MANDIR VANI sustaining dharma throughwww.myhmec.com mandirsIssue 11 - October 2016 MANDIR VANIISSUE XI (2016) Awareness and th Awakening: The Future Role of ANNUAL 11 Hindu Mandirs and HINDU MANDIR Institutions EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2016 ATLANTA, GA PAGE 1 MANDIR VANI www.myhmec.com Issue 11 - October 2016 Hosttemples Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America Inc. (World Hindu Council of America) Thanks the Host Organizations and Mandirs For Their Hospitality In Hosting Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference 2016 Host Temples Ambaji USA Shree Shakti Mandir BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta Hindu Temple of Atlanta Sankat Mochan Mandir, Atlanta Shiv Mandir of Atlanta Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir, Atlanta Hindu Temple of Florida Ganesh Temple of Nashville Gayatri Chetna Center of New Jersey Hindu Community Center-Knoxville Co-Host Temples Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Durga Temple of Virginia Gayatri Pariwar of Atlanta Gokuldham (Georgia) Hindu Jain Temple, Pittsburgh, PA Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Columbia, SC Hindu Temple of The Woodlands, TX Hindu Temple of Central Indiana Hindu Temple of Quebec North America Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta Regional HMEC of Southern California World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) PAGE Mandir Vani Editorial Board 2 MANDIR VANI www.myhmec.com Issue 11 - October 2016 MANDIR VANI HMEC Souvenir Issue Number XI (2016) Vikram Samvat 2073 HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE September 16 - 18, 2016 Holiday Inn, Atlanta/Roswell, GA Editorial Board Dr. Surendra Nath Pandey, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Shyam Narayan Shukla Dr. Shardanand Dr. Bhartendu Srivastava Dr. Vinod Gupta Shri Amit Mehta, Managing Editor ध셍륋 रक्षति र啍क्षिः HMEC Serving Hindu Mandirs and Institutions of North America and the Caribbeans http://myhmec.com Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America, Inc. E-mail: [email protected] Ph: 732-744-0851 Web: http://www.vhp-america.org Note: In Mandir Vani and HMEC activities and discussions, we use the term Mandir, Hindu or Hinduism in very broad sense that includes all religions, places and spiritual organizations of the philosophies that have their roots in Bharat (India). Disclaimer: Views expressed in Mandir Vani are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the organizers of HMEC. They are meant to contribute to the understanding and enhancement of Sanatan Dharma, and generate awareness about the needs of the Hindu society as viewed by the authors. PAGE 3 MANDIR VANI Contentswww.myhmec.com Issue 11 - October 2016 05 EDITOR NOTES Dr. Surendra Pandey HINDU TEMPLES IN NORTH AMERICA & NON-HINDU 28 VISITORS Dr. Hiro Badlani PROGRAM DETAILS 9th Annual HMEC Detailed Program 06 Agenda 32 HINDU PARENTING: IT TAKES DHARMA TO RAISE A CHILD PRESIDENT NOTES Note from VHPA President SWAMINI SVATMAVIDYANANDA SARASWATI 12 Dr. Abhaya Asthana A GITA FOR EACH HOME 36 RAMNARINE SAHADEO 13 CONVENER NOTES HMEC Conveners Greet HMEC delegates 7 STEPS TO SUSTAIN HINDU DHARMA AND PRESERVE 38 Satya Kalra 14 MESSAGE Swami Nikhilanand - Radha Madhav Dham, TX HINDU TEMPLES IN AMERICA VEDIC SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS: A WAY TO ENHANCE 15 MESSAGE Nagesh Singh - Counsul General of India 40 RESILIENCE AND MENTAL/PHYSICAL WELL-BEING IN YOUNG ADULTS Madha Vedak Sharma 18 HIS HOLINESS PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ 42 MANDIR AND SEVA Deependra Singh APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINANCE OF HINDU DHARMA IN HOW TO ATTRACT MORE YOUTH TO MANDIRS 20 AMERICA 45 Parth Parihar M. G. Prasad 46 REPORT 7th Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network 22 VEDIC VALUES AND THEIR BENEFITS Vikram Dev Sharma 49 REPORT 5th Hindu Mandir Priests’ Conference HOW CAN NORTH AMERICAN 24 HINDU TEMPLES HELP IN FIGHTING ‘HINDU PHOBIA’ HMEC-2014 GUIDING TEAM IN THE AMERICAN CLASSROOMS? Dhiru Shah 58 59 VHPA OFFICERS 2016 PAGE 4 MANDIR VANI www.myhmec.com Issue 11 - October 2016 मूकं करोति वाचालं पंगुम लंघयि े गगररम । यतक啃 पा िमहं वंदे परमाननदमाधवम ॥ Mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim. Yatkripa tamaham vande paramanand Madhavam By His grace a mute can become an orator, a lame person can cross over a mountain, I pray to that Supreme Lord Vishnu whose blessings bring ultimate joy. From the Editor’s Desk The journey of the Hindu Mandir Executives’ those born and growing up in the Western world, Conference (HMEC) has completed the circle engaged in Mandir activities and maintain their around the North American continent, including Dharmic values. Explaining the significance of our the Caribbean. As an initiative of World Hindu Council rituals and traditions, and spreading Vedic knowledge of America (VHPA), the inaugural HMEC was held at among youth would guarantee that they find spiritual Atlanta in 2006. A decade later, Atlanta organizers are fulfilment in Sanātana Dharma. Readers will also find ready to welcome the HMEC delegates back in this reports on HMEC’s two initiatives in this issue: Hindu great city, often referred as the gateway to the south. American Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN) and Hindu During this period, HMEC