nine represents i n Ta m i l N a d u . H e i s N u m b e r 9 a n d i t s B ra h m a n a n d n u m b e r 8 working as a tutor at the multiples are in Sanskrit and represents Maya (illusion). University of London and a Tamil literature. Planets are He demonstrated that Nine Health Advocate in a London hospital. nine-Nava Grahas, Gems are remains intact after multiplying nine- Nava Ratnas and the He hails from a journalist family. His b y a n y n u m b e r ( e . g . father Santanam was the News Editor of scholars in the assembly of 9x12=108,8x9=72,3x9=27 if Dinamani in Madurai. He translated Anna Vikramaditya were also called we bring them down to one Karenina of Leo Tolstoy in 1940s which Navaratnas. Another reason digit it is always 9) Where as if runs to 1500 pages. It was considered a for this is a man breathes great achievement at that time.

[22] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Tradition

Do the Shruti Vedas Mention Krishna?

Horacio Francisco Arganis Juarez

round 300 years ago, employed his knowledge of he would wish us, then the Mosaic when the field of astronomical science to dis- account is all a fable, or a fiction." A I n d o l o g y b e g a n , credit the Vedic dating formula. (Bentley , John, 1825, Historical British scholars were very Referring to a Scholar View of the Hindu Astronomy , much influenced by the supporting the Vedic time line Osnabruck; BiblioVerlang, etd Judeo-Christian paradigm of he stated, "By his attempt to 1970 pp. xxvii) Another technique time. In their estimation, the uphold the antiquity of Hindu was used by these learned men in creation took place around books against absolute facts, which they formulated the (approximately) 6000 years he thereby supports all those 'borrowing hypothesis'. ago. Having found testimony horrid abuses and impositions Such tentative speculation, in Vedic historical accounts found in them, under the guised by so-called academicism, that the texts were over 5,000 pretended sanction of antiquity, stated that Lord Krishna was a years old, they fabricated ... Nay, his aim goes still Hinduized Jesus Christ. The logical many academic devices to deeper; for by same means he consequence of this idea would obscure the traditional Vedic endeavours to overturn the lead the intelligence to believe dating method. Mosaic account, and sap the that everything about Lord For example, John Be- very foundations of our Krishna, such as His religion, ntley, feeling his own concept religion: for if we are believe in hagiography like the Bhagavata, of time being questioned, the antiquity of Hindu books, as Vishnu and the Harivamsha

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [23] Puranas, were also derived realistic, quantitative and is from Christianity. Therefore, limited to observation and all of these works would be describes the phenomena in an attributed to Anno Domino inductive way in order to arrive at (AD) making them post- a general theory. But the results of Christian. Dr. Thomas Hopkins t h e s c i e n c e a r e r e l a t i v e indicates this academic devise approximations, probabilities and to be systematically denig- never absolutes. Ultimately, there rating. (HK p. 111) is no absolute truth in science. We will make a few Nowadays words like laws and observations suggesting that axiom are already being elimi- the above hypothesis [Lord nated in the objective fields of Krishna is not in the Veda science. All subjects can be srutis] has never been proven. revised objectively. Science is self- We shall not attempt an critical and constantly changes exhaustive treatment of the through new realistic and many arguments presented erent picture of the past, objective reviews. by scholars, since this would contrary to the one presently require a voluminous book. accepted by some Western Evidences from Rather, we shall make a few scholars. In other words, there the Upanishads: points. are ways to comprehend Regarding the Upanisads, the historical processes through the following eleven Upanishads are Epistemological problems Vedic texts. That this is so can considered to be the topmost: When we study a body of be graphically observed if one Isha, Kena, Katha, Prasna, empirical evidence, we always performs the mental experiment Mundaka,Mandukya, Taittiriya, evaluate it with our limiting of looking at the world from a Aitareya, Chandogya, Brhad- assumptions. In the end, the radically different perspective. aranyaka and Shvetasvatara. conclusions we derive from But it is necessary to point out However, in the Muktikopanisad, the evidence reflect our that now the epistemology of verses 30-39, there is a descri- paradigm. If the assumptions science demands, as the first ption of 108 Upanisads. change, even when we study step, the suspension of any Now let us see how the a body of empirical evidence, predisposition. Upnishads allude to Lord Krishna: we always evaluate it with our This is called an Epojé in limiting and limited assu- S p a n i s h . I n fa c t , t o b e Chandogya III.17.6 mptions. In the end, the objective, it is necessary to Almost all scholars have assented conclusions we derive from leave aside the entire pre- that Devakiputra Krishna is such evidence reflect our own conception and observe the described in the Chandogya paradigm. phenomenon under scrutiny Upanishad as the disciple of Ghora I f t h e a s s u m p t i o n s without any prejudice, after Angirasa. But the sceptics reject change, even though the evi- enumerating its qualities. this attribution because the dence remained the same, the Only in this way, the t e a c h e r s o f K r i s h n a w e r e results shall be different. process can be objective and Gargamuni and Sandipani in the Consider what would happen if realistic. It is important to note Puranas. But the biggest problem the traditional history of the t h a t t h e i s t i c , a t h e i s t i c , with this assumption is that the Puranas were accepted as real agnostic, sceptic, materialistic original text does not say so. and accurate? Or let’s consider speculation, academicism or It is Sankaracarya, who in his that they were the only relativism (so-called rati- commentary on the above- available evidence to be onalism) etc., are considered to mentioned Upanisad, said that studied regarding the history be subjective postures. Krishna was the disciple of Ghora of Indian literature. The result I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e Angirasa. The passage has to be would be a completely diff- methodology of science is studied in reference to its context,

[24] June 2013 HINDU TODAY which is given below. opulence; Isa-Lord. This Devakiputra Krishna are in the The Chandogya describes Sanskrit word is a synonymous Vasudeva Upanisad: devaki- man's life in the form of soma- with Bhagavan, a title used for nandano 'khilam anadayat - "The sacrifice; the natural function: Krishna in the Gita and in the son of Devaki fills the entire world eating, drinking, procreating Puranas. with delights bliss". The words are and the cardinal virtues are The Mundaka 1.3 reads: indicatives and the same name of described as the rewards of kasmin bhagavo vijnate sarvam the text considers Krishna the the sacrifice. idam vijnatam bhavati: "When same as Vasudeva. By a direct When Ghora Angirasa said Bhagavan becomes known, reading of these verses, a clear (Uktva) this, he also told then everything knowable analogy is drawn between (uvacha) Krishna Devakiputra becomes known." Here the Vasudeva-Krishna and Devaki's - for he had become free from word Bhagavan is clearly used son. desire: "In the final hour one in the same ontological sense The Mahanarayana Upanisad should take refuge in these that the Puranas and Gita use mentions Vasudeva Krishna, three thoughts: "You are the for Krishna.In the above quoted recognized as Vishnu-Narayana: Indestructible (asita); You are list of Upanisads, there is the narayanaya vidmahe vasudevaya the unshaken (acyuta); You Narayana, which says: atha dhimahi tan no visnu pracodayat. are the very essence of life "We meditate on Narayana who is (prana)." the son of Vasudeva and on Him The teachings which Krishna we should contemplate. “Because heard from Ghora Angirasa, is He is Vishnu". more or less the same which In the Purusabodhini Upani- He taught to Arjuna in the Gita sad: eko devo nitya mukto bhakta [XVI 1-2]. Ghora too already vyapi hrdy antarama - "The one addressed Krishna as Acyuta, Godhead is eternally engaged in the infallible. many sports (pastimes) in relation In the Gita we find this with His devotees". But how is this term being used thrice, and eko devo who performed lilas? each time Arjuna addresses T h e s a m e b o o k e x p l a i n s : Krishna as Acyuta [Bg. 1.2, gokulasya mathura mandale... 11.42, 18.73.] Therefore, the dve parsve candravali radhika ca - self-evident quality of the "His place is the land of Gokula in quote demonstrates the the Mathura mandala. analogy. But there is not any On two sides he has Radha evidence in other texts of any puruso ha vai narayano and Candravali." The quote Krishna, as the son of Devaki, 'kamayata prajah srijeti - "The alludes to the same geographical besides our Krishna Yadava. Purusa Narayana, desired to area and the Gopi associates of The same work has another create the living beings." (1) Krishna lila indicated in the mention, 8.13.1: syama The same sruti text (4), says: Puranic texts. cavalam prapadye savalac brahmanyo devakiputra - "The Gopala-tapany-upanisad, a syama prapadye. Here, Brahman absolute is the son of treatise of Krishnalogy, says that Krishna is mentioned by his Devaki (Krishna). the own theme of this work is epithet Syama which means " Here the same Devaki- Krishna in the same way as in blackish, used in the Puranic putra epithet is ascribed to Puranic texts: Sac-cid-ananda- literature for the Lord. Krishna as in the Chandogya rupaya/ krsnayaklista-karine/ T h e S a n s k r i t w o r d and smriti literature. Also the namo vedanta-vedyaya/ Gurave prapadye-surrender appears Rig Veda's Purusa is identified budhi-saksine: "I offer my two times, in the same sense with Narayana and then with respects unto Krishna, who has a as the Gita. The designation Krishna. The same ontological form of bliss, eternity and ‘bhagesam’ is found in the derivation is found in the Gita knowledge. Understanding Him Svetasvatara 6.6: bhaga- and Puranas.Indications of means understand the end of

