BREAKING NEWS: Hindu Americans Financially Support Hindu American Politician - The Height of Hinduphobic Political Reporting - Hindu American Foundation
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BREAKING NEWS: Hindu Americans Financially Support Hindu American Politician – The Height of Hinduphobic Political Reporting

By December 27, 2018 September 21st, 2020 No Comments

Eoin Higgins sent a series of question regarding the Foundation’s relationship with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the first Hindu American elected to the US Congress, for an article he was writing for readsludge.com.  The article is predicated on the Hinduphobic presumption that Hindu leaders donating to a Hindu American political leader is somehow suspect — that such support is fueled by ulterior, even unAmerican motivations.

We found the basis of this questioning repulsive, but engaged Higgins knowing that remaining silent would corroborate Higgins’ bias against HAF and Hindu Americans.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) responded, in the interest of transparency and fairness, to each of Higgins’ questions, and a follow up question, with publicly available and verifiable information.  

In spite of Sludge’s policy vis a vis its parent company, Civil.co’s Civil Constitution, which requires “reasonable efforts by the author of the work or those who publish that work to verify the truthfulness of that fact,” Higgins opted to selectively omit responses and incorporated unsubstantiated and uncorroborated testimonials in order to malign and defame HAF. Moreover, by publishing this piece without requiring due diligence, Sludge editors have violated their own articulated ethical standards.

Below are his questions exactly as asked in in an email dated 12/23/2018, and answered on 12/25/2018 followed by an open letter to Higgins and staff of Sludge and Civil.co (emailed on 12/26).

At the time of this posting, Sludge and Civil.co had not responded and Higgins agreed only to correct a date and include HAF’s denial of any connections to groups in India.

EOIN HIGGIN’S QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES PROVIDED BY HAF

What is the nature of the Congresswoman’s connections to HAF?

Rep. Gabbard’s relationship to HAF is similar to that of other lawmakers who champion the causes HAF advocates for in the realms of civil and human rights. HAF has worked with Rep. Gabbard as well other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on issues such as separation of church and state, marriage equality, hate crimes prevention, fair immigration, women’s access to healthcare, gun safety reform, human rights throughout the world, and cultural proficiency about Hinduism in education and the media.

She is also one of dozens of lawmakers who have received awards from HAF for their demonstrated commitment to mutual respect, dignity, and pluralism.

Is the over $26,000 in donations from the board/officers of HAF unique to the Congresswoman, or are there other politicians in the US that receive this level of support? If so, who are they?

No, these donations are not unique, though we do not keep track of the political contributions made by our directors, staff, or donors. The political contribution history of our Board members and officers is publicly available, and you’ll find they’ve contributed to a variety of candidates over the years at similar levels.

Indeed as the first Hindu American elected to Congress, Rep. Gabbard naturally enjoys the support of many Hindu Americans. Now with several more Hindu and Indian Americans in national and state office, they too receive similar levels of support from HAF leaders and the wider community. The Hindu American community supports candidates from both major political parties, including candidates that represent this country’s diversity of race, religion, and political persuasion.

HAF has been criticized for its connections to the right wing elements in the Indian government, as has Congresswoman Gabbard. How do you answer those criticisms and what is the nature of the foundation’s connection to the Modi government and groups like the BJP?

HAF is a wholly independent, nonpartisan organization, and has absolutely no affiliation with or ties to any American or foreign political party. HAF was founded by second-generation Hindu Americans born and raised in the US.

In addition to the many causes mentioned earlier, HAF promotes a strong U.S-India bilateral relationship grounded in mutual respect, promoting shared values and has, at times, criticized government decisions regardless of which Indian political party was in power. HAF’s interest in India stems from its place as a sacred geography for the tradition, and because most of the world’s Hindus reside or originate from there.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and members of both the Trump and Obama Administrations have visited India to demonstrate their commitment to expanding the US-India strategic partnership. President Obama met with Prime Minister Modi eight times during his second term, described his relationship with PM Modi as one of his highest foreign policy priorities, and even called to say goodbye during the last days of his presidency. Countless lawmakers have also visited India and BJP’s elected leaders to demonstrate their commitment to expanding the US-India strategic partnership. Many, including Leader Pelosi, traveled to both New York City’s Madison Square Garden and California’s Silicon Valley, to attend massive Indian American community welcome gatherings for the popular leader.

