It has been proposed that Ratha-Yatra be renamed and moved to Rathyatra (Discuss).

The Rath Yatra in Puri in modern times showing the three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background

Ratha Yatra (Oriya: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା) is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July. Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area. The festival commemorates Lord Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha mata's temple via aunt's home (Mausi Maa Temple which is near Balagandi Chaka in Puri).

The Festival[link]

Ratha Jatra Festival in Puri, India. Painting by James Fergusson

Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balarama, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt' s temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the World go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull Lords' chariot with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Rath carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also broadcast live on many Indian and foreign television channels.

Description[link]

The Bada Danda or the Grand Avenue

Ratha yatra, the Festival of Chariot : Chariots of Shri Jagannath is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Orissa, on the second (dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Ashadh Maas (3rd month in Lunar Calendar). The presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple, Puri main temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel [ Sudarshana chakra ] are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots, are drawn by multitude of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha - King Indradyumna's Queen), two miles away to the North.

On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the Lord's favourite. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode.

Holiness and Its Significance[link]

Rath/Chariots are under construction for the Rath jatra in Puri

The festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra and by a variety of other names. Rathe tu vamanam drishtwa punarjanmam na vidyate: A glimpse of the Vamana, the dwarf form, an incarnation of Lord Jagannatha, is sure to ensure emancipation, release from the cycle of birth and death. Jatra is an essential part of the ritual of the Hindu system of worship. Jatra literally means travel or journey. Normally, it is the representative deities of temples more popularly known as Utsava Murti in south and Chalanti Pratima or Bije Pratima in Orissa, partake in these journeys. The Jatra for the Ritual Journey take two forms – one involving the short circumbulation around the temple and other involving a longer journey from the temple to some other destination. The Jatra is considered as an important part of festivities and ceremonies of each temple and is considered as a special and sacred occasion. Rath Jatra being unique among all Jatras is the grandest festival of the supreme divinity who has manifested himself in the Kali Yuga to emancipate humanity and to relieve them from their sufferings. Lord Jagannatha is identified fully with Krishna. In his original manifestation as Nilamadhaba, he was worshipped in a sacred Nyagrodha Briksha or banyan tree. The branches of the tree had spread for several miles and any one entering this area was instantly emancipated and was relieved of the travails of the birth and re-birth. In fact, the influence of Yama, the God of Death, is supposed to have been curtailed in the sacred city of Puri – Srikshetra on account of the presence of Lord Jagannatha and therefore it is also called the Yamanika Tirtha.

A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. In fact, there is a famous Oriya song which says that on this occasion, the chariot, the wheels, the grand avenue all become one with Lord Jagannatha himself.

The concept of the chariot has been explained in the Kathopanishada in the following words-

Atmaanam rathinam viddhi shareeram rathamevatu Buddhim tu saarathim viddhi manah pragrahameva cha. The body is the Chariot and the soul is the deity installed in the chariot. The wisdom acts as the charioteer to control the mind and thoughts.

The Skanda Purana glorifies the sanctity of the Rath Jatra in the following words-

Gundicha mandapam namam jatrahamajanam pura Ashwamedha sahasrasya mahabedi tadadvabat. Those who are fortunate to see the deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an immensely pious deed. Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja in his famous Vaidehisa Vilasa mentions that the Lord comes out from his sanctum for participating in the Gundicha Jatra, another name of the Festival of Chariots, only for redeeming the fallen, the patita jana who get the opportunity to behold their dearest god at close quarters on this occasion. Similarly, saint poet Salabega waxes eloquent in praise of the dark Lord Jagannath and says that the Lord swaying and moving like a wild elephant arrives at the Grand Avenue and rides his chariot and destroys in a flash all the sins of his devotees, even if these may be grave or unpardonable.

The Chariots[link]

The three chariots of Balarama, Subhadra and Jagannatha are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. They are customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road.

The three chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion’s Gate.

Lord Jagannatha’s Chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

Nandighosa Rath

The Chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.

Taladhwaja Rath

The Chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride," is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This Chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth - black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.

Dwarpadalana or Padmadhwaja Rath

Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots’ sides. Each of the chariots is attached to four horses. These are of different colours – white ones for Balarama, dark ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. The three charioteers attached to the chariots of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra respectively are Matali, Daruka and Arjuna.

DESCRIPTION OF CHARIOTS

1) Chariot of Jagannath -NANDIGHOSHA/GARUDADHWAJA/KAPIDHWAJA

Number of wheels : 16
Total Number of wooden pieces used : 832
Height : 13'.5"
Length and breadth : 34'6" x 34'6"
Wrappings : Red, Yellow colour cloths
Guarded by : Garuda
Name of the charioteer : Dahuka
The flag : Trailokyamohini
The horses : Shankha, Balahaka, Suweta, Haridashwa
The rope : Sankhachuda
Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Varaha
                        (ii) Gobardhan
                        (iii) Krushna, Gopi Krushna
                        (iv) Nrusingha
                        (v) Rama
                        (vi) Narayan
                        (Vii) Trivikrama
                        (viii) Hanuman
                        (ix) Rudra