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [25] Vedas and He is the supreme Hari, which means "Oh Lord Hari!" Guru. Another meaning is the vocative of "(1.1) This Upanisad is the word Hara, which means part of the Atharva-Veda. Radha, the internal sakti of Hari. Another interesting work from However the word is used, the the above list of Upanisads is direct reading of the text indicates the Krsna-upanisad. This a relationship with Krishna Krishnaite text is part of Rig- because the epithet 'Hari' is used Veda: Om Krsno vai sac- for Krishna. Therefore the literal cidananda-ghana krsna adi- translation is, "Oh Lord Hari - p u r u s a h k r s n a Krishna!" or "Oh the energy of purusottamah...Kaly-upani- Lord Krishna!" (End of Part 1) sad or Kali-santarana. In this text is record: hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna for counteracting the conta- Horacio Francisco Arganis Juarez hare hare, hare rama hare mination of Kali. To save Horacio Francisco Arganis rama rama rama hare hare iti oneself from the contamination Juarez Ph.D. Research sodasakam namnam kali- of Kali, there is no alternative Professor of International kalmasa-nasanam natha but the chanting of this University Euroamericana parataropayah sarva-vedesu Mahamantra, even after Mexico. BA in Spanish lyrics by U of C. A Master of Art in Philosophy of drsyate: "These sixteen words searching through all the Religion at the CWI. - Mahamantra Hare-Krishna- Vedas. Rama - are especially meant "Hare is the vocative of

[26] June 2013 HINDU TODAY History Hindus of Guyana A Personal History Nanda Sahadeo

ay 5th 2013 marked 175 years since the first Indian set foot on shores of Guyana. M 396 Indian immigrants landed in British Guyana(now Guyana) from Calcutta. Between 1838 and 1917 over 500 ship voyages with 238,909 indentured Indian immigrants came to Guyana; while 75,898 of them or their children returned to India. The last shipment of immigrants – consisting of 437 persons and originating from both Madras and Calcutta – arrived on April 18, 1917 aboard the S. S. Ganges, formally terminating the Indian indentureship system. Nevertheless, over 400 more immigrants were brought on contracts to work on the sugar plantations in 1921-1922 and several others also came as ordinary settlers. Immigration from India ended in 1928 after almost exactly 90 years. Pandit MaheshwarSahadeo and Sri RamoutarJi at the Triumph Mandir They came on ships - Jahaj - and thus were called a small flat bush house as a little boy. He went to school Jahaji. These Jahajis brought their culture and way of at what he referred to as the English Church School life. They brought their Ram, Krishna and Allah, their (the Anglican School). He said the teachers, who were Ramayana, Koran and kept up all their customs. They mostly African Blacks, used to come around and had to face many adversities as Christian missionaries ensure that the small children attended school. tried to convertthem, but they persevered and today He stopped attending school at the age of 14 years, Hinduism and Islam still thrive in Guyana. There were when his Mother fell sick and he had to start helping his many adjustments to be made; for example father. He joined the Creole Gang (work crew) whose ingredients like masalas were not available, and only job was to throw manure on the sugarcane plants. later a few merchants started to import what was When he was a little older, he joined the Weeding Gang needed. The immigrants had to create their own then later, he started to Cut and Drop. (cutting the cane blends of spices to make their curries. Saris were not stalks and leaving them in heaps) then even available and so they started making their own by afterwards, Cut and Load (cutting and bundling the dyeing white cotton. stalks, and loading them onto the punts that took them Here is the story of one of the sons of a direct to the factories). Sri RamoutarJi worked and saved immigrant as was told to me. Sri RamoutarJi was an until he was able to buy land (what was called “beds” elder of our Mandir, the Triumph Mandir in then) in nearby Triumph Village and started to plant Georgetown, Guyana. His reminiscences give us a vivid rice. At the age of 18 years, Sri RamoutarJi got married. picture of some of our Guyanese Hindu customs.Sri His wife was from Canal No 2, on the West Coast of RamoutarJi was born on January 2,1915. His father, Sri Demerara. He never saw or met his dulhan (bride) until SomaiJi was from India. the wedding day. She was 12 years old. The match was Sri SomaiJi came to Guyana as a teenager. Sri made by a Naau (matchmaker) The dulha(bridegroom) RamoutarJi was born at Mon Repos Estate and lived in wore a pink jorajama (pleated wedding coat) and

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [27] maur(headdress). The dulhan after the wedding), his mother took wore a jula (blouse) and gangri the maur/ headdress worn by the (skirt) and white ordni(scarf). groom and the kangans (strings tied to She wore silver churiyas(thin the wrists of the right hands of bride bracelets) with two silver bangles and groom on the Maticore night by on either side of the churiya and the Pandits for protection. silver foot rings. She was covered These strings were basically strips with 5 yards of white cotton for of cotton dyed yellow and with small the marriage ceremony, and Shri SomaiJi who came from India.... pen-knives attached then mantras stayed covered until she reached father of RamoutarJi were chanted while tied on). With five his home. married ladies, whose husbands were The weddings lasted for four still alive, they went into the days: trench/canal near the home and place 1st day - Mati core: Puja to the headdress and strings into the Mother Earth/ haldiceremony water and squeezed them down into (rubbing of tumeric paste on the the mud. Mrs. Sookandai body of the couple about to be Wife of Ramoutar Ji Shri Ramoutar Ji "My mother put her foot and married). returned to the Jamwaaswhere press it into the mud,” he said. Then 2nd day -Bhatwana: pre- they rested until dawn. Then along she gave her sister, her mother in law paration of the food with the bride the wedding and her husband's sister saris and 3rd day – Telwaan: the procession walked to where the jula(blouse) made out of white cotton wedding day. launch was moored, crossed the dyed yellow.Sri RamoutarJi said that 4th day – Kangan: day after Demerara River and boarded the the bride went back to her parents' the ceremony. waiting bus which took them back home on the day after the kangan and In those days, all Hindu weddings home to Triumph Village. then returned on the following in Guyana were done in the When they reached home, the Sunday. evenings. Sri Ramoutar's family bride was welcomed by his mother "She felt afraid," he said, "cried, hired a bus to go with the Baraat and other female relatives and cried and want to go back to her (Bridegroom's procession). brought into the home. Then, one parents' home. So they came and took Because his Bride lived on the by one, the female relatives went her back and she stay there for 4-5 other side of the DemeraraRiver a up to her, lifted up the chadar / weeks then she came back. "She spent launch(small boat) was hired to sheet covering her, to see what she 1 week with me and 4 weeks with take them across. It took them up looked like and gave her presents. them.That is how we lived because to just a few yards from the According to traditions of the time, she did not like it here and missed her home, and then the Baraat if the female relatives did not like home there." Sri Ramoutar Ji's wife walked the rest of the way. Karaila what they saw, they would not give had her first child at 15. In those days, Natak (dancers/ musicians) were any presents to the bride. Like his the Nana and Nani (maternal hired to accompany the Baraat. female relatives, Sri RamoutarJi grandparents) brought all the clothes Tassa drums (huge dholak/drums only saw his Patni's (wife’s) face for the baby and the mother. Sri similar to the ones used in after she came into his home.”As RamoutarJi and his wife had 4 children Bangra) were not used in those soon as I saw her, I liked her," he and then 5 days after delivering her days; only hand drums (regular smiled. last baby, she passed away. "I ran to dholak) and all the dancers were The bride was then given get the doctor.He lived about 1/4 mile males. three silver bari earrings (small away but doctor said he can't come The Baraatwas welcomed hoops) to wear, and because her because his driver had already gone. (Milaap) and then taken to a nose was not pierced his mother Then I ran over to the Post Office next place to rest and relax (Janwaas), had the bride's nose pierced door and begged them to telephone which was next door to the immediately, and gave her a silver another doctor who lived two miles bride's home. The wedding then nose ring. Brides in those days did away. Before this doctor could start took place and after all the not wear saris as they were not yet out the news came that she already celebrations, Sri RamoutarJi and available, as mentioned earlier. died."After so many years, Sri the rest of the Baraat again On the Kangan day (the day RamoutarJi still was upset when he

