Paripoornanda Swamiji of Sree Peetham, Kakinada visited Atlanta as part of a multi-city tour organized by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF). Swamiji is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, and a social reformer.- Atlanta Dunia -

Swami Paripoornananda gains popularity in America

By Ravi R Ponangi

Atlanta, GA: Paripoornanda Swamiji of Sree Peetham, Kakinada visited Atlanta as part of a multi-city tour organized by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF). Swamiji is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, and a social reformer. His discourses on various aspects of Hindu Dharma, religious scriptures, Indian culture and social injustices are widely popular. During his stay in Atlanta, he gave two public discourses on June 8 and 9 and visited many institutions, temples and houses not only of Telugu people but also Indians.

The discourse on June 8 was held at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale. The Executive Committee, trustees and large number of devotees received Swamiji with poorna Kumbham and with all temple honors. In a public meeting organized in Hindu temple, Dr. Prasad Garimella of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) spoke about the need to bring together various Hindu special interest groups in Atlanta to help facilitate knowledge sharing and leverage the collective strength of the Hindus towards various social causes and the explained the purpose of Swamiji’s visit to America. He has requested Swamiji to initiate the first ever Hindu Social hour in Atlanta and the request was gracefully accepted by Swamiji. The Hindu Social Hour started very successfully in attendance of several dignitaries of the community.

Swamiji spoke very passionately about the Hindu Dharma and the need to defend and protect it from the forces that are taking undue advantage of the vulnerability of the current generation of Hindus. Explaining the difference between “Dharma” and “Religion”, Swamiji aptly compared “Dharma” to mother’s milk and Religion to powdered milk. Just as a mother does not need to advertise how good her milk is, “Dharma” is inherent to one’s own being and need not be advertised, while religion, like powdered milk, is one that may need to be heavily advertised by those who are looking to convert others to their faith. He eloquently explained what true devotion is and the symbolic meanings of various Hindu practices such as worshipping of Gods in the form of statues and wearing of bindi on their forehead by the Hindu women. He concluded his discourse by calling for an action to all the NRIs to support the cause and contribute generously to GHHF, so the funds raised for this cause will be used to promote Hindu Dharma in USA and execute projects in India, such as renovation of Temples in need of support.

In the second public gathering that was held on June 9 at the Midway Park Community Hall in Cumming, a suburb of Atlanta, Swami Paripoornananda launched an initiative called “I am Hindu”, in collaboration with GHHF. Swamiji explained the charter for this initiative will be to bring together the Hindus of USA to come together for protecting and promoting the Hindu Dharma in USA as well as in our mother land. Swamiji stated that one of the activities that will be undertaken by this initiative is to hold an annual convention for Hindus of USA to come together for three days to participate in discourses, symposiums, and interactive sessions about Hindu Dharma. Swamiji aptly named this convention as AHIMSA (American Hindu Maha Sabha), the first of which will take place in 2014.

GHHF was founded by Dr. Prakash Rao Velagapudi of Dallas, TX with the objective to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, Peethams, endowments, Trusts and other Institutions globally. For more details about GHHF, please visithttp://www.globalhinduheritagefoundation.org/.