Colorful Krishnas have annual parade in Virginia

The large float winded its way through town and hundreds of people came out to cheer or even join in. They usually pick up people along the way who join the parade.

The Miami Ratha Yatra Parade marched through Coconut Grove Saturday afternoon, starting at the Hare Krishna temple at 3220 Virginia Street and ending at Peacock Park.

The yearly event there's lots of color and lots of colorful people.

Saturday's event at the park had lots of music, food, fashion and more and Sunday, it's all repeated again, minus parade, at the Cultural Center at 3220 Virginia Street where there is live music, food, drama, books and more. It's a 12 hour event -- 9 am to 9 pm. Admission is free.

Drumming in the park. Good times.

California Senate opened with Hindu prayer for first time in - U.S.A

Sacramento, California, 29 August:
California State Senate here heard its first Hindu opening prayer on Monday in its 157 years history, when famous Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed, recited Gayatri and other ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE. He also delivered from Brahadaranyakopnisad, Taittiriya Upanisad, and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), all ancient Hindu scriptures. He ended the prayer with last mantra of Rig-Veda, "samani va akutih", before concluding with "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti", which he then translated as "Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all".Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE.
Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE.

Before starting the prayer, he sprinkled Gangajal (holy water from river Ganga in India) on the podium, which is traditional in Hindu worship.

Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed, after reciting the original lines in Sanskrit, then read the English translation of the verses. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of all Indo-European languages. Full text of the prayer will be recorded in the Daily Journal of the Senate, which is a permanent public record.

Reverend Canon James D. Richardson, Chaplain of California State Senate, introduced Rajan Zed while Don Perata, Senate President pro Tem; Senator Christine Kehoe (San Jose) and Senator Elaine Alquist (San Diego) personally welcomed him. 

One of the paragraphs of this Hindu prayer read in Sanskrit was "Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrityor mamrtam gamaya", which was translated in English as "Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, Lead me from death to immortality."

Zed was accompanied to the California Senate by his community volunteer wife Shipa Zed; son Navgeet Zed, recipient of Nevada Peacemaker of the Year award; and a group of other supporters, including Jassi Cheema, Paradhyeya Das, Chaitanya Dasi, etc., many of whom came out of town.

"This day of August 27, 2007, is an esteemed day for all Californians and momentous day for us when opening prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures are being read in this majestic hall of democracy," Zed remarked.

Rajan Zed, affiliated with World Congress of Faiths-London and listed in "Who's Who in America" 2006, volunteers as a chaplain in various hospitals, serves on various Boards of Directors, and is very active in interfaith dialogue. He created history on July 12 last when he opened the United States Senate session in Washington DC with Hindu prayer for the first time in its 218 years history. City of Reno issued him a proclamation and he received various honors from different organizations in this country and abroad.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has no datable beginning but some scholars put it around 3,000 BCE. It has no founder, no one authoritative figure, and no single prophet or holy book. One of its scriptures, Mahabharata, is the longest poem ever written, comprising over 100,000 couplets. Hinduism in North America was introduced in 1830s with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau studying Hindu scriptures like Upanisads and Bhagavad-Gita. Vivekananda made a strong impression at World's Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893 and he then founded Vedanta Society. Protap Chunder Mozoomdar of Brahmo Samaj delivered his first American address on September 02, 1883 in Concord, Massachusetts.

California ranks eighth in Gross Domestic Products in the world, higher than Canada, Spain, Russia, India, Australia, etc. California State Senate has 40 Senators, with each Senator representing 846, 791 Californians. Current Senate Chaplain Richardson, an Episcopal Priest, is the 47th chaplain since 1897, when this office began. Generally he offers the opening prayer but guest chaplains are also invited from time to time.

The prayers are offered to God on behalf of the Senate in recognition that our freedom and our abundance are gifts from God, according to Senate Chaplain Webpage.

A Success Story of American Football Player

Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. (born May 21, 1977) is a former American football running back who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Williams is a qualified yoga instructor. He has stated that one of his main reasons for joining the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts was for the opportunity to teach free yoga lessons at a local Toronto yoga facility. It has been reported that Williams uses a Hindu-based pranic healing similar to therapeutic touch to recover from injuries.

