Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple treasure : Documentation panel to follow world standards

Paush Shukla Chaturdashi, Kaliyug Varsha 5113

Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) : The committee, appointed by the Supreme Court on scientific documentation of treasures locked up in the vaults of famed Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple here will be following standards set up by the International Council of Museum in carrying out the task entrusted to it.

"We want to carry out the mandate entrusted to us in a thorough and foolproof manner applying the latest technology and protocol. We have before us the standard procedures followed by the International Council of Museums. But we will strive to improve on them," panel co-ordinator and eminent conservationist Dr M V Nair said.

The Supreme Court had yesterday agreed to Kerala's request for appointment of Nair as co-ordinator of the expert committee to evaluate the wealth in place of former bureaucrat C V Anand Bose, who recently retired from service.

Nair said the panel's job included categorization of the invaluable objects found in 'kallaras' (vaults) of the sprawling temple into three -- those required for daily poojas and rituals of the temple, those which were not required for daily use and those which could be exhibited in a museum.

After inventorying and examining the priceless treasures, the panel would make suggestions whether some of the objects could be exhibited in a museum, and if so, whether within the temple premises or outside, he said.

While making the assessment and drawing up the report the panel would factor in the academic potential of the wealth for future research and studies on topics linked to history, culture and heritage, Nair said.

The state electronic devices manufacturer Keltron had been asked to provide the equipment required for the job.

"We have asked them to ensure the precision and quality of the equipment so that the job could be carried out in an error-free manner adhering to international standards, preferably better than them", Nair said.

He said the committee proposed to start the job at the earliest after a joint meeting with the overseeing committee headed by former Kerala High Court judge M N Krishnan.

The committee headed by Krishnan had opened and inventoried five of the six vaults last year as ordered by the apex court.

Though the panel had conducted the job in a confidential manner and not made any public statement on the value of the treasure, their money valued has been widely speculated to exceed Rs 1 lakh crore.
Source : Indian Express

Petition to save Shiva Temple at Tanjavur

Shravan Krushna Ekadashi

Today Archeological Survey of India is destroying the Big Temple (Shiva Temple) in Tanjavur, as it has been given to untrained contractors for conservation. But now these contractors are destroying the Temple as they don't the complexity of structure.

Click below link and Sign online petition to save Shiva Temple at Tanjavur

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tanjavurtemple/

Brihadisvara (Shiva) Temple in Tanjavur

Imminent Danger to Tanjavur Big Temple

By G.P.Srinivasan

ASI (Archelogical Survey of India), department under Government of India, has been engaged in renovation work in the Brihadisvara Temple, popularly known as the Big temple for the past one thousand year. This is the present state of parts of the temple after the so called renovation . (Please See Photos http://janajaati.blogspot.com/... ). In the name of conservation many valuble inscriptions, pillars, manadapam, shrines and original art have been destroyed beyond repair and rendered beyond recovery leading to irreparable loss to the great Hindu heritage.

The temple was apparently built like a jig saw puzzle. Each stone was weighed and balanced precisely vis-a-vis the whole complex structure; selected strictly according to agamas and shilapasastra and assembled like a mammoth jig saw puzzle. One has to know high level geometry and complex trignometry, material sciences and ancient temple architecture to understand the complex temple.

Last year when the ASI dismantled some portions of the huge complex by untrained contractors, who were never trained in ancient methods of construction technology adopted by the King for constructing the Temple. Now they are having a tough time, as seen from the piles of wreckage which they dismantled for conservation, but now do not know how to do it !

ASI lacks the skills technology and the minute care adopted in foreign countries for conservation. The temple complex resembles a war torn zone like Iraq. The temple has been reduced to piles of broken pillars and beams. This ancient temple, which withstood the test of time, many floods, rains and earthquakes, is in imminent danger. Please read further. It is shocking to note the marks of granite cutters . They have been used to remove blocks of stone called lotus motifs that adorn the outside walls of the huge temple.

Rajarajeswaram more popularly known as the Big Temple (at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India), was built a millennium ago by the Chola emperor Raja Raja I. The UNESCO has declared it as a World Heritage monument. It is completely under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. The Tanjavur Palace Devastanam is in charge of the temple's religious administration only. It is a treasure-house of art, architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance; fosters the traditional Vedic and Agamic culture. It is hailed as the Devalaya Chakravarti. During the last one year systematic vandalism is taking place within the sacred premises of this great shrine in the name of conservation. Millennium- old inscriptions are getting shattered into smithereens. This is done under the blessed auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India. Portions of the Northern circumambulatory mandapam, the upapeetam and the athishtanam of the Maha Mandapam as also the inner part of the Sri Vimana are systematically destroyed in the name of restoration.

