WILL “VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM” REMAIN IN OUR EGO-CENTER ONLY TO GLOAT OR BECOME REALITY?

WILL “VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM” REMAIN IN OUR EGO-CENTER ONLY TO GLOAT OR BECOME REALITY?

(Compilation of Various E –Mails sent to HR Forum Participant by N.R. Srinivasan, Nashville, TN, USA Sept. 2018)

 I sent on E-mail captioned “Where is Our Concept of All World is One Family--Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” to my Forum Participants of Hindu Reflections as follows:

“Anandibai Joshi is believed to be the first Hindu woman to set foot on American soil, arriving in New York in June 1883 at the age of 19. She graduated with an MD from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania on 11 March 1886, becoming the first female of South Asian origin to graduate with a degree in Western medicine from the United States. Joshi returned to India in late 1886 but died within months of her return.

One of the first major discussions of Hinduism in the United States was Swami Vivekananda's address to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. He spent two years in the United States, and lectured in several cities including Detroit, Boston, and New York. In 1902 Swami Rama Tirtha visited the US for about two years lecturing on the philosophy of Vedanta. In 1920 Paramahansa Yogananda was India's delegate at the International Congress of Religious Liberals held in Boston.

Prior to 1965, Hindu immigration to the United States was minuscule and isolated, with fewer than fifty thousand Indians immigrating before 1965. It is worth noting that although most of these immigrants were Punjabi Sikhs, they were incorrectly and derogatorily referred to as "Hindoo" by many Americans, as well as in some official immigration documents. It was so in India too! The Bellingham Riots in Bellingham, Washington on September 5, 1907 epitomized the low tolerance in the USA for Indians and Hindus.  The Immigration Act of 1924 prohibited the immigration of Asians such as Middle Easterners and Indians. This further prevented Hindus from immigrating to the United States. Despite such events, some people, including professionals, stayed and worked until the Immigration and Nationality Services (INS) Act of 1965 was passed. This opened the doors to Hindu immigrants who wished to work and start families in the United States. It included Hindu preachers as well, who spread awareness of the religion among the people who had little or no contact with it.

A joint session of the United States Congress was opened with a prayer in Sanskrit (with some Hindi and English added), read by Venkatachalapathi Samudrala, in September 2000, to honor the visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The historic gesture was an initiative by Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown who requested the US Congress House Chaplain to invite the Hindu priest from the Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple in Parma, Ohio. Another Hindu prayer was read in the United States Senate on July 12, 2007, by Rajan Zed, a Hindu chaplain from Nevada. His prayer was interrupted by a couple and their daughter who claimed to be "Christian patriots", which prompted a criticism of candidates in the upcoming presidential election for not criticizing the remarks. 92,323 exiled Bhutanese refugee have been resettled in USA since 2008 (As per the date of Feb, 2017) and many more Bhutanese refugee are resettling in United State of America continuously. Hinduism is the major religion of Bhutanese refugees who resettle in USA. In October 2009, President Barack Obama lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House to symbolize victory of light over darkness.

Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists including Neo-Buddhists united by  common resolve to Dharma and Ahimsa worked together and celebrated Diwali in the White House. American Hindu temples willingly consecrated Buddha and Mahavira idols in Hindu Temples and also accommodated sectarian worships like Swami Narayana and Saibaba. Unshaven Sikhs joined willingly Hindus in worship in Hindu Temples. Perhaps you all know in many Punjabi Hindu family the first son is given away to Sikhism to support the cause of Guru Nanak Sikhism. The SGPC Sikh group in Canada, the earliest migrants, who later migrated to USA encouraged by Hindus are reluctant to join the Dharma Group probably pre-occupied with the thought of wrong notion of idol worship.  The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the management of Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in three states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh and union territory of Chandigarh. SGPC also administers Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Buddha is an Avatar of Vishnu and so is Rishabha. The cohesion of these into Hindu Fold was easy to start with.

All is not well with Sikh Religion also in India. It is now split into Kesadhari controlled by SGPC, Sehjadari and Patits. It is clear that the SGPC has divided not only the Sikh community, but polarized the rich and immensely meaningful spectrum of Sikh thought by making followers choose between the legacy of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind.  About 10 million Sikhs are thrown out of Puritan Sikhs. We should not forget Dera Sikhs here.   Dera means converts. 9th century onwards, saw a sudden increase in Dera population.  The distinguishing characteristic of these new Deras was that they acted as centers of   Dalit mobilization. This is also proselytization but very much encouraged by Indian Socialist Society who oppose conversion to Christianity.  This Sikkhism is like Neo Buddhists that came into being to escape the Hindu Caste system.   However, they continued to experience social exclusion in the caste hierarchy of the Sikh society, which pushed them towards the Deras and other organizations that promise social equality.  The increasing politicization of the Sikh institutions - the Akhal Takt and the SGPC- and their domination by Jat Sikhs has driven a large number of people to the Deras as well.   Most of the immigrants Sikhs with beards are the one who stand separate from Hindu-fold while those shaven Sikhs cooperate with Hindus and part take in festivals and rituals in USA whom you can see flock Hindu Temples during Ramayan Path, Karva Chauth and Divali.

