8.6.07
Tirupati temple for Hindus only, says Andhra ordinance
Indo-Asian News Service
Hyderabad, June 8 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an ordinance prohibiting propagation of any religion except Hinduism at the famed Tirupati temple and also declared the seven hills surrounding the temple as a place of worship.
The ordinance also bans the conduct of local body elections in Tirumala hills surrounding the Lord Venkateshwara temple and imposes prohibition.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy made the announcement at a news conference here Friday.
About 50,000 devotees visit Tirupati, India's richest temple, every day and the number crosses 100,000 on special occasions.
The ordinance, signed by Governor Rameswar Thakur May 22, was issued following criticism by Hindu religious heads over propagation of other religions on the Tirumala hills, over 700 km from here.
The ordinance, which makes it clear that all seven hills form part of the temple, sets at rest controversy over the area. Some people were claiming that the jurisdiction of the temple was confined to two hills.
The ordinance also covered 19 other major Hindu temples in the state and prohibited the propagation of other religions in these places.
Reddy said places of worship of other religions would also be covered if specific requests were received by the government.
He said the move was aimed at ensuring that sentiments of religious groups were not hurt and public order at such places of worship was not disturbed. He said a legislation replacing the ordinance would be introduced in the next assembly session.
The state cabinet had in April decided to promulgate the ordinance after taking strong note of evangelical activity around the famous hill shrine.
Anybody found violating the provisions of the ordinance will be sentenced to three years of imprisonment or imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 or both.
Indo-Asian News Service
6.6.07
Guruvayoor temple says no to change in traditions
http://www.southasianews.com/154632/Guruvayoor-temple-says-no-to-change-in-traditions.htm
Trissur (Kerala), May 31 (IANS) Days after a panel of Hindu priests decided to discuss the sensitive issue of throwing open the doors of Kerala temples to non-Hindus, the supreme authority of the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple Thursday ruled out any change in the traditions of the famed temple.
K. Raman Nampoothiri, secretary of the Guruvayoor Temple Pramabarya Paricharana Samithy, said that they had a long meeting that ended late Wednesday night and decided that at no cost should there be any changes in the tradition of the Sree Krishna Temple.
'We have a feeling that the devotees of this temple are a worried lot that there is going to be a change in the traditions after reports surfaced in the media after a meeting of the Yogakshema Sabha Monday.
'The Sabha Monday decided to appoint a five-member panel to look into this issue in all temples of the state,' Nampoothiri told IANS.
'We also took part in that meeting and we expressed our opinion that at the Guruvayoor temple there cannot be any changes in the traditions and we are committed to that and we wish to convey this to all devotees of this temple,' he said.
The Samithy consists the tantris and those who take part in the rituals and prayers of the temple while the Yogakshema Sabha represents the entire Brahmin community including priests and temple administrators of Kerala.
When asked if he was not in agreement with the Yogakshema Sabha decision to appoint an expert panel, Nampoothiri said that at the Sabha meeting he had expressed the view that there should be no changes in the tradition of the Guruvayoor temple.
'We wish to reiterate that if there is even a small change (in the tradition), it would lead to a series of changes and that is just not acceptable because this is a temple with a long tradition.
'We can speak only for this temple and the Yogakshema Sabha is free to go ahead with their panel to study if any changes are required in other temples,' added Nampoothiri.
The famed Guruvayoor temple of late has run into controversies. Kearla Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran was instrumental in igniting one when he wrote to the temple administrators to see that veteran singer K.J. Yesudas, a Christian, be allowed to sing inside its premises Hindu devotional compositions that he is famous for.
Last week, Guruvayoor priests performed a purification ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson there. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
After the ritual at the temple, a section of Hindus has argued for a change in entry rules to allow non-Hindus into temples.
Trissur (Kerala), May 31 (IANS) Days after a panel of Hindu priests decided to discuss the sensitive issue of throwing open the doors of Kerala temples to non-Hindus, the supreme authority of the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple Thursday ruled out any change in the traditions of the famed temple.
K. Raman Nampoothiri, secretary of the Guruvayoor Temple Pramabarya Paricharana Samithy, said that they had a long meeting that ended late Wednesday night and decided that at no cost should there be any changes in the tradition of the Sree Krishna Temple.
'We have a feeling that the devotees of this temple are a worried lot that there is going to be a change in the traditions after reports surfaced in the media after a meeting of the Yogakshema Sabha Monday.
'The Sabha Monday decided to appoint a five-member panel to look into this issue in all temples of the state,' Nampoothiri told IANS.