2) Chariot of Balabhadra - TALADHWAJA

Number of wheels : 14
Total Number of wooden pieces used : 763
Height : 13'2"
Length and breadth : 33' x 33'
Wrappings : Red, Bluish green colour cloths
Guarded by : Basudev
Name of the charioteer : Matali
The flag : Unnani
The horses : Tribra, Ghora, Dirghasharma,Swornanava
The rope : Basuki
Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Ganesh
                        (ii) Kartikeya
                        (iii) Sarvamangala
                        (iv) Pralambari
                        (v) Hatayudha
                        (vi) Mrutyunjaya
                        (vii) Natamvara
                        (viii) Mukteswar
                        (ix) Sheshadeva

3) Chariot of Subhadra - DARPADALANA/PADMADHWAJA

Number of wheels : 12
Total Number of wooden pieces used : 593
Height : 12'9"
Length and breadth : 31'6" x 31'6"
Wrappings : Red, Black colour cloths
Guarded by : Jayadurga
Name of the charioteer : Arjuna
The flag : Nadambika
The horses : Rochika, Mochika, Jita, Aparajita
The rope : Swarnachuda
Presiding Nine Deities : (i) Chandi
                        (ii) Chamunda
                        (iii) Ugratara
                        (iv) Vanadurga
                        (v) Shulidurga
                        (vi) Varahi
                        (vii) Shyamakali
                        (viii) Mangala
                        (ix) Vimal

CAR Festival

Chandan Jatra, the Sandalwood Paste Festival[link]

Rath Jatra at Bangalore, India.

The construction of the chariots starts on Akshaya Trutiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, with ritual fire worship. This takes place in front of the palace of the King of Puri and opposite the main office of the Puri temple. On this day, the new agricultural season starts and farmers start ploughing their fields. This day also marks the beginning of the summer festival of the deities, also known as the sandalwood festival or Chandan Yatra, which lasts for three weeks. In this festival, the representative images of the presiding deities are taken out in colourful processions and given a ceremonial boat ride in the Narendra tank everyday. In an interesting demonstration of the assimilative character of the Jagannatha cult, Madanmohana and Rama Krushna, representing Jagannatha & Balarama partake in the festival with the representatives' images of the presiding deities of five main Shiva temples of Puri. These are curiously known as Pancha Pandava, the five brothers of the Mahabharata story. Later the deities have a ritual bath in a small temple in the middle of the tank, in stone tubs filled with water, sandalwood paste, scents and flowers.

This sandalwood festival culminates in the Snana Yatra, the Bathing Festival on the full moon day of the month of Jestha. On this day, the presiding deities descend from their seats on an elevated platform in the sanctum sanctorum, the bejewelled throne. They are bathed in 108 pots of water brought from the suna kua, the golden well and assume the elephant form on the special bathing platform, close to the Eastern boundary wall of the temple. From that day the deities remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for about two weeks. They are barred from view of the ordinary devotees. Only three special patta chitras, traditional Oriya paintings of natural colours on cloth stiffened with starch, known as Anasara Pattis, are strung on a bamboo screen hiding the deities from public view, can be seen by the public. During this period, the deities are given only roots, leaves, berries and fruits to cure them from their indisposition. This ritual is a reminder of the strong tribal elements in the genesis and evolution of the Jagannatha cult. The progeny of Lalita, daughter of the original tribal worshipper Biswabasu, chieftain of hunters, and the Brahmin priest Vidyapati, are known as daitapatis or daitas. They have almost exclusive privilege of serving the Lord during the convalescence and through the entire period of Ratha Jatra or the Festival of Chariots.

International Ratha Yatra[link]

Rath Jatra festival in New York City organized by ISKCON

Rath Yatra, Toronto, 2011

The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. Its leader A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 100 cities including Dublin, Belfast, Birmingham, London, Bath, Budapest, Melbourne, Montreal, Paris, New York, Singapore, Toronto, Antwerp, Kuala Lumpur and Venice, CA.^[1] The Rathajatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh is one of the most important in Bangladesh.

Service offerings[link]

Jagannath temple employees different kinds of sevakas who offer their services on the Ratha.

• Suara:
• Mahasuara:
• Dahuka: Ratha dahuka/Dahuka recite Dahuka boli (Oriya: ଡାହୁକ ବୋଲି, also "Dahuka gita" (ଡାହୁକ ଗୀତ)) which are poetic recitations. Ratha Yatra being a symbolic expression of fertility and Life cycle, these "boli" sung by the Dahuka contain bawdy songs. It is believed that unless the Dahuka boli is sung 'Ratha' doesn't move.^[2] These songs are sung publicly without any kind of hold on the lyrics.^[3] Dahuka controls the movement of Ratha during the festival.^[4][5]
• Daita pati:
• Puspalaka:

See also[link]

