Bodhgaya: Karmapa Lama holds peace prayer

          Bodhgaya (Bihar): Ugyen Thrinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa Lama, held a prayer for world peace at an all-religious meet here on Friday. Spiritual leaders and devotees of various religions congregated in the town to hear the sermon. Dorje, the only senior monk to be recognised by both Beijing and exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, led the ceremony. "This event is being held on the occasion of Lord Buddha's 2550 Mahaparinirvana. Buddha is an idol for universal peace and tranquility," said R. S. Gavai, Governor of Bihar. The Karmapu Lama entered India two years ago and is now settled in Dharamsala after undertaking an arduous 1,400-km journey through the snow-bound Himalayas. He belongs to the Karma Kargyu Sect of Buddhism, which is headquartered at the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. The Indian government granted the Karmapa refugee status in February 2005.
Dec 30, 2006

Naga Sadhus in procession at Ardh Kumbh

          Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh): A large number of Naga Sadhus or naked hermits held a procession preceding the Ardh Kumbh. Led by elephants and horses, the procession entered the venue of the 'Ardh Kumbh Mela', which begins on January 1, 2007. "The practice of holy men entering the Kumbh in such a procession began in the reign of King Harshvardhana. Naga monks of the Juna Akhara have always been welcomed in this way," said Karnapuri Ji Maharaja, a holy man. Laxmi Narayan, another holy man, said: "It is just like entering a house. It marks the arrival of holy men in the Kumbh area." According to official estimates, the 51-day long Ardh Kumbh is expected to draw about 60 million devotees, tourists and holy men. Civic and security personnel have already begun an elaborate exercise to manage the logistics of such a mammoth fair. According to legend, gods and demons fought a celestial war, which resulted in the spilling heavenly nectar at the confluence of three-rivers in Prayag. For devout Hindus, the Kumbh Mela is an occasion to celebrate tales and beliefs handed down through the generations.
Dec 30, 2006

Guru Gobind Singh birth anniversary celebrated

         Patna: Sikhs took part in a colourful religious ceremony to mark the 340th birth anniversary of their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh here today. Sikh devotees from all over the world gathered at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara to pay obeisance to Guru Gobind Singh. "This tenth guru has done a lot for the whole society. He has saved us from hell, basically all that happened in history. He gave his life and his children's lives to protect us," said Surjit Singh, a devotee from London. Guru Gobind Singh played a monumental part in the development of the Sikh faith. His five K's and taking up arms against the Mughals created a warrior clan that was visibly different and helped evolve Sikhism from a clan to a religion. Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna on December 22, 1666 and Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib stands at his birthplace.
Dec 27, 2006

