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Sankaracharya released

Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati being    released from the Vellore prison on Tuesday.

     Chennai: The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, was released from the Vellore prison on Tuesday following the grant of bail to him by the Supreme Court on Monday. The seer was released exactly after two months of his arrest. A visibly happy seer was welcomed by his devotees on his release from the prison. The swamigal was arrested in the Sankararaman murder case on November 11 last. Although the seer has been released, the mutt will go without a priest now as the pontiff has not been allowed to visit the mutt, while his deputy (junior swamigal) was arrested by the state police on Monday in connection with the case. The centuries old mutt is without a senior or junior seer for the first time in history.

     Saraswati will stay at Kalavai mutt, which is situated 40 km away from here, after his release. The Kanchi mutt manager said that the senior pontiff would continue with the daily pooja, including that of idol of Chandramouliswarar, presiding deity of the Sankara Mutt, for which essential articles were being moved to Kalavai.

      Earlier, in Vellore, several Hindu leaders and followers of the Sankaracharya greeted him as he stepped out of the Vellore jail. BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj and VHP working president Ashok Singhal were among those who were present when the seer was released on conditional bail. The apex court had granted conditional bail to the Kanchi Shankaracharya on Monday.

     Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalailtha defended the arrest of the junior Kanchi seer, Vijayendra Saraswati. Jayalalitha clarified the state government's stand on the arrest of the junior seer in a letter to the Prime Minister. The Tamil Nadu CM also said that the puja at the mutt would not get affected due to these reasons. "It is incorrect and unfounded to connect the arrest of the two pontiffs with the tradition of daily rituals at the mutt," the chief minister wrote. "In the, past both pontiffs have been away from Kanchipuram at the same time," she added. On the other hand, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj today

Sankaracharya's re-arrest apprehended (Go To Top)

     Chennai: The Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram Sankara Mutt, Sri Jayendra Saraswati's counsels moved the Principal Sessions Court in Chennai for anticipatory bail, even before was released from Vellore prisonon Tuesday after obtaining bail from the Supreme Court on Monday in the Sankararaman murder case. It is being said that this step was taken as arrest in a third case was apprehended. .This case relates to an assault on a temple priest Tirukoshtiyur Mahadevan in the city about two years ago. The seer may be arrested under IPC sections 424 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

Lakhs visit Sabarimala temple (Go To Top)

     Erumeli (Kerala): As a perfect example of communal harmony, thousands of Hindu pilgrims, while cutting across religious barriers, pay their respects at a mosque that lies en route to a hill top temple in Kerala. Devotees on their way to the Sabarimala temple hold special prayers at the shrine dedicated to saint Babar. Clad in black dresses, devotees dance their way through the Erumeli town to offer coconuts at the shrine. N.V. Nair, a devotee, said: "When Babar recognised that Lord Ayappa is the supreme lord, he surrendered before him. Then Lord Ayappa blessed Babar that whosoever comes to meet me, will meet me after he takes your blessings. So this shows the harmony between Hindu and Muslims. This is an supreme example of communal harmony which you will not find anywhere in the world," said.

      Legend has it that Muslim invader Babar and his army attacked the Pandalam kingdom and Ayyappa was sent to defend the country. After a fierce battle, Ayyappa overcame Babar and later both became great friends. Babar later settled down at Erumeli and breathed his last there. A shrine was constructed at his tomb. Babar's shrine is situated about 40 km from the Sabarimala temple. "This is a symbol of communal harmony. Nowhere else in the world can you see Hindus offering prayers in a mosque. Here the Muslims are giving all help. This is not seen anywhere else and for this the Muslims are ready to make any sacrifice," said Abdul Aziz, a Muslim devotee. Over 10 million devotees visit Sabarimala during the annual pilgrimage, which begins in mid- November and culminates by the middle of January. Pilgrims to Sabarimala come from all over the country, most of them from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Cong prospects in assembly polls good: Sonia Gandhi (Go To Top)

    Rae Bareli: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday said the prospects of her party in the forthcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana "were good". Congress Ke Prospects Achhey Hain (Congress prospects are good), Gandhi told newsmen in reply to a query during an informal chat here on the concluding day of her two-day visit to her Lok Sabha constituency. On being asked about the measures being undertaken to alleviate the sufferings of the tsunami victims, Gandhi said the "Central government was doing everything possible for them". Sonia Gandhi said that the services of the NGOs have also been solicited, while the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is also doing its bit in this regard. Gandhi said a programme titled `interact` was also being launched, which would sponsor children orphaned in the calamity.