Swami Agnivesh

[hehehewalrus]

Outspoken, fearless and looking for change, this dynamic swami champions the oppressed in the spirit of Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Swami Agnivesh became a successful professor of business and law in his early twenties, despite being born into poverty. At the age of 28, he dedicated his life to India's masses and became a sannyasin in the tradition of the Arya Samaj, founded by Dayananda Saraswati. Hinduism Today's publisher, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, had a congenial meeting with Swami Agnivesh during the Millennium Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders conducted at the United Nations in August, and Swami later visited Subramuniyaswami in Hawaii.


http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archive...agnivesh.shtml

[hehehewalrus]

Temples of the Holy Become Coffers for the Greedy
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=26415


NEW DELHI, Nov 24 (IPS) - The recent arrest of a highly influential Hindu cleric - regarded as Hinduism's Pope - on murder charges has exposed the huge wealth amassed by India's temples, religious institutions and shrines.

Adherents of the right-wing, pro-Hindu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believe that religious institutions and their heads should be allowed to function free of interference from the government. But others are demanding that temple books should be open to state auditors because the country has secularism as the cornerstone of its constitution.

Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI), a partner in the Congress-led secular coalition that defeated the BJP in the May elections, have been particularly vocal in demanding that the vast sums of money donated by the devout to the various religious 'charities' be accounted for.

The cleric, Jayendra Saraswathi, was arrested on Nov. 11 by police in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on allegations that he ordered the gruesome murder in September of his temple accountant. The dead former employee, Sankararaman, was a strong critic of the religious leader and he threatened to expose Saraswathi's diversion of some five billion dollars from the temple's coffers.

Saraswathi is the 'Shankaracharya' of Kanchi and heads one of the five seats of Hinduism in India. He also leads the Kanchi Shankara Mutt, an influential religious establishment.

In the meantime, Saraswathi's arrest has also turned deeply contentious with top leaders of the BJP including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee launching a nation- wide agitation on Sunday to secure his release from custody.

But there are those who believe that no one, no matter how high, should be above the law. And the charismatic Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa is one of them - a co- star and political heir of the late actor and politician M.G. Ramachandran.

Ramachandran built a lasting image for himself as a champion of the poor and downtrodden through his movie performances during the 60s and 70s.

But the 'Shankaracharya' has been quick to rally his supporters to condemn Jayalalithaa, accusing her of plotting to seize the wealth of his super-rich Kamakoti Peetham temple foundation.

But the chief minister denied she had ulterior motives and told the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly that she just wanted justice to be done in the Sankararaman murder case.

The fact of the matter is that institutions such as the Kamkoti Peetham not only attract vast sums of money but also bring in offerings in the form of gold ornaments and, at times, land endowments bequeathed by the faithful for answered prayers.

However, very little of this wealth trickles down to the millions of hungry Indians or the fund-starved education and health sectors.

''Hindus do not have the same idea of charity as do Muslims and Christians and would rather give to temples and religious institutions than donate to improve the lot of the poor,'' Yogendra Singh, one of India's leading sociologists told IPS.

One man who wants to see greater transparency and social accountability on the part of money-spinning temples and shrines is Swami Agnivesh.

Agnivesh dons the saffron robes of a 'sannyasi' or Hindu renunciate, and is attached to the Arya Samaj order. But he is internationally known for his work in helping stamp out bonded labour.

''There is no account for the billions of dollars that ordinary people pour into religious institutions and the only gauge of the funds at their disposal is the luxurious lifestyles maintained by people who pose as priests and godmen,'' said Agnivesh.

The 'Shankaracharya', now cooling his heels in the dismal dinginess of an Indian provincial Indian jail, was known travel around the country in chartered planes.

But such wantonness could change if the CPI and other like-minded political parties are able to push through legislation that would enable the channeling of temple funds into socially useful programmes for the poor.

''Money that is coming in the name of God, is good only if it is spent on the poor, but not otherwise,'' said Gurudas Dasgupta, a member of the CPI and leading trade union activist who, for one, would like to see a law that gives the government access some of the loot lying unproductive in temple vaults.

About the only temple in India that publicly accounts for its wealth is the Tirupati shrine in southern Andhra Pradesh which is controlled by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust with an income of 150 million U.S. dollars a year making it the second wealthiest religious body in the world after the Vatican.

But less than 20 percent of the Tirumala trust income goes into social and charitable activities according to a study called 'For God's Sake - Religious Charity and Social Development in India', done by the Indian Centre for Philanthropy.

Recently the trust approached the government with a peculiar problem.

