Hinduism Today Video Podcast HD

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the January/February/March 2011 edition of Hinduism Today magazine. "Five core disciplines for bringing our inner perfection into our intellectual, emotional and instinctive nature."

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reads his editorial from the October/November/December 2010 edition of Hinduism Today magazine. "The company we keep affects our attitudes, speech and actions as profoundly as the foods we eat."

The July-August-September edition of Hinduism's flagship spiritual magazine, Hinduism Today, has been released in digital form and is now available for free on your desktop. It travels the globe from India to Australia, from Nepal to Mauritius, and it introduces an amazing man we have named the 2010 Hindu of the Year.

That story first. He's known throughout India as an innovator, a dauntless worker and a brazenly proud Hindu. Sri P. Parameswaran is as active in his 80s as most of us ever become, writing, campaigning for social reform and building, building, building dharma institutions. You may have visited the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. That's there because of him. And the Vivekananda Kendra schools, and…. Enough. Read his amazing story in the current issue and see why he merits the coveted Renaissance Award.

The Hinduism Today publisher and editors attended the Parliament of the World's Religions las December, and had a chance to sit with a dozen of Hinduism's most amazing leaders. Our article shares their views on hot topics, things you may not normally get to ask a swami or swamini. They give the Hindu view on the global financial crisis, gay marriage, yoga's relationship to Hinduism and the challenges Hindus face in the future. It's a must-read if you want to understand these issues and where we stand.

Our feature article takes us into the hills of Nepal, as we follow the rites of passage, the samskaras, followed there, in a unique and colorful way. Ace photographer Thomas Kelly brings the rituals and celebrations to life with his astounding camera work. We follow boys and girls through life, stopping at the milestones. The ending surprises us, as writer Ellen Coon, moved deeply by the way elders are honored in Tibet, takes the rituals back to her home in middle America where she holds her father's 80th birthday party in a style never seen in the US, honoring him with sacred songs, a turban, testimonials and even a foot-washing which, she offers, he (and everyone in the Coon family) will never forget.

Our 16-page center section is a tour-de-force of some of the most exotic of Hinduism's practices, called "Healing, Sacred Vows and Trance Possession." Stephen P. Huyler is our guide into a seldom-documented world that may well teach you again of the power of faith. Stephen's stories, all photographed by him, are real, and he was witness to each of them, from 14-month-old Aditi's return from the brink of death at a healing shrine to a frenetic trance during kavadi. Our founder, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001) had much to say on these subjects, and his insights enrich Huyler's tales, and add a special depth to the power of spiritual vows, called vratas.

Our publisher, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, speaks often to Hindu groups, answering their questions about life. In this issues Publisher's Desk, he urges readers to work hard at living in the eternal now, showing us how it is done. By freeing ourselves from regrets of the past and worries about the future, he says, we not only live a more effective life in the material world, we also meditate better. Living in the now is a form of yoga, and a fun and effective one at that.

Mauritius is the Hindu country you have probably never heard about. Well, that changes with this article. Vel Mahalingam tells the story of how his languishing country, once under siege by Christian missionaries and suffering economic collapse, was turned around. The people of the nation started studying their faith, applying the ancient wisdom to their lives, even dressing in traditional styles. Spirits rose, problems fell and today this nation's majority Hindu community is perhaps the best model of how to face the 21st century and keep your religion in the bargain.

There's lots more, of course. Book reviews and some humor, plus an opinion piece by none other than Professor Arvind Sharma, one of the leading thinkers of our time, who tells how he came to appreciate the openness of Hinduism when he saw his non-Hindu academic peers struggling with the constraints of their religions traditions. It's all there in the current issue of Hinduism Today, where you go to stay in touch with Sanatana Dharma.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, publisher of Hinduism Today magazine, reads his Publisher's Desk article from the Apr/May/Jun 2010 issue on camera. "A peaceful and effective life is waiting for those who undertake the not-so-easy work required to live in the eternal now."

The April-May-June edition of Hinduism's flagship spiritual magazine, Hinduism Today, has been released in digital form and is now available for free on your desktop. This issue focuses primarily on two subjects: Hindu history for children and Hindu festivals.

The 16-page history lesson is the fourth in our series aimed at a sixth-grade audience. It covers the period from 1850 to 1947, when India was colonized by the British.,As our readers know, Indian history in Western textbooks for children is appallingly inaccurate and skewed toward the strange. This segment continues our effort to rectify that, to give well-researched lessons that tell the true story of India's place in the world down through the centuries. Here we present the facts about the British occupancy, their economic exploitation and sometimes ruthless repressions. You may have read other histories of this period, but get ready to discover lots of new insights into those difficult days before Independence.

In the second main feature, we explore 15 of the major Hindu holy days in a 32-page feature called "Festivals!" It's a marvelous romp through the year, stopping every month or so to tell about our celebrations. Festivals are a kind of glue for Hindu culture, touching our lives, connecting families and neighbors, bringing together entire cities. Soumya Sitaraman, author of Random House's Following the Hindu Moon helped the Hinduism Today editorial staff by contributing fascinating details, typical holiday recipes and her mother's marvelous photography. The editors added "Fact and Fiction" sections to explore (and emend) some of the gnarly myths that people in the West hold about Sanatana Dharma. This is a great resource that can find its way into the schoolroom, the summer camp, anywhere students are learning about Hinduism past and present. As you would expect, it is elegantly designed by the HT wizards.

