'Hindu Children of Tomorrow in U.S.'

          -  P.Natarajan.

It would be of interest to assess the trends in the past and the present scenario before predicting the likely picture of Hindu Americans of next generation.

Themes in Hinduism :-

Hierarchy plays an important role within the Hindu families where men outrank the women of similar age. Siblings too recognize the differences in age. Younger ones learn to address elders respectfully like anna, akka, appa, amma, patti and so on rather than by name.

Hierarchy is reflected in the interdependence in the family. When a child eats, his mother puts the food into his mouth. Someone lends a hand to help the girl to unload the pot of water from her waist. The illustrations exhibit the intense emotional interdependence within a Hindu family. Economic activities also are deeply embedded in the social nexus. The joint family is highly valued. The woman after the marriage come to stay with the members of husband’s family and strongly supports the loyalty prevailing in her new environment. The husband avoids showing his affection to his better half openly at home.  A child learns from the early hood that his fate has been ‘written’.by divine forces. A belief spreads in his mind that his life would be shaped by powerful deities that the family worships. The child also learns to maintain an ongoing relationship with the family deity.

Immigration to U.S.:-

Let us now look at the subject from another angle. India supports a population more than 3.5 times the size of American population in a space of one third the size. Further the statistics estimate the number would go up to some 1.50 billion by 2050.  As a sequel to survive or to establish a better career many Indians choose U.S. as their first choice to immigrate. The vast majority of American Hindus are immigrants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan. Additionally the U.S. has a number converted Hindus in its fold. Passage of immigration Act 1965 had helped to increase the number. The present scenario tells that Hindu Americans hold the highest education levels among all religious communities in U.S. Educated Hindus are most welcome by the Immigration Policy. The first woman to set foot in American.soil was Anandibai Joshi in 1883 and she became a doctor after qualifying for M.D. from Pennsylvania University. American Hindus account for 0.70 percent of total U.S. population. An increase of 1 million Hindu population was witnessed in 2015. The population of Hindus in California, New York amounts to more than 5 lakhs while Colorado’s and Michigan’s, being the places of visit by us this time, are 70000 and 22000 respectively. American Hindus have a household income of U.S.$100000 or little more.

Bhakti Movement in U.S.:-

We have seen  some salient themes governing Hinduism and other statistical data. It would be now appropriate to look at the spiritual or bhakti movements that enliven in U.S. Swami Vivekananda brought Hinduism to West at 1893 Parliament of World Religions. His Chicago address is world famous. Swami Rama Tirtha visited U.S.in 1902 for 2 years lecturing Vedanta. In 1920 Paramahansa Yogananda was India’s delegate at the International Congress of Religious Liberals held in Boston.  Noe Hindu movements like International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Swaminarayan Sanstha, Chinmaya Mission, Swadhyay Pariwar are well established.

Rama Dasa ( Dasa means a servant of Sri Rama ) was a teacher and spread the value of Hinduism by eloquent lectures in U.S. Hindu American have formed the Hindu American Foundation which represents American Hindus and their aim to educate people about Hinduism.

The Vedanta Society has been important in subsequent Parliaments. More than 18 million Americans are now practicing some form of Yoga. Kriya Yoga was promoted by Paramahansa Yogananda. A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada initiated the Krishna Conscious or Hare Krishna or Bhakti Yoga movement.

Communities of Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jain, Buddhists, Parsis and Jews have established their religions in US. PEW Research Center accounts 51% consider as Hindus, 18% as Christians, 10% as Muslims, 5% as Sikhs and 2% as Jains. Sikh Gurdwara was the first religious center established in Stockton in Cal. in 1912.

Hindu Temples in U.S.A.:-

(Malibu Temple in Cal.)

As early as 1957 Shiva Murugan Temple was established in California. Maha Vallabha Ganapathi Devasthana which was established in 1972 in New York saw a significant renovation and expansion in recent times. In Texas Radha Madhava Swami stands as largest and oldest Temple in Austin. Malibu Venkataramana Temple - picture above - (1981) in Calabasas, Pittsburgh Venkateswara Temple are visited frequently by the tourists. Swaminarayan Temples exist in several cities across U.S. Someswara Temple opened in May 2011 in Clyde in North Carolina - built to help people to live true to their innate spirituality and uphold the purity of Vedas. This temple is run by a vedic Pandit who performs Vedic ceremonies daily. I have cited the names of only a few temples in U.S. just to exhort the theme under  purview. Parashakti Temple in Pontiac, Michigan is worshiped as Shaktipeetam (Theertha Peetam) in U.S.

