HinduVote Guide for Temples and NonProfits (Bound Document) LowRes
Today, Hindus form a significant demographic in the United States. This population encompasses not only individuals from India but also the broader Hindu diaspora, including people from countries as diverse as Bali, Ghana, Vietnam, Surinam, and the Caribbean. Additionally, many individuals have adopted Hindu practices, further expanding this community. In key battleground states for the Presidential election, such as Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia, the Hindu population often exceeds the margin of victory for candidates. Therefore, Hindu issues should be of interest to candidates across the political spectrum. Hindu issues are neither coercive nor threatening. We believe that addressing these issues will make the United States a better country for all its citizens. Our teachings from the shastras, summarized in three mahavakyas or great sentences, encapsulate the values we wish to share with America:
Significance of Hindu Deities Symbolism English
Advances in science and technology have benefited mankind immensely. World has become a global village but has not evolved global consciousness. A thrust solely on the material progress has left a vacuum within, with detrimental consequences to personal life, family life and the society-at-large. Enormous tensions between the nations, races and religions continue to spin out wars, terrorism and destruction of human life. Hindu thought and traditions have emphasized a balanced approach between external life and internal life, with science and spirituality complementing each other. Spiritual icons such as Swami Vivekananda, Yogananda, Aurobindo, Swami Tilak and others traveled to the West for sharing Hindu wisdom to provide answers to the problems of the modern world. Many western philosophers and scholars look to India for finding solutions to problems facing the world. While the most second generation descendants of Indian Americans are high achievers in academic and professional lives, they yearn for a systemic exposure and learning of their great heritage. Thus, there is a need to educate the second and the future generations about their religious, social and cultural traditions as foundations for a life teeming with humility, pride and fulfillment.
HinduVote Guide for American Hindu Voters LowRes
Today, Hindus form a significant demographic in the United States. This population encompasses not only individuals from India but also the broader Hindu diaspora, including people from countries as diverse as Bali, Ghana, Vietnam, Surinam, and the Caribbean. Additionally, many individuals have adopted Hindu practices, further expanding this community. In key battleground states for the Presidential election, such as Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia, the Hindu population often exceeds the margin of victory for candidates. Therefore, Hindu issues should be of interest to candidates across the political spectrum. Hindu issues are neither coercive nor threatening. We believe that addressing these issues will make the United States a better country for all its citizens. Our teachings from the shastras, summarized in three mahavakyas or great sentences, encapsulate the values we wish to share with America:
Significance of Hindu Deities Symbolism Hindi
Managing a Hindu Temple
In an ideal world, getting together to build an edifice for the worship of God would be a very simple matter of duty and dharma. Until that ideal world is in place, though, we are stuck with one in which the laws of society largely influence the enterprise of temple organization. The better prepared we are to deal with it, the more successfully we can spare ourselves the myriad headaches that often arise for temples in the US today
Select Verses and Songs in Hindu Heritage (VHPA)
Hindu Dharma Essentials
Hindu Patients
This handbook, the Health Care Providers’ Handbook on Hindu Patients, was originally created by Queensland Health (Government of Australia) and covers a range of topics and aims to inform health care providers about the religious beliefs and practices of Hindu patients that can affect health care. It also contains information regarding dietary practices of Jain patients. It has been adapted for use in the State of Maryland, United States of America, by the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships, Asian Pacific American Advisory Group.
Prayers
Prayers book published by the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) features Hindu shlokas (sacred invocations), prarthnas (prayers), aartis and bhajans (devotional songs). The book contains sanskrit text, english transliteration, and translation
Visiting a Hindu temple
Be they luxurious palaces, rustic warehouses, simple halls or granite sanctuaries, Hindu temples are springing up all over the world, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Yet outside of India and a few places like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bali, what happens inside these temples remains a mystery—to young generations of Hindus as well as to curious newcomers. It’s all a bit intimidating at first. This Insight is designed to answer the common questions that arise: Why are temples important? What are the customs and protocols, the dos and don’ts? What attitudes should one hold inside? Do all those rituals have a meaning? What is the priest chanting? All these musings and more are addressed here to help newcomers— both Hindus and non-Hindus—enjoy and benefit from their temple visits.
