California

A regularly recurring issue in California politics is whether the state should continue to aggressively expand its freeway network or concentrate on improving mass transit networks in urban areas. Other important scriptures are the sectarian Hindu Agamas which are texts dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. The rapidly growing population of the state is straining all of its transportation networks. There are also a number of revered Hindu Tantras and Sutras that command the respect of various Hindu sects of different persuasion, some including the Mahanirvana Tantra, Tirumantiram and Shiva Sutras. Both Greyhound and Amtrak provide intercity bus service. Other texts considered important by today's Hindus include the Devi Mahatmya, an ode to Devi, the Divine Mother, and the Yoga Sutras, a key meditative yoga text of Shri Patanjali. Nearly all counties operate bus lines, and many cities operate their own bus and light rail lines as well. The post- Vedic Hindu scriptures form the latter category, the most notable of which are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, major epics considered scripture by most followers of Sanatana Dharma, their stories arguably familiar to the vast majority of Hindus living in the Indian subcontinent, if not abroad.

San Diego has Trolley light rail and Coaster commuter rail services. See Bhagavad Gita to explore this text. Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) connects Tracy, Livermore and other edge cities with Silicon Valley. In a wider context, it is considered a timeless classic of world literature. Metrolink commuter rail serves much of Southern California, and Caltrain commuter rail connects San Jose to San Francisco. While technically it is considered Smriti, it has singularly achieved nearly unquestioned status as Shruti, or revealed, and is thus the most definitive single Hindu text, read by millions of bhaktas (devotees) and yogis on a largely daily basis throughout the Sanatana Dharmic world. San Jose and Sacramento have only light rail. The text documents a conversation between Arjuna, a warrior, and Lord Krishna immediately prior to the major battle described in the epic Mahabharata.

San Francisco and Los Angeles both have rapid rail/subway networks, in addition to light rail. The Bhagavad Gita occupies a special position in the hearts of most Hindus as a keystone yoga upanishad whose eternal words perhaps are the most representative of all Hindu thought. Intercity rail travel is provided by Amtrak. It can be said that while early Hinduism is most reliant on the four Vedas, Classical Hinduism, from the Yoga and Vedanta to Tantra and Bhakti streams, was molded around the Upanishads. The Port of Oakland handles most of the ocean containers passing through Northern California. While the Vedas and their early commentaries on one hand center on ritual and sacrifice, the late Vedantic (End of Vedas) texts emphasize mystic insight and express abhorrence for ritual practiced at the expense of spiritual insight, claiming to streamline the excessive litany of praise to Vedic gods and to capture the essence of the Rig Vedic dictum "Truth Is One." They set Hindu philosophy apart with its embrace of a single transcendent and yet immanent force that is native to each man's soul, an identification of micro- and macrocosm as One. The giant seaport complex formed by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern California is the largest in the country and responsible for handling about a fourth of all container cargo traffic in the United States. The Aranyakas and the Upanishads were originally esoteric, mystical teachings related in secrecy.

California also has several excellent seaports. The Shrautasutras and Grhyasutras form a younger stratum dealing with domestic ritual. There are about a dozen important commercial airports and many more general aviation airports throughout the state's 58 counties. The oldest of these are the Brahmanas. As for air travel, San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport are major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic. Depending on the school, various commentaries and instructions are associated with each Veda. only by New York City for severe traffic congestion. The four Vedas (the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas) were preserved by various shakhas or schools.

Most Californians usually resort to the roads for their commutes, errands, and vacations, which is why California's cities have a reputation equalled in the U.S. While the overwhelming majority of Hindus may never read the Vedas, the reverence for the more abstract notion of eternal knowledge (Veda means knowledge) is etched deep into the hearts of all those who follow Veda Dharma. California's vast terrain is connected by an extensive system of freeways, expressways, and highways, all maintained by Caltrans and patrolled by the California Highway Patrol. The Vedas are considered as shruti (inspired) by all Hindus. One thing they all have in common is a state mandate to teach fourth grade students about the history of California, including the role of the early missions; most schools implement this by requiring students complete a multiple medium project. tradition, not revelation). In poor regions, literacy rates may fall below 70%. The texts are divided into two categories: Shruti- that which is heard (i.e. revelation) and Smriti- that which is remembered (i.e.

In some regions, administrative costs divert a significant amount of educational monies from instructional purposes. Indeed, much of the morphology and linguistic philosophy inherent in the learning of Sanskrit is sometimes claimed to be inextricably linked to study. The quality of the local schools depends strongly on the local tax base, and the size of the local administration. The overwhelming majority of Hindu sacred texts are composed in the Sanskrit language. The primary schools are of varying effectiveness. Main article: Hindu scripture. Mandatory full-time instruction begins at age 6. Hinduism's fundamental truth is best expressed in the Upanishadic dictum, Tat Twam Asi (Thou Art That), and the ultimate aspiration as follows:.

Elementary schools teach pure skills, history and social studies, with optional half-day kindergartens beginning at age 5. the temporal or earthly plane) who succeeds in living an honest, loving and dharmic life a jivanmukta (living free soul). In many districts, junior high schools or middle schools teach electives with a strong skills-based curriculum, for ages from 11 to 13. The great rishis (Hindu sages) have termed the samsaric (one who lives in samsara, i.e. They accept students from roughly age 14 to 18, with mandatory education ceasing at age 16. The chief aim of the Vedic religion is to achieve moksha, or liberation, through constant dedication to satya (Truth) and eventual realization of the atman (Universal Soul), held to be achievable by all, whether through meditation or pure love. Secondary education consists of high schools that teach elective courses in trades, languages and liberal arts with tracks for gifted, college-bound and industrial arts students. Its presiding principle, Ma (Mother) Gayatri, is also known as Veda Mata (Mother of the Vedas) and is strongly associated with the Goddess of Learning and Illumination, Saraswati.