Soon we may have a split in Buddhists as converts Veggies, Non-Veggies and Pork-eating Buddhists. Also in Jains as Vegans and Non-Vegans if not Svetambara and Digmbara. Why blame then Hinduism alone for its caste system which is on the ever increase to get political   favor under minority religion status or scheduled caste status? Recently SGPC group got their voting rights in control of Gurdwaras throwing other Sikhs out blessed by the Secular Indian Government. Others   are happy to get favor as scheduled caste. You now understand why   I often tell that American Hindus should not follow Hindus in India as thy are bogged down  with  all these.

But encouraged by the separatist tendencies and fights within SGPC Sikhs, Swami Narayan Group, ISKCON Group, Saibaba Group and   latest  JAINAA (Jain Association of America)  have   started to separate out breaking the cohesion. Moving with the wind of VEGANS, Jains now want to separate out from Hindus and show their Puritanism of Ahimsa in USA and probably also establish their own Temples. Suddenly dairy products have become Himsa products, a late realization among American Jains. However, they have to atone for their past sins, who knows how long? “So they have started Save the Kid” campaign. Can they? For their kids are moving away from Jain Dharma finding their partners that are White Christians who are beef eaters. They can’t always find suitable Vegan Westerner.

You know about Birla and JK Modern Hindu Temples all over India and the charitable Jain Foundations that built them! Here in USA the reversal is taking place. You know Dairy products are strongly promoted by Jain community in India through their sweets, Rajasthani Thalis and Mahamastkabhishekha for Gomateswara.  I still recall dinner at a Jain's place in Tonk with a katori full of ghee! Still most Jains in USA throng Hindu temples as seen in Lakshmi Puja during Diwaali, and their youth invariably picks a Hindu reluctantly as partner but mostly choose a BEEF EATING White Christian which is around 70%. Thus their very Dharma base itself threatened encouraging SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious).

Please go through the   announcement from JAINA an organization of Jains of USA raising its head and separatism as they know Hindus love dairy products as Jains in India and no ritual can avoid Ghee and Milk in Hindu Worship. They recommend restrictive use of milk avoiding at least during Paryushana and Daslakshan Parva.  I do not know how this compromised Adharma can be tolerated? I am not sure whether dairy practices are different in India than in USA that permits use of dairy products in India. May be it may not apply to Buffalo Milk production?  Probably they may recommend popular Dalda? Only Jain Munis in India can tell!

"Major Points – Why Jains Should not Consume Milk and other dairy products

We earnestly request you not to consume dairy products at least during Paryushana and Das-lakshan parva.

Universal Law of Mother Nature

The following law of Mother Nature is true for mothers of human beings as well as for animals under natural environment.

· No mother (cow and human) produces milk unless she delivers a calf/baby first.

 . After birth of the calf there is just enough milk that is needed for her calf under natural environment (same is true for human mothers).

· The cow slowly stops producing milk after her calf reaches a weaning age which is about 15 months (same as human).

· Nature has not made any provision for mother cows to produce more milk for human consumption than the need of their calves under natural environment.

In conclusion, we can safely state that--meant for her baby calf under natural environment. Hence no human being and particularly Jains should not drink milk or use dairy products at all.

Contemporary Dairy Industry Practices:

· To receive continuous supply of milk, the cows are made pregnant within 3 months after the birth of a 1st calf. Cows are subject to artificial insemination or some other practices that ensure the maximum production of milk. In its natural course, at earliest, the cow would get pregnant after her calf is weaned, which is about 15 months or later.

· Approximately 95% of male and 65% of female baby calves are sold to the veal or beef industry, where they are slaughtered between six months to three years of age.

· All small and large commercial dairies fed hormones and antibiotics daily to increase the milk yield (except – in organic dairy farms). With hormones, cow produces 3 to 4 times more milk than its natural ability. The long-term effect of hormone to cow’s body is such that after 3 deliveries, the cow’s milk yield drops about 30% or more. At this time the cows are slaughtered even though her life expectancy is 15 to 20 years.

In summary, the cows are slaughtered immediately during meat production, while in commercial milk production the cows are tortured and forced them to produce 3 to 4 times more milk for 5 years and then slaughtered after their milk yield drops, even though their life expectancy is around 15 to 20 years.

This indicates that the cruelty in the production of milk is as bad as the cruelty associated with the production of meat".

At present JAINA is focused on animal source for food vis-a-vis Dharma. Next they will focus on Plant. In the context of Jain Dharma you can survive only on vegetable that are released from the base (urvarukmiva bandhanaat) or fallen and not even rice or wheat for here the whole plant is uprooted and killed to release the grain.