[28] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Indentured Indian Laborers in Guyana spoke about the passing of his this time. Sri RamoutarJi hugged was finished, I held his hands and wife.In those days, when a wife me and wept. He was very shaky spoke to him, telling him to just focus died and there were young now. "I know how much you are on his Lord Krishna and leave children to raise, the custom was suffering, I am suffering too everything to the will of his Lord. He that the husband then must because I lost my Pandit. I lost my again mouthed "yes". That was the marry the younger sister of his Junior." he wept. "Why did Krishna last time I saw Sri Ramoutar Ji. That late wife. This tradition came not take me? Why he had to take night, he went to be with his Lord about because it was believed this good, good boy, this little, little Krishna. A pious soul, an elder, a first that this is the only way of boy?” he asked as he wept. He generation Jahaji left this world at the ensuring that the children will be thanked me for remembering him age of 94 years. I counted myself very loved and be taken care of. and for going to see him."I know fortunate that he shared a little of his Accordingly, Sri RamoutarJi then how hard it is for you to come and life with me. He will be missed. married his younger sister in law, yet you came to see me." He held and they had 7 more children. my face between the palms of his Nanda Sahadeo Sri RamoutarJi was an elder hands and wept even more. D a u g h t e r o f P a n d i t at our Mandir and took special On May 5th, I went alone this Mohanlal Sahadeo, who interest in our family after the time to visit Sri Ramoutar Ji. The was a founding member of passing of our Dad. He was very house was dark and only his wife the Guyana Hindu Dharmic attached to Dad and on the day of was sitting under the house. She Sabha and President of the Dad's funeral, he fainted. He came out and said that he had Triumph Mandir. She and her siblings grew up in the Sabha and postponed the wedding of his fallen sick since morning and that Mandir. She was given Diksha when she g ra n d k i d s t h a t h a d b e e n his son had taken him to the was 5 years old and received Diksha again scheduled for a few weeks after hospital. He spent 2 days there and f ro m a d i re c t s h i s hya o f S wa m i Dad's passing, saying, "How can then came home. When I went to Chinmayananda Ji Maharaja and Swami we celebrate when we have lost see him, he was semi conscious Dayanananda Ji Maharaja. our Sabhapati? " For several and had been like that all day She is trained in Indian Classical Vocal Music, Dance, Yoga, Hindi and Sanskrit years, on his birthday I would according to his daughter-in-law. from the Indian Cultural Center in make a cake for Sri RamoutarJi. Kneeling next to his bed, I saw that Georgetown and studied Vedanta. She is a He was now a vegetarian so he his eyes were half closed and he qualified Writer and Journalist and also was happy for my vegetarian was breathing laboriously. I asked paints. Nanda became the Pujari of the cake. In 2009, a few weeks after him if he wanted me to pray and he Triumph Mandir, Triumph Village, after the passing of her youngest Brother Pandit the passing of our younger mouthed "yes" between half- Maheshwar Sahadeo. Nanda was the first brother Pandit Maheshwar, I breaths. I looked at his daughter- woman in Guyana to serve as a Mandir went to visit Sri RamoutarJi. I was in-law and she nodded her head, Pujari; after injury prevented her from unable to go for his birthday and so I began to chant some mantras sitting down, her younger sister is now was unable to make him a cake to his Ishta Lord Krishna. When I serving as the Pujari.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [29] Philosophy United Contributions of the Deities and Daemons Samundra Manthan: Ocean Churning Manoj Mishra

amundra Manthan (Ocean churning) is (Shiva) onto it. Next to come out of ocean was one of the eminent events mentioned in nectar. Similar to ocean’s churning, when our S Puranas. During the churning process disorders vanish from our heart, we also recieve both Deity (Devta) and Demons (Daityas) united nectar in the form of peace and satisfaction. Then to make their contribution in the process. It is also Goddess came out and she served the mentioned that all the beings came to contribute liquor to demons and they became intoxicated. It as per their capabilities. Similar happens today as is same as when we earn money we also get well, to achieve something people with different influenced by the intoxication of money and we views unite and stand together. For us meditation don’t realize what we are doing and ultimately is the churning of our heart. During meditation all loose what we earn, same as demons didn’t get type of our energies and powers unite together. Goddess Lakshmi. During ocean churning first came the And finally Lakshmi went to Lord Vishnu. deadly venom, similarly when we do meditation, Now the question arises ‘Why others didn’t get our disorders in the form of venom comes out, her?’, ‘Why she didn’t go to Lord Shiva’? It is very which is nothing but our anger, desires, greed, simple because he is very innocent and any endearment, arrogance. When the venom came demon can take from him,therefore,Lakshmi out of the ocean, whole universe came under can’t reside with innocent people. Lord Brahma turmoil and then Lord Shiva drank it to bring didn’t get her because in the creation of Brahma peace in the universe. Similarly when venom there is a disparity, so she didn’t go to him, hence from our heart comes out we have to bring our Lakshmi doesn’t remain with people who have mind and heart in peace by sprinkling knowledge disparity in their deeds. She didn’t go to other

[30] June 2013 HINDU TODAY deities like Indraetc. because but it will go away soon. If it fruitful knowledge and tilt towards these deities are the owners does not come with Lord Vishnu God will prosper. of good deeds by which you then we become arrogant. Also can get heaven but not Lakshmi needs its diversity Manoj Mishra Goddess Lakshmi. We have to hence we should use Lakshmi He is an Engineering graduate who has done his understand here Lakshmi is for good causes. It is like this if engineering in Electronics not only money but it is of 8 we have our boat full of and Communication. In his types like peace, truth etc. valuable things then sometimes professional career he has Hence Lord Vishnu got it starts sinking and then we been working for last 20 Lakshmi as he is the only one have to throw few things to years with top notch Multinationals like Siemens, Infineon, Aricent and Hughes. who can properly use Lakshmi survive our boat. Currently he is working as an Assistant Vice for nurturing the universe We should use things President with Hughes . c o r r e c t l y. H e c a n o n l y thoughtfully, intelligently and In his early 30’s he was enlightened with preserve and protect Lakshmi. through sacrifice then only you a fact that Hinduism is for mankind and we That’s why we should always can donate time and money by need to demystify the sheer knowledge that our Rishis wanted to spread to the pray that if Lakshmi comes to which our 8 Lakshmis, good world. He is a great follower of people like our house it should come with health, money, obedient son, Sudhashuji, Avdheshanad ji, Gaurav Lord Vishnu then only she can faithful wife, valuable job, good Krishna who contribution to the society is stay with us, else it can come administrative arrangement, inestimable.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [31] Society The Beatles Let it Be in India The Retreat That Still Reverberates, Within You, Without You, Across the Universe

Forty five years ago, The Beatles were settling into the ashram of their new guru,Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in Rishikesh, India.