Near Los Angeles, there are numerous art and film institutes, including the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the CalArts Institute. Known as a universal mantra, it is revered as being the most condensed form of Divine Knowledge (Veda). For example, Southern California, with one of the highest densities of post-secondary institutions in the world, has a very large base of classically trained vocalists that compete in large choir festivals. Many Hindus to this day, in a tradition that has continued unbroken for at least 3,000 years, perform morning ablutions at the bank of a sacred river (especially the Ganga/Ganges). This leads to many unique entertainment and educational opportunities for residents. It is considered one of the most universal of all Hindu mantras, invoking the universal Brahman as the principle of knowledge and the illumination of the primordial Sun. California has hundreds of private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. The most revered mantra in Hinduism is the famed Gayatri Mantra (see Sanskrit for pronunciation):.

Preeminent private institutions include Stanford University, the University of Southern California (USC), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (which administers the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA). Indeed, Mahatma Gandhi's dying words were a two-word mantra to the Lord Rama: "Hai Ram!"'.. The system serves a student population of over 2.9 million. They often give courage in exigent times and serve to help 'invoke' one's inner spiritual strength. It is composed of 109 colleges organized into 72 districts. They can also be used to aid in expression of love for the deity, another facet of Bhakti yoga akin to the understanding of the murti. It also provides lower division general-education courses, whose credit units are transferable to the CSU and UC systems. Mantras are said, through their meaning, sound, and chanting style, to help meditational focus for the sadhaka (practitioner).

It awards certificates and associate degrees. Much of mantra yoga, as it is called, is done through japa (repetition). The California Community Colleges system provides vocational education, remedial education, and continuing education programs. Reciting mantras is a fundamental practice in Hinduism. Lower-division course credits are frequently transferable to the University of California. Main article: Mantra.. It is intended to accept most college-bound high-school students, while carrying out some research, especially in applied sciences. For more details on this form of worship, see murti.
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With over 400,000 students, the CSU system is the largest university system in the United States. Thus, Hindu image worship is a form of iconolatry, in which the symbols are venerated as putative sigils of divinity, as opposed to idolatry, a charge often levied (erroneously) at Hindus. The California State University system provides education for teachers, the trades, agriculture and industry. They are symbols of the greater principle, representing and are never presumed to be the concept or entity itself. The University of California also administers federal laboratories for the Federal Department of Energy: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Worship of said deities is often done through the aid of pictures or icons (murti) which are said not to be God themselves but conduits for the devotee's consciousness, markers for the human soul that signify the ineffable and illimitable nature of the love and grandeur of God. An eleventh campus, in Merced, is scheduled to open in 2005.[1] (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/welcome.html) The UC system is intended to accept students from the top 12.5% of college-bound students, and provide most graduate studies and research. Also, the puranas list twenty-five avatara of Vishnu : Catursana, Narad, Varaha, Matsya, Yajna, Nara-Narayana, Kapila, Dattatreya, Hayasirsa, Hamsa, Prsnigarbha, Rsabha, Prithu, Narasimha , Kurma, Dhanvantari, Mohini, Vamana, Parasurama, Raghavendra, Vyasa, Balarama, Krishna, Buddha.

A tenth campus, in San Francisco, teaches only law. Among the most popular are Vishnu (as Krishna or Rama), Shiva, Devi (the Mother as many female deities, such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Durga), Ganesha, Skanda and Hanuman. A ninth campus, in San Francisco, teaches only graduate health-sciences students. The vast majority of Hindus worship many gods as varicolored forms of the same prism of Truth. The eight general campuses are in Berkeley, Los Angeles, Davis, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Riverside, and San Diego. While some censuses hold worshippers of one form or another of Vishnu (known as Vaishnavites) to be at 80% and those of Shiva (called Shaivaites) and Shakti at the remaining 20%, such figures are perhaps misleading. The preeminent state university is the 9-campus University of California, which employs more Nobel Prize winners than any other institution in the world and is considered one of the finest public higher-education systems in the country. Hinduism encourages devotees to describe and develop a personal relationship with their chosen deity (ishta devata) in the form of a God or Goddess.

California's educational system is supported by a unique constitutional amendment that requires 40% of state revenues to be spent on education. Whether believing in the One source as formless (nirguna brahman, without attributes) or as a personal God (saguna Brahman, with attributes), Hindus understand that the one truth may be seen as different to different people. Main article: List of colleges and universities in California. The various gods and avatars that are worshipped by Hindus are understood as different forms of One truth, sometimes seen as beyond a mere God and as a formless Divine Ground (Brahman), akin but not limited to monism, or as one monotheistic principle like Vishnu or Shiva. 1 Belvedere, California - Marin County - $113,595
2 Rancho Santa Fe, California - San Diego County - $113,132
3 Atherton, California - San Mateo County - $112,408
4 Rolling Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $111,031
5 Woodside, California - San Mateo County - $104,667
6 Portola Valley, California - San Mateo County - $99,621
7 Newport Coast, California - Orange County - $98,770
8 Hillsborough, California - San Mateo County - $98,643
9 Diablo, California - Contra Costa County - $95,419
10 Fairbanks Ranch, California - San Diego County - $94,150
11 Hidden Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $94,096
12 Los Altos Hills, California - Santa Clara County - $92,840
13 Tiburon, California - Marin County - $85,966
14 Sausalito, California - Marin County - $81,040
15 Monte Sereno, California - Santa Clara County - $76,577
16 Indian Wells, California - Riverside County $76,187
17 Malibu, California - Los Angeles County - $74,336
18 Del Monte Forest, California - Monterey County - $70,609
19 Piedmont, California - Alameda County - $70,539
20 Montecito, California - Santa Barbara County - $70,077
21 Palos Verdes Estates, California - Los Angeles County - $69,040
22 Emerald Lake Hills, California - San Mateo County - $68,966
23 Loyola, California - Santa Clara County - $68,730
24 Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, California - Contra Costa County - $66,972
25 Los Altos, California - Santa Clara County - $66,776
See complete list of California places. Contrary to popular belief, practiced Hinduism is neither polytheistic nor strictly monotheistic. The following list is ranked by per capita income:. See Swastika.

