duly, 1997 "'2.9& .--.-;--....,

.,-Affirming Sanatana Dharma and Recording the Modern History of a Bilhon-Strong Global Rehgion in Renaissanoe

Canada ... .... C$3.95 Malaysia ........ RM5 Europe .. . ... US$3.50 Mauritius .. .. .. . Rs.30 India .... .. ... Rs.50 Nepal .. , .. NRs.175

Singapore ..... . . . S$4 South Africa . US$2.95 Sri Lanka .. .. Rs.BO

Trinidad ... . . TDlB.OO UK ........ £2.00 Australia .. .. AUS$5.50

IlINOVIS" Too"y was founded january 5. 1979. by Sotguru Sivoyn Subrumwliynswnmi to strengthen all Hindillineages. Publish'<l by Himalaynn Academy, J07 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA. Editorial Omce Ph: 1·806-822-7032. Sub­scriptions: l~os.a22-3152 or 1..80Q.89().IOO8. Advertising: 1·8Q8.823-9620 or l-SOQ. 850-l008. AII-depnrtment fax: 1~22-435J. USA subscriplions: "S35II year, S65I2 years, S9513 yenrs, S5OQ/lifetime. Fbrelgn rotes on request. C 1997 Himninynn Acade­my. All rigbts reserved. JSSN# OS96-0801. CIIRRESPONDEHTS: Gown Shankar & Annndhi Ramachandran, Chennai; Choodamani Shivarnm, Bangnlore; Rajiv Mnlik & M. P. Mohanly, Delhi; V. S. Gopnlnkrishnan, Ker· nIno S. C Debnath, Bangladesh; Archann Dongre, Los Angeles; Lavina Mehvoni, New York; P. Bhardwaj. Kenyn: Dr. Hari Jlansh Jha, Nepnl; P. Ramoull1r. 1Tinidnd; Vetcha

• Rajesh, London; Ravi Peruman, San Francisco; Dr. D. Tandavan. Chicago: V.G. Julie Rajan, Philadelphia; Rndhika Srinivasan. New jersey; Shikha Malaviyn, Minnesota. Web lIIasters:.Deva Seyon; Sadhunathan Nadesan. Scanning: Vikrnm Potel. New York.

•

PUBLISHER: Sotguru Sivayn Subrnmuniynswami ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR: Acharya Veylanswami EDITDR-IN-CHIEF: Acharya Polaniswarn; PUBLISHER'S ASSISTANT: Acharya Geycnswami DEPUTY EDITOR: Acharya Kumars'vomi MANAGINO EDITOR: 'y.gi Arumugaswami GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: 'JYngi Natarnjnswami PROMOTION/PRODUCTION: Tyngi Kathirswami MANAGINO EDITOR'S AIDE: Tyngi Shanmuganathnswami ADVERTISING MANAGER: Sodhaka Jotbinatha SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER: Saclhaka Haranandinalha EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S ASSISTANT: Sadhaka Yuganalha DEPUTY MANAGING tDITGR: Yogi Kasinatha MANAGINO EDITOR'S AIDE: Yogi Ekanatha

JULY, 1997

.. ~t ./. . f .~ · ,. ~ ~--b7~ ··0-"-INTE~NATIONAL Church and State: us Judge Foists Prayer

and Commandments on Courtroom 17 Cults: Heaven's Gate Tragedy Discloses

Media Bias 22 Heritage: Kerala Temples: Magical

Monuments in Wood 27 Religion: K:-enya's Kinetic Service Ethic 34 Sacrilege: SONY Apologizes for

p,..erosrnith's Controversial CD 47

LIFESTYLE,...-l!1sight: F).fteen Core Hindu Precepts for

Parents to Pass On to Children 30 Astrology: Was Suicide in their Stars? 36 Discipline: Beating the Devil Out of Kids 40 Leisure: Call it a "Nice-Word Puzzle" 48 ~rt:' Satish Gupta Paints Indias Soul 52-

OPINION f Publisher's Desk: Preparing to Pilgrimage

Through the Mind in Meditation 6 Editorial: Hinduism Denied Cult Status 8 My Turn: Heaven's G~te Did Not Open 9 Letters 14 Healing: Tools to Tame Pubescenoe 44 Minister's Message: All About HonOring 50 , -DIGESTS

. , Quotes & Quips , Dlaspora : Briefly

10 Evolutions 44 11 Digital Dharma 54 20

COVER Cotton-clad, young Hindu boys tour the streets of Sanku, near Kathmandu, http://wwW.HlndullmToday.kaual.hl.ul/ blessing villagers during Magh (January). Our Insight trus month presents parents . with ways to pass on to children dharma's core beliefs and practices. See pag 30: '

1117 EdIt8r'1 CblJce ." ..... nrc!

------------~;-----~--~------------------------------------------------~~------------------------------------~----------------------------------------~------~~----------,~~,------~~~---.' .

participate learn explore

Make a Donation to Hinduism Today

Hinduism TodayHome Page

A Daily Chronicle of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery

Subscribe to the Print Edition of Hinduism Today

Hinduism Today Archives Online

Amazing Publications, Viewable Online

Submit an Article to Hinduism Today

Read the Story of Hinduism Today

Shop at the Himalayan Academy Online Store

Send Comments To the Editor

(e-mail)

Subscribe to Hindu Press International, a Daily News Summary

An Audio Library Of Inspired Talks

WelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcome Click links below to soar over other areas of our vast

ocean of internet resources in your web browser

I am pleased to welcome you to the free digital edition of Hinduism Today magazine. It is the fulfillment of a vision held by my Satguru

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of Hinduism Today, to bring the magazine’s profound Hindu teachings to the widest possible audience. The text of each issue has long been available on the Web, right back to 1979, but without the photographs and art. Now you have here the entire contents of the printed edition, with all photos and art. Plus, it is interactive—every link is live; click and you go to a web page. You can participate in the magazine in a number of ways, accessed through buttons on the right. And you can help support this free edition in two ways: make an online contribution (even a small one); patronize our specialized advertisers. Explore the resources here, enjoy our latest edition and e-mail us if you are inspired.

to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!to hinduism today’s digital edition!

PUBLISHER'S DESK

Meditation: the I(ey Is Preparation You've heard you are not your mind, boco/ or emotions. Here's a way to experience that reality every day.

BY SATGURU SIVAYA SUBRAMUNIYASWAMI

EDITATION IS A LONG

a pilgrimage into the itself Generally, we be­aware that there is such

thing as meditation after the material world has lost it attraction to us, and previous desires-no longer bind us to patterns of fear, greed, at­tachment and ramification. We then seek through philosoRhy and religion to answer the questio~s, "Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?" We ask others. We read books. We ponder and wonder. We pray. We even doubt for a while that there is a Truth to be realized or that we with all our seeming imperfection can realize it if it does exist. Oddly enough this is the beginning of the meditator's journey on th"e path, for we must empty ourselves fully before the pure super­conscious energies can flow freely through us.

When we try to internalize awareness too quickly through vari­ous intense and sometimes fanatical ways, we reap the reaction. Meditation goes fine for a brief span, but then externalizes again according to the pro'gramming of our family and culture. To per­manently alter these patterns, we hjive to work gently to develop a new lifestyle for the totality of our being: physically, emotionally, intellEtctually and spiritually. This we do a little at a time. ~isdom tells ~s that it cannot be done all at once. We have to be patient with ourselves. If we are impatient on the path, failure is in vie;vv. We are going to fail because instant spiritual unfoldment is a fairy­tale concept. It is far better that we recognize that there will be difficult challenges as the subconscious looms up with all of its conflicts and confusions, heavy and strong. If our eventual goal is clearly in mind and we have a positive step-by-step plan on how to reach that goal, then we won't,get excited when something goes wrong, because we view our mental and emotional storms in their proper and temporary perspectii('e.

In the beginning, it is best to find a suitable room that is dedi­cated solely to meditation. If you were a carpenter, you would get a shop for that purpose. You have a room for eating, a room for sleeping. Now, you need a room just for the purpose of meditation. When you find it, wash the walls and ceiling, clean the windows. Pt~pare a small altar if you like,bringing together the elements of earth, air, fire and water and any divine images that inspire you.

Establish a time for your meditations and meet those times strictly. There will be days when you just don't feel like meditating. Good. Those are often the best days, the times when we make

6 HINDUISM TODAY. JULY" 1997

strong inner strides. The finest times to meditate are just before sunrise and sunset. The period of meditation should be from ten minutes to one-half hour to begin with.

By sitting up-straight, with the spine erect, the energies of the physical body are transmuted. Posture is important, es­pecially as meditation deepens and lengthens. With the spine erect and the head balanced at the top of the spine, the life force is qui.ckened and intensi­fied as energies flood freely through the nerve system. In a position such as this, we cannot become worried, fretful, de­pressed or sleepy during our meditation.

But if we slump the shoulders for­ward, we short-circuit the life energies. In a position such as rhis, it is easy to become depressed, to have mental argu­ments with oneself or another, or to ex­perience unhappiness. So learn to sit dy­namically, relaxed and yet poised. The first obser'vation you may have when thus seated for meditation is that thoughts are racing through the mind substance. You may become aware of many, many thoughts. Also, the breath may be irregular. Therefore, the next step is to tr.ansmute the energies from . the intellectual area of th~ mind through the breath, in just the same way as the proper attitude, preparation and posture transmuted the physical-instinctive en­ergie? Through regulation of the Ifreath, thoughts C\!e stilled and awareness moves ..; '-'!..lLlU.lu.u...". ....... .".

into an area of the mind which does not think, but conceives and intuits.

There ru;e vast and powerful systems of breathing that can stim­ulate the mind, sometimes to excess. Deep meditation requires only that the breath be systematically slowed or lengthened. This happens naturally as we go within, but can be encouraged by a simple method of breathing, called pranayama, during which the breath is counted: nine counts as we inhale, hold one count, nine counts as we exhale, hold one count. The length of the beats or the rhythm of the breath will slow as the meditation is sustained, until

we are counting to the beat of the heart. This exercise allows awareness to flow int.o an area of the mind that is intensely alive, peaceful, blissful and conceives the totality of a concept rather than thinking out the various parts. '

After you have quieted the body and the breath is flowing reg­ularly, close your eyes. Close your ears and shut off the external sense perceptionS. Having thus quieted the outer forces, we are prepared to meditate. Just sitting is not enough. To meditate 'for even ten or fifteen minutes takes as much energy as one would use

Meditating together: A family shares quiet moments in a foresJ. Fa­ther has taught good posture, breath control, and indrawing atten­tion first to the body's heat, then the nerve currents/ then the pow­er within thl3 spine. Soon pure awareness is experienced .

. in rllllIling around the block three times. A powerful meditation fills and thrills us with an abundance of energy to be used cre­atively in the external world .during the activities of daily life. Great effort is required to make inner strides; we J;Ilust strive very, very hard and meet each inner challenge . .

But what to meditate upon? What do we focus on during medi­tation? Usually the sincere devotee will have a guru or spil7itual guide' and ~llow his instructions. He may have a mantra, or sound, which he concentrates upon or a particular technique or attitude he is perfecting. If he has no guru or specific instructions, then here is a raja yoga exercise that can enhance inn'er life, making it tang]bly real and opening4Jmer doors of the mind. Use it to begin each meditation for the rest of yoUl' life.

Simply sit, quiet the mind and feel the warmth of the body. Feel the natural warmth in the feet, in the legs, in the head, in the neck, in the'hands and face. Simply sit and be aware of tha:t'

, warmth. Feel the glow of the body. This is very easy, because the ' physical body is what many of us are most aware of Take five or ten minutes to do this. There's no hurry. Once you can feel this warmth that is cre::rted by the life force as it flows in and through the' body's cells, go within to the next step. .

,The second step is to feel the nerve currerits of the bO'dy. There are thousands of miles of nerve Cl!lrrents in each of us. Don't try to f~el them all at once. Start with the little ones, with the feeling of ):he hands. Now,Jeel the life force going through these nerves ener­gizing the body. Try to sense t11e subtle nerve~ that extend out and around the body about three or four feet. Tune into the currents of life force as they flow through these nerves. This is a subtle feeling, and most likely awareness will wander into some other area of the mind. When this happens, gently bring it back to your point of concenrration;'to feeling the nerves within the body and the ener­gy within the nerves.

The third step takes us deeper inside as we become dynamical­ly aware in the spine. Feel the power within the spine, the power­house of energy that feeds out to the external nerves and muscles. Visualize the spine in your mind's eye. See it as a hoHow tube or channel through which life energies flow. Feel it with your inner feelings. It's there-subtle and silent, yet totally intense. It is a sim­ple feeling. As }'0U feel this hollow spine filled with energy, realize that you ru;e more that energy than you are the physical body through which it flows, more that pure energy than the emotions, than the thought force. Identify yourself with this energy and begin to live your true spiritual heritage on this E,arth. As you dive deep­er into that energy, you will find that this great P9wer, your sense I

of awru;eness and your willp9wer are all one and the same thing. ' The fourth step c'omes as we plunge awareness into the essence,

the center of this energy in the head and spine. This requires gJ eat discipline and exacting control to bring awareness to the point of being a\~are of itself-pure awareness~ not aware of any object, feeling or thQ!lght. The Yajur Vedas states, "Sublest of the subtle, greatest of of the great, the u.tman is hidden in the cave of the

-heart of all beings." Go into the physical forces that flood day and night through the spine and body. Then go into the energy of that, deeper into the vast inner space of that, into the essence of that, into the that of that, ~d into the that of that. As you sit in th!s state, new energies will flood the body, flowing out through the nerve system, out int{) the exWrior world. The nature becomes very refined in meditating in this way. Once you are thus C'entered wifhin yourself, you are ready to pursue a meditation, a mantra or a deep philosophical question.

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM TG.DAY Y

/

,I j

24l&1t&Ta EDITORIAL

I

fessional cult, requiring blind obedience of

Cult Status Denied ~ neophytes ( called interns) , making them work 36 to 72 hours at a stretch without sleep, feeding them drugs and cafeteria food until they submit their weary wills to the leaders who live luxuriously on the dona­tions of aspiring doctors. Clewly, if we think it's good to preserve human institutions which "brainwash" y.oung minds with the persuasions we call:bulture, the science we call medicine anG! the rites we ca'll religion, then we can no longer denigrate the institu-

- t

An apocryphhlletter we received, explaining why Hindus are discriminat~d against

BY THE EDITOR

From the Office of Cult Regulation and Licensing United States Department of Justice,Washington, DC

To Acharya P'alaniswami, Editor, )finduism Today

".lREETIN(;S FROM A VERY HIGH PLACE. WE ARE TRULY SORR,Y

application for recognition as a US-Approved cult, ~Jr"'f''''''''rl 1ast year, has been delayed. As you may know, al­

everybody in this country either wants to start a cult or one down, ane! this offiGe (established by Bill Clinton to

monitor and license cults) has been inundated wi~ requests. When tHe 39 members of a Christian group iIllSan Diego, California, left their "containers" prematurely on March 23 [story on page 22], the enormous outpguring of media awareness helped us to acquire new funding, and so we are able at last' to process your application.

That said, we regret to inform you that your application has been denied, and .¥.ou will not-qualify for special tax breaks available to our licensees. By iaw, you are entitled to an explanation of this decision.

The US government takes no position for or against c~lts. While cults have historically been viewed as dreadful, dangercrus and even wicked, it is our'view that, like pharmaceuticals and nuclear fuels, t~y can have a salubrious social impact if properly controlled by u~, your trusted elected officials. After all, we run the military, arguably the most sophisticated, lethal 'and well-equiped cult (we mean that in the most positive sense of the term) in the world. As you know, the word cult is not inher~ntly negative. It derives from the same linguis­tic root as culture and cultivate.

Our staff constantly counsels citizf1ns who think cult is a four-letter w()rd and hold the fallacy that free­dom ~s protected by staying away from-powerful people. To them, a cult controls one's life and guides ones thinking. It is an organization, with a central authority figure, that imposes strict niles on members and may restrict what one eats, when one sleeps, what entertain­ment one watches and what bopks oil:e can read. It may even monitor members' sex life, forbid the free ' use of certain language, require that official clothes be worn and dem~d obedience while denying all challenges to leaders' authofity.

Under that defiflition everyone's grandparents ran the original cult operation-the family. Families do all the above, and more. So do the Boy Scouts, the White House, boarding schools, the armies and pris­ons of every civilized nation, Olympic-bound sports teams !IDd virtu­ally every religious order ever founded. In fact, a good argument can be made that the medical profession is the worlds highest-paia pro-

8 HIN D U ISM T OD AY. Ju~Y, 1997

tion of the cult. Before legislation was enact­ed, most cults were nothing but the other man's way of life. You ~an easily see why governmental controll:s so very needed.

Of course, some orgaRizations, like some families, are harmful, so we have two designations: Grade A (for altruistic) and Grade B (for bad). Our manual defmes a Grade B qualifier as "a malevolent group, often with a charismatic leader, which deceives and abuses members' and causes real harm to the society In which it functi~ns." Grade B licensees include dangerous groups that arm themselves with automatic rifles, preach fear and hate and stockpile cyanide. Grade A groups include churches and institutions. Indeed, most of our licensees are'Christian. The reason behind this predominance is not governmental bias, but Congressiohal expert testimony that ChristiaI).ity dwells on the End of the WorlcP, the Apocalypse and the Day of Judgment. Psychologists, have concluded that when groups hold the idea that the ,end is near, coupled with the belief that their leader is the Chosen One (as with "Do" of the Heaven's Gate group), you have all the ingredients for being a legitimate cult.

We realize that the US press does sometimes ineptly brand East­ern religions as cultish, but their misjudgment will not help your­group to receive recognition from this office. That brings us to your failed ·application. In your submissions, you have noted that we have not approvehl a single Hindu cult, an9. you have said this strikes you as unjust. Scholarly informants assure us that Hindus just don't quali­fy. They cite the OsholRajneesh phenomenon in the '80s, but note he was a renegade Jain, not a Hindu. Transcendentpl Meditation is high on many cult lists, but they make no claims of being Hindu, and the only danger they pose is a ruinous loss of follower( anxiety. .

It may seem discriminatory, but there are no credible Hindu cults. We have c~ncluded that this is your fault, not ours. Why? Hindus

don't possess the narrowness that any resourceful cult nurtures i~ memoers. Hindus see God everywhere and in everyone. That belief renders them inept in the arrogant arts and the so­cial and psychological antagonism~ which are the bread and butter of reputable cults. Moreover, they are quite incompetent when it cOIl)es to the requisite skill of forcing their be­liefs" on others, thinking, as they do, that all paths are worthy and each soul will ultimately attain spirituallih­eration, with none suffering eternally I

in Hell: They are, to put it quite plain­ly, too occult to be a cult.

If ever these shortcomings are rectified-and especially if you or your affiliated ashrams and, temples could offer some verifiable proof of commitment to'a Messiah or a millenarian worldview or if Hindus are ever implicated in a mass suicide or if your tradition ever miti­gates its stubborn universalistic openness toward other paths-we will be pleased to reconsider your application.

----- -------------~

MY TURN

This Suicide Got ,

No One to Heaven Blame the wrong-thinking philosophy of Heaveiis Gate, not the ' Eastern· faiths

BY SWAMI BRAHMAVIDYANA,NDA SARAsWA),I

OR THE MEDIA TO ASSOCI­

ate the lunacy of Heaven's . Gate suicides with Eastern

beliefs is the height of igno­rance. The philosophy of Heaven's Gate members was man-made

, and not based on scriptures, • . whe~eas the' Hindl!! philosophy is

a timeless gift from God to mankind.

There are three' kinds'b f proof: perceptional, inferential and scriptural. Perceptional evidence is a -very weak fOl;m of proof Basicafly, it says, "I see, therefore I believe." But this proof fails very e?sily. An inferential 'evidence is, "Where there is smoke, there is fire:" Fire may not 'be visi-

, ' ble, ~ut we infer the existence of fire look­ing at smoke. Sometimes, both these proofs fail, and that is where the third~ scriptural evidence comes in. This is the greatest proof In the sad case involving the Heaven's Gate leader and members, we note that their philosophy was not based on scripture,l>.

ACllording to HindU/scriptures, even con­templating suicide is a sin, what then to speak ot: actually committing it! Our scrip­tures hi'ghly praise the human form, which is considered t@ be the rarest and most precious of all lives. He who willingly gives up his body is punished by God. His soul is put into a lower form of life. It is made to wander around, and it knows no rest.

I think the Heaven's Gate group were meant to die when they did: they would. not have even lived a moment long~, but still God will punish them for taking their lives. The reason being that although the time of death" right q,own to the exact mo­ment, is determined even before 'birth, the method of death is pot.

Other concepts which were completely misunderstood by this group are reincarna­tion: and karma which are highly scientific and logical truths. The soul carmot exist .on earth without the body, and when it leaves

.one body, it enters another, depending on the actions (kar­ma) of the individual. Such siinple and beautiful concepts were so twisted and contorted by a warped mind.

Heaven's Gate group mem­bers spoke about spacecraft and ascending in these to heaven. Their concept, in light of tne seriousness of the E~r-

nal Vedic Dharma kno':"'n as Hinduism, is utterly silly. These people lived in a dream world, hoping for a better experience out­side of this world. Hinduism, on the other hand, teaches one to live in the material world but to not allow the material wdrld to live in the mind. It teaches the individual to see the Omnipresent Lord in all beings and objects.

In all that has been said of the Heaven's Gate group, there seems to be no mention of God or praying to God. The fact is that this group was not guided by spirituality but by a misguided man. This is clearl~ the case of the blind leading the blind, He who associates these sorry individuals with the lofty teachings ,of Hinduism is dearly looking for a scapegoat, and, that too, a sHent one.

In my opinion, Hindus shoutd send let­ters to editors' of l1ewspape:t;s, magazines and such to express their outrage. Hinduism is a tolerant religion, true, but we tend to remain qUiet even as sO¥1eone de­nounces our faith right in front of u~ I am not by any means propagating violent or belligerent behaviors towards those who attack our faith. But I am saying, that we should become more familiar with om; own

, religion and defend it with a calm and rational voice.

SWAMI BRAHMAVIDYANANDA'is the director of the Satyanan'da Ashram, Florida, USA He has been teaching yoga for the past 27 years.

Loving Ganesa, at once simple,

deep and practical. teaches ever so /

many ways that Ganesas grace

can be attained by sincere devo-

tion, song, prayer and meditation

to bring greater harmony,

contentment and spirituality into

ones daily life. An BOO-page il/us-

trated resource by Satguru

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, $ J 9.95

plus Shipping (US $2,

Foreign $4), Also in bookstores,

1-800-890-1008

1-808-822-3152

http://www. HinduismToday. kauai. hi. us/ashram

LOVING GANESA

HIMALAYAN ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS

I 07 KAHOLAlELE ROAD

KAPAA, HI 96746-9304 USA

BOOKS YOU CAN TAKE. SERIOUSLY

, ,

a.tUIPS /

"We shoul'd ye~rn for the Divine Spirit with confidence ~ I •

and with a.feelingof ~Ioseness as to a father and mother."