Philip Goldberg

he NEWS coverage was non-stop and What is meditation? global, as it had been six months earlier What could a backward, impoverished country, T when the lads first met Maharishi and only two decades removed from imperial rule, became public advocates for his Transcendental have to offer people who seemed to have Meditation (TM) technique. It would have been everything a human being could want? easy at the time to dismiss the media frenzy as Questions like those turned what might have just another pop culture craze, but reporters been a brief media burst into a watershed knew this was different. moment in cultural history. I opened American Why would four young, bright, fun-loving Veda, my book about the impact of Indian youngsters, wealthy beyond imagining, able to spirituality on the U.S., by calling the Beatles’ go anywhere and do anything, choose to hunker expedition “the most momentous spiritual retreat down in an austere, vegetarian, non-air- since Jesus spent those forty days in the wilder- conditioned compound in the Himalayan foot hills ness.” Since publication, not one person has and spend large chunks of time each day with argued with that assertion.When, in 1965, their eyes closed? college students began to take up TM, word

[32] June 2013 HINDU TODAY spread quickly and meditation clubs popped up on cam- puses. By August of 1967, when Maharishi lectured at the London Hilton, it was only natural that Pattie Boyd Harrison would hear about it and lead her husband and his mates to the jam-packed hotel ballroom. It was as though the earth tilted on its axis in February, 1968, making ancient Eastern teachings flow more easily and quickly to the West; the result would impact health- care, psychology, neurosci- Ringo Star in Hrishikesh ence and especially the way the globe for nearly a decade, effects of the practice. Before we understand and engage slowly attracting students, long, physicians and therapists our spirituality. In retrospect, mostly among respectable were recommending meditation the meeting of the Fab Four middle-aged people, with a to stressed-out grownups. To and the teacher who will metaphysical bent. His laser- meet the burgeoning demand, probably always be known as like focus on meditation, and Maharishi trained a cadre of “The Beatles’ Guru,” seems as his skill in presenting a syste- teachers, essentially demo- karmically destined as that of matic, universal practice that cratizing what had long been an Bill and Hillary or Lewis and was suitable for both secular esoteric practice available only to Clark. self-improvement and spiritual an elite few, much as Henry Ford Like many in the counter- enlightenment, were ideally had democratized automobiles. culture of which they had s u i t e d fo r t h e ra t i o n a l , Now, hundreds of studies become de facto leaders, the pragmatic West. later, meditation and yoga are as band members had come to The Beatles took to medi- mainstream as aerobics and see that psychedelic drugs, tation like they had taken to like LSD, could open the door vitamins. Would this have hap- Chuck Berry and Little Richard; to higher consciousness but pened if the Beatles had never J o h n a n d G e o r g e w e r e they did not let you stay there, gone to India? Would there be especially enthusiastic (hear and, in the bargain, came with yoga studios on every street David Frost’s interview with serious risks. corner? Would HMOs recommend them). Young people every- The search was on for meditation? May be, maybe not, where, always eager to safe, natural ways to expand but certainly not as quickly. That’s emulate their musical heroes, the mind and attain inner not just my assessment. Life flooded TM centers. The press peace and unified awareness; magazine at the time dubbed coverage was remarkable for its the East seemed to have 1968 “The Year of the Guru,” and shortage of cynicism; it answers, and all signs pointed when Newsweek commemorated featured parents and respected to yoga and meditation. that seminal year four decades cultural leaders who were George Harrison, having later, one article was titled “What impressed by the life changes spent time in India studying the Beatles Gave Science.” The they observed in the meditating sitar with Ravi Shankar and author, Sharon Begley, chose the youth. As a result, scientists, reading spiritual literature, topic because the lads’ trip to prodded by Maharishi, who had w a s a m o n g t h e r i p e s t India “popularized the notion that majored in physics, started candidates. For his part, doing rigorous research on the the spiritual East has something to Maharishi had been circling teach the rational West.” That’s

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [33] Beatles in Rishikesh, India with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 1968 reason enough to commemo- left because, he said, he had he washed his hands of the whole rate the anniversary of that things to attend to in London. thing back in 1968. But, just last eventful journey; if you need Two weeks later, George year, Yoko Ono told an interviewer another one, go listen to The and John took off, abruptly and that her late husband valued White Album—almost all the angrily, because they’d heard meditation and looked back songs on that double record stories of hanky panky on the favorably on his time in India. were written or conceived in part of the guru. The rumors What I find most striking is that, the ashram on the Ganges. about Maharishi and Mia 45 years later, we’re still talking Postscript: Whenever I Farrow were later put to rest; about all of it. write or speak about this other rumors persist to this day. Philip Goldberg subject, people bring up the George, famously, remained an Philip Goldberg is the Beatles’ sudden departure avid spiritual practitioner the author or coauthor of from the ashram and John’s rest of his life, maintaining an nineteen books, including angry cynicism afterward active link to at least three “ The Intuitive Edge," (Sexy Sadie was originally spiritual lineages: TM, the Hare “ R o a d s i g n s : O n t h e Spiritual Path,” and his Maharishi).Usual ly, the and Yogananda’s latest work, "American Veda: From comments contain erroneous organization. Ringo and Paul Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and information understandable, apparently continued to Meditation, How Indian Spirituality g i v e n t h e m e d i a meditate; in 2009, they Changed the West.” Based in Los Angeles, he is an sensationalism and the performed at a Radio City Music ordained interfaith minister, a public passage of time so here are Hall concert to benefit the speaker and seminar leader, and the the facts. Ringo left after only David Lynch Foundation’s founder of Spiritual Wellness and Healing ten days, complaining that the efforts to bring TM to students Associates. He also blogs regularly on the Huffington Post. Visit philipgoldberg. com ashram food upset his tummy. and veterans. As for John, like o r a m e r i c a n v e d a . c o m f o r m o r e Paul spent two months, then most people I’d assumed that information.