This special Educational Insight was inspired by and produced expressly for the Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference
Hindu Antyeshti Samskar
Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), an initiative of VHPA has published this unique book which fills a much desired need of the community.
The book is written especially for the Hindu community in USA and Canada, where the circumstances, prevailing laws and available facilities for performing last rites are decidedly different than back home. This book has been endorsed by several leading Mandirs. Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam has written the Forward of the book in which he states, since the rites cannot be performed within the compounds of a temple, the cremation ceremonies are, more often than not, always compromised. HMEC is bringing out a book on this important Antyeshti for the benefits of the Hindus living in USA…
Vivaha Samskara
- Complete Vedic Hindu Brahma Vivaha in Sanskrit with English translation
- Two modifications for contemporary relevance: Mutual Consent and Joint Saptapadi
- Symbolism of Hindu rituals
- Discussion of Hindu / non-Hindu Interfaith Marriage Issues
- Complete Hindu ceremony for a non-Hindu to accept Hindu Dharma
The Hindu Prayer Book For Patients, Caregivers and Chaplains
This booklet is developed under the auspices of the Hindu Mandir (Temple) Executives’ Conference (HMEC), in cooperation with Hindu Temples of North America, with the objective of providing some comfort and spiritual guidance at a time when you or your loved one is ill or recovering from an illness or condition.
- Publisher : World Hindu Council of America (January 1, 2012)
- Language : English
Hindu Temple Security Guidelines
Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) is a Vishwa Hindu Parishad America (World Hindu Council) initiative. Over the years, HMEC has provided useful services to the Hindu Temples in North America region by organizing Executive conferences, providing benchmarking / networking/camaraderie opportunities, and by publishing useful information.
Recent vandalism at the Louisville, Kentucky BAPS temple, built on previous history of such activities in other parts of the United States heightened our concerns about security needs of our devotees and temples. We commissioned a team of experts to develop temple security guidelines. We are proud to present the work of this team, based on exhaustive research of work done by the Homeland Security, leading Hindu temples and other religious organizations, We encourage individual temple leaders to take a look at their individual surroundings and resolve to develop plans appropriate for their local situations.
Hinduism and America – How Hindu Dharma is Transforming the West
Prof. Subhash Kak: “A beautifully produced book that presents the many aspects of the Indian American experience in America and contributions of Indians to American Life”
Prof. Ved Nanda: “The authors vividly capture the 250-year long progression of Hindu thought in America, all unplanned and un-orchestrated. They admirably perform this Herculean task and accomplish their goal of introducing to the reader the tenets of Hindu tradition and the main actors and salient events that have left such an indelible imprint and lasting impact on America. The story they tell is intriguing, enchanting, and indeed profound, and the tapestry they weave is rich in its splendor. This book should adorn every Hindu American’s coffee table”
Hindu Temples in North America
Hindu Temples in North America, A Celebration of Life (Also includes Buddhist, Jain and Sikh temples) By Mahalingum Kolapen Photography by Sanjay Kolapen Published by Hindu University of America, Council of Hindu Temples of North America, Titan Graphics and Publications.
The book is a treat for any student on Hinduism. It describes the rich heritage behind Hindu festivals in commanding language with the help of scholarly Swamijis, explains the significance of deities and rituals, and superbly illustrates the splendor of the architectural and sculptural details of Hindu temples with breath taking precision.
Hindu Chaplains
Book on Chaplaincy published by VHP UK is an excellent guide for Hindu chaplins.
Understanding Hinduism
What does being a Hindu mean? What do Hindus believe in? Are Hindus “polytheists” who believe in “idols”? This concise book by Dr. D.C. Rao distills years of study and teaching in the Chinmaya Mission, and accurately presents Hinduism to all those who might be interested in learning about it. I commend this effort and invoke the grace and blessings of the great lineage of our Gurus for this noble work.