Latest news with #Shankaracharya
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Kerala Royal Enfield bikers go on a 'Bullets against Bullet' ride retracing Adi Shankaracharya's trail from Kalady to Kashmir
Over 1,200 years ago, a young monk from Kerala travelled from Kalady to Kashmir, propagating the oneness of existence, or what he termed Advaita. That ancient route traversed by Adi Shankaracharya was retraced recently by a team of 52 bikers who rode from Kalady to the Line of Control (LoC) as a homage to the lives lost in the Pahalgam attack and a message against terrorism. The bikers, who joined forces from across Kerala, rode under the motto 'Bullets against Bullet'. For the bullet that terrorists showered on tourists in Pahalgam, here were the bikers' own Royal Enfield Bullets. The two-week ride was flagged off on June 1 by Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya, who also heads the state's anti-terrorism squad. 'The idea came up after my friend R Ramanand, director of the Abhinava Gupta Institute of Advanced Studies, Vagamon, posted on Facebook about how the Pahalgam attack would soon be forgotten after the initial hubbub. The post got a lot of support, which encouraged him to take the idea forward and form the 'Bullets against Bullet' team,' says Mani Karthik, a startup consultant, who was coordinated the core group and the planning of the journey. 'Some of us were researching the links between Kashmir and Kerala's tantric traditions. Also, Shankaracharya's influence in Kashmir is still revered. That's how we decided to follow Shankara's footsteps and named our mission 'Shankara to Sharda'. The Sharda here refers to the ancient Sharda Peeth, now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where Shankaracharya had travelled to in 7th century AD. We have restricted access to that place, and hence, our destination was the Yatri Sharda Peeth very close to the LoC, near the Kishanganga river.' Planning the journey wasn't without challenges. 'Our discussion group was infiltrated by stray social media users from as far as Pakistan, and agenda-driven individuals who tried to mar healthy conversations,' says Mani, who left a career in the US to settle in Kochi and guide NRIs keen on migrating and investing back home. 'We had to weed them out and plan carefully. Only our core group knew the route map. Everyone who wished to join was verified. We finalised 52 riders, including 10 women and a trans individual. Among us were techies, a temple priest, a farmer, and even a 76-year-old.' The 'biker priest' in the team was Praveen P M from Thiruvananthapuram, who rode with his wife Renjini and their five-year-old son Badrinath as pillion. 'We have done several such bike jaunts,' says Renjini. 'But this is the longest we have done.' The team faced many hurdles along the way. 'The summer blaze in some places was horrifying. When it got too sultry and humid, Badrinath, who rode on the bike with us otherwise, would switch to one of the two cars that accompanied the team as support vehicle. At times, there were delays when a bike broke down or a rider fell ill,' she recalls. Mani adds, 'On the leg from Nagpur to Guna through a forest stretch, we rode long into the night and couldn't find food. But through it all, we felt a higher power guiding us. Often, someone would appear just when we needed help. Other Royal Enfield bikers, whom we networked with, assisted us in finding service stations throughout the journey. People who came to know of our mission welcomed us warmly. In Hyderabad, we were treated to a five-star lunch. Our accommodation was mostly in auditoriums, ashrams, or sometimes open grounds.'