[34] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Wisdom Pharmacy

Tulsi (The Holy Basil) 15 Benefits MP Bhattathiry (Retd. Chief Technical Examiner to the Govt. of Kerala, India he tulsi or holy basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious T tradition and is worshiped in the morning and evening by Hindus at large. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Here're top fifteen medicinal uses of tulsi. Basil or Sweet Basil, is a common name for the 1. Healing Power: The tulsi plant has culinary herb Ocimum basilicum, of the family many medicinal properties. The leaves are Lamiaceae. Basil originally from India. Basil is a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. originally native to India and other tropical They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial regions of Asia, having been cultivated there tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach for more than 5500 years.There are many and induce copious perspiration. The seed varieties of Ocimum basilicum, as well as of the plant are mucilaginous. several related species or species hybrids also called basil. 2. Fever & Common Cold: The leaves of basil are specific for many fevers. During 4. Sore Throat: Water boiled with basil leaves can be the rainy season, when malaria and dengue taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves, be used as a gargle. boiled with tea, act as preventive against theses diseases. In case of acute fevers, a 5. Respiratory Disorder: The herb is useful in the decoction of the leaves boiled with treatment of respiratory system disorder. A decoction of powdered cardamom in half a liter of water the leaves, with honey and ginger is an effective remedy and mixed with sugar and milk brings down for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough and cold. A the temperature. decoction of the leaves, cloves and common salt also The juice of tulsi leaves can be used to gives immediate relief in case of influenza. They should bring down fever. Extract of tulsi leaves in be boiled in half a liter of water till only half the water is fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 left and then taken. hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every 6. Kidney Stone: Basil has strengthening effect on the effective in bringing down the temperature. kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of basil leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel 3. Coughs: Tulsi is an important them via the urinary tract. constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups and expectorants. It helps to 7. Heart Disorder: Basil has a beneficial effect in mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. cardiac disease and the weakness resulting from them. Chewing tulsi leaves relieves cold and flu. It reduces the level of blood cholesterol.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [35] 8. Children's Ailments: tried successfully by some C o m m o n p e d i a t r i c naturopaths in the treat- problems like cough cold, ment of leucoderma. f e v e r, d i a r r h e a a n d vomiting respond favorably 13. Teeth Disorder: The to the juice of basil leaves. herb is useful in teeth If pustules of chicken pox disorders. Its leaves, dried delay their appearance, in the sun and powdered, basil leaves taken with can be used for brushing saffron will hasten them. teeth. It can also be mixed Tulsi's Botanical Identity with mustered oil to make a 9. Stress: Basil leaves are p a s t e a n d u s e d a s Tulsi is identified by botanists primarily as regarded as an 'adaptogen' toothpaste. This is very Ocimum sanctum (Rama and Krishna Tulsi or anti-stress agent. good for maintaining varieties) or more recently Ocimum tenuiflorum, Recent studies have shown dental health, counter- and Ocimum gratissimum (Vana Tulsi variety). that the leaves afford acting bad breath and for Belonging to the Lamiaceae/Labiatae mint family, significant protection massaging the gums. It is these and other closely related species and a g a i n s t s t r e s s . E ve n also useful in pyorrhea and varieties (e.g., Ocimum canum) are cousins of the healthy persons can chew other teeth disorders. familiar sweet basil cooking herb Ocimum 12 leaves of basil, twice a 14. Headaches: Basil basilicum. In parts of India, all of the basils are day, to prevent stress. It makes a good medicine for honoured as Tulsi. purifies blood and helps headache. A decoction of Basils are native to tropical Asia, likely having prevent several common the leaves can be given for originated in India. Robust Tulsi varieties readily elements. this disorder. Pounded grow wild in many areas of Asia and Africa. Tulsi is leaves mixed with sandal- a bushy perennial shrub, usually cultivated 10. Mouth Infections: wood paste can also be annually from seed, although it can also be T h e l e a v e s a r e q u i t applied on the forehead for propagated from tip or root cuttings. effective for the ulcer and getting relief from heat, infections in the mouth. A h e a d a c h e , a n d f o r Tulsi's Chemistry few leaves chewed will cure providing coolness in these conditions. general. The chemical composition of Tulsi is highly complex, containing many nutrients and other 11. Insect Bites: The 15. Eye Disorders: Basil biologically active compounds, the proportions of herb is a prophylactic or juice is an effective remedy which may vary considerably between strains and preventive and curative for for sore eyes and night- even among plants within the same field. insect stings or bites. A b l i n d n e s s , w h i c h i s The nutritional and pharmacological properties of teaspoonful of the juice of g e n e r a l l y c a u s e d b y the whole herb in its natural form, as it has been the leaves is taken and is deficiency of Vitamin A. traditionally used, result from synergistic repeated after a few hours. Two drops of black basil interactions of many different active Fresh juice must also be juice are put into the eyes phytochemicals. Consequently, the overall effects applied to the affected daily at bedtime. of Tulsi cannot be fully duplicated with isolated parts. A paste of fresh roots compounds or extracts. Because of its inherent is also effective in case of DISCLAIMER: These are botanical and biochemical complexity, Tulsi b i t e s o f i n s e c t s a n d only general guidelines as a standardization has, so far, eluded modern leeches. first aid. It is always better science. Perhaps best known of the many active to see a doctor depending compounds that have been identified and 12. Skin Disorders: upon the intensity of the extracted are eugenol (an essential oil) and ursolic Applied locally, basil juice is case. The views expressed acid. Although Tulsi is known as a general vitalizer beneficial in the treatment above are entirely those of and increases physical endurance, it contains no of ringworm and other skin the author. caffeine or other stimulants. diseases. It has also been

[36] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Wisdom Pharmacy Introduction To Ayurveda Radhika Priya Prassannatma

n recent years the ancient red to small universes. Understanding the universe is represented by Vata, Vedic medical system known this point, let’s take a quick look at the Pitta, and Kapha in our body. I as Ayurveda has gained universe, in order to gain a better Qualities of Vata, Pitta, And Kapha worldwide popularity. However its understanding of our bodies, because Now let’s go further and examine complexity can be at times bewil- seeing a bigger object is often more the qualities of these energies in our dering for both the serious student comprehendible, than looking at the body, which are the minute representa- and the casual observer. In a series same exact object in a microscope. tions of Air, Sun, and Moon/Water in the of articles specifically written for The universe is maintained by 3 universe. We can’t really see Vata, Pitta, Hindu Today, I will elucidate on the energies, namely the air, sun, and and Kapha as specific objects or at science of Ayurveda. moon or watery element. The air particular places, but can understand Ayurveda can be broken down causes movement in our atmosphere, their presence through the qualities that into 2 words, “Ayuh” + “Veda”; and although we cannot see it, we can they exhibit. According to Vagbhatta- “Ayuh,” meaning life, and “Veda,” understand its presence by the sense Acharya, the author of the ancient meaning “Science”; literally of touch, sound, as well as see it move Ayurvedic compilation, “Ashtanga- translating into “The Science of other objects. Sangraha, Life”. “Life” can be a very broad For example, we can feel air as it tatraruksolagusheetah term, and we can virtually travel blows against our hair and skin, hear kharahsukshmashcalo’nilah unfathomable depths into just this it howling when there is a gust of Vata is dry, light, cold, rough, minute, and seemingly small word. wind, and perceive its presence as the is always moving. So any quality and There has been countless study wind blows the leaves of the trees. disturbance in the body with these and discussion of this very “life” all The Sun gives its heat, light, regulates qualities is said to be dominated by Vata. over the world in each and every day and night and the seasons, can be For example, shifting pain or Alzheimer’s era. But in this article, we will only compared to the ‘universal clock,’ and disease which has the predominate cover a simple fraction of this topic, causes metabolism amongst plants ‘moving’ feature of Vata. by which we can begin to have some and other living creatures. He further states, understanding. The Moon, or water element pittamsasnehateekshnoshna “ Y a t B r a h m a n causes coolness, nourishment, laghuvisramsravamdravam tatpindah”. In ancient moisture, growth, and binds sub- Pitta is slightly unctuous, penetrating, Indian texts, it has stances. For example, all beings, hot, has a putrid smell, free flowing or been stated, that what including the earth itself, require oozing, and liquid. So anything with can be observed in water for growth and nourish- these properties are said to be domi- the universe, or nature, ment. This Air, Sun, and Moon nated by pitta. can also be observed i n A fever or an infection would be an in smaller objects. So example of this. whatever is seen in the In addition, Vagbhatta explains, ‘macro’ is also pre- snigdhahsheetogururmandah sent exactly in the shlakshnomritsnahsthirahkaphah ‘micro,’ and as Kapha is unctuous, cold, heavy, slow, such, our bodies smooth, slimy or shiny, and sta- can also be ble/static; these qualities are compa present when Kapha is dominant.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [37] Vata, Pitta and Kapha or the Kapha.Remember, Kapha is cold, ‘doshas,’ are divided into all phases stagnant, heavy, slow, smooth, slimy, etc. and aspects of our life. Therefore, children should always be Though present all over the protected from the cold and kept warm, body, the doshas are divided into 3 they should have plenty of exercise, and sections. Pitta is predominately their food should be light. situated in the area between the In our youth and middle age, Pitta is chest and the navel; Kapha is prevailing. Consequently, this is the time located from the chest up to the top where we may be prone to infections, of the head; from the navel blood impurities, acne, digestive downwards is Vata’s main seat. ailments, fever, hormonal changes, From this you can see that Pitta is anger, and emotions. During this stage, situated in the middle of the body, it is important to remain cool, practice where metabolism, digestion, etc. meditation, and use purifying herbs. As takes place, and where heat is sunset. In addition, the digestion is we get older, after 60, we start going into required. Vata is situated where also divided into the Kapha phase, the Vata phase of our life. there is a lot of movement needed, where the food is not digested yet, We are more prone to lightness or and Kapha, where stability, where we still feel heavy; the Pitta degeneration of the tissues and bones, lubrication, moisture, etc. arees- phase, where the food is still excess movement of the mind and sential. digestion; and the Vata phase, which thoughts, which prevent us from getting Similarly, the day, night, is the end of the digestion process, enough sleep, excess movement and digestion, and stages of life can be where we feel light and soon feel shakiness like Parkinson’s disease, and divided as beginning, middle, and hungry again. constipation, just to name a few. So it is end, with doshas of Kapha, Pitta, Balancing the doshas and staying essential to take a lot of care during this and Vata, predominating them healthy time, especially with lubrication, respectively. For example, there are According to Vagbhatta, massage, proper nourishment, and to 3 stages of life: childhood, youth take it more easy than when we were in and middle age, and old age. vriddhihsamanehsarveshaam the previous stages. • Childhood (from birth to vipareetairviparyayah • For Kapha, herbs like black pepper, puberty) has predominance of ginger, piper longum, sitopaladichurna, Kapha. For example, at this time Increase of these doshas in the body and honey, are very good, as they are people are more prone to have is caused by using substances of strong and penetrating herbs which cut ‘baby fat’, colds, etc. similar qualities, and decrease by the stickiness of Kapha. Plenty of • Youth and middle age (from anything of opposite quality. For exercise and a light diet is also re- puberty to 60), has predominance example, if someone is losing weight commended. of Pitta; this is the time for an and/or sleep, get extra sensitive to • For Pitta, herbs like aloe vera, increase of occurrences such as the cold, start to have constipation, turmeric, amalaki (Indian gooseberry), acne, heat, passion, aggression, etc. which is due to dryness, we know that sugar cane, and ghee, are great • Old age (from 60 years old these are the symptoms of increased alleviators, along with activities such as and above) is more dominated by Vata. So, for reduction, we must give meditation, yoga, pranayama, and Vata and usually at this time, people opposite measures to decrease it. listening to calming music, which helps c o m p l a i n o f p r o b l e m s l i ke To remove cold, we must give to bring the mind and body balance. constipation, insomnia, lightness, warmth like warm drinks and keep the • For Vata aggravations, herbs like etc. which all include Vata qualities. person warm. To reduce the dryness, ashwaganda (withania somniferous), The day and night also have the individual should be given brahmi (bacopa), haritaki (termi- predominance of the doshas in the lubrication like intake of more oil, or naliachebula), and oils like sesame oil, beginning, middle, and end, external application or massage with are especially good. Daily abhyanga, or respectively. oil. To reduce the lightness, heavy oil massage is especially good to relieve • Kapha: Just after the sunrise substances like dairy, wheat, etc. can the dryness, pain, numbness, or loss of and sunset. be given. In the different stages of life, function produced by Vata. • Pitta: Midday (noon) and there are various precautions and In Ayurveda, the 6 tastes of food also midnight. safety measures to prevent and help play an important role in balancing our • Vata: End of night 2-(3 hours us through our journey of life. In our body. These include sweet, sour, salty, before sunrise till sunrise) and c h i l d h o o d , w h i c h i s u s u a l l y pungent (spicy), bitter, and astringent. In evening (2-3 hours before sunset till predominated by Kapha, we should school, most of us learn that a balanced protect our children from aggravated

