Why Do HINDUS not TOUCH Papers, Books and People with The Feet?

GODDESS - SARASWATHI 

To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given respect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But in ancient India every subject - academic or spiritual - was considered divine and taught by the guru in the gurukula.

The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent reminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in Indian culture. From an early age, this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books and education. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the Goddess of Learning. In fact, each day before starting our studies, we
pray:

*****"Saraswati namasthubhyamVarade kaama roopiniVidyaarambham karishyaamiSidhirbhavatu me sadaa"*****

*****"O Goddess Saraswati, the giver ofBoons and fulfiller of wishes,I prostrate to You beforestarting my studies.May you always fulfill me?"*****

Statue Of Hindu Goddess Saraswati Near White House

A statue of Hindu goddess Saraswati has reportedly been erected about a
mile away from
White House in Washington DC.

This 10-foot high statue raised by Embassy of Indonesia on public space on Massachusetts Avenue NW was unanimously approved by Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B Dupont Circle. It is said to be even taller than Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, which is also on Massachusetts Avenue, about less than one fifth of a mile.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended Indonesia President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Indonesian Ambassador to USA Dr. Dino Patti Djalal for installation of Saraswati statue; thus displaying religious pluralism, honoring diversity and respecting minorities. Zed also thanked Dupont Circle ANC for the unanimous Saraswati statue approval.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted that existence of different faiths showed God’s generosity and bountifulness. As we were all looking for the truth, dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment and help us overcome prejudices, Zed added.

Capitals of other countries around the world should also install statues of Hindu gods and goddesses in public places, thus proving their credentials of multiculturalism and pluralism, Rajan Zed stressed.

A statue carver and six stone masons were flown in from Bali (Indonesia) for this Saraswati statue, which was created in three weeks, reports suggest.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population than any other country in the world; where Muslims form about 88% of the population and Hindus about 3%.

In Hinduism, Saraswati is revered as goddess of knowledge/learning, music, art, language/speech, and poetry. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

HOLY RIVERS, LAKES, and OCEANS

Water is of special significance in Hinduism, not only for its life-sustaining properties, but also because of its use in rituals and because of the stress given to cleanliness. Bathing also has religious significance, especially in rivers considered sacred. Mother Ganga (the Ganges) is considered to purify the bather of sins (papa – see The Law of Karma).

The Goddess Ganga, riding her crocodile. She plays an important role at the
 beginning of the Mahabharata.

There are seven principle holy rivers, although others, such as the Krishna in South India, are also important. Of the seven, the Ganges (Ganga), Yamuna, and Sarasvati are most important. According to different opinions, the Sarasvati is now invisible, extinct or running underground, and meets with the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayaga.

Bathers in the Ganges, which is considered to
 wash away accumulated sins

Most rivers are considered female and are personified as goddesses. Ganga, who features in the Mahabharata, is usually shown riding on a crocodile (see right). Yamuna is shown in much iconography connected with the Pushti Marg sampradaya, and rides on a turtle. The famous story of the descent of Ganga-devi is connected with Vishnu and with Shiva, who is depicted with the Ganges entering the locks of his hair.

Certain spots on the seashore are also holy. Puri is considered sanctified to Vaishnavas, and Cape Commorin (Kanyakumari) is sacred to followers of Shiva and devotees of Rama.

Some lakes and ponds are also considered especially sacred. Particularly in the South, tanks (man-made ponds) are constructed so that worshippers can bathe before entering the temple.

Near Vrindavan, Radha-Kunda (the pond of Radha) is considered especially sacred

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The Seven Holy Rivers
1. Ganga – North India
2. Yamuna – meets Ganga in North
3. Godavari – South India
4. Sarasvati – underground river
5. Narmada – Central India
6. Sindhu the Indus, now in Pakistan
7. Kaveri – South India