,-

If even a single one of the senses is uncon­trolled, -all knowledge leaves a p'erson just as water drainsofrom a leakinKwater vesseL M~nu Samhita, Verse II. 99

"Fasting is possible. You can"stay without food for a week or ten days, Feasting is also possible. You simply~o and eat all you want. Many people are really fast when th~y end their fast: They are fast in getting to the refrigerator." Swami ,Satchldananda on the need to follow the "middle path"

Sri Karunamayi

. A deeply devout man lived down in a val-. ley. He had absolute faith that C{od would always look alter him. One day a great storm came. It rained for days, and the vaHey flooded. The waters submerged the first £loor of his home. As he looked out from the second floor, a rescue boat came by. "Come. We will save you," t1!e rescuers cried. "Thank you," the man replied, "but God will save me. You go help the others in need." They tried to convince him to join them, but finally gave up and left. The / flqod continued, submerging the entire house. The man took ~efuge on the roof A helicopter flew (wer. "Come. The dam has broken upstream. ~e will save you," the rescuers cried. "Thank you, no," the man calmly replied. "I know beyond any doubt that God will save me." They tried and tried t«: convince him. But h~ remained. The waters continued to rise, and the man drowned. He soared into the inner worlds in hfs soul body and found himself face to face with God. "I trusted you," he cried. "Why didn't you save me?" God answered, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want?" ,

Life is like photography. You use the nega­tives to develop. Swami Beyondananda

I

"Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904---1967) quoting from the Bhagavad Gita as he

. watched the mushroQ..1n cloud of tlW first

'atomic bomb rise in the New Mexico, US4-desert on July 16, 1945

There once was a salesman who knocked on the door of a Buddhist monk and. tried to sell him a vacuum cleaner. The Buddhist monk thought about it for a minute and said, "OK, I'll take one-but no attachments."

Mahatma Gandhi visited London in 1932. He toured the city wearing traditional dhoti and khadi shawl. People who met him were shocked with his "ba,rbaric" attire, and he was the subject of ridicule-notably by Churchill himsel£ On one occasion Gandhi accepted an invitation to tea from King George V, "Emper­or of India." When asked afterwards if he felt underdressecl, G~dhi replied, "His Majesty had enough clothes on for both of us."

Those who have worldly desires suffer from restlessness even in "the solitude of the forest. Those who have disciplined their senses, they practice austerities ~ven while liv-ing in a crowded home, Hitopadesha, Chapter 4

FOR INSTANCE, BUT WHEN I CATCH'EM

I DON'T EAT THEM. I STILL HUNT MICE...

I'M NOT ONLY A VEGETARIAN, I'M ALSO AN

ENVIRONMENTALIST.

10 HINDUISM TODA'Y ]"!5,LY , 1997

I RECYCLE 'EM,

CONFLICT AND DISPlACEMENT IN SRI LANKA

The cover of the USCR's March report on Sri Lankan Refugees

SRI LANKA

War's Ravages Finally Told FOR YEARS MEDIA OBSERVERS WERE BARRED FROM ENTRY

into the war-torn Jaffna areas in the north of the ancient is­land of Sri Lanka. In August of 1996, two representatives. of the privately-funded U.S. Committee for Refugees-policy analyst Hiram A. Ruiz and research assistant Katie Hope-were grant­ed permission to visit Jaffna by the Sri Lankan government. Their thorough March 1997 report details, with interviews and recommendations, the plight of over half a million displaced Sri Lankan Tamils under key categories: conflict assessment; Jaffna city security issues of rape, disappearances, checkpoints; the possible food crisis facing 500,000 civilians in the Wanni area under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; detention center conditions and asylum in India. Copies of the report may be obtained from:

u. s. COM1UTTEE FOR REFUGEES, 17 17 MASSACHUSETIS AVE. , NW, SUITE 7 01

WASHINGTON, D .C. , 20036 , USA; PH; 202-3 4 7 -3 507

S ELF ~ E S S .S E R V ICE

BUilding Babaji's Hospital ~E "UNBORN" APPEAR­

I ance in the Himalayas of a young ascetic known as Haidakhan Baba ("men­dicant of Haidakhan vil­lage") in 1970, was be­lieved to be the return of an immortal Hindu yogi. Babaji passed away in 1984. In 14 years he carved a pristine Hindu path: purity, simplIcity in living, the perfor­mance of the Vedic fire wor­ship, chanting of God's name­Om Nama Sivaya, meditation and service. Today Haidakhan Baba Haidakhan Hospital logo

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: U.S . COMMI'ITEE FOR REFUGEES , LONDON FEATURES, DR. MADAN KAT~IA, SHREE BABA HAIDAKHANJ~HARITABLE AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL

POP C U L T. U R E

. Rock Star with Hindu Planets VULA SHAKER, LONDON'S

NJ.ot band named after an In­dian.empel\.or poet combines Indian rhythms, Sanskrit mantras and pop melodies. Lead singer Crispian Mills, son of actress Haley Mills, says, "We have lost touch with spiri­tualism in the West. Kula is about spirituality, innocence and a bright future. " In 1993, he lived in a Hindu temple in India, and last year returned to Bharat for his Hindu wedding. Last September, Mills asked that Columbia Records wait for a plantery alignment at exactly 5:05PM, Sept. 29, to sign on Kula.

Crispian Mills tunes into stars

Laugh club works out in India

YOGA

Laugh Asanas

M ORE THEN 100 LAUGHING

clubs now provide Indians with venues for chortlirig exer­cise. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dr. Madan Kataria started by organizing a group of five jokers at his home in Bombay. The meetings grew

, in number and now the good doctor has "popularized an an­cient yoga breathing and yoga posture" that exercises all 32 fa­cial muscles. Club members from all ag~s and walks of life line up, stretch and warm up with a few "ha ha has" and ''ho ho ho's." They gradually move on to a rib-splitting workout that devotees say opens the breathing, builds self-confi­dence and evep alleviates high blood pressure and arthritis.

TRENDS

MULTI-NATIONAL

Muslims Protest US Statue '7\ SCULPTURE OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED HOLDING A

Rsword and the Koran has looked down from a marble frieze depicting history's great lawgivers upon the US Supreme Court since 1935. In February the Council on American-Islamic Rela­tions called for its removal. The coalition of Muslim groups claims it is an insult to Islamic tradition and that the sword re­flects stereotypes of Muslims as "intolerant conquerors." The council's executive director, Nihad Awad, said "Muslims do not believe that the prophet can be symbolized in any picture or artistic sculpture." In rejecting their request, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said the frieze honors the pmphet and will not be altered. Literature describing the £reize, however, will be changed to reflect Muslim sentiments on the issue. Kashmiri Muslims responded to his decision with demonstra­tions and a protest letter to the US. The situation is similar to the Hindu 1996 protests over Muslim artist Maqbool Fida Hus­sain's 20-year-old nude painting of the Goddess Saraswati.

J U L Y , 1 9 9 7 HI N D U ISM TO DAY 11

j

/

PHIL A TELY

Swami's Stamp

Bearded Sri Reddiar wors1iips 529-year-old Sivalin&.a unearthed in Tamil Nadu, India

SRI LANKA HAS HONORED

Swami Vivekananda's 1897 landing in Colombo, the first stop after his "victory tour" to the West, with a centenary stamp. Jbbiliant Hindus and others welcomed him. But in the ancient town of Anuradha­pura fanatical Buddhists dis­rupted his address. Swami re­strained his audience, saying, "Let us practice a bit of non­violence, even if they do not."·

Lanka's 1997 Vivekananda stamp I IN DI A

Unearthed After 529 Years

IN 1985 SRIRADHAKRISHNA Reddiar was having difficulty

making progress building a small Ayyappa temple in Tamil Nadu. ·He went to Vellore's Pun­dit Sri J. Hari for an astrological reading. The pundit used as a guide the 3,300-year-old text of the Tamil siddhar [master of spiritual knowledge] Theiryar. It details the fruits of deeds

done in past lives as revealed in the planetary positions of one's birth. Pundit ~ari discovered remarkable correlations while matching Reddiar's planets against the text. With prolific precision, he unfolded 13 pages of interpretative predictions that explained how a 7-inch-tall Sivalinga made of five "poi­sons," which would have cura-

THE VEDAS

God's Word, Sages'Voices

Lead me from unreality to reality. Lead me from dark­ness to light. Lead me from death to immortality.

YAJUR VEDA, BHIHADAHANYAKA

UPANISHAD 1.3.28

Subtlest of the subtle, great­est of the great, the atman is hidden in the cave of the heart of all beings, He who,

free from all urges, beholds Him overC0mes sorrow, seeing by grace of the Creator the Lord and His glory.

KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA, SVETASVATARA UPANISHAD 3.20

Perishable is matter. Immortal, imperishable the Lord, who, the One, controls the perishable and also the soul. Meditat­ing on Him, uniting with Him, becoming more and more like Him, one is &eed at the last from the world's illusion.

KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA. SVETilSVATAllil UPANISHAD l.l0

12 HINDUISM TODA'I' JUf- Y , 1997

tive powers, was made in 1368 in the Vijayanagar kingdom. Later, to protect it from invad­ing Muslims, it was chemically treated, covered with beeswax and copper acet-a.te and buried 32 feet under the bottom of a temple pool. Only by un­earthing this Sivalinga would Reddiar be able to finish his temple. He pIOceeded as Pun­dit directed and dug up the Lingam. The ancient text man­uscript and Pundit's predictive notes are all open for study.

That which is neither conscious nor unconscious, which is invisible, impalpable, indefinable, unthinkable, unname­able, whose very essence consists of the experience of its own self, which absorbs all diversity, is tranquil and be­nign, without a second, which is what they call the fourth state-that is the at·man. This it is which shou1d be known.

ATHAllVA VEDA, MANDUKYA UPANISHAD 7

He is the Supreme Brahman, the Self of all, the chieffoun­dation of this world, subtler than the subtle, eternal. That thou art; thou art That.

ATHkRVA VEDA, KAIVALYA UPANISHAD 16

He should be known as one liberated while alive. He is blessed and is of fulfilled duties. After giving up the state of being liberated while alive, when the time arrives for his quitting the body, he enters on the state of disembodied liberation, even as the air attains the state of nonmovement.

SHUKL~ YAJUR VEDA, PAINGALA. UPANISHAD 3.5

The one who has not turned away from wickedness, who has no peace, who is not concentrated, whose mind is restless­he cannot realize the atman, who is known by wisdom.

KRISHNA YAJU1\ VEDA, KATHA UPANISHAD 2.24

Verses are drawn from varjous sources. Those taken from The Vedic Experience by Prof Raimon Panikkar are available at www.Hin­duismToday.kauai.hi. usiashramlDir-New.html#VedExp.html

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: C. SUNDARAVAQIVELU SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT STAMP, PAINTING BY S. RAJA1f

Pooja, Devotional and Wedding Items Pre-packaged items for havans • Religious statues • Religious Books in Eng­lish, Sanskrit, Gujarati and Hindi • Kohlapur chappals, silk paintings, brahmni booti, kut, agar, tagar, bhojaptra, lotus

34159 Fremont Bvd • Fremont, CA 94555 USA • Tel: 510· 793·7930 ::;:: ~ Fax: 510· 793· 7026

Pooja International

seed • Men's, children's kurta, pajamas, sari blouses, sari falls and petticoats, children's clothes • Jaintri and Panchang • 1997 shipment from India just arrived • Ask for list of items. • Prompt delivery • M.Card, Visa, Am.Ex credit cards OK.

Moneesh Gifts and Books • Religious Books: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism,

Judaism, Islam, Christi'anity and other modern faiths. • Religious Statues: wood, stone, metal, crystal-l in. to 5 ft. • Pooja Items: incense, dhoop, floral oils, beads and malas. • Clothing: kurta pyjama sets, silk saris and punjabi sets, pooja .

clothes, wool shawls, cotton, rayon and silk prayer shawls. • Natural Remedies: homeo, bach flower, vitamins, ayurvedic

and herbal preparations, massage oils and and more. • Posters and Pictures: posters and calendars of deities, all sizes. • And much, much more • Mail Order Inquiries welcome.

Free Catalog: Moneesh • 467 Brickman Rd. , Hurleyville, NY 12747 USA. Tel: 914-434-8990 • Fax 914-436-5878.

We offer a wide selection of Sri Chinmoy's inspirational and instructional written works, including essays, poetry, plays and extensive answers to questions asked by seekers.

Music includes soul-stirr,ing audio and video perform­ances by Sri Chinmoy and his students on instruments from allover the world.

Just published-Sri Chinmoy's long-awaited trilogy, Commentaries on the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita: The Three Branches of India's Life-Tree and a 4-CD set of selections from Sri Chinmoy's fifty Peace Concerts offered in honor of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.

Call or write for our free catalog!

Heart-Light Distributors PO Box 85464-H Seattle, WA 98145-1464 USA

Tel: 800-739-2885 or 1-206-527-2099 Fax: 1-206-527-2099

Ganapati sitting (or dancing), Ram Darbar, Lakshmi, Shiva-Parvati, Durga, Shirdi Sai Baba, Hanuman, Santoshi Ma, Tirupati Balaji, Vishnu, Shiva Nataraj, Krishna, Krishna with Cow. 3 to 5" (7 to 12 cm) high. $19.95 to $39.95. $3.50 shippg. Catalog. Discounts for retailers and temples. - Nirvana Collection-289 Route 416, RR3, Campbell Hall, NY 10916 USA • Tel: 1-800-374-2304 or 1-914-294-1498. Fax 914-294-3870.

Timeless Values Leading thinkers such as Swami Chinmayananda and Thich Nhat Hanh offer their perspectives on the values that help us face the challenges of today. ISBN 1-880687-11-9 US$lO plus $3.75 postage. Tel: 215-396-0390 or 888-269-7323 http://www.chinmaya.orglpublications

Chinmaya Publications 560 Bridgetown Pike Langhorne, PA 19053-7210 USA

Roy Eugene Davis, a widely-traveled teacher, author and direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda,

" has taught in the kriya yoga tradition for more than four decades.

Request information about his books and classes in the USA, India, Europe and other countries.

Center for Spiritual Awareness p.o. Box 7-H Lakemont, Georgia 30552-0007 USA

Tel: 706-782~4723 • Fax 706-782-4560 http://www. csa-davis.org • E-mail csainc@stc.net

In India: A Master Guide to Meditation (Rs. 55) The Book of Life (Rs. 65) by Mr. Davis. Motilal Banarsidass 41 U.A. , Bungalow Road Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007 • Offices and stores also in Patna, Bangalore, Madras, Varanasi, Calcutta and Pune. If by mail, add Rs. 15 each book for postage.

LETTERS Impacting India tional orgaruzation. I myself, as a twenty-two THE PUBLISHER'S DESK ARTICLES ARE FAN- year member of the society, struggled with taj>tic. Gurudeva is really bringing forward many of ISKCON's shortcomings. Like most the pure teachings of Saivis£ In India, members, I chose to continue to work with child beating, child labor and child abuse Prabhupada's society to advance the high are so common. Gurudeva is ~ rare soul who ideals he taught us, while overcoming the im­really upholds dharma. We hope religious pediments we faced. Despite all obstacles, institutions will read the article "Bad Money, ISKCON continues to grow and have a posi­Good Money" (May '97) and cllange their tive impact on the lives of our cdf).gregation approach when collecting donations from and society at large. Last year, ISKCON cel­the public. Such articles will have a good im- ebrated its 30th anniversary with events at pact on the Hindus in India. 400 temples worldwide. Each Janmastami,

TNA RAJASHANKAR millions flock to ISKCON temples for dnr­BANGAWRE, INDIA shan. 1997 will mark the opening of major

Jai, Gurumayi! I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR MAGAZINE FOR some time now. It surely has been an en­ric;:hing medium in my life. Often I have felt that HINDUISM TODAY has been a kind of torch-bearer for me, shedding light on the aspects of my oym being which I did not know existed within me. I have read quite a bit of the writings of the great Indian saint Swami Muktananda. Thereafter I was eager to read and learn more about his successor, Gurumayi Swami Chidvilasana,nda. The ar­tide by her ("Ministers Message," April '97) came as a wonderful surprise. Her article turned out to be like a revelation for me. Her message is like a key which unlocked for me the deeper meaning of Swami Muktananda's teachings, the most central teaching of which is, "God dwells within You as You." She has so beautifully expounded further on the same. I have savored every bit of her ex­tremely profound, yet amazingly simple message. I am so deeply convinced that even if I were to hold on to a tiny bit of her teachings and ponder over it constantly, her teachings would open up a whole new per­spective of looking at and living life more purposefully. I want to thank you most sin­cer~ly for introducing your readers' to Swa­mi <%idvilasananda and look forward to more in the future.

NUTANGUPTA MUMBAI, INDIA

Hare Krishna is Alive and Well DESPITE THE INACCURATE CLAIMS OF A paid advertisement in HINDUISM TODAY ("Betrayal of the Spirit," page 46, May '97), the Hare Krishna movement is alive and well. When our founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.G Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupa­da, passed away in 1977, ISKCON faced se­rious challenges. Most disciples were young converts and the institution was barely 11 years old. Mistakes were made, and unfortu­nately, some leaders went astray and caused the society much pain and embarrassment. This is not unexpected for a large interna-

14 H"'INDUISM TODAY JULY , 1997

" temple complexes in Delhi and Bangalore, and the world's fIrst Hare Krishna Hospital in Mumbai. Our Food for Life project has fed 85 million meals to the needy in 70 coun­tries. Reporting from Chechnya about ISKCON's work during the war, fIle New York Times stated, "Here they have a reputa­tion like the one Mother Theresa has in Cal­cutta." This April in South Africa, ISKCON organized and catered a one-day event for 40,000 school children to promote cultural diversity and tolerance. President Nelson , Mandela gave-the keynote address. The list goes on and on. Despite the protests of a few detracters, Srila Prabhupada's movement should be judged by its honest accomplish­ments, and the millions of people whose lives it helped change for the better.

ANNUTAMA DASA NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION, ISKCON

POTOMAC,MARYLAND,USA

Correct Russian Lineage THE ARTICLE ON THE TANTRA SANGHA OF Russia ("Tantra Worship Catches The in-Rus­sia," RUSSIAN REVIVAL, April '97) inaccurately described the Sangha's tradition and prac­tices. We are not in any way Pashupatas or Virasaivas, nor Kalamukhas [various Saivite lineages]. Unlike the Virasaivas, we do not perfgrm pujas to personal Sivalingams. We carry them around the neck only as a symbol, not as an object of worship. We are Tantrikas beionging to the Vatulanatha Parampara of the Rahasya Kaula Sampradnya, a branch of the Shakta -oriented upasampradaya [sub lin­eage 1 also known as the Kali Kula Krama sys­tem in Kashmir Tantric Saivism.

The Rahasya Sampradnya, (secret tradi­tion), teaches three ways (fIrst, middle and highest levels of the same Tantric Path) to God: the path of Pashu (easy, not esoteric, Hindu tradition), also known as the "right­handed path;" the path ofVira, or heroic es­oteric tantric '1eft-handed path;' and the path of Divya, path of highest level of Tantric sadhana. As tantrikas, S\vami Sada­shivacharya and his disciples follow and teach this tlrree-fold Tantric Path of Kula, not the path of Pashu alone.

,

There are only a few details of worship an.sJ. practice that we share with Pashupatas, Kalamukhas and Lingayats. This influence is only upon the external ritual worship. The original esoteric teachings of this sampra­daya, which are obviously more Kaula Shak­ta than Saivite, remain strong and distinct Unlike Virasaivas, our followers recognize the Vedas and other brahmanic Hindu scriptures. , But we recognize the Tantras [Shakta and SaivaAgamasJ as more author­itative than Vedic scriptures. Thus, purely tantric ideas and practices predominate rp. tills tradition, which is both Shakta (tantric) and Saivite. ·' ,

The erroneous statements about Tantra Sangha were the result of HINDUISM To­DAY'S editors misunderstanding our original information given to them because of incor­rect translation and differences in language.

STANISLAV A.GOROKHOV TANTRA SANGHA, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

": .... tantra@online.ru

Actively Engaged . IN YOUR ARTICLE ("MANJUL BHARGAVA: Chalks up the Morgan Prize," MATH-A-MA­GICIAN, May '97), it was erroneously print­ed, "His grandfather Dr. Purushottam Lal Bhargava was a renowned scholar of San­skrit." which gives the impression that he is currently inactive in his fIeld. We would like to emphasize the fact that Dr. P.L. Bhargava . is actively engaged in writing books on In­dology and delivering lectures.

MRs. MIRA BHARGAVA NEW YORK,USA

.... matmzb@vaxc.hofstra.edu

Peace's Prayer I REALLY FELT HURT FOR MY FELLOW TA­milians after reading the article ("Sri Lan­kan Tamils Tell Tales of a Desperate Dias­pora," COVER STORY, April '97). If all the people are killed and the land destroyed, , what will both parties have to rule? They

; have lost everything. Then there'll be no use of crying over spilled ~. I hope and pray to Lord Ganesha that bo.th parties will sit down for peace talks, for the sake of the people.

MURUGAPPAN MALAYSIA

.... u03134@kdupg.edu.my

Letters with writers n~e, address and daytime phone number, should be sent to:

Letters, HINDUISM TODAY 107 Kaholalele Road KAPAA, HI, 96746-9304 USA or faxed to: (808) 822-4351 or e-mailed to: letters@HinduismToday_k~uai.hi.us

Letters qay be edited for space and clarity and may appear in electronic versions of HINDUISM TODAY.

.... INDICATES LEITERS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL

Books by Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha:

Yoga Vani Instructions for the attain­ment of Siddhayoga during sadhana. postpaid: US$13.50 (USA) $16.50 (Canada)

Guru Bani 100 ways to attain inner peace. How to live a spiritual life-for monks and families. postpaid: US$9.50 (USA) $12.50 (Canada)

Ayurvedic Products Distributors-wholesale or retail catalog: $1.00 (free via e-mail) • Consultations • 2-year Ayurveda CertifIcation Courses in person or by correspon­dence (either by post or via e-mail).

Ayurveda Holistic Center clo Swami Narayan Tirtha Math 82A-H Bayville Ave • Bayville, NY 11709-1671 USA Tel/fax: 1-516-628-8200 • Ask for Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha E-mail: mail@ayurvedahc.com

Web: httpllwww.ayurvedahc.com (Free interactive dosha self-test and articles)

One week of discourses on the Shrimad Bhagavat by Swami Tejomayananda of Chinmaya Mission. August 10-18, 1997 San Francisco State University

• Shrimad Bhagavat discourses by Swami Tejomayananda.

• The Essentials of Self-Realization-3 talks by Swami Chidananda.

• Art, crafts, bhajans, prayers and recreation for children.

• Morning and evening arati. • Interactive group discussions. • Evening Cultural Programs: Stage productions of Sri

Rama Janma, Sri Krishna Janma and Krishna-Rukmini Vivaha.

• Recreational activities.

Chinmaya Family Spiritual Camps impart the essence of Hindu philosophy and heritage to adults, youth, and children.

Chinmaya Mission San Jose 1050 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126-3036 USA Tel: 408-998-2793, 415-493-9020, Fax: 408-998-2952 E-mail: bhagavat@Chinmaya.org http://www.chinmaya.org!events

A New Incarnation of the Bita's Truths Paramahansa Yogananda penetrates to the Bhagavad Gita's psychological and metaphysical depths, revealing its innermost essence. Many long-lost truths come to life in his new transla­tion and commentary, illuminating the eternal questions found in every heart. God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita 1,224 pgs, two vols. w/slipcase, US$42. Self-Realization Fellowship 213-342-0247 USA (9-5 PacifIc)

The Divine Vision of Radha Krishn by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, is a practical guide to experience the loving Bliss of Radha Krishn or any other form of God explained in our scriptures. It gives a crystal-clear view of the path to supreme God. (US$30, 462 pgs.) International Society of Divine Love Barsana Dham • 400 Barsana Rd Austin, TX, 78737-9075 USA Tel: 512-288-7180, Fax: 512-288-0447 http://www.isdLorg

Chinmaya Family Talks and Camps By Swami Tejomayananda. An optimum blend of spirit­ual, cultural and personal experience. Experienced teachers offer the essence of Hindu scripture at all levels: adult, youth, and children.

