http://www.newz.in/large35.asp?catid=1&number=338
Senior Shankaracharya gave me money: Ravi Subramaniam Published on : 4/8/2005 2:30:00 AM Category : National News Ravi Subramaniam, accused turned approver in a temple official's murder case, Thursday told a Tamil Nadu court that Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi "personally" gave him Rs.500,000 to act as a go-between for the murder. The prosecution was examining Subramaniam in the 2004 murder of A. Sankararaman, a manager of the Varadarajaperumal temple in Kanchipuram. Senior seer Jayendra Saraswathi, the main accused in the murder case and now out on bail, gave him the money on completion of the "job" Sep 3, 2004, Subramaniam told a magistrate court in Kanchipuram. Deposing before the Judicial First Class Magistrate G. Uthamaraj, amidst objection from the defence counsel, Subramaniam said he had known the seer since 1994. He told the court he was Rs.100,000 prior to the murder. Subramaniam asked the magistrate whether he could depose in his own way or whether he was required to adhere strictly to the narration that he had recorded in his statement, which he had given under section 164 CRPC (recording of confessions and statements). The magistrate told him to tell whatever he knew. April 11 was the date fixed for cross-examination by the defence. =========== http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=seerarrest&slug=Kanchi+seer+targets+Jayalalithaa+in+SC&id=71086&callid=1&category=National Wednesday, April 6, 2005 (New Delhi): Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati has accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa of targetting him and having some vested interests in his case. The seer has filed a petition before the Supreme Court, claiming that the Chief Minister targetted him because of a battle for control of a Chennai hospital. Seer files petition NDTV has a copy of the petition, in which, seeking a transfer of the murder case against him out of Tamil Nadu, the Shankaracharya has said, "it is difficult to understand why all these prosecutions have been initiated and are being actively controlled by the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister. "The only apparent reason for special interest is that Jayalalithaa wanted to take control of the Tamil Nadu hospital in Chennai, a hospital that the Kanchi mutt had recently acquired." The petition in the Supreme Court also says Superintendent of Police Prem Kumar who was specially chosen by the state government to investigate the case, had campaigned for the AIADMK in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Looking for support The AIADMK refused to comment but earlier this year, Jayalalithaa had denied the charge that she had a vested interest in targetting Jayendra Saraswati. "There is no personal motive in this case and the government at present is not planning to take the Kanchi mutt," said Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu. The Shankaracharya faces several serious charges against him, including murder and three cases against him are still being heard in different courts in Chennai. For now, Jayendra Saraswati is hoping that the allegations against Jayalalithaa will not just strengthen his case legally, but will also give fodder to his political supporters the BJP to defend him politically. --------------------------- http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=68075 DEHRA DUN: FIRST murder, and now mayhem. After the messy legal battle involving Kanchi Shankar-acharya, Jayendra Saras-wati, another of Hinduism's most revered math faces trouble. The five-decade-old battle for control over the Badrinath Peeth has just spiralled into criminal charges. The latest volley comes from Swami Vasudevanand, who claims to be the Shan-karacharya of the Peeth. On March 29, he lodged an FIR at Chamoli, accusing Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand—another claimant to the Jyotirmath Peeth top job—of stealing valuables from the math's Purnadevi temple. Advertisement While the battle between Vasudevanand and Swaroopanand dates back to 1953, Madhavashram, a local, staked his claim to the Adi Shankaracharya-established Peeth a few years ago. To complicate matters, each of the three is supported by a separate political party. Pro-Congress Swami Swaroopanand famously blessed Sonia Gandhi during the Prayag Kumbh in 2001. Swami Vasudevanand is said to be close to the saffron brigade, including the BJP. Swami Madhavashram is backed by the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, a regional party. THOUGH the triangular tussle has been simmering for a while, matters came to a head on February 16, when the Congress state government declared a ``lock-out' at Jyotirmath, in an apparent