Bradford Mandir - Hindu Cultural Society

Thought for the Day : where there is no selfishness, there is peace, joy and illumination.

                                                       Mind And Food
                                                 "Aharasuddhau Sattvasuddhih
                                                  Sattvasuddhau Dhruva Smritih
                                                  Smritilabhe Sarvagrantheenam Vipramokshah."

"When the food is pure, the whole nature becomes pure; when the nature becomes pure, the memory becomes firm; and when a man is in possession of a firm memory, all the ties are severed."

                                             (Chhandogya Upanishad, VII-xxvi-2)

                                                  Mind Is Made Of Food
Mind is manufactured out of the food that we take. Subtlest part of food reaches upward to the heart and thence entering the arteries called the 'Hita', and thereby bringing into existence the aggregate of the organs of speech and being changed into the form of the mind, it increases the mind. And thus, the mind, being increased by food, is material and not eternal as held by the Vaiseshikas.

The Upanishadic philosophers believed that the mind depends upon the food for its formation. "The food that we take is transformed in three different ways: the gross or the heaviest part of it becomes the excrement; that of medium density is transformed into flesh and the finest part goes to form the mind." (Chhandogya Upanishad, VI-v-1) "Just as in the churning of curd, its fine particles rise up and are transformed into butter, so when food is consumed, the subtlest part rises up and is transformed into mind." (Chhandogya Upanishad, VI-vi-1 & 2). Later, even in the days of the Bhagavad-Gita, we find that the three different mental temperaments-the Sattvic, the Rajasic and the Tamasic-were supposed to be due to the three different kinds of food what we eat. (Bhagavad-Gita, XVII-8 & 10).

                                  Quality Of Mind Depends Upon Quality Of Food
Food has a direct and intimate connection with the mind and plays a vital part in the make-up of the mind. Sattvic diet calms the mind. Rajasic diet excites the mind. Mark the difference in nature between a tiger which lives on flesh and a cow which lives on grass. Food exercises important influence on the mind. You see it clearly every day. It is very difficult to control the mind after a heavy, sumptuous, indigestible, rice meal. The mind runs, wanders and jumps like a monkey all the time. Alcohol causes tremendous excitement in the mind.

Food plays an important role in meditation. For purposes of meditation, the food must be light, Sattvic and nutritious. The body is Annamaya (made up of food). Bhairavi Chakra is in Annamaya Kosha. Bhairavi Chakra is Maya. Light Sattvic food, such as fruits, milk, etc., takes you to Vishnu Chakra and thence to Nirvikalpa state quite easily.

When the quality of the mind depends upon the quality of the food taken, it is natural to insist in the interest of the highest morality upon a kind of Sattvic regimen of diet for those aspirants who lead a contemplative life and householders who are attempting to lead a spiritual life in the world. It was because Narada had his impurity destroyed that the venerable Sanatkumara pointed out to him the way beyond darkness. The way which leads up beyond darkness, therefore, must be sought for in the purity of food, which involves in its train, the purity of mind.

                                                       Harmful Foods
Different foods produce different effects in different compartments of the brain. Spiced dishes, sour things, black gram, onions, garlic, tea, wine, fish, meat, mustard oil, etc., excite passions and emotions and should, therefore, be avoided. They should be particularly avoided by a Sadhaka. A Jijnasu (spiritual aspirant) should strictly give up meat, fish and alcoholic drinks as these make the mind coarse and produce excitement in the mind. Heavy food brings Tandri (drowsiness) and Alasya (laziness). Tea should be given up. It destroys Virya. Sugar must be taken in moderation. It is better if it is given up.

To be cont:

Forth Comming Programme

Kindly try to attend the following programmes:-

10.01.09	9.00 to 1.00 PM	Shree Venkiteshwara Bala ji Abishekam
11.1.09	4.15 to 6.30 P.M	Arti and Bhojan Parsad by Dr Arun Rai & Family
17.01.09	9.00 TO 1.00PM 8.00pm to 11.00pm (Even)	Shree Venkiteshwara Bal Ji Abishekam Mata Ki Chowki by Jagi, Malti Arora & Family
18.01.09	4.00 PM to 6.30PM	Arti & Bhojan Parsad- Ram Bharosa & Family
24.01.09 24.01.09 25.01.08	9.00 to 1.00PM 8.00 to 11.00 PM(Even) 4.00 to 6.30pm	Shree Venkiteshwara Bala Ji Abishekam Mata Ki Chowki by Mr Suresh Mitra B.K Arti & Bhojan Parsad by- Surinder Singh & Family