The lack of teachings of Dharma to our children results in practically no knowledge about Dharma which increases inferiority complex in children as they grow up and they end up being Pseudo Seculars and bash their own Dharma. It is therefore very necessary to focus on Sanatana Dharma and Wisdom of Vedas in influencing and educating Young Minds in our Religious Practices and Educational Programs like JAINA., may be not  with that impractical approach moving away from the teachings of Jain Munis in India.

My E-mail focusing as above was well received by the Hindu Reflections Forum with appreciations and also two comments drawing specific attention for a response;

Comments:

1)      Nicely analyzed History. We have to thank the Black African American Community for fighting the Racism in this Country that enabled the Civil Rights bill that brought the changes in the Immigration Laws. Sadly, it bleeds me to see some Indians looking down on Black Americans. Under God, everyone should be EQUAL!

2)      I like the thinking. We should promote commonness in the Dharmic religions, and not necessarily pay attention to the divisions that heed to sectarian interests. I believe our faith should promote harmony and spiritual well-being and not sow disharmony and guilt. Fanatic and extreme practices may seem appropriate for the pious, but should not be used to condemn the masses.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit: वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम. from “vasudha”, the earth; “iva”, is; and “kutumbakam”, family) is a Sanskrit phrase that means that the whole world is one single family.

The concept originates in the Vedic scripture Maha Upanishad (Chapter 6, Verse 72):

अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसां उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकं |
ayam bandhurayam neti ganana laghuchetasam udaracharitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam

Only small men discriminate saying: One is a relative; the other is a stranger. For those who live magnanimously the entire world constitutes but a family.

This concept is also mentioned in another   text-- Hitopadesha: “Udāracharitānām tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam”.

“This is my own relative and that is a stranger” – is the reasoning of the narrow-minded; for the noble hearts, however, the entire earth is but one family”--this moral teaching is very popular  among  religious Hindus today like “sarvejanah sukhino bhabvantu”,    “sarve shantih”,  “na mama na mama” etc.,  though they are not  serious about it but yet   consider as  an integral part of the Hindu Philosophy.

[Over-riding the original meaning and purport of diplomacy used by the animal kingdom for exploiting the weak for survival of vasudhaiva kutumbakm mentioned in Panchatantra, Maha Upanishad has used this slogan of animal kingdom with a spiritual twist as detailed below in slokas  70-73; I believe many do not use it in this sense and go by the original meaning in Panchatantra of cunning- sense used for personal need, survival and success:

Udaarah pesalaachharah sarvaachara anuvrittimaan | Anthah-sangam-parityaagee bahih sambhaaravaaniva ||

Antarvairaagyamaadaaya bahiraasoen-mukhae-hitah  | Ayam bandhurayam neti gananaa laghuchetasaam | Udaara charitaanaam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam ||

Bhavaabhaava vinirmuktam jaraamaranavarjitaam ||Prasaanta kalanaarabhyam neeraagam padamaasraya |

Eshaa Brahmee sthitih svacchaa nishkaamaa vigataamayaa | Aadaaya viharannevam sankateshu na muhyati ||

The above text is describing the characteristics and behavior of great men who are elevated to the coveted liberated souls merging with Brahman  and not the technique  for survival used by the animal kingdom:

“That elevated soul is generous, always clean in behavior, in accordance to the established norms of conduct, and free from all attachments in life. From inside, he has renounced everything, even though outwardly he would appear to carry out worldly duties (like any other mortal. However, unlike the petty hearts of (ordinary) people (who discriminate by) saying ‘This one is a friend and that one a stranger’ these (great men in liberatedBatate) are of magnanimous hearts and embrace the entire world as their own family. They have gained liberation from all constraints of ordinary life, like old age and death; their fires (of klesha-s) have become extinguished; and in them no attachment finds any shelter (anymore). Such (Listen O best amongst the BrAhmaNa-s, are those who have achieved) the status of Mukti the absolutely pure; that which is beyond all cravings and sufferings. Equipped with such attributes they freely roam (the earth), without knowing any calamity.”]

The statement “vasudhaiva kutumbakam’’ is not just about peace and harmony among the societies in the world, but also about a truth that somehow the whole world has to live by some rules like a family, set by an unknowable source.  Just by contemplating this idea and by at least trying to live by it and practice it in our lives, we could make this world a better place. So vasudhaivaa  kutumbakam has become  a magic mantra   used by all politicians  and religious leaders as well and in all political discussions,  Interfaith meetings and religious and spiritual forums though this not a mantra from Vedas.