• Jagannath
• Jagannath Temple
• Puri
• Tiruvarur Chariot festival

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rath Yatra

• Ratha Yatra Festival
• Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra
• Rath Yatra festival
• Ratha Yatra PURI
• Ratha Yatra UK
• When is Rath Yatra? Dates of Rath Yatra until 2010
• Ratha-Yatra (Festival of India) in Toronto
• Facts on Rath Yatra
• Ratha Yatra in Antwerp, Belgium
• LordJagannath Rath Yatra, Puri, Orissa - Information and Video
• Orissa government publication on the event

v t e Jagannath Worship Deities Jagannath Balarama Subhadra Sudarshana Chakra Temples Orissa Puri Gundicha Temple Baripada Koraput Nayagarh Bhubaneswar Kendrapara Chhatia Bata Dharakote Patali Srikhetra India Agartala Delhi Hyderabad Ranchi Abroad Comilla Dhamrai Pabna South Africa Sialkot Festivals and Ceremonies Chandan Yatra Dola Yatra Panchaka Nabakalevara Rath Yatra Snana Yatra Texts Bhagavata Purana Brahma Purana Gita Govinda Kapila Purana Madala Panji Skanda Purana Dahuka boli Devotees Chaitanya Jayadeva Salabega

Rath can refer to:

Ethnic group[link]

• Rath are a Hindu ethnic group found in North India

Things[link]

• Rath, as an alternative spelling of Rat, a German advisory or ruling council, see, e.g., Parlamentarischer Rat
• Ráth, Irish ringfort, fortified earthen works
• Rath, a plane in the Magic: The Gathering trading card game
• Rath (chariot), a ceremonial chariot or wagon in India, sometimes multi-storied
• Rath Yatra or Ratha Yatra, a festival in Orissa state, India from rath meaning chariot
• Rath is a cattle breed of Zebu stock

Rath can be mimic of a last name.

Places[link]

• Rath, India, a town in Uttar Pradesh, India
• Rath, County Clare, a townland and civil parish in County Clare, Ireland
• Rath Cemetery, a cemetery in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
• Rath, Bedburg, a subdivision of Bedburg municipality, Germany
• Rath, Düsseldorf, a borough of Düsseldorf, Germany
• Rath, Cologne, a borough of Cologne, Germany
• Rath, Nörvenich, a subdivision of Nörvenich municipality, Germany
• Rath, Oberösterreich, a village in Oberösterreich, Austria

People[link]

• Rath (Oriya Surname) one of the surnames of Oriya/Utkal Brahmins from the Indian state of Orissa
• Rath, surname given to orphaned children in Cambodia^[1]
• Ernst vom Rath, a German diplomat killed in Paris
• Gerhard vom Rath, a German mineralogist
• Gustav vom Rath, the little known father of Ernst vom Rath and a minor government official

• Wilhelm von Rath, Saxon cavalry officer

• Daniela Rath, (1977-), German high jumper
• David Rath, Minister of Health for the Czech Republic
• Elfriede Moser-Rath, Austrian ethnologist
• Matthias Rath, controversial German physician and vitamin entrepreneur
• Rachel Rath, actress
• Wilhelm Rath (1892–1967), German politician (WBWB, later FDP/DVP), see de:Wilhelm Rath
• Billy Rath (living), American musician
• Travis Rath (living), Founder of Tracon, and American Industrialist

Companies[link]

• Rath Packing Company, a defunct meat packer formerly located in Waterloo, Iowa
• Michael Rath Trombones, English custom trombone maker

Fictional characters[link]

• Rath (Nintendo), a character in the Nintendo game Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword
• Rath, a demon who has fought against the Justice League of America
• Rath Illuser, the Dragon Knight of Fire and one of the main protaginists from the Dragon Knights manga
• Mome Raths -Green pig-like creatures mentioned in the nonsense poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
• Rath, a new alien transformation in the third season of Ben 10: Alien Force
• Rath is a name of one of the star characters of Mummies Alive! voiced by Scott McNeil.

References[link]

1. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E4DA143CF931A25753C1A9619C8B63

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Hema Malini
Born	Hema Malini R. Chakravarthy (1948-10-16) 16 October 1948 (age 63)[1] Ammankudi, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India[1]
Occupation	actress, director, producer, politician
Years active	1965–present
Spouse	Dharmendra (1980–present)
Children	Esha Deol Ahana Deol

Hema Malini (Tamil: ஹேமா மாலினி, Hēmā Māliṉi ^?; born 16 October 1948) is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra.^[2] She was initially promoted as "Dream Girl", and in 1977 starred in a film of the same name.^[3] During this period, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses, noted for both her comic and dramatic roles, her beauty, and her accomplished classical dancing.^[4][5][6]

Malini is one of the most successful female film stars in the history of Indian cinema.^[5][7][8] Appearing in over 150 films in a career span of 40 years, she has starred in a large number of successful films, and her performances in both commercial and arthouse cinema, were often recognised.^[5] During her career, she has been nominated 11 times for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, of which she won once in 1972. In 2000, she was presented with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. In the same year, she was honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour, by the Government of India.^[9] She also served as the Chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation. She was awarded the prestegious "SaMaPa Vitasta Award 2006" in Delhi by SaMaPa - "Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts" by Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori for her lifetime contribution and service to Indian culture and Dance.

