Vishwa Hindu Parishad Of America’s 42 Year Journey In The Service Of Hindu Community

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42 Year Journey
In the Service of Hindu Community
“Get up, and put your shoulders to the wheel — how long is this life for?
As you have come into the world, leave some mark behind.
Otherwise, where is the difference between you and the trees and stones?”
-Swami Vivekananda
The one who protects Dharma is protected by Dharma

Vision and Projects
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America (VHPA), founded in 1970 and incorporated in the state of New York in 1974, is an independent, nonprofit, tax- exempt and volunteer-based charitable organization serving the needs of Hindu community in USA.
It aims to build a dynamic and vibrant Hindu society rooted in the eternal values of Dharma and inspired by the lofty ideal of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, i.e. the entire creation is one family.
A primary mission of VHPA is to connect people to people, communities to communities and organizations to organization to sustain and strengthen Hindu Dharma. The Hindu community is both diverse and resourceful. There are numerous organizations that are doing wonderful and noteworthy work in many fields. Our role is to find ways to network them into higher order collectives that can serve the community with greater reach and efficacy.
VHPA Chapters (20) throughout the country continued to serve the Hindu community with energy, dedication and caring in innovative and diverse ways. Chapters are the basic organic unit, the pillars on which the edifice of VHP of America is built.
Listed below are key VHPA projects:
Bal Vihar and Youth Camp
For more than three decades VHPA has been organizing samskar building programs like Bal Vihars, Youth camps and Conferences in many cities through chapters.

Seva Network
The seva program is the bedrock of our work. The two dimensions to seva are Seva in America (SIA) and Support a Child (SAC) in Bharat. VHPA raises funds to support disaster relief works both in America and Bharat.
Publications Organizations are identified, recognized and remembered for their publications. Our publications create the space for us in the community and enable us to leave an imprint of our principles, values and achievements in the minds of the people. Hindu Vishwa – Quarterly magazine. Printed version mailed to membership and electronic version available on Website.
HV Newsletter – Quarterly newsletter. Printed version mailed to membership and electronic version emailed to lists.
 HV News Digest – Electronic digest of news articles covering Hindu interests across the world.
Position Papers – on fuzzy or controversial subjects. Books: Comprehensive Prayer book, Antyeshthi Samskar book, Vivah Samskar book (a guide for preists, parents and young couples), Hindu prayer book for Caregivers and chaplains, Sanatan Dharma guide for adults, Hindu
Dharma Essentials for children. Advocacy & Activism
VHPA works with like minded organizations to support advocacy and activism to resolve issues to sustain Sanatan Dharma.
Hindu Awareness programs
From time to time VHPA has organized programs that bring awareness of Sanatan Dharma values and practices in the Hindu community. Some are; Dharma Sansad,
Talks, Seminars and celebrations like Hindu Heritage Day, Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, Study group, Support our troops.

Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC)
Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference is an annual initiative seeking development of network between the executives of all Hindu mandirs/Institutions of America. Mandir/Institution executives are the natural leaders of Hindu society by virtue of their intense motivation, deep experience, and selfless service. The conferees explore avenues of expanding Institutions’ roles to meet the ever changing needs of the N. American Hindus and to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of Sanatana Dharma by enhancing the role of Hindu youth. Held eight national conferences from year 2006 to 2103 hosted by Hindu Mandirs across USA and Canada.

Hindu Priests (Pundit) Network
The pundits play an essential role in the spiritual and cultural welfare of North American Hindu society by virtue of their performance of pujas, yajnas, samskaras for devotees. Held Priests conferences in Pittsburgh and New York in 2012 and 2013 hosted by Hindu Jain Temple and SV Temple, Pittsburgh and Suryanarayan Mandir and other Mandirs of NY area.

The Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN)
The Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network is launched to serve the self development and identification of service fields need for retired and to be retired members of Hindu community living in America. The acronym HAVAN is chosen to reflect the transformative lifestyle stage of Vanaprasthi. The implied transformation contained in the term Vanaprasthi is a journey from often conflicted lifestyle of householder dominated with family needs and interests to conflict-free lifestyle of community service and self development reflecting the purpose and goals of Hindu way of living and leading to Self-realization. Held seven regional conferences in past three years.

Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY)

Coalition of Hindu Youth, or CHY (pronounced “chai”), a youth led group founded in 2009 at the Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC). CHY’s primary goal is to foster the unity of youth at the hundreds of mandirs across this land in which we have come to reside, as well as the myriad youth involved in various nationwide Hindu organizations. Only as a united body, with one voice, can we recognize that we are all striving towards the same goals and aspirations, and only then can we properly and effectively address the broader needs of a new generation of Hindu Americans.

Sanatan Dharma Scholarship
The Scholarship program aims to promote independent research, focusing on scientific and rational foundation, of the Sanatan (Hindu) Dharma concepts and Vedic philosophy.
www.chynetwork.org
Hindu Women’s Network
A forum that gives voice to the Hindu women’s perspective on contemporary issues;
Develop programs for holistic physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, development of women and promote values in tune with the mother’s inner voice.

Membership
VHPA’s inherent strength is its dedicated members. Nation-wide membership base is the source from where the organization draws its energy.
“There is no decorative post in organization, all are living posts.
We should always remember – I do not work to make organization look better,
I shall develop myself.” – Nanarao Palkar
II Narayanaya Namah, Namo Arihantaya, Buddham Sharanam Gachhami, Sat Sri Akal II
(732)-744-0851 · www.vhp-america.org jt_gensecy@vhp-america.org

Source: VHPA