Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Receives Crans Montana Forum Award

Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar became the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award. The award was presented in an ceremony on Friday in Brussels attended by several Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ambassadors.

On conferring the award to Sri Sri, Jean Paul Carteron, Founder of the Crans Montana Forum said: "In you, the East is not only leading the world in spirit, but in action as well. You have broadened the vision of those who are more fortunate and have shared with the less fortunate. If your teachings were followed by politicians, the world would be a different place."

On receiving this award, Sri Sri said he would share it with all those millions who are silently working to make the world a better place.

This award has been received earlier by persons like Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Shimon Peres, President of Israel, Yasser Arafat, Former Leader of Palestine Liberation Organisation, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Mikhail Gorbachev, Former President of the Soviet Union.

Along with Sri Sri, the other recipients for 2011 were Mr. Alassane Ouattara (President of Cote d'Ivoire), Mr Adrian Nastase (Former Prime Minister of Romania), Mr Philippe Maystadt (President of the European Investment Bank), Mr Tahar Benjelloun (Psychologist and Writer) Mr Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific, Group of States)and Richard Holbrooke (Ambassador of the United States of America) who was awarded posthumously.

Sri Amarnath Vaishnodevi Yatra 2011 Organized by School of Bhagavad Gita

School of Bhagavad Gita organizes AMARNATH – VAISHNO DEVI YATRA 2011 under the guidance of Swami Sandeepananda Giri. This yatra covering the pilgrimages to Amarnath cave and Vaishno Devi temple, darsans at other important shrines, sightseeing at Srinagar, visit to Wagah border etc., will take place from 27 July to 4 August 2011 (Ex Delhi and back to Delhi).

ITINERARY

4 July – Yatris from Kerala leave for Delhi by train

26 July – Yatris by flight leave for Delhi. Yatris by train reach Delhi. Overnight stay in hotel in Delhi.

27 July – Delhi to Jammu . Yatra begins at 5 A.M from Delhi by A/C coach. Participants joining Delhi on their own to assemble at 4 A.M at boarding point. Arrival in Jammu at night. Overnight stay in hotel.

28 July – Jammu to Srinagar. Overnight stay in hotel at Srinagar.

29 July – Srinagar to Baltal. After Half day sight- seeing at Srinagar, depart for Baltal which is the base to start the trek to Amarnath. Overnight in tents at Baltal.

30 July – 5 A.M – 9 P.M – From Baltal, trek to Amarnath cave and back. Overnight in tents at Baltal. Trek (approximately 17 kms) can be done by foot, on pony or by helicopter.

AMARNATH –Amarnath, the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated in the State of Jammu and Kashmir at a height of about 14000 feet. The Shivalingam at Amarnath is formed of ice and it is popularly known as Ice lingam or Himalingam. It is believed that Lord Shiva revealed the secret of creation and immortality to Parvathi Devi in the Amarnath cave. Pilgrimage to this holy shrine is organized during the month of Sravana. Saints like Aadi Shankaracharya, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Ramtirtha have visited Amarnath. Swami Vivekananda has said, "The image was the Lord Himself. It was all worship there. I never have been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring.”

31 July – 6 A.M – Baltal to Srinagar. Visit Khir Bhavani temple en route. Arrival in Srinagar by 2 P.M. Sightseeing and overnight stay in hotel at Srinagar.

KSHIR BHAVANI (Khir Bhavani)- This is a holy spring and temple dedicated to the Goddess Khir Bhavani or Ragniya Devi. The water of the holy spring changes its colour from time to time to shades of red, pink, orange, green, blue and millky white. In August of 1898, Swami Vivekananda visited Kashmir and spent some time at the Shrine and had a divine experience when his state of mind became fully immersed in Kali, the Divine Mother

1 August- Srinagar to Katra. Arrival by evening at Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi temple trek. Overnight stay in hotel at Katra.

2 August - From Katra, trek to Mata Vaishno Devi temple and back. Overnight in hotel at Katra. Trek (approximately 12 kms) can be done by foot, on pony, dollies or by helicopter.