The circumambulatory mandapam was built by the Emperor's General known as Krishnan Raman alias Mummudi Chola Brahamaraya. A good many inscriptions were etched on the pillars, walls and basement.Alas, the pillars treasuring these inscriptions, the cross-beams of the roof and also the ceiling stones have been broken to bits and thrown away. Replacement through fresh stones is at work. These new stones bear no comparison to the old ones at all. Moreover, the stones laid as foundation by Raja Raja have been uprooted, dismantled and carted away. It is said, lorry loads of stones have been sold secretly. In addition to dismantling the stones in the adhistanam and upapeetam pertaining to Mahamandapam, granite-cutters have substantially damaged the Kumudappadai, thus in the process weakening the building. The inner plastering of the Sri Vimana had been totally removed as a consequence of which rain water seeps into the building and utterly spoils the ancient paintings. As the protecting nets in the Sri Vimana have been removed, the Sri Vimana has become as asylum of bats.

Also See

1. Save Temples from Government
2. Learn Hinduism

Temples Takeover Act

Protest March against Temple Takeover Act	Meeting with temple trusts (See all photos)

Maharashtra Government's Ploy to take over all Temples: Mosques Excluded

The Congress united front government running the Maharashtra State, has made it bankrupt and is now planning to take over 4,50,000 temples and all religious institutions in the State. As per the recommendations of '15th Law Commission' formed under the chairmanship of Shri. D. N. Chaudhury, the State Government is planning to pass a law to this effect. The 'secular' (?) State Government has excluded all the mosques, Durgahs and madarassas registered with the Wakf Board.

How will this impact?

1. Government may take control of trusts. (4,50,000 temples)
   
2. All the mosques, Durgahs and Madarassas registered with the Wakf Board are excluded.
   
3. The state will decide how trust money will be spent.
   
4. The trusts now contribute 2 per cent of their gross income to run the Charity Commissioner's Office. If the new law is passed, that may go up to 8 per cent.
   
5. There should be three trustees per trust. One will be appointed by the government.
   
6. All income should be in a common fund, there should be no lifetime trustees, each trustee should be liable (not just the trust) and donations must be approved by the charity commissioner.
   

Source: Temple trusts prepare for battle royale
Hindustan Times, Mumbai Edition (28 Sept 06, Page 6)

False Reasoning by Government

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh ordered the drafting of a new law after a stampede killed 267 people at Mandradevi Temple in Satara in January 2005. The Maharashtra Temples or Religious Institutions (Management and Regulation) Bill will come soon in the cabinet. The Government has put forth the reason that planning and utilization of temple funds is not done properly and therefore, the above Law is proposed.

True reasons for proposing this law -

1. Government has become bankrupt and it is willing to utilize money offered by devotees to conceal its failure.
2. Government is taking over only wealthy temple trusts and ignoring the trusts which actually need the finicial support.
3. Congress and maxist governments have misused the temple funds in various states including Maharashtra. Read more

Misuse of temple funds and power

1. Siddhivinayak scam

On the contrary to this new law, it is a known fact that there are malpractices and mismanagement of funds belonging to Siddhivinayak Temple Trust which is under the control of the Government. The said Trust managed by the Government is giving donations of crores of rupees, holding meetings in seven star hotels thus playing with the feelings of devotees and wasting money donated by devotees. For the last 26 weeks (as of 10-Oct-06), on every Tuesday HJS is holding demonstrations in front of the temple against the said malpractices.
Read more about Siddhivinayak Scam

2. Temple funds utilized for Haj and Madarsssas

Statement of Temple Collections & Utilization 1997-2002. (data received from the Revenue section of Tourism & Temples, Govt of Karnataka, excerpts from an article by Anjali Patel dated 29/10/2003 ( Figures in Crores.)

