LOVE IS LOVE or IS IT? Why We Fear the God of Love & Hindu Muslim Marriages
"Loveβtrue, soul-deep loveβis not just a human emotion, but a divine force."
"The Western phrase 'the birds and the bees,' used to describe love and sexuality, traces its origins back to Hinduism."
"Our ancestorsβHindu and Muslim alikeβknew what weβve forgotten: that longing and love are not sins. They are sacred paths to the Divine."
Sex, sensuality, desire, have all been erased or labeled as forbidden in modern times.
Why are Hindu-Muslim romances still taboo in the U.S., when our historiesβand heartsβare so deeply intertwined?Why is it acceptable for South Asians in America to marry white partners with no shared cultural rootsβbut controversial when two brown people from different faiths (Hinduism & Islam) fall in love?
"To love fully is to abandon control. To love is to surrender your heart to the Divineβwho is love."
Deepavali / Diwali - Commercialization, Consumerism, & COMMUNITY
As a Tamil Hindu, I never celebrated Diwali. As an Indian American I now do. Itβs heartwarming to see Diwali bringing together people of diverse faiths and cultures, celebrating light, hope, and community.
Transforming Spaces : The Power of Indian Classical Music
I adore that Indian Classical Music is a form of worship, the interconnectedness between Hinduism and Islam, the beautiful melodies and various ragas, has to power to transform and unite, but most of all itβs the way to reach the divine, who is LOVE!
A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!
A mantram can be repetitive (but doesnβt have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khanβs album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because Iβve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil weβve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.
Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)
As a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means βnonviolenceβ meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.
it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!
These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.
Hindu/Religious VS. Spiritual/Dharmic/Vedic - Gym, Puja, Design
Since when did the word βRELIGIONβ or βRELIGIOUSβ start to freak people out? It boggles my mind.
If a Muslim says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βTerroristβ, If a Christian says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βBible-thumping, right-wing, Trump loverβ
If a Hindu says they are religious they are immediately branded as a βCow piss drinking, right-wing, Modi loverβ
Becoming Chaplain was the first time I ever spoke up about βBeing Hinduβ. It was never an identifying mark for me, not something I went around proclaiming, Iβve always lived my faith, I just WAS, Gym, Puja, Design, every single day!
LORD AYYAPA - An INLCLUSIVE Hindu Deity who is BELOVED by Hindus, Muslims, Christians & who's prayer came from Buddhism!
A Hindu Deity whose pilgrimage & fast is taken by 40 to 50 million people of all faiths/backgrounds yearly! A deity who unifies Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc., people of all backgrounds/faiths. Showing that the mighty divine is SUPREME and belongs to ALL creation regardless of class, background, faith, gender, etc. The divine deity who symbolizes equal rights for the LGBTQI+ communities.
OOH "Girl GODS" Happy Sri Devi Navarathri!
I serve as the Hindu Chaplain/Spiritual Advisor of NYU and Columbia Universities. I often think to myself what kind of world are we leaving for the next generation?
I believe in being the change, building a world of inclusivity, peace, unity, love, and compassion. Show, share, include folks of all faiths/ backgrounds in your holidays, celebrate together (itβs not that difficult to be kind and compassionate).
Last year during Navarathri, a young Shia Muslim girl (student at NYU) wanted to learn about Hinduism and to visit a Hindu Temple (there are no Hindu Temples in Manhattan, had to rent a car (lysol it first drive to Queens, hello covid! ).
BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth
I was the ONLY non-Black, non-Muslim, non-Hijab, non-Nikab wearing person/lady there! Did I feel any different? NO! I was welcomed with so much love and respect into this Ummah! (Community)
Art for the Love of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Tanjore Painting meets Islamic Patterns
For hundreds of years Tamil poets have composed devotional poems adopting the voice of a mother, addressing praises to an extraordinary child. Called pillaittamil ( "Tamil for a childβ), major genre of Tamil literature.β Muslim poets used the genre, to praise the Prophet (PBUH), members of his family, and various walis (βfriends of Godβ) whoβs tombs are revered in Tamil Nadu.
My design incorporates Tamil script, Tanjore (Traditional Classical style of South Indian (Tamil) painting), traditional Islamic patterns in the background/cradle, & cradle (the poem states βso I can place you in the cradle, and rock you happily, come joyously. Muhammad, who has the truth, come joyously, comeβ)
Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi
EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) π
His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) βͺοΈ
Krishna Janmashtami and The Prophet's (PBUH) sandal
Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God / service to mankind β a message both Prophet (PBUH) and Lord Krishna taught.
#blacklivesmatter. One World. Be the Change.
All FAITHS (symbols of every major faith). ONE WORLD. WE Together stand against racism!
Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic
God Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!
Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language
Rama in Sanskrit means "one who gives joy to others/divinely blissful / the noble one"
Karim in Arabic means "generous/noble, one of the 99 names of Allah"
Urdu Calligraphy + Emojis & Imam Khalid Latif = Friendship
Hindus & Muslims
ARE NOT THAT DIFFERENT!
A Moroccan Love Story : Amazigh Culture & Tamazight Language
I discovered/fell in love with the Amazigh people, culture, language (Tamazight). Please donβt call them Berbers!