Madhavipriyadas Swami of SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad led a mango distribution drive in 2025, providing free mangoes to poor and needy families as part of the SGVP Mango Festival.
The event was held at the SGVP campus and aimed to support underprivileged communities by distributing fresh seasonal fruit during the summer. Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgrounds.
Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgroundsSGVP
Swami Madhavipriyadas personally oversaw the initiative, highlighting the hospital’s continued commitment to community welfare and seva (service). Volunteers and staff members of the hospital participated in the event, ensuring the distribution was well-organised and reached the intended beneficiaries.
With the support of its spiritual and community leadersSGVP
The mango distribution is one of SGVP’s ongoing efforts to uplift disadvantaged sections of society by offering food, healthcare, and support. Organisers said the gesture was not only about providing fruit but also about spreading kindness and compassion.
The festival was warmly received by recipients and appreciated by local residents. SGVP plans to continue similar charitable activities in future, with the support of its spiritual and community leaders.
Parmarth Niketan will mark the 25th sanyas anniversary of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji on 11 June, honouring her quarter-century of spiritual service and dedication since she took monastic vows in 2000.
The ceremony will be held on the sacred Shri Rama Katha stage at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and will feature blessings from several prominent spiritual leaders. Among those attending are Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Ramdevji, mahamandaleshwars Rajendra Dasji, Ravindra Puriji and Harichetnanandji, as well as Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji, Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji, Dr Chinmaya Pandyaji and others.
Parmarth Niketan will mark the 25th sanyas anniversary of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati SaraswatijiParmarth Niketan
Sadhviji, a renowned spiritual teacher and author, came to India in 1996 and embraced the path of sanyas just four years later. She has since become a global advocate for interfaith dialogue, environmental protection and women’s empowerment.
Those unable to attend in person can join the celebration via livestream from 11.30 am IST on the official YouTube channels @ParmarthNiketan and @Sadhviji.
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The event served not only as a religious gathering but as a communal space where people of all ages could connect
The Gurjar Hindu Union has concluded a hugely successful week-long Shrimad Bhagwat Katha at its Apple Tree Centre temple in Crawley, West Sussex, drawing around 14,000 attendees across seven days.
Held from Friday 24 May to Friday 31 May 2025, the spiritual event featured daily discourses by the esteemed Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai, attracting approximately 2,000 devotees each day. His captivating delivery and deep spiritual insight resonated strongly with attendees, creating an atmosphere of devotion and reflection.
His captivating delivery and deep spiritual insight resonated strongly with attendeesCrawley Hindu
A key focus of this year’s Katha was on promoting holistic health, wellbeing, and social connection. Using the teachings of the Bhagwat Purana, Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai emphasised the importance of inner peace, healthy lifestyles, and building stronger community bonds. In doing so, the Katha also sought to address the growing issue of loneliness within society.
The event served not only as a religious gathering but as a communal space where people of all ages could connect, support each other, and find spiritual rejuvenation. Many described the experience as deeply moving and transformative.
creating an atmosphere of devotion and reflection.Crawley Hindu
A spokesperson for the Gurjar Hindu Union said: “The sheer number of attendees each day is a testament to the spiritual hunger within our community and the profound impact of Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai’s discourse. We are proud of how this event supported health, wellbeing, and social cohesion.”
The Union expressed sincere thanks to Pujya Bhaishri, the volunteers, and all attendees for their contributions to this uplifting and unifying occasion.
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Saints and Gurus have been guiding Hindu society for thousands of years, shaping both spiritual and social life
Dharmic religions or religions that have their roots in India, namely Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, have a very interactive relationship with spiritual leaders and Gurus. Going back tens of thousands of years, saints have influenced and guided Hindu society. The most powerful king would respect his Guru or a saint and act upon his instructions. These sages typically lived in forests in pursuit of a spiritual life. They were also experts on issues that related to running a peaceful and just society. They were conversant in warfare and the art of diplomacy.