When our publisher, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, was in Melbourne in December, he gave a wonderful keynote talk on yoga and its place in the world, particularly its applicability to nonHindus. His current editorial gives us a glimpse of that talk, "Can Everyone Benefit from Yoga?"

Bodhinatha's Australian itinerary included the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions, touted as the world's largest interfaith meeting--a reprise of the 1893 meeting that featured Swami Vivekananda. As part of the 2009 program, a rare gathering of Hindu leaders from around the world met to discuss key modern issues, trends and challenges. Our story brings you the opinions of the swamis who attended from all over the world. Their views of climate change, one of the key topics in Melbourne, will inform and perhaps surprise you.

If you already use the free desktop client to read the PDF's and keep a library of past issues on your computer, would have received an e-mail notice announcing the new release. If you haven't tried it choose "Navigator" from the menu above to download Hinduism Today Navigator. It's is free.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, publisher of Hinduism Today magazine, reads his Publisher's Desk article from the Apr/May/Jun 2010 issue on camera. He concludes that while openly available, yoga is rooted in Hindu scripture, teaches Hindu practices and leads to oneness with God. Practice with caution!

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, publisher of Hinduism Today magazine, reads his Publisher's Desk article from the Jan/Feb/Mar 2010 issue on camera. He speaks about how consistently contributing to your religion has the power to draw spiritual fulfillment and material wealth into your life.

When you open the newest issue of Hinduism Today, get ready for some seriously good reading. Those editors in Hawaii have teamed up to create yet another how-do-they-keep-this-up magazine, full of savvy reporting, lucid writing and wowy photographs.

Two features provide the main course: The first is our Hindu history lesson. Our academic associates tell us that this is tough stuff to research and write, and tougher still to get right. In 16 pages the lesson explores India's history between 1100 and 1850, a time of vicious Muslim attacks and greed-driven British conquest. In response, Hindus embraced heart-transforming bhakti. Talk about reacting to tragedy in the highest possible way. Most historians gloss over the massive slaughters, the brutal reign of outsiders who had no love of Hinduism. Our lesson does the impossible: tells the true story fairly, without demeaning the aggressors. Plus, it focuses on the armed resistance and spiritual resolve that made it possible for India to survive such dark days into modern times, while virtually every other ancient society succumbed to similar forces and disappeared.

The second is the Insight Section, where you'll discover the masterful work and personal account of Dr. Stephen Huyler who visited countless villages to bring us an insider's tale of rural life, religious practice and family in his "Honoring the Spirit of Community." Ever seen the giant guardians outside of Indian villages or the popular tree shrines and wondered just what they represent? It's all here: how villagers live in communion with the spiritual world, how their gramadevatas protect them (and, in fact, are thought to be the very spirit of the village), complete with Stephen's real-life stories that take you there. This is storytelling at its best. And, yes, Stephen's stunning photography brings this earthy village mysticism all to life.

Oh, right! We haven't even talked about the main article yet! Meet Sri Swami Gopal Sharan Devacharya, our 2009 Hindu of the Year. Raised in an ashram from childhood, Swamiji has grown to become a global leader of the Nimbarka Sampradaya, inspirer of over 70 temples and builder of an ashram outside of Delhi that is a dharmic oasis and citadel. How well known is he? At the opening of one of his temples in the UK in 2007, the Queen of England dropped by (the monarch's first ever visit to the opening of a Hindu holy place) and was given a shawl by Swamiji. Reading his story can't help but charm us and give hope that the future of Hinduism is in good hands.

You'd think that would be enough for one issue, but you'd be wrong! Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami takes us on a flight of faith, forcing us to rethink our simplistic take on the concept, guiding us from blind faith, to informed conviction to the pinnacle of personal realization. A young Malaysian Hindu tells of his encounters with the cunning tactic called friendship evangelism which, like friendly fire, isn't very friendly after all, followed by our in-house sleuth's unveiling of the twisted politics behind a government takeover of the great Saivite temple in Chidambaram. Both sides of that conflict are voiced. In an opinion piece, a mother talks about how to get Hindu children through the traumas and temptations of the Christmas season.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, publisher of Hinduism Today magazine, reads his Publisher's Desk article from the Oct/Nov/Dec 2009 issue on camera. He speaks of the three stages of faith: blind faith, informed conviction and personal realization.

The colors and beauty of Hinduism come to life in a video summary prepared by our editorial team, highlighting the features of Hinduism Today's July/August/September issue.

In this special temple issue, you can know about "Our Three Kinds of Temples" as explained by Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami.

Take a peek into our Educational Insight from the photographer and anthropologist who brought Hinduism to the Smithsonian back in 1996, Dr. Stephen Huyler. His classic work, "Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion," is brought to life in breathtaking pictures and evocative writing.

Look into the tale of a one-of-a-kind Siva temple being erected on Kauai island, the home of Hinduism Today. Iraivan Temple, a Chola-style granite masterpiece, is a marvel nestled in a lush jungle in the middle of nowhere.

Ever wondered how the brain and consciousness are linked? Listen in as we interview Harvard neuroanatomist Jill Taylor of TED Talks fame, and find out how a debilitating stroke opened the doors of a higher consciousness and changed her life forever.

Our video brings you more: Koenraad Elst decodes modern Hindu studies and the media; Swami Yuktatmananda of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center offers unique insights into service; humor and cartoons, a book review on an early conversion of an American Quaker to Hinduism; Hindus in Ireland who are helping the country heal from its past; and a project in India to save millions of precious Sanskrit manuscripts.