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AUGUST"1998
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INTERNATIONAL
Lead Stor,: How'HindUism Fares
In the Faraway Land of Safaris 20
Culture: Dilemmas of Dance and Dress 24
Trinidad: Pundits in the Pulpit 35
Kerala: Of Prophecy and Proselytization 38
Pilgrimage: Big Plans for Sabarirnala 39
;;
LIFESTYLE
..z
u
-
Q
Z
o
~ OPINION
j ~ubllsher's Desk: To See and Be Seen:
•
o
u The Dynamics of Darshan 10
~ Letters 12
~ My Turn: My Dear Hindu South Africa 13
~ Editorial: India Detonates a Bomb,
; then Explodes with Pride 16
:; Healing: No Simple Cure for Cancer 44
~ Astrology: The Matchmaker's Magic 45
j:
~ Minister's Message: Africa Awaits
; Hinduisms Wisd(!)m Ways 50
'" JJ
~ . : DICES ,a S .
'f Dlaspora 7 News In Brief 49
::l ~ Quotes" Qlllps 1t Digital Dharma 56
~ , Evolutions .: 44
..'"
THE VEDAS Words cannot describe the joy of the soul whose impurities
are cleansed in deep contemplation-who is one with At-
man, his own Spirit. Only those who feel this joy know
God's Word, what it is. MAITRI UPANISHAD 6.34
1
Seeing within: This devotee has awakened his third eye to the point
PUBLISHER'S DESK of seeing inner light in his head and hearing the holy Aum sound-
ing in his ear: He inwardly sees the satguru, who mdy not be physi-
cally present, and may occasionally glimpse the world of the Gods .
Darshan;' the Grace • Some people nave allergies to gurus, too. The guru's darshan lifts
repressed subconscious patterns that have been out of the flow of
Of Seeing the Divine' the cosmic pattern of regenerative life, brin~g them up before
one's conscious attention. Instead of feeling wonderful, the visitor
to the garden feels terrible, as the fire is brought up from within,
releasing his awareness to view the polluted state of the subcon-
scious mind. .
The spiritual energy shared in the simple act of seeing The conCfpt of darshan also embraces the guru's seeing of the
devotee. When you are in the presence of the guru, his seeing of
and being seen has the power to transform lives you and therefore knowing you and your karmas. is another ~ace.
So, darshan is a two-edged swor@, a two-way str'eet. It is a process
of seeing and being seen. 4'he devotee is seeing and in that instant
BY SATGURU SIVAYA SUBRAMUNIYASWAMI drawing forth the blessings of the satguru, the swami or the sadhu.
In turn, they are seeing the devotee and his divine place in the
N THE ORIENT, WHENEVER THE CLOUD OF In the life of a bud, noth- universe. Both happen within the moment, and that moment, like
j _'J~"'_ covers the soul of 'a devotee, the dar- ing happens until unfold- a vision, grows stronger as the years go by, not like imaginatlon, - I
shan of the Gods is sought. Whenever it be·- ment begins. The same is which fades away. It is an ever-growing spiritual experience. The ' I
comes difficult to meditate, his grace is true for the fme soul. It sense of separation is transcended, so there is a oneness between
hoped for to lift the veil of delusion and re- happens occasionally that seer and seen. This is monistic theism; this is Advaita Ishvaravada.
lease awareness from the darker areas of mind to someone comes along and Each is seeing the other and momentarily being the other.
soar within. If you were to travel through India picks the bud. This means Some people are more sensitive to fragrance than others. Others
on a spiritual pilgrimage, you would undoubtedly the fine soul is in the are so seilless and sensitive they can become he fragrance itself
hear much about the Sanskrit word darshan, wrong company. Now nei- for a time. In such a person, the rose smells sweet through every
meaning "vision, seeing or perception," But in its ther the bud nor the soul pore of his body. He is not in the least aware of any subconscious
mystical usage 'darshan is also the feeling of the can unfold. But when they ,congested area of the mind. He sits in the garden and goes deep
emotions of a holy person; the intellect, the spiri- are protected nicely in a into meditation on the subtle fragrance of the flowers. The same
tual qualities that he has-attained, and most im-- garden or ashram by a principle relates to the unfolded soul. Darshan pours forth from
portantly the shakti, the power, that has changed careful gardener, or guru, within the unfolded soul just as fragrance flows from the rose- . ~
him and is there constantly to change others. Darshan ~ncompass the bud and the soul unfold beautifully. seeming stronger at times than at others because some de)lotees
es the entirety of the being of a person of spiritual attainment. In With just their first little opening to are more. in tune than others. For them, the room begins to ring
India, everyone' is involved in darshan. Some at a temple have dar- the world, they begin to see the lig1!t of and vibrate. Soine people are so sensitiye that when a great soul
shan of the Deity. Others at an ashram have darshan of their·swa- the outer and inner sun shining down comes to the same town, they feel his presence. This shows their
mi or on the street enjoy darshan of a sadhu. And most everyone into the core of their being. It is still too inner attunement to the constant flowing power of the darshan.
experiences doordarshan. That's the word for television in India, early, of course, for the rose to have a Everyone has some feelings radiating from withjn, but they are
meaning "seeing from afar." Even this seeing, through movies, noticeable fragrance or the soul a dar- emanations that fluctuate. Because you feel these vibrations com-
news and various prqgrams of mystery, tragedy, humor; the fine shan, We might appreciate them closely, ing from them, you can intuit how they are feeling. They do not
arts and culture, carr-affect our emotions, intellect, pulling us down but we would detect little in this early emanate a constant or a building flow. It is a fluctuating flow of
or lifting us up in consciousness. Se.eing is such a powerful dimen- and delicate stage of unfolding. At this emotional or 'astral energy. The darshan I am explairling is really
sion of life, and it affects us in so many ways, inside and out. time the unfolding soul might say, "I can the energies flowing from the deeper chakras, sahasrara anp ajna,
HiI}dus travel for miles to receive the darshan of an illumined see the light m my head and in my the seventh anctsixth chakras or psychic force centers in the head,
soul "established in his enlightenment. Perhaps he does not speak to body." And the suns-rays keep pouring through the kundalini force within the spine. These energy flows
them. Perhaps he scolds some of them. Perhaps he gives the most into the rose, penetrating into the stem do not fluctuate as the emotional odic-force energies do, They go
inspired of talks to them. In any case, they feel the darshan flood- and as deep as the roots. It is feeling on day and night and night and day througl). the illumined soul.
