The first Hindu monk in America Swami Vivekananda's famous Chicago appearance took place on September 11, 1893, where he spoke about similar threats that led to the terrorists attacks in the US on the same date 108 years later. A report in NWI Times brought this fact to light and a recent book - Swami Vivekananda in Chicago: New Findings by Asim Chaudhuri has more on this 'prophecy'.

I was fortunate to visit the famous Fullerton Hall (pictured here) at the Art Institute of Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda delivered these landmark speeches. Outside the hall is a brass plaque that reads: "On this site between September 11 & 27, 1893 Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) the first Hindu Monk from India to teach Vedanta in America, addressed the World's Parliament of Religions, held in conjunction with the world's Columbian exposition. His unprecedented success opened the way for the dialogue between Eastern and Western Religions."

Read the Swami's famous speeches.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa represents the very core of the spiritual realizations of the seers and sages of India. His whole life was an uninterrupted contemplation of God. He reached a depth of God-consciousness that transcends all time and place and has a universal appeal. Seekers of God of all religions feel irresistibly drawn to Ramakrishna's life and teachings. Who better than this mystic can explain the concept of God?

Here's my collection of quotations about the true nature and infinite forms of the Absolute and how to approach the Ultimate Reality - told by Ramakrishna in his own inimitable way. Read more

The birthday of Hinduism's favorite deity - Lord Krishna is a special occasion for Hindus. The great exponent of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is the ninth and the most powerful incarnation of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity of deities.

Krishna took birth at midnight on the ashtami or the 8th day of the Krishnapaksha or dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September).

This auspicious day is called Janmashtami, which falls this Friday - September 2, 2010. Song, dance and merriment mark the celebration of this festive occasion all over India. Read about the story of Krishna's birth, and how to observe his birthday.

Prominent Hindu leaders and activists from various parts of the United States and Canada will gather in Sunnyvale Hindu Temple in California to discuss current issues facing the worldwide Hindu community on August 28, 2010 or Shravan Krishna Chaturthi 5112 according to the Hindu calendar.

Organized by the Forum for Hindu Awakening (FHA), the California Hinduism Summit, first such gathering in the western USA, will confer on topics such as Hinduism preservation and unity, science behind Hinduism, Hindu living and concepts of spirituality, maintaining Hindu identity, clearing misconceptions, and so on. An exhibition of Hindu living and spiritual practices will also be organized on the occasion and the Summit will end with a question-answer session.

Hindu interfaith leader Rajan Zed will be honored with "Vishwa Nagrik Adhikar Hindu Shiromani Puraskar" or the Global Civil Rights Hindu Jewel Award on the occasion. According to Forum for Hindu Awakening, one of the Summit coordinators, Zed has been chosen for this special honor "for consistently, bravely and selflessly taking-up human and civil rights,  religious freedom and equality, and issues worldwide in the spirit of Hinduism". Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and Senior Fellow of Foundation for Interreligious Diplomacy, has undertaken Hindu, interfaith, religion, environment, Roma and other causes all over the world.

The Summit has received blessings of various prominent religious leaders and Hindu saints from India. It will also honor Dr. Mihir Meghani, Co-Founder, Hindu American Foundation - who will discuss 'Issues facing Hindus in America' and social worker Easan Katir, who will speak on the 'Relevance of Hinduism in America and Hindu human rights' with the Vishwa Hindu Ratna or the Global Hindu Jewel Award.

The FHA and Sunnyvale Hindu Temple are non-profit organizations, devoted to awaken society to the unique spiritual science underlying Hinduism, motivate people to live and preserve it, and facilitate the spiritual progress of humanity at large.

Learn more at the FHA Web site