The famous hilltop shrine had accumulated 8,000 kilograms of gold jewellery encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones placed at the foot of the idols and wanted permission to dispose off the treasure.

Normally, the trust collects daily at least 10 kilograms of gold, from the temple, placed at the shrine of Venkateshwara -- the deity that presides over Tirupati. It then melts it down into special 22-carat medallions to be sold as souvenirs.

But the law under which the trust was constituted does not allow sale of studded gold jewellery.

According to Agnivesh what is truly deplorable is the fact that not only the government but also people who contribute to the great wealth of religious shrines have no say in how their money is to be spent.

One man who dared ask questions, Sankararaman, was hacked to death in broad daylight by hired assassins within the premises of a temple in Kanchi town, with the killers later confessing to police that they were paid to do the job by a Hindu cleric known as the 'Shankaracharya'. (END/2004)

[Querida]

thank you for those informative article and summary Hehehewalrus...really you have done me a great service but also have put me in a quandary from your first ever topic posted....my periamma and family are all very strong believers in Sai Baba....and they are going to india to see him....I am very very close to them...and find myself unable to say a word...especially to my dear brother...i do not want to lose them because of this...they know i do not believe...and believe to an extent that i am westernized...and oddly still hold onto eastern's better values....but nevertheless when it comes down to me and faith...i somehow know that i will lose out...anyways keep up your posts they are always worthwhile to read....

[hehehewalrus]

Querida,
let them watch the videos and decide for themselves. Unless they do that they wont believe you even if u tell a 1000 times.

BTW a friend of mine who is a sai devotee(and sez she likes me though i dont have the same feelings!) said "no comments" on being shown the videos and refused to talk about it. that makes me feel she is twice as dumb

[geno]

Excellent Work Walrus!

My salutes to you dude!

Actually i was thinking of posting a sensational news item - regarding Swami Agnivesh's observations - on the arrest of Jayendra and the subsequent events - in the "Shankaracharya arrested in Kanjipuram" thread. But - i dont see it anywhere

I'll share it here!

Swami Agnivesh, the president of World federation of arya samaj - told some sensational stuff - about Jayendra - tonight on NDTV 24 x 7 news channel.

He said that - once he had queried Jayendra regarding - what he thought about "Untouchability" and the varnasramadharma.....

.....did jayendra think that they are integral to hindhu dharma or can be discarded? - Agnivesh quipped it seems.

To which Jayendra had asserted - that indeed untouchability and Varnasramadharma are "Hindu" dharmas and he wouldnt oppose them!!!.

And all these saffronite spin-doctors were shouting from their roof-tops that "Jayendra" was a representative of "hindus"!!!

It now seems he was representing only the "interests" of a minority section among the hindu community!!!

Now these saffronites have to come out and honestly answer the charges of am impeccable "Hindu Sanyasin" like Swami Agnivesh against Jayendra!

Swami Agnivesh - also went on to question :

1. Why sankara mutt does not have any Girl/female students? why women are not taught vEdAs? why still these archaic notions about thewoman?

2. Why non-brahmins are not taught in vEda pAta sAlAs of sankara mutt? why all that we see is brahmin boys around sankara mutt?

3. Why does not jayendra immediately resign after all these allegations? - he must IMMEDIATELY step down for the sake of the institution rather than compromising the institution for the individual

4. Why are the Other 4 (Original!) sankaracharyas - keeping mum on this issue?

5. Why should the sangh parivar say this arrest is an assault on hinduism when an individual is arrested? how can they equate a single individual with a great religion such as hinduism?

Swami Agnivesh also exhorted that "Criminalisation of Religion" - should be debated nation-wide openly - and that sanyasins who indulge in mafia politicking must be reprimanded!..

Answer Swami Agnivesh saffronites!

Every one now must have realised a "section" of Hindu community is simply trying to ordain itself as the "representatives" of Hindusim!!

The time has now come for that conspiratorial facade to be decisively exposed

[Sandeep]

1. Why sankara mutt does not have any Girl/female students? why women are not taught vEdAs? why still these archaic notions about thewoman?

- It is mutts prerogative. mutt doesnt use government money so we cannt force our will on them. Only people who fund the mutt can question it and they are not doing it

2. Why non-brahmins are not taught in vEda pAta sAlAs of sankara mutt? why all that we see is brahmin boys around sankara mutt?

-Same as above

3. Why does not jayendra immediately resign after all these allegations? - he must IMMEDIATELY step down for the sake of the institution rather than compromising the institution for the individual

- He should have. He was wrong not to do it.