'We also took part in that meeting and we expressed our opinion that at the Guruvayoor temple there cannot be any changes in the traditions and we are committed to that and we wish to convey this to all devotees of this temple,' he said.
The Samithy consists the tantris and those who take part in the rituals and prayers of the temple while the Yogakshema Sabha represents the entire Brahmin community including priests and temple administrators of Kerala.
When asked if he was not in agreement with the Yogakshema Sabha decision to appoint an expert panel, Nampoothiri said that at the Sabha meeting he had expressed the view that there should be no changes in the tradition of the Guruvayoor temple.
'We wish to reiterate that if there is even a small change (in the tradition), it would lead to a series of changes and that is just not acceptable because this is a temple with a long tradition.
'We can speak only for this temple and the Yogakshema Sabha is free to go ahead with their panel to study if any changes are required in other temples,' added Nampoothiri.
The famed Guruvayoor temple of late has run into controversies. Kearla Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran was instrumental in igniting one when he wrote to the temple administrators to see that veteran singer K.J. Yesudas, a Christian, be allowed to sing inside its premises Hindu devotional compositions that he is famous for.
Last week, Guruvayoor priests performed a purification ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson there. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
After the ritual at the temple, a section of Hindus has argued for a change in entry rules to allow non-Hindus into temples.
29.5.07
Thousands of Christians, Dalits court arrest in Delhi
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) At least 3,000 Christians, Dalits and rights activists from across the country courted arrest here Tuesday while protesting against the "silence" of the government on the alleged rise in anti-Christian attacks.
At a rally, "Stop Violence on Christians", held at Jantar Mantar here, Christian and Dalit leaders, including All India Christian Council (AICC) president Joseph Dsouza, National Integration Council member John Dayal, Justice Party president Udit Raj and Mount Carmel School principal V.K. Williams, warned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his silence could lead to killing of innocent people at the hands of communal forces.
"The protest is in the wake of attacks on Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan on April 19 and priests Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a high incidence of communal assaults this year thus far," Madhu Chandra, an AICC leader, told IANS.
Chandra said that in 2006, the AICC recorded at least one incident of anti-Christian attack every third day, "but this rose to one attack every alternate day during the first four months of this year".
The participants, who were from several states including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, saying, "UPA government, wake up and stop atrocities on Christians."
Also present at the rally were victims of communal violence, including Masih and two Christians from Himachal Pradesh, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, who were allegedly tonsured and forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in Kullu district May 23.
Dayal said Christianity had been reduced to a "daylight religion", because "the people of the community feel unsafe after sunset".
Expressing disappointment with the Congress party that leads the UPA, Dayal added that it was no longer only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that should be blamed for anti-Christian agenda. "Look at the Congress-government in Himachal Pradesh, which enacted the anti-conversion law," he said.
Dalit leader Raj told the Christians not to trust any political party including the Congress saying, "You must have hopes only from yourselves."
Offering Dalits' support to the Christian community, Raj added that they should "learn to identify their friends".
The crowd left the Parliament Street police station, where they courted arrest, at 2.15 p.m. after an official announced that there were not enough jails to keep such a huge number of people.
Christians in Mumbai also staged a rally at Azad Maidan to show solidarity with the protesters here.
read full news here : http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=44634
At a rally, "Stop Violence on Christians", held at Jantar Mantar here, Christian and Dalit leaders, including All India Christian Council (AICC) president Joseph Dsouza, National Integration Council member John Dayal, Justice Party president Udit Raj and Mount Carmel School principal V.K. Williams, warned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his silence could lead to killing of innocent people at the hands of communal forces.
"The protest is in the wake of attacks on Pastor Walter Masih in Jaipur, Rajasthan on April 19 and priests Ramesh Gopargode and Ajit Belavi on May 7 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a high incidence of communal assaults this year thus far," Madhu Chandra, an AICC leader, told IANS.
Chandra said that in 2006, the AICC recorded at least one incident of anti-Christian attack every third day, "but this rose to one attack every alternate day during the first four months of this year".
The participants, who were from several states including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, saying, "UPA government, wake up and stop atrocities on Christians."
Also present at the rally were victims of communal violence, including Masih and two Christians from Himachal Pradesh, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, who were allegedly tonsured and forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in Kullu district May 23.
Dayal said Christianity had been reduced to a "daylight religion", because "the people of the community feel unsafe after sunset".