Rep. Gabbard similarly met with India’s leaders, so judging Rep. Gabbard or any Hindu American by a measure different from that of others, or to impugn a different, or “special” relationship with a foreign government simply on the basis of a shared religion is Hinduphobic and xenophobic.

FOLLOW UP QUESTION FROM EOIN HIGGINS:

The only additional question I have relates to your last point: “judging Rep. Gabbard or any Hindu American by a measure different from that of others” in relation to her relationship with the Modi government/right wing elements in Indian politics is “Hinduphobic.” (am I reading that correctly)

But Rep. Gabbard does have a close relationship with those elements of Indian politics, as shown in her trip to India in 2014 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi — just want to be sure we’re on the same page with that being different than someone making a blanket assumption based solely on religion.

My point is only that her meeting with Prime Minister Modi is no different or anymore noteworthy than other lawmakers meeting with the democratically elected members of the current or any ruling Indian party.

Consider April 2018 which saw a bipartisan Congressional delegation which included Rep. Pete Olson, Rep. Terry Sewell, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Drew Ferguson and Rep. Tom Suozzi; or the bipartisan delegation in May 2017 — which included Leader Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Elliot Engel, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Rep. Judy Chu.

If questions were raised about only Reps. Gabbard, Krishnamoorthi, and Jayapal, then yes, I would argue that the line of questioning is Hinduphobic and xenophobic.

Open Letter to Eoin Higgins, Iles Matthews, Vivian Schiller, Donald Shaw

RE: Hinduphobic Op Ed on Sludge

Hi Eoin,

Well, I’ve now seen the article you published, so soon after I shared detailed responses to your questions. As you might imagine, I’m profoundly disappointed and shocked by how you have chosen to portray me, personally, and the Hindu American Foundation, where I work.

I made myself available to you in good faith, believing you would abide by the Civil Constitution set forth by Sludge. I provided detailed answers on very short notice (despite our closed office), which you appear to have intentionally omitted, amongst other editorial errors, in order to add to your collection of articles critical of Rep. Gabbard.

It is my abiding hope that you will consider my note below and update your article after exercising the due diligence that should have been prior to publication:

  • The headline makes a conclusive statement–”Tulsi Gabbard Took Thousands From Members of Right-Wing Hindu Group.” The sub-headline makes an equally damaging claim in quoting that HAF is a “pernicious organization.” Right from the start, you have completely misrepresented the record of HAF, my personal politics and ideology, and the very thrust of our 15 year record. Did you even for a moment examine HAF’s record of statements, affiliations, political positions, and more? Did you bother for a moment to peruse the website where you would find:
    • our work on religious freedom initiatives through the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in Washington, D.C;
    • our role as a leading voice on international and domestic civil rights issues, including advocating on behalf of minority women’s rights in countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh;
    • our support of Muslim and Sikh employment rights in the U.S. through CA Assembly Bill 19649;
    • our speaking out against the unconstitutional surveillance of mosques in New York, pushing for immigration reform and gun safety reform;
    • our advocacy for the inclusion of hate crime reporting against Sikhs, Arabs, and Hindus by the FBI and much more;
    • our work in advocating for marriage equality and women’s access to healthcare;
    • our record on several church-state cases, including as an amici in the Supreme Court on the Ten Commandments in public places and much more;
    • our status as the only Hindu organization that sits on the National Leadership Council that includes the NAACP, ACLU, and many other giants in the field of civil rights advocacy?

And these are just a handful of examples. On what factual basis, then, do you nonchalantly declare HAF a Right-Wing group?

  • You quote a doctoral student who relentlessly attacks HAF and impugns all kinds of terrible motives to the organization I run and co-founded. But did you demand facts to support such breathtaking accusations? Did you ask me my view of these horrible pronouncements? Does journalistic ethics and Civil’s Constitution not enjoin journalists to make “reasonable efforts by the author of the work or those who publish that work to verify the truthfulness of that fact,” which could include giving me an opportunity to respond to allegations made against me or the organization I run or checking our website and countless testimonies and reports that are on the public record?
  • You quote Coalition Against Genocide (CAG), and in doing so, render credibility to a group masquerading as something that is far larger or real than it really is. Are you aware that this website (they have no legal status, no office, no board of directors, no employees) has a record of attacking Hindu organizations in the US?
    • The irascibility of these attacks led to our efforts to expose this coalition as nothing more than a variety of defunct website portals with various names, but all managed by the same four people, including the Dr. Shaik Ubaid whom you liberally quote.
    • The entire story is outlined here: as is a detailed flowchart tracking the lack of transparency and accountability of this “coalition.”

