11.24.08
Posted in Cultural Council, NEWS FROM INDIA, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 10:21 am by YUDHISTRA
From – Epaper HT
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=24_11_2008_013_002&kword=&mode=1
WHEREVER IT began, the inhuman practice of female feticide and femicide finds absolutely no sanction in the fountainhead of Hinduism, the Vedas. Our Vedas extol and talk very highly of woman’s place in society The Vedic woman was a whole, indispensable and full partner of man in social life. The Vedas uphold the obvious, that this world, without women, will be useless. Besides, as a mother or mother figure, every family has to adore her The Aitareya Upanisad says, “Woman brings us up and so she should be brought up by all.” She is not a commodity or property of man but is his better self, a spouse and a partner. Both man and woman are divine and together they are eligible to perform sacrifice to the gods, yajna or anusthana. Both of them are complementary in their roles. Manu, much maligned by modern society, in fact frowns at all those males who cast an evil eye on women folk. In Vedic society, the woman was given the top position in the household of her husband. She was and remains the hub of family life. A house without a wife is a dark cave without daylight. She illumines everything. The Atharva Veda compares her to the ocean. Just as the ocean establishes its empire over the rivers, a wife enters a husband’s house to be a queen, an owner, the person to whom everything belongs. The Vedas respect her power to build heaven in her home and then in the world. She can say confidently, “Man calls me weak, but I am the one who can inspire strength in man. I have the same God in me and possess all faculties to conduct this world.” The Veda, amidst its liberal outlook towards woman in general, acknowledges her heavy responsibility She is the key to the health, happiness and harmony of the society she lives in. She is the cause and effect of all progress in the world. God will never forgive those who murder the girl child. Neither must man
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11.18.08
Posted in Academic Council, Cultural Council, NEWS FROM INDIA at 9:24 am by YUDHISTRA
Express Buzz [India], 15 Nov 2008
Andhras flourished during the time of Chandragupta Maurya much before
the advent of the Satavahanas, and were said to be as powerful as
Mauryans. They had 30 fortified walled cities way back in 300 BC, wrote
the Greek traveller Megasthenes in his Indika. In what could be an
exciting discovery, the State Department of Archaeology and Museums has
identified five of those 30 walled cities. The Department has found
physical evidence proving Megasthenes right and by the same token ––
throwing light on the existence of Andhras and Telugu language before
the Satavahana period.
The study is part of a project taken up to find the 30 walled cities
mentioned by the Greek traveller and historian in his travelogue.
“Though the Andhras were mentioned in books dating back to 1,000 BC, we
have physical evidence like coins and pottery only from the Satavahana
period (200 BC – 200 AD). Our research based on Indika of Megasthenes
strengthens the theory that the Andhras existed before the Satavahanas.
Excavation of these sites will provide more physical evidence on
history, administration, language, customs and traditions of our
ancestors,” said P Chenna Reddy, Director of Archaeology and Museums
Department.
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10.20.08
Posted in Cultural Council, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 9:30 am by YUDHISTRA
In commemmoration of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the
Second UN International Day of Non-violence on 2 October, 2008, the Consulate General of India in Milan in association with the Comune di Milano has Organized the Exhibition of Original Photographs from the Life of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Inauguration was done by H.E. Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Indian Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution,Government of India.
THE EXHIBITION WILL REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 17 TILL 31 October, 2008
TIMINGS:
EVERY DAY – From 9hrs till 13hrs; then From 14hrs till 17:30hrs
MONDAY: CLOSED
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Posted in Cultural Council, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 6:05 am by YUDHISTRA
Hello everyone,
To celebrate Diwali, the Indian Association of NORTH ITALY has decided to organise an event on the 2nd of November, starting at 6:30pm.
The event will include various musical and dance performances, a grand lottery with some great prizes and food will also be available.
Venue:
PIME Auditorium
Via Mosè Bianchi, 94
(MM Amendola Fiera or Lotto on the RED line).
We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible, and of course we would like to ask you to spread the word to everyone who may be interested in participating.
IMPORTANT
Let me take this opportunity to ask anyone who would like to offer any help on the day that we would very much appreciate it.