• Bhagavad Gita .Shrimad Bhagavat .Other texts • Meditation • Interactive groups • Drama; cultural programs • Arts and crafts • Recreation, and more ...

Family Camps: . July 18-25 July 27-Aug 3 Aug 4-10 Aug 10-17

Washington, DC Allendale, Michigan Vancouver, Canada San Francisco, CA

301-384-5009 810-732-4255 604-433-3441 408-998-2793

Vedanta for spiritual growth • Values for lasting happiness.

TalkslJnana Yagnas: July 7-11 Buffalo, NY July 12-18 Toronto, Canada

Chinmaya Mission West • Krishnalaya PO Box 129, Piercy, CA 95587-0129 USA Tel: 707-247-3488 • Fax: 707-247-3422

716-633-1633 416-663-6553

15

Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda

The bliss of God-awareness is not an exclusive possession of saints and yogis, but belongs to you as well. "Self-real­ization," explained Paramahansa Yogananda, "is the knowing-in body, mind, and soul­

founDED In mo DH

pnRnmnHnnSn IIOGnnnnOn

that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing."

Through a series of printed Lessons for home study, you can receive Paramahansa Yogananda's complete and accu­rate instruction in the Self-Realization techniques of medita­tion, concentration, and pranayama. This in-depth program explains practical "how-to-live" principles for harmonizing body, mind, and soul and is offered on a subscription basis for a nominal fee to help cover printing and handling.

For a free catalog of books and recordings, or further information, please contact our international headquarters at:

Self-Realization Fellowship • 3880 San Rafael. Dept. 7HTG Los Angeles, CA 90065-3298 USA Tel: 213-225-2471 (9-5 Pacific) • 24-hr fax: 213-225-5088 Visit us on t~e Web: http://www.yogananda-srforg

Shri Anandi Ma-Master in the tradition of Kundalini Maha Yoga, will be offering public meditation programs in:

• New York, NY: June 27 & 28 Tel: 212-877-7339

• Portland, ME: July 11 & 12 Tel: 207-799-4449

• Antioch, CA: August 1 & 2 Tel: 510-649-3005

• Cleveland, OH: Aug. 15 & 16 Tel: 216-261-8498

Shaktipat initiation will be

o=-.........c~-'"'-'_

~~~? =. ---"

offered by appointment each weekend. "With Shaktipat, the student is saturated with Divine Energy. After Shaktipat, the Kundalini is permanently awakened and, like a mother, con­stantly cares for and nourishes her infant. One may be of any religion, caste, or creed to benefit; for all persons, the field of inner joy is the same. After Shaktipat, the Shakti will take the student to the ultimate goal, without doubt."

For general information about Shri Anandi Ma, Kundalini Maha Yoga or Shaktipat contact:

Dhyanyoga Centers • PO Box 3194 Antioch, CA 94531-3194 USA. Tel: 510-757-9361 http://www:dyc.org!

Dr. Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Physician and Director of the Institute, with visiting faculty, offer the Ayurvedic Studies Program, seminars and pri­vate consultations.

Yearly Curriculum: • I: Introduction to philosophy,

theory and systems (Fall). • II: Introduction to Ayurvedic

assessment (Winter). • III: Intra. to management of

imbalances (Spring).

• Correspondence Course by Dr. Robert Svoboda, Ayurvedic Physician

• Weekend and Intensive Seminars: Ayurvedic Cooking, Psy­chology, Herbology, Pulse Reading, Sanskrit, Jyotish, etc.

• Panchakarma-purification and rejuvenation by licensed staff: oil massage, herbal steam, cleansing diet, herbal therapy, etc.

• Ayur-yoga-integrating Ayurveda and Yoga for the purpose of returning each person to his or her balanced state.

• Ayurvedic and Western herbs, extracts, oils, books, audio and video tapes and a quarterly journal.

Write/call for our mail order catalog and information: The Ayuvedic Institute • PO Box 23445 Albuquerque, NM 87192-1445 USA Tel: 505-291-9698. Fax: 505-294-7572

Spiritual experiences of Swami Sivananda Radha by Julie McKay

Through the stories of Radha and Krishna, the author relates the story of Swami Radha's love affair with the Divine. By bringing these two realities together, she allows us to see the potential for each person with a desire to focus on . hislher spiritual path. This book confirms that this search is not in vain. Julie McKay, a student of Swami Radha since 1979, worked closely with her for seven years until Swami Radha's death in November, 1995. It was this inti­mate contact that allowed her to write this very personal story

"This is a charming, stirring and elevating love song within a love song ... a modern Gita Govinda."-Georg Feuerstein, PhD, author of Structures of Consciousness

Limited edition: cloth, ribbon bookmark, photos, US$35.00. Write/call to order or for a free catalog:

Timeless Books PO Box 3543, Spokane, WA 99220-3543 USA Tel: 800-251-9273 • Tel/fax: 509-838-6652 E-mail: info@timeless.org

, knowledge the Judeo-Christian God," not the gods of other faiths, Moore said. "We are not a nation founded upon the Hindu god or Buddha." Only Christians have been invited to lead the prayers, but the judge's clerk, Scott Barnett, said he did try to contact a local rabbi but couldn't reach him. While Moore would not invite representatives of oth­er (eligions, he would not stop them. "That's their right," Moore said.

Some of the judge's supporters ". were troubled that Moore was in­sisting on his own religious free~ dom but limiting its practice to one faith only. "My personal view is that our founding fathers would have permitted prayer from other denominations," said former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Den­ton, who lead the Pledge of Alle­giance at the Aprn 12 rally

In my God I trust: The Ten Commandments are displayed behind Judge Moore.in his j,.labama court

GoY. Fob James, who has vowed to callout National Guard troops to defend Moore's beliefs if necessary, said he doesn't think Moore is being intolerant of non­Christians by refusing to invite

CHURCH AND STATE

That Old-Time Religion ;

Judge posts Ten Commandments in courtroom; .. Hindus ~~not inv_i ted" to pray; before his sessions

UDCE ROY MOORE DISPLAYS A PLAQUE

of the Christian Ten Commandments in his courtroom and opens sessions with prayer. And the judge, a Baptist whose

fight to J.ceep religion in his courtroom has in­spired a national rally, invites others to pray with him-as long as they're 'not Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists. "They do not acknowlc edge the God of the holy Bible on which this country was founded," Moore says.

Tens of thousands attended a rally at the Alabama Capitol on April 12 to show their support for Moore, including national con­servative leaders like Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition and the Rev. Don Wild­mon of the American Famiiy Association. The judge has won wide suppor~ from con-

. servaMve groups, as well a's Alabama politi­cians and congressional leaders, as he ap­peals orders for him to stop opening court sessions with pr~er and to remove or alter the wooden plaque of the Ten Command­ments that hangs behind his bench. Moore contends the First Amendment gives him

,

the right to practice Christianity in his Etowah County Circuit courtroom.

Even the US. Congress passed a resolution in support of the judge (House Concurrent Resolution 31) on March 6 stating "the sense of the Congress is that the Ten Command­ments are a declaration of fundamental principles that are the cornerstones of a fair and just society and the public display, in­cluding display in government offices and courthouses should be permitted.' Repre­sentative Scott of Virginia complained that "the courtroom loses its neutrality when it endorses as pecific religious doctrine, and one Federal court has already decided that

. the posting of the Ten Commandments in a courtroom is unconstitutional." Others com­plained legal rulings were driving all s~s of any religion from public view: .

Not all of Moore's supporters are aware that he draws a firm line against' inviting anyone' outside the Judeo-Christian tradi­tion to conduct the prayers in his courtroom. "My duty under the Constitution is to ac-

them to pray in his court. "I think that's his call," said James, a rally speaker. "You might ask Congress how many Hindu or Muslim leaders they have had to lead prayers." The U.S. House of Representatives' chaplain, who invites about one pastor a week during sessions to give the opening prayer, said Tuesday in Washingtqn that he recalled a Muslim giving it at the request of a con­gressman. Imam Siraj Wahaj was invited by Rep. Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat, and gave the prayer in 1991. "There's no ex­clusion that I know of," said the Rev. James Ford, a Lutheran who has been House. chap­lain for 18 years.

The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith, which has filed a brief opposing Maore's side in the lawsuit, is concerned that . the' judge appears to be Ep1dorsing a sRecific religion to the exclusion 'Of others, s~d Jay Kaiman of the ADLS Southeast regional of­fice in Atlanta. "If I had a problem ... and I was in front of Judge Moore-and he knew what I did for a living and he knew my faith-I would feel tha; would bias his atti­tude," said Kaiman, who is Jewish.

Other critics noter;!. that Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christians, just in a different way "With all due respect to the good judge, he is clearly wrong," said Leon J. Weinberger, a JudaiC studies professor at the University of Alabama. "The Muslim Allah is the same as the JeWish 'EI). found through­out the Bible."

By JESSICA SAUNDERS, Associated Press

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM TODAY 11

South Asia Books Your path to India for 28 years. 4,000 titles in active stock.

Newest titles in stock (Prices net and include shipping)

• Mahadevan. Hymns of Sankara. rep. • Griffith. Hymns of the Rigveda. • Pandey. Hindu Samskaras. • Hiriyanna. Essentials of Indian Philosophy. • Monier Williams. Sanskrit-English Dictionary • Singh. Siva Sutras. • MacDonell. Vedic Grammar for Students. • Miller. Hindu Monastic Life. revised edition • Wade. Music in India, Classical Traditions. • Whitney. Atharva Veda Samhita. 2 vol. • w.J. Wilkins. Hindu Mythology. pa. rep.

Also: 3,000 titles on our new web site.

us$ 7.50 28.00

8.00 12.00 40.00

9.00 9.00

24.00 16.00 54.00

9.00

For the new illustrated Motilal1996 catalogue containing 350 items, or for lists of books on yoga or ayurveda, novels, chil­dren's books, write or call:

South Asia Books • PO Box 502 Columbia, MO 65205-0502 USA Tel: 573-474-0116 • Fax 573-474-8124 E-mail: sab@socketis.net Website: http://members.socketis.neU -sab/sahhtml

A Comprehensive Approach to Yoga ... ... based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography ofa Yogi ). ~A ..

• Yoga and Meditation Retreat.

• Yoga teacher training. • Spiritual communities. • Catalog of books,

music and videos. • Ananda's home-study

course in yoga and meditation.

For a free cassette on Mystical Music and Talks call or write:

Ananda 14618 Tyler Foote Rd Nevada City, CA 95959-8599 USA

Tel: 916-478-7560 Extension 7025

Ananda Home Page: http://www.ananda.org E-mail: Ananda@oro.net

Ananda, founded in 1968 by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, is not affiliated with Self-Realization Fellowship.

New selection of books, gifts, music and videos on:

• Meditation • Yoga • Alternative healing • Vegetarian cooking • Flower essences • Yoga philosophy

Also:

• Mystical music • Books-on-tape • Spoken audio • Mantra music • Chanting tapes • Books by Yogananda, Kriyananda and more

For a free catalog, call now: 800-424-1055 toll free in US, or 916-478-7600.

Crystal Clarity Publishers 14618 Tyler Foote Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959-9316 USA

Fax: 916-478-7610 http://www.consciousnet.com/CrystalClarity E-mail: cclarity@aol.com

In keeping with the timelessness of the medium and the message, Third Stone is pleased to present am Stones, carved riverstones with a raised OM, the Universal Syllable.

Smooth, pocket-sized (1-2 inches, 2.5-5 cm), am stones are intended to be carried and used as a focus for subconscious meditation in our daily routine.

Third Stone also offers other images and symbols that repre-sent the highest ideals and lasting values of humankind. • .

To order am Stones, send US$4.95 and $1.50 shipping. Additional $1.50 shipping for every five stones ordered.

Third Stone, 915 Garden St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101-1414 USA Tel: 805-963-1168, fax: 805-964-7670. Internet: httpllwww.stone3.com

Write or phone for a brochure of other designs and sizes. Wholesale inquiries are welcomed.

One Man's Quest for the Self The story of one man's quest for the pure Self within. Relive with him his years with Paramhansa Yogananda, his incredible visions and encounters with beings of other dimensions. The Christ Consciousness Paper, 496 pg., illustrated US$25 including postage Builders Publishing Company 1305 North H SUA-289-T Lompoc, CA 93436-3335 USA Fax: 805-686-1254

The highest teachings of the Vedas simplified for the modern age by Pragya Avatar Pandit Shree Ram Sharma Acharya. Edited by Pdt. Lilapat Sharma. Inspires love of dharma. Infuses spiritual, mental and physical vitality. US$10.00 plus postage. Available in Hindi, Gujarati, English editions and audio cassette. Gayatri Yug Literature Ctr., 8413 W. North Terrace, Niles, IL 60714-2329 USA. Tel/fax: 847-692-7712.

Divine-Love-Consciousness Intensive Sri Ramana Maharshi July 4-6, 1997, in the serene environ­ment of beautiful Barsana Dham Ashram-residential course which includes inspirational talks, guided chanting meditation, yoga asanas and deep relaxation. Brochure available. International Society of Divine Love Barsana Dham • 400 Barsana Rd Austin, TX, 78737-9075 USA Tel: 512-288-7180 • Fax: 512-288-0447 http://www.isdl.org

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF VEDIC STUDIES Correspondence Courses On:

Ayurvedic Medicine Vedic Astrology

, For information on Vedic Sciences and latest Vedic Research Send SASE to:

David FI'OOey (lkrnodello Shastro). DirectOf

American Institute of Vedic Studies P.O. BOX 8357

Saote Fe, NM 847504-8357 USA

The Society of Abidance in Truth offers hard-to-find books on Advaita Vedanta and Sri Ramana Maharishi through Perennial Wisdom Books. Send US$2 for wholesale or retail catalog:

SAT, 1834 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-1700 USA • Tel: 408-458-9654 Tel/fax 408-425-0407 E-mail: ramana@cruzio.com Web: http:/www.SATRamana.org

The Oracle of Ramo India's Renowned Oracle by David Frawley $12.95 208 pages, illustrated ISBN 1-878423-1 9~3

The Tibetan Book of Healing by Dr Lopsang Rapgay $12.95208 pages, illustrated ISBN 1-878423-21-5

To order: add $3.50 shipping and contact: PASSAGE PRESS 8188 So. Highland Dr., 0-5, Sandy, UT 84093

(801) 942-1440; FAX (801) 943-7268 To order with Visa, Mastercard, American Express call 1-800-873-0075

~~~~~~,,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C

I H.J!. SHANKARACHARYA Jayendra Saraswati, Peethadiswar of the Kanchi Kartiakoti I

Peetham, visited Nepal "to offer his bless­ings to King Bireridra on the ~ccasion of His Majesty's silver jubilee accession to the throne and to the people of the only Hindu nation of the world," writes The~thman­dy, Post. On the issue of unlawful prosely­tizing, the Shankaracharya sard, "If these people are involved with social services, then they should stick to it and refrain from attempting to convert people's beliefs; there is no room for that in our society." --:

NEPAL WANTS MORE TOURISTS-half-a-million in 199B-and to reach its goal it's now mar­keting itself to Hindus as the world's only Hindu kingdom, h0ping its t;housands of Hindu sacred sites, such as Pashupa.tinath and its over 1,000 Buddhist monasteries, will lure more than just mountain­eers to the Hi­malayas. IndiaI! nationaJs com­prised one-third of the 363,000 tourists who vis-ited in 1995. Nepal sacred sites

I I

THE POETIC VOICE ofl5th-century Saivite Saint Arunagirinathar now speaks in both Tamil an!i English in Songs of Divine G-lo­ry. As editor-translator S.M. Ponniah (My , Turn, March 1997) prefaces, "This Book of Prayer consists of fifty devotional songs in adoration of Lord Murugan," and is intend­ed to assist devotees in worship and to "rekindle interest in Tamil language, the root language and source of Tamil Saivism."

'" HIS PERSONAL ASTROLOGERS uniformly pre-dicted a long term in office' for now ex­Prime Minister .H.D. Iileve Gowda. But 'one Bangalore astrologer, Ranganatha Desika, made a very contrary and uncannily accu­rate prediction published in India Today (March 31st edition) that the PM would exit office on April 27. He was just a few days off

INDIA'S FUTURE MAY INCLUQE A SEAT on the United Nations Security Council under a new proposal ad.ding five permanent and four non-petmanent members to the 15-seat Council. Economically-thriving Japan and Germany are considered frontrunners for permanent seats; the remaining three would include one nation each from Asia

I )

20 R INDU1SM TODAY J1:J LY, 1997

(possibly India, the world's most populous democracy), Africa and Latin America. The four nonpermanent seats woula be chosen from those three plus one from Eastern Europe. None of the new seats would have veto power.

CHIDAMBARAM, Lord Siva's glorious ancient temple complex (whose title deeds are held in the name of Lord Nataraja), re­mains targeted for takeover by Tamil Golden hall Nadu governments Hindu Religfous & Charitable Endowments Board. The hereditary Podu Dikshithars, or temple priests, won a March 12 interim stay in Madras High COliFt, temporarily halting government appointment of an Executive Officer, but the stay was issued on the con­dition that an accounting of temple offerings be submitted with~n 45 days.

AYURVEDA HAS OFFICIALLY ARPIVED i¥ Ameri­ca. The'California College of, Ayurveda Center for Optimal Health is the first such college to win state approval to operate in the United States. "This is a momentous time in history," says founder Dr. Marc Halpern, "It marks fhe beginning of'the formation of the profession of ayurveda in \ the U.S." Contact: 1117 A East Main Street, Grass Valley, California, 95945, USA. ./

THE POPULATION IMPLOSION is being ignored, says Ben Wattenberg, producer of the Pub­lic Television production "Think Tank." Why? "What government chooses to admit it's going to, lose half its population in the next hundred years?" New demographic ferti~ty studies show a downward trend in world population, in many cases to below the replacement rate (the rate at which p~pulation remains stable). "Birth rates are declining in f.,sia, South America and in third-world mitions," says Wattenberg. "I think this is the biggest news of the centu­ry. I'm baffled that the story hasn't been .

. universally disseminated. Fertility in China and IndIa is coming down rapidly. At this rate, they will be below the replacement rate in an9ther decade or two."

"RELIGIOUS FERVOR OR NOISE POLLUTION?" So asks the Associated Press over Cal~utta's ef­forts to curb the often full-blast aural ema­nal'tons from Hindu temples and Muslim mosques. Current unenforced federal guidelines limit the azan; or Muslim call to

",.

prayer and Hindu chants broadcast over loudspeakers to 55-65 decibels, slightly louder than a noisy office. Hindus say they can accept the n.oise abatement law if pro­visions are made for special festivals, such , as the lO-day, all-night Durga Puja.

THE POWER ,OF PRAYER and its effect on heart patients will be scientifically studied at three American hospitals thanks to a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, '" which funds the annual Templeton Prize for contributions to religion. The two-ye'ar .study of 600 people awaiting heart surgery is merely "to find out what happens."

Vedic Astrology, the new, Delhi-based, bi­monthly publication, subtitles its~lf "Devot­ed tq Vedic Concepts of Astrology and Cul­ture." "Indian astrology has always been an inseparable limb of --: Vedic culture. It has ,---.-----.-------, been labeled as the 'eye' of the Vedas, the repository of knowledge," writes editor Dr. K.S. Charak. Contact: Systems Vision, A- Magazine's logo. 199 Okhla Ind. Area-l , New Delhi, 110-020 India. E-mail: rjhan­ji@giasdlOl.vsnl.net.in.

BIRTH TIMING IS CRUCIAL in astrology, which is why more and more women,are opting for "elective caesa!ean," consulting as­trologers for an auspicious moment and then delivering the baby by C-section. "If instead of being born in the morning, a child is delivered in the afternoon, the planetary positions change. His fate alters accordingly," says New Delhi astrologer Ajay Bhambi. Astrologer Chakrapani Ullal was more 'cautious, "Purposely choosing a

.--time ofhirth can, in fact, be a big mistake beca,:!se there are no many really}ood as­trologers who can take into account all the different aspects of astrology to make the best decision. Also, there is no really good time, because all time has a good part and a bad part." HINDUISM TODAY columnist Dr. Devananda Tandav911 says if the C-section is medically required, then "a propitious time could be elE,cted ... " but he otherwise decries the use of surgery or drugs simply to choose a childs lagna.

BRIEFLY is compiled from press, TV and UJire-service reports and, edited by RAVI

PERUMAN, award-winning radio journalist at KGG in San Francisco.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ELEGANT PHOTOGRAPHERS, VEDIC ASTROLOGY, COREL

Among Vidyal, I'OOaI are supreme, In ~, Rudram is supreme. In Rudram, the Panchakshari "Nam~vaya" is supreme. And in i~ the I'Ml syllables "Siva" are supreme.

Sponsorship Schedule Items 1-4 are both Individual and COIporate Sponso"hips

. U.S.$ Indian Rupees Grand Patron ......... 50,001 15lakhs Patron: Entire Yagnam & Associated Events .... ....... . 10,001 Grand Sponsor: 11 day Rudra ]apam, Abhishekam &:Homams ...... ...................... .. 5,001 Sponsor: One Priest from India : .. , ... .. .............. ... ......... 3,001 Final Day Rudra Iapam, , Abhishekam & Homam ........ 1,001 Veda Parayanam (all 4 Vedas) & other Parayanams . 501 Rudra Homam .......... ..... ...... 251 Swama (gold) Sambhavana to One Priest... 151 Vastram, Ganapati Homam, Navagraha Homam, Avahanti Homam, Mrityunjaya Homam, Lalita Homam,

3.01akhs

1.5lakhs

1.0lakhs

30,001

10,001 7,001

5,001

Sri Sukta Homam .. 51 1,001

Contributions to SVBF are tax-deductible in the USA.

Prasadam will be mailed within two weeks after the conclusion of the yagnam for

sponsors who cannot attend the yagnam.

Sringeri Vtdya Bharati Foundation Inc. USA • Sringeri Sadhana Center invites you to the

Athi Rudra Maha yagnam Conducted for the first time outside India

Sringeri Sadhana Center RD 8, Box 8116, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 USA · Tel: 717-629-7881, 1-800-45HINDU

Dr. s. Yegna Subramanian 609-530-0299, or Dr. S. S. Iyer 908-238-1119

Contributions in US dollars may be made payable to SVBF - Athi Rudram Account. Please mail checks to our registered office: Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation Silverline Corp. Plaza, 53 Knightsbridge Rd. Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA

Donativns in Indian rupees will be accepted and used for priest expenses and sambhavanas and fhepurchase of puja items from India. Please mail your checks or bank drafts, payable to: Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringerl Sri V. R. Gowrishankar, Administrator, Sringeri SharaiJa Peetbam Sringeri - 577 139, Karnataka, INDIA

CULTS

The · Spaceship Suicide Eastern Faiths falsely implicated as 39 members of a radical Christian UFO cult die in hopes of joining an alien craft following comet IJale-Bopp

N MARCH 23, 1997, THE FIRST members of Heaven's Gate,

a . self-described "cult of cults," mixed phenobarbital

sweet pudding, washed it down with vodka, covered

their heads with plastic bags and suffo­cated to death. Fifteen more took their own lives the next day in the swank, $1.6 million rented mansion pear San " DIego, California. On the third day, the remaining nine died. When disCQvered

man" and join him on a, spaceship following Comet Hale-Bopp.

Even as refrigerated coroner's vans removed decomposing bodies from the hous~, Eastern faiths, the New Age and the Jillternet became I the scapegoats in a desperate search for some kind of rational explanation oJ this bizarre incident-the largest mass suicide in US history. Parallels were drawn with the People's Temple suicide of 900 persons in Guyana in the 1970s, the Branch Davidians deaths in Waco, Texas, in 1993 aneY

the next morning by a former member, each body was neatly laid out on a cot or bed, dressed identically in black pants and brand new black Nike sneak­

~ the Solar Temple suicides in Europe Applewhite: Group's leader on their farewell video tape and Canada in '94 and '95. These

I groups' obvious common denomina-ers, partly covered with a purple shroud, identification in one pocket, a five­dollar bill and some coins in another. A packed suitcase sat nearby.

