OCHS Weblog

Dear All,

The Siasay Daily, Hyderabad, May 26:

Minister for Religious Endowment, R. Ratnakar Rao today reiterated the Government’s commitment to renovate ancient Hindu temples, which were in the dilapidation condition. Speaking to media persons here, Mr. Rao said that 3,500 temples, which were symbols of our rich culture, were in the dilapidation condition. The State Government has already taken up works for renovation of 548 temples while Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) has come forward to adopt 2,000 temples. There is a need to allocate more funds from Common Group Fund (CGF) for the renovation of old temples.

Giving details of renovation works of the temples, he said that the endowment department has taken up renovation works at 738 temples with Rs. 48.1 crores while 329 temples have to be renovated at a cost of Rs. 23.30crs. There is need to sanction more money for the renovation works at 190 temples, which would cost Rs. 22 crores. The department needs Rs. 53.75 crores, but it had only Rs. 10.22 crore in its exchequer. Reminding that all the temples were contributing income to the CGF, he said that if the contributions were three percent of the income, the deficit problem would be solved.

He also stated that the earlier TDP Government had issued a GO for Rs. 30,000 financial help for construction of Ramalayam in living areas of schedule caste people. He also informed that the Government was planning to extend one lakh rupees for the construction of temple in SC colonies and to deposit Rs. 10,000 in the banks for their maintenance.

The Government has also decided to extend Rs. 1,5000 to the priests (poojaris) and Rs. 1,000 for administration of the temples, whose income was below Rs. 30,000. A notification would be issued within two-months in this regard, he added. (NSS)

hindustantimes.com

MYSORE, INDIA, May 21, 2007: At least 800,000 books and manuscripts, including India’s first political treaties the “Arthasastra” written in the 4th century BC by Kautilya, that are lying in Mysore University in Karnataka, will be digitized by Google, the world’s leading internet search engine.

“Written in both papers and palm leaves, there are around 100,000 manuscripts in our library, some dating back to the eighth century. The effort is to restore and preserve this cultural heritage for effective dissemination of knowledge,” said J Shashidhara Prasad, vice chancellor of the university.

“Many manuscripts on Ayurveda, mathematics, medicine, science, astrology and economy including Arthasastra and several paper manuscripts of the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore will be digitized first,” Prasad said. Written either in Sanskrit or Kannada, these resources of knowledge would be patented (we think they mean copyrighted) and printed after the digitization work is over , Prasad said.

“Depending upon the exclusivity of the materials, we will patent them before making them available on public domain,” he said, adding that Google has offered them free service. “Google has offered to digitize these manuscripts as well as 700,000 other books free of cost. Google India chief, Eric Schmidt had already interacted with us and is ready to provide us expertise, software and even manpower,” Prasad said, adding that they have also received some financial assistance from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the digitization work.

The University of Oxford has widened its lead at the top of The Guardian University Guide 2008­ – taking the top spot for the third time running. According to the table, which is based as far as possible on the student experience, Oxford scores 95.3/100, 3.4 points ahead of second place Cambridge (91.9/100). Imperial College (82.3/100) has taken third place.

The Guardian says: ‘Pretty much everything about Oxford is world-class. But its stellar research, teaching, laboratories and museums deserve particular mention.’ It also highlights the work the collegiate University is doing to widen access, and that Oxford’s drop-out rate for undergraduates is one of the lowest in the country.

The guide judges courses on teaching quality and feedback from graduates, spending per student, staffing levels, job prospects, and degree results compared with entry qualifications. In addition to the overall rankings, the guide offers subject-by-subject tables where Oxford is placed consistently highly. The University takes first place in the rankings for Anatomy and Physiology, Anthropology, Business and Management Studies, Earth and Marine Sciences, Economics, Engineering: materials and mineral, English, Law, Medicine, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Politics, and Psychology.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, said: ‘The result says volumes about the high calibre of our students and staff, the quality of our research and teaching, and the fantastic libraries, museums and other resources I am proud to say we can offer scholars.

‘We may be steeped in history, but Oxford today is a vibrant academic community and I am delighted that our achievements and commitment to providing the best environment for teaching and research have been recognised in this way.’