Thanks to the state's powerful economy, certain California cities are among the wealthiest on the planet, as evidenced by large numbers of extravagant mansions, sports cars, and beautiful people. Many Eastern cultures still hold it to be sacred, especially in India, in spite of the recent association with Nazism which perverted the original meaning of this universal symbol. The state of California has many cities, and the majority of them are within one of the large metropolitan areas below. It has been used in Hinduism since the early Vedic culture and is still widespread in the Indian subcontinent. The three largest Protestant denominations in California are: Baptist (30% of total state population), Methodist (10%), and Lutheran (6%). Its rotation in four directions has been used to represent many ideas, but primarily describes the four directions and their harmonious whole. The religious affiliations of the people of California are as follows:. It stands for satya, truth, and stability within the power of Brahma or, alternatively, of Surya, the sun.

Religion. The swastika (卐) is an Arya, or noble symbol. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California ranks:. It contains an enormous and diverse amount of symbolism; Hindus consider its sound and vibration to be the divine representation of existence, encompassing all of manifold nature into the One eternal truth. ; see Aum for more detail. Rankings. Aum (ॐ) is the standard sign of Hinduism, and is prefixed and sometimes suffixed to all Hindu mantras and prayers. California has the second-largest Asian population (percentage-wise) of any state, Hawaii having the largest. Among the most revered symbols in Hinduism, two are quintessentially a part of its culture and representative of its general ethos:.

Because of high levels of immigration from Latin America, especially Mexico, and higher birth rates among the Hispanic population, Hispanics are predicted to become a majority around 2040. With the stress on vegetarianism (which is usually followed even by meat-eating Hindus on religious days or special occasions) and the sacred nature of the cow, it is no wonder that most holy cities and areas in India have a ban on selling beef and there is a movement among Hindus to ban cow-slaughter not only in specific regions, but in all of India. Hispanics make up almost one-third of the population; in order, other groups are Asian Americans, African Americans and American Indian. It is said that Krishna is both Govinda (herder of cows) and Gopala (protector of cows), and Shiva's attendant is Nandi, the bull. It is the third minority-majority state, after Hawaii and New Mexico. Non-Hispanic Whites are still the largest group, but are no longer a majority of the population due to high levels of immigration in recent years. Thus, while most Hindus do not worship the cow, and scriptural injunctions against eating beef arose long after the Vedas had been written, it still holds an honored place in Hindu society. California lacks a majority ethnic group. This is most likely because the largely pastoral Vedic people and subsequent generations of Hindus throughout the centuries relied so heavily on the cow for all sorts of dairy products, tilling of fields and fuel for fertilizer that its status as a willing 'caretaker' of humanity grew to identifying it as an almost maternal figure(so the term gaumata).

California's population is:. Those Hindus who do eat meat predominantly abstain from beef, some even going so far as to avoid leather products. Race and Sex. Thus, while vegetarianism is not dogma, it is recommended as a sattwic (purifying) lifestyle. California is the most populous state in the U.S., and contains about 12% of the U.S.'s population. About 30% of today's Hindu population, especially in orthodox communities in South India, in certain northerly states like Gujarat, and in many Brahmin enclaves around the subcontinent, is vegetarian. Census Bureau reports California's 2000 population as 33,871,648, and estimates its 2003 population as 35,484,453. Thus, an ingrained and externally motivated influence led to the development of a large section of Hindus who grew to embrace vegetarianism in a bid to respect higher forms of life, restricting their diet to plants and vegetables.

The U.S. While Jainism as it was practiced was certainly a major influence on Indian society with its exhortation of strict veganism and non-violence as ahimsa, the term first appeared in the Upanishads. Population. A note of the element of ahimsa in Hinduism is vital to understanding the society that has arisen around some of its principles. See also: California unemployment statistics. See Tantra for more. Recent (Spring 2005) economic data (http://uclaforecast.com) indicates that economic growth has resumed in California, although still slightly below the national annualized forecast of 3.9%. Most tantras were written in the late middle ages and sprang from Hindu cosmology and Yoga.

The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, are currently emerging from economic depression caused by the dot.com bust, which caused the loss of over 250,000 jobs in Northern California alone. The word "tantra" means "treatise" or "continuum", and is applied to a variety of mystical, occult, medical and scientific works as well as to those which we would now regard as "tantric". While some coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the U.S., notably San Francisco and Marin County, the non-agricultural central counties have some of the highest poverty rates in the U.S. To the Tantra we must therefore look if we would understand aright both ritual, yoga, and sadhana of all kinds, as also the general principles of which these practices are but the objective expression." (Introduction to Sir John Woodroffe's translation of "Mahanirvana Tantra."). Most farm managers are highly educated, most with at least master's degrees. IX., verse 12). The Central Valley has the most extreme contrasts of income, with migrant farm workers making less than minimum wage, contrasted with farmers who frequently manage multimillion-dollar farms. Shiva says: 'For the benefit of men of the Kali age, men bereft of energy and dependent for existence on the food they eat, the Kaula doctrine, O auspicious one! is given' (Chap.

Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. The Tantra Shastra is, in fact, and whatever be its historical origin, a development of the Vaidika Karmakanda, promulgated to meet the needs of that age. Per capita personal income is $33,415 as of 2003, ranking 12^th in the nation. According to the most famous Western Tantrik scholar, Sir John Woodroffe Sir John Woodroffe/temp (pseudonym Arthur Avalon): "The Indian Tantras, which are numerous, constitute the Scripture (Shastra) of the Kaliyuga, and as such are the voluminous source of present and practical orthodox 'Hinduism'. This is followed by aerospace; entertainment, primarily television by dollar volume, although many movies are still made in California; and light manufacturing including computer hardware and software, and the mining of borax. See bhakti yoga for more. The predominant industry, more than twice as large as the next largest, is agriculture, (including fruit, vegetables, dairy, and wine). Altogether, bhakti resulted in a mass of devotional literature, music and art that has enriched the world and given India renewed spiritual impetus, one eschewing unnecessary ritual and artificial social boundaries.

If California was considered as an independent self-sufficient economy, it would be ranked the 6th, ahead of France. See bhakti movement for more depth. state, and every country in the world (by Purchasing Power Parity) save for the other combined 49 United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It is said, however, that the bhakta, through a growing connection with God, is eventually able to eschew all external form and is immersed entirely in the bliss of undifferentiated Love in Truth. The state's GDP, which at $1.4 trillion USD (as of 2003), is greater than that of every other U.S. This rather organic system of devotion attempts to aid the individual in connecting with God through symbolic medium. California is responsible for 14% of the United States' gross domestic product (GDP). Devotional songs called bhajans (written primarily from the 14th-17th centuries), kirtan (praise), and arti (a filtered down form of Vedic fire ritual) are sometimes sung in conjunction with performance of puja.

Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, overgrazing, and the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat. The most popular means of expressing love for God in the Hindu tradition has been through puja, or ritual devotion, frequently using the aid of a murti (statue) in conjunction with the singing or chanting of meditational prayer in the form of mantras. California's great abundance of species of California lilac (Ceanothus) is an example of adaptive radiation. They can rightly be said to have affected the greatest wave of change in Hindu prayer and ritual since ancient times. Many other endemics originated through differentiation or adaptive radiation, whereby multiple species develop from a common ancestor to take advantage of diverse ecological conditions. The Bhakti movements rejuvenated Hinduism through their intense expression of faith and their responsiveness to the emotional and philosophical needs of India. California endemics include relict species that have died out elsewhere, including the redwoods and the Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). Essentially, it is God who effects all change, who is the source of all works, who acts through the devotee as love and light. 'Sins' and evil-doings of the devotee are said to fall away of their own accord, the devotee shriven, limitedness even transcended, through the love of God.

California has a rather high percentage of endemic species. Seen as a form of Yoga, or union, it seeks to dissolve the ego in God, since consciousness of the body and limited mind as self is seen to be a divisive factor in spiritual realization. The state of California is part of the Nearctic ecozone, and spans a number of terrestrial ecoregions, and is perhaps the most ecologically diverse state in the United States. The philosophy of Bhakti seeks to tap into the universal divinity through personal form, which explains the proliferation of so many Gods and Goddesses in India, often reflecting the singular inclinations of small regions or groups of people. California's diverse geography, geology, soils and climate have generated a tremendous diversity of plant and animal life. The Bhakti (Devotional) school takes its name from the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God as the beloved Father, Mother, Child, or whatever relationship finds appeal in the devotee's heart. Ecologically, California is one of the richest and most diverse parts of the world, and includes some of the most endangered ecological communities. Like Ramanuja, Madhva (1238 - 1317) identified God with Vishnu, but his view of reality was purely dualistic in that he understood a fundamental differentiation between the ultimate Godhead and the individual soul, and the system is therefore called Dvaita (dualistic) Vedanta.

Main article: Ecology of California. Because of this qualification of Ultimate reality, Ramanuja's system is known as qualified non-dualism. The low deserts east of the southern California mountains, including the Imperial and Coachella valleys and the lower Colorado River, are part of the Sonoran Desert, with hot summers and mild winters; the higher elevation deserts of eastern California, including the Mojave Desert, Owens Valley, and the Modoc Plateau, are part of the Great Basin region, with hot summers and cold winters. Vishnu is the only independent reality, while souls and matter are dependent on God for their existence. California's desert climate regions lie east of the high Sierra Nevada and southern California's Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges. He taught that Ultimate reality had three aspects: Isvara (Vishnu), cit (soul) and acit (matter). On the east side of the mountains is a drier "rain shadow". Ramanuja (1040 - 1137) was the foremost proponent of the concept of Sriman Narayana as the supreme Brahman.

The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and moderate heat in summer. See Advaita for more. The Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate, but with greater temperature extremes than the coastal areas; parts of the valley are often filled with thick fog, similar to that found in the coastal valleys. For them, Shiva is personified as God without attributes. Northwestern California has a temperate climate with rainfall of 15-40 inches (38-102 cm) per year. For Shaktas, who worship Devi, Devi is the personal form of God to attain the impersonal Absolute, God, i.e., Shiva. Westerly winds from the ocean also bring moisture, and the northern parts of the state generally receive higher rainfall than the south. California's mountain ranges influence the climate as well; moisture-laden air from the west cools as it ascends the mountains, dropping moisture; some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. For Shaivites, Devi is Parvati.

