Husband lodges habeas corpus petition against wife’s mother

The Gwalior bench of a Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a judicial probe into the alleged detention of Poornima, wife of Dipak Chodria, in the Kotwali Police Station.

Poornima had lodged a complaint that she had not only been illegally detained, but also that the police misbehaved with her. However, C. Raghuvanshi informed the court that Poornima was brought to the station the previous morning to be produced in the High Court later.

The court had ordered the police to produce her in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by her husband that his mother-in-law was preventing his wife from meeting him. He said that he had married Poornima in an Arya Samaj mandir and that her family did not approve of the marriage.

Source - One India

Man commits suicide 7 months after Arya Samaj wedding

Vijay Rajput (25) of Shiv Katra, Kanpur, married Anjali in an Arya Samaj mandir as per Arya Samaj rites and committed suicide 7 months later.

He was living in a rented room near his parent's house while his wife lived with her parents in Dharshanpurwa.

Residents discovered his body hanging from the ceiling of his room and told the Chakeri police, who rushed to the spot and took him to a private nursing home. Unfortunately, Vijay could not be saved.

His family members point the finger of blame at his wife and in-laws. Vijay did not write any suicide note before he took his own life.

Source - Times of India

Punjab and Chandigarh High Court orders probe into Arya Samaj marriage certificates

The senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Chandigarh has been instructed to lead a probe and submit a report on the genuineness of the marriage certificates issued by Arya Samaj and Vedic Welfare Society, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh. 

Justice Hemant Gupta of Punjab and Haryana High court issued this order after taking into consideration four petitions filed by runaway couples demanding police protection from their relatives. 

The order reads: “It has come to my notice that, in four petitions, the petitioners are relying upon the marriage certificates issued by Arya Samaj and Vedic Welfare Society, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh. The photographs attached with all these petitions show the marriage ceremonies being performed in a room with makeshift havan kund. Chandigarh SSP is directed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on whether these marriages are genuine or not.” 

Earlier the high court had directed various institutions not to “commercialize marriage.” Some temples and gurudwaras were also prevented from solemnizing marriages. 

A few months ago, Justice L. N. Mittal had ordered Gurmeet Singh, the owner of a “gurudwara” to stop solemnizing marriages. The court was shocked to learn that Gurmeet Singh was solemnizing marriages in his living room, which he had converted into a gurudwara by placing a picture of Guru Granth Sahib in it and was issuing spurious marriage certificates to runaway couples.

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Bharathi College illegally constructed on Arya Samaj land – Lokananda

Somehow this news item, which had been published in Mangalore Mithr and Canara Times on May 10, 2010 had escaped my notice. The following is a rewritten version. 

On May 8, 2010, the current working committee of Mangalore Arya Samaj under the leadership of President M. Lokananda Devadiga called a press conference at the Mangalore Arya Samaj building on Arya Samaj Road, Balmatta and informed reporters that Shreemadjagadguru Shankaracharya Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji has constructed Bharathi College on land that belongs to the Arya Samaj. 

Honorary President Bhavani Shankar, President Lokananda, and Joint Secretary Dharmendra

Explaining the matter further, Lokananda said that the 3-acre plot of land, located at Nanthoor Padavu, where the Balakara Sevashrama is located, belongs to Arya Samaj. The Sevashrama is a sister organization of Arya Samaj, he said and added that the land has to be returned to the Arya Samaj in case of closure of the Ashram. Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji had secured this land on lease for a period of 99 years and laid the foundation for a college in 2003, which is illegal. The then President of Arya Samaj, Shri Krishna Kamath, filed a case against the seer and the legal battle is still on, said Lokananda. 

Accusing Home Minister V. S. Acharya and MLA Yogish Bhat of supporting the seer in spite of the fact that he has constructed a college building on Arya Samaj land and has inaugurated it last month in clear violation of the law, Mr. Lokananda further said that the seer has obtained the land on lease although there is no relationship between him and Arya Samaj. He has invested Rs. 80 lakh in the college and now intends to do business there, said Mr. Lokananda, accusing the seer of conspiring to grab the land illegally. 

Mr. Lokananda also accused Krishna Kamath, the previous president of Arya Samaj, of illegally attempting to dissolve the current working committee of Mangalore Arya Samaj. Accusing MLA Yogish Bhat of being involved in pressurizing the authorities to issue orders for the dissolution of the committee, he suspects the involvement of several people who are against the activities of the Arya Samaj, whose teachings and philosophy go against the traditional principles and practices. 

Regarding the dissolution of the committee, he said that Krishna Kamath, the president of Arya Samaj from 2003 – 2007, filed a petition with the district registrar stating that the present committee should be dissolved because he was still the president of the Arya Samaj.  The district registrar did not consider the petition then. However, the district registrar issued a notice on April 21 declaring the new committee as an ad-hoc committee despite the fact that he checks accounts every year and that Arya Samaj has paid the taxes and submitted the audits in 2009. Lokananda accused the former president of forging the letter head and seal of the Arya Samaj for the purpose. 

