While Hindus coming to America have found themselves being Westernized, Hinduism is also having an effect on America.

Hindu Lite

” With Britney going to a Hindu temple, karma on NBC, and yoga everywhere, Hinduism–or something like it–is hot in pop-culture.

” Throw another ingredient in the American spirituality blender.

“Pop culture is veering into Hinduism–sort of. Call it a Hindu-esque sampling of the flavor, images and style of a 6,000-year-old faith but with no actual theology involved.

” “This is how the culture manages everything,” says Luis Gonzalez-Reimann, who teaches Southeast Asian studies and religious studies at the University of California-Berkeley. “Remember Dharma & Greg?”

“That 1997 sitcom featured a free-spirited gal, named Dharma by her hippie parents. Forget the Hindu idea of dharma as a way of living that leads to spiritual advancement. It just sounded flip.

“The latest sign of infatuation with the Hindu-esque is NBC’s new Thursday night hit “My Name Is Earl.”

“It starts with a mangled take on the concept of karma as the low-life main character tries to reverse a lifetime of scamming and stealing by undoing a life list of misdeeds.

That’s a slick, quick notion of karma, rather than a true reflection of the Hindu idea of action and reaction as the “neutral, self-perpetuating law of the inner cosmos,” says Hindu monk Sannyasin Arumugaswami, editor of Hinduism Today magazine…”

Britney Spears Visits Malibu Temple

“Call it cosmopolitan faith or crossover loyalty, Britney Spear paid a visit to the Hindu temple in Malibu recently – all the way from Kabblah order. With her four-month-old son Sean Preston tucked in her arms, she silently took part in the lengthy temple rituals.
Temple President Nadadur Varadhan, is said to have appraised her of the important aspects of Hinduism, considered the oldest religion on earth.

“Apart from darshan of the deity, the other things that impressed the popstar were the regular food offerings in the temple – Puligere and Sadam…”

(an aside — there is a Malibu Hindu temple? Why does that strike me as ironic on so many levels?)

(another aside — Sanjaya was a contestant on American Idol who became a cultural phenomenon. More Americans vote for American Idol contestants than vote in the Presidential election)

Sanjaya’s Mom Talks, Discusses Hare Krishna

” “This story is very significant to the Indian community,” says Jillian Rechi, or Jayaradhe as she was known in the Hare Krishna movement a decade ago.

“The story is about her children Shyamali and Sanjaya Malakar who became famous overnight, thanks to the talent contest American Idol.

“Both Shyamali (Rosaria Malakar) and Sanjaya (Joseph Malakar) embraced their Indian cultural roots.”

“Recchi, who spent over two months recently with her 17-year-old son in Hollywood, was often joined by daughter Shyamali, and on one occasion her former husband Vasudeva Malakar, who left his construction business and chores at the Hare Krishna temple in Seattle, to be with his children.

“Since her divorce nearly a decade ago, Recchi, who since remarried, raised the children mostly on her own. She says she has not been a member of the Hare Krishna congregation for many years but the Indian spirituality is deeply ingrained in her and her children.

” “I consider the Hare Krishna way of life to be my spiritual foundation,” said Recchi, who met her future husband Vasudeva while she was a devotee at the Seattle Hare Krishna Temple 21 years ago. “I do not live in the temple though.”…”

Sanjaya’s a Hit at White House Correspondents’ Dinner