                          ( Parashakti Amman ( Shakti Peetam in Pontia, MI )

Hindu Children of Tomorrow n U.S.-

The past and present trends in U.S. focused in this article up to now upholds the traditions and practices of Hinduism and no doubt will be  carried out in future also. The rites and rituals which are ongoing in temples in U.S.A. today will be continued  in line with agamam and vedic practice.  Religious ceremonies like Upanayanam, marriages, Seemantham and so on will also take place in the traditional ways.  It is left to the individuals to perform prayers, संध्यावन्दन  on  day to day basis. The faith what the parents hold would be inculcated by the  children of tomorrow and promoted by the priests or gurus available. The trend will be similar to what the children of tomorrow in India will practice.

Many concepts of Hinduism like Karma Theory, reincarnation, yoga have centered in the main stream and are viewed with esteem and belief by American Hindus. Reincarnation, the core concept of Hinduism receives acceptance.

Cardinal Virtues:-

Prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice are the cardinal virtues which apply to both religious and nonreligious people alike. These virtues are taught and will continue to be taught in the times to come to motivate the children of diverse background with specific content in the curriculum subjects to mold the children of tomorrow. Character in the long run is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike. The kind of men that the country turnout will determine the civilization. Respect, perseverance, compassion, integrity are values that the children of tomorrow will cherish and make others wonder what they are up to !!

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‘ Rites , Rituals and Dharma as a way of Life ‘

‘ Rites ,  Rituals and Dharma as a way of Life ‘

• P.Natarajan.

                                                

Some allow a doubt how far the epics, puranas are true. To clear the doubt , we can approach the subject in both the ways. First, the places, happenings referred in puranas are all verifiable by visits and inquiries. People undertake yatra to visit such holy places and have darshan. Places referred in puranas exist today also. There are proofs for acts that had really taken place as referred by Krishna. In case we look at the contents are of story value only, they can.not be set aside as having neither morals nor themes. The essence of the teachings what epics, puranas and upanishads portray are of high discipline contents, wholesome and would guide the people to conduct and lead a life of dharma.. Once we lead ourselves in such a direction, we would realize the truth behind them and drop the negative views once and for all..

Krishna himself narrates in Bhagavat Gita how a true devotee should be and what discipline he has to adhere to.      

He does not say ‘be a devotee’ and do whatever one likes. That is the basic difference between learning in an educational Institution and learning veda or such devotional texts taught in a Gurukulam way. A bachelor degree may pave way for a career and yearnings. But in the context of learning to lead a devotional life, one has to be disciplined and perform only such acts that are worthy of, from day one till his life lasts. Bhagavan himself advocates the conduct of a true devotee for his acceptance. A person with staunch bakhti would always relish the thoughts about Bhagavan, his deeds, and share his feelings with others in no uncertain ways and lead them also to appreciate and carry forward such noble thoughts.

Let us understand the hypothesis of Sastras. Vedasastras teach rites and rituals -  which karma to be performed in what way..Vedantam discusses brahmam worshipped by Karmas. Smriti also advocates the same. Bodhayana Smriti, Asvalayana Smriti, Gautam Smriti educates about samsakarams. What to do when births take place, what to do for marriage or seemantham and what to do when one breathes last. Epics and puranas teach how to improve knowledge or jnana and bhakti with a real life background.

Bhagavan is represented by three ways - Matru Devo bhava, Pithru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava - Parents lead the children to learn the right things, Guru imparts knowledge and Athithi Devo bhava tells the morals of ‘give and take’.

Sanathana Dharmic principles outline the relationship between body-atma- jnana which finds a strong root in the Vedantam of Indian way of thinking. It believes that body and atma are different. Body is perishable whereas atma is ‘nityam’ , siranjeevi or ever present. Where the atma of the deceased (?) -  would be  naturally the next question. It lives in the succeeding births based on prarabdha. Atma takes different bodies depending on the karma theory. Bhakti marga is the only way to get rid of the cycle of birth and death. Gita preaches how to make the atma trouble free and remain peaceful and entrenched in devotion. But when one looks after the body, he is bound to err and commit sin which makes the existing birth as miserable. Puranas , Srimad Ramayanam, Mahabharatham lucidly brings out the morals or first principles by judiciously mixing story, history and real happenings.

The role of dharma :-  Dharmas are that which is rendered, undertaken or practised without  anticipation of benefits any. The root in Sanskrit for dharma is dhri meaning to hold, support or protect.  Besides we should do such dharmas which are prescribed in scriptures. Non-violence, annadhanam, planting trees, constructing waterworks, speaking truth, dispassionate trends, developing no greed, no hatred feelings - are all dharmic ways which when adhered to pleases the Almighty.  “ “Dharmena papam apanutati” -  atmarakshanam  takes place. Guru or Acharya guides the devotee in the religious matters and in performing dharma. The presence of Sun only makes the Lotus to blossom. Any artificial heat would only wither away the flower. Self medication would lead to troubles whereas a physician prescribes the medicine with dosage required. Guru is a mediator between God and an individual. An individual is not all knowing and has to seek knowledge or jnana to perceive God and noble ideals.