Of late Malini spends most of her time on charitable and social ventures, while making occasional appearances in films. She is a member of India's Bharatiya Janata Party and was nominated member by the party in Rajya Sabha, the upper House of parliament during 2003–2009.^[10]

Early life and family[link]

Hema Malini Chakravarty was born into a Tamil Iyengar family in Ammankudi, Tiruchirappalli to V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarthy^[11] and Jaya Chakravarthy on 16 October 1948.^[1] Her mother was a film producer. Malini was the youngest of the three children and has two brothers.^[12] She was not interested in academic studies but enjoyed history, her favourite subject in school.^[12] She was educated at Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai.^[11]

Some of Bollywood's most popular Bollywood actors like Sanjeev Kumar and Jeetendra have proposed to Hema Malini.^[13][14] In her authorized biography, Hema Malini mentions she almost accepted Jeetendra's proposal, but later backed out.^[13] Unable to tolerate the rejection, Sanjeev Kumar was reportedly driven to alcoholism and remained unmarried till his death in 1985.^[13]

Hema fell in love with her co-star Dharmendra during the filming of Sholay.^[15] She eventually married him in 1980. Before they married, they both converted to Islam,^[16] since Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur^[17][18][19] who refused to divorce him. Apart from Sholay, the Dharmendra-Hema pair appeared together in films like Seeta Aur Geeta, Dreamgirl, Charas and The Burning Train. After her marriage she became the step-mother of Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, both popular actors in Bollywood. She has two daughters with Dharmendra, Esha Deol (born 1982) and Ahana Deol (born 1984). Her elder daughter Esha is a well-known actress in Bollywood while her younger daughter Ahana is an aspiring director^[20] who worked as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali in his film Guzarish (2010) which starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.^[21][22]

Hema Malini's niece is actress Madhoo who had starred in films Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Roja (1992)^[23] and Annayya (1993)

Film career[link]

Debut: 1960s[link]

Hema was considered for a Tamil film when she was 15 but rejected by director C. V. Sridhar saying that she was too thin.^[24] In 1965, she got an opportunity to act in a short episode as dancer in Pandava Vanavasam, a Telugu film. Later Ananthaswamy, a film poducer offered her a role opposite Raj Kapoor in his film Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968).^[24] She was promoted as the dream girl of Bollywood right from that film itself.^[24]

Breakthrough: 1970s[link]

In Johnny Mera Naam (1970), she was cast in a more pivotal role and the film became a blockbuster. She took challenging roles which most of the heroines of the 1960s refused to do. She played the role of a young widow in Andaaz (1971) and in Lal Patthar (1971) she played a character with negative shades.^[24] The following year, Hema double-roled with Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in Seeta Aur Geeta.^[25] Even after many years the film remains one of the best in her career.^[25] The film was a blockbuster and earned her first Filmfare Best Actress Award.^[26] Within four years of making her debut, she established herself as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood.^[4]

During the mid 70s, her fans started calling her "Dream Girl", an allusion to the movie of the same name where she starred opposite Dharmendra.^[24]

A majority of her films released during this period were highly successful; Sanyasi, Dharmatma and Pratigya. Sholay, released in 1975, became a box-office phenomenon, where she played the role of Basanti, an unforgettable role of a talkative girl.^[24]

Malini starred in many movies throughout the 1970s and is perhaps best remembered for her glamour, style, and accomplished classical dancing.^[13][27] The Dharmendra-Hema pair had back to back hits from the early 70's like Sharafat, Tum Haseen Main Jawan, Naya Zamana, Raja Jani, Seeta Aur Geeta starring together in 28 movies in all, eventually marrying him in 1980.^[24] The pair continued with box office hit movies like Patthar Aur Payal, Dost, Charas, Jugnu, Azaad, Dillagi and Dil Kaa Heera. She also achieved some strong dramatic or comic moments in films like Trishul, Joshila and Khushboo. In the late 1970s she acted in female-centric movies like Kinara (1977) and Meera (1979), directed by Gulzar.

Post marriage: 1980–1999[link]

After her marriage she continued to work in films like Kranti, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta and Vijay Anand's Rajput. The couple Dharmendra Hema Malini were paired together even after marriage, in the eighties in Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, Baghavat, Samraat and Razia Sultan.In 1983 she starred in Andha Kanoon which marked the debut of Tamil actor Rajinikanth in Bollywood. In the film she played the sister of Rajinikanth, seeking revenge for the death of her parents. The following year she acted in K. Balachander's Ek Nai Paheli, a remake of his Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal. She portrayed the role of a classical singer in the film.

