Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav (2024) Day 5: Legal Efforts to Protect Temples

From Left – Advocate Krishnaraj R (Ernakulam, Kerala), Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain (Spokesperson, Hindu Front for Justice), Advocate Balasubrahmanyam Kamarsu (Supreme Court), Nam Ram Reddy (National President, Rashtriya Vanara Sena, Telangana)

The day is not far when Hindus will gain the right to worship in Gyanvapi Temple – Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, Spokesperson, Hindu Front for Justice

Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, Spokesperson, Hindu Front for Justice

1. In 2022, the court ruled that the Places of Worship Act 1991 was not applicable to the Gyanvapi temple case. A Shivling was found in the wazukhana (ablution tank, place to wash hands and feet) at this site during the survey by the Archeology Department. That was a decisive moment in the case. This Shivling is 83 feet away from Nandi outside. We had demanded a survey of the Shivling in the district court. The court rejected our petition. We challenged this in the Allahabad High Court. The High Court sought the opinion of the Archeology Department on this. The Archeology Department approved the survey, but Anjuman Intejamia Masjid Committee went to the Supreme Court, and they stayed the decision to survey the Shivling. Even if the temple is destroyed, the Deity does not cease to exist there. That Deity resides in subtle. When the Shivling is surveyed, the truth will be revealed. The day is not far off, when Gyanvapi will be freed and Hindus will gain the right to worship there.

2. The survey of Shrikrishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura was approved by the Allahabad High Court which was conducted by the Advocate Commission from February to May 2024. The Shahi Idgah Masjid, which lays claim to the
Shrikrishna Janmabhoomi, has challenged this survey in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has stayed the survey. It is likely to be heard in the month of July.

* Will present the report on the idols recovered in the survey of Bhojshala
The Archeology Department surveyed Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh for 90 days. Idols of Ganesh, Narasimha, Durgadevi, Hanuman, Parvati Mata, Brahma along with his family, Mahishasuramardini and other Deities were recovered in this survey. Will present the report of this survey before the public after receiving it from the Archeology Department. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain expressed the belief that that day is not far when Bhojshala will also get justice.

Unity of Hindus is necessary to free Kishkinda
Hanuman’s birthplace Kishkinda in Koppal, Karnataka. In 2018, the Karnataka government acquired this land under the guise of managing it. It is important to free Kishkinda from the clutches of the government and Hindus must unite and fight to achieve this, said Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain.

Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti gave direction to our work! – Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain
My father (HH Hari Shankar Jain) and I have been associated with the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti for 12 years. Every year we come to the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav. It was a spiritual journey of 12 years. After coming in contact with the Samiti, my perspective changed. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti made my father and I realise that legal fight for temples is our Sadhana (Spiritual Practice). Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is the banyan tree of Dharmakarya and we are part of it. I have learned a lot from Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale. Once a year we participate in this Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav. The Sanskars that we obtain in this are useful. Those who are participating in this Mahotsav for the first time, have to learn many things. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is the model (ideal example) of how to strive for organisation of Hindus, said Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain.

Formerly centres of devotion and worship, Temples now party offices – Advocate Balasubrahmanyam Kamarsu, Supreme Court

In earlier times, temples were not only centres of worship, but centres of all-round development. Temples became the centres of power for freedom fighters during the freedom struggle. So the British tried to reduce the importance and prestige of temples by making a law. After that, the number of devotees visiting the temples decreased. This made it easy to convert Hindus. The governments that came after independence followed the policy of the British. They captured many rich temples and looted the temple wealth. Therefore, instead of improving, the condition of the temples became more miserable. Attempts are made by the ruling parties to install their cadre on many temple committees. The temple funds are generously donated by those activists for government schemes. So now temples are no longer centres of devotion and worship but have become party offices. The road to reestablishing the temples is decidedly difficult, but your efforts will not be wasted. I firmly believe that we will be successful in rescuing the temples from the clutches of the government, asserted Supreme Court Advocate Balasubrahmanyam Kamarsu on the fifth day of the Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav.

I will fight for the protection of temples till I am alive! – Nam Ram Reddy, National President, Rashtriya Vanara Sena, Telangana

In 1992, Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI conducted recces twice to try and kill me. Some people had come to kill me, but I wasn’t there. So my friend was beaten up. They came to kill me at the place where I go regularly. Muslims tried to usurp a temple 15 km from my house. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had visited this temple. Using Right to Information, I fought a court battle to reclaim the land of this temple. So far, the Rashtriya Vanara Sena has been successful in freeing 3000 acres of temple land from encroachment by Muslims. God has saved me from time to time to do this work. Hanuman is with me. So far, not a single temple has lost its case. Over the past 15 years, Vanara Sena’s work has been growing in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka apart from Telangana. Activists of various Hindu organisations are helping me in the mission of protecting the temples. Our work is transparent. If there are many small trees rather than one big tree, more oxygen is available, thus one should serve Dharma through various organisations, but it is important for everyone to stay together. I will support the legal fight in the High Court or Supreme Court to protect the temples. As long as I am alive, I will fight to protect the temples.

Persecution of Hindus started after communism entered Kerala! – Advocate Krishnaraj R, Ernakulam, Kerala

Participating in Vaishvik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav is a very important moment for me. I am a proud Hindu. This gathering of proud Hindus is an inspiration to devout Hindus. Hindus in Kerala have to face many problems like love jihad. No Hindu organization in Kerala comes to their aid. The persecution of Hindus has been going on since communism entered Kerala, said Krishnaraj R, an advocate from Ernakulam, Kerala.

The Supreme Court has given a judgment in which it has been said that the state government, the central government and the judiciary should protect the small temples. Based on this verdict, I started a legal battle to protect the temples. It is the duty and right of the devotees to protect the property of the temple. The anti-Hindu government in the state gave the Sabarimala case a different twist. The decision of the Supreme Court in this case has been ignored by the government. Jihadi Tipu Sultan destroyed most of the temples in Kerala’s now Muslim-majority Malappuram district. Hindu organizations should pressurise the government to protect the temples.