bid to oust Swami Vasudevanand, de facto math in-charge. Even as rival claimants mobilised public support, a court reprieve and a BJP-led agitation saw Swami Vasudevanand reinstated on March 1. Barely a month later, Swami Vasudevanand filed the theft FIR, and went public with his charges against the Congress. ``The state government wants to hand over the Peeth to Swaroopanand in an arbitrary manner,'' he said, while former BJP state president Manohar Kant Dhayani looked on. According to Kushlanand Sati of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, a close associate of the Jyotirmath Peeth, Swami Swaroopanand of Dwarka was anointed Shankaracharya of the math in 1973—two decades after Swami Brahmanand Shankaracharya died without nominating a successor—as he was the late pontiff's senior-most disciple. However, Swami Vasudevanand, who had acquired control of the Peeth in the interim, refused to hand over the reins. Swaroopanand's critics also said he could not possibly head two Peeths. The matter went from the local court in Chamoli to the Supreme Court, even as Swami Swaroopanand built his own math near the Peeth. But the leading figures in the current dispute are clear that matters material do not interest them. ``It is not property or wealth, but the prestige of heading Badrinath Peeth, which has guided the Hindu religion through centuries that is at stake,'' Swami Vasudevanand said. It might seem ironical, then, that he should accuse Swami Swaroopanand of robbing a Peeth temple. But as the unfolding drama has proved time and again, logic and reason count for less than power and pelf. And so it is that Swami Madhavashram also claims to the real Shankaracharya of Badrinath, and has built his own abode near the Peeth. To bolster his claim, he flaunts a letter from the Kashi Vidut Parishad, a body of Hindu scholars, which states that a particular Peeth can have only one Shankaracharya. ``Since I am not involved in any property disputes, I am the real Shankaracharya of the Peeth,'' Swami Madhavashram insists. If only it were so simple. ============ http://www.centralchronicle.com/20050406/0604009.htm Controversy over Badrinath Seer DEHRADUN: The ongoing tussle over the control of prestigious Jyotirmath in Badrinath has flared up with Shankaracharya Madhavashram today asserting that he enjoyed the support of Kashi Vidwat Parishad in his claim as the head of the 'math'. Countering the claims of two other Shankaracharyas Swami Vasudevananda and Swami Swaroopanand who have also affirmed themselves as heads of the 'math,' Swami Madhavashram cited a letter of support from the the Kashi Vidwat Parishad, a prestigious body of Hindu intellectuals in Varansi. Swami Madhavashram's comments assume significance in the light of recent assertion by Swami Vasudevanand that he is the "real" Shankaracharya of Jyotirpeeth. He had also filed an FIR with the Joshimath police station of Chamoli district charging the supporters of Swami Swaroopanand with theft of ornaments and other valuables belonging to Poornadevi temple in Jyotirpeeth. The controversy over Jyotirmath hotted up on February 16 this year when the Chamoli district administration declared a lockout on its premises apparently to oust Swami Vasudevanand, who presently controls the seat of Shankracharya. However, buckling under the pressure of political parties, the district administration restored the seat of Jyotirpeeth back to Swami Vasudevanand on March 1 despite Swami Swaroopanand's opposition. Meanwhile, supporters of Swami Swaroopanand -- who is also Shankracharya of Dwarka Shardapeeth -- have described the theft charges as politically motivated. ======================= http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=45297 Shankaracharya hopes new Pope will not encourage conversions Express News Service Posted online: Friday, April 22, 2005 at 0413 hours IST Jammu, April 21: JAGADGURU Shankaracharya Puri Peethadishwar Swami Shri Nishchalanand Saraswati hoped the new Pope will not encourage conversion of Hindus to Christianity. Advertisement While addressing media persons here today, the seer further warned that the continued conversion of Hindus might have serious repercussion on the society, and it might also lead to a third world war. He stated that the Christian fathers in India were engaged in conversion in the name of service to humanity through deceitful means. He alleged that the Christian fathers were engaged in gross violation of human rights, and continued their efforts of conversion of the Hindus. Under such circumstances, he said, the ire of the Hindus was justified, and which would give way to a third world war. In a message to the new Pope, the seer said the new Pope should spread amidst his followers the message of