ing out from hil!l. A great soul is always gi~ darshan. Hindus stronger and unfolding more and more. Those devotees who are in tune with the guru can feel his physicaJ
believe that the darshan coming from a great soul helps them in If no one picks it becaus~ of its unfold- presenge when he enters the:ir town because the darshan gets
their evolution, changes patterns in their life by cleaning up areas ing beauty, the rose continues to unfold stronger. And it feels to them more ethereal when he is farther
of their subconscious mind that they could not possibly have done until it opens into all its glory. Then a away. These energy flows are very important to study, because jt is
for themselves. They further helieve that if his darshan is strong wonderful thing happens. The perfume possible to draw and enjoy a great darshan from an illumined soul
enough, if they are in tune with him.enough, by its power the kun- of th~ rose fills the air day and night. It if you approach him in just the right way. If you can become as a
dalini force can be stimulated en,{mgh that they can really begin to is the da~han of the rose. sponge wher( you approach him, you will draw out beautiful talks
To some people the bouquet of the and other profound feelings from him. The Hindu is conscious that
meditate. This is called the grace of the guru. The ability to medi-
tate comes from this grace. You must have it before you can begin rose is very strong; to others it is rather weak. Is the emanation of ' but he is too negative to feel it. But the darshan permeates him ' he is drawing darshan from his rishi or his satguru, just as you are
,
to meditate, or you must do severe austerities by yourself instead. the rose stronger at one time than another? No. It is always the just the same. He goes away from the garden not having smelled a conscious of drawing the perfume of the rose into your body.
Darshan and the unfolding 'soul on the path are like the rose. same. It goes on and on and on, maturing all the while into a rose, but carrying the perfume of the rose himself If you stand When approaching a soul who is known to give darshan, be in the
When the rose is a bud, it does not give forth a perfume. Unfold- deeper, richer, more pofent scent. Soon it is filling the entire gar- away from the rose, you smell less of its fragrance. Bring yourself same area of the superconScious mind that you feel he must be in.
me nt is just beginning. We admfre the beauty of the bud, the stem, den. But to the one who comes into the garden with a stuffy nose, really close, and more of its strong and pungent scent will pene- The guru does not have to bedlecessarily functioning in that same
the leaves and the thorns. We are aware that it has the potential of there is only the beauty or the flower to experience. trate your body. area. He could be eJRernalize"tl in consciousness at the time. This is
a great flower.'In the same way, we appreciate a beautiful soul who In the same way, one who is closed on the inside of himself miss- Darshan from a great soul, like the pollen of the flowers, can not important. It does not stop his darshan at all. The guru, feeling
comes along, seeing in him the potential of a spiritual mission in e s the darshan of the awakened soul. He sees in the greater soul stimulate healthy sneezing and cleansing if one's subconscious hap- you draw the darshan, would immediately go within and enjoy it
this life. just another ordinary person like himself The darshan is there, pens to .be congested. Call it, if you like, an allergy to flowers. himself Once darshan is there in him, it is always there.
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EDITORIAL nies. America knows that India is per-
ilously perched between China and
Pakistan, both of .which have nuclear
capability and have started wars in
Is' India's
. 'Nuclear. Threat
the past. America knows that its mili-
tary umbrella (the one that covers
South Korea, Australia, Japan and the
"To do good is noble. To 8.dvise others to do good
is also noble ... 8nd much less trouble."
NATO nations) does not shelter India,
~
and Saddham ..Hussein. America also .;
knows that India is informed, in hr:r - '\ ' . .
.! .
BY, THE EDITOR heart, by the gentle ethic of non-
violence, and by spiritual values that ~ NOW J5 --mE TIM ( t1Y
"'0 .
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18 19
INTERNATIONAL ,
By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN With such a tapestr-y as a backdrop, it's lit- Notwithstanding these civic SUGcesses, a
VERY MAJOR WORLD CITY HAS A tle wonder thtJ-t the city has such a rich cul- thriving Indian community does not a vi-
"Little India" district. But the conti- tural and artistic life. Cultural enthusiasts brant Hindu religion make, and there are
nent of Africa, apparently accus- will be greeted by a kaleidoscope of Indian, mixeq. views regarding the vitality 0f Hin-
tomed to being grandiose,l' has an Colonial and African traditions that have duism' in South Africa. Many well-estab-
entire "Little India" nation-that is" prospered in the city and given rise to a lis!lj:'!d Hindu organizations prosper here, to
South Africa. Of all thl( countries wide variety of food, restaurants, arts and be sure, and the religion has a long history,
Indians have adopted-once transcending crafts, and ethnic dance forms." which gives a certain stability. But there ex-
the "imported indentured laborers" stigma- It would be difficult to overstress how ists a high conversion rate away from Hin- "-
South Africa is by far the most endeared to deeply the traditions of Hindu culture- duism, primarily to Christianity, and a state
the Indians who live here. It is S'unilarly dance, dress, philosophy, food, etc.--="are ap- of spiritual dormancy seems to prevail.
reve~ by Indians in India, as the heroic Ma- preciated by the South African populace To be, or not-to be ... Hlndu: While speaking
• hatma Candhi had his beginnings here. His and how graciously these contributions are with HINDUISM TODAY, Linda Covender, a
first-hand experiences of apartheid in South received. school teacher in Durban, divulged why she
Africa were critical in forming his satyagra- Another page on this website recounts the, turned away from Hinduism. "I was plagued .,.
ha strategies and ~ssion. And, there is per- history of Indians in Durban, and virtually by a prolonged period of illness, which doc-
haps no other non-Asian country that feels the same tale can be told for each major city tors were unable to curet. But I noticed 11
that Indians-and their reli- slight improvement in my condi-
gion-are such an important and tion after the pastor from the 10-
integral-part of the nation. Indi- cal church began to pray for me.