The full table can be viewed online at: http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008

Week 4 and we have quite a busy week.Monday 14th May 11.-12.00. Shivdasani Lecture, Prof Kumar ‘Twentieth Century Sanskrit Commentaries on the Vaisheshika Sutras’, OCHS Library

cities.expressindia.com

RAJKOT, INDIA, May 6, 2007: Archaeologists are excited about a circular wooden structure found underwater at a near-shore excavation site off the coast of Jamnagar. Thought to be the remains of the lost city of ancient Dwarka, the wooden structure is well preserved and surrounded by another structure made of stone blocks. “It is significant as scientific dating of wood, which is carbon, is possible. This was not the case with evidences like stone, beads, glass and terracotta found earlier,” said Alok Tripathi, Superintending Archeologist, Underwater Archeology Wing of Archaeological Survey of India. The dating of submerged ruins off the coast of Dwarka has been matter of debate for some time as archaeologists and historians disputed the age of these structures and have claimed various dates about the origin of one of the most scared places in India. Answers to questions such as when Lord Krishna set up his kingdom in Dwarka and when did the “Golden City” su bmerge in the sea? — are based on the interpretations of these scholars and no material evidence has so far been found that these structures could be scientifically dated. “Though excavation at Dwarka has been carried out a number of times, this is for the first time a wooden block has been found, and this is going to help us almost pin-point a time frame and give some credible answers, said Tripathi. The collected samples will be sent to different laboratories. We expect the results to come as soon as possible.”

This piece was found during a near-shore excavation carried out in the southwest region of Samudranarayan Temple. The structure is made of stone and wood. The underwater archaeologist carried out diving in shallow water and studied the technique of joining these blocks in detail. The blocks were joined so well with the help of wooden dowels and nails that they remained in situ (in position) despite heavy surfs and strong current for a long period.

According to ancient literature, the ancient Dwarka city had submerged in the sea. The Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India undertook systematic study of Dwarka about two years back. After a thorough analysis of earlier research and extensive fieldwork, UAW started archaeological excavation at Dwarka from January 1, 2007 to know the antiquity of the site based on scientific study of the material evidence.

Week 3 already! This week we have:

National Secular Society, Monday 7th May 2007 

Proposals to open a Hindu school in Leicester have been condemned by the National Union of Teachers as “divisive”. Secretary of Leicester branch of the NUT Jane Rudon said: “Society is very easily divided and we consider that if schools are divided, there’s more likelihood that the children will be divided. But if children are working and studying and playing with children of all backgrounds then there’s a better understanding between them and there’s more likelihood that the social cohesion that we’re all trying to work towards will actually happen.”

The I-Foundation trust, which is leading the campaign, is starting a month-long consultation on Friday.

Needless to say, other religions who want to justify their own separate schools are enthusiastic about the idea. Pradip Gajjar of the I-Foundation said “The need for a faith school is to serve in retaining this Hindu identity for our children so that they grow with this identity of being a Hindu in understanding its philosophy, in understanding its religious practices and in understanding its culture.” In other words, for proselytising.

The Madni High School, Leicester’s first state-funded Muslim school, is due to be completed by September and the idea of a Hindu equivalent has received support from Muslims in the city. One of Leicester’s Muslim community leaders Suleman Nagdi said: “These schools had a history in the United Kingdom for many years and I do not see why the Hindus should not have one of their own. After all it’s parental choice. That is what they would need and that is what we will support.”

hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 21, 2007:

Japan wants to encourage studies of Hindu Gods and Goddesses found in their country. Saraswati, Laxmi, Brahma, Ganesha among a large number of other Deities are still prayed to there though under different names. Saraswati’s sketches (Benzaiten in Japanese) sanctify kitchens in rural areas of Japan even now, says Director International Academy of Indian Culture Lokesh Chandra.

Japanese understood her as sa-rasavati or the Goddess of the kitchen. Rasavati is ‘rasoi’ in Hindi. Talking to the Hindustan Times the Japanese Cultural Counsellor Shigeyuki Shimamori said, “We would like to encourage more studies by scholars on the Hindu deities found in Japan.”

It is the Mantrayana sect of Buddhism emphasizing mantras and rituals through which Hindu Deities reached Japan, Dr. Chandra said. The Japanese also perform homa known as “goma” to their Deities. Sarasvati or Benzaiten in Japanese is one of the Seven Lucky Deities (Shichi-fuk u-jin) blessing every home. Couples who desire to have beautiful daughters pray to Her.

She is known as the patroness of writers, composers, musicians and painters. German scholar Philipp Franz von Siebold has written that in 1832 there were 131 shrines dedicated to Goddess Sarasvati and 100 to Lord Ganesha in Tokyo itself. A 12th century temple to Ganesha in Asa Kusa suburb of Tokyo is a National Treasure of Japan. Hindu Gods and Goddesses were introduced into Japan in 806 ADE by Kobodaishi a Japanese saint who went to China and brought with him Mantrayana text, scrolls and images.