As one moves away from the coast, the climate becomes more continental, with hotter summers and colder winters. For Vaishnvaites who follow Ramanuja's philosophy, Devi is Lakshmi, who is the Mother of all and who pleads with Vishnu for mankind who is entrenched in sin. The influence of the ocean generally moderates temperature extremes, creating cooler summers and warmer winters, and the cold oceanic California Current offshore often creates summer fog near the coast. God's energy is personified as Devi, the Divine Mother. Most of the state has a Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters and dry summers. All personal forms of God such as Vishnu or Shiva are different aspects of God in personal form or God with attributes, Saguna Brahman. Different regions of California have very different climates, depending on their latitude, elevation, and proximity to the coast. Nirguna Brahman can never be described as that as It transcends all definitions.

Other volcanoes include Lassen Peak, which erupted from 1914 and 1921, and Mount Shasta. However, even that definition can be limiting. California is also home to several volcanoes, some active such as Mammoth Mountain. To Advaitists (nondualists) Ultimate Truth is best expressed as Nirguna Brahman, or God without form, or God without personal attributes; indeed, some might go so far as to say it is not 'God' but something beyond. Notable movies in which the possible destruction of much of California by an earthquake includes the titles Earthquake, A View to a Kill, Escape from L.A. and Superman. Adi Sankara denounced caste and meaningless ritual as foolish, and in his own charismatic manner, exhorted the true devotee to meditate on God's love and apprehend truth. The fact that this scenario is completely implausible from a geologic standpoint does not lessen its acceptance in public conventional wisdom, or its exploitation by the producers of science fiction and fantasy media. It is not merely philosophy, but a conscious system of applied ethics and meditation, all geared towards attaining peace and understanding of truth.

Popular legend has it that, eventually, a huge earthquake will result in the splitting of coastal California from the continent, either to sink into the ocean or form a new landmass. By analysis of experiential consciousness, he exposed the relative nature of the world and established the non-dual reality of Brahman in which Atman (the individual soul) and Brahman (the ultimate reality) are identified absolutely. While more powerful earthquakes in the United States have occurred in Alaska and along the Mississippi River, California earthquakes are notable in their frequency and location in highly populated areas. Sankara expounded his theories largely based on previous teachings of the Upanishads and his own guru Govinda Bhagavadpada. California is famous for its earthquakes due partly to the presence of the San Andreas Fault. Its consolidator was Sankara (788?-820?). To the northeast of the Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest, hottest point in North America. Advaita literally means "not two"; thus this is what we refer to as a monistic (or non-dualistic) system, which emphasises oneness.

The south-central desert is called the Mojave. See Vedanta for greater depth. In the south lie the Transverse Ranges and a large salt lake, the Salton Sea. The great debate between followers among the major Hindu philosophical school, Vedanta, from followers of Advaita philosophy on one hand and the strict theistic schools such as those of Ramanuja and Madhva on the other, focused on the true nature of Brahman, on whether Brahman was essentially attributeless or with attributes, i.e., a personal Supreme Being. To the west is Clear Lake, California's largest freshwater lake by area. Most Hindu thought today in some way relates to changes affected by Vedantic thought, which focused on meditation, morality and centeredness on the one Self rather than on rituals and societal distinctions like caste. To the east of the Sierra are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential seabird habitat. Primarily associated with the Upanishads and their commentary by Badarayana, the Vedanta Sutras, Vedanta thought split into three groups, initiated by the thinking and writing of Adi Sankara.

Also located in the Sierra are the world famous Yosemite National Park and a deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume. The Uttara ("later") Mimamsa school is perhaps one of the cornerstone movements of Hinduism and certainly was responsible for a new wave of philosophical and meditative inquiry, renewal of faith, and cultural reform. In the center and east of the state are the Sierra Nevada, containing the highest peak in the continental U.S., Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4421 m). It, like the Upanishads, seeks realization of the Atman as being nothing other than the infinite Brahman through ethical (mind), physical (body) and meditational (soul) practices of one-pointedness on the 'one supreme truth.' See Yoga for an in-depth look at its history. With dredging, several of these rivers have become sufficiently large and deep that several inland cities, notably Stockton, California, are seaports. Realization of the goal of Yoga is known as moksha or samadhi. Mountain-fed rivers, dams, and canals provide water to irrigate the Central Valley. It also utilizes the Brahman/Atman terminology and concepts that are found in depth in the Upanishads, adopting Vedantic monist concepts.

Down the center of the state lies the Central Valley, a huge, fertile valley bounded by the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the granite Sierra Nevada to the east, the volcanic Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. This is because Ishvara is the only aspect of purusha (the infinite Divine Ground) that has not become entangled with prakrti (the temporal creative forces). California has extremely varied geography. The most significant difference from Samkhya is that the Yoga school not only incorporates the concept of Ishvara (a personal God) into its metaphysical worldview but also that it holds Ishvara as the ideal upon which to meditate. However, the capital, Sacramento is in the Central Valley. Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are also indispensable literature in the study of Yoga. Most major cities cling to the cool, pleasant seacoast along the Pacific, notably San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Santa Ana/Orange County, and San Diego. It is based on the sage Patanjali's extremely influential text entitled the Yoga Sutra, which is essentially a compilation and systematization of meditational Yoga philosophy that came before.

