SourceUSA, November 21, 2004: This latest essay by Rajiv Malhotra explores the validity of the oft-repeated claim that “Hinduism is the same as other religions.” From his earlier writings (Problematizing God’s Interventions in History: here), Malhotra had classified religious movements as History-Centric and non History-Centric. According to Malhotra: “The former are contingent on canonical beliefs of their sacred history. Non…
SourceKANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, November 19, 2004: A local court on Friday remanded Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati to three-day police custody for interrogation in a murder case. Passing orders on a police petition, First Class Judicial Magistrate G. Uttamaraja said the police custody would be from 12:05 pm Friday to 10:30 am on November 22. The Shankaracharya was arrested on November 11…
SourceRANCHI, INDIA, November 20, 2004: The BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK stands cut off following the way the Jayalalitha government in Tamil Nadu handled the arresting process of Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, party’s general secretary Rajnath Singh said here today. “The whole process (of the Tamil Nadu government) with regard to the Sankaracharya issue is unbecoming. So there is no more…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 20, 2004: The Madras High Court dismissed the bail application filed by the Kanchi seer, Jayendra Saraswathi, who was taken into custody on Novemeber 11 in connection with the murder of a Kancheepuram temple official on September 3 last. Giving his order on the bail application on Saturday evening, Justice R Balasubramaniam said “I am dismissing the…
HPIGUADELOUPE, FRANCE, November 20, 2004: Reunion Island is an overseas “department” of France. Its 745,000 residents are full citizens of France, and a significant number of them are of Hindu origin. Following their migration to Reunion in the 19th century, most, under strong pressure, became Roman Catholics. They have in recent decades been inspired toward a return to their Hindus…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 17, 2004: The Tamil Nadu police has shocking but solid information on the links of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi with the murderers of Sankararaman, J. Jayalalithaa told the state Assembly today. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister today broke her silence on the arrest by making a statement. Jayalalithaa said her Government had proved by the arrest that…
SourceLUCKNOW, INDIA, November 17, 2004: All Hindu temples here were shut after the morning prayers Wednesday to protest the arrest in Tamil Nadu of Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi. In Varanasi, some prominent holy men have threatened to immolate themselves if the seer who has been arrested on murder charges is not released immediately. In the Hindu holy town of Haridwar, some…
SourceKANCHIPURAM, INDIA, November 17, 2004: There are now fears that the allegations against the Shankaracharya could become an excuse to threaten the financial autonomy of the Kanchi math. Observers point out that the pitch for control of the math’s huge assets has been raised in recent weeks. Residents of the math are trying to get back as much as possible…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 17, 2004: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, ruled out taking over the administration of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt. “We do not have any sort of such thinking. The government has high regards for the 2,500-year-old mutt. The mutt should continue its tradition of preserving the Hindu religion,” she told, the state assembly in an obvious reference…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 17, 2004: The Madras High Court will resume hearing of the bail plea of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati tomorrow. The hearing was delayed by a few hours today after the public prosecutor sought time to study an additional affidavit filed by the seer’s counsel. The public prosecutor claimed that a copy of the affidavit was given to…