Year	Temple Nos	Temple Revenue	Temple Expenses	Madrassa, Haj	% of Revenue	Church	Others	Others Description
1997	2,64,000	52.3	17.3	9.3	18	3.0	22.8	Rural,women development.
1998	2,67,073	58.3	16.5	14.3	25	5.0	22.6	Health Rural.
1999	2,67,000	67.3	15.0	27.0	41	8.0	17.3	N.A.
2000	2,62,038	69.9	13.7	35.0	50	8.0	13.2	Haj Victims
2001	2,54,038	71.6	11.5	45.0	63	10.0	5.1	N.A.
2002	2,51,012	72.0	10.0	50.0	69	10.0	2.0	N.A.
Total		391.4	84.0	180.6	20.7	44.0	83.0
$Mill		87.0	18.7	40.1		9.8	18.4

$ are in Million Dollars exchange rate Rs 45 to a dollar.
"There are as many as 2,07,000 temples in Karnataka and the total income of these temples amounts to Rs 72 crore only a sum of Rs. 6 crores is being spent by the Government for their upkeep. On the other hand, the Government spent a phenomenal amount of Rs.50 crores for the madrasas and Rs.10 crores for the churches, and for the Hindu temples only a partly sum of Rs.6 crores is being spent". - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living Foundation) from Arsha Vidya Newsletter of Dec 2003).
Ref: http://www.esamskriti.com/

3. Evangelism in Tirupati (Tirumala)

Read more....

4. Maxists takeover the temples in Kerala: Churches, Mosques excluded

The Marxist government in Kerala has dismantled the Hindu Devasom Boards and introduced new law for the complete take over of Hindu Temples in Kerala. Under the new law, Marxist government can appoint atheist, non practicing Hindus as temple managers and administrators. Government will have the ultimate control of managing temple workers, temple funds and distribution of funds. The goals are to loot Hindu temple funds and confiscate temple property. The new law will also helps Marxists to destroy Hindu culture, demoralize devotees and please their Muslim and Christian political partners.
Read more…

5. A Report on The Plight of Hindu Temples in Bharat

Andhra Pradesh:

• AP State Government maintains 70,000 Employees State Endowment board supported with 15-18% of income from every Hindu temple in the state. Below are abuses under its Evangelical Christian Chief Minister YSR.
  
• In 2006, Government attempted to take over 5 out of 7 Tirumala Hills of 650 year old Tirumala Temple for Church and Tourism Purposes.
  
• In March 2006, government demolished the 1000 pillar Mantapam at Tirumala.
  
• YSR's son blew up a temple. Recently 10 temples were demolished for a golf course.
  
• The charge that 85% percent of revenues from TTD be transferred to state exchequer was not denied by the state government.
  
• JRG Wealth Management Limited, a Christian organization, was given the contract to procure"Prasadam" materials for TTD.
  
• TTD has to contribute 22 million Rupees annually to a common good fund.
  
• Of the 420,028 acres owned by Temples in Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, Kurnool, Warangal and Hyderabad, 60,843 acres were allowed to be occupied illegally while 2,349 acres are in litigation. With a staff of over 70,000 in the Endowment Department, there seems to be a lack of initiative to take real steps to prevent illegal occupation.
  
• On November 23, 2005, the government decided to take complete control of Hindu mutts such as Hathiramji of Tirupati, Raghavendra Swamy mutt in Mantralayam, billions of rupees.
  
• In August 2005, government decided to sell 100,000 acres of Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam and other nearby Temples.
  
• On March 14, 2006, government auctioned 3,000 acres of Temple lands in East Godavari District.
  
• Govt. added a 50% surcharge on Maha Shivaratri day to make it difficult for poor Hindu devotees to visit temples.
  
• Govt. allocates 11 million Rupees to Churches for their repairs and renovations.
  
• Govt. allocates 65 million Rupees to Mosques for their repairs and renovations.
  
• Per 8/22/2006 GO 21, Govt. allocated Rs. 80,000 for each church for it's repairs and renovations and 15 million Rupees for constructing a new church.
  
• On December 18, 2006, the state government announced that it is considering giving subsidy for Christians to travel to Bethlehem.
  

Karnataka:

• Most of the money received from temples is diverted to Muslims and Christians.
  e.g., in 2003, 790 million Rupees were generated from about 200,000 temples. From that, Temples received only 71 million Rupees while madarsas and hajj subsidy received.591.5 million Rupees and Churches received 127.5 million Rupees.
  
• Diversion of Temple money to other religious organizations could cause as many as 50,000 of the 260,000 temples in Karnataka to close down within five years.
  
• Many ancient temples are in extremely poor condition, and their managements and priests carp about inadequate funds. Even salaries are not disbursed regularly, and priests are forced to survive on donations made by devotees in the Aarti plate.
  
• All the hereditary Temples and Mutts have to contribute 5% of their revenues to the Government.
  
• In November 2006, the state government announced a grant of 30 million Rupees for the construction of a Hajj House (for Muslims).
  

Tamil Nadu:

Sri Shankaracharya was arrested on false charges, installed the statues of anti Hindu Periyar in front of Sri Rangapatnam Temple against the will of Hindus and High Court, and illegally encroached on the Temple lands.