Their leader, Marshall Herff Applewhite, died.with them, shortly after proclaiming on the Internet that he was Jesus Christ re-

22 HINDUISM TOD A.Y J LY, 1997

turned to Earth. Tragically, this charismatic former opera singer and son of a Presby.ter­ian Christian minister had convinced 21 fe­male and '17 male wetl-educated, middle­class Amerioans, ages 26 to 72, to kill themselves, attain the "Level Beyond Hu-

tor~Christianity-was unwanted knowledge for Americans, and the media was loathe to mention it is as they recounted the strange history and theology of Heaven's Gate.

Applewhite had been assembling his cho­sen group since the 1970s, initially with

Comet Express: (jar left) The Heaven's Gate iveb page as it was lasPupdat­ed. Every those close to the grotfp did not realize this I'Red Alert" (a '17attle stat-ions"'command from the Star Trek TV series) meant they would com­mit su..icide the next day. (above left) Depict-ion of the benevolent aliens they expected to join on the spaceship. ~bove right) The supposed com­panion to Hale- Bopp appears to the right of the comet in this amateur pho­tograph. The Saturn-like rings are likely an artifact of the telescope's op­tics. (right) Shroud-coverfJd Heaven's Gate members dead in their beds at the San Diego mansion. Visible are their identical black pants, new Nike shoes and neatly packed suitcases and 3-foot purple tria:ngular cloths cov-

. eringJtheir faces.

Bonnie Lu Trusdale Nettles, a nurse he met while undergoing treatment at a mental in­stitution. She left her family behind to join Applewhite in a nomadic ex;i~tence, camping their way across America. Together they concluded they were the two witnesses mentioned in the Christitm Bible's "Book of Revelations." They slowly collected followers by holding meetings where they frankly de-

, clareB. that they and whoever choose to fol­low them would be picked up-by spaceships and taken to heaven. They went by the name "The Two" or "The UFO Two" and by a variety of nicknames, lastly "Ti and Do," after the musical notes in the Western scale. "Unidentified Flying Object" (UFO) has come to name an entire movement of people who beheve alien spacecraft are visiting the Earth.

Bonnie-Ti-dieQ. of cajlcer in 1985, ~d after that Applewhite-Do-continued the organization, claiming that Ti was now in heaven waiting for the others. He insisted his followers regard their physical bodies as "vehicles" and forbade sex among mem­bers-even to the point of castration for sev­eral of the men, including Applewhite him­self. Everyone wore black and kept their hair trimmed short. The group supported .themselves by odd jobs as they wandered about the United States, and fmally by de­signing Internet Web pages frSlm their San Diego mansion. They were proficien:t prs­grammers and counted among their clients many local businesses. _

Heaven's Gate was not the first Ameri'can I

• .J group to b~lieve they were destined for res-cue from planet Earth by aliens. However, earlier groups who announced exactly when and where it would happen have been em­barrassingly stood up as the promised flying saucer failed to arrive. -Applewhite initially believed that a real flying saucer would land to pick them up-armoupcing so in 1975. That never happened, and he too was derid­ed. Uter his belief change(i to one of shed­'ding the "vehicle," the body, to allow tran~ port of the soul to a new physical body aboard a spacecraft crewed by ET-like ali~ns. Though'he and his followers clid not know when thi§ might occur, they were con­tinuously on alert for departure. Apparently they awaited fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation 11.12: 'f\nd t.hey heard a great voice from heaven saying Ul).to them, 'Come up hither.' And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."

When Cemet 'Hale-Bopp appeared, Ap­plewhite-now openly saying he vias Jesus retumed-took this to be a sign that the end had come. Earth was about to be "recycled,

, spaded un<ffir." Ti-whom Applewhite said was really the "Holy Father," as in "Our Fa­.ther WhO art in heaven ... "-was piloting a spacecraft, follOWing in the wake of :tIale­Bopp which had come. to transport them­the ascent into heaven, w hich they Veld to be a physical place.

These b~liefs were reinforced by an inter­net-wide debate over whether an unidenti­fied object was indeed accompanying Hale­Bopp, as, three photographs suggested. Such

a theory might in the past not get much publicity in the mass meclia, but the Inter­net is a method of communication that PFQ­

v.ides equal access to the legitimate and the far-fetched, to the responsible report and the outright fraud. The website which advocates the existence of this accompanying object (and a coverup by world governments) is just as available on the Internet as is that of NASA or any of the irorlds observatories. But what was a harmless argument over some photos-all of which were explained or dismissed as hoaxes-became something very different when Applewhite decided the object was indeed Ti's spacecraft and initI­ated earnest preparations for the group's sui­cide. In January, Applewhite posted a four­page message on the Web and 95 newsgroups entitled "Undercover Jesus Sur­faces Before Departure." He wrote, "I am about to ' return to my 'Father'S Kin-gdom. This return requires that I prepare to lay down my berrowed human body ... as I did

. approximately 2,000 years ago as Jesus." Members went to Mexico to buy the lethal

drugs. Those in San I}iego bought a tele­scope to check on the supposed spaceship trailing the comet, but returned it a week later when they wer'e unable to locate any such object. Nevertheless, preparations pro­ceeded apace, and the day after Hale-Bopps closest approach to Earth on March 22nd, the suicides began.

Searching for Blame: HINDUISM TODAY'S

analysis of media reports suggests that bias in wording and emphasis repeatedly shifted

JULY , 1997 HINDUI SM TODAY 23

/

, .

" the blame apd responsibility as far East as spawned from corrupted truths." A word is already something wrong, something possible, and J?!ayed down or covered up the count on the 470-page book published on twisted' about Eastern beliefs. It is a subtle Christian baSIS of Applewhite's pltiloSQphy. thOO website found Jesus 331 times, Bible bias, one which obscufes the very real A few publications did nor do this. For ex- 41, but guru only 3, and no mention at all of Christian basis of Applewhite's philosophy ample, The Washington Post, citing experts Vedas, dharma or mqksha. . and tries again to shift the blame to the East. su~h as Jim Lewis (whq had actually known In analyzing Applewhite's pltilosophy, Protest can change detrimental de scrip-the group, unlike most other 8!Cperts sound- most publications would cite "Christianity" tions. In a March 28th Reuter's wire service ing forth ·on Heaven's ~te) said, 'l\pple- and "Eastern beliefs," as dual sources. Each report titled "Ma~s suicide shows no sign of white never strayed entirely from hi~ Chris- time Christianity was mentioned, it would shaking U.S. cults," a swiftly-issued correc~ tian upbrInging, and to the end his theology be carefully qualified. For example, tion replaced "Church of Scientology, a was bas~d on the Book of Revelation." Like- . Newsweek called his philosophy a "strange movement that has been accused of driving wise, the Sacramento Bee quoted University brew of twisted Christian theology." Th~n members to suicide and bankruptcy" with of California professor of sociology Dr. John they said it also contailled, "~lements of "Church of Scientology, a U.S.-based inter­R. Hall that "all kinds of' Applewhite's views Eastern religions." Not "twisted elements," national religion"-obviously a result of pro-

were "long-standing beliefs in Chriss1t:ian: i:ty:::' ~J:·u:s:t~"e~l~e:m:e:n:ts~.':' ~Th~e~im:p~li~c:a:ti:on~? ~Th~a:t :th~e:r:e~~t:es:t:s!fr:o:m~th~e::o~ffi:e:n~d~e~d~s~c~ie:n:t:ol~o!g;iS:ts~. "_"l:IIIIIIaJ~~~I~~~~~ Elsewhere, a: single, loaded _ word-guru- was sufficie~t to skew, the facts. NewsweeK re­port~d, "The most . important cause of death may have been the cult's guru." Yet, according to that magazine's own four­page analysis of Applewhite's philosophy, its single, tenuous connection with Hinduism was his "vision of time as cyc1i<;al." ti!me magazinel too, wrote, "the future-guru ... " Now, in the West, guru has come. to be .~ common word, used for media guru, stock ' mp,rket guru, software ·guru, more or less, as in ,India guru means any kind of teacher. But when it comes to religion, guru, means just one thing: Hinduism. There are no Ciitholic gurus, u.o PJiotestant gurus, no Muslim gu­rus, no Buddhist gurus. Apple­white- wh.o did call himself'Fa­ther John Do- was not labeled minister, priest, imp,m, roshi, lama, pastor or chaplain in the media, but guru, and not to mean "remover of darkness," the word's real and literal sense, but -Row as . "cause of death." The term for Hinduisms highest religious guides, souls often of immense personal attainment, had been su~oned to imply sinister legdership. .

Applewhite did not call him­self a guru, and he did not fql­low Hindu teachings. In fact, he stated, "One of the major tools ' of Lucifer i:s the New Age move­ment - Theosophy, Ascended Masters, channeli:Q.g, Eastern re­ligions, mysticism, yoga, Christ cOJ;lsciousness within, and the , '~ are God' concept. All are a. fantasy and a . trap. " He 'else­where wrote ''karma is a coun­terfeit," "reincarnation at birth is a completely inaccurate con­cept," and "mantras ... are

Suicide: Upside/Downside Flve swamis critique media, spaceships and suicide

Swami Atmarupananda (Vedanta Society of Southern California, San Diego): I am in the area where the suicides happened. In reporting on the Heaven's Gate suicide, the me­dia showed more restraint than usual: with some exceptions, they didrit rush to demonize the participants as they often

do with strange religious phe­nomena. However there was once again this strange and to­tally unfair association of the Heaven's Gate with Eastern re­ligion. Just as Jews, Christians and Muslims have voices to re­spond to unfair treatment in the media, so Hindus need the same: not a fanatical voice that imagines insult at every turn, but a reasoned and balanced voice that responds to genuine prejudicial treatment. I think the act of the Heaven's Gate members was a mistake, but I also see much good, as a Hindu

is philosophically free to do. It was, I think, a mistake to fol­low someone with a promise that had no verification outside of his own words. That's the value of a tradition, it is time­tested in the experience of many, and that's the value of scriptures, which are the recoJ"ded experiences of oth­ers. Perhaps the participants had a personality flaw which made them susceptible to the influence of one man's strange promise. But the followers of Heaven's Gate also showed re­markable -sincerity, singleness of purpose, discipline, purity, no matter how mistaken they were in their basic premise. Such good qualities never go to waste. No genuine sacrifice, even if misguided, goes to waste. To believe that people that are sincerely motivated and good-hearted but mistak­en in the obj~ct of their moti­vation will, because of that mistake, be in any sense com­pletely lost is a hellish doctrine, and contrary to the Hindu tra­dition which recognizes good­ness-and the triumphant power of goodness-wherever it is found.

Prabhushrl Swami Amar Jyotl (Founder, Desert Ashram, Ari­zona, USA): It is unfair to asso­ciate these things with Eastern

beliefs or Hinduism. It is pure­ly a Western or American phe­nomenon. Almost all of these tragedies have occurred in Christian groups. It is the re-

... '" ::; "' QL-____________________ ~

sult of failure of the modern Western culture and religion. The media portrayal of such incidents is very unfair, trying to "pass the buck" as well as place the blame "at the door of Eastern beliefs." In principle, I do not support suicide-it is not right-but in practice there are exceptions which can be acceptable and have their own use/need. [The threat to fast to death] as in the case of Mahat­ma Gandhi, whose method was nonviolent and selfless, was alright and even laudable. But the same can and has been explOited by some others for the wrong purposes, stubborn­ly, as brats would do selfishly to get their own way.

24 HINDUISM TODA.Y Jl\,LY, 1997 .\

Swami Chetanandanda (Head, Hltyananda Institute, Oregon): From the Hindu perspective, the idea that going fwm one place in a physical universe to another place in a physical uni­verse is an advancement is ridiculous. Because the soul is eternal and one, suicide is not considered such a terrible thing under certain circumstances. It is not terrible when suicide takes place under conditions by

which you are preserving your own personal integrity or con­serving limited resources used better by others (self-sacrifice). It is not terrible to sacrifice oneself for the real possibility of advancing important human­itarian ideas (as in Gandhi's

I

case). In these situations sui­cide leads to a higher reincar­nation. In other cases, such as attempting to escape difficult circumstances, suicide might be an unfortunate decision. Suicide simply would be an ex­tension of the unfortunate cir­cumstances-circumstances that one will inevitably face countless times until they are surmounted.

Swami Bua Mahar~ (lndo­American yoga-Vedanta Soci­ety, Hew York): In the wake of this' suicide, some persons have tried to compare this abhorrent act to Hindu beliefs and pmc­tices. Some cite Gandhi's will­ingness to "fast to death" or the self-im.molation of Padmani (and all women of the Jaipur palace) during the terror of the Moguls in the 16th century. There is no comparison what­soever between the Heaven's Gate deaths and the countless Hindus who have embraced death rather than compromise their honor. The Heavens Gate members have not risel). to a higher level, but have sunken to a lower one. Like many other lost sows, they were misguided

Swamis contacted by tIINDmSM TODAY

judged the Heaven's Gate group misguid-· ed, and their goal of reaching a spaceship impossible, but were sympathetic to their .sincerity and disci­pline in searching for a higher mea1'iing to life. From the Hindu point of view, suicide committed as a means of escape from un-

wanted circumstances is a poor I choice to make. The soul is left in a ·state of limbo, earthbound, aimlessly floating on the astral planey,where it remains untiJ-the time death would have occurred naturally Then it rapid­ly r~incamates into exactly the same unwant­ed karmic situation it sought to escape.

The issue for Hindus is not so much that of suicide, but the continuing media slant which attributes the Heaven's Gate incident to some cornJ.pting Eastern influence. As was found rec~ntly with an offensive music album cover [see page 47] and by the change the Scientologists finessed in their case, protests can and do work. ,.1 ,.,

and misrepresented. Whereas Padmani and the others surely rose to a higher level of being­because they died to pleserve their honor, not just to satisfy their cm;iosity. To grasp the Truth, one has to let go of one's own ego and misconceptions. One is not enlightened overnight, nor is one enlight­ened by chasing after a comet, or jumping on the bandwagon of some cult. We need to still our own mind and become humble, responsible and re­sourceful human beings. If we want to leave our mark on the

wor1d, then let it not be written in blood and tears, But in the sweet sweat of our own unno­ticed and unselfish service.

H.D. Swami Praushanand Saraswatl (Founder, Barsana Dham, Texas, USA): Intention or action of committing suicide is sin according to Hindu religion. Human life is a gift of God to receive His love and vision; it is not for destrOying willfully. The consequence is always a down­fall of the soul. Depending upon the non-Godly beliefs, de-

sires and the intention of the person, he may be reborn in a miserable state in a human form, or he may enter into low-

er species. There is a defInite rule in the universe. One can­not escape it. Whatever a per­sons' mind is before death, agi­tated, envious, worldly, non-Godly, etc., in a similar state is he reborn in this very world. Thinking of going into a spaceship by committing sui­cide is the product of a sick mind. The public must be aware of such cults and not fall for them. There are three main indications of such cults: A) They do not worship an om­nipresent personal form of God as prescribed in our main scrip­tures; B) Their way of worship is more or less secretive; it is not open to the public, and they like to remain aloof from the general society; C) They be­lieve in the supernatural power or existence which they may call as God and talk of joining with that, but they don't believe in the gracious kindness, love and the vision of Supreme God.

}o4 ULL TEXT OF SWAMI'S COMr-.!ENTS AVAlI'..­

ABLE AT: 'H1NDUlSMTODAY.KAUAI.HI .'u slRE· SOUROEsisUICIDElLEJillERSVIEWS.liTML

JULY, 1997 HI'NDUISM TODAY 25

j

26

Saraswati Devi: A Remarkable CD

Enjoy 75 min. of Sanskrit and Hindi songs composed and performed in a North Indian classical style by Aditya Ver­ma, a dynamic young artist whose musical lineage draws from the greatest teachers and performers of Indian music, Pundit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Aashish Khan.

A musical tribute to the Goddess of inspiration and beauty. Saraswati Devi celebrates classical Indian music and the ancient tradi­tion of Mantra. "This album is an auspicious beginning for me," says Aditya Verma who sees his music as the means to share Indian culture.

-Composer: Aditya Verma - Vocals: Kala Ramnath -Tabla: Narendra Verma -Narration: G.S. Birla

US$15 CD & $10 Cassette, $4 shipping and handling. Overseas, add an additional $4. Other mantra recordings available. Ask for free catalogue: Galaxy Publications & Recordings - 351 Victoria Ave. Westmount, Quebec H3Z 2Nl Canada Tel: 1-800-307-2292 or 514-484-8090 - Fax: 1-514-488-3822 E-mail: mailbox@palmistry.com www.palmistry.comlGalaxy.html

BAZAAR OF INDIA IMPORTS is proud to announce a new line of hair and body-care oils which are all natural, free from animal-based products, and never tested on animals.

Marriage Rites and Rituals of Hindus

Hindu Marriage Samskara by Dr. Prem Sahai.

This book is a guide and practical manual for under­standing, conducting and recording the marriage experience. Dr. Sahai gives step-by-step procedure in a clear and organized but not overly complicated manner. By studying this book, a couple can deeply appreciate the profound step they are taking in their lives, and consciously embrace with joy

HINI911 MARRH\6E SAlttSKARA

MARRIAGE RITES AND RlTUALS Of HINDUS

PREMSAHAI

the fullnes of this noble rite of passage. It is designed not merely to inform, but also to become a lifelong part of the family archives.

"Highly recommended. A must to go back to our ancient tra­ditions" - Hinduism Today - 150 pg. Hard bound. us$15.00

Available through Himalayan Academy Publications 107 Kaholalele Road Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA Phone: 1-800-890-1008 ext 238 - within USA Phone: 808-822-3152 ext 238 - for overseas Fax: 1-808-822-4351- 24 hours

Now Introducing:

Ayurvedic Bring-Raj Hair Oil-Traditionally used in India for hair growth and rejuvenation . • Sesame Seed Oil, Ayurvedic Eclipta alba, Sid a cordifolia, Withania somnifera, natural fragrance.

Ayurvedic Amla Hair Oil-Women in India use this cooling formula to keep their long hair healthy and beautiful. Maintains and nourishes hair . • Sesame Seed Oil , Jas­mine, Ayurvedic Emblica offidnaiis, Piper longum, linospora cordifolia, natural fragrance.

Ayurvedic Brahmi-Amla Oil-Amla conditions and nourishes your hair while Brahmi (also known as Gotu kola) strengthens and adds body to it . • Sesame Seed Oil, Sida Cordifolia, Emblica officinalis, Plumbago zeylanica, natural fragrance.

Ayurvedic Maha-Narayan Oil-With 11 ingredients, it is one of India's most ancient massage oils. Its heat-producing effects provide pain relief and is especially beneficial for elderly people, athletes or anyone suffering from sore muscles or arthri­tis . • Sesame Seed Oil, Withania somifera, Aegle marmelos, Salanum indicum, Sida cordiolia, Trianthema monogyna, Paederia foetida, Asparagus racemosus, Crocus sativus, Moschus ~oschiferus , Piper nigrum, Nardostachys jatamansi, and more.

Ayurvedic Dash-Mool Oil-A blend of 10 herbs can be applied to various parts

of the body for a complete healing massage. Good for skin con­ditions caused by Vata or Kapha imbalances . • Sesame Seed Oil, Ayurvedic dashmool, Trianthema monobyna, Vitex negundo, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Myrica nagi, natural Fragrance.

Ayurvedic Guduchi Oil-Excellent for massage to pacify Vata and Pitta conditions. Traditionally used to relieve headaches and other heat-related symptoms . • Sesame Seed Oil , Tinospo­ra cordifolia, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rubia cordifolia, Nargostachuys, Prunus cerasoides, Nelumbo nucifera.

Free information available by mail, or view our complete catalog on line . Fast and reliable service. We ship anywhere in the world.

BAZAAR OF INDIA IMPORTS . Dept . HT . 1810 University Ave . Berkeley, CA 94703-1516 USA Tel: 1-800-261-7662 or 510-549-9986 • Fax: 1-510 548-1115 • [-mail: boii@boiLcom • Web: www.boiLcom

Ettumanoor Siva Temple: The conically roofed sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by auxiliary buildings in this typical K.emla temple

HERITAGE

erala Siva Temples India's southern state is blessed by a unique tradi tion of ornate wooden temples

By VRINDAVANAM S. GOPALAKRISHNAN

WO THOUSAND AND MORE TIMBER

temples dot Kerala's verdant landscape. Devotee's devotion have created them in equal numbers to Lord Siva, Lord Vish­

nu and the Goddess. Yet somehow this is es­pecially Siva's land. Among His temples fa­mous and popular are the Mahadeva temples at Chengannur. (Alappuzha), Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy and Vaikom (Kottayam), Er­nakulam in Kochi City and Vadakkumna­than (Mahadevar) in Thrissur. Whether by daily puja or elaborate rituals and festivals, these temples are the mainstay of religious life for twenty million Keralite Hindus.

When it comes to festivals, nothing sur­passes Porram, one of India's most spectac­ular. It is held every April befOl;:e the abode of Lord Siva at Thrissur. A hundre4 thou­sand people attend the non-stop, thirty-hour celebration featuring '6ne-hundred gold-ca­parisoned elephants and concluded with fireworks costing US$150,000. On this day all the Deities of ten neighboring temples­mostly of the Goddess-visit Lord Siva, Vadakkumnathan, ("North-facing Lord"), each upon ~er or His own elephant. The

All aboard: Caparisoned tusker at Vadakkumnathan Porram f estival

high point is the hour-long divine kudamat­torn, a competition wherein mahouts upon two rows of fifteen cap,arisoned mighty tuskers face each other offering a rapid changing of fans, umbrellas and other deco­rations from atop their elephants.

But festivals are grand only while they last; for inspiration and solutions to the mundane problems of life, devotees seek Si,Ja's help .closer to home. Consider the plight of an un­named socialist-minded professor at a major college in Kochi City. Despite his best ef­forts, no suitable marriage. alliance had beer) founc;l. for his daughter, who was fast ap­proaching thirty. Ignoring the father's pro­tests about "superstitious ritual worship," her mother, also a senior college teacher, took her to the monthly Mangala Gauri Puja (photo, page 28) conducted at the Pavakulam Siva Temple in Ernakulam. The goal? A very unsocialist plea for divine intercession.

Mangala Gauri Puja offers three results: finding a husband, bearing a child and hav­ing' a long marriage. As in many of Kerala's temples, it incorporates vaidhyavidhi, ayur­vedic preparation of medicated and sancti­fied ghee given as prasadam (sanctified of­ferings). For three days preceding the puja, women observe a strict vegetarian diet, re­cite '~um Nama Sivaya" 108 times morning

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM TODAY 27

/

and evening. after lighting a lamp and avoid all wrong thoughts. At least ten ladies were recently blessed with marriage after attend­ing just three pujas, the events organizing secretary reports. And what about the social­ist professor's daughter? "In a fortnight, to our surprise, a suitable proposal came up, and both the families have accepted it," re­ports a family member. This teplple also con­ducts a monthly abheeshta bhala siddhi yag­nam (roughly, "ritual resulting in.,fulfilling of ambition"). Begun just last year, it now at­tracts so many devotees-more than ten thousand-that closed-circuit TV was set up to broadcast the ceremony to crowds gath­ered in and around the temple. '

Xerala has some 700 Siva temples, spread from Shucheendram, now in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari Clistrict, to Kasargode in the North bordering Karnataka. Most are built of WGod in the unique Kerala style. Sixty are classified as major temples and occupy a

28 HIND U ISM TOD A,Y J l\LY , 1997

Busy tempi": (clockwise from top left) Women pray for suitable husbands, children or long niarriage at Emakulam. Drummers and hom players at Por­ram festival . Yagna fire worship at Emakulam. Ayyapan devotees at Kaduthuruthy temple.

large area w~th compound walls surround­ing the chuttambalam (building constructed around the sanqtum sanctorum). The roofs are made of treated hardwood (teak and rosewood) and covered with copper sheets. Up to 100,000 deepa (oil) lamps are perma­nently mounted on the compound walls. Kerala's temples are uniquely warm, friendly and accessible. One feels the presence of the Deity immediately upon dr~wing near, un­like the experience of approachirJ;g some of the great stone temples of Tamil Nadu.

