Tattva

Namaste,

In this issue, we have many interesting articles, including an article about major news events of the past year and a video interview of Swami Bhaskarananda, the president of the Vedanta Society of Seattle. The festival of Makar Sankranti falls on the 14th of this month. This day marks the commencement of the sun’s northern course when it enters the sign of Makar or Capricorn. From this day the duration of the day increases and the nights become shorter, thus symbolizing a positive change. On a personal level, it marks the introspection of one’s self and resolve on the coming year.

This month, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh will be carrying out a “Surya Namaskar Yagna” program to create awareness about Yoga and its benefits. We encourage everyone to participate. This is a great opportunity to learn, practice, and teach others about Surya Namaskar. Surya Namaskar is easy, can be done anywhere, and helps tremendously in achieving a healthy body, mind and spirit. For the full details, please read the article on the Surya Namaskar Yagna below.

As always, we look forward to your feedback and contributions. Jai Shri Ram!

Please visit http://www.hinduyuva.org/tattva-blog/2009/01 to read the January 2009 edition of Tattva.

Yet another year has passed by. Like every year, this one too was very happening. With the amount of news we read each day, we very often miss the key details. Here is a review of the most defining events of 2008. Of course, the selection was difficult and several events missed the final cut.

January

·         Jindal Becomes Governor of Louisiana (Jan. 15): Republican Bobby Jindal takes office as governor of Louisiana, becoming the first elected Indian-American governor of the United States. At age 36, he’s also the youngest governor in the nation.

·         Bush Proposes $145 Billion Stimulus Package (Jan. 18): Responding to a crisis in the housing market and rising oil prices, president says a combination of tax cuts for individuals and businesses will “provide a shot in the arm” to the economy. The Bush administration and the House hash out a $146 billion stimulus package Read the rest of this entry »

Students from Hindu YUVA, University of Washington took an interview of Swami Bhaskarananda, a senior monk of Ramakrishna Mission. He has authored various books and is the founder and editor-in-chief of Global Vedanta..

Video interview of Swami Bhaskarananda

Nainam Chindanti Shastrani, Nainam Dahati Pavakah, Na Chainam Claidyantyapo, Na Shoshyati Marutah     (The soul is indestructible. It cannot be harmed by any weapon, burnt by any fire or touched by water.)

This shloka of the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta is an extremely beautiful manifestation of the divine wisdom. It marks the eternity of the soul and among its many interpretations, most potently highlights the eternal power of the self, manifested as the soul within. Read the rest of this entry »

Widely considered one of the greatest table maestros, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee has helped spread Indian classical music across the world. After receiving first place in the All India Children’s Music Competition at the young age of 6, he was accepted as a student by the esteemed judge, Guru Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. His tabla solo debut was at age 10. He has since developed into one of the most well-respected tabla solo performers of his generation. Read the rest of this entry »

Need of the Hour
Today, as I ponder over the selective killings of Hindus, Jews, and foreigners in Mumbai (mainly Christians) on 26-28 November 2008, I cannot help revisiting Swami Ramakrishna’s message which I quote from the last month’s issue of Tattva:
The greatest contribution of Sri Ramakrishna to the modern world is his message of the harmony of religions. To Sri Ramakrishna all religions are the revelation of God in his diverse aspects to satisfy the manifold demands of human minds. Like different photographs of a building taken from different angles, different religions give us the pictures of one truth from different standpoints. They are not contradictory but complementary.

Read the rest of this entry »