Chief Secretary Dharmendra and Honorary President K. Bhavani Shankar were also present during the press conference. 

Sources: 

1. Mangalore Mithr

2. Canara Times 

Arya Samaj decides not to solemnize marriages without parental approval

A decision taken by a section of the Arya Samaj not to solemnize marriages that do not have the approval of parents and villagers has shocked couples in Haryana. So far, Arya Samaj was the only institution that solemnized the weddings of those who ran away from families and villagers who disapproved of the union. 

The Haryana Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, under the leadership of Acharya Baldev, has decided that the Arya Samaj will no longer solemnize such weddings in its temples. 

Clarifying that the Arya Samaj was not against inter-caste marriages, Baldev said on Monday that the Arya Samaj simply does not approve of marriages that "violate the established norms of society." 

Haryana imposes restrictions on marriages within same gotras and villages. Baldev said: "We do not oppose inter-caste marriages, but in future these couples would also have to be accompanied by parents and prominent persons to solemnize their weddings in our temples. Love marriages are harmful as in such weddings youngsters just see the beauty and not the nature and qualities which should be the basis of marriages." 

However, not all Arya Samajis agree with Baldev. Another section of the Arya Samaj believes that the Arya Samaj should solemnize weddings within villages and gotras.

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Arya Samaj is not an illegal outfit, declares M. Lokananda

Arya Samaj President M. Lokananda informed reporters on May 8 in the office of the Arya Samaj at Balmatta that he had called meetings of the executive committee on Jan 16 and Jan 21 to discuss the Arya Samaj’s land dispute with Shraddanandha Ashram.

Honorary President Bhavani Shankar, President M. Lokananda, Deputy Secretary Dharmendra

M. Lokananda said that during the rule of the British, the English rulers gave a tough time to the Arya Samaj, in spite of which this social reform movement continued to conduct inter-caste marriages, protect helpless women, provide land for Harijans, and other work of social welfare.

During those early days, the Shraddananda Seva Samithi had been closed; and Arya Samaj had taken over its property. However, the members of the Seva Samithi were not inclined to close down the old Shraddananda Ashram, said M. Lokananda and added that the Ashram had no significant programme to take up either.

The present president of the Arya Samaj also said that the Arya Samaj was a legal body, and not an illegal outfit. Saying that no one must interfere in the current social reform and progressive activities of the Arya Samaj, he said that there are neither internal feuds nor sex discrimination in the Arya Samaj.

M. Lokananda had been accused of misappropriation of funds by K. Krishna Kamath, the then president of Arya Samaj.

Secretary Purushottam Shetty, Deputy Secretary Dharmendra, and Honorary President K. Bhavanishanker were present on the occasion.

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Hindus believe in one God – Rita Sherma

Theologian Rita Sherma sought to bust the biggest myth about Hinduism among the non Hindus—the myth that Hinduism has many gods. She said that Hindus believe in the one and only God who is “both personal and beyond personal, the God who has many powers and energies.”

Rita Sherma, the founder president of the Centre for Convergence Spirituality in Casa Grande, Ariz, delivered the keynote address on May 2, Sunday at the 24th annual brunch of the Interfaith Brotherhood/Sisterhood Committee of Bergen Country for the Baha'i, Catholic, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Protestant, Jewish, and Sikh communities of the locality. Rita Sherman, in her talk on “Building a Sustainable Society through Interfaith Understanding and Social Action,” threw light on Hindu beliefs and principles.

Michael Hinton, a Leonia-based Presbyterian, remarked that he loves Hinduism and began loving it more after listening to Ms Sherman’s talk.

Jyothi Gandhi of Saddle River, the previous president of New Jersey Arya Samaj, said that the Hindus are one of the fastest-growing communities in New Jersey. Gandhi established the first Hindu temple in Bergen County; and now there are three more temples in Closter, Mahwah, and Garfield.

The annual brunch was organized at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe and more than 400 people attended it. The sponsors this year were the local Hindus. 

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2200 people re-embrace Hinduism

Over 2,200 members of 384 families residing in 20 villages re-embraced Hinduism at a special function organized in Sutarpada, a village in Kapvada Tehsil in the district of Valsad. Dharma Prasar Samiti was the organizer of this event. A team of Arya Samaj purohits conducted the yajna and the people offered ahutis.

The people who returned to the Hindu fold are members of Varali and Konkana Vanvasi communities, who had embraced Christianity in the recent past. A gathering of 300 people warmly welcomed them back home.

Shri Mohan Joshi, the central secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), spoke about the glorious history of our Hindu ancestors who fought to protect Hinduism from foreign invaders.

Saying that Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world advocating peace and love, Swami Omkaranand Maharj called upon everybody to guard it with their lives.

Shri Dilipbhai Trivedi, the Gujarat State president of VHP; Shri Dharmaendrabhai Patel, the Prant Dharma Prasar Pramukh; Shri Lalit Suvakia, the joint secretary; Shri Neeraj Patel, the state secretary; and many others were present.  