How did a moral focused Panchtantra sloka  has  become  a house-hold mantra to pride in and  boast about  the greatness of Hinduism if not in our deeds?  In fact if you go deep into our mantras they repeatedly echo our universal approach sanghacchchdvam sam vadadvam, krinvanto viswamaaryam, sarve janaah sukhino bhavantu, sarve santih etc., that I  have often quoted and  explained many times.  A purely naimittika karma to your deceased parents like Tarpana, oblation with sesame water directs you to focus on all the souls in its concluding mantra:

Yeshaam na pitaa na bhraataa na bandhur naanya gotrinah | te triptimakhilaa yaantu mayaa tyaktyaih kusastilaih || This water oblation through Dharba grass and sesame seeds is not only directed to my father, brother or other relatives  of my lineage but to all   souls  for satisfying, that have departed! You see how noble the thoughts are!

On  September 11 (9/11)  in his keynote address to the concluding session of the second World Hindu Congress in Chicago this year,  Vice president Venkaiah  Naidu said,  India believed in universal tolerance and accepted all religions as true. Echoing the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutmbakam he said, “Share and care is the core of the Hindu philosophy”, he said, outlining the important aspects of Hinduism. Naidu ruled that a lot of disinformation (about Hinduism) is going around. “Some people are trying to make the very word Hindu untouchable, intolerable. That’s why, one has to articulate and see the values that espouse and present the bucket of ideas in correct perspective so that the world has the most authentic perspective,” he said. The authentic perspective will prevent the distortions and any erroneous perception gaining ground, he said.

Acknowledging that certain weaknesses has crept into the society, he said that this has to be dealt by reformers from inside. “We should also know others’ experience and try to improve upon others’ philosophy,” he said, adding the Indian culture and religion has given the liberty to imbibe the best practices from other communities. He said “ill-informed opinions and attitudes need to be altered” to the real significance of the religion. “The philosophy that the entire world is the whole family, the whole world is the manifestation of the divine and that the God lives in each living and non-living entity of the world; tolerance and acceptance of plurality, realization that there us unity in diversity, and the ability to adopt and absorb, are some of the key aspects of Hinduism,” he said.

Hinduism is a fusion synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions.  Among the roots of Hinduism are the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India, itself already the product of "a composite of the Indo-Aryan and Harappan cultures and civilizations", but also the Sramana or renouncer traditions of northeast India, and Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures of India,   such as the religions of the Indus Valley Civilization, Dravidian traditions, and the local traditions and tribal religions. This "Hindu synthesis" emerged after the Vedic period.

The first half of the 1st millennium BCE was a period of great intellectual and social-cultural ferment in ancient India. New ideas developed both in the Vedic tradition in the form of the Upanishads, and outside of the Vedic tradition through the Śramaṇa movements.  For example, prior to the birth of the Buddha and the Mahavira, and related Sramana movements, the Brahmanical tradition had questioned the meaning and efficacy of Vedic rituals  then internalized and variously reinterpreted the Vedic fire rituals as ethical concepts such as Truth, Rite, Tranquility or Restraint. The 9th and 8th centuries BCE witnessed the composition of the earliest Upanishads with such ideas. 183 Other than ancient Principal Upanishads were composed in the centuries that followed, forming the foundation of classical Hinduism and the Vedanta (conclusion of the Veda) literature.

Indology as an academic discipline of studying Indian culture from a European perspective was established in the 19th century, led by scholars such as Max Müller and John Woodroffe. They brought Vedic, Puranic and Tantric literature and philosophy to Europe and the United States. Western orientalist searched for the "essence" of the Indian religions, discerning this in the Vedas, and meanwhile creating the notion of "Hinduism" as a unified body of religious praxis and the popular picture of 'mystical India'. This idea of a Vedic essence was taken over by Hindu reform movements as the Brahmo Samaj, which was supported for a while by the Unitarian Church, together with the ideas of Universalism and Perennialism, the idea that all religions share a common mystic ground. This "Hindu modernism", with proponents like Vivekananda, Aurobindo and Radhakrishnan, became central in the popular understanding of Hinduism.

Hindu Americans are intellectual drawn from top 10% of Hindu society mainly not only from India but also from   other global sources.  As students of science, logic and wisdom, well placed as top earners in USA they are ready to discard anything else as history of Hinduism, and Hindu mythology. There is no problem explaining the origins of such literature, and the mystical significance, but it is against implying them as Shashtra to be respected and followed with faith for a religious Hindu. People who wanted to   give up on tradition completely got their eyes   opened starting with teachings of Vivekananda, and later by the various Hindu monasteries active in USA.  Therefore it is not worth to give up the faith without properly studying the merits of continuing tradition. So they feel increasingly rewarded by keeping the door open to learn the vision of the sages guided by various Spiritual Gurus and Monastries in USA.