truth, patience, love, peace, and global brotherhood. He said that 70-years ago, as regards the population, the Buddhists were at number one, followed by Muslims at number two, Christians at number three and the Hindus at the fourth number. But now, he said, the Christians were the largest, followed by Muslims at the second number, Buddhists at the third number and the Hindus at number four. He deplored that the Hindus had remained on the fourth number while the Christians had become the largest population from number three. He said, according to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, the Buddhists, Jains, and the Sikhs had been declared as the minorities, but if these three streams merged with the Hindus, their parent religion, the Hindus would become the largest in the world population, and there would be no one to challenge the might of the Hindus. He said since Gautam Buddha and even the founder of Jainism were from the Sanatana Hindu Dharma, it was high time that the religious heads of these streams merged with Hinduism to fight the misadventures of all other religions. While flaying the Indian Government for exhibiting the excessive gratitude to the 264th Pope John Paul II, who passed away recently, by announcing three-day national mourning, the seer said though the Christian nations like America and Britain, did not announce any national mourning. He described this as a symbol of slavery, and not gratitude. He urged the Indian Government to address some of major problems on priority basis, which he said, included check of entry of foreign companies to India, border security, end of unsocial elements from society, cow-slaughter and onslaught on Hinduism. Attacking the United States' policy on abolishing terrorism, the seer said that the US was trying to establish its hold over the world. He said if terror was to be ended, a special group of the United States, Britain, India, China, and Pakistan should be formed. On education policies, the seer said although former HRD Minister Dr M.M. Joshi had taken initiatives to take education in the right perspective but it was deplorable that the new HRD Minister Arjun Singh had reversed those policies. Detailing about his visit to Jammu, he said that he was here to attend `Sadhana Shivir Evam Rashtra Raksha Shivir' to be held at Katra between April 22 and 24th, which would be attended by people from more than 12 states of India. He said the camp would include dhyan-kirtan, bhajan-satsang, and Rashtra Raksha session. ============== http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200504300364.htm Plans for 2514th anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya Mumbai, April 30. (PTI): A seminar, an audio-visual presentation and a unity march would mark the five-day long celebrations to be organised here from May 11 to commemorate the 2,514th birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya. Gujarat Governor Navalkishore Sharma would be among those who would attend the religious event, a release from Srimad Aadya Jagatguru Shankaracharya Jayanti Mahotsava Samiti said here on Friday. The event to be held in four stages, include a `yagna', a holy ritual for universal welfare, an audio-visual presentation on the spiritual luminary's life prepared by students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and a special seminar to be addressed by eminent scholars. A gathering of the leading palmists and astrologers would also be held on the occasion. ================== http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1340048,0015002100000002.htm SHANKARACHARYA OF Puri Peeth Swami Nishchhalanand Saraswati accused the BJP of "exploiting" Hindutva for its votebank politics. He urged the BJP not to compromise on its core ideology of Hindutva. Speaking with mediapersons here on Wednesday, the Swami said that the BJP was forced to dilute its ideology to share power with several other political parties. Mum on Uma THE SHANKARACHARYA refused to speak much on former Chief Minister Uma Bharti saying, "it was not the job of an elephant to plough fields". He said that he commented not on individuals but on political parties and nations. Moreover, he said, Bharti was just a "child" for him. He advised her not to take any emotional decision. He asked her to consult the sants before taking any step. (HTC) He said if the BJP had stuck to its ideology and had not shown haste in cobbling a majority with other political parties, it would have rode to power at the Centre on its own. He said not only the BJP but also all political parties had "exploited" Hindutva at some point of time. For instance, he said, former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi had started his party's election campaign from Ayodhya and the BJP had promised