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10.13.08
Posted in Academic Council, Cultural Council, Media Council, NEWS FROM INDIA, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 8:46 am by YUDHISTRA
Gujarat State Archaeological Department has discovered a small size Buddhist monastery in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, which dates back to 1,900 years.
According to a report in Desh Gujarat, the walls of the discovered monastery were built using bricks.
The 55 by 55 ft size monastery had a total of 12 cells for residual purpose of monks, with its entrance on the Northern direction.
“This Buddhist monastery probably belongs to 2nd to 4th century era. It was probably in use for 300 years,” said Gujarat State Archaeology Superintendent Dr. Yadubirsingh Rawat.
“After two years of excavation, first we unearthed the monastery structure. For a brief time, it remained a mysterious structure for us as we couldn’t figure out it’s motive. After some research, observations and studies, we have confirmed that this was a Buddhist monastery,” he added.
Decades back in Gujarat, when double size Devni Mori Buddhist monastery was discovered, a similar lay-out plane was found there.
Devni Mori Buddhist monastery also had northern side entrance, South-Western drain, open plot in centre and 29 cells for monks around the central plot.
In the course of two years of excavation, so far more than 2000 pieces of Archaeological importance have been found from Ghaskol Darwaja excavation site in Vadnagar.
The findings include a 2000 year old house, numerous clay utensils, silver coins, beads, ornaments, Roman style head sculpture, turbaned face clay plaque, votive tablet, head sculpture, plaque sculpture depicting Buddha, and parts of vessel on which Buddhism related words are written in Brahmi script.
Chinese traveler Hieun Tsanghad visited Vadnagar between 640 to 644 A.D. and documented presence of 1,000 Buddhist monks and 10 Buddhist monasteries in and around Vadnagar town known as Anandpur in that era.
http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/articleshow/ msid-3589123, prtpage-1. cms
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Posted in Academic Council, Cultural Council, Media Council, NEWS FROM INDIA, Scientific Council at 8:10 am by YUDHISTRA
http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/articleshow/ msid-3589123, prtpage-1. cms
Gujarat State Archaeological Department has discovered a small size Buddhist monastery in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, which dates back to 1,900 years.
According to a report in Desh Gujarat, the walls of the discovered monastery were built using bricks.
The 55 by 55 ft size monastery had a total of 12 cells for residual purpose of monks, with its entrance on the Northern direction.
“This Buddhist monastery probably belongs to 2nd to 4th century era. It was probably in use for 300 years,” said Gujarat State Archaeology Superintendent Dr. Yadubirsingh Rawat.
“After two years of excavation, first we unearthed the monastery structure. For a brief time, it remained a mysterious structure for us as we couldn’t figure out it’s motive. After some research, observations and studies, we have confirmed that this was a Buddhist monastery,” he added.
Decades back in Gujarat, when double size Devni Mori Buddhist monastery was discovered, a similar lay-out plane was found there.
Devni Mori Buddhist monastery also had northern side entrance, South-Western drain, open plot in centre and 29 cells for monks around the central plot.
In the course of two years of excavation, so far more than 2000 pieces of Archaeological importance have been found from Ghaskol Darwaja excavation site in Vadnagar.
The findings include a 2000 year old house, numerous clay utensils, silver coins, beads, ornaments, Roman style head sculpture, turbaned face clay plaque, votive tablet, head sculpture, plaque sculpture depicting Buddha, and parts of vessel on which Buddhism related words are written in Brahmi script.
Chinese traveler Hieun Tsanghad visited Vadnagar between 640 to 644 A.D. and documented presence of 1,000 Buddhist monks and 10 Buddhist monasteries in and around Vadnagar town known as Anandpur in that era.