Expressing disappointment with the Congress party that leads the UPA, Dayal added that it was no longer only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that should be blamed for anti-Christian agenda. "Look at the Congress-government in Himachal Pradesh, which enacted the anti-conversion law," he said.
Dalit leader Raj told the Christians not to trust any political party including the Congress saying, "You must have hopes only from yourselves."
Offering Dalits' support to the Christian community, Raj added that they should "learn to identify their friends".
The crowd left the Parliament Street police station, where they courted arrest, at 2.15 p.m. after an official announced that there were not enough jails to keep such a huge number of people.
Christians in Mumbai also staged a rally at Azad Maidan to show solidarity with the protesters here.
read full news here : http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=44634
28.5.07
RSS calls Sikhism a separate religion in 'great Hindu samaj'
RSS calls Sikhism a separate religion in 'great Hindu samaj'
PTI
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has described the Sikh faith as a separate religion belonging to "one great Hindu samaj".
In a view that may not go well with BJP's ally Akali Dal, the Sangh says it sees a "problem" if minorities assume a 'political' character.
Spelling out its stand on minorities on its website rss.org under a mission header, it says it believes the Hindu Code Bill is applicable to Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists and that it should be applicable to all, including the Christians and the Muslims.
"The RSS believes in the plural structure of society. Therefore, it recognises that there is bound to be a majority-minority syndrome, and hence each group, whether in the majority or minority, will have a distinct identity and distinct character," it says.
But minorities, according to the Sangh, should restrain themselves from overstepping their basic character.
"... the majority-minority distinctions must be restricted to the bases on which the minority character is sought to be claimed. ... the problem arises when a particular minority transgresses the basis of its minority character and assumes a political one." it says.
In its stand on Sikhism, the Sangh has called it a separate religion but its followers part of Hindu samaj.
"We regard the Sikh religion as a separate religion, but we regard the Sikh people as belonging to our samaj. When we say that they are a part of the one great Hindu Samaj, we do not deny the existence of their separate religion and separate beliefs. The Hindu samaj is a commonwealth of many religions," it says.
The samaj, it adds, includes idol worshippers as well as those who oppose idol worship and those who accept the authority of the Vedas as well as those who do not. They are all included in the wider Hindu conceptualisation, the Sangh says.
"Many Sikhs attend RSS Shakhas, but nobody is asked to remove his beard or his pugree (turban). The RSS will never try to obliterate the identity of the Sikhs. That will be against the very grain of the RSS," it says.
PTI
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has described the Sikh faith as a separate religion belonging to "one great Hindu samaj".
In a view that may not go well with BJP's ally Akali Dal, the Sangh says it sees a "problem" if minorities assume a 'political' character.
Spelling out its stand on minorities on its website rss.org under a mission header, it says it believes the Hindu Code Bill is applicable to Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists and that it should be applicable to all, including the Christians and the Muslims.
"The RSS believes in the plural structure of society. Therefore, it recognises that there is bound to be a majority-minority syndrome, and hence each group, whether in the majority or minority, will have a distinct identity and distinct character," it says.
But minorities, according to the Sangh, should restrain themselves from overstepping their basic character.
"... the majority-minority distinctions must be restricted to the bases on which the minority character is sought to be claimed. ... the problem arises when a particular minority transgresses the basis of its minority character and assumes a political one." it says.
In its stand on Sikhism, the Sangh has called it a separate religion but its followers part of Hindu samaj.
"We regard the Sikh religion as a separate religion, but we regard the Sikh people as belonging to our samaj. When we say that they are a part of the one great Hindu Samaj, we do not deny the existence of their separate religion and separate beliefs. The Hindu samaj is a commonwealth of many religions," it says.
The samaj, it adds, includes idol worshippers as well as those who oppose idol worship and those who accept the authority of the Vedas as well as those who do not. They are all included in the wider Hindu conceptualisation, the Sangh says.
"Many Sikhs attend RSS Shakhas, but nobody is asked to remove his beard or his pugree (turban). The RSS will never try to obliterate the identity of the Sikhs. That will be against the very grain of the RSS," it says.
In India, 2,000 Hindus `reborn'
BUDDHISTS WELCOME LOW-CASTE CONVERTS
By Aijaz Ansari
Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/28/2007 02:48:30 AM PDT
MUMBAI, India - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a ceremony Sunday that they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them "untouchables."
"I feel like I have been reborn," Mahi, a farmer who uses only one name, said at the ceremony in Mumbai. "This is my rebirth."
Organizers said the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of B.R. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, who fought British colonial rule and injustice in Indian society. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste, renounced Hinduism for Buddhism in 1956 because he believed it treated people equally. He died that same year.