Christian Missionaries are still very active among Tamils and Malayalis who first gave refuge to fleeing Christians from Europe in India who built their first church in Kerala in 54 A.D., and also in pockets in the North like Orissa, Bengal and Assam regions. The ideology of the Dravidian movement can be traced back to the works of Bishop Robert Caldwell, an evangelist and a linguist who aggressively popularized the idea of an Aryan invasion of India. In Caldwell’s analysis, the Aryans sent their agents, the sly Brahmins who through their faith now known as Hinduism enslaved the Dravidian people who were given the title of ‘Shudra.’ The main aim of Caldwell in projecting the Aryan-Dravidian divide was to make way for mass conversions because many in South India were led to believe that Hinduism is a racist cult dominated by the Aryan Brahmins. This is  what the Vice President Venkiah Naidu had in mind when he highlighted in his speech “Some people are trying to make the very word Hindu untouchable, intolerable” while delivering his speech to International Religious Congress forum  in Chicago this year on September 9/11.  No doubt the word Hindu is geographic and nothing to do with the dharma Hindus practice and therefore often debated upon questioning why Sanatana Dharma should be wrongly called as Hinduism with the derogatory suffix –ism while   Christianity and Islam has cleverly avoided the suffix –ism.

Hindu Americans   are not threatened with proselytization in USA due to strict Secular Laws of the country but at the same time enjoy freedom to practice and promote their religion. But the problem is invariably a Hindu youth finds his/her life-partner from among White Christians.  They mostly prefer to join SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) group who are around 40% among church–goers whose number is increasing.  While Hindu Americans are very active in building temples (400 of them for a population of million are so),  the up-coming next generation is not interested in temples and may not even attend temple at all but only use them for wedding or cremation if they are still like to be identified   as Hindus. Atheism is even declared as a Religion to follow by US Courts.  

It is no doubt that certain weaknesses have crept into Hindu Society in India which is being largely reflected among Hindu Americans also except for the fast vanishing caste system. But the eternal philosophy that the entire world is the whole family, the whole world is the manifestation of the divine and that the God lives in each living and non-living entity of the world; tolerance and acceptance of plurality, realization that there us unity in diversity, and the ability to adopt and absorb etc., is not reflected in American Hindu Religious Practices and Hindu Temples in America that just copy the practices in India. Focusing on the American Hindu problems our spiritual leaders active in USA say:

“The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold Hindu Dharma.” -- SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI (www.arshavidya.org)

“We need to make temples not just a center of rituals and congregation but lighthouses of philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis of Hindu Dharma.” -- SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR (www.artofliving.org)

“Creating an environment where the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella.” -- SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATI (www.parmarth.com)

The SBNR group is sitting on the fence mostly undecided as to which Ancient Dharma group to join. Of the estimated 3 to 4 million Buddhists in the United States, the vast majority are Asian Americans. Only 800,000 are American converts. In recent years, the relationship between the two Buddhist communities has become extremely tenuous, and any potential for future cooperation remains highly uncertain.

Unfortunately there is no conversion possible in Hinduism similar to Jews and Parsees, and, it is therefore not possible to know how many are Hindu sympathizers apart from declared Hindus? This can surely exceed Buddhism in USA in all likelihood judging from people who regularly practice Yoga and Meditation and also attend Hindu Temples. Jainism is not a serious threat. In spite of the revolutionary VEGAN practice promoted.

Wisdom lies in all Dharma based religions come together, worship together and promote Dharma focused Spirituality among SBNR, which is about 40% among church-goers and fast growing. But the separatist trend from Dharma Union purely to run to White House by  Jains and SGPS  Sikhs   raises alarm of  probable sectarian walls in the future in USA also.  Buddhism in USA is strong as   World-Buddhism who are not vegetarians whom Indian Buddhists do not want to join. Only in 2014 India granted Minority Religion Status to Jainism. That was a great blunder, like partition.  It would   be wiser for Hindus   Jains and Sikhs along with willing   Buddhists to get back to their base of Vedic culture and Sanatana Dharma uniting all Dharma based Religions. Hindu Americans   can do it and show the way! This would open the eyes of all Abrahamic Religions to come together which process is far easier as they have the same God as their origin if not their later prophets after whom the religion has been named.

Hindu Temples in America have already showed this Path of Unity by consecrating Buddha and Mahavir Vardhamana idols in Hindu Temples, worshiping them jointly as both Buddha and Adinatha   are Avatars of Vishnu. Thiruvalluvar who is a Jain philosopher is also worshiped by Hindus in Temples as Nayanmarin India. This concept of worshiping Azhvara and Nayanmars has not plagued   American Hinduism.  But still in some pockets in USA, Swami Narain, Saibaba, Prabhupada ISKCON group , Yogananda , Sant groups are deifying human saints and started worship and  there is even tendencies to build separate temples moving away from the concept of One Temple for All Traditions.  In this Swami Narayan Group, Saibaba Group and ISKCON have raised their own temples being rich and affluent attracting the same group of Hindus with divided bhakti loyalties.