By the way, you link to the press release where Samir Kalra is quoted, but stated the date of the release as 2003, when this was written in 2013. HAF wasn’t established until September 2003.

  • You linked a piece by Zahir Janmohamed from which you make the claim that: “Observers on Capitol Hill say the Foundation has recently become more vocal in their support for India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.” Did you not see the piece I wrote in the same Outlook magazine detailing his biases and setting the record straight? https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-masters-voice/290204
  • Your research, I hope, demonstrated that my husband and I almost exclusively supported Democratic candidates, as do many HAF leaders, and that I and HAF publicly and unequivocally oppose many Trump positions. Vis a vis India, HAF has spoken out against cow-related vigilantism, killings/lynchings, and has led on the issue of Dalit rights and recognition by the greater Hindu community. Our report against caste-based discrimination was groundbreaking and started an international conversation on how to end the horrible practice.
  • What is horrifying to me is that because my husband and I chose to support the first Hindu woman to be elected to the US Congress — as Hindu Americans ourselves — you make the incredible claim that HAF maintains “ties” with right-wing organizations in India. Could you detail those “ties?” I already wrote to you that my husband, Aseem, and colleagues, Mihir, and most board members were born in the US, are US citizens and never will or can vote in India, and are proud Americans. I am shocked at the alacrity with which you slander us with false ties that do not exist. I’d like to know the factual basis for your characterization. And please don’t point out any meeting with or writings about the prime minister of India because we are amongst a long line of CEOs, lawmakers, think tanks, and NGOs that have done the same without censure. As it stands, I can only assume that you are insinuating something different is at play on the basis of our religious and ethnic identities.

I strongly appeal to you that the many factual errors and omissions be rectified in the interest of journalism based on “transparency and trust.” Adjust the headline and remove our names, or at the very least, include facts about HAF’s work in the realm of civil and human rights listed above, and our denial of association with any organization based in India.

This is the very least that I hope you will consider.

Best,
Suhag

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Hinduism is often referred to as Sanatana Dharma (the ‘eternal way’), indicating the religion’s emphasis on eternal truths that are applicable to all of humanity. Thus, it makes sense that a medley of mainstream movies could convey Hindu ideals that resonate strongly with audiences, while not actually talking directly about anything understood by the public as Hindu.

In Groundhog Day, for example, when cynical TV weatherman Phil Collins discovers he is trapped in a time loop, living the same day over and over, only to be released after transforming his character from an egocentric narcissist to a thoughtful and kindhearted philanthropist, it’s hard not to be reminded of the Hindu notion of samsara, a cycle of reincarnation from which a soul attains liberation by realizing its divine nature after lifetimes of spiritual practice. 

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10/29/22Hinduism and American Thought

Hindu Americans and the Vedanta philosophy have significantly influenced notable intellectuals such as Henry  David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, J.D. Salinger, Christopher Isherwood, Aldous Huxley, Huston Smith, and Joseph Campbell just to name a few. Some feel that it started back In 1812, when Thomas Jefferson recommended to John Adams the writings of Joseph Priestley, a Unitarian minister who had published works that compared Christianity to other religions — Hinduism in particular — Adam’s interest was piqued.

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10/25/22Black Panther

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10/24/22Diwali

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10/23/22Dhanteras

On this day, because Diwali is a time for dana (charitable giving) and seva (selfless service), Hindus traditionally perform a deep cleaning of their homes and surroundings, as cleanliness is believed to invoke the presence and blessings of Goddess Lakshmi who, as mentioned earlier, is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Many will also make rangoli or kolum (colored patterns of flowers, powder, rice, or sand made on the floor), which are also said to invite auspiciousness. Observers thus begin Diwali by cultivating a spirit of generosity, doing things like giving money to charities, feeding the hungry, and endeavoring to help those in need.