Williams is vegan or at least has a meat-free diet. Tim Graham has reported that Greek yogurt is the only non-vegan food in Williams' diet.PETA has used video of him praising meatless alternatives to popular chicken dishes.

He was a marijuana addict before but reports indicate that he is a changed man, and he credits that to his spirituality.

Welcoming well known American football player Ricky Williams to Hinduism fold, Hindus have suggested inclusion of yoga into practice routine of National Football League (NFL) teams. Noted Hindu statesman Rajan Zed applauded Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams Jr., running back for the Miami Dolphins of NFL, for turning his life around and resurrecting his career reportedly through spirituality, yoga, meditation and ayurveda. His spiritual journey, which reportedly transformed him to a healthy warrior at the ripe age of 33, could prove inspiring to other players. He reportedly visited India, and is vegetarian and a certified yoga instructor. Name of one of his daughters is Asha and he has reportedly learnt selfless action and humility from Hinduism.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, says that many American athletes are reportedly adopting yoga practice. Yoga reportedly makes a great complement to athletic training and various types of athletes are incorporating the practice into their training for bettering sports performance by improving flexibility and functional strength, building muscle energy and stamina, preventing sports injuries, dealing with stress, overcoming back pain, improving breathing and focusing, increasing endurance, etc. Rajan Zed stressed that yoga was a mental and physical discipline and could prove highly rewarding to NFL players. Yoga, referred as "a living fossil", was one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy. According to Patanjali, author of the basic text Yoga Sutra who codified yoga, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

Ray Lewis, famous American football linebacker from Baltimore Ravens, reportedly told the Chicago (USA) media: "I'm talking about an hour-and-a-half yoga classes at times. And the crazy part about it is, once you actually get into it a good two or three times, you really miss if you don't do it. It stretches you that much."

An American Devi who loves Hinduism

An American Devi who loves Hinduism and became memebr of it and in India is serving Dharma name Kali Prem Dasi

As I am becoming more familiar to people in my neighborhood, I am able to talk with them more. I am feeling very discouraged. They really just don't care. All they want is to talk to me about leaving India, or to brag to me about how their children live abroad or go to xristian schools.

I am very tempted to put up photos of my family ( I won't, my family will remain Private ) to hit home the sacrifices I have made to be here. It just really pisses me off that I , who was not born here, am willing to Sacrifice but they only want to run. Today , I am feeling so grateful for my FB friends. To know their really are others who feel as I do, and are willing to work to bring Hinduism and India back to their Golden State. India and Hinduism are One. They can never be separated.

The fate of one is the fate of the other. On this Sacred Land , where Our Lord Krishna Himself walked, on this his Birth day, Let us remember who we are. How much this Land and our Faith mean to us. It defines who we are. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you, Proudly, to face down, any religion, organization, ect. who threatens our Faith, Land , Culture, and Traditions. We know who our Enemies are. We are not backing down. I will stand Tall next to you, Come What May.

That is My Pledge and My Promise to You. When I said I was yours, I meant it. We are One People. We are an Old People, and we are Stronger than ever Before. Jai Ma~

Russell Brand and Perry married in India

Russell Brand and Katy Perry have married in a traditional Hindu ceremony

Chart beauty Katy Perry has tamed the one-time lothario Russell Brand as they married in an Indian ceremony.

A Hindu priest conducted the wedding, the first stage of days of celebrations with friends who are thought to include Jonathan Ross.

Both Brand and Perry wore traditional Indian clothes, with the bride dressed in a sari.

The couple, who met at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2009, where Brand,35, was host, tried to keep their celebration under wraps.

They flew in earlier this week with Perry, 25, covering her head and face as she and her fiance touched down in Mumbai.

The ceremony took place at the Aman-e-Khas luxury resort outside the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary, 80 miles from the "pink city" of Jaipur.