In most towns in USA we have planned One Temple for all Traditions and following a policy to encourage maximum participation by all a policy in which Hindus are trained in India to participate in social events of its minority religions’   festivities by declaring it as central holiday. Here it is therefore necessary on maximum concentration of few festivals and Special Religious Events (SRE) appealing to all Traditions that fits into our agama worship. Though I am not a Religious Pundit I may make a few suggestions.

The other day I was surprised that our priests permitted to visit main deity Ganesha in Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville whose sanctum was still under Jeernoddharana and all worships were conducted at Baalaalaya only until final Kumbhabhishekam,   to the enthusiastic Maraath Mandal on Ganesha Chaturthi Day. The logic behind that over-riding temple traditions and silpa-sastra was if our shilpis can view the deity   and handle the deity in the Garbhagriha why not the ardent devotees use the opportunity to get a full view of the artifact even though not charged, without worship. They could have touched and gone round the deity but not offer worship which many did. That pained me though I did not comment. I was only pitying how even the so called intellectuals are ignorant of elementary things. Here the devotees are not alone but the organizers who do not properly educate and enlighten the innocent and ignorant. If this is the case with first generation what about the youth raised by them? Then we talk about difference between a mosque and church, and, a Temple where we get divine charged?   I have also seen   many consume as prasadam a coconut broken during procession to ward off evil (Drishtiparihara).  Fortunately they do not carry the pumpkin   thus broken home, cook it and eat it because it is smeared with vermilion.   Again,  I have seen even our priests doing sashtaanga pranaama (prostration touching eight parts of the body in Garbhagriha not understanding why  aatmapradikshina and thoppukkaranam only are allowed in the charged atmosphere since several deities are guarding and charging the charged  atmosphere for which Jeernoddharana prokshana  is done. By prostration within charged atmosphere you will be showing your feet to some deity while bowing your head to some other deity.  Sashtanga pranama stops at the flag-post. We do remove shoes while entering the premises. Then how can we forget these fundamentals. It shows our ignorance even in elementary things.  The tradition of ignorance thus continues due to lack of education and formalities of worship are completed and we appreciate this as out-pour of bhakti!

Realizing we are drawn from multi-traditions it would be appropriate to focus on some meaningful festivals and rituals for all tradition participation within the shastric Aagama injunctions:--Winter and Summer Solstice day as per astronomical dates as in Western culture dedicated to Sun, Guru Purnima Day dedicated to Vedavyasa and Guru Parampara, Navaratri dedicated to trinity Devis—Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Yoga Day, Mother’s Day dedicated to Earth Mother of all Mothers,   Fathers’ day dedicated to Pitamaha,  Labor Day dedicated to Lord Viswakarma, Kamokarsheet Homa on Upakarma Day for all as Prayastichitta (Expiation) day or Repentance Day, Mahalaya Amavasya dedicated to al   Pitrus and as  Annadana Day, Interenational Day of Peace with a Kalyanotsava to   Venkatesvara or Siva or Subhramanya or Radha Krishna, Phalguna Uttara the most auspicious day for wedding without consulting horoscope for auspicious time or day, for all Divines Wedding,  Makara Sankranti as New Year Day instead January 1 and making Resolution,  Navaratri, Divali,   Kartik Purnima day, Husband’s day --Karva chauth dedicated to Siva, Raksha Bhandan-- Sister’s day  dedicated to Subhadra,   to mention particularly. Again this needs proper collective thinking of all traditional experts and Pundits.

Sanat Kumara, called the Ancient of Days in the Bible, came with the 144,000 a long time ago to keep the flame of life on earth. The 144,000 is in the Bible in the Book of Revelation in the passage of the Bible: Revelation   14:1-7 where Sanat Kumara is referred as Lamb, which term is often used to Jesus Son of God.This reveals our past identity that is now forgotten or camouflaged!

Tamil Nadu Temple  Gopurams  and Kolu Display  the Spirit of  Vasudhaiva  Kutumbakam

 

“Hailed as the ‘state of temple cities in India’, Tamil Nadu is home to many age-old iconic temples with rich cultural heritage and splendid architectural work. Thanjavur’s Brihadisvara Temple is one of the largest temples in South India built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century. The temple has several Gods and saints sculpted on its outer side and its Tamil architecture is an exemplary display of unmatched craftsmanship. 

One of the carved figures looks like a European person who bears an uncanny resemblance to the 9^th century France King, Robert II. Also, the temple’s sculpture features the engraving of a Chinese man Historians across the world have confirmed that the world was not connected until the 15th-century. Even Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route from Europe to India in the 15th century. Taking all these factors into consideration, many history buffs speculate that Raja Raja Chola I must have established trade connections with Europe and China even before Vasco da Gama set his foot on Indian soil” says Ramaswamy Subramony.

I believe these two are symbolic of  the white and the yellow races covering all, human races from the East to the West in the world. The predominant colors with which Jagannatha is painted also signifies White, Black,Brown, Red and Yellow Races signifying He is the Lord of all Human races!

