Tattva

The question of a citizen’s proper role in his or her state is one that creates a good deal of debate. The role of citizen in a state under revolution? Even more so. Recent events in Egypt challenge us, as Hindus, to answer this question through our own ideals. In what direction does a diligent consideration of dharma point us? How can a citizen justify protesting his or her header? How can a citizen justify killing or dying for such a cause? How far do such actions reach in their impact, and do the benefits outweigh the detriments as per a dharmic calculus?

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As a child, I moved around frequently. My parents emigrated from India to the U.S. when I wasn’t even five years old, and we moved from place to place. When most kids my age were toting around new lunch boxes,  I was carrying moving boxes. It seems that, for most of my life, I’ve perpetually been stuck with the “New Kid Syndrome”.

Unfortunately for me, the schools I attended weren’t ever very religiously diverse. Christians usually made up the vast majority of my peers, and at times it was quite lonely for a little Hindu child like me not having anyone or anything to which to relate.  Ah, but then there was always Social Studies – my favorite subject! No matter what book we learned from, we always covered India. As the second most populated country in the world, it was guaranteed to have a spot on the year’s lesson plan. Finally, something I could relate to! With the mention of India also came mention of Hinduism, the religion that millions of families like mine practiced. I always looked forward talking about Hinduism in school because I was almost always the only Hindu around, and this meant instant stardom.

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Often a point of contention in religious debates, the idea of God being manifested in various forms is greatly misunderstood. There are some who believe that Hindus worship “330 million different gods” with Hindu verses taken out of context and misconstrued. It needs to be emphasized that the main point of this piece is not whether religions are polytheistic (belief in more than one God) or monotheistic (belief in one God). This is irrelevant – the objective is to show that multiple forms of the Creator are written about in the sacred texts of ALL major religions, not just in Hinduism. The essence is the same. The conflict is merely an issue of language/semantics. Before detailing what exactly Hinduism says on this subject it’s important to first examine the three religions which are usually labeled monotheistic.

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Shyam teri akhiyan badi-badi
Dekhein yein sab kutch gadi-ghadi

Shyam teri mor pankhi hari hari
Nishkam bhakti ho gadi-gadi

Shyam teri baiyan khuli-khuli
pyar yein barsayein ghadi-ghadi

shyam tere karnda bade-bade
sune yein man ki ghadi-ghadi

shyam teri bansuri khadi-khadi
maya meri todhe ghadi-ghadi

shyam mera swami ghadi- ghadi
main teri dasi ghadi-ghadi

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Bagalamukhi is a goddess of paralyzing power. Her name literally means “one who has a face that can capture others” and she essentially represents the hypnotic power of the goddess. Bagalamukhi’s speech is so powerful that it leaves others silent and grasping for words. She gives the decisive statement, the irrefutable conclusions, the pronouncement of ultimate truth. Hence, she is propitiated for success in discussions and debates. Bagalamukhi turns each thing into its opposite. She represents the knowledge whereby each thing must in time become its opposite. Bagalamukhi is the secret presence of the opposite wherein each thing is dissolved back into the Unborn and the Uncreated. She is clothed in yellow, with bright olden ornaments and sits in the midst of an ocean in a decorated gazebo on a golden throne. She is shown holding the tongue of an Asura with one hand and lifting a club to hit him with the other, paralyzing the evil in this world, paving the way for good.

Deepak Saagar is a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati.

“Blessed are they whose bodies get destroyed in the service of others.”  by Swami Vivekananda.

Inspired by the spiritual thoughts of Vivekananda, Sunnyvale Hindu YUVA decided a seva prayog at  Second Harvest Food Bank - Warehouse Food Sort in Santa Clara County.

Donated food from several departments is collected at the Warehouse. The YUVA volunteers helped them to sort food for the further distribution. Thirteen youth participated in the process for around 3 hours. They were divided into two groups.  One group helped to sort food items like ready to eat, ready to cook,  canned juices while the other grouped helped to sort and pack frozen pasta.

The food bank organizers also provided information about how they work: how donated food is collected from various places,  sorted and then distributed to the needy class of people. Many people from other organizations/individuals also participated in the noble cause. Kris Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer services with her experience has discovered, “People do more than sort food when they’re here at the Food Bank; they transform lives.”

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, “The world is one single family.” – Hitopadesha 1.3.71

Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahuda Vadanti, “Truth is one, sages say it differently.” –Rig Veda

Divine and Respected Governor Bentley of Alabama on the day of celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King had this to say, “…anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister.” When I first heard this, I was immediately reminded of the small speech I gave at the Interfaith Youth Core Leadership Institute conference in Washington, D.C. At this conference, I spoke of the two universal concepts practiced in Hinduism and insisted not on religious tolerance but religious celebration. Being one of the most secular and pluralistic societies in the world, it still surprises me to see people of great moral responsibility and power insist on viewing things only from their side. This ideology of “my faith is better than yours and since you’re not following what I follow, you are bound to go to hell” is still prevalent in the minds of many. In addition, fundamentalism in every religion continues to eclipse the idea that reason and experience make the belief in the divine power plausible. The issue here lies not in religion but in the lack of a sense of belonging. As soon as we start demarcating in the name of religion, we deprive ourselves of the sense of belonging that is held within idea of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam”.

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Aum Mithraya Namah.

This short phrase is the beginning of a rigorous and balanced exercise that is essentially the amalgamation of ten yoga postures, repeated in a cycle of thirteen repetitions.

Surya Namaskar, which literally translates to “Salutation to the Sun,” is more than just a cardio workout. With equal emphasis placed on balanced, even breathing and the mantras that proceed each set—each an alternate Sanskrit name for the sun—Surya Namaskar is truly a holistic exercise that strengthens the mind and body.

Anyone who has attended a Hindu Yuva activity would likely be familiar with Surya Namaskar, and so it would come as no surprise that Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, during the month of January, promoted its fifth annual Surya Namaskar Yagna (SNY), or Yogathon. From January 15th (Makar Sankranti) until January 30th, events like the opening Lehar to twenty-four-hour Surya Namaskar Marathon promoted the benefits of Surya Namaskar and yoga in general.

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Editorial on Hindu American Foundation’s “Take Back Yoga” campaign which has received attention in a recent New York Times article and coverage aired on CNN. The HAF press release can be found here: http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/takeyogaback

Does it really matter?  Is it important that the 15 million practitioners of Yoga in America and the millions more who have some interest in the subject acknowledge that Yoga has its origins in Hinduism?  Even if it’s true, so what?  We’re not really trying to convert anyone.  Those 15 million people won’t suddenly become Hindus.  And it’s not as if we want them to stop practicing it either.  After all, Yoga was formed for the benefit of mankind, not for the benefit of those who call themselves Hindu.  So if people are already doing something good by practicing Yoga and if we don’t really expect anything to change, then what’s the point?  Why should we care?

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One of my favorite childhood dreams was to do research in a science lab in the US.  I don’t remember when I first dreamt about this but surely it was before I actually started understanding what science is all about. Currently I am doing my graduate studies in the chemistry department of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill working towards a Ph.D. in chemistry. I started working under Prof. Muhammad Yousaf during the fall of 2007 and it has been a wonderful journey till date. Outside my time devoted to research I am also a volunteer for Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and try to devote time in coordinating and participating in different Sangh activities. My current responsibility is to coordinate the youth activities in the South East zone of USA ranging from the Carolinas to Florida. I enjoy interacting with people and spreading the awareness of Hindu Dharma in the society. Apart from that I am also a very adventurous person and love to do crazy things like rock climbing, hiking, parasailing, etc.

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