She was a part of the hit multi-starrers Baghavat and Raaj Tilak both opposite Dharmendra, and continued to gain success in films focusing on her character like Aandhi Toofan, Durgaa and Ramkali in 1985, Sitapur Ki Geeta in 1987 saw her doing action oriented roles while Ek Chaddar Maili Si (1986), Rihaee and Jamai Raja (1990), saw her playing more matured roles.^[24]

Hema also directed a film, Dil Aashna Hai which was a commercial failure and her career tapered off as she chose to concentrate more on her dance ballets and Television serials.^[24]

Comeback: 2000s[link]

After taking a break from films for a number of years in the 1990s and early 2000s, Hema made a comeback with Baghban (2003).^[24] The film had Amitabh Bachchan playing her husband and also earned her a Filmfare Best Actress Award nomination. She also played a cameo in the 2004 film Veer-Zaara. In both films, she played a self-possessed, elderly married woman. In 2011, She directed her second feature film that featured her daughter Esha Deol in the lead role alongside her husband Dharmendra in Tell Me O Khuda which released on Diwali of 2011.^[28][29]

Political career[link]

Hema Malini and her husband have been involved in politics, as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India, with the support of the Bhratiya Janata Party.^[30][31] She campaigned for the BJP candidate, Vinod Khanna, former Bollywood actor in the 1999 Lok Sabha Elections in Gurdaspur in Punjab.^[30] In 2004, Hema Malini joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.^[30]

In February 2004, she joined the party (BJP) officially.^[30] With her film career less hectic, she has been an active member of the party, attending party meetings and rallies and campaigning for the party through various elections. In March 2010, she was made general secretary of the BJP. In February 2011, it was reported that Hema Malini has been recommended by H.N.Ananth Kumar, party general secretary.^[31]

Other work[link]

Malini performing at a concert

Hema Malini is a trained Bharatanatyam artist, a classical dance of India. Her daughters are well trained in the same dance form; the three have performed together at charity dance concerts.^[32][33] Malini is also trained in Odissi by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. Her refulgent smile eased her portrayal of a wide range of characters ranging from the fiery Narasimha to a graceful Rama on Tulasidas's Ramcharitmanas.^[34] In 2007, she performed in Mysore on the eve of Dussera, where she played the roles of Sati, Parvati and Durga.^[35] She had performed at the Khajuraho Dance Festival with her daughters.^[36]

In 2003, she played the role very well of Goddess Durga in television serial Jai Mata Ki, directed by Puneet Issar and aired on Star Plus.^[37] She directed and starred in the television serial Noopur, in which she played the role of a Bharatanatyam dancer.^[24] She owned the editorship of New Woman, a Hindi woman's magazine.^[38][39] In 2000 she was appointed as the first-ever woman chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation for three years.^[11][40] She owns a dance school, Natya Vihar Kalakendra.^[41]

In 2007, she was signed by Kent, a mineral water purifier system, as its brand ambassador.^[42] She is one of the three brand ambassadors of Pothys, a textile showroom in Chennai (the others being Sudha Ragunathan and Trisha Krishnan).^[43]

The first biography of Malini, Diva Unveiled-Hema Malini, was written by Ram Kamal Mukherjee and first published in 2005.^[44]

Latest filmography[link]

See also[link]

• List of awards and nominations received by Hema Malini
• List of Indian film actresses

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Somaaya, Bhawana (2007). Hema Malini: the authorized biography. New Delhi: Lotus Collection. ISBN 81-7436-467-6. 
• Raheja, Dinesh. "Hema Malini: Bollywood's Dreamgirl". Rediff. http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/oct/25dinesh.htm. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hema Malini

• Hema Malini at the Internet Movie Database

Radhanath Swami
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Other name(s)	Richard Slavin.
Personal
Born	(1950-12-07) December 7, 1950 (age 61) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Religious career
Initiation	Diksa–1973, Sannyasa–1982
Post	GBC–1994, Initiating guru–1994
Website	http://www.radhanathswami.com, http://www.radhanathswami.us

Radhanath Swami singing kirtan at Radhagopinath Temple.

Radhanath Swami (born December 7, 1950)^[1] is a Gaudiya Vaishnava guru and a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).^[2][3] He works largely from Mumbai in India and also travels extensively throughout Europe and America.^[4][5] He has been instrumental in the founding of the Mumbai Bhaktivedanta hospital.^[4] He is an ISKCON guru and a member of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON. Steven J. Rosen described Radhanath Swami as a "saintly person respected by the mass of ISKCON devotees today".^[6]

Biography[link]

Born as Richard Slavin,^[7] he studied a number of religious paths such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. At the age of 19 he began traveling through Europe and the Middle-East, eventually settling for over a year in the Himalayas. Much of this time he spent devoted to the tradition of Shaivism and was living as a renunciate Shaivite in India when he first met with Krishna devotees near Delhi. Through contact with the devotees in Vrindavan, and after receiving name Ratim Krishna from Swami Bon Radhanath began to focus exclusively on his spiritual path in Krishna Consciousness. In 1971 Radhanath Swami observed A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada during the ISKCON Cross Maidan festival in Mumbai. After leaving India, Radhanath Swami returned to the United States where he joined the New Vrindaban ISKCON farm community in West Virginia during July 1972. There he accepted initiation from A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in February 1973 receiving the name Radhanath Das, later to receive the name Radhanath Swami.