Krishnam Embranthin, a temple head priest, says, 'i\ll of these temples were rich until 80 years ago, but now 80% cannot meet day-to-day expenses." When the temples were built by the rulers of various small princely kingdoms, adequate cultivable land was alloc~t~d fer meeting expenses. But since the arrival of the British and the sub­sequent creation of secular India, 90% of the temples have lost their wealth, according to

, Jagatguru Sathyananda Saraswati. He is Ma­dadhipathi (head) of the Sree Rama Dasa Madom, near Thirvananthapuram and also chairman of Hinp.u Ikyavedi (United Hindu Forum) which seeks to{ransfer control o£ ilie teplples from the government to Hindus.

The 'temple's lands were encroached upoU by neighbors, and then legally transfe, red to the encroachers as part of 1960 government land refonfts. Thus, explained Swami Sath­yananda, many temples have no property except the acre of land upon'which they sit. All these temples are now controlled and ad.! ministered by Devaswom Boards, statutory bodies constituted by the government for fhis purpose-as is the case in ail other In­dian states. Only Hindu temples are so con­tro1led; oilier religions manage their proper­ty and affairs without government oversight. Swami Sathyananda said the temple revenue collected by the boards goes to the govern­ment treasury and is utilized for purposes

/ , other than thos,e of the Hindus"-one main reason, he believes, behind ilie poor mainte­nance of most temples. Also trade I.JniQllS formed among temple staff have resulted in ~ significant number of communists work­

. ing in the temples and a cpnsequent loss of sanctity, accorp.ing to Swami.

The Hindu Ikyavedi has .Qow created a "Kerala Devaswom Board" administrated by Hindus whjch seeks 'first t~ oversee all the private temples left in the state (about ,300 small rural sanctuaries), and then to take over ilie rest-at least 2,000-from the gov­ernment. But given ilie trend in india, where major temples such as Tirupati have. just come under complete·government man~ agement, such transfer is unlikely. Some devotees don't wait for administrative re­forms. 1'he Kaduthuruthy Sivan temple was in a neglected state but wiili the concerted efforts'of a few devotees, is being-renovated at a cost of US$35,000. "The money just pours in from the devotees. It is the grace of Lord Siva," says Mr. Kaimal, president of ilie renovation committee.

It is espeCially auspicious to-visit ilie three Siva-'sanctmiries of Ettumanoor, Kaduthu­ruthy and Vaikom all in one day. Ettuma­ Procession: Kathakali dancers and drummers leading the temple elephants noor, in particular~ is f~ous for the miraculous cure of epileptic fits and stomach ailments. "Lerd Siva saved my Vfe," says Pi.Ira­mattom Mani. He suf.fered fits after contracting cerebral malar­ia in 1973. "Even after undergo­

,ing ayurvedic aria allopathic treatl{lents for years, there was no cure, and the frequenoy of fits increased. I even considered sui~ cide. Then I took refuge in the Ettumanoor temple in 1})78 and in a couple of weeks I $ cured. Ever since then I never had any attack of this disease. My family and I are fully indebted to the lo­tus feet ~f Lord Siva," said Mani.

The princes of erstwhile Tra­vancore and Cochin states built Siva, Vishnu and ~akti templ~s throughout their kipgdoms. With proper maintenance, these

, wooden structures last easily 300 years. The challenge now for the I

Hinc'fu. community is to continue to invigorate and care for ilie temples, and - erect new ones. Preferably iliese will be in the traditIonal wood styl", .although concrete (oheap and fireproof) is I

gaining ground. The.true miracle is that even after centuries of Christian and Musli:m incursions, and 'decades of c6mmunist rule, ' Hinduism in Kerala has not only remained strong but is actually' in resurgence. _

The Lord's Wooden Wonders ,

Princess Aswathi ThirunalGouri on Keralas Temples

ERALA TEMPLES

evolved from the resi­dential form, this

" metamorphosis from house to temple being unique tt) Kerala and not seen any­where else. These temples, hence, were brought wiiliin human,scale and endowed with vi­sual modesty. The con­centric development of Kerala temples with the Sreekovil (sanc­tum) in the middle of the central open C01>l.rt­YaI'd surrounded by a

are a complementary contrast to the lush rainbow back­ground nature has provided for this enchanting land. Its conical roof with copper or clay tiles crowning the central sanctum has a ~enerous slope,

beams and painted along the walls in a runnipg canvas of multiple scenes.

In keeping witl(the funda­mental simplicity 'of concept of ilie Malayalee mind, the outer entrance had padipi

puras, simple single or double-storied stylized, tiled wood­~n structures instead

, row of built -up spaces is identical to the tradi­tional nalukettu, the Malayalee-home. In­stead of the vertical ex- Intricate: Interior ofVadakkumnathan temple

I

• of th~ornate, impos­ing rajagopurams (entry towers) fa­vored in the other , South 'Indian states. The most important auxiliary buildings, especially since the 15th century, are the beautifully worked koothambalam, halls for dance and music. , pansion favored else­

where ill India, these temples, as,do the homes, favor axial or circumferential expansion.

'f-he temple's simplicity of style and subdued coloFin~

for Kerala is the delight of the rain god. "'

Ornate figures, .themes and patterns are intricately carved in ilie wooden ceilings and"

Her Royal Highness is a ­member of the royal family of Travancore--one of the great builders and benefactors of Kerala's Hindu temples.

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM T O DAY 29

. 1

I

'1 I

I

A basic blueprint to guide the passing of dharma to the next generation

E THEY IN INDIA OR TRANSPORTED TQ OTHER CULTURES

of the wotld, today\; Hindu youth are routinely tempted by ways and tested by other religions. 'Ji'hey often face

a crisis of fait1\. when confronted with such typical questions as, "What does it mean to be a Hindu? Why do Hindus wor­ship cows? What do you believe?" They toG frequently dis­

cover they do not know the answers, and they turn t@ their parents, bewildered. Consequently, loving fIindu parents worldwide have called for a common religious code to teach their sons and daughters. They have asked, "What is the minimum I must do to dispatch my duty to my religion ana my children?" The World Hindu Federation of Nepal discussed this need at its international conference in Bali in late 1992. In response, the publisheF of H1NDUISM TODAY, a member of the WHF advisory board, told the Bali Mahasangha that he would work with his research staff to prepare the minimal duties for parents to pass on the Sanatana Dharma to the next generation. The fifteen

30 H~NDurSM TODAY JULY , 1 997

slokas on the following three pages are the result. On the right are the Five Parenting Guidelines, developed with

the understanding tB.at children are constantly learning, and that their learning must be guided carefully. Parents provide a good ex­ample to their children, being certain that, they are taught the Hin­du religious heritage and €ulture along with: ]lious values, ethics, strength of character and discipline. Their religious education is al­most always in the hands of the mother and father. Children need and seek guidance, and only the parents ean truly provide it.

On pages 32 and 33, the five precepts constitute the essential Hindu beliefs, and the five practices are the corresponding obser­vances performed in expression of these beliefs. The modern Hin­du child raised up with these precepts and praetices will soon be­come a fully functioning hUman being, one who is tolerant, devotional, fair, fearless, obedient, secure, happy, selfless, detached and traditiona1.

Five Parenting Guidelines

Paneha Kutumba Sadhana q~q:;e~ ~

"-!N>

1. Good Conduct-Dharmachara ~q+Jt 1'( Loving fathers and mothers, knowing they are the greatest influence in a child's life; behave the way their dear children should when aduits. They never anger or argue before young ones. Father in a dhoti, mother in a sari at home, all sing to God, Gods and guru.

2. Home Worship-Dharma Svagriha ~q~ .. ~ Loving fathers and mothers establish a separate shrine room in the home for God, Gods and guardian devas of the family. Ideally it should be large enough for all the dear children. It is a sacred place for scriptural study, a refuge from the karmic storms of life.

3. Talking about Religion-Dharma Sambhashana ~q~Cl:tI~~ Loving fathers and mothers speak Vedic precepts while driving, eating and playing. This helps dear children understand experiences in right perspective. Parents know many worldly voices are blaring, and their dharmic voice must be stronger.

4. Continuing Self.-Study-Dharma Svadhyaya ~ Loving fathers and mothers keep informed by studying the. Vedas, Agamas and sacred literature, listening to swamis and panditas. Youth face a world they will one day own, thus parents prepare their dear children to guide their own future progeny.

5. Joining a Fellowship-Dharma Sanga ~4~"1 Loving fatheF~ and mothers cho0se a preceptoF, a traditional satguru, and line.age to follow. They support their lineage with all their heart, energy and service. He in turn provides them clear guidance for a successful life, material and religious.

JUL Y, 1997 HINDUISM TODAY 31

Five Precepts. Paneha Shraddha • q%{~ THESE FIVE SLOKAS OONSTITUTE THE MINIMAL HINDU

BELIEFS. BY TEACHING THESE TO SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PARENTS WORLDWIDE PASS ON THE SANATANA DHARMA

TO THEIR CHILDREN.

1. God is All in all-Sarva Brahma ~ ~ The dear children are taught of one Supreme Being, all­pervasive, transcendent, creator, preserver, destroyer, mani­festing·in various forms, worshiped in all religions by many names, the immortal Self in all. They learn to be tolerant, knowing the souls divinity and the unity ot all mankind.

2. Holy Temples-Mandira qPe:'( The dear children are taught that God, other divine beings and highly evolved souls exist in unseen worlds. They learn to be devoted, knowing that temple worship, fITe-ceremonies, sacraments and devotionals open channels for loving blessings, help and guidance from these beings.

3. Cosmic Justice-Karma ~ The dear children are taught of karma, the divine law of cause and effect by which every thought, word and deed justly returns to them in this or a future life. They learn to be compassionate, knowing that each experience, good or bad, is the self-created reward of prior expressions of free will.

4. Uberation-Samsara-Moksha ~ft 14: -qrar The dear children are taught that souls experience righteous­ness, wealth and pleasure in many births, while maturing spiritually. They learn to be fearless, knowing that all souls, without exception, will ultimately attain Self Realization, liberation from rebirth and union with God.

5. Veda, Guru: Scripture, Preceptor ~ ~ The dear children are taught that God revealed the Vedas and Agamas, which contain the eternal truths. They learn to be obedient, following the precepts of these sacred scriptures and awakened satgurus, whose guidance is absolutely essential for spiritual progress and enlightenment.

Five Practices. Paneha Kriya • q%i bf;'l11 THESE FI'VE SLOKAS OUTLINE THE MINIMAL HINDU

PRACTICES THAT PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO NURTURE FUTURE CITIZENS WHO ARE STRONG,

SECURE, RESPONSIBLE, 'FOr.iERANT AND T ADITIONAL. . .

1. Worship-Upasana \3qlft~1 The dear children are taught daily wOFship in the family shrine room-rituals, disoiplines, chants, yogas and religious study. They learn to be secure through devotion in home and temple, wearing traditional dress, bringing forth lov~ of the Divine and preparing the mind for serene meditation.

2. Holy Days-Utsava \3ct'iq The dear children are taught to participate in Hindu festivals and holy days in the home and temple. They learn to be happy through sweet oommunion with God at such aus­pieious celebFations. Utsava includes fastiing and atten:ding the temple on Monday or Friday and other holy days.

3. Virtuous Living-Dharma ~ The dear children are taught to live a life of duty aI'ld gQod conduct. They learn to be selfless by thinking of others first, being Fespectful of pareRts, elders and swamis, following divine law, especially ahimsa, mental, emotional and physical noninjury to all beings. Thus they resolve karmas.

4. Pilgrim age-Tirthayatra (ft~l{ 1 S11 The dear children are taught the value of pilgrimage and are taken at least once a year for darshana of holy pers~ms, temples and places, near or far. They learn to be detached by setting aside wor~dly affairs and making God, Gods and gurus life's singular focus during these journeys.

5. Rites of Passage-Samskara ~W;I '( The crear children are taught to observe the many sacraments which mark and sandify their passages through life. They learn to be traditional by celebrating the rites of birth, name-giving, head-shaving, first feeding, ear-piercing, first learning, coming of age, marriage and death.

By LILADHARJ. BHARADIA, KENYA

ITH GARLANDS IN HAND, HINDUS

and non-Hindus, VI,Ps and well­wishers gathered on January 10,

1997 at Nairobi's airport tb welcome Prof. Rajendra Singh, 75, head of India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The beloved leader had come to inaugurate celebrations marking 50 years of service by the RSS in Kenya (known locally as the "Bharatiya Swayamsevak Sangh," or BSS).

Seven thousand Hindus from over 32 in­stitutions from all across Kenya joined to­gether in the "Virat Hindu Sangam" to hon­or Prof. Singh. Processions, bagpipers and marching bands were all part of the spec-

34 HINDUISM TOD A.Y Jl\LY , 1997

tacular afternoon. Unlike in India where the RSS is constantly defending itself against ac­cusations from so-called secular Hindus of being too radical, in Kenya the organization has unquestionably been a stabQizing and unifying force.

During his stay, Shri Rajju, as he is affec­tionately known, undertook a whirlwind tour of BSS projects in Kenya. At the Deen Dayal Bhavan he presented fifteen am­putees with "Jaipur feet"-artificiallegs in­vented in Jaipur, India, and gave wheel chairs to the handicapped and sewing ma­chines to Individuals, all part of a program to promote self-employment. In keeping with RSS tradition, all gifts were a result of

Happy 50th: Prof Singh lights a lamp to commemorate the Jubilee

I

donations from the local Hindu pop­ulation. He handed over a check for Shs. 82,260 (us$l,443), collected by the Sthanakvasi Jain Sangh, to the headmast'er of Jamhuri High School to meet the tuitions of deserving students. DUring a meeting with the President of Kenya, H. E. Daniel Arap Moi, he gave Shs. 300,000 (US$5,263) for the president's Moi Street Children Charitable Founda­tion on behalLof the Hindu Council of Kenya.

Singh, an ex-professor of nuclear physics at Allahabad University, spoke to a receptive audience of I

mostly African students at Nairobi University, saying," "The modern age has seen a conflict between sci­ence and religion. Einstein says 'Sci­ence without spirituality is blind and religion without science is lame.' In our ancient literature science is called aVidya and spiritual knowl­edge is called vidya. The necessity of using both has been beautifully expressed in one of the slokas of Isopanishad. 'With the help of sci­ence conquer death, and with the help of spirituality attain bliss.' This is what is needed today.:'

At every stop and turn, Shri Rajju was _ bombarded with questions about the RSS, Hinduism and life in general, especially by young people. Asked how to ,inspire youth to be­come future leaders, he replied, "We consider youth the most impor­tant part of our organization. We make them think, 'This country and society have given us I so much. What have we done in return?' "

Several youth told Shri Rajju they felt the RSS-style shakha (one-hour training llleetings) with their para­military-style - organization were outdated-they could not attract the

youth in Kenya where there is a tremendo~ influence of Western culture. Shri R~jju ad­vised, "In India it is also the case. Material­ism is nilin"g. The West is economically well off. But it is riddled with many problems, such as alcoholism, drugs and violence. Our people are aping the West and forgetting' that ours is the world's oldest civilization. It is not a question of attraction but of under­standing Hindu thought and the p}lrpose of life, Shakha activities are not old-fashioned. Sometimes they are just not appreciated and given due credit. A society becomes great by molding its youth, bringing unity among all sections of the society and inculcating a sense of patriotism and discipline among its

.\

Team spirit: Members practice drills at a training session, called Shakha (above). B S S donates wheelchairs to handicapped yn.utns .. in..the.pr.e.s.ence..oj.Pr.ai- .Singh ............. .

/

members. Rendering service to the society is not,only helpful to the society but also el­evating to the doer."

Some youths complaip.ed the khaki shorts, part of the uniform of the BSS, are a source of ridicule, and youths are repelled from shakha because of this dress. Shri Rajju replied, "We have that problem in Bharat, too. But the outfits are more comfortable for

. games and other ?-ctivities. And when we march in uniform it makes a great impact and a sense of pride. If you are proud of it, it will be all right."

One evening Prof. Singh spoke to Sangh members gathered from allover Kenya: "There are 30,000 Hindus in Nairobi, in about 6,000 families. We'have in our contact about 4,000 swayamsevaks (religious work­ers), probably from 400 families. There

•. should not be any Hindu family which had not come into our contact." Prof. Singh'is in­sistent that the entire family participate in Sangh activities. He remarked, "Sometimes I hear people remarking that the children of very good swayamsevaks do no.t come to shakha. This should not happen."

Some/ ladies in Kenya complained their husbands were neglecting their families and spending too much time in daily sha~ha, camps and other activities. Shri Rajju re­sponded, "The wives, sisters and mothers in our families must be given an understanding of our work. They should have more associ­ation with our work and evince enthusiasm it it. Swayamsevaks stand in front of the Bhagwa Dhwaj (the RSS flag) and take a vow to make the sarnaj strong. A number of mothers and sisters are prese:nt here. When swayamsevaks from their families spend

. time in Sangh work, they should understand that their menfolk do not waste their time on idle pursuits."

Concern was expressed by several that the Sangh's wisK to build a temple at Shri Rama Janmabhoomi is drawing criticism in Kenya from many 'who argue that amongst

thousands of temples, what good will one more do. Prof. Singh replied, "There aFe three temples sacred and most revered by Hindus among thousands of temples demol­ished by Muslim rulers. Hindus want to re­build them. The mosques at these sites are not holy for Muslims like Mecca, Medina or Jerusale;p.. Now lakhs of Hindu pilgrims are visiting these places. They return with a hurt feeling and ill-will towards Muslims. If these 'three places are restored to the charge of Hindus and g~and temples are built there, Hindus will forget the historical wrongs done to them, and there will-be goodwill be­tween Hindus and Muslims. So this is not a question of one more temple, but of restor­ing goodwill. Muslims have to hand over these places to Hindus to win their confi­

. dence, with whom they have to live." When asked about the misconceptions

and misunderstandings among the African people toward Asians in Kenya, Shr( -Rajju said, "The service activities undertaken by the BSS-HCK such as medical camps, help­ing the' disabled and helping educational in­stitutions and I?oor students create goodwill among Africans. This will bridge the gap

between Asians and Africans." In Mombasa, Prof. Singh visited the

Swaminarayan temple and the famous Jain Mandir on Langoni Road. At the Patel Samaj he spoke about the sad state of corruption in India's political life. "This is a ~ad and shameful matter. Why have we come to this stage? For· us it is very simple. We have not paid attention to morality in life, to dharma ane! to propagation of moral values."

The RSS was founded jn India in 1925 by Dr. K.B. Hedgewar as a voluntary organiza­tion of Hindus, initially to aid India's inde­pendence movement. Today its aims are pri­marily to uplift Hindus worldwide by inculcating in its members-two million worldwide-a spirit of..service and self-sac­rifice. It is active in religious education, so­cial s'ervice and nota.bly effective at disaster relief in time of earthquakes, cyclones and other calamities.

Prior to his departure to South Africa (and later Mauritius), Prof. Singh told mem­bers of the Sangh: "The Ken{'a BSS has com­pleted 50 years. At the same time, we have not completed our chosen mission. This feel­ing prompts us to hasten the work." ...,./

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM TODAY 35

/

AS·TROLOGY

Stars of Suicide Born just days apart, Rev. Jim Jones and Marshall Applewhite led their followers to identical fates '

B}" CHAKRAPANI ULLAL ,

Los ANGELES

HE EXTINCTION OF THE

Heaven's Gate group at the urging of Marshall Apple­white was riot the fIrst time

our society was shocked by a mass suicide [see article, .page 22]. At least in America, minds immediately recalled the tragedy of .the People's Temple in Guyana, impelled by the infamous Rev. Jim Jones. With unCqmly accura­cy, Vedic astrology could have foretold of the delusional behav­ior and dangerous magnetic ap­peal of these prophets of death.

rity in relation to the world. Mars and Sat­urn give malefIc results when they have no benefIc association or aspects, which they di~not in these cases.

Looking to the charts, Applewhite has pisces rising (a water sign) with. malefIc Rahu (node of the Moon) occupying the ris­ing sign in the constellation of malefIc Mer­cury, aspected by malefIc Saturn. Mars was. placed in the 5th house, Cancer (a water

sign), in a debilitated condition. ,Mars also occupied the constel­lation of malefIc Mercury, hav­ing a mutual aspect by a malef­ic Saturn. Moon and Mars he~ exohange signs (trade places) ther-eby supporting each other's quali1:ies, and increasing the malefIc impact of these planets.

The Moon, even though seen to be benefIcial to Pisces rising, became malefIc beduse it was only hOl!rs away from the New Moon, thus becoming so weak as to have lost: all benefIc influ­ence. The Moon is also conjunct Mercury arid Venus, both malef­ic and marakas (killers) for Pisces rising. The only positive planet placement is of Jupiter, ruler of his rising sign, placed in the powerful angle of the 4th house. This inspired him to­wards education and a desire to teach . .

"In looking at the birth charts of Applewhite SUld Jones (born three ~ys apart), we fmd chill­ing similarities in the planetary dispositions, signs and' the influ­ence of constellations. Jones' chart indicates a more powerful personality due to a strong rising sign, many planets in abgle-hous­es and an exalted Venus in an angle-house. Rut they both sfurred a common mental orien­tation-a rich fantasy life and an orbit of creative imagination which tended to overwhelm their grasp of reality. This confu­sion of fantasy and reality was created by a predominance of

Presaged by the planets: Charismatic Rev. Jim Jones in 1977

At the time of the Heaven's Gate suicide, the Saturn major dasha and Sun sub dasha were active, accentuatiJ;lg the inimi­cal incifcations of Applewhite's Saturn and Sun. FUrthermore, the suicide took place exactly when the Sun, Saturn and malefIc Mercury were conjunct in Applewhite's rlsing 'sign, Pisces, with the Moon hours

plan~ts in watery signs, planets in Mercurial constellations, and afflictions to Mercury and Moon. ' .

This flood o£ water,}, influences also ef­fected a certain amount of charisma, warmth and persuasiveness. Compounding this was a powerful Jupiter (more so in the case of Jim Jones) which resulted in their re­markable leadership qualities. Jupiter is con­sidered 'the grandest teacher. And here we fInd individuals whose essential role in cre­ating their cults was thaf of the ultimate convincing mentor who had ,the power to impose fantastic paran6id beliefs with utter conviction.

Another common trait relates to their 5th house, which $overns the intellect, discrim­ination and pu.roa punya, merits and demer­its of the last life. Both Jones and Applewhite had their 5th heuse i~uenced by Mars.

36 HINDUISM TODAY JULY , 1997

Mar~)tself was placed in a debilitated con­dition in a watery sign in the constellation of ME(rcury. The combination of Mercury, which is ephemeral and flighty, and Moon, which is wate.ry and emotional, resulted in a passionate, volatile and unstable mind.