With an area of 410,000 km² it is the third largest state in the U.S. The yoga referred to here, however, is specifically Raja Yoga (or meditational union). The state has striking natural features, including an expansive central valley, high mountains, and hot dry deserts. The Yoga system is generally considered to have arisen from the Samkhya philosophy. California borders the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Baja California. For greater depth, please see Purva Mimamsa. Main article: Geography of California. This empirical and eminently sensible manner of religious application is key to the Sanatana/Hindu Dharma and was especially championed by rationalists like Adi Sankara and Swami Vivekananda.

See also: List of California Governors, US Congressional Delegations from California, List of California counties, List of California ballot propositions. Its adherents believed that revelation must be proved by reasoning, that it should not be accepted blindly as dogma. Bush received a majority of votes in more than half the counties, but still lost California by 9%. Consequently this school's most valuable contribution to Hinduism was its formulation of the rules of Vedic interpretation. In 2004, George W. The main objective of the Purva ("earlier") Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. While California is among the most Democratic and liberal states in the nation, there are areas of California which are politically very conservative, notably Orange and San Diego counties. See Hindu philosophy for a discussion of the historical significance of Samkhya, Nyaya, and Vaisheshika.

House of Representatives. The schools that continue to affect Hinduism today are Purva Mimamsa, Yoga, and Vedanta. 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans represent the state in the U.S. The non-Vedic schools are called Nastika, or heterodox, and refer to Buddhism, Jainism and Lokayata. Senators from California are Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The six Astika or orthodox (accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa (also called just 'Mimamsa'), and Uttara Mimamsa (also called 'Vedanta'). The two U.S. See: Hinduism by country.

California has the most Congressmen and Presidential Electors of any state. The Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Borneo have significant native Hindu populations. Electoral College. Other countries with a significant Hindu population include:. It has 55 electoral votes in the U.S. Of the total Hindu population of the world, about 94% (890 million) live in India. At the national level, California is represented by two senators and 53 representatives. It has come to symbolize the rising bi-polarization of indian polity in the late 1990's and the first decade of the 21th century, evident in the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) in the same period.

California's legal system is explicitly based on English common law but carries a few features from Spanish civil law. Hindutva ideology rose to importance in Indian politics in the 1980s and is chiefly associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh movement. California judges are always appointed by the Governor but must be regularly reconfirmed by the electorate. Such nationalistic Hinduism is generally termed Hindutva ("Hinduness", paradoxically not a well-formed Sanskrit word, since "Hindu" is a Persian word), but the boundaries are fluid and the Indian Supreme Court ruled that "no precise meaning can be ascribed to the terms 'Hindu', 'Hindutva' and 'Hinduism'; and no meaning in the abstract can confine it to the narrow limits of religion alone, excluding the content of Indian culture and heritage." Hindutva ideology was enunciated first by Savarkar in his seminal work 'Hindutva'. California's giant judiciary is supervised by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court of California. In the 20th century, emerging Indian nationalism began to emphasize Hinduism, in opposition to the British Raj, but also in contrast to Islam, and after Independence in connection with the territorial disputes with Pakistan. The capital moved to Sacramento for good on February 25, 1854, except for a four-month temporary move in 1862 to San Francisco due to severe flooding in Sacramento. Main article: Hindutva.

The capital moved to Sacramento temporarily in 1852 when construction on a State House could not be completed in time in Vallejo. In a 1966 ruling, the Supreme Court of India defined the Hindu faith as follows for legal purposes:. In California's early history, the capital was located in Monterey (1775-1849), San Jose (1849-1851), Vallejo (1852-1853), Benicia (1853-1854), and San Francisco (1862). Despite this various political parties sometimes exploit these divisions for electoral gain. The state's capital is Sacramento. [2] (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/10/19/stories/05192524.htm). Schwarzenegger replaced Governor Gray Davis (1999-2003) who was removed from office by the October 2003 California recall election. Caste still plays a significant role in Hindu society; however, post Independence, caste is losing favour in India and caste-based discrimination has been illegitimised.

Frazier). A number of Muslim communities have retained caste practices as well. Schwarzenegger was only the second person in the history of the United States to be put into office by a recall of a sitting Governor (the first was the 1921 recall of North Dakota Governor Lynn J. In spite of centuries of numerous reform movements, notably within Vedanta, bhakti yoga and Hindu streams of Tantra, and reformers, with recent stalwarts like Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, caste based discrimination is so deeply ensconced in the Indian consciousness that even Christian converts have been known to separate church meetings for different castes. The current Governor is the Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose current term lasts through January 2007. But over a period of time the caste system has become rigid and discriminatory. In the Senate, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. According to this understanding, discrimination by caste is a perversion of dharma's true meaning.

For the 2005-2006 session, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly. According to ancient Hindus, the four varnas (literally, 'colors') or castes had equal standing in the society and were based upon the duties to society and worked together towards the welfare of the society. The Senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years, in the gubernatorial election cycle. See also: caste.. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four, i.e., presidential election years. They show strong similarities to the language and religion of the Avesta, which are sometimes traced back to either the influence of the 3rd millennium BC Indus Valley Civilisation, or to a 2nd millennium BC Indo-Iranian migration (see Aryan invasion theory), or to a combination of these. The terms of the Senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The age and origins of the Vedas themselves are disputed, but it is clear that they were transmitted orally for several millennia.