Radha Gopinath temple[link]

RadhaGopinath temple in Chowpatty, Mumbai

In later years Radhanath Swami has been instrumental establishing The Radha Gopinath Temple which is renowned for its quality of community. He has been essential for many successful Mumbai projects associated with the Radha Gopinath Temple.^[8] in Chowpatty,^[9] The temple was founded in 1986 and joined ISKCON in 1994 becoming a hub for tens of thousands of devotees. The Bhaktivedanta hospital is another project emerging from the Radha Gopinath community. It has become a flagship center for holistic health and spiritual care in Mumbai.^[4]

The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami[link]

	The Power Of Love I
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	The Power Of Love II
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	The Power Of Habits I
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Radhanath Swami wrote his autobiography on the request of his friend and god-brother Bhakti Tirtha Swami who from his deathbed asked him to share his story. The book "The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami"^[10] is the story of how Radhanath Swami grew up in a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois and through his journey of prayer was led through the 60's counter-culture movement in America into Europe, walking and hitch-hiking all the way through Europe to the Middle East and into India.^[7] Along the way he met many people who would share their wisdom with him, encouraging him on his search for the truth.^[7] He stayed with Yogis in Himalayan caves, in Buddhist Monasteries, Jewish Synagogues, and Christian Churches. He met many teachers and practitioners of spirituality and learned from them.^[7] The book details his adventures along the journey.^[7]

Francis Xavier Clooney in his review of the book notes "Like many a spiritual autobiography, the external events and details turn out to be the setting for the author’s inner quest. His journey is a humbling, learning to be poor, a series of tests that push the author toward living by faith alone. Like any pilgrim, he does not see all of this along the way, but in retrospect sees how he was being quietly, insistently drawn toward God all the time".^[7]

Celebrities and Radhanath Swami[link]

Many famous and influential people have met Radhanath Swami and expressed their appreciation of his character and work.

An incomplete listing of some notable personalities:

Indian President Pratibha Patil [1]

United States President Barack Obama [2]

Dr. Cornel West [3]

The Dalai Lama

Mother Theresa

Johnny Winter

According to The Times report, after meeting with Radhanath Swami Russell Brand stated “He's a beautiful fellow. He's got the answer. I'm a spiritual gent and increasingly that's the level I want to vibrate on, were it not for my crazed lust for sex and glamour.”^[2] On another occasion The Times reports him saying “I met this swami, and I said, ‘I’m a bit ridden with egotism and ambition, I’m riddled with it, I’m alive with it, I’m crawling with the stuff.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry. It’s a gift from God. Use it in the service of God.’ Except he said Krishna, but I’m anglicising it to make it sound less oooooeeee. . .”^[11]

See also[link]

• Radhanath Swami articles for The Huffington Post
• International Society for Krishna Consciousness
• Bhakti Yoga
• Vaishnavism
• List of ISKCON members and patrons

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Dwyer, Graham; Cole, Richard J. (2007), The Hare Krishna Movement: Forty Years of Chant and Change, I.B. Tauris, ISBN 1-84511-407-8, http://books.google.com/books?id=l4cE-nzXLx8C&pg=PA25 
• The Journal of Vaishnava Studies 13 (1-2), 2004, http://books.google.com/books?id=R4bXAAAAMAAJ 
• Rochford, E. Burke; Bailey, Kendra (2006), "Almost Heaven Leadership, Decline and the Transformation of New Vrindaban", Nova Religio 9 (3): 6–23, DOI:10.1525/nr.2006.9.3.006, http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/nr.2006.9.3.006 
• Lokanāth Swami (2001), Festivals: Śrīla Prabhupāda at the Māyāpur-Vr̥ndāvana festivals, Padayātrā Press, ISBN 81-901132-1-6, http://books.google.com/books?id=tn_XAAAAMAAJ 
• Ramanujan, Sweta (March 17, 2003), "Joining a peace jamboree", The Indian Express, http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=46684 
• Ujjayini Das (December 7, 2004), "When Gen Y becomes Gen Why: Hundreds of young single men turn to ISKCON for spiritual guidance", The Indian Express, http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=109424 
• Mane, Anuradha (December 8, 2006), "An abode for Krishna", The Indian Express, http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=212362 
• India News (September 12, 2007), "Britain's first Hindu school gets planning permission", Indiaedunews.net, http://www.indiaedunews.net/International/Britain%27s%5Ffirst%5FHindu%5Fschool%5Fgets%5Fplanning%5Fpermission%5F2018/ 
• Indian Express (January 29, 2008), "ISKCON rath yatra evokes big response in Nigdi", The Indian Express, http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/iskcon-rath-yatra-evokes-big-response-in-nigdi/266333/ 
• Spines, Christine (September 5, 2008), "Russell Brand: VMA Host Brings Anarchy From the U.K.", Entertainment Weekly (1009), http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20222087_2,00.html 
• Times (October 16, 2008), "Russell Brand: I'm a spiritual gent with a crazed lust for glamour", The Times, http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/comedy/article4950820.ece 
• Van Dril, E. (October 17, 2008), "Russell Brand Seeing a Swami", The Celebrity Cafe, http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/20836.html 
• Vaishnavi, Deepa (January 18, 2010), "Kannada version of swamiji’s book released", Citizen Matters, http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1707-autobiography-of-an-american-swamy 
• Now magazine (October 18, 2008), "Russell Brand seeking guidance from guru", Now magazine, http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/277841/russell-brand-seeking-guidance-from-guru/1/ 
• Sawyer, Miranda (November 9, 2008), "Brand on the run", The Observer, http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/09/russell-brand-sachsgate 
• Virmani, Ashish (August 24, 2009), "An awakening to love", Daily News & Analysis, http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/interview_an-awakening-to-love_1284844 
• Lama, Nishal (January 13, 2010), "Story of an American Swami, Radhanath Swami", My Bangalore, http://mybangalore.com/article/0110/story-of-an-american-swami-radhanath-swami-.html# 
• Web Newswire (January 18, 2010), "‘The Journey Home’ unveiled", Web Newswire, http://www.webnewswire.com/node/498192 
• Mangalorean.com (January 12, 2010), "Cracks seen in Indian Value System: Radhanath Swami", Mangalorean.com, http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=164188 
• Nadkarni, Vithal C (October 10, 2009), "It is faith that ultimately matters", The Economic Times, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Cosmic-Uplink/It-is-faith-that-ultimately-matters/articleshow/5108013.cms 
• Raote, Rrishi (October 24, 2009), "Monk's quest", Sify.com, http://sify.com/finance/monks-quest-news--books-jkybu6igehc.html 
• Chatterjee, Madhusree (August 31, 2009), "Business in spiritual books booms as people look for peace", Bombay News.Net, http://www.bombaynews.net/story/537471 

