Tattva

Sanatana Dharma is more misunderstood than otherwise. It means an eternal system which owed its durability to its rationalism and not, as is often supposed, to any divine origin. It defined four major goals of life to be accomplished by means of eight secondary observances. The major objectives are evolutionary ethics, creativity and harmony with instincts and finally liberation from the human constraints. In Samskrit these were called Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha. Read the rest of this entry »

Namaste,

The 2nd anniversary edition of Tattva is out! This edition was released in print and will be distributed in various colleges in the USA by Hindu YUVA volunteers. If you would like your college to be covered, please send me an email to tattva-editor@hinduyuva.org. Tattva has gone through a wonderful journey so far. It was founded in September 2006 by a group of University of Washington students. It has since evolved into a popular, interactive youth magazine. In the past two years, Tattva has published a total of over 200 articles, written by 70 different youth writers from several countries. The magazine attracts a readership of approximately 1,800 each month, a number that grows with each new edition. We hope to maintain high standards in the coming year. The 2nd anniversary edition of Tattva is completely funded by its readers and well-wishers. We thank them for their generous support and blessings. If you would like to make a contribution for the print edition of Tattva, please e-mail tattva-editor@hinduyuva.org.

Please visit http://www.hinduyuva.org/tattva-blog/2008/09/ to read the September 2008 edition of Tattva.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA is a volun-tary, non-profit, social and cultural organization . Sangh, as the organization is popularly known, aims to organize the Hindu community in order to preserve, practice and promote Hindu ideals and values. HSS conducts structured programs of regu-lar athletic and academic activities to develop strong character and leadership skills in its members (known as swayamsevaks for men and sevikas for women), emphasizing values such as self-discipline, self-confidence and a spirit of selfless service (seva) for humanity. HSS encourages maintaining Hindu cultural identity in harmony with the larger community. Read the rest of this entry »

When we look at history, we can see various instances of young people having made a difference. In our Puranas, Dhruva and Prahlad were two children who embodied the spirit of selflessness and bhakti (devotion). Maharaja Ranjit Singh ascended the throne at the tender age of 12 and ultimately established one of the greatest kingdoms in history. In the US itself, amongst other things, it was perhaps the youth power in various college campuses that helped in forcing the US government to withdraw from Vietnam in the 1970s.

While this is all well and good, of what relevance is all this today? In what way can a modern Hindu youth relate to these or any other instances that convey the impact that youth have? Do we have a role in preserving Hindu Dharma? Read the rest of this entry »

1.) India is home to some of the world’s most ancient art forms. Indian classical dance forms include: Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathak from Uttar Pradesh, Kathakali from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Manipuri from Manipur, Mohiniattam from Kerala, and Odissi from Orissa. Read the rest of this entry »

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Sowmya Joisa, originally from Karnataka, was born and raised in Seattle, WA. She studied Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a vistarika, or a full-time volunteer for Samskrita Bharati, a non-profit organization and a sister organization of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. Her vistarakship started in Los Angeles in September 2007 and will come to a completion this September. Read the rest of this entry »

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The question as to whether or not it is the duty of a Hindu to be vegetarian has long been a source of debate in our society. Some are strong proponents of vegetarianism, while others feel it is okay for Hindus to eat meat. Usually those who promote vegetarianism quote concepts like ahimsa, health bene-fits, and environmental benefits. Those who eat meat give the argument of the right of an individual to choose, or that in the past, kshatriyas and other sects within Hinduism did eat meat. For example, many people in coastal areas of Kerala make a livelihood selling and eating fish. Even during Shri Rama’s vanvaas, there is the story of him eating meat offered by Guha, his childhood friend. So what is the right answer? There seem to be convincing arguments both ways. The truth is that we must establish a paradigm, a way of thinking before approaching this question. The paradigm in Hinduism has always been one of Dharma, of promoting harmony. First we shall establish the tenets of this paradigm, and then apply it to our question regarding vegetarianism. Read the rest of this entry »

Though I was born and brought up in America, I always felt a connection to Bharat (India). People often ask me why I care so much about Bharat, seeing that I live in America and have established my life here. Why do I make an effort to learn about India’s history, culture, and people? Hindus outside India could theoretically live very comfortably without having to maintain any sort of connection at all with Bharat. So why not just reduce the hassle and confusion and bury away the identity crisis forever? Read the rest of this entry »