Krishna says “ pasur manushya bhakshivacha vaishnava samshraya:!

Thenaiva they prayachyanti tat Vishno: paramam padam “ !!

There Is no direct way to reach the lotus feet of Vishnu. (paramapadam).

Whoever the subject may be like pasu, man or bird, they have to take the help of a guru to reach the ultimate destination.

Sastras portray that jeevatma are the wealth or belongings of paramatma. Once this concept is conceived or enshrined, God takes care of the living beings as parents do. We rejoice in the thoughts of the Almighty. What we enjoy or eat should not be in loneliness Our pleasure is doubled when we share our thoughts or food we eat. When we share what we beget by the grace of God, it has a multiplier effect. Gita Acharya says: “ both yantha: parasparam machida mad gata prana” - meaning :- Those who tunes his mind towards me, spends time happily in speaking about me. This is what my devotee is.”  This how we reap the benefit from our mouth or the ears by hearing the namas of God.

                               

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto

mad-yaji mam namaskuru

mam evaisyasi satyam te

pratijane priyo 'si me

Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.( Gita : 18/65)

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' Ganga Mahatmiyam '

‘ THE GLORY OF THE GANGES ‘

• P.Natarajan. ( camp: Canton MI )

Ganges, the sacred river flows around as if it is an ornamental beauty to the mother Earth. Ganges exist through the yugas and the life of Ganga is intertwined with Thirumurthy. Sri Rama heard about the significance of Ganga from Sage Viswamitra in Treta Yuga. In Kaliyuga Ganga is considered as the most sacred. The sins of living beings get dissolved in the ganges as they bathe in the holy waters. Ganges is one of the world's major rivers running for more than 2500 K.M. from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.

During Vamana Avatar, the lord measured the Earth by the first step. The second step extended beyond the Brahmaloka when Lord Brahma performed abhishek of the ‘pada’ of the Lord Vamana with the holy Ganges water -  Ganga came to be known as  ‘ VISHNUPADA ‘ in Brahmaloka. The rishis paid obeisance to the Vishnupada. The waters then entered ‘ Dhruva Loka ‘ and Dhruva became immensely happy when ganges water fell over his head. The Ganga moved next to Swargaloka when the Devas called her as ‘MANDAKINI’ and worshiped by raising their hands together over their head.  

The Ganga was not to descend to Bhuloka at that time, so the sacred river was in rounds in Devaloka only for a long, long time. It was Bhagirathan, son of Dilipan, took the initiative and performed ‘tapas’ with a mission to bring Ganges down to Bhuloka. Ganga appeared before Bhagirathan and posed him with a question what action was contemplated when the immense force of her flow would pierce through the Bhuloka to ‘ pathala loka ‘ and beyond. It opened Bhagirathan’s eyes and he started a severe penance targeting Lord Shiva. Shiva was pleased and agreed to his request to bear the ganges water in his head as a rescue measure. There was no other trouble and Ganga started her descend to Bhuloka. As the waters reached the Himalayas, Lord Shiva bore her in the matted locks in his head. Shiva is worshipped as ’Gangadharan’ due to this reason. Further the river which was being called hitherto as Mandakini became known as ‘GANGA‘. ‘Gow’ means ‘Bhumi’ and  ‘hanga’ means ‘reached’ in Sanskrit. In other words  ‘ Gow +  Hanga ‘ = Ganga which name is popular today after her reaching the Bhuloka.

Ganges got the name ‘ HEMAVATHI ‘ meaning daughter of Himavan, the king of Himalayas, when her journey from Swargaloka reached the Himalayas.  As Ganga entered into Shiva’s  matted hair and poured as a fountain and dripped through, it came to be called as   ‘ ‘ ‘ALAKNANDA ‘. Alak means ‘Kesa’ or hair and nanda means ‘ to become happy’.

As Ganga was happily flowing, she lost her way and entered the Ashram of the Sage JAHNU.

making noise as a dancing child wearing ‘kolusu’ around her feet. Sage Jahnu reduced the force of the flowing water by capturing it in his ‘Kamandal’ or the sacred vessel.  Bhagirathan requested the sage who consented to release ganga from his Kamandal. The sage owned Ganga as his daughter and  the river came to be known as ‘ JHANHAVI ‘.

The waters followed Bhagirathan faithfully after overcoming the intermediary hurdles. It came to be known as ‘ BHAGIRATHI ‘. At the request of Bhagiratha, Ganga flowed into Pataal loka and showered over the heads of ‘Sakara puthras’ numbering 60000 who became alive as their sins were washed away by the holy river. Ganga river as it entered pathala loka, got another name as ‘ BHOGAVATHY ‘. The ‘ efforts ‘ or  ‘prayatna’ in Sanskrit undertook by Bhagiratha to bring Ganga from Devaloka to Bhuloka got a catch word ‘ Bhagirath Prayatna ’. The term is now used to denote great and formidable endeavours yielding success after many trials.