External links[link]

• Radhanath Swami Official Website
• Radhanath Swami's Disciple Website
• Official Website for The Journey Home – Autobiography of an American Swami
• Talks by Radhanath Swami
• Reviews of Radhanath Swami's Book The Journey Home
• Books by Radhanath Swami
• Radhagopinath Temple - An Offering of Love by Radhanath Swami
• Radhanath Swami's Letters

Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Other name(s)	John E. Favors, Toshombe Abdul, Swami Krishnapada, Ghanasyama Dasa (pre-sannyasa)
Personal
Born	February 25, 1950
Died	June 27, 2005
Senior posting
Predecessor	A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Religious career
Post	ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi
Website	Official Site

Bhakti Tirtha Swami (February 25, 1950 – June 27, 2005) (previously known as John Favors and Toshombe Abdul)^[1], also known as Swami Krishnapada, was a leading guru^[2][3] and governing body commissioner^[2][4] of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the Hare Krishnas or ISKCON).^[2] He was the highest-ranking African American in ISKCON.^[2][5] Bhakti Tirtha Swami met with prominent world figures such as Nelson Mandela and Zambia's president Kenneth Kaunda, was frequently interviewed in the media,^[2] wrote 17 books on religious topics^[2] and led community development projects in the United States and other countries.^[6] He was the founder and director of the Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology^[6] in Washington, DC, "a nonprofit, nondenominational organization whose membership represents a variety of spiritual paths and professional backgrounds".^[7] He traveled the world constantly and served as a spiritual consultant.^[6] He also served as chairman of the Third World Coalition.^[6] On February 7, 2006 the Council of the District of Columbia recognized "His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada for dedication to social change that has impacted civil and human rights for residents in the District of Columbia".^[7]

Biography[link]

Bhakti Tirtha Swami was born John Edwin Favors on February 25, 1950 into a poor Christian family living in Cleveland, Ohio.^[2][7][8] His parents instilled in him the values of self-confidence, religiosity and a spirit of generosity demonstrated by giving to persons less fortunate than others.^[7] As a child, John Favors appeared on television to preach Christianity.^[6] He excelled in his academic achievements while attending East Technical High School in Cleveland^[7] and received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Hawken School,^[7] where he spent an additional year of college preparation in philosophy and political science.^[6] While at Hawken, he was a member of the football and wrestling teams.^[6]

In 1968 he came to Princeton University.^[2] While at Princeton, he was a leader in Martin Luther King's civil rights movement^[6][7] being "at the forefront of political activism on campus, a leader of the Association of Black Collegians (ABC)^[3][8] and a founder of the Third World Center".^[2] He also served as a president of the student council.^[6][7] In 1972, he earned a B.A. in psychology and African American studies.^[2][6][7]

Attending lectures at the university and reading books on different subjects, "he began feeling the futility of acquiring knowledge, which would become obsolete very soon".^[5] After Princeton, he joined the Hare Krishna Movement and "began a career of worldwide travel, study, teaching, lecturing, and writing".^[2] On February 16, 1973 in Los Angeles he was initiated into the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition by ISKCON's founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whereupon he was given the name Ghanashyam Dasa^[9] (meaning servant of Krishna). In the 1970s, Ghanashyam Dasa preached Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Eastern Europe by distributing religious books and working with scholars.^[6]