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Arya Veer Dal performs havan on world's highest road

A team of 8 Arya Veers under the leadership of Shri Vijendra Arya and Shri Nareshpal Arya hoisted the Om flag and the national flag on the highest motorable road at Kahrdungla pass in honor of the foundation day of Arya Veer Dal as well as the Republic Day. They also performed Yajna in a temperature of -27 degrees Celsius.

The time was 12:30 p.m. and the venue was Khardungla Pass in Ladakh, a place at a height of 18,360ft above sea level.

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Initiative to Train Vedic Priests for Western World

Tapovan Aashram in Dehradun, India, is conducting the "International Vedic Priest Training Program," under the guidance of renowned Vedic scholars such as Acharya Ashish Darshnacharya and Dr. Mahavir Agarwal and in collaboration with Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora to train Vedic Pracharaks to spread the knowledge of the Vedas internationally

Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora of USA masterminded this program and Acharya Rampersad Vedalankar Nyas, Hardwar, India, under the supervision of Acharya Ashish Darshnacharya and with the active support of Shri Anuvrat Arya (Trustee, Acharya Rampersad Vedalankar Nyas) and Shri Vishrut Arya(Member of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America) is implementing this program.

The Program's Salient Features 

• Course conducted by dedicated and renowned Vedic scholars led by Acharya Ashish Darshanacharya, Vedic Sadhan Ashram, Tapovan, Dehradun India. 
• Well qualified candidates, who have already studied the Aarsh Scriptures, as described by Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati
• Full time resident course of one year.
• Guest lectures and one-to-one interaction with world renowned English and Vedic scholars.
• Written, oral, and practical exams to assess the candidate’s capability and expertise.
• Well-defined curriculum, which covers the Vedic principles, personality development, computer skills,  spoken English, and art of public speaking.
• Emphasis on developing the basics of English language, so that they can express themselves well in western countries.
• Very pleasant and peaceful atmosphere for conduction of the course at Tapovan Ashram in Dehradun, India.

Major Subjects Taught in English

• Light of Truth - Maharshi Dayanand
• Sanskar Vidhi – Maharshi Dayanand
• Rigvedaadibhashyabhumika- Mahrishi Dayanand
• Manusmriti
• “Hindu Centum” by Dr. Deenbandhu Chandora and “Quest” by Sh. Madan Raheja
• The Sixteen Rituals of Aaryas by Aacharya Jyaaneshwaraaryah
• Meaning of Mantras used in Sandhyaa and Agnihotra
• Five daily rituals of Aaryaas
• Brief introduction to Vedic Principles
• Explanation of meaning of mantras used in Sandhya and Agnihotra
• Introduction to some of the other ancient books like Geeta, Ramayan, Mahabharat
• Basic Computer Skills
• Behavioral attributes as followed in western culture
• Astrology and Astronomy : Fraud versus reality of cosmology i.e. science of Astronomy
• Usefulness of Vedic Sandhya for purification of mind
• Explanation of Pranayam and Aasanas from Maharshi Patanajali perspective

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Mangalore Arya Samaj celebrates Ambedkar Jayanthi

Mangalore Arya Samaj celebrated the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar by organizing a special programme at Arya Samaj Mandir, Mangalore, on April 14, 2010.

Ramachandra Baikampady, the president of Karnataka Fisheries Development Ltd, was the guest of honor. Shrinivas Shetty presided over the programme. Nagaraj Shetty, the president of the Coastal Authority, felicitated Sanjeeva Ballur and Keshava Mangalur.

Mr. Lokananda Arya, the president of Mangalore Arya Samaj, spoke about the "varnashrama." Nagaraj Shetty lauded Mangalore Arya Samaj for completing 92 years of age and called upon the members to protect the Arya Samaj and work for its welfare. 

Joint Secretary of Mangalore Arya Samaj conducted the progamme. Secretary Purushottam Shetty gave the welcome speech. Honorary President Bhavani Shankar was present during the programme. 

Source: Udayavani (April 18, 2010)

CM Hooda remembers his arya grandfather

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the chief minister of Haryana, recalled his grandfather, who had accepted the principles of the Arya Samaj, during a state-level function organized by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Welfare Society at Kurukshetra University to commemorate the birth of Dr. Ambedkar on April 14, 2010.

Recalling how his grandfather Matu Ram was criticized for wearing the sacred thread after joining Arya Samaj, he said that Matu Ram never believed in the caste system and faced social boycott for his principles. The boycott was later withdrawn and thousands of people joined the Arya Samaj to fight against caste discrimination.

A number of prominent political personalities were present for this programme.

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Surat Arya Samaj organizes havan for Naxal victims

The Arya Samaj Bhavan, located in Soni Faliya, Surat, organized a havan in honor of those who died in the Chhattisgarh Naxal attack on April 7, 2010.

The havan commenced at noon; and thirty members of the Arya Samaj, including representatives of senior citizens, ex-armymen, politicians, and associations participated.

Secretary of Surat Arya Samaj Rohit Sharma said that they prayed to God to give them peace in heaven and to teach non-violence to Naxals.

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