People who have lived a chaste life during their several previous births only, are considered fortunate to be able to have bath in Ganges in three holy places namely (1) Haridwar (2) Kasi or Varanasi (3) ‘Sagara Sangamam’ in West Bengal. Hari+Dwar = Haridwar,

( Ganga in Haridwar )

Hari meaning Vishnu and dwar meaning the orifice and a bath in this place in Ganges is believed to be sacred.

Similarly at Kasi where mere mention of the name Kasi.connects with the river Ganga. The glory of Kasi as a Kshetra is because of the glory of Ganga. Knowing of sastras or unknowing makes no difference at this place. The boatmen sing folksongs setting the tune in a vedic background - thanks to the air they breathe flowing over the Ganges. In Triveni Sagara Sangam, the three sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathy flow together.

( Triveni Sangam - Ganga, Yamuna and the Invisible Saraswati )

Ganga represents ‘Gnyana’ Yamuna bhakti and Saraswathy which is invisible represents ‘Vairagyam’ or firmness. A bath in Triveni Sangam is sacred and Ganga, at this place gets a new name ‘ THEERTHA RAJAM ‘.  Kumbhmela, a festival connected with the sacred bath in the holy waters takes place normally once in every  3 years. Ardh Kumbhmela (half) is celebrated at Haridwar and Prayag every 6 years. The purna (complete)

Kumbhmela takes place every 12 years at Haridwar, Prayag and Ujjain and Nashik. The Maha Kumbh Mela comes after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas or once in 144 years and is held at Prayag

( Allahabad ). Ritual bathing with religious rites is the main event in ‘Kumbh Mela’ followed  by prayers at the shrines.

( Ganga in Varanasi or Kashi Kshetra )

The ganges flow through the nations of India and Bangladesh. The ganga suffers from extreme pollution due to variety of reasons commonly known. The Govt. of India had announced in July 2014 an Integrated Ganga Development Project known as

‘NAMAMI GANGA’  and allocated Rs.2037 Crores for this purpose.

‘Snana’ Mantras

गन्गेते यो ब्रूयात योग्नना शतैरपि !

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोक गछति !!

गङ्गे च यमुना चैव गोदावरी सरस्वती !

नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरी जलेस्मिन सन्निधिंकुरु !!

The mantras above are to be chanted while taking bath. Uttering the name “Ganga, Ganga...”, while taking bath, purifies the water being used. The names of the seven holy rivers stated in the mantra above mitigates all the sins committed. This effect is known as गङ्गा महात्म्यम   ‘Ganga Mahatmya’  or  ‘ GLORY OF THE GANGES ‘. Ganga Ashtothram expresses :- “Oh Mother - Necklace adorning the World's; Banner raising to the Heavens ..” , as explained in the opening sentence of this article.

( Ganga Aarti every evening @

  Dashashwamedh ghat in Kashi )

Ganga waters enter into the tap waters at home at dawn on the occasion of Deepavali hence the most customary and kind enquiries from kindred people : “ Had your Ganga Snanam, A happy Deepavali to You “ !

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‘ Righteous, Religious and Spiritual Order ‘

    ‘ Righteous, Religious and  Spiritual Order ‘

         -  P.Natarajan.( Camp: Canton. MI.)

                  

Righteous behaviour is its own reward.

A righteous man can be trusted to act honourably regardless of the circumstances.

Example:- Dharmaputra walked the path of righteousness.

A home with a loving husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs can be met.

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is harmony in the house

Where there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nature

When there is order in the nature, there is peace in the world”  -   A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

“When I admire in the wonders of a Sunset or the beauty of a Moon, my soul expands in the worship of the Creator “  -    Mahatma Gandhi

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life. My religion is simple. My religion is kindness. Rivers, Ponds, Lakes and Streams - they all contain water just as religion do - they all contain truth.

Prayers don’t change God. But they change him who prays.

“Prayer is the key of the morning and bolt of the evening”” -  Mahatma Gandhi

Just as the Soul fills the body, so God fills the World.

Just as the Soul bears the body, God endures the World.

Just as the Soul sees but is not seen, so God sees but is not seen.

Just as the Soul feeds the body, so God gives food to the World.

Always remember Joy is not incidental to spiritual quest

It is vital. We are spiritual beings living in a human body.

Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain.the action.

“ Look within:-

within you is the hidden God

within you is the immortal soul

within you lies the inexhaustible spiritual treasure

within you is the ocean of bliss

Look within for happiness

Which you have sought in vain. “

• Swami Sivananda

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