VAISHNO DEVI –A pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimages of our times. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi resides in a Holy Cave located in the folds of the three peaked mountain named Trikuta ,situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. Three natural rock formations called the Pindi represent the deity.

3 August - Katra to Wagah Border via Amritsar. After witnessing parade at border, leave for Delhi. Overnight journey.

WAGAH BORDER- The Wagah border is a ceremonial border between India and Pakistan where each evening there is a retreat ceremony called 'lowering of the flags' and a parade by the soldiers of the Border Security Force (B.S.F) of India and the Pakistan Rangers. The ceremony lasting for around 45 minutes and starts with high patriotic spirits from both sides of the border.

4 August – 6 A.M- Arrival in Delhi. Depart on return journey as per options chosen.

COST:

Ex Delhi - Rs. 16,500

By train from Kerala on AC 3 tier - Rs. 20,000. Participants may buy train tickets on their own, if they wish

By flight – Rs 16,500 + airfare as at time of purchasing air ticket. Participants may buy air tickets on their own, if they wish

Those joining Delhi at 4 A.M on 27 July (not requiring Accommodation in Delhi) – Rs 14,500

COST INCLUDES:

Accommodation at hotels on twin- sharing basis, travel by A/C coach from Delhi and back, sight- seeing, train/airfare as applicable as per option chosen.

COST EXCLUDES:

Hiring charges of tent, ponies, dollies or helicopter, porter, laundry, tips, personal expenses and food. Free food at Baltal and medical facilities are available during trek to Amarnath.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• If a confirmed participant cancels, administrative expense of Rs 500 and cancellation charges of train ticket/airfare as levied by the railways/airline will be collected from him/her if the train/flight booking had been confirmed.

• A cancellation charge of Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Only) per participant will be levied if participation is cancelled 3 weeks before the starting of the tour.

• A 50% cancellation charge of the total amount will be levied if the participant cancels between 7 to 20 days before the commencement date of the tour.

• If the participant cancels within 7 days of the starting date, only the airfare/ train fare less the cancellation charges will be returned.

TIPS FOR YATRIS

1. Please ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to perform the journey as the Yatra involves trekking at an altitude of 14, 000 ft. Have yourself medically examined by a doctor and certified fit for the journey. Please present the medical certificate at time of journey.

2.Carry sufficient woolens including sweaters, (full as well as half sleeved), thermal wear, gloves, woolen socks, monkey caps, mask for nose, sunscreen lotion, etc. Other items to be carried include rain coat and pants, blankets, a set of bedding items, small torch, comfortable walking/trekking shoes, water bottle, etc.

3. Ladies are advised not go on the journey in Saris, instead pants or churidar suits should be used.

4. Carry some eatable like biscuits, sweets, assorted dry fruits, juice, etc., with you, while on the trek.

5. Do observe discipline on the trek and follow security instructions. Keep on moving slowly and steadily. The officials of the Police, Tourism, Health, Food & Supplies and other Departments are there to help you to perform the journey comfortably. All medical facilities during the Amarnath trek are free. However, do carry your personal medical kit also.

6. Please be punctual and adhere to yatra timings and schedule.

7. Last but not the least, please be considerate to your fellow yatris, do not litter or throw non bio-degradable waste. Respect and care for the environment. BE A VISWAMITRA!

Amarnath Samiti Protests Geelani's Remark to Restrict Yatra to 15 Days

Geelani of Hurriyat Conference (G)had asked the J&K State government to restrict Amarnath yatra to 15 days or be ready for Valley-wide protests. Geelani is under fire for his remarks on the Amarnath Yatra. Amarnath Yatra Sangarash Samiti Saturday threatened repeat of 2008 economic blockade of Kashmir and asked the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani to stop interfering into the religious issues of Hindus. "Hindus will not tolerate any change in Amarnath yatra duration". Shabir Dar writes in Rising Kashmir.

Amarnath Yatra Sangarash Samiti Saturday threatened repeat of 2008 economic blockade of Kashmir and asked the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani to stop interfering into the religious issues of Hindus.