Buddhists form a small minority in mostly Hindu India. read full news here. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6004822
By Aijaz Ansari
Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/28/2007 02:48:30 AM PDT
MUMBAI, India - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a ceremony Sunday that they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them "untouchables."
"I feel like I have been reborn," Mahi, a farmer who uses only one name, said at the ceremony in Mumbai. "This is my rebirth."
Organizers said the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of B.R. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, who fought British colonial rule and injustice in Indian society. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste, renounced Hinduism for Buddhism in 1956 because he believed it treated people equally. He died that same year.
Buddhists form a small minority in mostly Hindu India. read full news here. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6004822
Thousands of Hindus convert to Buddhism to be treated as “human beings”
At least 5,000 people mass convert in Mumbai. They are Dalits and Tribals, members of groups at the bottom of the Hindu caste system, who hope to gain greater social and human dignity.
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Tribal Hindus and Dalits converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony in Mumbai yesterday in order to escape from the rigid caste system and thus be treated as ‘human beings’.
Shravan Gaikwad, a representative of the Dalit group Samatha Sainik Dal, estimated that about 5,000 people took part in the ceremony, which was held to mark the 50th anniversary of leading Dalit leader Bhimrao Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism.
Delegates from several countries with large Buddhist communities, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan, attended the event.
For many mass conversion appears to be only way to escape the rigid Hindu caste system, which places Dalits and Tribals at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and, as one Dalit activist put it, start being treated “as human beings”.
At least one sixth of India's 1.1 billion people are classed as low caste.
Despite job reservation (affirmative action) for members of Dalit and Tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.
Hindu nationalist are opposed to Hindu converting and in several Indian states (especially those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party) laws against conversion have been adopted, in particular if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.
Converting to Buddhism does not however elicit much negative reaction, since many in India believe Buddhism to be an extension of Hinduism. By contrast, two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of proselytising.
source : http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9389&size=A
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Tribal Hindus and Dalits converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony in Mumbai yesterday in order to escape from the rigid caste system and thus be treated as ‘human beings’.
Shravan Gaikwad, a representative of the Dalit group Samatha Sainik Dal, estimated that about 5,000 people took part in the ceremony, which was held to mark the 50th anniversary of leading Dalit leader Bhimrao Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism.
Delegates from several countries with large Buddhist communities, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan, attended the event.
For many mass conversion appears to be only way to escape the rigid Hindu caste system, which places Dalits and Tribals at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and, as one Dalit activist put it, start being treated “as human beings”.
At least one sixth of India's 1.1 billion people are classed as low caste.
Despite job reservation (affirmative action) for members of Dalit and Tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.
Hindu nationalist are opposed to Hindu converting and in several Indian states (especially those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party) laws against conversion have been adopted, in particular if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.
Converting to Buddhism does not however elicit much negative reaction, since many in India believe Buddhism to be an extension of Hinduism. By contrast, two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of proselytising.
source : http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9389&size=A
Talks on reforms to allow non-Hindus into Kerala temples
Trissur (Kerala), May 28: A panel of Hindu priests is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon to discuss whether there is a need to change rules that prevent non-Hindus from entering Kerala temples.
The Yogakshema Sabha, a body of temple priests and those associated with the affairs of the temples in the state, is to discuss whether reforms are needed after a controversy erupted last week at the famous Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor.
Priests in Guruvayoor performed a cleansing ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson at the temple. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
Following the cleansing ceremony, progressive Hindus felt that a change in temple rules is needed so as to make the entry of non-Hindus into temples a smooth affair. However, organizations associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party did not agree.
A source close to the Yogashema Sabha said Monday's discussion would look into all aspects and the body would decide whether any changes are needed to be made in the tradition to keep up with changing times.
--- IANS
read full news here. http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=33453
The Yogakshema Sabha, a body of temple priests and those associated with the affairs of the temples in the state, is to discuss whether reforms are needed after a controversy erupted last week at the famous Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor.
Priests in Guruvayoor performed a cleansing ritual after the naming ceremony of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi's grandson at the temple. Ravi's wife is a Christian.
Following the cleansing ceremony, progressive Hindus felt that a change in temple rules is needed so as to make the entry of non-Hindus into temples a smooth affair. However, organizations associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party did not agree.
A source close to the Yogashema Sabha said Monday's discussion would look into all aspects and the body would decide whether any changes are needed to be made in the tradition to keep up with changing times.
--- IANS
read full news here. http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=33453
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