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10.02.08
Posted in Cultural Council, Inter Religous Harmony Council, Media Council, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 10:31 am by YUDHISTRA
Two action plans for Gandhi’s birth anniversay:
http://dharma1.blogspot.com/2008/10/disband-congress-said-gandhi-act-on.html
1. Disband Congress, said Gandhi. Act on the guidance.
By S. Kalyanaraman 2 October 2008 http://www.sookta-sumana.com/disbandcongre.htm
2. Gandhi’s Hinduism was a religion of humanity
By Jagmohan (Deccan Chronicle, 2 Oct. 2008)
On Gandhi’s birthday, instead of going round the Mahatma’s Samadhi and attending prayer meetings ritualistically, the ruling elite will do well to think how a strong and healthy India could be built on its spiritual traditions and how Hinduism, as viewed by Gandhiji, could be used to refertilise and revitalise that tradition. Dr S. Radhakrishnan, in connection with his study of religion, posed three questions to Mahatma Gandhi: “What is your religion? How are you led to it? What is its bearing on social life?”
Gandhi replied the first question thus: “My religion is Hinduism which, for me, is the religion of humanity and includes the best of all religions known to me.” In response to the second question, Gandhi said: “I take it that the present tense in this question has been purposely used, instead of the past. I am led to my religion through truth and non-violence. I often describe my religion as religion of truth. Of late, instead of saying ‘God is Truth’, I have been saying ‘Truth is God’. We are all sparks of Truth. The sum total of these sparks is indescrible, as yet unknown Truth, which is God. I am daily led nearer to it by constant prayer.”
To the third question, Gandhi replied: “The bearing of this religion on social life is, or has to be, seen in one’s daily social contact. To be true to such religion, one has to lose oneself in continuous and continuing service of all in life. Realisation of Truth is impossible without a complete merging of oneself in and identification with this limitless ocean of life. Hence, for me, there is no escape from social service; there is no happiness on earth beyond or apart from it. In this scheme, there is nothing low, nothing high. For all is one, though we seem to be many.”
Gandhi elaborated: “The deeper I study Hinduism, the stronger becomes the belief in me that Hinduism is as broad as the universe. Something within me tells me that, for all the deep veneration I show to several religions, I am all the more a Hindu, nonetheless for it.”
On the Mahatma’s birthday, it seems necessary to bring home these fundamentals, particularly to those who go on condemning Hinduism without even studying it and also to those members of the ruling elite whose attachment to fake and fraudulent “gods” have made the country a den of corruption, callousness, confusion and criminality.
Gandhi’s elucidation makes it clear that true Hinduism is nothing but spiritual secularism. To relegate such a religion and to follow a shallow and superficial secularism is one of the worst sins that the false prophets of contemporary India are committing. They call Gandhi the Father of the Nation. And yet in practice they do everything to negate all his beliefs.
Throughout human history, religion has remained a potent force, despite all the pounding it has received from thinkers like Marx who called it “opiate of the masses” and Freud who termed it as “a collective neurosis of the masses”. It may be relevant to recall a talk between Cardinal Gonsalvic and Napoleon. The Cardinal was pleading the case for the Catholic Church. Napoleon got annoyed on some point and shouted at the Cardinal: “Your Eminence, are you not aware that I have the power to destroy the Catholic Church?” The Cardinal smiled and replied: “Your Majesty, we, the Catholic clergy, for the last 1,800 years, have done our level best to destroy the Catholic Church. We did not succeed. You will not succeed either.” This conversation brings out in a telling manner the staying power of religion, notwithstanding its internal and external destroyers.
While religion has its influence in every country, it is more so in India. Swami Vivekananda, with his characteristic clarity and insight, has observed: “Each nation, like each individual, has one theme in its life, which is its centre, the principal note around which every other note comes to form the harmony. If any one attempts to throw off this central note, that is, its national vitality, the direction which has become its own through the transmission of centuries, that nation dies. In India, religious life forms the centre, the key-note of the whole music of national life. Take away religion from India; nothing would be left.”
Power, in present day India, has become an end in itself. Justice is being buried deeper and deeper. Means, howsoever unscrupulous, are resorted to and then rationalised. Corruption in public life has attained alarming proportions. Most of our institutions have lost their underlying motivation of service and become effete and venal.
Why has this happened? Why have our State and society become soulless entities? Why have criminals enlarged their hold on politics? And why have power and pelf become everything, and justice and truth nothing?