has held its conventions at Mandir Priests’ Conference (HMPC) that have been various venues in the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. very successful in serving various needs of the Hindu It’s clear indication of the dedication and commitment community. of Hindus to support their religious organizations in sustaining Sanātana Dharma. It is very encouraging to note that the younger generation has been engaging, in larger numbers, Hinduism is steadily growing significantly in North in various facets of Hinduism –the religious rituals, America in spite of the fact that Hindus form a very learning of the scriptures, searching for answers, and small minority. The most important factor, however, in networking with other Hindu youth through social sustaining Dharma is our Mandirs, which have helped media. HMEC and other similar gatherings have in maintaining, strengthening and spreading our faith contributed to sustaining their interest and dedication by serving the spiritual, cultural and social needs of in Dharmic values and traditions. Hindus. May Sanatan Dharma guide our path! This issue of Mandir Vani Mandir has several articles related to this year’s HMEC theme, “Awareness and Surendra Nath Pandey, Ph.D. Awakening: The Future Role of Hindu Mandirs and Editor-in-Chief, Mandir Vani Institutions.” Also in this issue are articles of interest Ph: 229-883-1687 to families, spirituality and Vedic values. We have Email: [email protected] included articles from our youth covering variety of PAGE topics. Such as how to keep Hindu youth, especially 5 MANDIR VANI www.myhmec.com11th HINDU Issue 11 - OctoberMANDIR 2016 EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE Atlanta/Roswell, GA September 16-18, 2016 FRIDAY PROGRAM (September 16, 2016) 4:00 PM Registration Meal 6:00 PM Dinner Session 1 7:30 PM-9:30 PM Inaugural Session Dr. Arun Jain OAK 1.1 Bhavgeet - Mansa Satatam Manju & Shyam Tiwari 1.2 Invocation Through Vedic Mantras Local Priests 1.3 Deep Prajjwalan All Co-Host Temples 1.4 In Memory of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji BAPS 1.5 Welcome Remarks Kusum Khurana 1.6 Guest Speaker Nagesh Singh 1.7 Hindu History and Megatrends in America Acharya Sadasivanathaswami 1.8 A Journey through Spiritual India Robert Arnett Keynote Address: The Future Role of Hindu Mandirs and 1.9 Swami Pratyagbodhananda Institutions 1.10 The Gyan Yoga Path for Youth Ambassadorship Amol Yadav & Lauren Valentino 1.11 Awareness and Awakening Ami Parikh 1.12 Program Agenda Overview Ami Patel/Amit Mehta 1.13 Ashirvachan Local Priests 1.14 Instructions Dinesh Purohit Optional: Documentary - Hindu History Acharya Sadasivanathaswami SATURDAY PRE-LUNCH PROGRAM (September 17, 2016) Sadhana 6:00 AM Yoga, Meditation, Devotional Singing Best Western A/B Yoga & Meditation Nagesh Kasam Bhajans - Devotional Singing Arunima Sinha Meal 7:00 AM Breakfast Session 2 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM The Future Role of Hindu Mandirs and Institutions Sri Muktananda OAK 2.1 Future Legacy of Hindu Mandirs Bramachari Suryanarayanji The Ticking Clock: Hindu Mandirs and the Next Gen 2.2 Hindu Student Council Challenge Temple-University Collaborations: Creating Hindu 2.3 Amol Yadav Knowledge Centers 2.4 Hindu Institutions Beyond Temples Sri Vitashokananda Q&A Session 3 9:00 AM-10:10 AM Spiritualism in Mandirs Sharma Tadepelli OAK 3.1 Practical Approach to Introducing Sprituality in Mandir Swami Parmeshanand 3.2 Importance of Satsang Sri Muktananda The Untapped Potential of Spiritual-But-Not-Religious 3.3 Lauren Valentino Youth for Hinduism 3.4 Temples as Halls of Sacred Learning Swami Aksharanand PAGE Q&A Break6 10:10AM-10:30 AM Relaxation MANDIR VANI www.myhmec.com Issue 11 - October 2016 Session 4 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Temples as Service Centers Kaushik Joshi OAK 4.1 Dharmic Seva Center Madhu Sharma Temple Social Responsibility: Caring for Others and the 4.2 Gopal Patel Earth 4.3 Hindu Mandirs: A Way of Life Sucharita Jayanti Ragunathan Veeraraghvan & Vallabha 4.4 Seva in America through Mandirs and Institutions Tantry Q&A Session 5 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM HMEC Update Vipul Patel OAK 5.1 HMPC - Hindu Mandir Priests Conference Sant Gupta 5.2 WHC - World Hindu Congress Abhaya Asthana CHY - Coalition of Hindu Youth; SDS, BVN - Bal Vihar 5.3 Bhakti Modi Network 5.4 Regional HMEC Sharma Tadepelli 5.5 Publications Shyam Tiwari 5.6 Seva Diwas - Successes of Blood Drive through Temples Vallabha Tantry 5.7 HAVAN - Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network Kumar Dave 5.8 Gita Distribution Ramnarine Sahadeo Meal 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch SATURDAY P-LUNCH PROGRAM (September 17, 2016) Parallel Tracks - Break Out Sessions (A, B, C, D) Session 6A 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Stressful Challenges in Modern Hindus Shama Mehta OAK Importance of Access to Counseling - marital crisis, 6A.1 Susheelabal Pasupuleti addiction recovery, mental health issues 6A.2 Bridging the Gap - Empowering Young Hindus Sohini Sircar 6A.3 Encourage the Academic Study of Hindu Dharma Chirayu Parikh Training for Lay Hindu leadership for Hindu presence in 6A.4 Sucheta Kamath Interfaith movement Q&A Session 6B 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Respect for/Emphasis on Education of Rituals Dr.