ans are counted as one of the The dynamic youth movement
"Big Three" ethnic majorities. at the church also pro~ided a
The Durban Experience web- spiritual and social outlet for my
site (www.durban.org..zal) ex- son, something we did not have
emplifies this spirit. A page on as Hindus. In fac!; I did not even
the city's ethnic makeup reads, know who the local Hindu priest
"If cultural diversity were the was when I reilly needed some-
criterion for choosing the capital one to minister to my needs."
of tIfe new South Africa, then Other youth corroborate the
Durban would be.the only city essence of Covender's story. Ur-
in the running. In a country isha Brijlall, a pupil at the A.D.
dubbed the Rainbow Nation, Lazarus Secondary scHool, Dur-
this port city is blessed with the ban, warns, "Hindus need to be
most vibrant ml.x of the ethnic enlightened on the immense
and cultural paint brush. The depth of their religion and her-
metropolis is hom~ to ~ee ma- itage. Unfortunately, many Hin-
jor social groupings, each -with dus are exploring new canals of
its own rich history and tradi- thought and are converting to
tions It was the labor of the no- other religip ns." Cassandra Sub-
ble ; descendants of Shaka's ramony, a 15-year-olq classmate
mighty Zulu Nation which made of Brijlall complains, "Hinduism
the city the commercial and in- is to me the most intriguing, an-
dustrial hub of the province. cient religion, which provides
Now with the demise of deep insights through its philoso-
apartheid, they have become . ~ phies. But, sadly, I think that
the major political force in the ~ many Hindus in South Africa are
region, ....with members of both ~ not practicing these majestic
the two biggest parties, the AN.C ;- teachings. Many of the youth do
and IFP, proud to be called Zu- ~ not show tolerance and respect •
Ius. The quirks and mannerisms ~ for other reljgions. Many, more
of the British settlers in Natal Salute: Hindu youth dancers at the World Hindu. Conference, 1995 are unable to speak their mother
earned the province its nick- tongue. Also, if Hindu elders
name of Last Outpost of the British Empire. in the nation. "From 1849 to 18'51, over cannot teach their children the basic princi-
Now the great-great-grandchildren of those 4,000 British settlers came to Natal under a pIes of Hinduism, then many souls will be
hardy pioneers consider themselves as scheme which was devised by Joseph Byrne. lost in the world, for where there is no un-
South African as their Zulu neighbors. were
There many businessmen among derstanding, there wiU.be incorrect action.
"The forerunners of Durban's thriving In- them, and from this time onwards the small We are currently witnessing this as teen-
ot
dian community arrived in :r5.urban as pen- . village Durban began to progress. Short- agers turn to dangerQus past-times like alco-
niless indentured laborers last century. ly after this event it was found that sugar hoI and drug abuse."
Since-then they have built'themselves into a was a suitable and prefitable crop to,.grow, Saraspathi Naidu, age 35, of Phoenix, also
force to be reckoned with, in the fields of and the development was rapid. It was this converted to Christianity. Her grievances are
commerce, culture and politics. Apart from development which prompted the \,rovince a clarion call to Hindu leaders: 'J\s a Hindu,
the big three, D1¥ban is also home to people to imp(Jrt laborers from India, and these, in I found myself bogged d0Wl:l with ritualistic
of Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese descent turn, were followed by traders. Today their worship. Most of the time I did not under-
to name only a few. And many Gf them are descendents form a very important part of stand why I was doing the things I did.
second or third ' generation Durbanites. the Durban citizenry." When I inquired, I had to be content with
"
cult, as they had to reside in communal the Sangam a uriiversal mission available to
barracks and survive on food rations," all of humanity, it has not yet made inroads
says the Pandita. ' into non-Indian communities.
The Arya Prathinidhi Sabha (APS) is Temple tour: The oldest temples in South
the parent body of the Arya Samaj Move- Africa are located in and around Durban.
ment in South Africa. The Durban Isthri Prominent are the Siva Soobramaniar Alay-
Samaj and the Arya Stree Samaj are am, the Vishnu Temple of Newlands and the
women's adjurfcts. Nanackchand belongs Sathie Sanmarga Sungam, Asherville. Even
to all three, stressing that she emerged from the tourism-based Durban Experience web-
a deeply religious and strong Puranic back- site promotes visits to Hindu temples. The
ground and was well schooled in Hindi be- site states, "The Umgeni Road TempI Com-
fore she married at the age of 18. In plex provides for all forms of traditional
1971-72, she and five others responded to a Hinduism. It is one of the oldest and largest
call for women to join the priesthood: "In in South Africa, dating back to 1883. Its ar-
1975, following the successful com.pletion of Protest: Hindus react boldly to denigration chitecture and central shrine are reminis-
examinations, I was given the gown and cent of shrines found throughout South In-
,have been practicing as a priest ever since." headed the Center"until his death in 1994. ella. The Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu
Nanackchand boasts that the movement was Currently, the Center is headed by Swami Road was built in 1901 and recalls the ele-
the forerunner in granting women priests Saradananda." gance of the Nort}} Indian architecture, al-
privileges equal to those enjoyed by men. Since.•,singh's 'induction into the Center, though there are Victorian and Islamic in-
"Currently there are almost 30 female seven ashrams, including one for nuns, have fluences. The eight temples of Cato Manor
priests in the country," she reports. . been •constructed throughout the country. in Bellair Road survived a rocky hiS'tory
The APS propagates the teachings of the Singh has also seen a feeding scheme ex- when apartheid laws evicted the Indian
Vedas, and its Vedic temples are popular. But pand massively since its launching in the community from the area. Today regUlar re-
Synod: Swami Saradananda (third from left) and guests of the Ramakrishna Centre, Dur-ban the APS also engages significantly in social 1950s. "We feed abouf 7,500 underprivi- ligious acHvities ' include an annual fire-
service. Founded in 1921, the 'Aryan Benev- leged Indian and African schoolchildren on walking ceremony."