Leela Karan Sharma, the former convenor of the Samiti, an organisation that enforced economic blockade of Kashmir following the agitation against transfer of State’s forest land to the Amarnath shrine board in 2008, said:

“Geelani is nobody to suggest government about the duration of Amarnath yatra. The time, place and duration of yatra are given only by Shri Amarnath shrine board and the representatives of Hindu religious organizations.”

Geelani had Friday asked the State government to restrict Amarnath yatra to 15 days or be ready for Valley-wide protests.

Sharma said if Kashmir protests on the duration of yatra, “It will be reciprocated in Jammu with equal intensity the way we did it in 2008”. Sharma said: “We won’t let anybody interfere into our religious affairs and Geelani has no right to meddle in religious issues of Hindus.”

Sharma said Amarnath yatra, being pilgrim tourism, was important for Kashmir’s tourism industry. “Kashmiri people earn their livelihood from yatris. The hotel owners, shikara wallas and other people always benefit from this yatra.”

He said separatists were conspiring against Amarnath yatra. “Every year when the yatra begins and Kashmir’s tourism starts kicking up, separatists create some issue to hamper the yatra. It seems some vested interests are behind all this.”

Meanwhile, activists of the notorious Shri Ram Sena (SRS) held a protest demonstration here today against Hurriyat (G) chairman. The protesters were led by state president SRS Rajiv Mahajan.

Tehelka magazine had recently come up with an expose about the SRS wherein the party was shown taking money on contract for assaulting people.

“Geelani has perhaps forgotten the struggle of Jammuites against the government's decision to revoke the land transfer in 2008. We want to remind him that Kashmir is not his personal property. He is misleading the people of Kashmir for his own interests,” he said.

“Hindus will not tolerate any change in Amarnath yatra duration,” he said.

CSIR to Patent 900 Yoga Asanas, Includes in Traditional Knowledge Library

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has prepared patent formats of nearly 900 yoga asanas that have been collected from Patanjali's classic work on yoga, as well as other ancient classics like the Bhagavad Gita. Video recordings of the asanas are also being made and recorded to prevent them from being stolen. These asanas will all be included in the digitalised Traditional Knowledge Library (TKDL), set up by CSIR to collect and record traditional treatment therapy knowledge. Read the full story titled "India to patent yoga asanas" by Madan Jaira in Hindustan Times.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has prepared patent formats of nearly 900 yoga asanas (postures), to prevent European and American companies involved in fitness-related activities from claiming them as their own.

These asanas will all be included in the digitalised Traditional Knowledge Library (TKDL), set up by the council to collect and record traditional treatment therapy knowledge. Medicines and yoga asanas registered with it enjoy the status of being patented.

The CSIR began the project in 2006. These 900 asanas have been collected from Patanjali's classic work on yoga, as well as other ancient classics like the Bhagwat Gita. Foreign companies have been selling some of the yoga postures as therapies to relieve stress or backaches.

"Video recordings of the asanas are also being made and recorded to prevent them from being stolen," said TKDL director Dr VK Gupta. Gupta said a number of countries had already laid claim to around 250 of these postures. Some foreign companies have even patented some of them.

"How can someone else patent these asanas which are a part of our traditional treatment therapy knowledge? They should not be allowed to use them for commercial purposes," Dr Gupta said.

The CSIR's next step will be to move against the yoga patents already registered abroad. The United States patent office alone has issued around 3000 patents on yoga postures and their variations.

Call for 'Supreme Hindu Council'

Francois Guatier proposes to have Hindu gurus and swamis regroup under one umbrella, probably named ‘Supreme Hindu Council’. Each group and guru will retain its leadership and autonomy but will meet three times a year and issue a number of adesh, which will be binding to 800 million Hindus in India and a billion worldwide. HE propose that the 12 gurus in India who have the most disciples, represent all the other swamis and gurus, including Satya Sai Baba, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Amrita Anandmayi, the Shankaracharya of Kancheepuram, Guruma of Ganeshpuri, Shri Ramdev, Satguru Jaggi, etc. The leadership of this group should be rotated every year and so can membership for that matter, as there are quite a few other gurus of India who have a huge following. It is not only Hinduism which is at stake, but the ‘Knowledge Infinite’ which came down, through the ages and has survived today only in India in a partial form.