[38] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Radhika Priya Prassannatma diet consists of certain food groups Anything that tastes bitter, neem, RadhikaPriyaPrassannatma such as carbohydrates, protein, etc. bitter melon, endives was born in 1981into a very However the ancient Acharyas have • Astringent: spiritual family who raised written that a balanced meal should Anything that tastes astringent, paan her within the Vaishnava include all these 6 tastes; this is leaves, betal nut, most lentils, tradition. Her childhood because each taste help to balance spinach, pomegranate So just by was spent in Mumbai, the doshas: understanding the 3 doshas, the 6 Dallas, San Diego, and Vrindavan, India where she grew up hearing and studying • Sweet, sour, salty: tastes, added with a little exercise, we the Bhagavad Gita, SrimadBhagavatam, Increase Kapha, Decrease Vata can create balance in our lifestyle, Mahabharata and other various Vedic • Pungent, bitter, astringent: body and mind, maintain our health, literatures. She is trained in classical Increase Vata, Decrease Kapha and prevent disease. According to Indian Bharatnatyam dance and in several • Sour, salty, pungent: the Ayurvedic literature, other Indian arts such as cooking, rangoli Increase Pitta swasthasyaswaastarakshana and music. • Sweet, bitter, astringent: aturasyavikaraprashamanamca She attended City College of San Decrease Pitta The goal of Ayurveda is to maintain Francisco from 2002-2005, and also health by prevention, as well as cure attended the Muniyal Institute for Ayurveda Medical Sciences in Manipal, Examples of the 6 tastes: the disease which has already arisen. India. There she received her B.A.M.S • Sweet: This philosophy of the 3 doshas, or (Bachelors of Ayurvedic Medicine and Anything that tastes sweet, sugar, the ‘tridoshasiddhanta’, is a very Surgery) in 2011. rice, milk, sweet fruits. simple and practical understanding, Radhika is a practicing Ayurvedic doctor • Sour: and we just have to be aware and and she, along with her husband,is an Anything that tastes sour, tamarind, sensitive to what is going on in our official Priest at the Sri Sri Radha lemon, sour oranges bodies and in nature. Just by Bankebihari Idaho Temple. Her husband is • Salty: observing, we can see that nature and the 10th generation descendent of the Anything that tastes salty, salt the universe is in constant change, Pujaris who serve the Sri SriBalarama and Revati deities inBarahatti, West Bengal, • Pungent: but everything works together, and it thus they return to India annually to Anything that tastes spicy, chilies, is this change that makes it so continue the family’s traditional service at ginger, black pepper beautiful. that temple.Radhika and her husband • Bitter: currently reside in Boise, Idaho, USA

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [39] Panchang

[40] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Vastu Creating a Healthy Character through Interiors B.B. Puri

ven the basics of The Principles the walls etc. Lines should be Interior Design are These principles help us in restricted to the minimum. Equal E capable of creating a determining an object, whether height in the furniture brings in the character. The main source of it is good or bad in appearance. impression of the unity in the design for man and his They are considered before space. Vertical lines create the creations is NATURE. From de s igning. T he y can be impression of height and similarly nature various aspects has classified into: horizontal lines create an been picked up, for various • Balance impression of more length. designs.To communicate • Emphasis Vertical lines of doorways, these thoughts, there is a • Rhythm draperies, and windows built-in need to develop a design • Proportion cupboards give strength and language. Broadly we can • Unity or Harmony height to a room. Similarly tables, divide them into two groups. Let us discuss the Elements in chairs, bookcases etc obtain The Elements detail: horizontal lines. These are basically visual components used in creating Line Form an object or a composition. It is the basic design element. It is also referred as shape, area or These are the basics of Too many lines of different mass. Forms are closely related to design. They can be classified nature in a room create an lines. Forms unite with lines to into: Line, Form, Texture, Impression of visual chaos like achieve over all design of a given Colour, Pattern, Light. too many beams, paneling on space. A long rectangular table or