the explanation that those were the way our fiber. Swami Sahajananda, present head of olent Home, essentially an ashram for the a daily basis. Approximately 1,200 destitute "Encouraging for me is the high turn-out
ancestors had done things. Now, as a Christ- the DLS, devotes a great deal of energy and homeless on the outskirts of Chatsworth, has welfare families receive grocery hampers of the youth to temples on auspicious days," RIlSolution: Gandhi in South Africa in 1913
ian, I have a holy book, the Bible, which I can attention to children. Yoga camps are a DLS become a major cornerstone of the APS. The fromtthe Center," details Singh. punctuates twenty-year-old Niren Maharaj, at the outset of his life'S mission
read and understand and which is constant- specialty. Apart from ministering to the reli- APS also provides much-needed counseling Regular youth cqrnps are held to minister a student at the University ofD~ban- West-
ly discussed and analyzed in church. Hindu gious and spiritual needs of devotees, the and support to victims of wife abuse, rape to the needs of the Center's young devotees, ville. Undaunted about the future, he says, SATYAGRAHA
leaders, however, do not place a high premi- DLS is deeply committed to community and impending divorce. "We have estab- while bi-annual yoga intensives draw atten- "There is no doubt that Hinduism is des-
um on acquainting Hindus with their scrip-
tural works."
welfare work, including building schools for
underprivileged (usually black) communi-
lished an ashram just outside of Durban to
house abused women from all religious and
dances of up to 250 per camp. "The Center's
work is definitely contributing to the
tined to. prosper and grow. It offers great
hope for the future." Revealing a little mis- Fount of Change
The Hindu chieftains: Conversion con- ties. Their well-known high-tech printing racial backgrounds who otherwise would process of nation-building and is also expos- sionary spirit of his own, he challenges, "I
cerns are real, but they are not felt to be a press facility makes possible in the dissemi- have no plac~ to turn to," says Nanackchand. ing Hinduism to all sectors of South African would like to urge all Hindus to become veg-
dire threat, for the dominant Hindu organi- nation of popular religious literature. Also immersed in community upliftment society," Singh testifies. I etarians and to practice yoga and medita- The crusade that
zations in South Africa do minister actively
to a large number of steadfast devotees.
The Arya Samaj, too, has firmly nurtured
Hindus in South Africa since its inception in
is the 56-year-old Ramakrishna Center. S.P.
Singh, a retired schoo] principal who has
Ever since its humble origins in the shan-
ty town settlement of Magazine Barracks in
tion. Only then will we experience the mag-
ic of inner peace and serenity that Hinduism
transformed two nations
Most encouraging to all is the fact that youth 1906. Staunch devotee Pandita Nanackc- been with the Center for three decades, re- 1931, the Saiva Siddhanta Sangam (SSS) has can b'ring." ..
figure prominently-through attendance as hand, 74, one of the first females inducted lates, "The Center was founded in 1942 by made tremendous strides ana continues to By AJITH BRIDGRAJ, DURBAN
well as in conception and organization-in into the South African priesthood, became a Swami Nischalananda, who passed away in profoundly impact the lives of hundreds of • IGHTY-FIVE YEARS H AVE ELAPSED
temple functions and the popular yoga
camps held by several institutions.
follower after marriage. "My paternal grand-
father came to South Africa with the first
1965 and was succeeded by his only monas-
tic disciple, Swami Shivapadananda. He
Hindu families. The founding head of the
SSS was Brahma Sri Siva Soobramonia Guru Picture Perfect .t. since Mohandas K. Gandhi sailed out
~
of South Africa to change the course of
Strict disciplines of meditation and vege- indentured Pldians in 1860," she recalls. SWamigal. "Following his demise in 1953, he I India. But South Africa was trans-
tarianism are emphasized by the Divine Her grandfather had become embroiled in 11- Prayer power: Pandita Nanackchand of the was succeeded by my father, Sri Karuna- The photos formed, too. "Gandhi's twenty-y~ar stay
Life Society (DLS), as well as a ban on family dispute over property in Benares, Arya Samaj performs a Hindu w edding; ianandl;a Swamigal," says deputy spiritual for this spe- here, from 1893 to 1913 was a turning point
watching television. In this way the DLS and that motivated him to go to South ;rhe Saiva Siddhanta Sangam's Guru head Guru Ravananthar. "In all, we have cial feature in the history of South Africa," ventures
aims to produce devotees of strong moral Africa. "Their early life was extremely diffi- Ravananthar with his family at home launched 23 branches nationally," he . re- were taken Ravi Govender, curator of the Durban Cul-
ports. His son, Ravi Pillay; 35, explains that by Rajesh tural and Documentation Centre. He notes
the initial growth of the SSS was due to the Jantilal, 34, that "President Nelso;;' Mandela " often
initiative of the founding master and his dis- a primary quotes the Gandhian ideals of satyagraha
ciples. "They used to go to the Durban city school (passive resistance) and ahimsa, noninjury"
center at night and preach and sing divine teacher, Gandhi's presence dwells in the hearts of
hymns under the lampposts. Soobramonia award-win- South Africans and lingers through several
Guru also meditated nights in a cemetery in ningself- memorials. The Phoenix settlement-erect-
the city." taughtpho- ed during Gandhi's staY-still stands, albeit
The Sangam concentrates.....on conducting tographer in a dilapidated copdition. Talk abounds
venacular classes, some tutored by Guru Ra- and freelance journalist. Locally, he about renovating and preserving it for his-
vanathar. Sunday prayer services spread the covers news, sports, documentaries and toric and tourism considerations. In Pieter-
Sangam's messages of vegetarianism and fashion. Internationally, he records maritzburg, a plaque marks the spot where
service to mankind, but the height of its so- elections and national leaders for Asso- he was ejected from a train, the crucial
cial service is a feeding program that pro- ciated Press, Agence France Press, event that catalyzed his political struggles.
vides meals to '" indigent pupils in fifty Reuters and HINDUISM TODAY. An impressive statue of him' adorns Gandhi
schools in Chatsworth and surrounding ar- RAJE SH JANTILAL, 35 OGWNI, 9 RUSSELLE STREET,
4001 D URBAN, KWAZULU -NATAL, SOUTH AF RICA
Memorial Hall in the KwaZulu-Natal town
eas. Although its founding master declared of Ladysmith. ..