When a holy man or a saint made an entry into an assembly of politicians, the whole gathering including the king would stand up to receive him. The king would touch the feet of the sage as a mark of great respect. This tradition of touching the feet of a Guru or an elder is still prevalent in India today. Children will typically touch the feet of elders as a form of greeting. There is something magical about bowing down to your seniors or your mentors. There is humility, respect and a soul to soul meeting.
The Ramayana mentions how King Dashratha had to agree to send his two children Rama and Laxmana to fight demons on the demand of sage Vishvamitra. In a Hindu’s life, the Guru plays a role from birth to death. The blessings of a Guru are sought for a new baby and at certain intervals in life, a child will go through different initiation processes with the help of a Guru. His marriage will be conducted by a priest with Sanskrit chanting.
From ancient sages to modern-day Gurus, their influence on society continues to inspire and transformiStock/Mahabharata
To buy a house, to start a business or to begin a construction project, a Guru will guide and bless. This tradition continues even today. In Jainism and Buddhism, society is formally divided into householders and monks. In both traditions, the fellowship of monks is called Sangha. It is the sacred duty of the householder to look after the mendicants. Jain saints can sanction any activity according to the situation. They can ask for a place of worship to be built or a school, hospital or animal sanctuary and the community will willingly oblige.
Buddhism has a similar setup. Buddhist monks play a very active role in Buddhist society. In Sikhism too, Gurus are highly revered and Sikh saints guide the Sikh society. When one goes to India, one can observe this dynamic relationship between the householders and the monks. This special mechanism has served the Hindu society well throughout history. The influence of Hindu monks on the lives of the laity contributes to the dynamism and adaptability of the Hindu religion.
While there is no single, universally accepted definition or dogma, the diverse interpretations and practices within Hinduism are often shaped by the teachings and roles of monks who serve as spiritual guides. They maintain the continuity of traditions while also adapting them to the changing times. This flexibility to adapt to a continuously changing world is a great asset and prepares the masses to embrace change.
This can be observed in India today, which has become a hub for digital inventions. Indians dominate leading cutting-edge futuristic companies in the US. India stands on the brink of a digital revolution poised to transform its economy and society. By 2030, the digital sector is projected to grow fourfold, offering an additional opportunity worth 900 billion dollars.
The relationship between Guru and disciple has been central to the evolution of Hindu philosophy and practiceiStock/Mahabharata
The exploits of the great Guru Chanakya, also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta, are the stuff of legend. Chandragupta Maurya was one of the greatest Hindu kings of the 4th century BCE. Under the guidance of his Guru Chanakya, he extended his empire from the Hindu Kush in the northwest to Bengal in the east, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Narmada River in the south.
His empire encompassed almost the entire Indian subcontinent, excluding modern-day Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It included modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of present-day Iran. Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus I Nicator, a Greek general, in the Seleucid–Mauryan War around 305–303 BCE. The resulting treaty of Indus gave Chandragupta control over the eastern satrapies and formed a marriage alliance with Seleucus.
Chanakya also served as the prime minister to Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusara. Chanakya's treatise on war and peace, the Arthashastra, makes Machiavelli look very tame. Machiavelli was a 16th-century Italian philosopher who proposed that acquiring and maintaining a state may require cunning and immoral means. A Machiavellian politician today is described as one who is cunning and duplicitous.
The Arthashastra, written in Sanskrit, talks about statecraft, politics, economic policy and military strategy. It is considered a foundational text on governance and diplomacy. Chanakya proposed five ways of dealing with enemy states. They were making peace (samdhi), waging war (vigraha), doing nothing (asana), preparing for war (yana), and dual policy or alliances (dvaidhibhava).
The reverence for spiritual leaders remains a cornerstone of Hindu culture, transcending time and traditioniStock/Mahabharata
In a constantly evolving world, having a living Guru to guide you through an increasingly complex society is a great advantage. Famous Gurus like Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Sadhguru Jaggi Maharaj, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Mahant Swami, Swami Ramdev and many others have millions of followers all over the world.
