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Fiji Hindu temple to undergo $0.5 million beautification
 
Legendary Sri Siva Subramanya Swami Temple in Nadi (Fiji) is reportedly planned to undergo a $0.5 million upgrade and beautification.
 
Upgrading also includes constructing a vegetarian eatery. This Temple, run by Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam Fiji (TISISF), also plans to celebrate its 24th anniversary with elaborate Mahakumbabhishekam rituals in June next.
 
This temple, which opens at six am every day, holds hour-long Trishati Pooja every Tuesday evening. Anand Gurukkal is the Head Priest.
 
Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended efforts of TISISF and temple leaders and area community towards undertaking this grand beautification.
 
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.
 
TISISF, headquartered in Nadi and established in 1926; runs various schools, colleges, temples, farms, nursery; besides undertaking various sporting and cultural activities and organizing conventions. Jai Narayan is the Chief Executive Officer.
 
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation of Fiji, located in its west; which Lonely Planet described as “a unique blend of cultures”.

Upset Hindus urge Pennsylvania firm to withdraw Hindu gods’ yogamats & apologize
 
Upset Hindus are urging Gladwyne (Pennsylvania) headquartered yoga mats company “Spiritual Revolution” for immediate withdrawal of yoga mats carrying images of Hindu deities Ganesha, Durga and Hanuman; calling it highly inappropriate.
 
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Lord Ganesha, goddess Durga and Lord Hanuman were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to sit on or put feet/buttocks/legs on or sweat on. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
 
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged “Spiritual Revolution” and its CEO to offer a formal apology.
 
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.
 
Zed further said that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
 
“Ganesha: Remover of Obstacles”, “Durga: The Great Protectress” and “Hanuman: Devotion In Action” yoga mats are priced at $85.00 each. “Spiritual Revolution”, which sells “yoga mats for all ages”, claims that their “yoga mats are the greatest tool to aid you in your journey to optimal health, happiness, success, and peace” and adds that “Each mat is designed to raise your vibrational frequency”. It states on its website: “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a Spiritual Revolution yoga mat and that’s basically the same thing”. “Revolutionaries” listed include Amie Barsky, Angela Knight Benoit, Lindsay Westcott, Kiley Holliday, Vanessa Van Noy, Erica Bleznak, Heather Grutzmacher, Allie Starfox and Oceanic Society.