LIG P! .~
J
Manick Sorcar
Electrical engineer of Denver, Colorado, and son of the
late P.e. Sorcar, India's legendary magician, Manick Sorcar
is undoubtedly a top expresser of the US Indian immigrant
.•.T.AJ!.E A 6MAL'- cAN ~r ~ICOT-rA experience. His illustrations, touching the heart of cultural
\~
integration challenges, are compiled in two volumes-The
, CH.eeSE MO MIX ~I"H A PIS'TFLJ 1-1- Melting Pot, Indians in America, and Spices in the Melting
Pot, both available via his website at www.manicksorcar.
OF F!"ou~ ••• A~.P iWO FIN~eR-PIP com. But Sorcar doesn't stop here. What began as an effort
to teach his two daughters their heritage, led him to create
t)F' &1Hee. lo-J11H. ONe. PINCH OF SAI-i.... • an award-winning series of one-man animated videos for
children, mixing his hand-drawn art with computer-gener-
r:~T LlNil L.. ~o l..t' f<. IS ~ U1'T'''(... iHE=N ated art and animation, along with original music, to show-
case Indian culture.
SOp...f'... INit) A S1~IN(b..1+11CI< OF S·O~t.1p. ••
28 HINDUISM '11 0DAY AUGUST, 1998 ALL CARTOONS COURTESY MANIC'X. SQRCAR A UG UST , 199 8 HINDUISM TODAY 29
Despite the
Frank" Ernest cost of living,
have you
noticed how
it remains so
popular?
Bill Watterson
\~u.. eXI$TE:NCS
Calvin " Hobbes Bill is the creator of Calvin &
Hobbes, an engaging chronicle
of a six-year-old's psyche, which
IS A JOJcEI.? ,. appeared in more than 2,400
newspapers when it ceased pub-
Bob Thaves you CAN'T ie lication January 1, 1996. In an-
nouncing his retirement, Bill
Frank & Ernest are the stars of Bob ~t>:V~~ ._ >~IOUS! said he was eager to work at a
Thaves' innovative single-panel comic more thoughtful pace. with few-
strip. Celebrating their 25th anniver- yY er artistic compromises.
sary this year and read by 25 million
people daily. Frank & Ernest are as It's all right
comfortable offering whimsical com-
ments on the creation of the universe to hold a
as they are about taxes or software.
Drawing since boyhood, Bob's formal conversation,
art training consisted of studying vari-
ous cartoonists and their work. As a but you should
boy, he could identify cartoons by dif-
ferent cartoonists without being able to
let go of it
see their signatures. More than 2,000 now and then.
episodes of Frank & Ernest may be
found at www:frankandernest.com.
THIS
jJ./..L ,(E.>, J: Gf~IEVE J: HAP PlfVlOIIS
waR/<, SO lJVf~, ANI):r~J,./~Vf IN
PllAfAOH Tf'IE L.IFE AFTf/2. WHAT
(AN /tAVt'
ANoTtff~
:r DON'T ifL/fvr If Karma Kat RAJAS Barry Geller
THE
/../Ff IN THAT THIS' i.IFE
HEfEAFTffl/ 1$ HAPP~NING! TAMAS, RAJAS AND SATIVA.
THE PANEL TO THE RIGHT IS
Barry Geller, 64. is the creator of Kar-
Po you A GRAPH SHOWING THE
BALANCE IN MY THREE
rna Kat and a devotee of Swami
Prakashanand Saraswati. He raised a
CtllfVi IN ACCOUNTS. family of three children and became a
orHE! LiVES', graphic designer and illustrator. His
ffNlf? work was published in well known
consumer magazines including For-
tune. Time. Cosmopolitan. Esqu.ire and
others. His awards include citations of
merit from the New York Society of il-
lustrators and publication of his work
in the Swiss graphic arts annual,
Graphis. Barry and his wife, Nan, now
live at Barsana Dham in Austin. Texas.
FRANK & ERNEST Q BOB THAVES (REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION) CALVIN AND HOBBES Q BILL WATTERSON FR.A.NK IX ERNEST © BOB THAVES
30 HINDUISM TODAY AUGUST, Igg8 (REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION), KARMA KAT ~BARRY GELLER AUGUST, Igg8 HINDUISM T ODAY 31
OR••• t COUto HAIJE BEEN. A
l M[GHT HA.UE BEEN HUMAN•. BUT. JUDGING BY WOULD THAT BE A .
A SLUG. IN MY' LAST THE WAY' SOME HUMAN.S STEP UP'.. ORA
liFE. TArS fS A TREAT EACH OTHER. STEP DOWN?
STEPUP ! (WONDER...
Mario de Miranda
One of India's fmest cartoonists, Mario was born at
Daman in 1936, grew up in Goa and was educated
at Bangalore and Mumbai. After working many
years for The Times of India, he now freelances,
drawing for The Economic Times and a strip for
The Afternoon in Mumbai. He is married, has two
sons and lives in Goa. Check out his three gatefold
toons and the Mumbai scene on the right.
Port of Spain: The royal cannon of Fort George---hu,ilt by the British in 1805-now Silently overlook Trinidad's capital city
ISLAND HERITAGE
I>
d Ie belongs to the sixth centu-
...this exquisitely ca~e temPI Right now the police are
ry and has great anttque va u e.
lookingforit ...
By ANIL MAHABIR, TRINIDAD in 1838, the fre~d African slaves left the sug-
, Y AMBITION IS TO BE A GOOD PUN- ar cane estates for higher paying jobs in the
dit like my great-grandfather, my towns. Workers were then, brought from In-
grandfather and my father," 19-year- dia. The very first group of 197 Hindus ar-
_ old Umesh Persad told me. '1 want to rived in Trinidad on May 30, 1845, on the
attain liberation and Self-Realization. I want ship Fatal Razack after a months-long, op-
to communicate with God. I want to be con- pressively crowded and hazardous journey
fident and assist my Hindu community from India around Cape Horn, Africa. Ten
whenever I can. These are different times. brahmin pundits were among them, accord-
The world is no~ a global village, and there .ing to Sat Maharaj, president of the Sanatan
is a need for the pundits to keep abreast Dharma Maha Sabha, Trinidad's largest
with what is happening." Umesh received a pundit organization. Ultimately 143,000
national scholarship from the Government persons, about 60 percent men, came undef
of Trinidad after excelling in the Advanced the indentured servitude scheme. They
Level Cambridge exams-straight AS in' originated mostly in the Uttar Pradesh and
math, physics and chemistry-and is now an Bihar regions of North India, with sgme
engineering student at the University of the from Calcutta and Chennai.