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kanchi Acharya releases Tamil translation of books published by The Hindu Group on Mahaswamigal
The pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya, on Tuesday released the Tamil translations of two volumes of the book published by The Hindu Group titled, 'Embodiment of Truth - Kanchi Mahaswami' (Unmayin Avatharam - Kanchi Mahaswami), at the Kanchi Mutt's branch in Tirupati. He appreciated The Hindu Group for its role in bringing the teachings and discourses of the 68th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal, to the public. He said the two volumes were published in English earlier, and based on requests from devotees, the Tamil version had been published. The Shankaracharya said the book detailed Mahaswamigal's life, spiritual journeys, public discourses, teachings, and the widespread reception he received, which were compiled from news reports and photographs published in The Hindu. It also includes his personal experiences with Mahaswamigal, the Shankaracharya said. Close relationship Further, the Shankaracharya highlighted the close relationship between the Kanchi Mutt and The Hindu Group, recalling Mahaswamigal's visit to The Hindu office. The first and second copies of the books were received by Prof. Devanathachariar of the National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, and P. Vaidyanathan, Chairman, Integrated Enterprises, respectively. Prior to the release, special rituals were held at the Kamakshi Amman temple in Kancheepuram and Mahaswamigal's Adhishtanam at Kanchi Mutt. The price of the two volumes is ₹799. As a limited period launch offer, the two volumes are priced at ₹599. Readers can get the copies by visiting The Hindu bookstore website:
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hindu religious leaders condemn Allahabad HC remark that Puranas written on hearsay
Key religious leaders, including Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath and Mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani Akhara, have condemned the recent judgment of the Allahabad High Court in which it had declined to make Radha a party in the disputed Krishna Janabhoomi structure in Mathura stating that 'Puranas' were written on hearsay. In its order dated May 23, a bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, while hearing a petition that pleaded to make Hindu goddess Radha a joint holder of the disputed Krishna Janambhoomi property, said that the reference given by the petitioner is based on something written in the Puranas and Samhitas wherein Shriji Radha Rani is considered as soul of Lord Krishna. 'The Pauranic illustrations are generally considered as hearsay evidence in legal context. In the case of Pauranic illustrations, these are graphic representations of stories and events and the truth of events they depict is usually based on narrative and not on direct observation or testimony. There is no evidence in support of the claim raised by the applicant that the applicant is entitled as a joint holder of said land of 13.37 acres, and the property of the applicant is also involved in suit property claimed by the plaintiff No. 1 as the birthplace of Lord Krishna,' the court said. 'Ignorance' Reacting to the court's remarks, Avi Mukteshwaranand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, said that the remarks made by the judge shows his ignorance on the religion. 'The judge must remember the Ram Janambhoomi case in which the Supreme Court has accepted the statements written in Skanda Puran and other religious texts of the Hindu religion and gave the property to Ram Lalla,' said the Shankaracharya in a video message. He added that the legal system in India, as per the past orders of the Supreme Court, has to accept the Hindu religious texts when the matter is related to Hindu rights and structures. 'Puranas are scientific' Speaking to the media, Kailashanand Giri, Mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani, also criticised the HC's remarks and said that Puranas are completely authenticated and scientific. 'The judge has the full right to decide based on his discretion, but he also has the responsibility to maintain the trust of the people. He said that we believe in God only on the basis of what is written in the Puranas. He said that we believe in God only on the basis of what is written in the Puranas. We see the form of Lord Ram and Krishna through it,' he added. Jitendranand Saraswati, general secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, said that every scripture of Sanatan Dharma including the character of Lord Ram has been termed as 'myth' by the people in the past but they were proven wrong. 'Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran and Gita both are part of the Mahabharat. We cannot say that they were written on hearsay. The HC has said something like this it should reconsider its view,' he added. Slamming the High Court, the Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, Swami Yatindranand Giri said that in a religious dispute, such religious texts are quoted while pointing out that 'Puranas', 'Vedas' and 'Upanishad' are the 'granths'. He also said that courts must think twice before hurting the religious sentiments of people.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt to enhance Puri seer's security
Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Friday decided to enhance security for Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati considering the present situation in the country following the Pahalgam terror attack. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The announcement came after a high-level meeting presided over by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi. In a written statement, the CMO stated, "The chief minister has emphasized to strengthen the security arrangements for the revered Jagadguru Puri Shankaracharya and his Govardhan mutt. Protection of the Shankaracharya, security and preservation of Govardhan mutt and its development were thoroughly discussed in the meeting." Puri Shankaracharya currently enjoys Z category protection. A senior police officer present in the meeting, said, "Though there is no immediate threat to the top seer, the chief minister has directed the state level security committee headed by the home secretary to reassess the threat perceptions and upgrade the scale of deployment." Police sources indicate a decision will soon be taken whether to elevate Shankaracharya's security from Z to Z-Plus category or increase personnel within the existing security framework.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Interfaith resilience in Kashmir after Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor
The serene Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, in Kashmir was turned into a bloody scene of horror on April 22, 2025 when five terrorists gunned down 26 tourists, in a religiously motivated attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility, and the immediate motive was to disrupt Kashmir's growing tourism and emerging normalcy. India's response as Operation Sindoor, that was launched on May 7, targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Pakistan's state support to shield the terrorist bases targeted by India saw launches of drones into India's territory. Albeit the drones and attacks from Pakistan were neutralised by India, fear and chaos became the order of the day in Kashmir. Inter faith harmony in Kashmir also became a testing ground. However, what one needs to factor in, is Kashmiriyat, which has stood several tests in the past and has emerged successful as a beacon of interfaith harmony and hope. Kashmir has long been a tapestry of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist traditions, and it has been embodied in Kashmiriyat- a cultural ethos of coexistence. Hindu temples like Shankaracharya and Sufi shrines like Hazratbal have coexisted, and drawn devotees from across lines of religion and faith. However, the insurgency in the 1990s and the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits strained the fabric. In recent years, owing to proactive measures taken by India, progress has been seen, with increasing tourism and elections signalling stability, until the terrorist attack in Pahalgam threatened to reignite communal fears. The terrorists' demands on April 22, from the victims to recite the Islamic Kalima before killing non-Muslims was a deliberate attempt to divide Kashmir's unity. Survivors returned to their homes to describe the terror of bullets ringing out in the 'mini-Switzerland' of Pahalgam. The death of 25 Indians and one Nepali sparked outrage and fear alike, with some social media posts fuelling anti-Muslim sentiments. Some Kashmiris even faced harassment in other parts of India, and the attack's economic toll was immediate. Tourist destinations were closed, and Air India had to add flights to evacuate tourists from Kashmir. Despite the provocation, Kashmiris rejected the divisive ideology of the terrorists, and protests erupted in Srinagar, Pulwama and Anantnag with protestors from across religious divides, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians condemning the terrorist attack as a blow to Kashmiriyat. Interfaith prayer vigils and the Bharat Ekta March underscored national unity. The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, condemned Pakistan, and how it went out of the way to target Indian civilians. The government cracked down on inflammatory posts on X, flagged divisive content and even civilians continuously added community notes on X to call out divisive and communal behaviour. All of this reflected a collective resolve to protect Kashmir's pluralistic identity. When Operation Sindoor was launched, leaders like Goa's chief minister Pramod Sawant emphasised that the target was terrorism, and not any country or faith. The operation's precision, avoiding Pakistani military sites, earned praise from leaders across political divides, including Rahul Gandhi and Nitish Kumar. The delegation from India, slated to visit and brief key global capitals on its stance against Pakistan sponsored terrorism also is from across parties and across religious lines--a symbol of what India truly is, a united country of many diversities. However, Pakistan's retaliatory drone strikes and shelling, killing civilians in Poonch raised fears of escalation. The ceasefire after Pakistan's DGMO dialled India's DGMO, after Pakistan's terror facilities were hit, restored calm, but challenges still remain. Tourism, a lifeline for Kashmir's economy has plummeted, with Union minister K Ram Mohan Naidu pledging to revive it. Fears of communal discord persist, but can be allayed with sustained dialogue, and continued blocking of misinformation needs to be prolonged. The Pahalgam attack is an example of how Pakistan and terrorists supported by it, see India--as a country fractured on religious lines. However, India's response and Kashmir's in particular, through the emphasis on interfaith solidarity, the unified protests and a targeted military operation, show India's strength as a country which is a unity in diversity. This demonstrated resilience needs to continue, and as Kashmir navigates the aftermath, continued government support, community dialogue and economic revival are crucial. Kashmiriyat, though tested, endures as a beacon of hope. It has proven in the past that unity can triumph over hate, and it will yet again prove the same whenever needed. This article is authored by Sriparna Pathak, professor, China Studies and International Relations, Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
