Guest guest Posted December 26, 2006 Report Share Posted December 26, 2006 December 24, 2006 World Hindu Conference Concludes in Nepal Shri Satish Babbar Releases New Album at Delhi Function Who Can Chant Gayatri Mantra? 1. World Hindu Conference Concludes in Nepal GORAKHPUR, NEPAL, December 24, 2006: The three-day World Hindu Conference ended in Gorakhpur on Sunday with a call to "defend Hindu culture" worldwide, including in Nepal. Addressing a large rally in Gorakhpur, World Hindu Federation chief Bharat Kesar Singh alleged "large-scale conversion" was being carried out in Nepal under the present Maoist-supported regime. "Cows are being slaughtered on a large scale, and Hindus are facing threats from several quarters. Sanskrit is no more being taught in Nepali schools and the government of Nepal has stopped financing Sanskrit institutions," Singh, the ADC to the Nepalese King, said. He alleged there had been "consistent attacks on Hindu culture and institutions, including temples, in different parts of the world. The freedom to practice Hinduism is being snatched away in many countries, including Nepal," he alleged. The three-day conference discussed various matters, including untouchability, conversion, cow slaughter and Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya. It saw the participation of more than 10,000 representatives from 39 countries. Speakers included Goravardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand, Swami Chinmayanand, Acharya Dharmendra, Mahant Avaidyanath and Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath. 2. Shri Satish Babbar Releases New Album at Delhi Function Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 24, 2006. "When I perform on stage, I am in total communion with the God. My only request to Him is to give darshan to the audience who is watching my performance. However, I have attained this stage by engaging in the sadhana of music and dance for over sixty-four years, that is since the time I was just five years old. So for the youth my message is that if you want to learn music and dance, you have to give your one hundred percent to it." These views were expressed by the world famous Kathak Guru, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, while speaking at function jointly organized by Music Today and Satish Babbar Music Foundation at New Delhi's prestigious Le Meridian Hotel on December 22, 2006, in connection with the release of the audio cd of "Om Namoh Shivay -- The Healing Music" which has the voices of father and daughter team comprising of ghazal and bhajan maestro Satish Babbar and Vanee Babbar. In his address to the distinguished gathering of a large number of media persons and art and music lovers of the capital, well-known music director of Indian film industry, Shri Uttam Singh had this to say, "Music is sadhana and tapasya (penance) and success in this field can only be attained by those who have total commitment and dedication. Those who look for short cuts and short-lived success in the sphere of music vanish from the scene as quickly as they appear on it."Speaking to Hinduism Today about his latest album, Shri Satish Babbar said, "Om Namoh Shivay- The Healing Music" is based on the morning raga Ahir Bhairav. It symbolizes the manifestations of the divine glory of Lord Shiva -- who stands for the beginning and the end of life."According to Shri Babbar, the music in the album creates a sense of peace and enlightenment in abundance. Repeated chanting of the mantra invokes the blessings of the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent Lord Shiva. He further claimed, "The music in itself has a healing power for all the internal and external woes of the human soul. In this album we have tried to capture the brighter side of life -- the glimmering sun rays that bring light to the world, the sound of the chirpy birds, the gleeful daylight and the peaceful dawn, all of which are a blessing from the great Almighty."Dr. Karan Singh, President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations [iCCR], also blessed the function with his brief presence. 3. Who Can Chant Gayatri Mantra? KAUAI, HAWAII, December 24, 2006: An issue came up at the Hindu Mission of Canada in Quebec regarding the chanting of the famed Gayatri Mantra by the ordinary devotees. Some brahmins held the position that the mantra should chanted by everyone only when a priest is leading the chant. The chairman of the mission, Dharam Pal Verman, asked Hinduism Today to research the issue. We, in turn, asked our Delhi correspondent, Rajiv Malik, to consult with experts in India. He reported the following points:1. The chanting of Gayatri Mantra collectively in large groups is something very common place in the temples and Arya Samajas all over India. It takes place everyday. No one ever objects to non-brahmins joining the priests and other brahmins in this chanting of the Gayatri Mantra.2. In an earlier interview with Hinduism Today, the Shankaracharya of Puri said that mantras need to be chanted by common people in an extremely careful manner so th at they do not get harmed by the high level of energy generated in the process of chanting them.3. In consultation with Swami Pragyanand of Delhi, who is a big promoter of Gayatri Mantra, Swami said:a. "Gayatri mantra is for everybody. Why I say this is because every mantra has a devata and in the case of Gayatri Mantra, the devata or God is the Sun God. Now the Sun God is for every creature in this world. therefore gayatri is also for everybody in this world. Gayatri is also known as mother and again mother is for everyone and therefore Gayatri is for every child of God. Anything which is created by God is for everybody, whereas if a man creates something it may be used for the benefit of some people only.b. "In Bhagavad Gita lord Krishna said that among mantras I am myself the Gayatri Mantra. So how can anybody be deprived of chanting the Gayatri Mantra?c. "The essence of Gayatri Mantra is that God may grant wisdom to all. Now wisdom is not a monopoly of any one person, state, religion or sect. Therefore as wisdom is for everybody, Gayatri Mantra is also for everybody.d. "When I went to Surinam in South America for the first time, in some of the temples they did not allow chanting of Gayatri Mantra. But when I explained the meaning and essence of Gayatri Mantra to the people there, they got convinced and the things changed. Today, a few radio stations have a round-the-clock recitation of Gayatri Mantra."e. Asked about the point of view of the Puri Shankaracharya, Swami said that as the Shankaracharya was of orthodox views therefore he held this kind of opinion on this matter. In an earlier case, the Puri Shankaracharya objected to women chanting the Vedas.Others who wish to comment on this issue may e-mail ar. Daily Inspiration Whenever possible, it is always good to act in kindness. It is always possible. The Dalai Lama Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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