to build the Ram temple, he said. On Indo-Pak relations, he said that China and Bangladesh besides India and Pakistan should find ways to end terrorism in the region. For the time being, he said, the uniform, vehicles and the likes of the security forces posted on the borders and in the Kashmir Valley should not be of any specific colour. This would help them from being targeted by the terrorists, he said. The Shankaracharya felt that Swami Jayendra Saraswati was a victim of a foreign conspiracy hatched through the Indian politicians to defame Hinduism. The Indian politicians became a party to the conspiracy for the sake of votes, he said. He accused a section of the communists in India of aiding the Maoists in Nepal. He asked the Indian Government to save Nepal from becoming directionless. Claiming himself to be a mathematician, he said that no political party was coming to his aid for the release of his book called `Swastik Mathematics'. He claimed to have found that there were five types of `zero' and `one'. "Then Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi refused to release his book because I am not associated with any political party," he said. The event would culminate with a procession titled `Ekatmata Yatra' to spread peace and goodwill, the release added. ===================== http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr32005/203114200541.asp Battling for a spiritual seat in Badrinath Shishir Prashant in Dehra Dun The Jyotirpeeth mutt, the seat of the Badrinath Shankaracharya is in the eye of a storm. Controversies seem to follow seers nowadays. The latest row after the Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati episode is a legal dispute over the control of the prestigious Jyotirpeeth mutt, the seat of the Badrinath Shankaracharya. The three shankaracharyas – Swami Swaroopanand of Dwarka Shardapeeth, Swami Vasudevanand of Badrinath Jyotirpeeth and Swami Madhavashram of Badrinath are embroiled in a longstanding legal battle to stake their claim for the special, religious seat of the math established by the great seer Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Ugly face Unwittingly, the three shankaracharyas have laid bare the ugly face of religion. Advertisement The fact is that it is just another power game not very different from the dirty politics of politicians. There is no murder charge in the Jyotirpeeth case but the theft charges against Swami Swaroopanand and Swami Vasudevanand have once brought to the fore politics in religious places. "This is a very sad chapter in our religion; even shankaracharyas have to face a test, and prove that they are the true leaders," said Swami Parmanand Saraswati, head of the Juna Akhara in Hardwar. It's dirty politics in post-independent India. Muslim kings "Hinduism faced assaults from Muslim kings frequently during the medieval period. But what is happening now is a low point," said Subhash Baru, an expert on Indian history. Badrinath, which is also known as Vishal Badri, is one of the `chardhams' in the country. It was built by Adi Shankracharya in the eighth century, dedicated to lord Vishnu, and renovated several times. It was restored in the 19th century by the royal houses of Scindia and Holker. The tradition of nominating a new successor to the shankaracharyas was smooth till the early 1950s. Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Brahmanand passed away without nominating a successor. This triggered off a controversy. While Swami Shantanand was still controlling the Jyotirpeeth, Swami Swaroopanand established his own mutt close to Jyotirpeeth in Joshimath in Chamoli district where the Badrinath temple is located. Litigation The tussle to control Jyotirpeeth began when Swami Shantanand nominated Vishvadevanand as his successor in 1979, much to the displeasure of Swami Swaroopanand, who claims he is the seniormost disciple of Swami Brahmanand, a highly respected man. Swami Vasudevanand claimed that he was the true successor of Swami Brahmanand and Swami Shantanand. This was the beginning of litigation: both the shankaracharyas accused each other of encroachment. Meanwhile, Swami Madhavaasharam declared he was the new shankaracharya three years ago – the local people in Garhwal backed him. Without losing any time, he laid claim to the Jyotirpeeth by declaring he was the "real" Shankaracharya. BJP protest On February 16 this year, the Chamoli district administration, apparently under pressure from the Congress government which supports Swami Swroopanand, declared a closure of the Jyotirpeeth Mutt. Realising the importance of the issue, the BJP held rallies in Joshimath against the decision. As it hotted up, the government, pressurised, handed the Jyotirpeeth Mutt back to Swami Vasudevanand, who