In Vedic astrology, the Moon t considered the most important indication of one's mind

. and emotions. Thus, we can gain important insight iIl.to the nature of these individuals by looking to their Moon. Here, the Moon's own watery nature and the added Mercurial influences created a temperament of pas­sion and instability. FUrthermore, the ad­verse relationship between the Moon and Mercury resulted in psychosis and paranoia, wh~h was an obvious aspect of their de­mentia. Magnifying this, the mutual aspect of Mars and Saturn in inimical constella­tions.in both charts created fear and insecu-

away from eclipse. Thus, all the malefIc , forces conjOined on the rising sign, which

.-culminated in activating the best of tll.e worst of his characte~

Jones had a strong 'and fIery Sagittarius rising, ruled by Jupiter, which resulted in a certain amount of idealism and passion. His Pisces 4th house was occupied by Venus, Rahu and Moon, all in the constellation of malefIc Mercury. ~e 5th house ruler was Mars, placed in the 8th 'house, house of vio: lent death. So we: see a powerfully persua­sive personality with a convergence of malefIc forces affecting the mind and asso­ciated with death. At the time of the People's Temple suicide, Jones was passing through a major cycle of the Moon, sub-cycle of Rahu.

Thus the inherent tend~ncies of both men c.ould have been anticipated. Would it have made a difference had we known? .,.;

Nutrition, Sexual Energy and Healing by Dr. Vinod Verma

A practical guide for using Ayurvedic concepts to nour­ish the body, refine ones sexuality, and balance the body and mind for healing.

• Dr. Verma shows how nutrition, the bodys life force and healing are inextricably linked-a facet of Ayurveda largely ignored in the many books now available on Ayurvedic nutrition.

• Verma discusses food products that are commonly available to the Westerner and how these food products can be used to enhance vital energies and solve sexual problems.

• She shows us how to manage our mental, spiritual, and physical energies for optimum wellness and healing.

Illustrated with 40 black & white drawings. Paper, US$14.95.

We encourage you to order this book from your local bookseller. If you are unable to do so, please contact us: Samuel Weiser, Inc. • Tel: 800-423-7087 or 207-363-4393 Fax: 207-363-5799 (USA)

Sacred Malus

Sept. 25, 26, and 27, 1998 Miami, Florida USA

"The Integration of Yoga and Science in the 21st Century" You will learn and practice the simple and easy aspects of Yoga according to your needs, nature and personality. Practical and theoretical ses­sions with yoga teachers and masters, medical doctors, scientists and Yoga therapists from Europe, USA and India. • Practical workshops on yoga techniques for elevation of human consciousness and awakening of the primal energy. • Medical, clinical research on Yoga techniques. • Improving and awakening mental and psychic faculties. • Theory and study of improving behavior and personality. • Ways to minimize stress in contemporary lifestyles. • Practical application of yoga techniques for increased con­

centration and relaxation in learning situations.

You can attend, volunteer to help, or sponsor activities. Call or write: Swami Brahmavidyananda Saraswati (pictured) Institute of Holistic Yoga, Satyananda Ashram 3800 SW 89th Ave, Miami, FL 33165-5428 USA. Tel: 305-225-3876 • Fax: 305-229-0400

that help Rromote harmony ~ prosperity. Call today to receive your

~t olfeenadewelers FREE Book on the history and efficacy of the sacred Rudraksha.

Phone: (773) 973-0505 Fax: (773) 973-0561

Classified ads are US$25 for 20 words, $1/word for each additional word, payable in advance • Hinduism Today, 107 Kaholalele Rd, Kapaa, Hawaii, 96746-9304 USA. Tel: 800-850-1008 or 808-823-9620 • Fax: 808-822-4351, E-mail: ads@hinduismtoday.kauai.hi.us

Appeals

Swami Balagangadharanatha's Blind School in Karnataka, India, needs your help (160 pupils). USA volunteers have already sent 4,000 braille books, 6,000 audio tapes, various braille items, clothing and more. Need US$5,OOO for equipment to produce needed braille lessons in Hinduism. Resources are already strained; please help. (We've also helped blind schools in other countries). Intn'l agreements make shipments to blind institutions free, so your gift goes a long way. D. Shanmugan. Tel: 1-619-466-9497. Fax: 619-565-1547. E-mail: 0005ll2751@mcimail.com.

Ayurvedic/Health

Panchakarma retreat. Medically supervised one-week complete detoxification program with Scott Gerson, MD, recognized authority. Authentic and economical. Tel: 212-505-8971 (USA). DrGerson@worldnet.att.net.

Recipe of the Sages. Classical ayurvedic remedies prepared strictly, following ancient texts (Ashtanga Hydriya, Sahasrayoga, etc.). Just arrived from India: massage oils, head oils, ashwangadadi, lehyam, agasthyarasayanam, chavanaprash, dasamoolaristhan, draksharish­tam, and more. Call/write for catalog & price list. Tel: 800-455-0770. Tri-health Inc., PO Box 340, Anahola, HI 96703-0340 USA.

Meat sUbstitutes: Textured Vegetable Protein and Instant Seitan. Fat-free, quick-cooking. Free catalog: 800-695-2241. PO Box 180-HT, Summertown, TN 38483-0180.

Ayurvedic tours in India. Panchakarma, massage, herb gardens, lectures, secrets. Also arrange Sanskrit-learning retreats. Beginners and advanced. Health Tours. Tel: 1-505-323-7233 (USA).

Free 32-page booklet on ayurvedic gems. Help overcome your negative karma. Personalized planetary gem analysis, US$20. Specializing in affordable Navaratnas (nine-gem upper arm bangles). VA.J., ll06 2nd St #101, Encinitas, CA 92024-5008 USA. Tel: 619-753-6071. Fax: 619-753-3355.

Computer

The best software for Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali with diacritical marks. The Hindi Word Processor for Windows from Krishna Software. US$109.00 + US$10.00 shipping. MasterC·ard/M.O. Tel: 416-315-3186. PO Box 86065, Oakville, ON L6H 5V6, Canada. Email: dsharma@worldchat.com. Distributorship available.

Quality Indian clipart software for Mac or PC. KalashKala: more than 100 color and b&w images for all Indian occasions. Reviewed by Hinduism Today- Feb. 97. us $39.99 plus $4 shippingl$8 international shipping. Contact: Prium Graphics, llO Standish Road, Needham, MA 02192-ll18 USA. Tel: 617-444-4103. E-mail: prium@aol.com

Devotional Supplies

Ganges clayfired statues for puja, meditation. Sixty beautiful handpainted images including hard-to-find Narasimha, Kalki, Jagannatha, Chaitanya, Shankaracharya, Dhanvantari. Color catalog, US$2. JBL, Box 163 H, Crozet, VA 22932-0163 USA.

Quality Incense from India. Golden Rose. Neel Kamal. Pure Sandal­wood cones, and more. Tel: 970-949-6329 USA Email: vel@vail.net

Education

Hindu University of America summer intensive courses, Florida campus. Hinduism, Sankhya Yoga, Raja Yoga, Sanskrit, meditation, music, Hindu psychology, etc. Hindu University of America, 8610 Vesta Terrace, Orlando, FL 32825-7934 USA. Tel/fax: 407-277-5959. E-mail: 103655.2733@compuserve.com

Excellent correspondence course on Vedic Astrology by Jyotish Krishnan, recipient of several awards including the recent award of Jyotish Vachaspathi by leas, India. His book entitled Ashtaka Varga Made Simple for the Western Astrologer is available for sale by the author. Tel/fax: 972-783-1242 or write PO Box 852892, Richardson TX 75085-2892 USA.

Free Products and Services

Free educational flow charts on all aspects of Hinduism. Write to Viswanath. Am I a Hindu? [ISBN 1-879904-06-3] Box 56697, New Or­leans, LA 70156-6697 USA.

Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj meditation blessings. Peace, bliss and Self-Realization at­tained through meditation. Included are pho­to of Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj , holy ash and meditation instructions. No charge. Send name, address and phone number to Dhyana Center of Roanoke, 833 Woods End Lane, SW, Roanoke, VA 24014-1423 USA

For inspiration, calI808-822-SIVAI7482 day or night for a recorded sermonette by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. A total of sixty different upadeshes are changed daily, Each one is from 10 to 18 minutes-covering topics such chakras, handling karma, fear and other states of externalized consciousness, affirma­tions, putting teachings into practice, color meditations, and many more.

Canada Immigration Complete preparation of application package for US$l,OOO only. Leading team of immigration lawyers and consultants. Contact Surya Consulting, Inc. Tel: 709-747-4709 • Fax: 800-330-3670.

Jewelry

Affordable jyotish gems/jewelry. Vedic astrological prescriptions filled. Paramahansa Yogananda bangles. Meditation beads. Free information. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Order by mail from King Enterprises, 1305 N. H StlA-289-T, Lompoc, CA 93436-3335 USA. CalI1-805-693-09ll (business hours).

Music and Art

Heart-melting Deity miniatUre paintings from India at website: http://www.lakshmi. com. Catalog: Lakshmi International, 4ll Madison St, Boonton, NJ 07005-2051 USA.

Devotional sculptUre: Classic stone-cast murthies of Hindu deities for your home or temple. Ganesh, Shiva, Laxmi, Sarasvati, Durga. Ht: 2 ft. (61 cm) or 4-5 ft. (1.2-1.5 m ). Com­missions available. Catalog, tel: 800-608-8632 , 515-472-8ll5. Vedic Sculpture Studio, 607 W Broadway #144, Fairfield, IA 52556-3200 USA.

Exquisite Vedic paintings done to order at very reasonable prices. Art book, Windows to the Spiritual World , containing over 108 color prints (14 double-page) 8.5 x II inches, hard­bound, dust jacket: US$45. Contact for free flyer: Pushkar, PO Box 1094, Alachua, FL 32615 USA. Tel: 904-462-0144. Fax: 904-462-7893.

East Indian instruments and gift items. Giant selection of instruments: harmoniums, tabla, daggas, kirtan instruments, audio/video tapes. Also incense, spiritual books, etc. For a beau­tiful catalog, send US$l to Encinitas Imports, PO Box 230419-H, Encinitas, CA 92023-0419 USA. Tel: 619-436-9589.

Products/Stores

Jay Store: Houston's oldest Indian grocery store. Over 5,000 items- pooja articles and much more. UPS daily. lOAM-8PM every day. Tel: 713-783-0032 (USA).

Purity Farms organic traditional ghee. 100% pure, from cows raised completely.free of hor­mones, chemicals or pesticides. A delight to cook with! Wholesale/retail. Call 303-647-2368

Evolution'· vegetarian health food for dogs, cats and ferrets. No slaughter-house waste as found in all meat-based pet foods. All­vegetarian; contains more essential and extra nutrients than any other brand. Five to ten extra healthy years for your companion guaranteed. Brochures and discounts available. 287 E 6th St #270, St. Paul, MN 55101-1926 USA. Tel: 612-228-0632, 612-227-2414.

Professional Services

Worldwide construction in masonry and con­crete. Will travel anywhere. 25 years experi­ence. Ref available. For free estimates: Sankara and Sons, 6136D Kala Kea, Kapaa, HI 96746-8642 USA. Tel/fax: 1-808-823-6698. Mobile tel: 808-639-2809. E-mail: Sankara@aloha.net

Publications

Amar Chitra Katha for children. Illustrated colorful tales on Hindu mythology. Discounts to schools and distributors. ACK Agency, 2653 Grande Vista Ave, Oakland, CA 94601-1317 USA. Tel/fax: 510-532-2505. Web: http://www.ackagency.com

Sri Aurobindo books: Complete works of Sri Aurobindo, the Mother, Shri Madhav Pandit. Additional titles on Yoga, Philosophy, Ayurve­da and Alternate Health. Exclusive distributors for Samata Books Classical Spiritual Texts. Free Catalog: Lotus Light, Box 325HT, Twin Lakes, WI 53181-0325 USA.

Behold the invisible power like a meteor from heaven. For the first time, you can explore The Secrets of Aum and Gayatri, a book by Pandit Tripathi that reveals the mystical principles be­hind the greatest of mantras. A must for Hin­du and non-Hindu homes. 184 pp. Hardcover. Published USA. US$19.98 p.paid. Panditji, 7206 Burnway Dr. , Orlando FL 32819-5051 USA.

The Major Distributor of books from India.

A sampling from our catalog: • Ganesha: The Auspicious ... The Beginning. Shakunthala Jagannathan. pap. US$17.00 • Hinduism: An Introduction. Shakunthala Jagannathan. Pap. $12.95 • Introduction to the Puranas. Pushpendra Shastri. $12.00 • Iswara Darshan. Sri Swami Tapovan Maharaj. pap. $8.95 • Gita Rahasya. B.G. Tilak. $25.00 • Meditation. Narayan Dutt Shrimali. $25.00

Palani Pan chang 1997. Trivedi's American Panchang available in English or Gujarati. US$9 (+ US$2 slh). In 3 versions for NY, Chica­go, San Francisco times. 510-490-1533. De­vendra Trivedi, 4831 Piper St, Fremont, CA 94538-2525 USA.

AUromere: Sri Aurobindo books, classical spir­itual texts, ayurveda books, children's books from India, ayurvedic products, incense, and much more. Free catalog: 1-800-735-4691 (USA).

For latest Indian magazines/newspapers­subscriptions available. Also available: Hindi, Gujarati magazines and much more. Call Emkay Advertising. Tel: 281-933-4005. Fax: 281-498-6286 (USA).

Vacation/Retreat

Beautiful rooms by the ocean. Ayurvedic meals. One hour north of San Francisco. Brighton Beach HAUS. Tel: 415-868-9778.

Videos

Rall1ana Maharshi Video. Just released! Nar­rated by Ram Dass, Abide As the Self presents the essential teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Includes comprehensive live footage, rare photographs, and interviews with H.W.L. Poonja, Douglas Harding, Allan Anderson and others. Inner Directions, PO Box 231486H, Encinitas, CA 92023-1486 USA.

Tel: 800 545-9ll8 or 619-471-5ll6. Fax: 619-471-0337. E-mail: mail@innerdir.tom

A Video Pilgrimage 60 rarely-filmed sites. Lofty, inspiring. US$39.95. M. Cian­ciara, 2000 N. Ivar Ave #7 Hollywood, CA 90068-3960

Acclaimed spiritual videos: Sadhana­India's holy men, see the Kumbha Mela. 60 min. US$33.95 pstpd (ck). Pal and Catalog available. Penny Price Media. 355C Lake Pleasant Dr. Staatsburg, NY 12580 USA. Tel: 914-876-0239, fax 914-876-02.60.

Yoga

Yoga in Daily Life Yoga classes, guest lecturers, satsang. Yoga related items, books, audio and video tapes and more. 1310 Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, VA 22301 USA Tel: 703-299-8946 • Fax: 703-299-9051

Yoga at home video series, alllevels,wlRamesh Yogi, Indian guru, 25 years experience. US$25, incl. postage. Yoga Center, PO Box 36-D-67, Los Angeles, CA 90036 USA Tel: 213-876-9970. http://www.indolink.comigloballyogaCntr:html

Sri Chinmoy Ayurvedic Institute

The Sri Chinmoy Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences offers authentic training in the ancient traditions of Ayurvedic Medicine. Comprehensive programs taught in all areas: nutrition, pulse diagnoses, Ayurvedic skin care, massage, Panch Karma (cleansing and rejuvenation), and herbal medicine. Taught by Vrrender Sodhi, MD. (Ayurved), N.D. and N.D. staff Now enrolling evening and weekend seminars.

Sri Chinmoy Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences 2115112th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004-2946 USA. Tel: 1-425-453-8022 • Fax: 1-425-451-2670 e-mail: Ayurveda@Ayush.com. http/www.ayush.com

Learn at Home by Mail • What Becomes of the Soul After Death. Sivananda. pap. $8.00

Self study courses: • Prana Pranaya'fl1A! Prana Vidya. Swami Niranjananda Saraswati. pap. $12.95 • Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Light on Hatha Yoga. Swami Muktibodhananda Saraswati. pap. $14.95 • Third Eye & Kundalini. B.S. GoeL $22.00 • Chanakya's Neeti Scripture. R.K. Sharma. pap. $14.95 Visa/MC accepted.

Nataraj Books

7073 Brookfield Plaza • Springfield, VA 22150-2915 USA Tel: 1-703-455-4996 • Fax: 1-703-912-9052 email: nataraj@mail.erols.com • Please ask for our free catalog

• Hindi in 2 months • Sanskrit in 6 months • Speak Hindi in 2 weeks Other Vedic University Publications: • How to befriend God • Win the battle of life • Happy Home • Valmiki Ramayana • Unknown facts revealed

Call or send us an e-mail for a free catalog: Vedic University of America, 10509 Caminito Basswood San Diego, CA 92131-1704 USA· Tel: 1-619-578-7790 Fax: 1-619-578-8293 • E-mail: VedicU@cris.com

Do you love Nepal?

Help to preserve one of

its most venerable treasures

in a rapidly changing world.

Your gifts to the Nepal Kumari

Goddess Education Fund

will provide a stipend for the

education and adjustment of

future Kumaris as they re-enter

the world after their time of

sacred service to the Gods.

1-800-890-1008 Ext. 235

1-808-822-3152 Ext. 235

http://www. HinduismToday. kauai. hi. us/ashram/

HHE.html

ENDOWMENTS

HINDU HERITAGE ENDOWMENT

107 KAHOLALELE ROAD

KAPAA. HI 96746-9304 USA

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF HINDUISM

PARENTING

To Beat or Not to Beat? How spanking children leads to adult problems

E CALLS IT THE CON­

spiracy of silence: the universal and chronic use of corporal punish­

ment in America. Prof. Mur­ray A. Straus, founder and co-director of the Family Re­search Lab at the University of New Hamshire, says it is one of America's best-kept se­crets. Straus spent two decades researching the ex­tent of spanking, hitting and slapping and the effects such punishment has on children when they grow older. The re­sults of studying over nine­thousand families were published in a 1994 sociology textbook, Beating the Devil Out of Them, a scholarly, sta­tistical expose authored by Straus ,with contributions by Denise A. Donnelly and over 50 other scholars. Hands off: Prof Straus lambastes the lash

The book derives its name frorp the Christian idea of original sin and being possessed by the devil. Now many parents believe in a modern version- the stubborn or willful child. Straus calls it "vir­tuous violence" because few books or agen­cies on child rearing advise against hitting a child. He states that this reflects an al­most overwhelming approval of corporal punishment by the American public.

Few parents realize the damage they may be causing thei; children, who learn that love and violence go hand in h~d. Employing graphs and bar charts throughout the "' book, Straus presents statistics ~ which indicate that corporal ~ punishment leads to delin- ~ quency as a child and crime ~ as an adult. Problems such as ~ depression, suicide, drinking, ~ I!!!!!!!!II_". wife ' or husband beating, masochistic sex and lowered earnings are shown to be likely results. Straus feels that by putting an end to corporal punishment, many other kinds of violence in the world can. be prevented. '

What is most alarming is the near-total re­sistance Straus receives to the idea of com­plete abstinence from hitting. To the

American public, even the thought of no physical discipline is ludicrous. Will there ever be a time when parents will not feel the necessity to spank? Straus says yes, but it will happen slowly. Like smoking, which

was condoned a genera­tion ago and condemned today, hitting will eventu­ally emerge as an anti-so­cial act with serious costs to public health.

In 1979, Sweden became the first country to make spanking illegal, followed by Norway, Finland, Den­mark and Austria. This was one of the frrst indica­tions that the idea of rais­ing children without hitting was taking hold outside academic life. • .

Straus is now involved in an experiment in which ,one small city is engaging

in a community-wide project to become a "no-hitter community." The program is de­signed to reach parents directly and is based on the idea that parents need support from their relatives, neighbors and friends to change hurtful attitudes. S

TO ORDER WRITE TO: LEXINGTON BOOKS

866 THIRD AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 10022, USA

Ayurvedic Massage . Harish Johari • ISBN 0-89281-489-6 • $19 .95 illustrated pb

Trained in India 's ancient healing art, author Harish Johari introduces Ayurvedic massage, a gentle bodywork therapy that promotes well-being on both the physical and mental levels.

J2tyurvedic ~assage

The Healing Cuisine India's Art of Ayurvedic Cooking

Harish Johari • ISBN 0-89281-382-2 • $16.95 pb

Harish Johari is an inspired cook who shares his culinary wisdom in this treasury of vegetarian cooking based upon ancient Ayurvedic principles of healing.

The Heart of Yoga Developing a Personal Practice T.K.V Desikachar • 8 x 10,272 pages, 96 illustrations· ISBN 0-89281-533-7 • $19.95 pb

"Highly recommended. Its great gift lies not simply in the depth of Desikachar's learning, but in the compassion, gentleness, practicality, and down-to-earth spirit that permeate the book"

Yoga JournaJ

Awakening Kundalini for Health, Energy, and Consciousness Chris Kilham • ISBN 0-89281-602-3 • $10.95 one 60-minute audiocassette

This audiocassette leads you through easy-to-follow breathing exercises, kundalini meditation techniques, and yogic practices to tap into the kundalini energy that is the wellspring of Vitality.

Available at bookstores, or order from Inner Trad itions, Dept. H, P.O. Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767

1-800-246-8648 Please add $3.00 for the first book, $1 each add itional, for shipping Visit our Web Site at http://www.goto it. com

The Fifth 0 ctober 1 International No!el Mar 1-1iI;7, 1997 Svmposium San Dieg On Hotel

-:::--:::--:::::-:=_""""::-....... _"""": __ ~ ____ -=J;....-.::... __________ -=~;ys;~~o*' Cqlifornia

A S T R 0 L 0 G Y FEATURED SPEAKERS FROM INDIA

Vedic Astrology was developed by the ancient sages of India over 5,000 years ago. Called Jyotlsha, the Science of Light. It Is renowned for its spiritual depth and accuracy In predicting future events.

This Symposium will introduce Vedic Astrology

* * * *

to the general public and provide a forum for:

The education of the general public in the principles of Vedic Astrology

The free eXChange and discussion of Ideas and techniques in Vedic Astrology

The presentation of modern research findings validating ancient astrological principles

The promotion of professional standards in the training and practice of Vedic Astrology

. BErlN BEHARI, author, lecturer, from Deihl, India, IS acknowleded as one of the foremost Vedic astrologers.

NIRANJ~N BABU, Vedic scholar from Bangalore, India, is an expert FACULTY In the field of Va stu Shastra (similar to Feng Shui).

Bangalore Sureshwara Dennis Flaherty R.G. Krishnan Keven Barrett Andrew Foss Drew Lawrence Marc Boney Dr. David Frawley William Levacy Kenneth Bowser Hank Freidman Ann Muldoon Kathleen Burt Dennis M. Harness, rhO Alex Nagel James Butler Edith Hathaway T.R. Raghunath, rhO Rob Calef Richard Houck George Roman Dr. K.S. Charak Nallnl Kanta Das Dr. Dlnesh Sharma Christina Collins Linda Johnsen rrlnce Hlrlndra Singh Hart de Fouw James Kelleher Atreya SmIth Ronnie Gale Dreyer Sat Sin Kaur Khalsa Dr. Robert Svoboda Brendan Feeley Robert Koch Chakrapanl Ullal

.-------------------------------------------------------o Please register me for attendance at the International SymposIum on Vedic Astrology, October 2-7, 1997, at the Del Mar Hilton Hotel,

--,

Substantial Savings for early registration! Del Mar, CA. Endosed Is payment of $ __ for __ Registration fee(s) o Send more Information on the Symposium and hotel accommodations * Optional pre-conference Introductory classes and post-conference

Intensives will also be offered.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

RegIstration fees for main symposIum: $195 by June 30, 1997 $245 after June 30, 1997 ($25 Discount for ACVA Members)

Pleas< mall this reglstraHon form with payment by check, money order or credit card to the Institute address 1----. below. Registrations paid by credit card may also be faxed or phoned In.

