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Showing posts from February 23, 2007


Important archeological finds at Dwarka

Important archaeological finds have been made under water and on land at Dwarka in Gujarat . The Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting a major excavation at Dwarka, which is mentioned in the Mahabharata as kingdom of Lord Krishna . Legend has it that Dwarka was submerged by sea. The archaeologists have found ancient structures and copper coins. On land, the excavations are taking place near the famous Dwarkadhish temple. The Hindu reports Alok Tripathi, Superintending Archaeologist, UAW, said the ancient underwater structures found in the Arabian Sea were yet to be identified. "We have to find out what they are. They are fragments. I would not like to call them a wall or a temple. They are part of some structure," said Dr. Tripathi The Hindu also has some pictures of the excavations at Dwarka.

Pakistani History Texts Does Not Include Hinduism and Buddhism

There is an ongoing controversy in Pakistan over the inclusion of chapters related to Hinduism and Buddhism in history texts. Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) has opposed the inclusion of content related to South Asia 's pre-Islamic history. The pre-Islamic history of South Asia deals with Hinduism, Buddhism and the many empires including Mauryan Empire of Chandra Gupta Maurya. The present History texts in Pakistan talks about the Indus civilization and skips Hinduism, birth and spread of Buddhism and the rule of Hindu kings in the region that forms present day Pakistan. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman writes in an editorial in The News After all, these civilizations are very much a part of our history, whether the MMA likes it or not. It is not Hindu history, as the MMA would have it, but Pakistani, and, in fact, world history. If Hinduism and Buddhism, or, for that matter, any other culture or religion, are a part of this history, then they, too, must be cover

Hindu Temples of Sri Lanka - Book by Professor S. Pathmanathan

Edited by Professor S. Pathmanathan, the book ‘Hindu Temples of Sri Lanka ’ captures the progress of Hinduism in Sri Lanka through the Hindu temples on the Island Nation. The book delves into the different aspects of the ancient temples including history, architecture, administration, endowments, festivals, rituals and traditions. The book contains fifteen essays written by nine authors. Majority of the essays are written by S. Pathmanathan. In the introduction part, Pathmanathan throws light on various cults and traditions of Hindu religion. Equally important is his thoughts on the contacts between Hinduism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka . The book contains a map which provides the geographical location of the important temples. There are also images of temples in the book. It is a historian’s history of the progress of Hinduism in the Island from the earliest times up to the present. It catalogues, records and describes the his

Raja Ram Mohan Roy Quotes

OM , when considered as one letter, uttered by the help of one articulation, is the symbol of the Supreme Spirit. But when considered a trilateral word consisting of a, u, m, it implies the three Vedas, the three states of human nature, the divisions of the universe, and the three deities – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, agents in the creation, preservation and destruction of this world; or, properly speaking, the three principal attributes of the Supreme Being personified in those three deities. In this sense it implies, in fact, the universe controlled by the Supreme Spirit. There is only one God. None equals him. He has no end. He is present in all living beings. The present system of Hindus is not well calculated to promote their political interests. It is necessary that some change should take place in their religion at least for the sake of political advantage and social comfort. Raja Ram Mohan Roy  (1775 – 1883)