These Gurus are overwhelmingly celibate monks. By using their senses in pursuit of God alone, they develop spiritual powers which they apply in protecting Dharma and helping worldly people trapped in Maya, the illusion of material and sensory enjoyment. They represent a stark contrast to the Abrahamic religions. Ahimsa, vegetarianism, yoga, meditation, and controlling your inner enemies like anger, pride, hate, jealousy, greed and lust is what these Gurus preach.
It is this message that Swami Vivekananda first brought to America. He won over the assembled gathering of leaders of world religions at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893, by beginning with "brothers and sisters of America". There is no agenda to convert others or to belittle other religions.
Above all, the final goal for a Guru is to go back to God's kingdom and escape the cycles of births and deaths. The Guru, therefore, is very conscious of his own journey while doing his best to bring peace and contribute to the dynamism and adaptability of the Hindu religion.
(Nitin Mehta is a writer and commentator on Indian culture and philosophy. He has contributed extensively to discussions on Hinduism, spirituality, and the role of Gurus in modern society. You can find more of his work at www.nitinmehta.co.uk.)
The Chelmsford Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (CSPT), located in Hatfield Peverel, is proud to announce significant progress in its mission to establish a permanent spiritual home for the Hindu community in Essex.
The temple is now entering its final and most sacred phase: the construction of the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and Sannidhis for its deities, including Lord Srinivasa Perumal. These divine sculptures, intricately carved by master artisans in India, will soon form the spiritual heart of the temple.
The consecration ceremonies – Samprokshana and Kumbhabhishekam – are scheduled for July, marking the culmination of years of community effort. Once completed, CSPT will serve as a year-round place of worship, cultural celebration, and community engagement for the region's 15,000-strong Hindu population.
As the temple approaches this momentous milestone, CSPT invites continued community involvement and support to help realise this divine vision.
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Ayurveda was given to mankind at the time of satyug, when the diseases though existed had not yet manifested in the physical world.
Ayurveda finds it origin in one of the four Vedas, the Atharvaveda. Brahma ji propounded the science of Ayurveda and passed it on to Daksh Prajapati, who gave it to Ashwini Kumars, the physicians of devas, and they gave it to Indra.
Ayurveda was given to mankind at the time of satyug, when the diseases though existed had not yet manifested in the physical world. The level of existence was so pure and selfless that diseases were unable to manifest then. The rishis of satyug realized that in the times to come, the thoughts of people are going to become so polluted that diseases will find the required environment to manifest and then the need of Ayurveda would arise, so Rishi Bharadwaj went up to Indra Dev and asked for this divine science.
Ayurveda disregards any such thing as disease or healing, as the purpose of Ayurveda is not healing, it is to achieve a state of balance and maintain it. It eliminates the root of cause of imbalance and brings the body into a state of balance. When the imbalance is removed, the disease is automatically cured and the body radiates glow and strength.
Ayurveda says that this body is made of three doshas and five tatvas and seven dhatus. Everybody has the three doshas of vat, pitta and kapha, the only difference is in their relative proportions. When a being enters a body, according to theposition of the stars and preceding karmas, the constitution gets decided that time itself and it remains like that till the end.
To balance these doshas, rishis gave us jadi bootis (herbs). These jadi butis are not to be consumed in isolation but only after ascertaining the behaviour of all three doshas through an able vaidya.
In this article, we will discuss a simple Ayurvedic remedy for detoxifying the body. Triphala is an excellent expeller of waste. Take equal quantities of ayurvedic herbs - Amla, Harar and Bahera , without seeds, and grind them to a fine powder. Take half teaspoon every night with warm water for a month only.
Caution: the effects of these preparations are not immediate and take about 2-6 months bring the desired results
Warning: Do not go to so-called ayurvedic practitioners who sell their medicines without any verification of the authentication of the ingredients, source the herbs and medicines from an ashram where the authenticity of the ingredients is verified and these are prepared non-commercially by sadhaks.
(Ashwini Gurujii is the guiding light of Dhyan Ashram. For more details www.dhyanfoundation.com)