I believe Raja Raja Chola had in mind preoccupied with spirituality the Rig Veda mantra “Sanghacchadvam Samvadadvam” when he planned the Gopuram and displayed the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. Tamil Nadu is equally famous for its Navaratri Kolu. This spirit of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam is also displayed in Kolu display of Navaratri displaying the whole world and its cultures ruled by trinities Durga Lakshmi Sarasvati. The last 3 steps in Kolu displays all People from the globe and their culture, Animal kingdom and Plant kingdom, artifacts, dance, music. In fact it is the display of the entire Universe like the Gopuram conceptualized for Brihadisvara Temple by the pious King. My mother displayed many foreign dolls in Kolu and so do I. It also shows our respect to all humanity and creation as these are all worshiped for ten days besides display! I believe being a philanthropic king he had displayed the spirit of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam in the Gopuram of this historic temple. Please go through my discourses in this context:
 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/navaraatri-kolu-festival-of-d…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/amazing-temples-and-thrilling…com/…/amazing-temples-and-thrilling…

Indian spirituality, stemming from the teachings of the Vedas, the source of ancient yoga philosophy, stresses the truth of inwardness. Within the Indian belief system, divinity is to be found by accessing the divine Self (atman) within the self. Liberation can be attained through realizing the unity of atman and Brahman (the whole of the universe).

According to “American Veda” author Philip Goldberg, this inward-facing spirituality that has spread out from India is creating radical change in the West.  

“We’re becoming a nation of yogis. What I mean by that is that there are people whose orientation towards life and their orientation towards their spiritual life is very yogic. They may never set foot on a yoga mat, they may never do an asana in their lives. They have a meditation practice and turn inwards in their approach to whatever they define as spiritual –- their relation to the universe and their development of an inner connection to something bigger than themselves. People united together with common loyalty to "OM Tad Brahman" are taking charge of their spiritual lives in a very yogic way.”  

Progressively we should guide the crowd to worship deities like Venkatesvara, Skanda and Jagannatha whose historic background has all traditional appeal and the background of all   Dharma based religions.  Finally our focus should be on Venkatesvara only recalling its background with Eastern Sanat Kumara Traditions worshiped by all religions and hailed in Vedas as Sanat Kumara is Skanda and Skanda is Sanat kumara worshiped as Venkatesvara and also  hailed as Son of God and  Sanat Kumara in the Holy Bible,  the most popular deity worshiped  in India   that attracts maximum number of worshipers on any day in the World.  Venkatesvara also satisfies the orthodox followers of Siva and Vishnu with the Vishnu Tattva elaborated by Sankara in Tattva Bodha and Ramanuja and Madhva. He is also worshipped as Venkatakrishna! Focus on One deity moving away from multi-focus will ultimately lead us to focus on Nirguna Brahman and meditation.

Much has been done in USA, like caste-free society, Opening the doors of the temple for all who show respect to Hindu Dharma, Honoring Western Spiritual Gurus, Conducting religious rites to mixed race families in which one is a Hindu, Conducting spiritual classes in Monasteries and Temples for all, Declaring Special Religious Worship Day in temples like churches for some significant American holidays of Religious significance etc. But more needs to be done by Hindu Temples and cultural societies, and, Spiritual Gurus and religious Pundits. If one Malala Yousef can change the education system and gain freedom to women in Islamic society of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that has allowed women to drive public utilities and cars, and if 13 Pilgrim Fathers can build the most powerful Secular Nation where people can live with religious freedom, the hated and persecuted religious followers seek asylum and practice their religion free,   then certainly a group of  Intellectual Hindus with loyalty to common dharma and Universal God can make Vedanta World Religion of the Future  for all humans to Live in Peace but Not in Pieces. Vedas do promote such an approach! Ya evam Veda-ityupanishat!

  

Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam  / devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate // (X-191-20)

Come together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines that sat together in the past in harmony to worship.

[All people should live with one mind without enmity and this can be achieved only by the divine grace says the mantra]

Samaano mantra: samiti: samaani samaanam mana: saha chittamesham / samaanam mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi  // (X-191-3)

Let our speech be one; united be our voices! May our minds be in union with the thoughts of the wise people!  Sharing a common purpose; we worship as one.