On March 13, 1979 during Gaura-purnima festival at New Vrindaban, he was initiated into the Vaishnava sannyasa order of renunciation by Kirtanananda Swami and given the name Bhakti Tirtha Swami. In the same year, he became the first devotee of the Hare Krishna Movement to visit Nigeria and preach there.^[10] Later he went on to become a senior leader and one of the most prominent preachers^[3] within ISKCON and a member of its management body known as the Governing Body Commission.^[6] He was the first person of African descent to become an initiating guru in the disciplic succession of the ancient Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.^[7] As a religious leader, Bhakti-tirtha Swami made a friendship with celebrities and served as a spiritual consultant, specializing in international relations and conflict resolution to high ranking members of the United Nations and world leaders, including former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.^[6][7] Ex-member of ISKCON Nori Muster, who worked for ten years as a public relations secretary and editor of ISKCON's newspaper, the ISKCON World Review, recalls in her book Betrayal of the spirit: my life behind the headlines of the Hare Krishna movement (published by the University of Illinois Press in 1997):

By design, the ISKCON World Review was limited to pro-ISKCON good news from GBC zones around the world. We also printed profiles and covered activities of preachers in the movement. One of our favorites was Bhakti-tirtha, a Princeton graduate who once called himself Toshombe Abdul, president of his university's Association of Black Collegians. Bhakti-tirtha had a way of striking up a spontaneous friendship with celebrieties such as Muhammad Ali. In one issue we reported Bhakti-tirtha's visit to the Zambian statehouse, where he had dinner with the country's president, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. He met the president through a judge, Aiyadurai Sivanandan, who had become a devotee. We also printed a photo of Justice Sivanandan, dressed in his black judge's robes and powdered wig, with tilak on his forehead. The jurge resigned his post in Zambia to serve ISKCON temple in India. One of ISKCON predecessors had predicted that in the dawning of Lord Chaitanya's golden age judges would wear tilak and become devotees. I spelled this out in a sidebar story.^[3]

In 1990 Bhakti Tirtha Swami was coronated High Chief in Warri, Nigeria, West Africa in recognition of his reputable work performed there.^[6][7] Bhakti Tirtha Swami died June 27, 2005, of complications from melanoma, at Gita Nagari, the Gaudiya Vaishnava community in central Pennsylvania.^[2] Bhakti Tirtha Swami is survived by four sisters, Bernadette Satterfield, Julia Henderson, Frances Myers, and Marguerite Brooks; a brother, Paul Favors; and numerous nieces and nephews.^[2]

On February 7, 2006 the Council of the District of Columbia adopted ceremonial resolution, in which it "recognized His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada for dedication to social change that has impacted civil and human rights for residents in the District of Columbia".^[7]

In 2007, his biography was released entitled Black Lotus: The Spiritual Journey of an Urban Mystic,^[11] the 410-page book is complete with full-color pictures, interviews with loved ones, and comprehensive Index. The author, Steven J. Rosen is senior editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies and associate editor of Back to Godhead, the magazine of the Hare Krishna movement.^[11] According to Princeton University website, the book "explores the life and mission of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami (1950-2005), an African-American seeker who rose from impoverished conditions in the Cleveland ghetto to become a global spiritual leader of the Hare Krishna movement".^[11]

Bibliography[link]

• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness I: Administration from a Metaphysical Perspective. — 1st ed. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1996. — 324 p. — ISBN 1-885414-02-1
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness II: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 162 p. — ISBN 1-885414-11-0
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume I: Sri Siksastaka. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 247 p. — ISBN 1-885414-13-7
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume II: Madhurya-Kadambini. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2003. — 196 p. — ISBN 1-885414-14-5
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume III: Harinama Cintamani. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2004. — 283 p. — ISBN 1-885414-15-3
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume IV: Sri Isopanisad. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2005. — 320 p. — ISBN 1-885414-19-6
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume V: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Sixty-four Principles for Community. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2007. — 235 p. — ISBN 1-885414-21-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume VI: Radha-Sunya: Missing Mercy. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press. — 147 p.
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior I: Uncovering Spiritual Truths in Psychic Phenomena. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1996. — 201 p. — ISBN 1-885414-01-3
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior II: Transforming Lust into Love. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1998. — 238 p. — ISBN 1-885414-03-X
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior III: Solace for the Heart in Difficult Times. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2000. — 296 p. — ISBN 1-885414-06-4
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior IV: Conquering the Enemies of the Mind. — 1st ed. — Washington, DC: Hari-Nama Press, 2004. — 285 p. — ISBN 1-885414-16-1
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior V: Making the Mind Your Best Friend. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2003. — 275 p. — ISBN 1-885414-17-X
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior VI: Beyond Fanaticism, Terrorism, and War: Discover the Peace Solution. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2006. — 306 p. — ISBN 1-885414-18-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar I: Meditations and Prayers on the Supreme Lord. — 1st ed. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 1994. — 160 p. — ISBN 1-885414-00-5
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar II: Crying Out for the Mercy. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 1998. — 162 p. — ISBN 1-885414-04-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar III: False Ego: The Greatest Enemy of the Spiritual Leader. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 194 p. — ISBN 1-885414-10-2
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar IV, Die Before Dying. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2005. — 155 p. — ISBN 1-885414-22-6

Footnotes[link]