c: India
Religion News Bulletin 1
What is Sayana Ekadasi/ Shukla Paksha Ekadasi?
The Ekadasi that comes during the Shukla Paksha (Waning Moon )in Ashada month is called Toli Ekadasi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Shayana Ekadasi, Hari Sayani Ekadasi across South India. It is popularly believed that by praying and observing on Ekadashi will help in a person from redemption of sins.
This year the Ekadasi is coming on July 4th and all the Vaishnavite Temples and devotees are across the south India have all made special arrangements for the special poojas. Infact TTD has made an announcement that they will not be allowing any special darshans on Ekadasi. All temples acros sout India have made special arrangemets for peaceful darshans.
On this day starts the Chatur Mas Vrat (four holy months in Hinduism) begins from this day. According to the mythology the night time of Devas begins on this day and it believed that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep from this day.
The day is of great importance at Palanka Kshetram, well known for the temple of Veerabhadra swamy. It is located deep in Nallamala Forest on the borders of Mahaboobnagar and Kurnool Districts. The annual tribal festival of the Chenchus is observed on the day
Toli ekadasi as its called in Telugu isjust not significant for Vaishnavites but also for the farming community as this day they start the rituals of seed sowing too with praying to the local goddess. A lavish feast is organized on the day.
Buddhists gear up for Asalha Puja ( Religion News Bulletin 2 )
Buddhists across the world especially Buddists from Thailand are gearing up to celebrate the Asalha Puja Day on 9th July.
Asalha Puja Day is also known as Dhamma day is the anniversary of the day when the Buddha delivered his first sermon to his five followers at Deer Park in Benares, more than 2,500 years ago. The preaching delivered by the Buddha is often referred to as setting into motion the wheel of Dharma. It comprises the four noble truths — life means suffering (dukkha), which is caused by attachment (tanha), ending suffering is possible (nirvana) and nirvana can be attained by the eight-fold path.
Asalha Puja also marks the beginning of the rainy season in many tropical countries. The rainy season is significant in Buddhism because it is the period of the vassa, or rains retreat, for monastics. Hence Buddha, had made a rule that monastics limit their travel and not stay overnight other than their designated location forn the season as monks might inadvertently cause harm to crops and vegetation or accidentally step on insects revealed by the rain as they traveled. As this period helps the monastics to able to focus more on Buddhist practice, since they have more time for solitude and meditation during this time period.
Acharya Mahashraman reaches Madhurai for Chaturmas ( Religion News Bulletin 3 )
The Jain community in Madurai on Sunday welcomed the disciple of their teacher Acharya Mahashraman, Sri Pragyasri, for their annual Chaturmas, a festival that takes place between July and November.
Around 150 followers, which included many youngsters of the Terapanth sect marched from Vilakkuthoon to Muthiah Pillai Lane, carrying colourful flags preaching the dictum ‘Live and let live’. They chanted slogans as they reached Jain Terapanth Bhavan.
The period of Chaturmas, which means ‘four months’ in Sanskrit, usually has several followers fasting, listening to discourses about ‘karma’ (destiny) and engaging in discussions about ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence).
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Jain group, Ashok Jirawala, the disciples usually undertake a yatra (journey) following the instructions of their Acharya for eight months of the calender year to different parts of the country in order to spread the chief philosophies of Jainism. During the monsoon season, they rest in certain temples and ashrams and deliver discourses on the founding principles of their religion.
Only British Born Imams, says UK ( Religion News Bulletin 4 )
The commssion Chaired by former attorney general Dominic Grieve has recommended that the Mosques in the UK should hire only British-born Imams on a living wage as they will be better equipped than foreign religious leaders to understand the challenges faced by British Muslims.
The 76-page report, the outcome of an 18-month inquiry established by campaigning group Citizens UK, published on Monday, says “British Muslim experiences are more diverse than is often assumed”. Among its recommendations is a call for mosques to review their management structures and appointment of imams. “The management committees of a number of the UK’s mosques need to better understand, and respond to, modern British life,” it says.
According to the report, It is of great importance that British-born imams, who have a good understanding of British culture and who fluently speak English with pastoral skills and be given decent living wage, should be encouraged and appointed in preference to overseas alternatives. It also suggests that universities could pair with seminaries to accredit educational schemes for imams.
Acknowledging that an effective way of tackling extremism and radicalisation was an overriding concern, the report says “This would be better achieved with a programme that is more greatly trusted, particularly by the UK’s Muslim communities.”
Dominic Grieve says mutual suspicion and incomprehension make the need for action to break down barriers even more necessary.There is a strong sentiment that Muslims, as a monolith community, and Islam as a religion are unfairly targeted. This too creates a sense of alienation, which undermines a common aim of creating a united and strong society.” It also mentions about the plight of Muslim women who primarily face employment barriers and recomeends the integration of community
The commission was co-chaired by Jenny Watson, the former chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Electoral Commission.
North East to get its own Martyr Saints ( Religion News Bulletin 5 )
The Catholic Church from Arunachal Pradesh in India hopes to have its first martyr saints. According to the Vatican news, if the process of beatification and canonization proceeds smoothly, the martyrdom of French missionaries, Fathers Nicolas-Michel Krick and Augustin-Etienne Bourry, could be recognized soon.
Their cause is being promoted primarily by Salesian Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao in Arunachal Pradesh, India’s easternmost state where the two were martyred over 160 years ago. Frs. Krick and Bourry were members of the Société des Missions Etrangères de Paris (M.E.P), or the Society of the Paris Foreign Missions, an institute of diocesan priests zealous to spread the Gospel of Christ in Asia. One of their important goals or destinations was Tibet.
But Back then, the only way to Tibet was through NE India, Arunachal Pradesh today. In fact, it was through Frs. Krick and Bourry that Arunachal Pradesh had its first encounter with Christianity, way back in mid-19th century. It was during their last push for Tibet that they were killed by the chief of the Mishmi people on 2 August, 1854, in Somme village of Lohit district. Krick was 35 and Bourry just 28. Their mortal remains are still enshrined in the village.
Speaking about the process of their beatification and canonization, Fr Felix Anthony, the secretary of the Office for Social Communication of Miao Diocese, who is also parish priest of Neotan, near Miao, said that the two Fathers Krick and Bourry, 160 years ago made their way up from Chennai to Kolkata, then to Guwahati and beyond to what is Arunachal Pradesh today.
Local people say that soon after their death, their blood mingled with the water of the land and a new spring began flowing. Father Felix has said that till date, there have not been any reports of spectacular miracles or unexplained healings attributed to Krick and Bourry but people have received graces after praying to them.
Hitech city celebrates Bonalu ( Religion News Bulletin 6 )
The techies of Hyderabad celebrated Bonalu onSunday. The usually cosmopolitan Hitech City, Madhapur, home for the software gaints, wore a traditional look on Sunday with the techies celebrating Bonalu.
Hitec city came alive with the incessant beats of drums and traditionally attired women carrying ghatams or pots on their heads to offer their Bonams to deity Chinna Pedama, as part of Bonalu Jatara. Hundreds of devotees, techies and volunteers offered Bonams to the deity in the day-long Bonala Jatara, organised by Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA) in association with Department of Culture, Telangana.
Foreign workers, including a Korean delegation employed in the tech companies, also accompanied local software employees to take part in the festivities. Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, who was the chief guest for Bonalu Jatara, said it was a great moment as IT professionals from various parts of the State and country are celebrating Bonalu, which represents the Telangana culture. He also promised them that Bonalu festival at Hitec city will become a regular cultural event every year.
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