INSTITUTE. OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY r.o. BOX 2t49· SEDONA, AZ 86339

rhone (520) 282-6595 • fAX (520) 282-6097

Name ______________________________________ _

Address __________________________________ _

City, State, Zip _____________________________ _

Telephone (day/night) ____________________________ _

I VISA/Mel ----------------_________ Exp.Date----1 __ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ,

: ,41 ~f'~~~~~~~"~~~=-,=~" ~~~~~=~r~

Ayurvedic Herbal Products Combining 5,000 years of wisdom with state-of-the-art technology.

• All products grown naturally in their pristine Himalayan habitat. • Free of pesticides,

, insecticides, heavy metals and chemical fertilizers. • Standardized to ensure con­sistent high quality & potency.

Products include: • AmlaPlex • AP Mag • Bio-Gymnema • Carditone • Tylophora Plus • Macuna Plus • Pippli • Therapeutic Herbal Oils • Rentone • Trifal • Neem Plus • Specially formulated for women:

Eleg Fern, Young Fern, Shitawari • For liver support: Livit-1, Livit-2 • Herbal anti-arthritic treatments:

Ashwagandha, Boswellia Plus • Cholesterol control: Guggalip

Ayush Herbs, Inc. 2115112th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004-2946 USA. Tel: 800-925-1371 or 425-637-1400 • Fax: 425-451-2670 E-mail: Ayurveda@Ayush.com. http/www.ayush.com

Custom Tours to India Kali Travel is uniquely qualified to organize custom-made tours to satis­fy the needs of any type of group, organization or individual and to structure an itinerary appropriate to their specific needs and interests.

For more information, contact: Kali Travel Ltd. 169-12 Hillside Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432-4498 USA Tel: 1-718-29l-9292

God,God,God A rare opportunity offered to my brothers and sisters allover the world.

"What right has a man to say he has a soul if he does not feel it, or that there is a God if he does not see Him?" Anyone with a burning desire to truly and honestly see, feel, hear and talk to God, contact:

Dr. Aruna • 183 Jalan Besar, Bukit Tengah 154000 Bukit Mertajam Penang, West Malaysia

SrVANANDA ASHRAM

~~.a//I~ 7emfde 673 Eighth Avenue - Val Morin Quebec - Canada JOT 2RO 1 -8 1 9 -32 2 - 32 2 6 1 -8 1 9 -322 - 1 3 79 Fax: 1 -8 1 9 -3_22 - 5 8 76

. i tL:, ' \ ~

Swami Vishnu­devananda 1927-199)

Sunday JunelOth-29th Mariamman Temple 1st Anniversary Celebrations The first anniversary of the Mariamman installation will be celebrated with special ten-day pujas, each sponsored by a different family. The tenth day will conclude the series of pujas with a grand pongala festival.

SundaYI June 29th PONGALA Our 6th annual !bngala celebra­tions will commence with a special Homa for Devi from 6-9am, after which fire from the Homa pit will be taken to start the cooking fires. A traditional Tamil festival especially for women for women, for the well of all.

July 1st-9th Chandika Homa

I

Vars Com ratete SubramanyalAyyappa Temple's third anniversary with the ; conclusion of speciaI9-da" Chandika Homa in the momjf1g followed by the evening Sa,~§w:a Kalashabhishekam and SaRasia Sankabhishekam.

Thanks and Appreciation We wish to thank all the devotees who helped to make last year's program so successful. We especially thank those who worked so hard to install the Mariamman and Navagraha statues in their new shrines. Special thanks to those who built the beautiful 18 foot tall Chariot for the Kaavadi festival.

Some of the wonderful projects planned for next Summer include the completion of an outdoor kitchen and dining hall. These will be used for feasts and celebrations. We plan to construct 18 steps for Lord Ayyappa , as at Sabarimalai, and continue the steps to the bottom of the hill.

Ofcour;e, the Temple requires funds for the completion of all these works. All donations in time and/or money are very much appreciated. Checks and money order; should be drawn in favourof 'Sivananda Ashram Temple: Contact the Temple manager if you desire a receipt fortax deduction. Be sure to send your full postal address and phone number along with your donation.

An Ancient God's Visible Grace It began on September 21,1995, when an image of Ganesa in a New Delhi temple be­gan sipping milk. Then, this modern miracle took on global dimensions as, over sever­al months, it was witnessed by millions, in temples, shrines and homes worldwide . How timely that, only days before, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami had finished his illustrated resource book, Loving Ganesa-800 pages of insights into this great God! Loving Ganesa is at once simple, deep and practical, and teaches ever so many ways that Ganesa's grace can be attained through sincere devotion, song, prayer and medita­tion, to bring greater harmony, contentment and spirituality into our daily life.

Imagine yourself sitting crosslegged under a shady tree, the hum of insects and a gentle breeze coloring the background as you absorb the words of an important teacher. Only a handful of religious texts have been able to convey such an overwhelm­ing presence; this is one.-Napra Review

It is an important text for English-speaking readers and should remain as an all­you-wanted-to-know-but-were afraid-to-ask book about Ganesa, the divine and much-loved remover of obstacles.-Publishers Weekly

A majestic book of love, peace and happiness depicting Ganesa as a friend and pro­tector, generously accessible to young and old, expressed in intriguing mysticism for the world's oldest living religion.-Book Reader

800 pages • $19.95 paper. lavishly illustrated. ISBN 0-945497 -64-4

HIMALAYAN ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS

107 Kaholalele Rd Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA

Tel: 1-800-890-1008,ex.238 1-808-822-3152,ex.238

Fax: 1-808-822-4351 e-mail: letters@HinduismToday.kauai.hi.us

http//www.HinduismToday.kauai.hi.us/ashram/

Exceptional Answers to Eternal Questions Every spiritually-inclined human being will be enriched by the path re-vealed in this 1,008-page volume. India's vision of the Divine is depicted in all of its infinte variety here: meditative, devotional, philosophical, scriptural and yogic, answering the vital questions: What are life's ultimate goals? How can I achieve them? How do Hindus view family, sex, sin, worship, death and nonviolence? What are the foremost schools of Hindu thought, and what do they teach? Dancing with Siva is the masterful work of Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a traditional satguru immersed, for half a century, in an ongoing global Hindu renaissance.

English-speaking Hindus, yoga enthusiasts, and anyone interested in Sanskrit lit­erature and culture will be overjoyed by this remarkable refere'nce work of Hindu belief and culture .. .. Quite simply-the best English overview of Hinduism avail­able today.-Napra Review

The swami concisely answers 155 key questions, ranging from "What is the ulti­mate goal of earthly life?" to "How are Hindu marriages arranged?" ... a 40-page timeline, a 200-page lexicon of Hindu terms, a comparative guide to major religious traditions, and a primer for teaching religious principles to chil­dren .. . enriched by extensive scriptural quotations and reproductions of Rajput art.- Yoga Journal

1,008 p .• $19.95 paper. lavishly illustrated. ISBN 0-945497-47-4 Shipping: to USA, add 10%, to other countries, add 20%

These two titles are also available in:. Australia: Yoga in Daily Life Tel: 02 9518 7788, Fax: 02 95187799. Canada: Int' Yoga in Daily Life: 604 524 2942 Fax: 604 524 1395. Europe: Om Vishwa Guru Deep Hindu Mandir PH/Fax 3611143504 email: ervin@mail.matav.hu • India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Delhi: PH: 11-777-1668 Fax:11-751-2745 • Bangalore: Jiva Rajasankara Fax: 91-80-839-7119 email: jiva@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in. Malaysia: Hinduism Today / Sanatana Dharma Publi­cations: PH: 03 331 9242. Mauritius: Saiva Siddhanta Church PH: 412-7682 Fax: 412-7177. New Zealand: India Emporium Tel: 09 3773733 Fax: 09 3733300 • Russia: (Russian Language edition of Dancing with Siva) Centre of Tantra Sangha Tel: 70 95 465 0339 Fax: 70 95 972 0230 email: tantra@ online.ru • Singapore: Hinduism Today / Sanatana Dharma Publications: Tel: 957 66 012. South Africa: Wizard's Warehouse Tel : 021 461 9719 Fax: 021 45 1417 • Trinidad: Aswinee & Narendra Persad Tel: 809 662 8741 Fax: 809 662 3351 • UK: Hinduism Today Tel: 0171 9379163 Fax: 0171 460 1819 E-mail : easan1@aol.com • Also available from India Ink on the Internet at: www.pacific-basin.com/indiainklindiaink.html

HEALING

Ayurvedic Principles For Pubescence Hatha yoga, exercise and a pitta-reducIng diet: prerequisites for boys and girls during puber~y

"" BY DEVANANDA TANDAVAN, M . D.

E HAVE EMPHASIZED

that exercise is very important for boys and

girls going throl!gh pu­berty. Exercise is one of the main activities that stimulate the body to work normally and stay in good health, and is of tWQ types. Hatha yoga, an organized form of asanas, or physical pos­tures, will maintain healthy functioping of the muscles through stretch­ing and contracting. Minimal asanas to perform daily are called Surya Namaskar. Done slowly,' they exercise every muscle in the body and aid in proper respiration.

The second form of exercise is called aerobics. Aerobics will raise the heart and respiratory rates, resulting in an increase in metabolism. Some of the best aerobic exer­cises are walking, jogging, swimming, run­ning, calisthenics and team sports. -The . heart rate should be raised to 60% to 80% of its maximum (270 minus age) and main- , tained for about 15 to 30 minutes. After exercising there should be a cooling-off period to allow the heart and respiratory rate~ to return to normal. During puberty, team' sports are beneficial for boys, helping them get through this period without ex­cessive wet dreams anel will help them to harness sexual fantasy and avoid carnal temptations.

Acne can be a problem, due to a high pitta, or a fire humor condition. There are no good creams or other applications that can help, except for very advanced cases in which an antibiotic cream can be used. Keeping the skin very. cleq.n is important, . and light exposure to sunlight' is acceptable if a screening agent is applied to prevent burning. Still, most creams are nostrums.

A pitta pacifying diet is necessary to overcome the excessive pitta influence. Acceptable f~ds are too numerous to men­tion but a list of foods to avoid is given

44 a JNDUISM TODAY JULY, 1997

below as a guide. The emphasis­during the years of puberty should be on bitter, swe~t and astringent tasting foods. The time of the year, the freshness and variety of foods and how they are prepared may alter the effects of the diet. While preparing food, mothers should . also keep in mind the health requirements of.other :glembers

of the family. This may require making separate dishes for the various doshas, or individual bodily constitutions, and the different age groups within the home. Few fats or oils should be used for cooking, and should not be reuseCl.. Use heat-producing spices and vegetables very sparingly.

Pitta-aggravating vegetables to avoid include beets, raw carrots, chilies, daikon, eggplant, olives, onions, peanuts, pumpkins, radishes, spaghetti squash, spinach and, tomatoes. All fruits should be ripe and sweet. Avoid apricots, bananas, berries, cranberries, green grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime, papaya, peaches, rhubarb and strawberries. Grains to avoid are brown rice, buckwheat, corn, millet, dry oats, rye and guinoa. Stay completely away from lentils, brown sugar, molasses and old hon­ey~ Other foods to steer clear of, especially if acne is present, are alcohol, chocolate, coffee, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, pick-les, salt, tea and vinegar.' -I

Parents can help guide their growing -. sons and daughters into a happy, healthy,

successfYl young adult life by keeping themselves informed and talking regularly and ffankJ.y with their youngsters about the natural, wonderful process called puberty.

DR. TANDAVAN, 77, retired nuclea( physi­cian and hospital staff president, lives in Chi'cago, where he specializes in alternative healiJ1.g arts. Visit his home page at the HINDUISM TODAY ·Website.

EVOLUTIONS AWARDED: Dr. Purushottamlal Bhargava by Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma, for his eminence in Sanskrit scholarship and pro­ficiency in Shastras. Formerly Professor of Sanskrit at Ra­jasthan University, India, and Professor of Religion at Mc­Master University, Canada, Dr. Bhar­gava is the author of numerous research papers and books on Indology. He is currently engaged in producing new editions of his celebrated books Founders of India's Civilization and India in the Vedic Age.

CONVERTED: From Christianity to Hin­duism. Mr. P Paul Edwin, a scientist and researcher, became a Hindu in a simple ceremony by the Arya Samaj in New Delhi. A Tamil, his forefathers be­came Christian under the British Raj. On another occasion, Philip Charles, a British man who reins as the World Karate Champion, embraced Hinduism and now uses the name Chinmaya.

REVIVED: From a near-death experi­ence, Shrimati Capideo, 75, was said to be clinically dead for 17 seconds by doctors following her collapse in a Siva temple on the island of Trinidad. A yo­gini for the last 36 years, Ma said that while doctors tried to restore her pulse she saw Lord Siva come towards her with His arms open. "I went into the Lords arms as a child longing for her parent's love." She continues to visit the temple every day.

DISCOVERED: At least on paper, a new sub-atomic particle by nine-year-old Tathagat Avtar Thlsi of New Delhi. The boy-genius plans to test his theory of the particle's existence, dubbed the "Thlitron," in a particle accelerator. His mother says she first realized her son was special when he corrected her in­come tax ac­counts at age three. At age six he calculated the value of pi to seven deci­mal places. His latest ambition is to win a Nobel Prize. Math prodigy

Hindu Students Council Celebrates

Freedom Festival 1997! Freedom Festi~al 1997 Committee Invites you to Participate in and Actively

Support the Activities to Commemorate the Momentous Golden Jubilee of India's Independence. Freedom Festival '97 is a series ofl year-long activities to be held throughout the USA and Canada.

Conferences: Regional coh~rences will proviCte great opportunities for all of us learn more about the achievements, trials and tribulations of tne people of India and define the future role of Indian people the world over. Guest speakers and upcoming conferences are shown below (these are subject to change).

Region

Southeast Midwest New E",glar:lEl.J

/ Wasli . DC Can a a Southwest West Coast

Venue

Georgia Tech, Atlanta Univ. of Michigan MIT at Cambridge, MA TBD Univ. of Toronto Houston TBD

Date / Contact

May 30-June 1 Dinesh Harursampath dinesh@cad.gatech.edu 404-885-9412 ·Sep.19-21 Jwalant Lakhia jlakhia@umich.edu 810-926-15-1'3 Sep.26-28 Chandran Bandhopadhya cDall'do@ynx.ne ,.ef u 617-227-3023 Oct. 3-5 Vi n'Od~Nair-.m nair@welchli J k.W~410-666-0755 Oct. 17-19 Paresh Trive i'"Paresh Trivedi@utoronto.ca 905-607-2897 Jan. 2-4 '98 Sandeep Gupta san deep @ ~ndUrfct.org 281-499-9624 TBD Ajay Shah ajay@mercury.aichcm.a izona.ed 619-484-4564

TBD: To B8 Decided r Seminars: Day-long seminars on more than 50 campuses throughout North Americ~wl ~1 explore Indian tl istory and ~e. Prese I tations by scholars and students, discussions, exhibits and shows.; 0 drganize a semirtJr in your region, call Jwafant Lakhia Jlkhia@umich.edu 810-926-1513 Study Centers: Re€l t1la s udy centers are being held thro ghout Nbrt America to learn about subjects ranging from Indian history to ( hilosophy to current society. To start a study center, c II Rashmi Gupta, rgupta@neucom.edu 330-869-2197.

India Darshan: rt exhibitions and multimedia presentations on Indian ,~y, culture, arts of India.

Golbal Freedo Prayer Meet: On August 15, 1997, midnight (India.?time) , prayer meets will be held throughout the world to salute Mother India and party for the freedom, peac,..?and prosperity of India and the world. Request your city/town to obsenve this event. For details call Arvind Sant,(asant@erols.com 718-979-6144.

.-.-/ Essay & Art Competition: Focus on Indian histor , Hindu culture & heritage. $4,000 in awards for different age groups. Contact Priy,a Pandit, rpandit@luc.edu 708-386-7826.

For more information or to send your suggestions or to sponsor these programs, please contact our main office at: Freedom Festival 1997, P.O. Box 9185, Boston, MA 02114. Phone: 617-742-7193 Fax: 444-8725

E-mail: ff97@freeindia.org web:www.freeindia.org

This great evenf\wlll not be successful without your support. Please donate your time, money or other resources for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

FF97 programs are cosponsored\ by: Friends of India Society International (FISI), Hindu Swyamsevak Sangh (HSS), USA & Canada, India Heritage and Research Foundation (IHRF), India Quality Group (IQG) India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF),

National Federation of India American Associations (NFIA), the official agent appointed by Indian embassy. Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America and may other organizations.

Dha7~; Graphics CD For the Mac. Reg. $249. Special offer for HT readers, only $199

~500+imalesrenec~nl India's rich traditions and spiritual culture

Patterns & Borders

Nothing lends a sense of Indian-ness to a design better than traditional borders and patterns.

There are hundreds to choose from on this creative CD. Fall in love with the visual magic of Bharat and enhance your personal or institutional image.

Macintosh format only. No PC version available.

Here it is-the Hindu art CD of the decade. Trek into the heart of mystic India with this spectacular collection of imagery drawn from the treasurehouse of Hindu spiri­tuality. This CD contains a wealth of clip art, Aums, pat­terns, textures, sacred sym­bols, borders, finished graphics and some rare Raj­put scans. Great graphics for an ashram bulletin, a yoga book, Web page or multimedia presentation.

Aums & Illustrations

Clip~rt

M any images are or­ganized in

themes, like nature, Deities, people, borders, symbols, etc. Use the Fetch browser to get a quick overview, then double clic on a page for a detailed preview.

. SACRILEGE

Hindu Protest Fo·rces, So~r tQ Re~ake CD New anti-Hindu defamation coalition gets results

EROSMITH'S LATEST CD, "NINE LIVES"

went straight to the top of the pop charts whenjt was released March 18th. It also' went straight to number

one on the hit-list of the American Hindu Anti-Defamation CoalitiOI1 (AHADC) re­cently ~nvened by the Vishwa Hindu Pari­shad of America. The reason? The CD's sac­rilegious cover. What at first glance looks like the classic image of Lord Krishna danc­ing upon and subduing the multi-headed serpent Kaliya has been digitally trans­formed into a creature with a cat's head and

· a women's torS0. According to -Luke Burland, . spokesperson for Aerosmith, the band was

unaware of the image's source or significance. But not for long. The AHADC launched

an all-out offensive against the CD, mostly throllgh a World Wide Web site (hindunet. orglanti_defamation/sony/). 'Within weeks it was visited by 10,000 people, 1,400 of whom signed on-line protests to Sony and its sub­sidiary Columbia (producer and distributor

· of the album), Aerl:lsmith and several major chaiFl, stores. These companies were bom­barded with e-mail, faxes and phone calls, conveying everything from riglfteous indig­nation and threats of boycotts to promises to interfere with Sony's la,rge India business and even violent retaliation.

Sony and Aerosmith got the message. In an April 16 call, Joseph Salvo, senior lawyer for Sony, told Chetan P Tanna, attorney for AHAD~, that an apology would be issued and the offensive cover withdrawn. On April 18, Aerosmith, through their New York public relations firm, Kathryn Schenker As­sociates, issued an 'apology and stated their "deep concern and dismay at the notion of having offended any religious group. At no

· point did the band intend to haqn or show disrespect to the Hindu community, nor. did they intend to denigrate any religio~ image. The image will be replaced in all future runs with a completely different image."

And so 'it might have ended, except the is­sue had nines live, too. First, contrary to Sony'sJawyers first representation (that they ' will a"ttempt to recall CDs on the market al­ready), Aerosmith was only promising to re­make the cover for any new ones. And with four million already produced, that could amounUo none, pointed out AHADC attor­ney Tanna. In the first week, the CD sold

140,000 copies. At that rate, it wquld take more than 30 weeks to sell out. This is not ac­ceptable, Tanna ·said. "Why should we have to continue to walk into Tower Records and see a two by three foot display of this cover?" The AHADC considers the matter far from settled, and intends to pursue the recall of

the already-issued CDs and will continue to protest to Sony, Columbia and individual stores. HINDUISM TODAY has added its com­plaints about the obscene depiction of Lord Ganesha which appears on the CD itself, and the denigfating lyrics Of one song which say, "I wanna be·a Hare Krishna, I'm gonna tattoo a dot on my forehead, ha ha ha ha

ha."-both unnoticed by the AHADC. Then there is Aerosmith's unexpected ex­

planation about the image's s1:>urce. The orig­inal picture was taken without permission from a book by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, and published by the Bhaktive­danta Book Trust International (BBTI). Ac­cording to Aerosmith, "Upon being informed 0f the origin of this image, the band went through all of the pIOper channels to obtain licensing approvals for its use from this Trust. Having obtained this permission, Aerosmith believed that no further issues existed."

The BBTI is the official repositor,l and copyright holder of all'Srila Prabhlllpada's wr..ttings, as well as paintings done by many . ISKCON artists. According to their state­ment of April 28 to HINDUISM TODAY, they

did not learn of the use of the im­age until "after the cover was pro­duced" (but before it went on sale). Determining that they could not risk losing a copyright in­fringement lawsuit against giant Sony (wherein the loser might have to pay''aIl the winner's legal fees-perhaps more than a million dollars), they opted for a financial settlement. "Our rationale was: If we couldn't ~top them, at least we should make it hurt," said BBTI president Madhava Puri das. Terms of the settlement are a se­cret, but Tanna was informed it was "well in excess of a hundred thou~and dollars." The BBTI says the money will go toward "the building of the, new temple and city project in Mayapur, India, and to fight future infringements." But Tanna queries>" Do we really want to use this tainted money to build a temple?' is the ~uestion Hindus really want to ask. '

On April 26, in response to HINDUISM TODAY'S request for a statement Annuttama Dasa, Di­rector 0f Communications of ISKCON of North America, is­sued a rare rebuke to their affili­ated organization. "The BJ3TI made a big mistake to not just fight this all the way. Frankly, no one in ISKCON was consulted about the decision. to negotiate with Sony. Many members are ex­tremely angry about the album

and incensed to know the BBTI decided not to fight. Sadly, the BBTI did not consult Sri­la Pralilhupada's followers and thus failed to upholCl that heritage." .-

ADDRESSES: DON JENNER, PRESIDENT, COLUMBl'A REcoRDS, 550 MADISON AVENUE , NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10022-3211

USA. BHArI'IVEDANATA Boo:.: TRUST, FARBORET 101, S-242 97 HOBBY, SWEDEN. AEROSMTI'H BAND, KSA, 1776 BROAD­

WAY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 , USA. ARAnC, P.O. Box 44'505, HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77244- 1505, USA.

JULY , 1997 HINDUISM TODAY 41

/

Surrounding Iraivan Temple is an

extraordinary botanical garden

paradise, providing an area of

contemplative, natural beauty.

Pilgrims enjoy groves of plumeria,

konra;' hibiscus, heliconia, native

Hawaiian plant species and more.

At the entrance to the 5 I-acre

sanctuary is a forest of healing

rudraksha trees. Send US$ 12 to

purchase a single-bead necklace of

a sacred rudraksha, receive as our

gift another bead to plant and sup­

port the Iraivan Temple project.

1-808-639-8886 http://www.HinduismToday.

Kauai.hi.us/ashram/lraivan.html

RUDRAKSHA FOREST

SAN MARGA IRAJVAN TEMPLE

107 KAHOlAlELE ROAD

KAPAA. HI 96746-9304 USA

A TEMPLE BUILT TO LAST 1.000 YEARS

Solution in hand: Kumar Balani and his puzzling computer produce one-of-a-kind pesers I

ENTERTAINMENT

Dharma's PUlzzle Pioneer -'

There are no cross words in his brain-teasers

F YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SOLVE the special crossword puzzle on the right, consider yourself fortunate that . you didn't have to create it. This first-of­

its-kind puzzle contains 68 words out of 80 that pe1tain to Hinduism and India. That is 85%. And, as brain-teaser builder Kumar Balani affirmed, it was not alt fun and games, even with the help of his intrepid computer. "It was an arduous task, involving a time-consuming multi-stage process. But the result is well worth it. I learned that if one perseveres, ~uccess is inevitable."