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10/22/22The Hindu Diaspora in Bali

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10/20/22Swami Yogananda

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10/18/22Swami Prabhupada

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, was founded in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a highly respected Vaishnava  (devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations avatars) scholar and monk. At the age of 70, Swami Prabhupada traveled from India to New York City to bring the Bhakti tradition, or Krishna Consciousness, to the west. In the 11 years before his passing in 1977, Srila Prabhupada translated, with elaborate commentaries, 60 volumes of Vaishnava literature; established more than 100 temples on six continents; and initiated 5,000 disciples. Today, his writings are studied in universities around the globe and are translated into nearly 100 languages. To date, ISKCON has over 400 temples,  dozens of rural communities and eco-sustainable projects, and nearly 100 vegetarian restaurants world-wide with 56 of them in the US. 

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10/17/22The Hindu Diaspora in Africa

Hinduism came in waves to Africa, with Southern Africa getting Hindu workers during the early years of British colonization, while East and West Africa experienced Hindu migration during the 20th century. Hinduism’s roughly 0.2% presence in Africa is seen as so inconsequential, most data organizations don’t even bother explicitly mentioning it in their census reports. But Hinduism is Ghana's fastest growing religion and one in which there are steady populations in both Northern and Southern African states. Durban is now home to most of South Africa’s 1.3 million Indians, making it, according to some sources, the largest Indian city outside of India, and thus a most powerful hub of Hindu practice. In the US, there are both communities of African Hindus who have migrated, as well as Black Hindus, who according to the 2019 Pew Survey, make up 2% of the Hindu population in the US.

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10/16/22Star Wars

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, drew much of the inspiration for this major cultural phenomenon from the teachings of his mentor who was a lifelong student of Vedanta. In these films, many aspects of Hinduism are interwoven with the story. Some include Hanuman (Chewbaca and Ewoks), Shakti (force,energy), Yodha (Yoda), Brahman (infinite being). Besides the many philosophical parallels that can be highlighted between Star Wars and Hinduism, Star Wars also exhibits similarities in story structure and character roles to one of India’s famous epics, the Ramayana. Never seen the movie? Now might be the time to see how universally relatable Hindu thought can truly be.

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10/15/22Ayurveda

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While it’s synonymous to meditation, and seen simply as a doorway to tranquility for yogic practitioners, the true meaning of Om is deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy.

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10/28/22Dr. Anandibai Joshi

Dr. Anandi Gopal Joshi is credited with being the first woman from India to study medicine in the United States. Born in Bombay in 1865, she was married at the age of ten to an older man who had been her teacher. Dr. Joshi had a child at the age of 13, but the child died when only 10 days old. She believed that with better medical care, the child would have lived, and she frequently cited this as motivation for her desire to attend medical school. Her husband encouraged her in her academic pursuits and in 1883, Joshee joined the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, now known as the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. She graduated in 1886 with her degree in medicine; her M.D. thesis focused on Hindu obstetrics. Unfortunately,  Dr. Joshi was only able to practice medicine for a few months before passing away from tuberculosis.

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10/13/22The Hindu Diaspora in Guyana

Hinduism is the religion of almost 25% of Guyana’s population, making it the country with the highest percentage of Hindus in the Western Hemisphere. But from British professional recruiting agents targeting rural and uneducated Indians, to the aggressiveness of Christian proselytization of Hindus with a promise of a better life, Hinduism has been in a steady decline for many decades with many escaping to the United States for better opportunities and to practice their religion freely. Today, over 80% of Guyanese Americans live in the Northeastern United States with heavy concentrations in New Jersey and in New York, where a “Little Guyana”  helps these immigrants stay connected to their Guyanese roots.

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10/12/22Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth or Karva Chauth (kuhr-vah-CHOATH) is a North Indian holiday in which wives fast for the longevity and health of their husbands, however, many unmarried women celebrate in hopes of meeting their ideal life partner. Typically, wives spend the day preparing gifts to exchange, and fasting until the moon is visible. It is believed that its light symbolizes love and blessings of a happy life. While there are varying legends behind this holiday’s traditions and meaning, the message of honoring the relationships women form with their family and community prevails.