is backed by the BJP. In order to settle a score, Swami Vasudevanand also filed an FIR in the Joshimath police station charging the supporters of his rival shankaracharya with theft of ornaments and other valuables belonging to Goddess Purnadevi temple in Jyotirpeeth. "We are investigating the theft case. But I cannot comment now," said Superintendent of Police Chamoli Ashok Kumar Tamta. The matter will be resolved only when the final verdict is given as so many cases are pending, experts said. The issue has been politicised. Jagat Singh Bist, CEO of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Samiti, said: "Political parties should stay away from temples and mosques." ============ http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Dec04-Print-Edition/011512200433.htm Of Sadhwi, Sadhu and BJP's dilemma By Asif Anwar Alig Two major events that hammered the political stature of an already unstable opposition party BJP in recent weeks is not to be ignored as a minor happening ignored by the media. The loser, unabatedly, is none but the BJP itself, once number one political party of the country. BJP is neither ready nor wishes to accept that it has moved to number two position, and in fact it is slipping down even further in reputation. The ouster of one of its firebrand leaders Uma Bharti tarnished the credibility of BJP as a political party. More than a decade ago in 1992 when Babri Masjid was being demolished by the kar sevak, her famous slogan, Ek Dhakka Aur (one more shove), brought her fame as a leader and catapulted the party into central politics. But she has time and again denied that she did not shout any slogan. BJP, in coordination with other parties of NDA ruled the country for six years. Speculations were rife that there was no other party left in the country that had any leader of stature compared to A B Vajpayee and L K Advani. Uma Bharti came into the list of second generation leaders who had already started to dream of getting high positions in the near future. L K Advani whom she regarded as one of her mentors, cut short her ambitions, that too in front of the national media and on the occasion of Dhantera. The issue got highlighted with trimmings by the dailies and the television channels. BJP's denial to accept the fact that it is going through a phase where the survival of its leaders in unity has become doubtful, paralytic and insecure is enough to know that the grip of the saffron parties on media is intact. The same media does not dare to highlight the naked truth that BJP after losing Lok Sabha elections, is still in denial. Ms. Bharti's ouster in the grand meeting of BJP leaders in New Delhi and its repercussion seen thereafter — the changed tone of leaders like Babu Lal Gour (Chief minister, Madhya Pradesh) and Arun Jaitely could help Ms. Bharti to understand that much of nationalism (Read Hindutva) is harmful and none is beyond justice meted out by destiny. She, as Sadhwi, had never imagined her disgraceful expulsion from the party even in her nightmares. Still she is placating Advani and Vajpayee in particular and the party in general to bury the hatchet. The issue makes us recall Kalyan Singh, who was expelled from the party a few years ago. Mr. Singh's rejoining later, has, undeniably, damaged his persona and, as of now he has become persona non-grata — seen by his performance as a leader — the credibility shown by the party towards him. He failed to display the same spirit he had showed resulting in very poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections. (with reference to Utter Pradesh). Ms. Bharti knows these facts well. She also understands that her personality has now shrunk into a tiny Sadhwi with charm of a firebrand being lost. Other options for her are bleak because of the image she has. No secular party can even think of accommodating her, in the presence of politically aware masses, because instead of garnering votes she can lose them. Even joining VHP would be the biggest mistake because the demolition drive (another mosque) will not help her in the near future as such issues have lost their appeal for now. People want to give a secularly political mandate to rule the country. The Ek Dhakka Aur might have instigated the Kar Sevaks to destroy some extra bricks (of Babri Masjid) but unfortunately a single dhakka (blow) has written her fate as a persona non grate — less fortunate than her former colleague Kalyan Singh. Incidentally the number two party, BJP (Claimed by the media and for now obviously it is as the second largest party in the opposition) could never have thought of the humiliation it faced. Once again secularists should thank the media that "unconsciously" played a major role in helping to sustain secular politics. Advani's