Kerala:

• Guruvayur Temple money was diverted to other governmental projects denying the improvements for 45 Hindu Temples.
  
• Church-backed encroachers occupied "huge areas of forest land, running into more than a million acres near Sabarimala while the government denied the permission to use few acres to provide amenities to Ayyappa devotees.
  
• Diluted the rituals at Sabarimala and levied taxes on the income of the Temples.
  
• Grabbed the forest land of Ayyappa Temple.
  
• No state government since independence had ever dared to take over one single church or mosque or just one Rupee of their income or an inch of their vast land holdings. As a result, Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) is formed to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples, mutts, peethams, endowments, Trusts and other institutions globally. To achieve this objective, GHHF will take the necessary and appropriate actions against all laws, policies, and activities undertaken by any government, which undermine the existence of the Temples. The ultimate goal is to ensure all the Hindu Temples and other Hindu institutions become independent of state government control. GHHF is currently taking steps to challenge the Endowment Act in the High Court and Supreme Court. To this end, GHHF established an organization in the name of Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samiti in Hyderabad on December 8, 2006.
  

Courtesy: V. V. Prakasa Rao, 601-856-4783 H/ 601-918-7111; Prasad
Yalamanchi 630-832-2665; Vinay Boppana 248-842-6964;
Satyanarayan Dosapati 732-939-2060.
E-mail: dharmasanatana@gmail.com.

Attacks on temples in Goa : GMDSM & HJS delegation meets new Police Commissioner

Know more about the demon of 'Love Jihad'

Mandir Mahasangh and HJS delegation meets new Police Commissioner of Goa, Dr. Arya

Panaji (Goa): A joint delegation representing Mandir Mahasangh and Hindu janajagruti Samiti (HJS) met the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, DR. Arya with a view to create awareness in him about the repeated thefts and other attacks on temples in Goa. The delegation handed over a memorandum demanding to stop the attacks on temples. Women activists of Ranaragini wing of HJS handed over another memorandum to Dr. Arya, asking him to stop  ‘Love Jihad’ by Muslims which is instrumental in alluring the Hindu young girls and forcing them to bear their beastly attitudes once they are under their full control.

Mr. Chandrakant (Bhai) Pandit, president of Mahasangh,  Mr. Jayesh Thali, co-ordinator of Goa State, Secretary Mr. Narayan Rathavad, Mr. Raj Borkar, Mr. Prasanna Dhage, Mr. Niranjan Chodankar, HJS co-ordinator of Goa State, Mr. Rajesh Korgaokar, Mr. Sushant Dalvi, Mrs. Rajashri Gadekar of Ranaragini Wing of HJS, Mrs. Sudha Gavde, were present at the venue. Dr. Arya told the delegates that he was studying the matter regarding the thefts and other attacks on temples and assured them that due steps were going to be taken to stop them from recurring. He also assured the delegates that he was going to instruct the police officers to be alert as far as ‘Love Jihad’ was concerned.

Goa : Shri Vitthal Mandir plundered again, Rs. 50,000 stolen by breaking donation box !

This is the bad time that Sanatan has been talking about for the past 11  years !

The series of temple thefts started in the rule of Congress is being continued in the rule BJP too !

Mudgaon (Goa) : Yesterday, more than Rs. 50,000/- were stolen from Shri Vitthal Mandir at Komba, Mudgaon.  The robbers broke open the donation box for stealing the amount. Mr. Sharmad Raiturkar, local BJP leader paid visit to the place of incident today morning. This is the second incident of theft in recent times.

Yesterday, thieves entered the temple by breaking ventilator fan of the temple in the night. Considering the narrow width of the gap, it is assumed that the thief must be very thin or a small boy.

Thieves took away notes of Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1000/- denomination only. Rest of the amount i.e. from Rs. 1 to other cash was not touched. Mr. Uday Mhapsekar, a local resident has lodged a complaint with the police in this case. Police tried to trace the thief on hearing this news with the help of dogs and the finger-print experts too tried to find the culprits. Mr. Sharmad Raiturkar of BJP said, “The Government should take firm action against the incidents of thefts taking place in temples. The Government is responsible to provide security to temples; therefore, it should provide security gadgets like CCTV cameras etc. to financially weak temples. I am going to take up the issue with the Government.” 
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat

Goa : Gomantak Mandir Mahasangh demands CM to safeguard temples

Demands to safeguard temples, CM assures to look into the matter

From Our Correspondent

Panaji (Goa) : Gomantak Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh (GMDSM) made a demand by meeting the Chief Minister, Shri. Manohar Parrikar, stating that, during the time of Congress ruling the state, there were various attacks on temples in Goa, like destruction of desecration of idols of deities, temple thefts, and conspiracy to demolish temples by stating them illegal with the pretext of SC guidelines etc. BJP-MGP government should put in efforts to stop such attacks on temples. While giving a reply to the delegates, Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar said that, the Government had collected information regarding the desecration of idols of deities, temple thefts etc. All these cases will be investigated. He also gave an assurance to the delegates that this things are not going to repeat.


