Hindu statesman Zed bestowed with Vishwa Hindu Ratna award

September 30th, 2009 KURUKSHETRA - The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu groups, supported by leaders of other faiths, Wednesday urged the government to declare the cow as a national animal. Members of the groups said they had started a 108-day national campaign that will cover about 20,000 km, starting from this holy Hindu town and culminating at Nagpur in Maharashtra.

September 5th, 2009  Welcoming Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan’s belief in ‘karma’, Hindus have urged her to further explore the rich philosophical thought of Hinduism. Lohan recently wrote on social networking service ‘twitter’: “i'm all about Karma..what goes around comes around!” Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that ‘karma’, the web of cause and effect and the rule of universal causality resulting from action, was first commented in ancient Satapatha Brahmana, and now forms one of the basic principles of Hindu philosophy.

September 1st, 2009 Oscar nominated Guillermo del Toro (El laberinto del fauno) will reportedly produce big-screen adaptation of DC Comics character “Deadman”, and Hindus are concerned. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that if del Toro intended to portray Hindu gods-goddesses or concepts in the film, they would urge him to stay true to their depiction in the scriptures.

July 28th, 2009 Emmy winner American actor-comedian-producer-director Ben Stiller (Meet the Parents) is reportedly considering Bollywood seriously. Reports suggest that the 43-years-old Stiller had received various Bollywood offers, and he might go for one of those in the near future.

July 23rd, 2009 Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will be honored with “Vishwa Hindu Ratna” (World Hindu Gem) award at the American Hindu Dharma Sabha, a national gathering of prominent Hindu leaders and activists, near Washington DC on July 18. According to Bhavna S.

June 3rd, 2009 Himachal Day will be reportedly held for the first time in USA at Milpitas (California) on June 14 to celebrate the culture of Himachal Pradesh state of India. Complete with Himachali dances, culinary delicacies, music, folk fashions, displays, etc., at Milpitas India Community Center (ICC); it will bring few hundred Himachalis and friends of Himachal together.

May 4th, 2009 Musician-actor Ben Lee reportedly washed the feet of his mother and his bride actress Ione Skye's mother during his recent traditional Hindu wedding ceremony in Malaikodi village near Chennai in south India. Among those who attended ARIA award winner 30 years old Lee and YAA nominated 38 years old Skye (My Father’s Will) wedding reportedly included Missy Higgins (Australian singer-songwriter), actor brothers Nash and Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chapnik (musician-actress), Josh Radnor (actor), Donovan Leitch, Jr (actor); while Lee’s guru (spiritual guide) Narayani Amma presided.

May 3rd, 2009 Welcoming British pop sensation Lily Allen’s recently reported comments that “Hinduism is cool”, acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has urged her to visit a nearby Hindu temple to have first hand experience of Hinduism.   Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, has also offered to supply a set of Hindu scriptures to Allen to help her in comprehensive understanding of Hinduism.   Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and rich philosophical thought, Zed said in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, and added that if Allen needed any assistance in her study of Hinduism or Sanskrit, he or other Hindu leaders would be glad to share their knowledge or arrange the appropriate expertise.   Rajan Zed stressed that since entertainment industry had worldwide reach, entertainment celebrities should become familiar with at least basics of world religions to understand the feelings of their audiences better.   Reacting to the recent adventures of celebrities flirting with Hinduism, Hindu concepts and terminology; Zed said that Hindus welcomed celebrities to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and with respect and not just using it as a fashion statement.   Grammy and MTV nominated 23-years old outspoken Lily Rose Beatrice Allen of “Smile” fame, is a well-known singer, songwriter, talk show host, and fashion designer.   # - SAMPURN

May 3rd, 2009 In a remarkable interfaith gesture, a prominent Jewish synagogue of Nevada (USA) has invited acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed to discuss Hinduism.   Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, will talk about Hindu scriptures, gods and goddesses, schools, philosophy, practice and rituals, festivals, origins, etc., on March 15 at Temple Sinai in Reno, and will be reportedly its first Hindu speaker since its establishment in 1962.

May 3rd, 2009 Relevance of yoga, traces of which date back to Indus Valley Civilization around 2,000 BCE, in the modern world was explored when Swami Sitaramananda, internationally respected yoga virtuoso; and Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; met at Grass Valley in California (USA). Other topics discussed were spiritual dimension of yoga, realization through Vedanta, maya (universal illusion) and True Reality, manaskara (mind-work), realization of Self, future of yoga, etc.

March 24th, 2009 LUCKNOW - The Dharma Raksha Manch (DRM), a Hindu group affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Tuesday said that the Gandhi family has been absolved of all its 'sins' by the alleged anti-Muslim speech given by estranged member Varun Gandhi. Referring to Varun's speech in Pilibhit, DRM co-convener Hans Das said: 'Varun has freed Gandhis from all sins.' 'Though Varun belongs to the same Gandhi family, his outlook is quite different as he always thinks of the welfare of the Hindu community,' Das said at a programme organised here by the organisation.

March 24th, 2009 LUCKNOW - As the controversy over Varun Gandhi's alleged anti-Muslim speech rages, the Dharma Raksha Manch (DRM), an off shoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Monday come out in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. 'We hail Varun for raising the flag of Hinduism.

March 19th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - A band of armed Maoists has gunned down a Hindu leader in Orissa's Kandhamal district, where communal violence erupted last year after the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, the police said Thursday. Officials fear the murder could lead to renewed tension in the area.

January 29th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The crime branch of Orissa police Friday filed a charge sheet against seven people for the murder of a Hindu leader that triggered communal violence in the state during August-September last year, an official said. The charge sheet was filed in the court of the sub-divisional judicial magistrate at Baliguda in Kandhamal district, a senior crime branch official told IANS on telephone.

January 3rd, 2009 KATHMANDU - A global outfit of Hindus Sunday joined the row over the Maoist government removing the revered Pashupatinath temple's Indian priests, saying the former guerrillas were trying to capture the deity's treasure that is said to contain fabulous jewels and other riches. Bhola Jha, a senior official of the World Hindu Federation, flayed the Maoist government's plan to lead a nationwide foot-march from Monday to defuse the religious row, saying the former guerrilla party was trying to push its own people in the temple.