New Himalayan Academy Book Distribution Fund

April - May - June 2005 Newsletter

Ten years after their conversion to Hinduism, Shyamadeva and Peshanidevi Dandapani came forward to open their third endowment (#60) with HHE. The purpose of this fund is to give complimentary copies of Himalayan Academy books to public libraries, libraries of Hindu institutions and worthy individuals who can't afford to buy them. Titles will include Weaver's Wisdom, Lemurian Scrolls, Yoga's Forgotten Foundation, Know Thy Self and more. Here is their life-changing story, which inspired the creation of this fund, excerpted from one of these books, How to Become a Hindu.

"In February of 1994 we decided to take a relaxing vacation somewhere in the warm sunshine without a busy sightseeing schedule. Three days into our vacation we went into the Lazarus Used Bookstore, where Peshanidevi, my wife, began collecting books. She soon handed me a pile to purchase. On top was a copy of the second edition of Dancing with Siva (published by Himalayan Academy). I picked it up and looked at it, and on the back was a short biography and picture of the author, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Upon reading it, I said to my wife, 'This author is right here on Kauai, and there is a temple here.' We bought our books and went back to the hotel. At this point we both seemed to be totally compelled, propelled and impelled to locate Gurudeva and the temple. We found a listing for Subramuniyaswami, Satguru Sivaya, in the local phone directory. Peshanidevi was able to talk with Yogi Rishinatha. She explained that we had found a copy of Gurudeva's book in the bookstore, told him we would like to come to the temple and asked what the proper protocols were for visiting. We were both very excited the next morning."

"With our Safeway flower bouquet in hand, we made our first walk up the path to the temple. Seeing the 16-ton black granite Nandi and the temple for the very first time was breathtaking. We washed our feet and entered the temple. It was beyond words. It was as if we had finally arrived back home after a long and arduous journey. We sat down, the only two people in the temple that morning, as Ceyonswami began the puja. We did not know Sanskrit but somehow seemed to intuit the deeper beauty and meaning of the puja."

"After the puja the next day, Swami asked if we would like to meet Gurudeva. 'Yes, of course! When?' 'Wait here.' We can remember feeling His loving energy before he walked through the curtain. We could feel the love. And then we fully prostrated to our beloved Gurudeva for the very first time. As he sat down in his chair, he looked at us and said, 'I see you are dancing with Siva.' At that moment we knew we had found our Guru, our Precious Preceptor, our Teacher. At that moment our lives were forever changed." Little wonder the Dandapanis want Gurudeva's books to find their way into many more hands, as they will through this endowment.

HHE Orphanages in Sri Lanka Hit Hard by Tsunami

Two HHE beneficiaries were devastated by the Asian Tsunami. The Swami Vipulananta Children's Home (fund #57) was spared by the waves, but dozens of children in the area lost parents in the flood and have taken refuge at the overcrowded home. The orphanage plans to add a second story to their building to accommodate the new children, who were temporarily joined by 42 boys from the Tirunavukkarasu Nayanar Gurukulam orphanage (fund #12). Most of this second orphanage was destroyed by the giant waves, and the boys are now displaced and insecure. One boy died, along with four staff members. Nevertheless, the Gurukulam plans to rebuild and continue their religious service in the Batticaloa area. Both orphanages are seeking funds for reconstruction.

October To December Endowment Contributions

MISSION STATEMENT

Hindu Heritage Endowment is a publicly supported, charitable organization recognized as tax exempt by the IRS on April 22, 1994. Employer ID 99-0308924. Founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, its philanthropic mission is to provide secure, professionally managed financial support for institutions and religious leaders of all lineages of Sanatana Dharma.

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

Halbert/Hargrove, Investment Counsel; Sonoda & Isara, LLP, CPA. HHE is a member of the Council on Foundations, an association of more than 2,000 foundations which interprets relevant law and management and investment principles, and of the National Committee on Planned Giving, the voice and professional resource for the gift planning community.

I want to participate. Where should I Send My Donation?

You may send your gift to an existing fund, create a new Endowment or request information through the address below.

Donations may be made online at www.hheonline.org or use the HHE tear-out card in the HINDUISM TODAY magazine to join our family of benefactors who are Strengthening Hinduism Worldwide. Thank you.