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10/11/22Hinduism and Music

As sound vibration can affect the most subtle element of creation, it is interpreted in Hindu scriptures that spiritual sound vibrations can affect the atman (soul) in a particularly potent way. Such spiritual sound vibrations are said to have the ability to awaken our original spiritual consciousness and help us remember that we are beyond the ambivalence of life, and actually originate from the Divine. As such, the main goal of many types of Hindu musical expression is to help stir us out of our spiritual slumber by evoking feelings of love and connection that help us to better perceive the presence of the Divine within all. Some of the more popular examples of musical expressions within Hinduism include shlokas (verse, or poem), mantras (sacred syllables repeated in prayer), kirtans (congregational singing of mantras), and bhajans (devotional songs). You can find musical spiritual expressions through the US in temples,  Mandirs, and community centers.

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What is Kirtan?

10/10/22Yoga

Yoga is considered Hinduism’s gift to humanity. At its broadest, yoga, from the root word “yuj” in Sanskrit, means to unite. Most Hindu texts discuss yoga as a practice to control the senses and ultimately, the mind. The most famous is the Bhagavad Gita (dating back to 6th-3rd Century BCE), in which Krishna speaks of four types of yoga – bhakti, or devotion; jnana, or knowledge; karma, or action; and dhyana, or concentration (often referred to as raja yoga, though not all sources agree on the term) – as paths to achieve moksha (enlightenment), the ultimate goal according to Hindu understanding. According to a 2016 study,  in the United States there are an estimated 36.7 million people currently practicing yoga in the United States.

Yoga.Day

The Hindu Roots of Yoga

10/9/22Swami Vivekananda

According to Vedic cosmology, 108 is the basis of creation, representing the universe and all our existence. As the soul is encased in two types of bodies: the physical body (made of earth, water, fire, air, and ether) and the subtle body (composed of intelligence, mind and ego), Swami Viveknanda is often attributed with bringing Hindu teachings and practices — such as yoga and transcendental meditation — to Western audiences. In 1893, he was officially introduced to the United States at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where in his speech he called for religious tolerance and described Hinduism as “a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.” The day that Swami Vivekananda delivered his speech at the Parliament of Religions is now known as ‘World Brotherhood Day.’ And his birthday, known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, is honored on January 12th each year. On this day he is commemorated and recognized for his contributions as a modern Hindu monk and respected guru of the Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism. In 1900, Swami Viveknanda founded the Vedanta Society in California and to date there are 36 Vedanta Society Centers in the United States.

Swami Vivekananda Influenced Countless Americans

Hindu Holidays & Dharmic Days Calendar

10/8/22108

According to Vedic cosmology, 108 is the basis of creation, representing the universe and all our existence. As the soul is encased in two types of bodies: the physical body (made of earth, water, fire, air, and ether) and the subtle body (composed of intelligence, mind and ego), 108 plays a significant role in keeping these two bodies healthily connected. Hindus believe the body holds seven chakras, or pools of energy, which begin at the bottom of the spine and go all the way down to the top of the head and it is believed there are 108 energy lines that converge to form the heart chakra. Ayurveda says there are 108 hidden spots in the body called marma points, where various tissues like muscles, veins, and ligaments meet. These are vital points of life force, and when they are out of balance, energy cannot properly flow throughout the body. Sun salutations, yogic asanas that honor the sun god Surya, are generally completed in nine rounds of 12 postures, totaling 108. Mantra meditation is usually chanted on a set of 108 beads.   In Hinduism there are 108 Upanishads, the sacred texts of wisdom from ancient sages. Additionally, in the Sanskrit alphabet, there are 54 letters. Each letter has a feminine, or Shakti, and masculine, or Shiva, quality. 54 multiplied by 2 equals 108. Ultimately, breathwork, chanting, studying scripture, and asana’s help harmonize one’s energy with the energy of the supreme spiritual source. These processes become especially effective when they are performed in connection with the number 108. Hindu scriptures strive to remind people of this divine commonality by continuously highlighting the innumerable threads connecting everything in existence. One of these threads is the number 108.

5 Things to know about 108

Here's How the Number 108 Binds Us to the Universe

10/7/22The Hindu Diaspora in Trinidad/Tobago

A decade after slavery was abolished in 1834, the British government began importing indentured labor from India to work on their estates in other countries such as Trinidad and Tobago.  From 1845 to 1917, the ships would continue to arrive, carrying over 140,000 Indians to the island, facilitating Trinidad's population growth from Indian laborers. Today, there are roughly 240,000 declared Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago, comprising about 18% of the island’s population. There are a total of about 300 temples on the island, welcoming all who wish to enter and where many beloved Hindu festivals take place. But for some, the migration journey doesn’t end as New York and Florida have seen the development of large Indo-Caribbean communities.

