TIRUVANNAMALAI: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday offered prayers at the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai and paid a visit to the Shri Ramana Maharshi Ashram in the town as part of his country-wide tour.

A helicopter carrying Shah landed at a temporary helipad on the premises of the Tiruvannamalai Government Arts College around 10.20am.

Tamil Nadu minister Hindu religious and charitable endowments Sevur S Ramachandran received Shah. AIADMK legislators Dusi K Mohan and MP R Vanaroja were also present.

Initially, Vanaroja, who represents Tiruvannamalai constituency in the Lok Sabha, was not allowed to enter the helipad as her name was not found on the VIPs' list. Irked over this, she entered into a heated argument with police personnel. Later, she was allowed.

Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and other BJP leaders like Tamilisai Soundararajan, H Raja and Muralidhar Rao were also present at the helipad to receive Shah.

From the helipad, the BJP president went to the Ramana Maharshi Ashram and spent nearly 40 minutes there.

Tamilisai, who is BJP's state president, entered into an argument with superintendent of police of Tiruvannamalai R Ponni after the district police denied permission to the party cadre to take out a rally from the Ramana Maharshi Ashram to the temple citing security reasons. She stated that they wanted to organise a two-wheeler rally in honour of their party leader.

"Nearly 500 party members assembled with their two-wheelers. We have been asking for permission for week for the rally, but the police denied permission citing security reasons," said Tamilisai.

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Amit Shah: BJP president Amit Shah visits Ramana Maharshi ... - Times of India

The Hindu

Jawan kills self in city ashram, blames superiors in note The Hindu They said Yadav booked a room at the Swami Narayan Seva Ashram in Mahalaxmi on Saturday and had been staying there since then. On Monday morning, when he did not open the door for a long time, the guest house management opened the door ... Army sepoy hangs himself in south Mumbai ashram, police find suicide noteHindustan Times Mumbai: Soldier commits suicide in Narayana Sewa AshramDaily News & Analysis Army sepoy hangs self in Mumbai ashram, suicide note names officersMid-Day India.com -Mumbai Mirror -NYOOOZ all 10 news articles »

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Jawan kills self in city ashram, blames superiors in note - The Hindu

Swami Nithyananda. PTI file photo

CHENNAI: Swami Nithyananda is back in the news againthis time also for wrong reasons. Tension prevailed at Zamin Pallavaram last week as an angry crowd ransacked an ashram of the controversial godman. They accused him of encroaching the streets used by locals to build the ashram at Pachaiamman Nagar near Tirusulam and a few of his followers of passing lewd comments on local women.

What triggered the attack on the ashram was the comments allegedly made by a Nithyananda follower against a woman when she was passing by the ashram last week. The local residents ransacked the premises and even toppled a car belonging to the ashram. Based on the complaint by both sides, police arrested a Nithyananda follower, and nine others on charges of damaging the ashram property.

Police said the crux of the dispute was over a piece of land measuring around 2.15 acres, donated by Valli, a devoteeof Nithyananda, to set upthe ashram.However, the particular land is said to be disputed since another person also claimed ownership of it.

Despite the dispute, the ashrams followers allegedly fenced the land and portionsof the street passing nearit causing hardship tolocal residents.The police questioned three of Nithyanandas followers and 15 local residents.

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Nithyananda's ashram attacked for encroachment, lewd remarks - The New Indian Express

North America's oldest ashram, on the shores of Kootenay Lake, is getting ready to welcome a new, lotus-like worship space three years after it was all but destroyed by a fire.

The original Temple of Light at Yasodhara Ashram was built 22 years ago, with seven entrances representing the world's major faiths, but it was seriously damaged in a blaze that began with a spark inadvertantly ignited by a work crew in June, 2014.

That was "a great loss" to the dozens of people who live at the yoga retreat full time, as well as its many visitors, according to resident Swami Sivananda.

The cost of construction is estimated at $3.5 million. (CBC News)

Construction began on the new temple last year, and by the time it wraps up this summer, it will have cost about $3.5 million. The award-winning Vancouver firm Patkau Architects took on the redesign as a research project, putting the cost within reach of the ashram.

