Religious Figures

One more case filed against Narsinghanand over inflammatory remarks

The Thane police in Maharashtra have registered an FIR against controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, who is already facing multiple cases, over his alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad, officials said on Sunday. The seer allegedly made the objectionable remarks during a programme held at Hindi Bhavan in Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) on September 29, as per the police. Based on complaint by the president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the Mumbra police in Thane registered a case against him on October 3. The FIR has been loaged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 302 (intentionally uttering words to deliberately wound the religious sentimen

Jyotirmath Shankaracharya refrains from paying obeisance at Ram temple

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotirmath, Uttarakhand refrained from paying obeisance at the Ram temple here on Sunday, asserting that prayers cannot be offered in a partially-constructed shrine. He said he would offer worship at the Ram temple only when the "shikhar" (topmost part) of the structure is fully constructed. Asked about not visiting the Ram temple, Saraswati told reporters, "Prayers cannot be offered in a partially-constructed temple. It is incomplete. I will offer worship at the Ram temple only when the shikhar of the temple is fully constructed." He conducted a special prayer service at the Chineshwarnath temple and performed the circumambulation of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex along the Ramkot locality in Ayodhya. Saraswati also started a nationwide "Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra" from Ayodhya. A congregation was convened by the Shankaracharya here in the presence of seers from Ayodhya. The convention called for the enshrinement of ...

Hathras stampede: UP religious gathering claims 121 lives; Latest updates

The stampede at an event in Hathras by Suraj Pal, known as 'Bhole Baba', caused devastating suffocation and a pile-up of bodies, marking it as one of the most severe tragedies in recent years

Renowned Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj passes away in Chhattisgarh

Renowned Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj breathed his last on Sunday at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district after undertaking 'sallekhna'. Sallekhna is a Jain religious practice involving voluntary fasting unto death for spiritual purification, a statement from the teerth said. Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attained Samadhi through 'Sallekhna' at Chandragiri teerth at 2:35 am, the statement said. "Maharaj was staying on the teerth in Dongargarh for the last six months and was unwell from the last few days. For the last three days, he was observing sallekhna, a religious practice of voluntarily fasting to death, and had quit intake of food and liquids. According to Jainism, it is a vow taken for spiritual purification," the statement said. A procession will be taken out at 1 pm on Sunday for people to pay tribute to the departed seer and the final rites will be held in Chandragiri teerth, it added. Ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections l

World religious leaders, scientists inaugurate 1st Faith Pavilion at COP28

World religious leaders, scientists and global political officials came together on the fourth day of the COP28 on Sunday for the inauguration of the first-ever Faith Pavilion to discuss the role of faith communities and religious institutions in addressing the climate crisis. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the inauguration was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, representing Pope Francis. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis addressed the audience virtually and highlighted the urgency for urgent action against climate change. The first-of-its-kind Faith Pavilion, which is co-hosted by the COP28 Presidency, the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, the Holy See, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Muslim Council of Elders, and a coalition of faith partners, is dedicated to the engagement of

Soren writes to PM, seeks recognition of Sarna religious code for tribals

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking recognition of the Sarna' religious code for tribals. Soren said the population of tribals in the state has declined to 26 per cent from 38 per cent in the last eight decades. "The concern of protecting the traditional religious existence of tribals... is certainly a serious question. Today, the demand for Tribal/Sarna Religious Code is being raised so that this nature-worshipping tribal community can be confident about its identity. "At present, when the demand for Uniform Civil Code is being raised by some organisations, positive initiative on this demand of Tribal/Sarna community is absolutely necessary for their protection," Soren said in the letter to Modi. Earlier, the Jharkhand Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution for inclusion of Sarna' as a separate religion in the census.

Uttarakhand govt continues drive against 'illegal' religious structures

The Pauri district administration in Uttarakhand razed an over two-decade-old 'mazar' as part of the state government's anti-encroachment drive against illegal religious constructions, an official said on Monday. Sub-District Officer (Kotdwar) Pramod Kumar said a public notice was pasted on the mazar, asking claimants to come forward within 15 days. When no one submitted a claim, a joint team of the Forest department, police and local administration demolished the tomb of Baba Gayasuddin Aula-e-Karim Shah, Kumar said. "Not submitting the claim means that this mazar was built illegally by encroaching on Forest department land," he added. The mazar occupied more than two bighas. A day before, the administration removed an illegal mausoleum from government land in the Satpuli area of Pauri district. The government is also taking action to mark and remove illegal religious encroachments in forest areas under Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital district. Reserve officials said a Forest

SC asks Centre to check practice of forceful religious conversion

A very serious issue that threatens the freedom and security of the country and its citizens, says top court

Religion-based population imbalance cannot to be ignored: RSS chief

Population imbalances lead to changes in geographical boundaries, says Mohan Bhagwat at a Vijayadasami event

Pakistan condemns suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh's remarks on Prophet

Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the alleged derogatory remarks of suspended Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh against the Prophet and urged the Indian government to take decisive action to stop such repeated offensive comments by BJP leaders that have hurt the Muslims. This is the second time in the last three months that a senior BJP leader has made disrespectful comments against the Prophet, the Foreign Office here said in a statement. "These highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world," it said. It also said that the "token and perfunctory disciplinary action" taken by the BJP against Singh cannot assuage the pain and anguish caused to the Muslims of India and around the world. It is highly reprehensible that Singh was released on bail within hours of arrest, the statement said. Pakistan demanded the Indian government to take immediate and decisive action. Singh, who is known for his hardline religiou

Goddess Kali's unlimited blessings are always with India: PM Modi

Goddess Kali's unlimited blessings are always with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while lauding the country's saints for always standing for "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat"

Religious figures and the love of foot in the mouth

Business Standard takes a look at few of these Babas, Gurus or Ulemas who have made a name for themselves with what they spoke.