West Indies. Like the other 259 pundits in About 10 percent were brahmins, even
Trinidad, of which he is the youngest, he though, according to Dr. Kusha Harracks-
will pursue his religious duties of teaching, ingh of the University of the West Indies,
counseling and worship in addition to fol- "Recruitment in India was designed to by-
lowing a secular profession. If Umesh is a pass brahmins. The stated opinion of the
This Village must be pretty advanced-they have folk dances here for barometer, then the pundit community British colonial masters was that brahmins
entertainment just as w e have in the city! which has guided Trinidad for 150 years is were not suited for hard work." More practi-
I developed an interest in these things in America
well prepared to enter the 21st century. cally, the policy kept the educated brahmins
Upon the abolition of slavery in Trinidad from providing a focus for dissent, as well as
when I went there recently for the festival.
BOOX RESOURCES: PENGUIN nOOK OF INDIAN CARTOONS AND THE BEST OF LAXMAN, PENGUIN denied spiritual guidance to the Hindus.
BOOKS INDIA, 2 10 CH lRANJIV TOWERS , 43 NEHRU PLACE, NEW DE LHI 11 00 19 INDIA; H OW TO
DRAW AND SELL CARTOONS , NORTHLIGHT BOOKS , 1507 DANA AVENUE, CINCINNATI, OHIO
Fourth generation: Pundit Umesh Persad, Secretly, brahmins did join the five-year
45207 USA; ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CARTOONING TECHNIQUES AND BLITZ CARTOONING KIT, RUN- 19, a national scholarship winner, contin- schemes of labor by concealing their caste
NING PRESS , 125 SOUTH 22ND STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19103-4399 USA
ues his family tradition identity to the recruiters. For example, those
with . the brahmin caste name Agnihotri Initially thl=! brahmins kept their id'entities sun-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, school teacher-my son Umesh would not nity is what ke.eps the religions alive, not tion than scholarship and ritual ~orship,
changed it to.the lower caste name Maharaj, concealed, lived in poverty like the rest of ethics and values, the young Hindu and the have been well educated." Pundit Tewarie those from India." Pundit Narendra Ragoo- and hence is prepared to meet the chal-
which remains today a common name in the immigrants and worked very hard in the modern world, fashion, drugs, etc." Umesh's works, too, as the Commercial OffIcer for nanan, educated in, Vedic rituals and scrip- lenges of the 21st century. In America, most
Trinidad. Some came because other emi- fIelds. It was only around 1870, after a sig- .father, Pundit Hardeo Persad, says he gives the Canadian High Commission. tures at Banaras Hindu University dis- priests have no trai!).ing beyond ritual wor-
grants pleaded .with them to provide reli- . . . nifIcant number of Hindus had settled per- a Sunday morning sendce, with lecture Jilld The community's biggest problem, said a$l"ees. "Great swamis from India are,doing ship, and cannot, for example, address th~
gious guidance in their new home. Life was manently on the island, villages formed and cl:i.scussion. "I also provide counseling to Persad, "is that American life is glamorized good work here, and some are establishing urge!).t concerns of the youths attending
very hard in India at the time-a famine conditions improved, that they took up their those who have problems." This pattern 's and made to look superior, while the lifestyle permanent centers [such as Chinmaya Mis-• their temples, nor even explain the meaning
lasting fIfty years was in progress. The First religious training duties. Technically speak- close to that of the Christian minister whose of Hindus is made to look backward and in- sion]." Narendra and his wife Aswinee con- of the rituals to them in English.
Indian Revolution, also calle;d the Sepoy ing, these brahmins had incurred demerit, responsibilities extend to all aspects of fol- ferior. Youngsters want to enjoy t;he best of duct a full-time ministry of worship, coun- Pundit Umesh Persad is hopefully a sign
Mutiny, occurred in 1857 and brought re- even loss of caste, by crossing the ocean, but lower's lives, not just religious practice. Such both w orlds- the wild liberty of the West- seling, astrology and charitable ~orks. of this reawake'ning, for here is a young Hin-
pressive measures from the Bri.fish-espe- practically speaking, the Hindu ~mmunity a ministerial system commonly arises in the ern world, and when the energy r~s out, A signifIcant change has occurred ~th the du who could pursue many options, includ-
cially in the areas of India most emigrants desperately needed their services and was religious life of immigrant communities of they seek spirituality and Self Realization." 1995 election of the fIrst Hindu Prime Minis- ing emigration to America in pursuit of a
came from. It is not surprising then that a disinclined to quibble. When they came for- all faiths. Pundit Ramesh Tewarie, the influJ Tewarie observes, "The vast portion of those ter, the Honorable Basdeo Panday. "It has more lucrative job. Instead, he has decided
group of young, single brahmin men would ward to lead, they were accepted. ential head of Edinburgh Hindu Temple, at the temple are young people. It is amazing caused a kind of reawakening of Hindus be- to not only continue, but to remold and ad-
seek better circumstances elsewhere. At the outset, the pundits were engaged in said, "We counsel the youth and those suf- how they stick to Hinduism. The evangelical cause the PM publically practices his faith just his religio.us obligations to the needs of
Initially, all came under a fIve-year pro- traditional ritual worship. But that evolved fering from drug abuse, domestic violence brigade which has attempted to slaughter without fear and shame," states Tewarie. 'i\Jso, the 'times. And it is good news that many
gram and intended to return to liidia. When out of necessity into a more comprehensive and other family matters." HindUism has had a reversal effect~ laws are now coming to protect Hinduism and other youth are taking an interest in their
the term expired, few did because the con- role. Sat Maharaj explains that today, '''The 1\11 of Trinidad's traditional pundits prac- There is one complaint. Ashram B. Ma- give it an equal place with other faiths." ancient faith.