Senators serve four year terms and Assembly members two. The earliest of these, the Rigveda centers on worship of the gods Indra and Agni, and on the Soma ritual. The Ashvamedha was the most important sacrifice described in the Yajurveda, possibly performed for the last time by Samudragupta in the 4th century. The California State Legislature consists of a 40 member Senate and 80 member Assembly. Modern Hinduism grew out of the religion described in the Vedas. The Governor of California and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be reelected only once. Again, these views, in fact, more strongly, reflect a Smarta viewpoint. The State also allows direct participation of the electorate by referendum, recall, and ratification. Thus, with all Hindus, there is a strong belief in all paths being true religions that lead to one God or source, whatever one chooses to call the ultimate truth.

California is governed as a republic, with three branches of government, the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers, the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate, and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. Often, the monad Brahman is seen as the one source, with all other gods emanating therefrom. Main article: California government and politics. Vaishnavism, Saivism and Shaktism, respectively believe in a monotheistic ideal of Vishnu (often as Krishna), Siva, or Devi; this view does not exclude other personal Gods, as they are understood to be aspects of the chosen ideal (e.g., to many devotees of Krishna, Shiva is seen as having sprung from Krishna's creative force). The state is liberal-leaning, technologically and culturally savvy, and a world center of engineering businesses, the film and television industry and, as mentioned above, American agricultural production. However, each denomination respects and accepts all others, and conflict of any kind is rare. From 1965 to the present, this population completely changed and became one of the most diverse in the world. Each denomination fundamentally believes in different methods of self-realization and in different aspects of the One Supreme God.

In the period from 1900 to 1965 the population grew from fewer than one million to become the most populous state in the Union, sending the most electors to the Electoral College to elect the President. Each of its four denominations shares rituals, beliefs, traditions and personal Gods with one another, but each sect has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal (moksa, liberation) and on their views of the Gods. Citrus, oranges in particular, were widely grown, and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production of today. Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion. Out West, residents were discovering that California was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. Contemporary Hinduism is traditionally divided into four major divisions, Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smarthism.. The connection of the far Pacific West to the eastern population centers came in 1869 with the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. He achieved the spiritual high of other religions besides Hinduism, such as Christianity and Islam, and came to the same conclusion proclaimed by the Vedas, "Truth is one, the wise call it by different names.".

During the American Civil War, popular support was divided 70% for the South and 30% for the North, and although California officially entered on the side of the North, many troops went east to fight with the Confederacy. The great Hindu saint, Ramakrishna, a monist, was a prominent advocate of this traditional Hindu view. In 1850, the state was admitted to the Union. Hindus believe that God, in whatever form they prefer, (or as monists prefer to call, "Ishta Devata,", i.e., the preferred form of God) can grant worshippers grace to bring them closer to Moksha, end of the cycle of rebirth. But after gold was discovered, the population burgeoned with Americans and a few Europeans in the great California gold rush. Some of the Hindu aspects of God include Devi, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Siva. In 1848, the Spanish-speaking population of distant upper California numbered around 4,000. It is seen as one unity, with the personal Gods differents aspects of only one Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colours by a prism, and are valid to worship.

portion, Alta (upper) California, was to become the state of California. Some of Hinduism's adherents are monists, seeing in multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheism. The western part of the U.S. Yoga is the primary focus in many ways of a Hindu's religious activities, being somewhere between meditation, prayer and healthful exercise. The Mexican portion, Baja (lower) California was later divided into the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Vedanta is a branch of Hindu philosophy which gives this matter a greater focus. Following the Mexican-American War, the region was divided between Mexico and the United States. Brahman is not a God in the monotheistic sense, as it is not imbued with any limiting characteristics, not even those of being and non-being, and this is reflected in the fact that in Sanskrit, the word brahman is of neuter (as opposed to masculine or feminine) gender.

Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into San Francisco Bay and claimed California for the United States. Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent the absolute infinite existence, the sum total of all that ever is, was, or ever shall be. The Republic came to a sudden end when Commodore John D. Brahman is seen as the universal spirit. In 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American War, a California Republic was founded and the Bear Flag was flown that featured a golden bear and a star. Within Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism (as it is commonly called), a variety of lesser gods are seen as aspects of the one impersonal divine ground, Brahman (not Brahma). Upon Mexican independence from Spain, the chain of missions became the property of the Mexican government, and they were quickly dissolved and abandoned. Finally, in sanyasa, the individual goes off into seclusion, often envisioned as the forest, to find God through Yogic meditation and peacefully shed the body for the next life.

Beginning in the late 1700s, Spanish missionaries set up tiny settlements on enormous grants of land in the vast territory north of Baja California. Vanaprastha is gradual detachment from the material world, ostensibly giving over duties to one's sons and daughters, spending more time in contemplation of the truth, and making holy pilgrimages. The first to explore the entire coast and claim possession of it was Francis Drake in 1579. Grihastya is the householder's stage, alternatively known as samsara, in which one marries and satisfies karma and artha within a married life and professional career. The first European to explore parts of the coast was the Portuguese Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. The first quarter of one's life, brahmacharya (literally "grazing in Brahma") is spent in celibate, sober and pure contemplation of life's secrets under a Guru, building up body and mind for the responsibilities of life. Main article: History of California. They are Brahmacharya, Grihasthya, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.

(For further discussion, see: Origin of the name California.). The human life is also seen as four Ashramas ("phases" or "stages"). The name comes from Las sergas de Espladián (Adventures of Spladian), a 16th century novel, by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, where there is an island paradise called California. Reincarnation), the cycle of life, death, and existential duality. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island. Mukti, Samadhi, Nirvana, etc.) from Samsara (a.k.a. The entire region originally known as California was composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and the land in the current states of California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and Wyoming, known as Alta California. Of course, the only goal that is truly infinite, whose attainment results in absolute happiness, is moksha, or liberation, (a.k.a.