gesture to show the door to Ms. Bharti is prudent and appreciable. Being the president of the party he had to come out of nepotism for an accurate and unquestionable breakthrough. But his inner voice, unlike Sonia Gandhi's firm determination to refuse the top post, might not have accepted his move. Ms. Bharti had to go because she could even cut short his numbered days in politics. Advani's inner wish to see himself as the future prime minister of India, before Lok Sabha elections has already perished with the mandate of the masses. Second major event shattering the party, is the dramatic arrest of the Shankaracharya of Kanchi mutt Mr. Jayendra Saraswati. The Shankaracharya bestowed his blessings on these leaders on regular intervals. He, being one of the most respected Hindu religious leaders, was once requested to intervene in Babri Masjid dispute to find a permanent solution, is behind the bars. Advani sought his well-being, and provision of proper care and other facilities inside the jail. All are equal before the law stated Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in one of his press briefings while commenting on the pontiff's arrest. So for Shankaracharya, a person accused in the murder case. Being a religious leader of repute, this act of his, not only shattered his own image but hurt the sentiments of his disciples. BJP as one of his admirers, struggling with its own internecine war suffered a setback. The case is under trial and justice is to be done. Unfortunately, the Shankaracharya is politically helpless in the absence of BJP rule. Advani and his coterie are not able to use government machinery for the case. Neither is he in a position to eat humble pie. Both the events, for one reason or the other, forced BJP to convene a meeting of NDA partners to ascertain that Hindutva is not the primary agenda of its mandate. It is obvious that the party is going through a dark religious-socio-political phase. But the ardency with which they believe that without Hindutva they are aimless, issueless remains — unlike the quasi-secular components of NDA (Samta, J.D (U) and et al) who keeps the secular spirit alive to garner votes for political survival. The BJP has to survive among these parties, that too, in the absence of any firebrand leade ================= http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13703489 Kanchi Shankaracharya visits Math Monday, 28 March , 2005, 13:47 Kancheepuram: Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi this morning visited the Shankara Math here for the first time since October. Full Coverage: Arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya He stayed there for about one hour and performed pooja and meditation in front of the Adishtanam (samadhi) of the Mahaswami Chandrasekhara Saraswathi, Math sources said. Later, he left for Kalavai. Since the chargesheet has been filed in the Sankararaman murder case, the bail conditions prohibiting his entry into the Math no longer existed and he had not violated the bail conditions, police said. The Seer had made a public appearance at the Deemed University of Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Viswamaha Vidhyalaya at Enathur yesterday, where a convocation was held. He reached the university from Kalavai soon after the convocation speeches and citation ceremonies were over, university sources said. He blessed the gathering and distributed prasadam to the students and parents. He also held a meeting with the board members of the University and later returned for Kalavai. Earlier today, he visited the Kamakshi Amman Temple here and performed milk abhishekam to the Adhi Sankara and Saraswathi shrines before visiting the nearby Kousikeswarar temple. ========================= http://www.newz.in/large35.asp?catid=24&number=5304 Pope urged to prevail upon US Published on : 4/21/2005 11:35:00 PM Category : Community News A top Hindu religious leader has urged the new Pope to prevail upon the US to soften its stand on Islamic nations. The Shankaracharya of Puri Nischalananda Sarawati, speaking to newspersons here said: "There is an urgent need for the US to ease its pressure on Muslim nations." The Shankaracharya said the new Pope had the ability to influence Washington as neo-conservatives had a wide control over the Bush administration that has started what he described as tightening screws around the Islamic nations after Sep 11, 2001. "The idea should be to lessen tensions, rather than heightening it," he said. The Shankaracharya also urged the Pope to call upon Roman Catholic priests in India to stop conversions. The Puri pontiff is one of the four top priests of the four revered seats of Hindu religion. =========================== To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