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [41] sofa helps in creating a line of of design. formal balance. unity in the room, but at the 1. Naturalistic motives, which 2. Informal balance- if each side of same time too many shapes or look like pictures of flowers, balancing point is different and forms of furniture create the fruits, animals, or scenes. there is no center line which impression of chaos. 2. Stylized motifs, which divides the composition into two depend upon the material. equal parts, then it is called Texture Ferns and leaves are the most informal balance. Surface characteristics of any commonly used pattern models object are known as texture for fabrics and other decorative Emphasis textural surface range from articles. Emphasis helps to center the smooth to rough. 3. Geometrical motifs, which interest to the most important A rough texture absorbs are based on forms of circle, thing in any arrangement. It light and smooth surface rectangle, triangle etc. Stripes, should be called as focal point. If reflects light. Small and dark dot and checks are the most there is one main emphasized rooms should have smooth commonly seen geometrical point in a room then others will texture and large rooms can motifs in interiors. become subdued.Placing a have rough texture, if needed. window, an arch, a painting or a Texture’s can be used for wall Light furniture piece the point of furnish, wood work, furniture Light is an art and a main emphasis should be decided by etc. element. Light is closely related the interior designer. to color and texture. Day light is Color very important in the overall Rhythm We react emotionally to appearance of a room. Artificial Rhythm is the movement of the different colors in different lighting has become common in eye across a design it is kind of ways. Our national flags and interior design today due to organized movement in continuity political party flags are good lack of natural light in the rhythm is a calculated movement, example of our attachment to interiors.There are many which is capable of channelising various colors. We all know reasons for this. Many desi- and stabilizing other principles. that colors are an integral part gners prefer artificial light for R hy t h m d e ve l o p s t h r o u g h of our religion and culture, so dramatic effects of interiors. repetition of shapes, lines or the choice of color is very How ever a good combination colors. important in relative to the of natural and artificial lighting functional use of space. will save energy consumption. Proportion Light is intimately linked Artistic placement of lights Proportion is the consideration of with color because light is the can bring out important areas weight, shape and division of an source of all colors in nature. and keep subordinate areas in object. It demands that all space Bright colors should be used in shadow. There are several divisions should be pleasingly dark areas and dark colors can types of artificial lighting related to each other. be used in lighted areas there appliances available today for are wide variety of colors for interior designers. Harmony interior surfaces. A careful and Harmony is when all the elements thoughtful use of colors is very Balance of design are nicely related, for essential for attractive Balance is equalization of example if all items have same interiors. attraction on both sides of the color or similar type of wood or center. There are two types of similar fabric design. All forms, Pattern balance lines, textures and colors should Pattern is a kind of surface 1. Formal balance- when be harmonious. The colors need enrichment. Any room will articles of equal weight are not be the same always but they look dull without any pattern. placed on each side of the c a n b e c o m p l e m e n t a r y o r In interior design there are center and at equal distance matching one another. three types of motifs or units from the center it is called

[42] June 2013 HINDU TODAY Ethics Ethics of Life edited by Coralie F Srivastava

thics is a branch of five senses through proper philosophy also know knowledge (sanskar), knowledge E as moral philosophy comes from the Vedas and and norms for conduct that Development comes from the d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e t w e e n mind. We may possess the best acceptable and unacceptable knowledge, but the use of this behavior. Something is ethical knowledge is not through karmas if it is in accordance with what (action). It is our mind which it is morally right to do. Then assimilates this knowledge and comes the question of what is puts it to the proper constructive morally right to do, and that use. We are a multi religious depends on your belief system society and that is our strength. In and also wether you believe in this 21st Century we are too busy absolute morality or not? in looking after only the garden of Ethics is not just knowing materialistic gains. We have r i g h t f r o m w r o n g , b u t neglected the garden of spiri- understanding the factors tuality which is the store house of behind choices we make every world, through the ultimate peace, love, inner power and day, especially when right vs. power of love. Nature, man and happiness, and this should be wrong is less clear. product are within an evoluti- developed through the proper use onary network guided by of Vedic Knowledge. Consistent Ethics of Life performance standards. Vedic Dr. B. B. Puri In one constant the right of Culture is to be seen, felt, every fetus to be born should perceived, conceived and Prof. Dr. B. B. Puri is a experienced from inside as well multifaceted personality be protected by civil law and and he is a Senior Practicing supported by civil consensus. as from outside. It has to have a A r c h i t e c t , R e s e a r c h Our moral, political and fourth dimension. However, it is Scholar, Author and Vastu economical responsibility do essential to go into a very deep Advisor. He is associated not stop at this stage. A wide and careful study to understand with numerous professional organizations. its implications. When we talk His achievements highlight his versatile spectrum of issue touches on character. He has added a new research the protection of human life about Vedas, we are talking dimension and scientific approach to Vedic and the promotion of human about knowledge. Culture making it a modern concept. His dignity. Every sentient being Vedas mean knowledge. mission is to propagate the new dimensions in the Vedic Philosophy and has a right to their life. No The mind possesses know- ledge; therefore, the mind is get due recognition for it. being can end the life of He has been honoured with The another. the main author of all our Millennium Award and a Gold Medal at the As a responsible citizen it actions and behavior. Human Millennium World Congress (2000) for his is our moral duty to create a Beings take birth on this planet lifetime achievements. He has travelled based on the composition of widely and has participated in and headed healthy society, and heal your many National and International relationship with your family, the five elements of nature. We Conferences and Seminars. He is the society and Nation with all the take birth with five senses, but recipient of numerous awards and notes of different religions of the it is essential to develop these appreciation from renowned personalities.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [43] News Dubai's Yogathon Punitha Prabhakaran Pillai

oday, despite all of our technological soul. The goal is to reach a state of being ‘aware’ advancements no one can deny that real or awareness. Though the ultimate goal of T happiness lies in the simple state called practicing Yoga is self-awareness/realization, in wellbeing. Everyone is conscious about their the process you will definitely enjoy all the good health and quality of life. This is especially true side effects of Yoga such as good health and a when it comes to our individual pursuit of health clear, open, receptive and vibrant mind. The and wellbeing. impact of regret, lamentation and anxiety about Many people are now looking out for the future will all dissipate. something more than just the mere physical When you unite with the flow of your breath, exercises available at any gym. Fortunately an you slowly learn to be in the present, see yourself ancient tradition from the East has come to the in others and develop empathy for others. rescue! The Yoga phenomenon has swept the Negative emotions and tendencies such as world. Beyond the physical exercises Yoga itself jealousy, greed, hatred and wrath are washed means the conscious union of mind, body and away. A smile will decorate your face adding to