ditions which had caused them to leave In- pundits are doing much more than puja. We tice on a part-time basis. "One 'can live off haraj shares it: "PUndits who come directly In one sense, the Hindus in Trinidad are
dia in the fIrst place had not changed and in the Malla Sabha have been holding semi- religious work in India," said Hardeo Persad, from India on a temporary basis often create ahead of those in other Western countries, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CONTACTS:
llAHA. SABIIA HEADQUARTERS, EASTERN MAIN ROAD, ST.
because the Trinidad colonial rulers provid- nars on topical issues such as cloning and ''but in Trinidad it is different. If I did not division. by criticizing the practices of the for the brahmin community already has AUGUSTINE. PUNDrr RAlCEBH TEWARIB. EDINBURGH
DHARMlC SABHA, # 18 EDINBURGH GARDENS, CHAGUANAS.
ed those who stayed with land to develop. suicide and virtually everything under the have a formal nonreligious job-I am a local pundits. But the local pundit commu- evolved into a group serving a broader func- PANDIT NARENDRA RAGOONANAN. CORNER RICKSON &: BACK
STREET, EL DORADO, TUNAPUNA
R
ship Lord Ayappan at His temple in the "Divine Jyothi," or light-the culmina-
named after Draupadi, top where the God- As a result of Ohristian ef- of the gragon), keeping in mind Lord Siva. Sabarimala in a remote area of Kerala tion of the year's worship. The plan also calls
, wife of the five Pan- dess was once en- forts, several important local Alternatively, reports Surendran, the Chris- State, South India, during the No- for nearby deforested areas to be replanted.
davas of the Mahabham- shrined landmarks have been renamed tians will have a Hindu friend' do the o{fer- vember-to-January pilgrimage season. The £wami Sathyananda believes the project
taoUpon this hill in Keralas According to after Christian saints. ings on their behalf in a Hindu temple. crowds have totally overwhelmed the mea- could be easily funded,.Jrom the temple's
Idukki district stood the very Bhaskaran, an old man The cross construction is the Even a little-known astrologer can earn gre facilities. A group of environmentalists yearly income of $7.5 mi'llion and frO'm the
old remains of temple stones who had looked after work of Christian nongovern- an income of several thousand rupees a reported, '1\ post-seasonal visit to Sabari- tens of millions in taxes which result from
and deities. Local Hindu resi- the small sanctum in mental organizations (NGOs) month, while those of some renown can mala is a nauseating experience. TIle whole the temple's presence. Swami complains,
dents, mostly illiterate tribal the past, the entire operating in the area in pro- earn that in a day. The new residential area looks like the garbage dump of a huge however, that, as with other temples in Ker-
people, told HINDUISM TODAY nearby land of several jects of organic farming, house of Mr. Surendran which I toured is city such as Calcutta or Mumbai. The air is ala, management is overseen by various
that Christian encroachers re- hundred acres was in herbal and medicinal plant certainly a clear indication of his earnings. filled with fue stench of decaying flesh from boards whose executiv> committees are po-
moved the image of Goddess the possession of a cultivation and other social His old house, which has been the center of donkeys who died after hauling in supplies litical appointees and not necessarily devo-
Shakti from the summit of Hindu family for many welfare programs using funds astrology for several centuri~ is going to be ·and from 3,000 overflowing latrines. The tees of the temple, OJ,; even Hindus. Muslims
Panchali Hill and broke into years. They had rented from the government, accord- transformed into a museum. entire area surrounding the central shrine is and Christians in Kerala run their institu-
pieces footprints in stone be- it for cultivation from a Move In, take over: 15 crosses up the hill ing to Mr. Aravindakshan, . Among the various methods of astrologi- covered with tons of solid and liquid waste- tions without government oversight. In the
lieved to be those of the Pan- Christian family. Then president of the temple pro- cal analysis, Surendran believes the conch a fertile breeding ground for flies and-mos- early 1990s, then Chief Minister of Kerala
davas. Now only large granite under the land reforms of the Recently Christians even tection committee. .... shell divination to be the best, be it to ascer- quitoes." A.K. Antony favored the reconstruction, but
slabs of the original shrine re-
main, and fifteen concrete
1950s, Christians took peFma-
nent possession of all but ten
gained possession of half that
area Hindus living in the
CONTACT: ARAVINDAKSHAN. N EETHI
STORE, KERALA STATE WAREHOUSING
tain a family problem, a temple problem or
even that of a ch&ch. ..
Swami Sathyananda Saraswati, chairman subsequent administrations shelved it. _
of the Hindu Dnity Forum, has armounced a
,
CORPORATION, XATJ'A.LTANA. IDUXJa
crosses have been placed from acres, including the temple. area- about 60 families-con- DISII'R1 CT, KERAU CONTACT: SURENDRAN, P IRAEVOM , PAZHOOR PADIPURA,
E-RNARKULA.M DISTRIcT, KERALA , IN DIA
master plan to rebuild the area's entire infra- CONTACT: SRI llAMA D ASA ASHRAM, CHENXOTl'UKONAM,
T HIRUVANA.NTHAPURAM. KERALA, INDIA
• structure at a total cost of uS$l25,ooO,000 .
38
.
;'
HINDUISM TOD A,Y AUGUST , 1998 A UG U S T , 1 998 H I N D U ISM T 0 DAY 39
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HEALING ASTROLOGY resolved karma must be faced at ,a future
EVOLUTIONS time, often magnetizing them together again
6uyet:'s Beware of
ENDED: A year-long fast by Sah~ Muniji, the w!J,eel of life goes on and on.