4. Why are the Other 4 (Original!) sankaracharyas - keeping mum on this issue?

- They may not want to be involved in politics. After all it has become quiet political now.

5. Why should the sangh parivar say this arrest is an assault on hinduism when an individual is arrested? how can they equate a single individual with a great religion such as hinduism?

- Sangh parivar is wrong in doing this.

[geno]

1. Why sankara mutt does not have any Girl/female students? why women are not taught vEdAs? why still these archaic notions about thewoman?

- It is mutts prerogative. mutt doesnt use government money so we cannt force our will on them. Only people who fund the mutt can question it and they are not doing it

2. Why non-brahmins are not taught in vEda pAta sAlAs of sankara mutt? why all that we see is brahmin boys around sankara mutt?

-Same as above

Well i dont get this prerogative stuff!

The questioning arises since the mutt in question goes to town about how it is the "Representative" of Hindus - which means all sections of Hindus and not any particluar section.

So you mean to say - that Sankara mutt receives donations and patronage only from brahmins?

Of late, it has morphed into a political power center - coinciding with the rise of the sangh politics in india thru late 80s and early 90s till now.

And "Adhi sankara" is supposed to have created this mutt to "integrate" the various "philosophical" and "theological" schools of "hinduism"(?) - according to the sankara proponenets.

So, they are answerable to all the hindu people and not just to a particluar section.

I presume that since you are a Malayali from Kerala - you may not know thenitty-gritty details about the history and functions of the Kanchi mutt.

Anyway - the core contention of Swami Agnivesh - is very relevant and valid - and it is unfortunate if that is sought to be swept under the carpet of "prerogative" which is non-existent to the mutt.

The mutt is answerable to the general hindu populace - as it is not any private organisation.

And the mutt indeed comes under the HR & CE acts, and in case of extreme situations there are well-laid laws - the mutt can be guided by principles as set by the govt. laws.

And above all, the mutt has to function under indian constitution and laws - and any act which encourages, patronises or glorifies - "Untouchability" is a punishable crime under Indian laws!

It is better to keep that in mind!

[Querida]

dumb is a bit harsh ....but yeah if she likes you then she should at least gone to the extent of sharing her reaction...whatever it was...

[Sandeep]

So you mean to say - that Sankara mutt receives donations and patronage only from brahmins?

The donators (brahmin or non-brahmin) can influence the mutt. If they dont agree with the mutt they should stop supporting the mutt. Which they are not doing.

So, they are answerable to all the hindu people and not just to a particluar section.

Only thing a Hindu can do is decide whether to follow the mutt or not. If mutt doesnt answer to a Hindus he should not support them thats all.

And the mutt indeed comes under the HR & CE acts, and in case of extreme situations there are well-laid laws - the mutt can be guided by principles as set by the govt. laws.

And above all, the mutt has to function under indian constitution and laws - and any act which encourages, patronises or glorifies - "Untouchability" is a punishable crime under Indian laws!

Agreed, but you too will agree there is enough loop holes in these laws. For instance every individual has right to say "dont touch me" as long as he doesnt use caste reference. Untouchability is followed in every temple(at least in kerala) most of which are run by govt (Congress and Maxist).

[geno]

Agreed, but you too will agree there is enough loop holes in these laws. For instance every individual has right to say "dont touch me" as long as he doesnt use caste reference. Untouchability is followed in every temple(at least in kerala) most of which are run by govt (Congress and Maxist).

Sandeep,

In thamizhnaadu, no temple can openly propagate "untouchability" and if they do that - lakhs of periyarists would immediately launch an agitation and hold meetings in front of thos temples and pressurise the erring persons to reform or deter from "daring" to propagate untouchability.

But yes, there is untouchability in some of the practices of the temples - like only brahmins are allowed to go into sanctum sanctorum of some temples, and some temples can have only brahmins as priests - like that.

But TN is very unlike kerala - in that we have "Tamed the fox" to a large extent!

But still, the central point is - anyone who is a Hindu can question the Sankara mutt if it discriminates against him/her, since the funds of Sankara mutt are not in the private domain - it is open to public scrutiny.

And if it s found that the practices, customs, funds and activities of the sankara mutt - are heavily discriminatory against non-brahmins, the government CAN intervene and even take over - the running of the mutt.

No private or public organisation - can take umbrage in "vEdAs" or "vEdAntAs" - to propagate blatant myths, and indulge in ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL acts of discrimination and untouchability.

If they arrogate themselves to that kind of notion, then perhaps what happened in Vaikom under Periyar would happen in kanchi!