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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kashi scholars draft new Hindu Code of Conduct for reconversion
The Kashi Vidwat Parishad, an assembly of Vedic scholars, has introduced a new Hindu Code of Conduct, describing it as a simplified process for reconversion to Hinduism. It allows those who had left the faith under pressure or influence to return with ease—restoring their gotra and name. Based in Varanasi, the Kashi Vidwat Parishad has an executive council of 21 members, including scholars of Vedas, Sanskrit grammar, philosophy, Upanishads and Vedic mathematics. (HT file) Based in Varanasi, the Kashi Vidwat Parishad has an executive council of 21 members, including scholars of Vedas, Sanskrit grammar, philosophy, Upanishads and Vedic mathematics. The body has nearly 1,000 members. National general secretary Prof Ramnarayan Dwivedi said, 'In the Hindu Code of Conduct, which will be made public in October 2025, the reconversion process has been simplified.' He explained that individuals seeking reconversion will undergo a pooja under the guidance of an acharya. If the individual cannot recall the gotra of their ancestors, the acharya will assign one. If they remember it, the ancestral gotra will be retained. 'They will also be free to choose a second name as per their wish,' Prof Dwivedi added. A campaign will be launched urging society to accept those returning to the faith. The code also addresses social practices. It bans dowry and pre-wedding photo shoots, urges that marriages be held during daytime as per Vedic tradition, and allows the ritual of kanyadaan. Funeral feasts should be limited to 13 people. It stipulates that only priests and saints may enter the sanctum sanctorum of temples. Female foeticide is declared a sin, and equal rights for women are advocated—including the right to perform yagyas. According to Prof Dwivedi, saints across the country have endorsed the code. Over 40 meetings were held nationwide, and texts like Manu Smriti, Parashar Smriti, and Deval Smriti—alongside the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas—were consulted. Eleven teams comprising 70 scholars, including representatives from North and South India, worked for 15 years before the final code was presented before Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Ramanandacharya and others at the Mahakumbh for approval. To spread awareness, five lakh copies of a two-page summary from the 356-page code will be distributed to Hindu households in the first phase. 'Every Hindu across the globe is asking—how are we Hindus? This Hindu Code of Conduct is our answer,' said Swami Jitendrananda Saraswati, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti. He added that one lakh copies of the summary will be distributed during the Sanskriti Sansad in Kashi this October, when the code is officially unveiled.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Row over Ram Katha in ‘sutak kal'; seer apologises but continues event
1 2 3 Varanasi: Popular narrator of the story of Lord Ram, Morari Bapu, faced objections raised by scholars and seers of Kashi for his holding the Ram Katha event during 'sutak kaal', his period of mourning, following the demise of his wife on Jun 12. Scholars said his holding the religious programme was inauspicious, given his personal circumstance. Ending his Katha session at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre, Bapu sought apology from those who had raised objections, but said he would continue with the Ram Katha event because he was a Vaishnav, hence, followed no such tradition as of abstaining from religious duties while mourning family members. "Many revered figures, great personalities and several people did not find this appropriate and felt it should not have been done. If this has hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise to all and ask for your forgiveness," said Bapu, stating that he offered 'jalabhishek' to Lord Vishwanath and commenced Katha Manas Sindoor on Saturday. Meanwhile, sharp reactions from seers and scholars went viral on social media immediately after Bapu came out of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and left for Rudraksh centre on Saturday. Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti's Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said this act of Morari Bapu would not send out the right message to society. Kashi Vidwat Parishad's Prof Vinay Pandey said Bapu's act was highly condemnable. Astrologer Daivagya Krishna Shastri questioned what message Bapu wanted to give to society by offering prayers and reciting Katha despite being in a period of mourning. Pt Sanjay Upadhyaya of Shastrartha Mahavidyalaya held the act as against Shastra. Many individuals and poets trolled Bapu on social media, while a group burnt his symbolic effigy in the Assi area on Saturday.