Read the article titled Let all Hindus come together by Francois Guatier (fgautier26@gmail.com) in the Op-Ed column of Express Buzz.

He is adored by millions. Terrorists have laid their weapons at his feet. Nobody has ever seen him utter a word in anger. Truth and love have been his constant motto in life. Yet, much of the media has maligned His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after the shooting incident of Sunday (May 30) in Bangalore, and he has more or less been accused of lying. The truth is that at the moment there is a witchhunt against Hindu gurus.

It started with the Shankaracharya, then Swami Nityananda was thrown in jail for 45 days, for allegedly having consensual sex with a woman. Today, the media and the government are trying to malign Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the eyes of his disciples and Indians in general. Who is next?

One should analyse why Hindus are so much under attack at the moment. First, there is such a thing as karma. Hindus have often betrayed each other and have become lethargic, complacent and sometimes arrogant. Secondly, there are at the moment combined forces, which are assaulting Hinduism, knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously, openly or covertly.

First you have as a pivotal leader of this country, a person, who whatever her qualities of honesty, hard work and dedication, is a Christian — it would be impossible in a Christian dominated country, such as France, to have a Hindu as the ‘Eminence Grise’ behind the scenes.
Secondly many of India’s present leaders, are of a Marxist bent of mind, which considers religion as an old fashioned and eventually to be rid off (but mind you, they will not touch at Christianity or Islam); this is why in the land of yoga, yogic and spiritual organisations are being taxed today.

Thirdly, Christian conversions have never been this rapid, even at the time of the British: statistics say only three per cent of Indians are Christians, but you will be surprised at the new census: after the tsunami, at least 12 per cent of the Tamil Nadu coast has been converted with millions of dollars given by gullible Westerners. Indian Muslims working in the Gulf have also brought back to India a more radical brand of Islam, which indirectly helped in fuelling the violent anti-Hindu waves of terrorist attacks. Indeed, there is no way Pakistani terrorists can function without local Muslim help and encouragement.
Finally, Westernisation through television and advertisements, is sweeping across India, and this may be the greatest danger, as westernisation has killed the souls of many Asian countries.

The Christians have a Pope, the Muslims the word of the Quran, communists have Das Kapital of Karl Marx. But Hindus are totally disunited. Hindus are busy at the moment making as much money as possible and aping the western way of life, not even bothering to teach their children Hindu values and culture, whereas every Muslim child is told about the Quran. Hindu groups in the US or the UK, are constantly fighting each other and thus have very little lobbying power, contrary to the Indian Muslims or the Christians, who are able to deny visas to a chief minister whose state runs efficiently and without corruption. It is said that even the Hindu deities and goddesses are jealous of each other.

It is thus of vital importance that Hindu gurus and swamis regroup under one umbrella which could be called the ‘Supreme Hindu Council’. Each group and guru will retain its leadership and autonomy but will meet three times a year and issue a number of adesh, which will be binding to 800 million Hindus in India and a billion worldwide.

There are too many gurus and swamis all over India and the world and it would not be possible to assemble them all in one group. Thus I propose that the 12 gurus in India who have the most disciples, represent all the other swamis and gurus. Amongst them, of course, we should find Satya Sai Baba, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Amrita Anandmayi, the Shankaracharya of Kancheepuram, Guruma of Ganeshpuri, Shri Ramdev, Satguru Jaggi, etc. The leadership of this group will be rotated every year and so can membership for that matter, as there are quite a few other gurus of India who have a huge following.

It is not only Hinduism which is at stake, but the ‘Knowledge Infinite’ which came down, through the ages and has survived today only in India in a partial form. This knowledge only can save the world. Let Hindus understand that not only do they have the numbers, but also that they are one of the most successful, law abiding and powerful communities in the world. Nobody should denigrate their gurus.