Shree Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple - Bradford

The Queen's Visit

The Queen and Prince Phillip visited the Bradford Temple to inaugurate our new worship hall on 24th May 2007 in the presence His Holiness Sri Swami Gopalsharandevacharya ji Maharaj. The president of Hindu Cultural Society, Mr Baldev Krishen, Mr A P Dharni (Chairman of Trustees) and Vice Chairman Mr S Balakrishanan received and welcomed Her Majesty to the new Temple. It was a very honoured occasion for the Hindu community of Bradford and West Yorkshire. There were other dignitaries and VIPs gracing the occasion including His Excellency Mr Kamlesh Sharma, High Commission of India and local Councillors and MP's. Mr Kamal jit Sharma conducted the welcome ceremony and Mr Subash Dharni (Secretary) welcomed all members. Dr Shakti Dhar Sharma (priest) recited the mantras and welcomed Her Majesty and Prince Phillip with garlands. It was a very joyous occasion for everyone. Click here for more info ...

The New Hindu Temple and Community Centre Appeal

The Hindu Cultural Society of Bradford has engaged in an ambitious project to build a new Hindu Temple and Community Centre on Leeds Road, Bradford 3, West Yorkshire.

The Hindu Community first settled in the Leeds Road area of Bradford in the sixties and now numbers about 7,000 in and around the Bradford district. Since these early days, some of us set up businesses in a variety of fields. We diverged throughout the district and we believe that we have made a significant contribution to both the city’s economic and cultural life.

Many of our children have benefited from the educational system and have gone on to pursue careers in the professions and businesses. As a community, we are grateful to Bradford and the opportunities, it has given us. We now wish to put something back.

We first established our Temple and Community Centre in a disused Social Club on Leeds Road in the sixties. This building is old and requires constant repair and is also insufficient to meet our needs. We embarked on an ambitious project to build a new Temple and Community Centre. These will be separate buildings that will look like a single building. The design of Temple will reflect our cultural and religious heritage, but also reflect the architectural style of Bradford and it will be finished in Yorkshire Stone. We hope that the building will show that we are British Hindus.

The Community Centre will provide facilities for our Elderly Day Care services, educational and cultural activities along with our religious festivals. The Centre will be available for any community group to use. There will be facilities for Football, Badminton, Basketball and Volleyball along with a Stage and Kitchen facilities. We hope to encourage other communities to get to know us and share our rich cultural and religious heritage. Over 2,000 school children visited our present Temple, last year and we will continue to welcome them and other groups in years to come.

Work on the new Temple started in June this year and is now will underway. We hope to start the second phase, the Community and Sports Centre next year. The total cost of the project will be about £5 millions. Where ever possible, we have used West Yorkshire companies to carry out the work. The main Contractor, Brenville Construction Ltd, is Bradford based.

We have already collected nearly £1 million in pledges, but there is still a long way to go. We are now making appeal to the Hindu Community at large and the business community for their help. We hope that our Temple will be a major boost to Bradford’s regeneration and be an important gateway building on Leeds Road to the City Centre. We would be most grateful if everybody can support and contribute financially towards this worthy cause. Should you require any further information to make a generous contribution, please contact us.

About Temples

Temples or Mandirs (abode or dwelling) or Devalaya (abode of God) play central role in the lives of Hindus. They attract the follower to a place that is considered to be the ‘Kingdom of God’ where one can see God, render service to Him, learn about Him and associate with His devotees so as to make the path home, back to Godhead easier.

The unique feature of the Vedic (Hindu) teaching is that it can be applied, with the guidance of a spiritual teacher, according to time, place and circumstance. Temples in the West have adopted this same approach without loosing their essential function. Besides solely being the place of worship, they also accommodate recreational and social functions.

The first Hindu temple in Britain opened in late 1920s near Earls Court, London, and functioned for about four years. Over 20 years later a ‘home temple’ with stunning Deities began Hindu worship in North London, which still continues today. But it wasn’t till the arrival of the Hindu community in late 60s and early 70’s that many temples came into existence. They continue to serve the British community with the same spirit of dynamism as the temples in India have done for thousands of years.