Hinduism beyond India: Trinidad and Tobago

10/6/22Tattoos

From ancient tribes to present-day devotees, tattoos have held a special place in Hinduism for centuries. In the Indian states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, the Ramnaami community invoked Rama’s protection with tattoos of the name “Rama” in Sanskrit on every inch of their skin, including the tongue and inside the lips.The Mahabharata tells the story of the Pandavas that were exiled to the Kutch district of Gujarat. Today, their descendants - members of the Ribari tribe - live as their ancestors did, with women covered in tattoos that symbolize their people’s strong spirit for survival. Some Hindus consider tattoos as protective emblems,such as tattoos of Hanuman are often used to relieve physical or mental pain. People will often get tattoos of other deities to invoke their blessings. Mehndi, a plant-based temporary tattoo, is commonly done at weddings and religious ceremonies as a form of celebration of love and spirituality. While tattoos have been in Hindu communities for centuries, tattoos as symbols of honor, devotion, and even fashion are incredibly popular today. Hindus and non Hindus alike adorn themselves with Hindu emblems and tattoos that reflect Hindu teachings.

Guidelines for Commercial Use of Hindu Images

10/5/22Navaratri

Navaratri (nuhv-uh-RA-three) is a nine night celebration of the feminine divine that occurs four times a year — the spring and fall celebrations being amongst the more widely celebrated. Some traditions honor the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga, while others celebrate the three goddesses (Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati) with three days dedicated to each. This is a time to recognize the role in which the loving, compassionate, and gentle — yet sometimes powerful and fierce — feminine energy plays in our lives.

Nine Things to Know About Navaratri

Hindu Holidays & Dharmic Days Calendar

10/4/22Dussehra

Dussehra (duh-sheh-RAH) or Vijayadashmi (vi-juhyuh-dushuh-mee) celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the ten-headed demon King Ravana. This also marks the end of Ramalila — a brief retelling of the Ramayana and the story of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman in the form of dramatic reading or dance. It also signifies the end of negativity and evil within us (vices, biases, prejudices) for a fresh new beginning. Dussehra often coincides with the end of Navratri and Duga Puja, and celebrations can last ten days, with huge figures of Ravana set ablaze as a reminder that good always prevails over evil.

Hindu Holidays & Dharmic Days Calendar

Hinduism 101 & Women

10/3/22Ahimsa + Cow sanctuaries

Many Hindus hold reverence for the cow as a representation of mother earth, fertility, and Hindu values of selfless service, strength, dignity, and non-harming. Though not all Hindus are vegetarian, for this reason many traditionally abstain from eating beef. This is often linked with the concept of ahimsa (non-violence), which can be applied to diet choices and our interactions with the environment, and potentially determine our next birth, according to the doctrine of karma. This is part of the reason that some Hindus may choose a vegetarian lifestyle as an expression of ahimsa as well as explains the growing number of cow protection projects that are led by individuals who have felt compelled to put their Hindu values into practice. The US is home to several cow protection projects and sanctuaries

Dairy Is Traditionally Sattvic Food, but the Way We Treat Cows Today Can Be Tamasic

Cultured Meat and Animal-Free Dairy Upends the Plant-Based Food Discussion

10/1/2022First Hindu temple in US

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 facilitated the journey of many Indian immigrants to the United States. In this new land, many created home shrines and community temples to practice and hold pujas (services). As Hindu American populations grew in metropolitan and rural areas, so did the need to find a permanent temple site for worship. In 1906, the Vedanta Society built the Old Temple in San Francisco, California but as this was not considered a formal temple, many don’t credit this with being the first. Others believe it is the Shiva Murugan Temple built in 1957 in Concord, California, whereas others believe it is the Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devanstanam in New York that should be considered the first. Today, there are nearly 1,000 temples in the United States . Regardless of where you live, you have the right to practice your faith.

A Guide To Temple Safety and Security

5 Things to Know About Visiting a Hindu Temple