65, on May 1. The Jain monk lived on How does one know if it is "true love" that
just warm water since May of 1997. He will last a lifetime? The future compatibili-
broke the fast with a glass of diluted How the horoscop,e can provide sensible ty ~f two people can be accurately deter-
o
R.G. Krishnan Chakrapani Ullal
Hindu Businessmen's Association Trust Chitravelloo Gunasegaran $60.45 Erasenthiran Poonjolai $150.00
Adi Alahan $350.48 Kriya Haran $182.00 Total $150.00
Vel Alahan $335.00 Edwin Hawk $9,830.59 Mauritius Saiva Dharmasala Endowment
Nathan Palani $300.00 Selvanathan Jothiswarar $206.39
MISSION STATEMENT Satya Palani $115.00 Gunasekaran Kandasamy $486.88
Shiva Sookhai $15.00
Total $15.00
Easvan Param $141.80 Diksha Katir $115.80
Hindu. Heritage Endowment is a publicly supported, charitable organization'recognized as tax Deva Rajan $2,980.00 Usha Devi Katir $53.28 Nepal Komari Goddess Education Fund
• I Small Gifts to Fund $192.26 Andrzej & Beatriz Kraja $100.00 Sita Murali $10.00
exempfby the IRS 0;;' April 22, 1994. Its ~mployer ID !,lumber is 99-0308924. FOldndeg by Satguru Total $4,414.54 Toshadeva Lynam Guhan $153.78 Total $10.00
Deva Natharaja $376.00 Pori Monasteries Fund
Hindu Orphanage Endowment Fund
Umah Rani Palanisamy $158.43
Gunasekaran Kandasamy $113.43 Ravi Chandrasekhara $21.00
Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, its philanthropic mission is tel provide secure, professionally man- V Srikanth $200.00
Aran Sambandar $720.00
Total $21.00
Padmini Samuthiran $681.31
aged financial support for i~stitutions and religious leaders of all lineages of Sanatana Dhar~a.
Gokula Vani $75.00 Loganatha Shivam $600.00 Salva AgaInas Trust
Small Gifts to Fund $184.81 Yatrikadevi Shivam $200.00 Matthew Wieczork $24.00
Total $573.24 Saiva Siddhanta Church $6,680.23 Ramakumar & Sailaja Kosuru $20.00
Hinduism Today Endowment Trust Sivaneswaran Sockanathan $403.13 Shiva Sookhai $15.00
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Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam
A former mining center in Malaysia, the city of Klang is now the ho,me Robert Sorrells $360.00 Vayudeva Varadan $2,145.25
'Ih1st
Clarence V. Williamson $100.00 Small Gifts to Fund $94.07
for a relatively high percentage of Hindus, including one of Hindu Small Gifts to Fund $145.00 Total $25,246.91 Shiva Sookhai $15.00
Total $15.00
Heritage Endowment's consistent donors, Gowri Nadason. She sup- Total $863.00 Kauai Aadheenam Annual Archana Fund
Sri Subramuniya Kottam Fund
ports Hinduism in many ways, includ4,1g actively helping with sales Hinduism Today Distribution Fund Rathi Devi Batumallah $80.00
Andrew Schoenbaum $25.00
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and distribution of HINDUISM TODAY in Mal,aysia. She teaches the Jatinder Bhan $92.00 Yatrika Shivam $200.00 Total $25.00
Saivite Hindu Religion children's course (featured below) to groups of Revuluri Chandrasekhar $600.00 Guha Skanda $80.00 Sundari Perwnan Memorial Fund
Champa Rani Chatterjee $500.00 Small Gifts to Fund $93.34 Markandeya Peruman $50.00
children 5, to 15 years of age, stressing tradItional Hindu philosophy SatyavatilGeogia Ann D'Antoni $138.00 Total $533.34 Total $50.00
and culture as well a; character building and morals. Of her classes, Satish Desai $250.00 KauaiAadheenam Monastic Endowment Thank You Gurudeva Fund
Kailash Sivam Dhaksinamurthi $381.22 Vinaya Alahan $400.00 VelAlahan $51.00
Gowri reports: "Parents have seen posifive changes in their children Ravindra Doorgiat $55.74 Gunasekaran Kandasamy $113.42 Dan Mackay $50.00
and they are very impressed." Of her donations to Hindu Heritage Wenhua Huang
Rama Dev Jager
$526.00
$550.00
Dane S Karpinecz $100.00 S. Thiruselvan $60.03
Sinniah Sivagnanasuntharam $107.06 Vayudeva Varadan $70.00
Endowment, she notes, "Giving for a good' cause is a gift to God. I enjoy giving because I want to Amravaddee Kownden $51.12 Small Gifts to Fund $198.33 Small Gifts to Fund $224.00
Arvind Kumar $600.00 Total $918.81
support Sanatana Dharma." Kartikeyen Manick $76.03
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Krish & Devika Murugavel $276.00 Loving Ganesha Distribution Fund Tirwnular Sannidhi Preservation Trust
Kanthasamy Pillaiyar $220.00 Gordon L Bennett $100.00 Shyamadeva Dandapani $132.00
FUN,D OF THE MONTH Suguneswary Ponniah $51.97 Eric Mitchell $20.00 Nitya Nadesan $100.00
Yatrika Shivam $200.00 Total $120.00 Total $232.00
Endowments are an investmenhn the future. They grow slowly but last f0r centuries. Several Marshall Silva $600.00 Malaysian Hindu Youth Educational Fund Tirunavakkarasu Nayanar Gurukularn Fund
S. Thiruselvan $58.46 Jeyasreedharan $80.00
years ago, the Malaysian Ijindu Youth Educational Func! was created by I<:uala 'CumpU!' attorney Omkar Tiku $52.00 Total $80.00
Chellappa Deva $75.00
Reid Wilburn $138.00 Deva Seyon $91.73
Arjunan Subramaniam to provide free religious Anonymous $600.00 Math.vasi Medical Fund $81.45
materials to. underprivileged Hindu children in Gowri Nadason $60.00 Total $348.18
Small Gifts to Fund $524.47
Total $6,895.34 Matthew Wieczork $24.00 Total Recent Contrib. $40,919.39
Malaysia. After years of collecting funds, the Total $84.00
Iraivan Temple Endowment Total Endowments at Market Value
first grant~ recently purchased 700 cop~es.of P N Ekambaram $63.62 Math.vasi Travel Fund As of April 30, 1998 $2,447,175.24
Books One and Two of the children's course
Saivite Hindu Religion. At a ceremony in the
rural yillage of Senta, Dr. Subramaniam distrib- INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND CONSULTANTS: Franklin Management Inc.; First Hawaiian'Bank,
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