[44] June 2013 HINDU TODAY your natural beauty and appeal. Lord Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says, “A true yogi observes me in all beings, and also sees every being in me. Indeed, the self-realized man (person) sees me everywhere. For one who sees me everywhere and sees everything in me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to me. The Yogi who knows that I and the Supersoul within all creatures are one worships me and remains always in me in all circumstances. He is a perfect Yogi who, by com- parison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, Hindu Today Reporter Punitha interviews Vinay Kapoor of AOL both in their happiness and keep your body and mind breathing of hundreds, inhaling distress, O Arjuna! (BG 6.29- healthy but it can actually take and exhaling; indeed it was Yoga 32) Yoga practice is now a you to the stage of Self in action with bodies, minds, worldwide phenomenon. Realization! hearts and spirit moving in Recently a Yoga event The event took place at harmony. took place in Dubai. It was a Zabeel Park. I met Jaya a senior Time went by quickly. The bright Sunny day. The climate volunteer and member of "The series was over and now an was pleasant as the event Art of Living" and introduced energized group sat charged with began in the evening. The myself to her. After some light breath and prayer. Then it was the event was organized by "The conversation the event began time for honoring the participants Art of Living” Foundation. with some children guided by a with certificates and a formal These courses have been teacher and disciple of Sri Sri appreciation for their having taken conducted in various centers Ravi Shankar initiating the up and completed theYogathon of UAE on a regular basis. This event from the stage. challenge. I was happy as well as event was a Marathon called There were 500 parti- amazed to see the little brave the “Yogathon”. Participants cipants on the ground following hearts of a mere five, six years old took up the challenge of a 12 along. As the Yoga event completing the 108 rounds of step "Suryanamaskar" or “Sun began, an energetic and S u r ya n a m a s k a r a n d b e i n g Salutation” Yoga-Asana to be enthusiastic environment recognized for their achievement. performed 108 times. emerged. I joined in as well and It was cherished moment for all One may ask as to why, performed a few rounds of involved. After the program I met among all the Yoga positions, Suryanamaskar, enjoying the with VinayKapoor, a Board is Suryanamaskar so popular atmosphere and capturing Member of “The Art of Living " among Yoga practitioners? some of the moments on Foundation. In a brief interview Suryanamaskar is an all- camera as well. session, he shared some cogent around beneficial series of The energy generated by perspectives on Yoga. movements that involves a over 500 people all engaging in twelve step Asana/Position Suryanamaskar in unison was Q. Why Yoga? and it is called the King of the tremendous. Heads bowing Answer: “Yoga is for the wellbeing all Yoga- Asanas. It is also and rising, cobra-like, hands of not only the body but also of the stated that not only does it folded rising skyward and the mind.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [45] Q: How can we reach out Q. How many years have Participating in this event I was to other communities and the Art of Living programs able to gain a firsthand experience people of different reli- been held in UAE? of the value of Yoga. These events gions through Yoga? A. “Art of Living” has been spread the message of Yoga to the A: “We need to develop an active in the UAE for Fifteen world. Yoga allows us to grow understanding and awareness years. With the support of the beautifully. that Yoga is not about government we are even It revitalizes our spirit and spreading religion but it is conducting "Art of Living" maintains a healthy body and mind about the overall state of well- workshops in jails for the and expands an innocent heart. It being that is required by criminals. The authorities are inspires people towards love thus everyone. This is what we are quite impressed by the positive breaking the barriers of so called offering regardless of religion impact upon the behavior of the religion, community, nationality, or nationality. inmates who attend our Yoga race and gender. Yoga provides courses. Overall this Yogathon that environment that allows us to Q. How was it possible for was a beautiful experience. live harmoniously on this planet as T h e A r t o f l i v i n g t o It was inspiring to see 500 One Family. Through Yoga we can conduct such an event in participants practicing Yoga in collectively fulfill the message of an open space like a park an open park in a country like “One Planet One Family” re- here in Dubai? Did the Dubai. Generally people barely presented in that Vedic ideal of G o v e r n m e n t r e s i s t have the energy to go the gym "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakkam". thinking Yoga to be an or even take a walk what to integral part of Hindu speak of doing Yoga. Punitha Prabhakaran Pillai Dharma? This event was indeed a Punita Prabhakaran Pillai A. The government is in fact special experience for me, for originally from Mumbai, very supportive and they the city of Dubai and especially India currently lives in Dubai and writes on Hindu understand what we are doing for everyone present. It related topics. She is and recognize the benefits of reaffirmed our awareness dedicated to the love of her these Yoga events. regarding the importance of 'Ladoo Gopal' the promotion of Dharma Yoga in our everyday life. and the Vedic traditions in all its forms.

[46] June 2013 HINDU TODAY News A New Mandir Is Born

Nanda Sahadeo

n Vasant Nav Ratri, 2013 a new Mandir was members of the Hindu community, they were able to inaugurated in Queens, New York, after open the doors of the new temple on the first day of O outgrowing its original home as a small Vasant Nav Ratri, the Hindu New Year. They basement temple. We were blessed to be there on celebrated with a Puja to the Divine Mother. As part the first night, and now we can share with you scenes of their opening celebrations, they are having a 108- of the celebration. Pandit Phagoo and his wife first night Yagna (Fire Sacrifice Ritual) that started started a temple in the basement of his real estate immediately after Ram Navami, with various Pandits business premises on Jamaica Ave, Queens, New York from Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname and New York City City, at Diwali in 2007. His was a family-like temple doing the Katha. and thus they named it Parivar Vidya Mandir. Pandit Rooplal Phagoo has announced that the In October 2012, Pandit Ji was asked, in his temple will be open every day during the per- capacity as a realtor, to view a building and put it on formance of the 108 Yagnas. The Puja starts at 7pm the market. As soon as he saw it, he felt that it would and the Pravachangoes from 8-9pm. The new make a perfect place for a temple. He went home and Temple's name is Sundar Gopal Mandir. All the Deities spoke with his wife and they made an offer on the representative of all Guyanese and Trinidadian Hindu property. They closed the deal in February, 2013 and temples are also represented and worshiped at this the rest is now history. With the help of several other new temple.

HINDU TODAY 2013 June [47] News The Sanatana Dharma Conference Dharma Rakshati August 17th–18th, 2013 ISDS (International Sanatana Dharma Society) Dharma Rakshati Rakshitaha "As Ashram Omaha, Nebraska, USA we preserve Dharma, we are likewise protected by Dharma." This is not an academic gathering with (Mahabharata) The Sanatana boring theoretical talks. It is a dynamic Dharma Conference will be a experiential retreat offering an opp- historic gathering of dedicated ortunity for life-changing spiritual and devotees of the Sanatana Dharma philosophical growth, spiced with religious tradition with the inspiring talks and workshops designed purpose of laying out the future of to usher in a global Vedic restoration. The the Vedic spiritual tradition for the keynote speaker will be Sri Dharma 21st century and beyond. Pravartaka Acharya - Vedic Philosopher, This conference is designed to Dharma Acharya, and prolific author. greatly further our understanding of practical and immediate manner. Seating is very limited. Please the Vedic path, to deepen our own Join us for two days of profound register as soon as possible to reserve personal spiritual experience, and spiritual practice and experience, your seat. Lunches and dinner will be to share with the entire world the inspiring discourses by advanced provided. A $10 registration processing life- changing teachings of Vedic Dharma teachers, meditation and fee (non-refundable), along with a fully spirituality. This unique Vedic Yoga sessions, puja and yajna (sacred filled out registration form, are required conference will bring together the fire ritual) ceremonies, an initiation to submit your registration. spiritual, aesthetic, health, social- (diksha) ceremony, as well as spiritual Register Here: political and sadhana (practice) workshops and activities designed to For The Sanatana Dharma Conference aspects of Dharmic culture in a very help bring about the new Golden Age. http://dharmacentral.com/conference.html 1000 Year Old Shiva Temple Under Threat Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India: continues at the temple as well as a village was called ‘Elaichikudi’, and The National Highways Authority of single 'kala' pooja is conducted at the ‘Veeranarayanapuram’. The temple’s name India (NHAI) expansion plans are temple daily. was ‘Sri Kailasam’. threatening the 1,000-year-old In a memorandum to the Chief “This temple possesses more than Naganathaswamy temple built by Minister Jayalalithaa and NHAI, ten inscriptions of the Chola period. Rajendra Chola at Manambadi Kudavayil Balasubramanian pleaded Some of the sculptures on the walls of village, near Kumbakonam in Tamil for the protection of the temple. “The the main structure are those of Nataraja, Nadu State. irony is that the 1,000th year which is an outstanding one. Another Though the State government's celebration of the coronation of sculpture depicting Rajendra Chola Archaeology Department declared Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja worshipping the Lord with his wives is it a protected monument 30 years Chola, will take place in 2014. The seen. Other sculptures depict Ganapathi, ago they neglected to protect it. The demolition of a temple constructed Dakshinamurthy, Ligotpava, Vishnu, temple’s vimana is in a dilapidated by him will be shameful for the entire Brahma, Gangadharamurthy, Durga and condition and enveloped by Tamil community." Arthanari. Among Chola sculptures, they creepers. The stone structure below According to Mr. Balasubramanian, are the unique ones,” Balasubramanian t h e v i m a n a , w i t h i n t r i c a t e epigraphist and historian, this temple said. sculptures, and the inner altar with was constructed by Rajendra Chola For more information please visit: a Siva lingam are intact. Worship (1012-1044 AD). During Chola rule, the www.thehindutoday.com/en-us

[48] June 2013 HINDU TODAY