            The delegation of the GMDSM comprised of Shri. Chadrakant (Bhai) Pandit, Shri. Rajkumar Desai, Shri. Jayesh Thali, Shri. Prasnna Dhage and Sua. Rajashri Gadekar of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). GMDSM submitted memorandum to the CM demnadin safeguarding of the temples. Memorandum says that, since year 2004, about 35 incidents desecration of idols of deities has occurred and hundreds of idols of deities have been desecrated. About 5 crores of rupees have been looted through temple theft incidences in last 5 years in the state. Still criminals are scot free. In order to give protection to temples police patrol should be increased as it was before and signatures of the police on duty on the Register should be made mandatory. A Task Force for the protection of temples and ghumti’s should be established at Taluka level just as there is Security Force established for protecting tourists. There is still uncertainty regarding demolishing of temples and ghumti’s by stating them as illegal under the pretext of Supreme Court’s judgement. While resolving the issues regarding the religious places not only legal aspect but also the aspect of religious sentiments should be taken into account. In order to settle sensitive issues like those of religious places, a coordinating committee comprising members of all religions should be established. The meetings of the public and police should be restarted to create understanding between the public and the police. ‘Reginal Plan 2021’ prepared by the former Government had no reference to various temples and religious places which enraged the devotees. Hence the Government should make arrangements to stop recurrence of such incidents.

Hindus wake up! History of desecration of Hindu temple idols is repeating!!

Introduction

During the era of Portuguese invasion in Goa, the Portuguese compelled the Hindus to convert to Christianity. They committed horrible atrocities on the Hindus, attacked their temples and desecrated the temple idols to create terror in their minds. Goa has a black history of the infamous inquisition. After a couple of years, Goa will celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence. However, it is sad to note that desecration of idols of Hindu Deities and Saints continue to occur. Till date, 15 such desecration incidents have occurred in Goa during the period from August 2004 to September 2008 at places viz. Sanguem, Curchorem, Bambolim, Ponda, Chodan, Quepem, Panaji, etc., but not even a single culprit has been booked in all the above cases. By destroying the idols, these heretics are trying to ruin the faith of Hindus in their Deities, Saints and Dharma. The Congress Govt. in Goa is also neglecting such serious incidents!
In view of the increasing incidences of idol desecration in Goa, several Hindu organisations, temple trustees and devotees came together to form the Akhil Goa Mandir Suraksha Samiti (AGMSS). The AGMSS is instrumental in creating awareness amongst the masses to curb the deplorable series of desecration of idols of Hindu Deities and Saints in Goa. The RSS, Bajarang Dal, Padmanabh Sect Trust, various trustees of devotees of different temples of Goa, Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti have been instrumental in forming the AGMSS. An important feature of AGMSS is that, right from its inception, its activities are being guided by H.H. Bramheshanand Swamiji, Pithadeesh of Padmanabh Sect, Tapobhoomi, Kundaim, Goa. Till date, the AGMSS has conducted around 50 meetings in almost all Talukas of the State and one state level mass public gathering in the capital of the State to achieve its objective. Both, the above meetings and the gathering have received a spontaneous response from devotees all over the State.
The AGMSS, a state-level organisation, is backed by around 700 representatives of 400 temples of Goa. The overwhelming response received by the AGMSS’ activities itself is evident of its noble intent. The repercussion of AGMSS’ awareness programs is that any incident of idol desecration occurring now is promptly and strongly protested by devotees.

Horrible photos of the desecration

Tiles with Lord Ganesh image destroyed	Lord Ganesh idol leg vandalized
Shivling vandalized (Photo 1)	Lord Rakhandev idol vandalized (Photo 2)

For more photos click here Link 1 & Link 2
(Note: Photos published here only for awareness purpose.)
'Akhil Goa Mandir Suraksha Samiti' ( AGMSS) is arranging the exhibitions of
these photos in Goa. HJS is the part of AGMSS. Read details about the exhibition