Hindu America

Hindus urge Britney Spears to go beyond Yoga.

Seeing American entertainer Britney Spears’ keen interest in yoga for staying in shape, Hindus have urged her to explore the rich philosophical thought of Hinduism, which introduced and nourished yoga.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that in addition to yoga and meditation, Hinduism was a superabundant storehouse of wisdom going back to ancient times. He or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help in her spiritual exploration if asked.

According to reports, singer/star Britney Jean Spears, 31, one of the highest paid female musicians, is doing three-hours of yoga per week for staying in top form for her high-energy upcoming two-years worth of shows in Las Vegas, slated to open this fall.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, suggested Spears that after the physical benefits of yoga, it was time now to explore the spiritual dimension of yoga because actually yoga was a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) united with universal-soul (parmatman). As yoga was one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy, it would be further enlightening to take a look at the rest of the five schools also, Zed added.

Rajan Zed further said that yoga was referred as “a living fossil” whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

About 20-million Americans practice yoga and about $11-billion goes into yoga gear and classes annually, reports suggest. According to National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

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I have to comment… if the rest of us 20 million Americans who practice looked more like Britney would you urge us too?

05/20/13

Does doing yoga make one a Hindu?

05/20/13

05/19/13

halphillips:

let’s do 2013

(via fathappyandcaffeinated)

05/15/13

yogibe:

Puja tools

Varanasi, India

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05/13/13

Forms of Hindu Prayer by Errol Manguso

Prayer is an important part of a Hindu’s daily life. It can be as simple as repeating a mantra or it can include complex rituals, such as the primary form of Hindu worship known as puja. Hindus generally use prayer to invoke and revere the religion’s Supreme God and many deities, whom devotees believe will bless them in return. Prayer can take place anywhere and any time of day; some traditional places include a Hindu’s home, a temple, festivals and on pilgrimages. Although Hinduism is a religion rich with diverse beliefs and practices, the traditions named below are commonly practiced among devotees.

http://people.opposingviews.com/forms-hindu-prayer-7411.html

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05/10/13

What Is Dharma?

Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save himself from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one’s life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life. It means “that which holds” the people of this world and the whole creation. Dharma is the “law of being” without which things cannot exist.

05/5/13

04/29/13

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04/27/13

For more about Ram Navami click on the link.

04/19/13

doc-avalon:

Holidays & Days of Note for March 23, 2013

* Chamaya Vilakku or chamayavilakku Festival (Quilon, India) The Exact reason for the festival is lost to time, but it’s been going on for ages. At some time in the past a religious devotion to the Goddess Bhagavati (a form of Durga), that the women performed was stopped, (invading army? plague? flood?) while some say it has something to do with some cow tending boys that found favor with Bhagavati, the stories vary, whatever the case the men kept the rite going while the women were prevented from doing it and for this Bhagavati recognizes them as women for the two days. Now men in the town, with the aid of wives, mothers, sister and shops set up just for the purpose, dress as women and take special lamps to the temple where Durga is guaranteed to hear their prayers.

* Republic Day (Pakistan) national holiday in Pakistan to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940

* Lieldienas “big days” (ancient Latvia) was the celebration of Vernal Equinox on March 23. The celebration usually lasted three or four days; each day was devoted to a specific deity, though no source gives the names of the respective deities.

* Tubilustrium (ancient Rome) the fifth and final day of the Quinquatria the festivals to Minerva, it involved sacred trumpets called tubae.

03/23/13

Hinduism no religion, Shiva a “superpower”: says IT tribunal

Outlandish it may appear but an Income Tax Tribunal in Maharashtra has held that Hinduism is not a religion and Shiva, Hanuman or Goddess Durga are regarded as “superpowers of the universe” and do not represent a particular religion.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Nagpur, in a recent order, said the expenses on worshipping Hindu deities and maintenance of temple could not be considered as religious activity.

“Technically, Hinduism is neither a religion nor Hindus form a religious community. Therefore, expenses incurred for worshipping Shiva, Hanuman or Durga and for maintenance of temples cannot be regarded to be for religious purposes. They are merely regarded to be the superpower of the universe,” it said.

03/17/13

Hindu America

Hindus urge Britney Spears to go beyond Yoga.

Puja tools

Hinduism no religion, Shiva a “superpower”: says IT tribunal

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