The answer to these questions is that the ethical foundation of Hinduism, as seen by Gandhi, which could provide “an awakened conscience” to an individual and make him an honest, just and compassionate component of society, has been destroyed partly by the stink and slush of our past degeneration and partly by the type of spurious secularism which has been exploited in post-Independence India.
Hinduism, as made clear by Gandhi, sees all human beings as “sparks of truth/divinity”. As such, it neither goes against any other religion, nor is it incompatible with the constitutional goals of equality, fraternity, liberty and justice. If the same divinity constitutes the core of all individuals, they cannot but be equal. Further, divinity in one person cannot in any way be unjust to the same divinity in another person. As Gita puts it: “Seeing the same God equally present in everything, one does not injure the self by self; and goes to the highest goal”.
In Hinduism, Gandhi saw a unique quality: “In it there is room for the worship of all the prophets of the world. It is not a missionary religion in the ordinary sense of the word”. Gandhi underlined: “God is not encased in a safe to be approached only through a little hole in it, but He is open to be approached through billions of openings by those who are humble and pure of heart”.
Jagmohan is a former governor of J&K and a former Union ministe
http://deccan.com/Columnists/Columnists. asp?#Gandhi’s Hinduism was a religion of humanity
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Posted in Cultural Council, Inter Religous Harmony Council, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 5:45 am by YUDHISTRA
THE GUJARATI ASSOCIATION IN VIA LIBERTA’ 33- 20019 SETTIMO MILANESE, MILAN – ITALY IS ORGANISING THE NAVRATI FUNTION FROM 30/09/2008 till 10/10/2008 EVERY DAY FROM 20:00 hrs to 01:00 Hrs.
YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FUNCTION.
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Posted in Cultural Council, Inter Religous Harmony Council, THE SANGAM FOUNDATION at 5:21 am by YUDHISTRA
Dear friends,
From Milan we are planning to visit the Durga Puja festival held in
Brescia by the Hindus of Bangladesh. We are trying to arrange a bus
of capacity 50 to go all together so we do not have the headache of
arranging the transport and searching the place.
This year the government did not give a hall for religious purposes,
so the celebrations are being held in the home of one of the persons.
So, basically we will be seeing the deity and then have time to move
around in the area.
The dates are :
———————————–
Monday 6 October – Shoptomi
Tuesday 7 October – Oshtomi
Wednesday 8 October – Nobomi
Thursday 9 October – Doshomi
———————————–
Exact date to be decided based on response.
The bus total cost would be in the range of € 450 (IVA inclusive)
so the per head cost would be divided by the number of adults
travelling.
Timings :
Leave milan from a specific place at 6:15 PM
Reach Brescia place of puja at around 7:45 PM
Leave Brescia at around 10:00 PM
Reach Milan by 11:30 PM
Should be a great opportunity to travel together in the Indian festive spirit.
Those who wish to participate, please let me know :
1. How many adults
2. Which date (any date from the 6th to the 9th oct could be preferred or
if any date is okay)
Please send me reponses by wednesday 1st October so we can go ahead with
the booking.
Namaste
Ashanka
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09.29.08
Posted in Cultural Council at 2:52 pm by YUDHISTRA
The Comune di Milano will host the exhibition ” My Life is My
Message” comprising photographs on Gandhiji’s life at the Sala
Panoramica of the Castello Sforzesco, Milan, from 16 until 31
October, 2008 to commemmorate the birth anniversarty of Gandhiji
in October and the UN International Day of
Non-Violence.Inauguration will be at 1800 on 16 October in the
presence of an invited audience. Entry to the Exhibition will be
free thereafter to the public during the opening hours of the
Castello.
The exhibition, curated in Italian, has already been mounted at
Genoa, Torino and Settimo Milanese. It will later travel to
Padova, Venice and Vicenza. The popularity of the exhibition is
proof of the warm regard and respect of the Italian people for
Gandhiji and his message.
The Comune di Settimo Milanese and the Indian Association of North
Italy are commemorating Gandhiji’s birth anniversary with a public
gathering and concert in his honour. Indian communities in Torino,
Genoa, Parma and Bologna will also be holding commemorative events
on 2 October, 2008, which is likely to coincide also with
Eid-ul-Fitr this year.
Message from CG Milan
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