Manji Sahib a landmark in Guru Gobind Singh's life
by Karan Kapoor

         Ludhiana: Gurudwara Manji Sahib in Alamgir village, Ludhiana, is a landmark in the life of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru was pursued by the Mughal Army and it was at this Gurudwara that he paused and rested, and blessed it with his presence. During Guru Gobind Singh's time, the Mughals under Emperor Aurangzeb were regaining their ascendancy. Following the battle in Anandpur Sahib, the Guru abandoned the fort and came to Macchiwara, where his family was put to death. It was then that two Pathan brothers, Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan, even at the prospect of facing certain death, helped the Guru to escape from the Mughal army. Guru Gobind Singh donned the blue robes of a Muslim saint and accompanied by three Sikhs, all survivors of the Battle of Chamkaur, was carried in a palanquin through enemy lines. He discarded his disguise at Alamgir and took a horse, which was presented to him by Bhai Naudha, a resident of Alamgir. Gurudwara Manji Sahib was constructed at the place where the Guru stayed. On reaching Alamgir and unable to find any drinking water, the Guru ordered his followers to fetch drinking water from a nearby well. But they could not, as the boundary wall had fallen into the well and the water was contaminated. The Guru then shot an arrow into the ground and a spring of water gushed out. "This spring has been converted into a tank known as `Tirsar', or Arrow Lake. The Guru said that whoever visits the holy tank with full faith, all his pains and worries would be cured," said Kingi Singh, Granthi, Gurudwara Manji Sahib, Alamgir Due to the Manji or palanquin that brought the disguised Guru to Alamgir, the Peer of Ucch bestowed this Gurudwara its name, the Manji Sahib. That original rare artefact, the palanquin has been preserved here, in an underground cell, to this day. For devotees, the Gurudwara Manji Sahib is a pilgrimage as well as a tourist destination, both for its sanctity and the slice of Sikh history that it offers. It is one of the many shrines of the Sikhs, contributing its bit to the glorification of Sikhism. "We have been visiting this place regularly with great faith. Everyone's wishes get fulfilled," said Satwant Kaur, a devotee. "We have so much faith in our guru that we believe that all our problems will be resolved by coming here. All our pains will be cured with faith," said Balbir Singh, another devotee. The langar or, community meal at the Gurudwara Manji Sahib is said to be one of the biggest among all Sikh religious shrines, catering to hundreds of people free of cost every day in the spirit of service to mankind. Generations on, Gurudwara Manji Sahib is in itself a picture of Sikhism showcasing its glory in true sense.
Dec 27, 2006

Amritsar Academy for non-Indian Sikhs
by Savinder Singh

          Amritsar: An academy here is training non-Indian Sikhs to learn about Sikhism. The students of the Miri Piri Academy, all foreigners, follow the four pillars of the Sikh lifestyle - Bani and Bana (look for outer and inner values), Nam Simran (contemplation on God's name) and Seva (selfless service). Based on the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind's philosophy of attaining mastery in both Miri (the temporal realm), and Piri (the spiritual realm), students of 13 countries are exposed to both an academic curriculum and daily spiritual and yogic practice. Academy Principal Sadanand Kaur say: "We are developing the mind, body and spirit. We give equal importance to all these three areas". Students are also taught the Sikh martial arts, 'Gatka'. The traditional art is used to train the body and mind to work in coordination, and to instil the qualities of a warrior, such as bravery, courage, spirit, and self-discipline. Spread over an area of 14 acres, the academy was founded in 1997 by Harbhajan Singh Khalsa. About 105 students at the academy belong to the third and fourth generation of Sikh families staying abroad. Many have stayed here for 10 to 12 years in other smaller Sikh academies. Gatka and Yoga teacher Jagat Guru Singh Khalsa said,"It (the academy) gives students a lot of strength. Over a hundred students have come from the overseas and arrived here from different parts of the world. Many have left their homes and families." "When they come here they get a chance to learn and experience spiritual practices. On returning home after graduating 12th grade from here, they are enriched with the spiritual strength. They can use this later on in their lives and shape bright future for themselves". Miri Piri Academy is accredited to the Punjab State Education Board, and students are eligible to take admission in colleges and universities in India and the US. The specially designed curriculum provides them an insight and understanding of the teachings of the Gurus and how to implement them in daily life. With the religious and spiritual discourses on the one hand and grounding in technology and science on the other, children grow up in an atmosphere that enriches their lives and makes them understand the beauty of Sikhism and life. "Miri Piri brings more than other schools in terms of spirituality, yoga and it really has a deeper meaning of everything. Other schools do not include spirituality and I think its very important part in life. So, Miri Piri brought me more than other schools," said Guru Amrit Kaur, a student. Immersing themselves in the culture and history of the Sikhism, these children carry with them a message for future generations - the message of the Khalsa - love for mankind.
Dec 25, 2006