Admit it. We take the dilemmas of puzzle­making for granted. But aft~r hearing Bal,ani detail how he solved this puzzle's creation co­nundrum, you just might take your puzzles more seriously. Balani explained, "First, I manually keyed in over 1,200. words from the lexicon of Dancing with Siva, J;tinduism's Contemporary Catechism. But 1,200 words resulted in only about eight words from the lexicon getting into the puzzle. So I manually inputted another 1,400 words from the index of the book, plus anpther 500 words from a list I had previously developed on Hinduism. Armed with 3,100 words, I was finally able to create a 15 x 15 square puzzle containing 32 words relating to Hindui'sm-forty-percent of the total 80 words. That was only after going through some 20 trial puzzles!"

Instead of.being deterred, the word-wield­ing Balani became determined-even ob­sessed. "I was still not satisfied, so I worked the puzzle over and over until I came up with · a puzzle containing 68 ';"ords that were either from the book, related to Hinduism and India or words on which clues could be written to relate them to Hindu concepts. I am pleased with the result, and I must than~ HINDUISM TODAY for the request for a puzzle with near­ly all Hindu words-it was a real challenge!"

Balani was born in Poona, spent most of ,his early years ill India and migrated to the Philippines in 1960 . . -!Ie started dabbling w,ith puzzle creation in 1965, during his first year of high school at San Sebastian Colle~, Manila. He used class newsletters ~d the school newspaper, The Sebastinian (of which he was editor), as his outlets. Now, Balani's occupation is his export business, Asia Connection Ltd., in East Brunswick, New Jersey. His family and business keep' him fully occupied, but he still publishes a plethora of puzzles. "My primary concern is that the readers enjoy my puzzles," Balani stresses. But he also strives not to make the puz zles too easy, being aware that the av.er­age Indian immigrant is well-edncated.

Try it. But don't strain your brain! .,..; PUZZLEMANI A INC., 6 STERLING COURT, EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY 08816 USA. E-MAIL: KBALANI@ASIACONNEC­TION.COM. WEBSITE: WWW.PUZZLE-MAN IA.COM

ACROSS: 1 Latin religious song: Vies ... . . . 5 A guFUS disciple: a shishya (synonym) 10 Pseudo yegetaFians eat this seafood ' 14 tn 15 across, Hindus . . . . .. small strips

of wood . 15 Fire pit in Hindu puja ceremonies 16 Hindu sacred order, cosmic law, truth 17 The soul under Siva's foot of obscuring

grace, as seen in icons 20 Hindu denomiNation of Devi wor­

shigers 21 An. : ... . goal, e.g., no more rebirths 22 At Karnavedha Samskara, a baby's ears

...... pierced . / 23 Hindu hierarchical social system based

on occupations 26 Most subtle of the five elements 29 Tamil for bindu, source of creation 30 100 ergs of energy per gram of material 33 Indiana city near Lake Michigan 34 Hindu sacred text or a Hindu teaching 35 Hindu priests ... ... first ::(fter pujas, in

olden days . 36 B0dy of listeners, (abbt. ) 37 Partner of vigor and vitality 38 Some Hindus remember G.od only

when they .. '.. .. ' 39 Chinese propounder of an 'ism' incom­

patible with Hinduism 40 Unethical acts can ... . . . one's karma

12 13

41 Domesticated South American llama 43 Temerity, impudence, perhaps audacity 44 An org. of Indian-Americans 45 Six ...... s from Siva's eye created Lord

Ifurtikkeya 46 In Sanskrit, the instinctive mind 47 Belief in Satya Sai Baba's teachings 48 Humanitarians ..... . , "Serve your fel-

lowman." 49 God's purpose is seen in nature, said

this Greek 52 . .... . lekhana sadhana: writing an affir­

matGm 1,008 times 56 South Indian Saivite poet who lived in

the 1500s 60 Suffix after "one:" unity of human soul

with God 61 A . .. ... soul has gone through dnly a

few rebirths 62 World-famous Sitarist: .... . . Shankar 63 India. ::: ... , a well-known

Delhi attraction ·64 One Of Squmba's generals (Mahabharata) 65 Reincarnation is a new .. .... to some

Westerners

DOWN: 1 NBA Coach Hank , .. ... and family 2 " .. ... . . tattva," an assudha tattva, repre-

senting form 3 Formerly Sultanabad, in western Iran

4 "Standing inside oneself:" English for samadhi

5 Brahmacharis may sometimes have to • • ;..> • • away sensuous thoughts

6 Jains say: " . ... .. no creature on earth." 7 ,Mrs. Peron of Argentina 8 In the ..... . of luxury; materially secure 9 Sanskrit prefix meaning "after," "near

to" or "under" Early civilization in India was far from · .... . say historians Akbar's rute hastened the ...... of the Moghul Empire

12 Introductory word in Vedas meaning "now then" ..-

13 !ill early God of the Semitic people 18 Vaishnava Rajput princess (with ''bai'') , 19 \Agamas detail tllis aspect of Hindu life 23 Reciprocal of sectant (trig.) ·24 Sher Shah's 1540 ...... drove away Hu-

mayun 25 These are found on crystals 26 An ~normous collection of Sanskrit

scriptures 27 The garden island, homeof HINDUISM

TODAY 28 ...... Darsana, a December-January

festival in India 29 Argentina's grassy plains 30 Indian physicist who won a Nobel Prize 31 First of seven hellish regions of con-

sciousness (hips) 32 Hindi film actors Bobby and Sunny 34 Skilled sculptor qualified to work in

Siva temples 37 Subconscious inclination (driving force)

in Sanskrit 42 Hindu· ascetics may vow to keep an

· ..... aloft for years 43 " . .. ... Mantra:" us~d in puja .and in

chanting 46 Sanskrit prefix meaning "great" 47 The manipura chakra signifies the

.. .... of sight 48 A fellowship of Hindu devotees . 49 " ...... of Four" (associated with widow

of 39 Across) 50 South Asia: . . .... with largest popula-

.... tions of Hindus 51 ' Sannyasins never imj,ulge in this desire 52 Origin of most devotees of Dada (ashan

Vaswani 53 " .... . . Darsana:" one of six Hindu

philosophies 54 Some Hindus ... . . , about their particu-

lar sect ..-55 A Lincoln Center show item 57 Where hatha yoga may be practiced 58 Asteya restrains Hindus from debt, or

having an .. .... 59 Hinduism tells a person to find, not

· ..... from oneself

\

The solution will be published next rrwnth.

JULY , 1997 H1NDUISM TODAY 49

/

MINISTER'S MESSAGE

Puj8: With Honor, Offer ~verythin8

, -Puja worship rites awaken bhakti-intense loving devotion that leads to transformation

, BY SRI SRI RAV! SH-ANKAR

sun, the moon, the air, the water- every­thing belongs to me. All these stars are mine. The people are mine."? When you ho~or the creation, you will feel this.

Honor your own body. Remember that '{'hen you eat, you are offering food to the Divine that resides inside this body. When people are agitated, they eat more. Take your food, not in a hurry, not with violence, but , with a sense of offering. This also is puja.

Have you ever looked at your breath with honor? Hav~ you ever thought, "This breath is so beautitUl, moving in and out; without it, my body would be thrown away." With honor, look into your breath. With this --: depth of worship, all your feverishness will be transformed ,into love.

Honoring leads to devotion. Surrender happens. Surrender to the Divine brings

ONORING IS A SIGN OF DIVINE LOVE. THAT HONOR- total rest from all anxieties, from all want-ing is called puja. The ceremony of puja imitates ings. Life has burned down with so many what nature is already doing for you. The Divine various wants. In every direction,' life is worships you in so many foFms. In puja, you offer ~ foune! to be weary. Devotion brings that

• everything back to the Divine. ~ total rest - a healing touch to the life which Flowers are offered in puja. The flower is a symbol of love. ~ has been moving in so many directions.

The Divine has come .to you in love through so many forms: ~ The mind always looks for charms, mira-mother, father, wife, husband, children, friends. The same love " d es, events, excitements. Yet once it goes comes to you in the form of the Master to elevate YQU to the ~ , there, the charm ceases to exist. The charm level of divine love, which is also your own nature. Recogniz-- ::; of the mind is a continuous mirage; it is ing this floweriI}g of love from all sides of life, we offer flowers. ~ always farther, it is always somewhere else.

Fruit~ are offered, because the Divine offers you fruits in ~ When the flame of devotion is lit, the crav-due season. You offer grain, because nature provides you ""--'""--'----~ ing mind melts away like wax. As the mind food. A candle light and a cool camphor light are offered; in the melts, the flame of devotion becomes more alive and intense . . , same way nature continually revolves the sun and moon around Charm is always an outside influence. Devotion is an inner flow-you. Incense is offered for. fragrance. All the five senses are used in ering. Devotion starts from where you are, whereas a charm is puja, and it is performed with deep feeling. Through puja, we say something that pulls you away from your Self The charm never to God, "Oh, whatevcl- you give to me, I give back to you." Puja is lasts for long. Unless you are lit in devotion to the Divine, your life honor·and gratefulness. will remain restless. In devotion, in that process of burning, long-

,Have you seen children? They have small little pots and dishes. ing will arise in you. With love, there is bound to be longing. If They sometimes pretend that they make toast or/tea. They come to there is longing, know that the~e is also lov~. They ar~ two sides of the mom and say, "Now, please have some tea." They serve you. the same coin; they cannot be separated. Usually when longing There will be nothing in the cup; it is all in their imagination. arises, we are in a hurry to finish it off But this longing is fortu-They play with you. Whatever you do to them, they also do. They nate and very beautiful. It will transform your mind so totally. put the doll to sleep. They feed it and bathe it. In the same way, Devotion is your nature. When you rest in your own nature, puja is an expression of what the Divine is doing for you. Puja is a there is no conflict. But usually we feel a conflict. We fEtel bad mixture of imitation, honor, playfulness and love. It is all these about a negative quality we have or something that we did. A Mas-things together, made into a soup. . ter is one who lifts these burdens from you that you yourself can-. ,

When you are In deep love, you naturally want to offer some- not carry- and kindles in you devotional love. Offer everything to thing. Somebody from California sen.t a big parce~ to me. It was the Master: your anger()'our frustration, all your bad feelings and· filled with candies anc:i' candles. Now, the person who sent it good feelings. Your negativity pulls you doW!). Your positive quali-knows that candies and candles can be got here, too. And th.e cost ties bring pride and arrogance in you. Your whole life beC'Qmes a of the airmail is much more than the candles and candies. But in big weight. When you offer it all, you become free. You become love, you want to offer something anyway. light like' a flower. You can again smile and rejoice in the moment.

Usually when you love something, you want to possess it. And in What remains in you is pure love. the process of possessing, you make the beautiful thing ugly. Puja ~ (t • is contrary to that. Puja means honor and worship, offeting one's ~ rJ f -self You appreciate, you adore, you recognize beauty. Worship is .~ . '(,J /~ just the opposite of wantitig to possess. Usually our relati9nships do ~ not flower 1:0 this extent. Instead we start demanding. Husband and \ wife, master and servant, there is a demand. "I have done so much. " ~" . for you. Now you must do this thing for me." Demanding is con-trary to honoring. The way to preserve a relationship is to honor.

Honor the ereation. Look at a tree With honor. Feel grateful for SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR, 41, founckd the worldwicf:e Art of Living . its being here. It purifies the poison that we breathe out. It makes Foundation, Healing Breath Workshops, and Sanaj Samadhi medi-the air fresh. Have you ever thought, "These trees are mine. The tation programs. He shows peoPle how to regain their smile.

50 a rNDursM TODAY JUL Y, 1997

•

125th Jayanti Celebrations and World Tour of the PanchaJoka Murti of His Holiness

Sri Sri Siva Yogaswaml Canada 1997

Toronto August 7-14

Ottawa August 16

Cornwall August 15

Montreal August 16-17

International Seminar on Saiva Siddhanta, attended by scholars from India, Sri Lanka and the world Children's compet itions in speech, essay, hymns, etc.

SATGURU SIVA YOGASWAMI, 1872-1964

Publication of a souvenir on Saiva Siddhanta Exhibition of works of His Holiness Sri Siva Yogaswami and more.

Wodd Tour of the Murtt In celebration of the 125th anniversary year of his birth, a small gold-plated, five­metal stat~e of Sri Lanka's great spiritual leader, Satguru Yogaswami , begins a w orld tour to join devotees at the many Siva­thondan Nllayams and more than 35 Tamil temples and communities. As he travels, celebrations and satsangs will be held in Canada, USA, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, M alaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Seychelles and finally Jaffna, Sri Lanka, where the statue will be permanently installed.

Anyone wishing to attend, contribute scholarly material or lend support in any way, please contact:

SRI SRI SIVA YOGASWAMY's SIVATHONDAN C ENTRE, CANADA PO Box 73008, Westford Plaza RPO, 2131 Lawrence Ave East, Scarborough, Ontario M1R-5G5 TORONTO: Sivanesan, 4 16-293-4697' Thirunadarajah, 416-266-435, fax: 416-499-9382 • Satkunendran, 416-422-5069 • MONTREAL: Murugan Temple, 5 14-683-8044 OrrAWA: P.A. Moorthy: 613-737-9809

Sponsored in Canada by the Sri Sivay ogaswami's Sivathondan Centre Co~sponsored by the Hindu Temples &. Hindu Religious SOCieties of Canada

The Master Course, Level One By Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

An illu.strated children's course in seven books, teaching love and worship of God Siva. Based on the holy Vedas, and p resented in the con text of tradi­tional Hindu philosophy, culture, family life and values. Excellent resource for parents and teachers. Subjects include God and Gods, our soul, the world, right conduct, karma, dharma and reincarnation, each presented in simple language. The course has been adopted by the Fiji school system, and it is used extensively in numerous other countries- Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius among others. Each book is presented in three or more languages. Prominent swamis, pundits, scholars and lay persons of all sects have given enthusiastic endorsements.

Paperback, beautifully illustrated, 8%'; x 5Y2". Each book, approx. 150 pg. English-Hindi-Tamil version: US$15 (USA or Canada), $20 (world) ship­ping included. Available from:

HIMA~AYAN ACADEMY PUB~ICATIONS 107 Kaholalele Rd· Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304 USA Tel: 1-800-890-1008, ext. 238Fax: 1-808-822-4351

Sail1ite Hindu (J(eligifm 1 <NQI ~ mJIIU~ ~ ~ lUf

,..iUuatnllttd~"~t..w .. I_ioftud. _ofGod$j,.InIfi<_of .... ...... HIodopll~ .. k_.,.t ...... t.miIyUr.

E-mail: sadhaka_haranandinatha@hinduismtoday.kauai.hi.us • Web: httpllwww.HinduismToday.kauai.hi.us/ashram/

Also available ' ENCUSH-HINDI-TAMIL VERSION: UK: Hinduism Today, tel: 0171 9379163, fax: 0171 460 1819 email: easanl@aol.com. Fiji: Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, Mr. N. K. Naidu: tel: 679 660199, fax: 679 660 761 ' ENCUSH­

MALAy-TAMIL VERSION: Malaysia: Uma Publications, tel: 603 441 1617, fax: 603 441 9395 ' Sanatana Dharma Publications tel: 03331 9242 ' Singapore: Sanatana Dharma Publications, tel: 95766012 • ENGLISH-F RENCH-TAMIL VERSION: Mauri- ' tius: Saiva Siddhanta Church, tel: 230 412-7682, fax: 230-412-7177 • Denmark: Abhirami Amman Temple c/o Mrs. V. Sri Pal an, tel/fax: (French or Tamil spoken) 45 9718 0192.

51

. LIFESTYLE .

Reborn as "

An ,Artist After facing his mortali ty, Satish Gupta now celebrates life

By LAVINA MELWANI, N.EW YORK au CAN CALL IT HIS BRUSH WITH

death. Three years ago, noted Delhi artist Satish Gupta discovered he had a brain tumor. The chances of survival

were fifty-fifty. He recalls, "Before the surgery, I was almost suicidal. I had no will to live." The tumor was removed successful­ly, and his surgeon told him, "It's really a re­birth. Don't waste this life~" ' . Three years have passed, and Gupta has

remembered those words every day, almost like a prayer. He affirms, "Now I feel each day is so precious. We waste so much time, so much energy over trivial things, but life is so grand. W~en you come so close to losing it, life becomes very, very special."

Gupta's close encounter with death has im­pacted his work. He observes, "It gives you a deeper understanding, a deepe.r perspective. I.can empathize much more with people. I can almost get into their soul and paint them." The artist is the son 'of the late free­dom fighter Deshbandu Gupta, and as a child was profoundly infll\enced by the untimely

52 HINDUISM TODAY J 1\LY , 1997

death of his father in a plane crash. He with­drew into his own world, creating a perfect world with paints and paper. After attending D.,elhi's College of Art, he earned a scholar­ship to Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.

Visitors to Delhi may encounter Gupta's work as soon as they step onto Indian soil. A massive 260-foot-Io!1g mural of Indian life by him graces the arrival lounge. Rebirth seems to have inspired him to create as much beau­ty as he can. Besides his desert and seascap,es, he is working on sculpture. Cur­rently -ae's doing a significant piece for an atrium in a corporate building in Delhi. The 24-foot-high sculpture depicts the deities of the 'five elements-Agni, Prithivi, Vayu, ' Vishnu and Brahma-in five columns, each made of a different metal and weighing sev­eral tons. For the past two years, be's also

been working on a series called Poems to the Sea, painting as many oceans and seas of the world as he can. He takes 30-foot-Iong scrolls, paints'on them with water-proof inks, sometimes writes a poem on them and sub­merges them into the water. He's done this in the Mediterranean, Pacific, Atlantic, North Sea, English Channel and the Caribbean Sea. Once immersed, the work gets worked over by the waves and water, but that's part of the process. Later the art is dried, ana the impressions of the water world remain.

Gupta is a Hindu but is open to all faiths. He says, "I think religion can be very beau­tiful, and it can be very ugly, too. Unfortu­nately, the ugly part of religion-the com­munalism and orthodoJCy-takes over, and it can be used by a handful of people to really control the masses. It can'be a-power thing. But if you go deeper into it, it can be so nourishing." He adds, "What's beautiful about Hinduism is that it's all-pmbracing. When I painted the priest at Pushkar, there were Muslims coming in and praying. They were fed like all the other worshipers."

I Gupta's first night in Pushkar was unfor­gettable. He reoalls, "It, was a dark night/and tl}.e hills were silhouetted against the moon. There was this white temple which wci.s bluish-indigo in the moonlight. The y.ntique door was open and through it I saw the priest playing his harmonium at midnight. There was no one else there, and he was singing bhajans all by himself I stood iliere, outside in the dark, for about 45 minutes, listening to' him. He wasn't aware of me at all. I was so taken up with the id.ea that this man would just sing to the Gods, not for an audience, not for, any thing. I've painted him twice, and it was a wonderful experience." ..,.;

Doleful and dour: Two of the suqects cap­tured on canvas by Satish Gupta: Meena (left) and the courageous Kasim.

\fu;jn V,al~~av,a h0L~ ~aees tfu0 gh this magnificent 800 page volume. This hand-made hard bound 11" x 14" volume with its 249 pages

...... IIiII!""""!~~!!!!_=~ ... iI' of color photos will take you and your family on a wonder of discovery.

SEE OUR ELEVEN PAGE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE INTERNET

http://www.vedic.net OR FAX INQUIRIES To: 310-837-0243 (USA)

-ll11l DDARHA PROTECTION

Web Police

, .

THE WORLD WIDE

I Web's doors have been wide open to any­one, including children, who want to play violent shoot'em-up games or sneak-a-peak at XXX adults-only websi.tes. But not anymore. Oyber Patrol is the Internets latest version of an elec­tronic nanny. The soft­ware is designed to block access to websites, partioularly those which promote violence, porn­ography, gambling or ex­tremist politics. !Installed on a personal computer Or an Internet server, it manages Internet access, provides ChatGard® which prevents children from divulging

-g personal 3 informa­~ tion on­~ line and has an option .. to limit the total time " ~ spent on the Web. Some ~ US libraries have begun

DATA

WebStats THE PEOPLE AT WEB­

I side Story are now offering a free web page statistics service that provides a simple, easy way to monitor the out­reaCh of your website. Here you can view

instqlling Cyber Patrol (www.cyber.patrol.com!) after receiving reports of patrons using library computers to view sexu­ally explicit, graphical material on the Web. Cyber Patrol maintains two databases: a Cy­berYes list of 40,000 re­searched sites contain­ing only appropriate material for children, and the Cyber Not list of nine categories of 15,000 websites deemed by its review committee to have potentially offen­sive material. One cate­gory-Satanic/Cults­unfortunately includes websites of recognized religions and legitimate (but non-Christian) al­ternative spiritual com­munities. Appeals are possible, and one such banned group, Avatar­Search (AvatarSearoh.­

com), has devel­• oped the AvatarPa­trol soft-

ware which checks if your URL has been mis­takenly banned by Cy­ber Patrols censors.

hourly, daily and weekly visitor statistics on yours and over 8,900 website

Intel chief Dr. Craig Barrett at PC school opening BUSINESS

India's Cyberskools

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL COUN­

cil of Science Museums, Intel established in 1996 two state-of-the-art multimedia labs called Intel Cyberskool in New Delhi and

Mumbai. The labs give school children, teachers and parents easy access to Pentium-processor based multimedia computers, educational soft­ware and the Internet. The Intel Cyberskool at the National Science Centre, New Delhi, has pro­vided over 25,000 students with hands-on expo­sure to multimedia computers. Intel is also work­ing with the JIVA Institute, ERNET (Education Research Netware) and other organizations to help schools purchase total computing solutions at subsidized prices.

to be the top 1,000, doesn't Tepresent the world's major religions.

links in thir­ty-eight cat­egories, ranging

Ohristian sites are predomi­nant, and a

~~~~P" Hindu pres-

added HINDUISM To­DAY to the list, and sev­eral days later HT was ranking near the top, #20 in the average num­ber of daily visitors­just one above Vatican.org. Have your Hindu webs1,te counted among religions best at wss5. websidestory. com! world.html

from adver­tising to Web resources. We were sur­prised to find that the religion section, touted -,

ence is conspic­uously absent. Among the 252 home pages not one Hindu website was listed. Undaunted, we

TRUTH

Cyber A-shram

C OME ONE FOOT TO­

wards me. I 'Will come a thousand feet to­ward~ yoa" beokons Sri Karunamayis new home page. A lew minutes. at Aroma's web-ashram im­mediately transports you into a mood of cyber-pil­grimage as you follow her blograprucal history of intense sadhana and service. Sri Karunamayi is truly one of Hin­duisms Web mission­aries. fIer site is a virtu­al mini-catechism with inspired talks on chaFac­ter building, meditation and the do's and: do.p.'ts of Hinduism. Anunas quo­tations are some of the Web's best, and Gl~votees can subscribe to· her quarterly magazine and download her photos. Back in the real world, follow Anima on her world tours using online calendars and maps. -(globeworks.comlkaruna mayilkaruna2.htm)

"We are always livin8 at His feet. WhQm shall we wQrship

Qther than kJim? And we have every right tQ worship Wim.

kJe is Qur "life Qflife and the Eye Qfthe eye." KEN A UPANISHAID 1.2