Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America organized its Dharma Sansad, 7th Hindu Mandir Priests Conference, a part of Hindu Mandir Executive Conference, at the Global Mall, Norcross, Georgia on 20th and 21st July, 2018. The theme of the well-attended and inspiring conference was ‘Dharmo rakshati rakshitah’ (Dharma protects those who uphold or protect dharma).

The Conference was hosted by Pundit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay of Siddhi Vinayak Mandir, in Global Mall and co-hosted by Ambaji USA Shri Shakti Mandir; Hindu Temple of Atlanta; Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir; Sri Hanuman Mandir, Alpharetta; Gokuldham; Sanatan Mandir; BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir; Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina. The Conference was graced by the respected and learned priests, scholars of Hindu Religion; community dignitaries Sanjay Mehta;Laxmi Bhamidipati; Smt.Tejal;Dr.Sujatha Reddy; Chandra Reddy; Shiv Aggarwal;Kusum and Sudarshan Khurana;Veena and Madhav Katdare;Shyam and Manjula Tiwari;Vasav and Sneha Mehta;Swadesh Katoch;Vikas Arora; Amit Khurana;Tarun Sirohi;Ashwini Jindal;Sunit Deshwal;Vijay Patel; Seema Garg; Manoj Bhatia;Sridhatr,VHP Officials and volunteers.

The learned priests and scholars shared many insights and enlightening nuggets of wisdom on Hindu religion over the two-day discourses and talks. The common thread was the need to lead an upright and religious life. In keeping with the theme; “If we follow our religion and lead a religious life and protect our religion, then our religion will safeguard us.”

Since 2015, at each Hindu Mandir Priest’s Conference,’Archaka Bhushana’Award is being conferred to distinguished priests to honor their significant and sustained spiritual and social services to the Hindu community. This year the awardees were: Sri Venkata Pidaparthi; Sri Naimishkumar Joshi; Sri Narasimha Cherukapalli; Sri Pramod Padhi; Sri Chakrapani Kumara; Sri Mukti Prasad Kafle; Sri Narayana Bhatter; Sri Sandip Thaker; Sri Pavan Kumar Kristapati; and Pundit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay.
On the concluding day, Pundit Gyan Prakash ji gave a riveting talk on meaning of Dhrma, different kinds of dharmas, and Sanatan dharma (unchanging and abiding principles of dharma).He said that dharma encompasses more than rituals. It includes duties, rights, and righteous living. One must carry out one’s duties in family, society or nation in a morally, upright way to ensure peace and harmony for all.