Santa Claus comes to Sangam in Allahabad

          Allahabad: The milange of celebrations came as a surprise for the onlookers as Santa Claus appeared at the banks of Ganga, even as preparations are in full swing for the ensuing Kumbh Mela. This surprising emergence of Santa was a thrill for one and all, be they toddlers or Goldie-oldies since he had gifts for all age groups. And, his appearance at the holy Sangam doubled the mood of the festivity. "I came at Sangam with my parents. We met Santa Claus here. He talked to us and gave me chocolates and balloons. He also wished us Merry Christmas and shook hands with us," said Nidhi. The degree of excitement was no less for Bhanugiri, who came from Uttaranchal to take a holy dip in the Sangam. "He gave me chocolates. We liked his presence at the Sangam. He is a face of the God," said Bhanugiri. For Santa, it was an opportunity to share the happiness jingling bell with the Sadhus, Tilakdharis and Naamdharis on the banks of the river. "I play Santa Claus every year. I came at Sangam for the first time. I came to know about the Kumbh Mela and decided to share happiness with people, especially with children. Most importantly, I also wanted to share happiness with Sadhus on Christmas," said Harkirath Singh, who enthralled the crowd in the guise of Santa Claus.
Dec 24, 2006

A 'Dukh Niwaran' Gurudwara
by Karan Kapoor

        Patiala: Sikh devotees come for relief from their sufferings at Patiala's Gurudwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib. A holy dip in the `sarovar' or reservoir located within the Parikarma of the gurudwara is said to ease one's worries and concerns. Legend has it that at the request of a villager of Lehal suffering from a wasting disease, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur came here on his way to Anandpur Sahib in 1798. Sitting under a Banyan tree near the village pond, the guru prophesied that a bath in the pond would rid believers of their pains and sufferings. Devotees now come firmly believing that all their pains would be cured and their lives enriched. "At that time, the people of Lehal village were suffering from a wasting disease. They requested the guru to cure the village. On reaching the village, the guru said that whoever bathes in the village pond with complete devotion, would be relieved of all ailments. He also said that whoever bathes here on the day of Basant Panchami will be rewarded with the fruits of 68 pilgrimages," claims Sukhdev Singh, the shrine's head priest. The calm and scenic location of the gurudwara is in direct contrast to the bustle and humdrum of the outside world. During his stay at Lehal, Guru Tegh Bahadur also issued a `hukumnama' or a religious diktak calling for the peaceful co- existence of all mankind. The original hand-written text has been carefully preserved at the gurudwara. At the spot where it is believed Guru Tegh Bahadur wrote the document, a sacred flame is kept alive, a reminder to all humanity. "I am a regular visitor to the Patiala gurudwara, as I get mental peace here. It is believed that whoever bathes in the pond and does `sewa' all his desires are fulfilled. One feels relaxed while visiting the holy site," said one devotee. "It's a historical place devoted to Guru Tegh Bahadur and, whoever comes with ardent faith and devotion, has his wish fulfilled," said another devotee. Each day, thousands of believers of all faiths visit Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sabhib. An institution of deep faith and devotion, it is indeed, a unique shrine.
Dec 5, 2006

Celestial wedding of Venkateswara and Padmavati

         Mumbai: Devotees paid obeisance to Lord Venkateswara and his consort Goddess Padmavati on Sunday. The holy matrimony was performed yesterday. The 'Srinivasa Kalyanam' (the celestial wedding) or the coming together of Lord Balaji or Lord Venkateswara and his consort is considered highly auspicious. Amid sacred chanting and cluster of banana leaves and marigold and jasmine flowers the marriage ritual was performed on Saturday for the first time outside Andhra Pradesh which has a famous temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. "The lord has come to Mumbai. I am feeling very nice. I am very satisfied (to offer prayers to the god)," said Subramanium, a devotee. "It feels very good. Lord Balaji has come to Mumbai for the first time. It is privilege and honour. I am devotee of Lord Balaji. So, I am happy," said Meet, another devotee. The wedding was performed to the oration of the traditional Vedic chanting. The event was organised by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams of Tirupati and the South Indian Education Society in Mumbai. The idols, brought especially from Tirupati, have been kept for two days for the devout to pay obeisance. Dec 3, 2006

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