The vast majority of the population lives within 50 miles (80 km) of the Pacific Ocean. California dominates American culture and economy, contributing significant advances in technology and legal reform, in addition to paying significantly more to the federal system than it receives in benefits. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all. Southern California is highly populated, while the larger northern California is less densely populated. They are kama, artha, dharma and moksha. postal abbreviation is CA, and its Associated Press abbreviation is Calif.. Another major aspect of Hindu dharma that is common to practically all Hindus is that of purushartha, the "four goals of life". California's U.S. The Upanishads are also important as a philosophical foundation for this rational spiritualism.

The state's official nickname of "The Golden State" is often thought to be a reference to California’s 1849 gold rush but is in fact reference to the native grasses that turn a golden color during the dry season. These are described in the two principal texts of Hindu Yoga: The Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras. California is both physically and demographically diverse. Hinduism is practiced through a variety of Yogas (spiritual practices), primarily bhakti (loving devotion), Karma Yoga (selfless service), Raja Yoga (meditational Yoga) and Jnana Yoga (Yoga of discrimination, pronounced Nyāna). It is the most populous and third largest state in the U.S., has a population roughly the size of Canada and it is the sixth largest economy in the world. It is not uncommon for some to meld both in an amalgam marker signifying Hari-Hara (Vishnu-Shiva indissoluble). California is a state located in the western United States, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Men, too, will bear on their foreheads the equivalent tika or tilak mark, usually on religious occasions, its shape often representing particular devotion to a certain main deity: a 'U' shape stands for Vishnu, a group of three horizontal lines for Shiva.

Walnut Creek (San Francisco Bay Area). Hindus across the board stress meditative insight, an intuition beyond the mind and body, a trait that is often associated with the ascetic god Shiva. Ventura (Greater Los Angeles). It is sometimes also said to symbolize the need to cultivate supramental consciousness, which is achieved by opening the mystic "third eye.". Torrance (Greater Los Angeles). An example of the pervasiveness of this paramount truth-seeking spirituality in daily life is the laltika (or bindi) (seen left), which is a religious symbol denoting marriage. Thousand Oaks (Greater Los Angeles). Still more fundamental principles include ahimsa (non-violence), the primacy of the Guru, the Divine Word of OM and the power of mantras, love of Truth in many manifestations as Gods and Goddesses, and an understanding that the essential spark of the Divine (Atman/Brahman) is in every human and living being, thus allowing for many spiritual paths leading to the One Unitary Truth.

Temecula (equidistant between Inland Empire and San Diego Area). What can be said to be common to all Hindus is belief in Dharma, reincarnation, karma, and moksha (liberation) of every soul through a variety of moral, action-based, and meditative yogas. Sunnyvale (Silicon Valley). This inherent faith, therefore, is also known as Arya/Noble Dharma, Veda/Knowledge Dharma, Yoga/Union Dharma, Hindu Dharma or, simply, the Dharma. Simi Valley (Greater Los Angeles). Indeed, all existence, from vegetation and beasts to mankind, are subjects and objects of the eternal Dharma. Santa Clarita (Greater Los Angeles). Truth sought with faith shall yield itself in blissful luminescence no matter the race or creed professed.

Santa Clara (Silicon Valley). Religion to the Hindu is the native search for the divine within the Self, the search to find the One truth that in actuality never was lost. Santa Ana (Orange County). But this consciousness is not merely that of the body or mind and intellect, but of a supramental soul-state that exists within and beyond our existence, the unsullied Self of all. Pasadena (Greater Los Angeles). According to Hindus, it speaks to the idea that certain spiritual principles hold eternally true, transcending man-made constructs, representing a pure science of consciousness. Palo Alto (Silicon Valley). "The Eternal Way" (in Sanskrit सनातन धर्म, Sanātana Dharma), or the "Perennial Philosophy/Harmony/Faith", is the one name that has represented Hinduism for many thousands of years.

Ontario (Inland Empire). The great debate between followers among the major Hindu philosophical school, Vedanta, from followers of Shankaracharya's Advaita philosophy on one hand and the strict theistic schools such as Ramanuja and Madhva on the other, focused on the true nature of Brahman, on whether Brahman was essentially attributeless or with attributes, i.e., a personal Supreme Being. Newport Beach (Orange County). See Schools of Hinduism. Irvine (Orange County). Many streams of thought flow from the six Vedic/Hindu schools, Bhakti sects and Tantra Agamic schools into the one ocean of Hinduism, the first of the Dharma religions. Huntington Beach (Orange County). Hinduism rests on the spiritual bedrock of the Vedas, hence Veda Dharma, and their mystic issue, the Upanishads, as well as the teachings of many great Hindu gurus through the ages.

Glendale (Greater Los Angeles). For example, a well-known Rig Vedic hymn stemming from Hinduism states that "Truth is One, though the sages know it variously." This is in contrast with some beliefs of other religious traditions, where one must believe in God being one aspect and to totally reject or disdain other beliefs. Fremont (San Francisco Bay Area). The Vedas are revered in Hinduism, regardless of denomination. Concord (San Francisco Bay Area). Even a Vedic verse illustrates this theme of tolerance. Chula Vista (San Diego Area). I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (Seva, Yajna) and Lord of the universe" (Gita: 9:23).

Burbank (Greater Los Angeles). Another quote in the Gita states: "O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship other lesser deities (e.g., Devas, for example) with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. Berkeley (San Francisco Bay Area). However, their wishes are only granted by Me" (Gita: 7:21-22). Anaheim (Orange County). Few views illustrate this view of tolerance: Krishna said: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. Important suburbs (within or near the above urbanized areas)