The Ancient World | India

Buddhist worshiper at a reclining Buddha statue in the Chaitya hall, or prayer hall, in Cave 26 at the Ajanta Caves in India Photograph: © Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis More than four millennia have passed since the many artefacts of the ancient Indus civilisation were fashioned. Yet one tiny sculpture, made by an unknown artist, still seems strikingly relevant to us today. The seal shows a seated figure on a low platform in a pose that is familiar to modern practitioners of yoga and meditation: the Read more [...]

Havelis are the ornaments of world’s architecture

Prior to the fourth century BC, most of the construction activities in India were done using wood. There are no surviving proofs of these wooden structures but the Rig-Veda has many names for such a house in its text.The Rig-Veda defines a house as "a place where men and animals live." According to another text,the Atharvaveda, most of the houses were made from wood. This text compares an ornamented wooden house with an ornamented female elephant. The palace of the great Mauryan emperor, Asoka, Read more [...]

The rich colours of Hinduism

Posted by Sri Lanka Guardian Religion 8:30:00 AM (November 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) When you walk in narrow streets and countryside of Jaffna peninsula, you will come across ubiquities Hindu temples spanning from the plain landscape with hundred of colourful miniature carvings. These temples are dedicated to various Hindu Gods and goddess. The impressive religious and decorated paintings inside the temples are based on Hindu religion and are painted in vibrant colours. During my Read more [...]

An American church celebrated Diwali

  In a remarkable interfaith gesture, First Universalist Church of Norway (FUCN) in Maine (USA) celebrated Hindu festival of Diwali. According to reports, its minister Reverend Richard Beal, in Diwali worship service on November seven, read from ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) and Rabindranath Tagore and said: enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul...Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul...Merge Read more [...]

New York’s famed Rubin Museum to exhibit photos of India-Nepal sadhus

  Prestigious Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) in New York (USA) will be exhibiting photographs of sadhus of India and Nepal from January 28 to May 30. Curated by Beck Bloom and titled "Body Language: The Yogis of India and Nepal", it will reportedly display photos of wandering ascetics by Thomas L. Kelly, who is described as photo-activist. "Body Language focuses on the rich symbolism behind sadhus' painted bodies, postures and practices", according to the Museum announcement. Kelly is said to Read more [...]

Vatican Library carries books on Hinduism and Yoga

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is the ex-officio head of state of Vatican City, a sovereign city-state within the city of Rome (Italy). Pope also heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about a billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. (ANI)   Even the Vatican Library has books on Hinduism and Yoga. Catalogue search reveals that besides nine books on Read more [...]

Bhagavad-Gita among the readings at prestigious Ursinus College of USA

  Ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) was one of the Fall 2010 readings at prestigious Ursinus College in Pennsylvania Well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described this action of Ursinus as "a step in the right direction" as students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged the schools/departments of religion and Read more [...]

New Animated DVD Course Disseminates Vedic Math Shortcuts Which Hold Promise …

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 11, 2011 Today's young generation especially might be termed "A / V learners," having grown up in a multimedia culture of video games, DVDs, and smartphones. A new program presents Vedic shortcut math principles in a 2 1/2 hour animated movie (with supporting exercise materials and flashcards) which was just released in December by www.totalbreeze.com/. Their mission is "to spread the word about Vedic Mathematics and other alternative math and memory shortcuts in a way Read more [...]

Battle emerges over yoga’s recognition of Hindu roots

American yoga is engaged in a battle of the spirit and body. The Kensington, Md.-based Hindu American Foundation’s “Taking Back Yoga” movement aims to help people realize that yoga is rooted in Hindu philosophy. Despite the Westernization of the practice, it is still important to acknowledge yoga’s basic Hindu principles, said Sheetal Shah, senior director of the Hindu American Foundation. “The idea of yoga as a largely physical practice is a very Western notion, and a lot of people Read more [...]

The power of yoga

Olly Margry explores the yogic practice of Shankhaprakshalana – a popular discipline in Pokhara, Nepal Published:   Nepal is in the heart of the Himalayan mountains             JANUARY is nearing its end, the Christmas decorations have been packed away and memories of 2010 are fading fast. It is a time for resolutions, fresh starts and hope for the year ahead. At this time of year, the state of one’s health is also a common concern: the effect of Read more [...]