APPENDIX

(E-MAIL SENT TO HR FORUM PARTICIPANTS)

ALL DHARMA BASED RELIGIONS SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND WORSHP TOGETHER

Hindu Americans united by dedication to Dharma and seeking Saranagati (submission) toNirguna Brahaman  may be interested in the Contributions of Jain Association of America that is not focused on Indian Jains alone though inspired and motivated by Indian Jains from Gujarat mainly. Though initially Jains from India joined Hindu Americans in worshiping together in Hindu Dharma Temples where the idols of Mahavir Vardhamana were consecrated in Temples like Albany (NY) and Huntsville (TN), now this Gujarat pocket of Jains wants to separate out as is evident from the programs you see. Hindu temple in Albany also consecrated Swami Narayan idol in Albany Temple. All Dharma based religions thus joined together that included Buddha in Albany, and worshiped together not only their individual deities but presiding deity Narayana who is Saguna Brahman in this Temple of Unity. Hindus would have preferred Adinatha who is Rishabha, an Avatar of Vishnu who gave Jain philosophy of Dharma and Ahimsa to the world.  Adinatha was motivated by Vedas that declared Dhrma is Sathyam (BAU) and Sathyam is Parabrahman or Nirguna Brahman. Jains do not believe in Saguna Brahman in any form for physical worship but meditate on Dharma which they don’t realize as Parabraahman (CHANDOGYA) but they do worship Vardhamana including his Padapuja in physical form. This disintegration is not only with Jains but also with Khalsa Group of Puritan Sikhs, Swami Narayan Group, Saibaba Group, Aiyappan Group etc., who have raised their own temples in USA  and run to White House for President’s Benediction.

Jains are trying to establish their own empire and identity as Global Jains in America. Jainism is very strong in Rajasathan and Karnataka too in India but they have not joined this group.They do visit Hindu Temples in US often. Jains can't be blamed for this disintegration but also Hindus who have not organized themselves as Sanatana Dharma followers moving away from the sectarian Hinduism approaches copied from India. Nevertheless the following information may be helpful in rethinking to organize themselves and bring together all Dharma based religions as Vedanta religion of Universal Oneness that Swami Vivekananda presented to the World Religions Congress 125 years ago.  

Wisdom lies in all Dharma based religions joining together and follow the Vedic dictum “Sanghacchadvam samvadadam…” and “Tamaso maa jyotirgamaya…” with which all rishis sat together and prayed to the unknown from which Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism were carved out as philosophies that later the followers compartmentalized. If this is made possible Abrahamic religions who have their origin in GOD (The Holy Spirit) and Abraham will regret their separation, and join together giving up  conversion, intimidation, senseless brutal killings, violations, hatred and  abuses and join the crowd of those who believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—The Whole World is One Family!”

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/08/our-spiritual-goal-is-unity-not.html

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/09/will-vasudhaiva-kutumbakam-remain-in.html

"I have received several requests from the community that they cannot attend the workshop personally, but they would like to have the copy of all presentations. 

Hence, I have uploaded the twelve Presentations, which I will be using in Workshop#6 in the following link folder. The folder contains all Power point presentations (pptx and pdf file) of the Workshop6.  Please download these files (one file at a time - by right clicking the file name) for your use.

www.jainelibrary.org/$workshop6_pptx/

List of Presentations for Workshop 6 at JCSC Jain Center (Buena Park CA)

1	Fundamental Concepts of Jainism
2	Four Anuyogs and their limitations to Properly understand the principles of Jain Religion
3	Universe and its Substances
4	Philosophy of Karma and Proper understanding of Mithyätva, Kashäy, Punya, and Päp Karma
5	Misinterpretation of Jain Karma Philosophy
6	Holistic Spirituality – Comprehensive Approach to Ahimsa, Health, Diet, and Spirituality
7	Stages of Spiritual Development
8	Five Great Vows of Ascetics and 12 Vows of Lay-people
9	Jain Universe and its comparison with the current knowledge of the Universe (Discussion)
10	Jain Agam Literature and the discussion on the development of various sects in Jainism
11	Diversity of World Religious Expression – comparison between Eastern and Western Religions
12	Diversity of World Religious Expression – comparison among Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism

Pravin K Shah

Jaina Education Committee"

Moving away from Hindu conservatism and sectarianism our temples in USA have made great progress  faster and better than India  in keeping the temple open to all who respect  Sanatana dharma and also promoting Vedanta through our spiritual classes. In India Supreme Court had to decide whether Sabari Malai should be kept open to women or not? I wonder why government has to interfere in our practice of religion?  We are not bogged down with such problems here.  Hindu American temples in a way focus on Panchayatana puja making one deity to focus on a particular festival or ritual. Our rituals are more misunderstood than understood.  They need to be explained to the multi racial and mixed racxial crowd that attend our temples. 

In order to preserve Hindu Dharma in USA for future generation without degeneration, propagate Universal Oneness Swami Vivekanada prescribed to the World 125 years ago on this soil to live in peace but not pieces and to progress spiritually we have to follow the advice  of great spiritual    Gurus of modern times Swami Dayananda, Swami Chidananda and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

“The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold Hindu Dharma. We need to make temples not just a center of rituals and congregation but lighthouses of philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis of Hindu Dharma. Creating an environment where the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella”   

Perhaps if we go by these wise advice, all Dharma based religions will continue to live with us as in the beginning rather than the recent thinking of disintegration.

-- September 30, 2018

Thanks for the explanation of the important topic very clearly.

--Dr. Brahm Parsh