A hotel official told the Associated Press that the venue's trees were illuminated by colourful lights and luxury tents were decorated with flower garlands.

One of the tour operators let slip this week that it would be a six-day celebration beginning with a Hindu ceremony. About 80 guests are expected to be taken on tours of the tiger sanctuary in the days after the wedding.

News agency Press Trust of India reported that 21 camels, elephants and horses formed part of Brand's wedding procession from a nearby resort. He was also accompanied by traditional dancers and musicians.

Perry has already appealed for privacy on Twitter while the couple took a break from the limelight to get married.

25 years in making, Encyclopedia of Hinduism unveiled in US

25 years in making, Encyclopedia of Hinduism unveiled in US

A 25-year quest by nearly 1,000 scholars to document and present one of the world's oldest living traditions came to fruition when the 'Encyclopedia of Hinduism' was unveiled in Columbia on Tuesday.

Hundreds of scholars, dignitaries, students, Hindu leaders and the public converged on the University of Southern California campus to witness the release of much anticipated and definitive 11-volume guide conceived, compiled and produced by the India Heritage Research Foundation.

Those present on the occasion included South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Indian Consul General in Atlanta Ajit Kumar and Gandhian Anna Hazare. The two-day event coinciding with the release featured some of the top Indian scholars who discussed the significance of the encyclopedia and the richness and diversity of Indian culture that binds more than one billion people worldwide.

The event is the launch of the international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had launched the Indian edition in 2010 in Rishikesh. Dr Harris Pastides, President of University of South Carolina, said that he was humbled to see the encyclopedia being launched in his campus.

"It is a deep honor to be participating in the American release of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. This is a remarkable work of scholarship and research. I hope that many in academia and in everyday life will turn to it as a resource to better understand the characters, the tenets, and the impact that Hinduism has had, and is having in the world," he said.

Consul General Kumar said India and Hindus all over the world are grateful to the University of South Carolina for the launch of the monumental work. The comprehensive encyclopedia has 11-volume work and it covers Hindu spiritual beliefs, practices and philosophy, and is the culmination of a 25-year academic effort.

The encyclopedia is written in English and includes about 7,000 articles on Hinduism and its practices. The work also deals with Indian history, languages, art, music, dance, architecture, medicine, and women's issues. It contains more than 1,000 illustrations and photographs. The encyclopedia's volumes run from 600 to more than 700 pages.

Introduction and Glory of Sanatana Dharama or Hinduism

Unlike other religions Sanatana Dharama (Hinduism) is not one person's invention.

There is no single medicine that can cure all deceases and ailments.
Sanatana Dharama (Hinduism) is an accumulated treasury of spiritual and moral laws discovered by different saints over various periods.

In other words Sanatana Dharama (Hinduism) is like constitution of a country. Spiritual and moral laws are democratically accumulated over centuries. These laws are observed voluntarily by people without any governmental control.
In Sanatana Dharama You don't need to practice exactly what your forefathers practiced. Those practices may be good only for that period (Yuga Dharma)

One can be an atheist or an agnostic and still can be a Sanatani like me or like Sage Charvak (The atheist). 
Sanatana Dharama allows criticizing or debating god's existence. Sanathana Dharma absorbs new ideas like a sponge and recharges itself with modern technology. 

In Kindergarten or Nursery school you learn everything from one book from one teacher. In a Higher school you learn from several books from several teachers.
Sanatana Dharama is like a university. It doesn't have only one book like other religions have, it has collection of books covers various subjects and aspects. 

There is no single medicine that can cure all deceases and ailments.
One must understand, it is impossible for one person to write religious doctrines for entire world and for future. If any one thinks that one person can do it they are fooling themselves.

Sanatana Dharama is spiritual and moral evolution.
Sanatana Dharama implements religious sentiments for education, prosperity and peace.


Religions of the World - Hinduism


HINDUISM-1


HINDUISM IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN RELIGION ( SANATANA DHRMA )


HINDUISM - 15


Hinduism is not a Religion - Hindu Culture, Philosophy, and Spirituality