"They took this idea of light, of many doors entering and the idea of a flower. It's like a lotus opening. They come up with this multi-petal-like structure that's curvilinear if that makes any sense with these huge windows around the base," Sivananda told Daybreak South on Friday.

The eight petals that make up the structurewere prefabricated by the Spearhead manufacturing company in Nelson and assembled on site, spiraling upwards to join around a skylight at the top.

"It is absolutely unique. I think it's an example of pushing the edges of architecture and certainly pushing the edges of builders," Sivananda said.

The eight petal-like panels that make up the roof were all prefabricated in Nelson. (CBC News)

There are few straight lines inside the structure, making tasks like dry-walling a challenge. Still, the finishing touches are expected to be complete by the end of July, and members of the public can see the progress firsthand at the ashram's annual social this Saturday.

"It's a place of light, a place of spiritual renewal, contemplation, that's meant to inspire. And I'm sure it will," Sivananda said.

The ashram hopes to raise $200,000 by the end of June to cover all the costs of the project.

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'A lotus opening': BC ashram welcomes new temple after devastating fire - CBC.ca

Written by Amee Yajnik | Published:June 22, 2017 8:45 am The reason the Sabarmati Ashram is so very important is because of the person who lived in it and the role the ashram played in the nations life during his residency.

The Sabarmati Ashram situated on the banks of river Sabarmati was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 to 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. It was from here on March 12, 1930 that Gandhiji launched the famous Dandi march. He vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence. India did win independence and was declared a free nation on 15 August 1947, but before he could return to the ashram, he was assassinated in January 1948.

India is a home to many buildings of stark political and symbolic importance. We have the Red Fort, the Ashoka Pillar, the Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, all grand buildings, symbols of our political power and pride. However, one building stands apart and tallest amongst these the Sabarmati Ashram house to Father of our nation during the crucial years of the freedom struggle. Just a simple structure with red tiled roof, few windows and a large front verandah on the river bank, not a grand palace not a fortress, the Sabarmati Ashram was a small house of a very big man. Not only a shelter and a political space where all the strategies and movements to counter the mighty British rule was planned during the freedom struggle but it was also a place where the Mahatma dreamt of a pure India liberated from the evils of untouchability, inequality and societal divides. At a time when the world was witnessing violent warfare and armed revolutions, Bapu started a mass movement for freedom from the British colonial rule through non-violent means, termed as Satyagrah and ultimately got freedom for India.

The reason the Sabarmati Ashram is so very important is because of the person who lived in it and the role the ashram played in the nations life during his residency. The greatest leader the world has seen till date and probably will ever see lived a very humble life. For example when leaders of pre-independence India visited the Mahatma at the Ashram, they sat on the ground with their legs crossed rather than at an oval conference table with high chairs. The humble lifestyle of the Mahatma showed a model way of life for a young country striving for independence. Satya and Ahimsa were his ideals. He wished to free the country of firstly the ills that plagued the Indian society specially the practice of untouchability that had deep roots in the Indian psyche and secondly the strong notions of inequality which governed the society.

The world sees the Ashram as a representative of the historical significance and non-violent means of mass scale civil agitation against the oppressive British rule where the political movement of Satyagrah was waged, which made India a role model for others to follow. It serves as a source of inspiration and guidance, and stands as a monument to Gandhis life mission and a testimony to others who have fought a similar struggle. Over the years, the Ashram has become home to the ideology that set India free and has inspired nations and people in their own battles against oppressive forces.

Today the Ashram lives on but what it sees around is a nation caught in a complex labyrinth of social evils, economic disparities and vested political interests that have succeeded in pushing the ideals of the Mahatma on the backseat. Not only Gujarat but the whole country suddenly finds itself in a situation of strange unrest with rise in social and economic inequalities, caste hierarchy, all kinds of violence instilling insecurity in the minds of people and increasing religious divide disrupting the very social fabric of India. Suddenly India looks like it is on a path of baffling and unstoppable social chaos.

The very dalits whom Gandhiji wanted to be treated as equal human beings became lesser mortals with caste equations ruling both the societal and political spheres. With the dalits of Una village in Gujarat being flogged in public and the ruling dispensation unable to give them their rights or security, the dalits are pushed to the margins more than ever. The practice of untouchability is still very common in Gujarat.In rural areas, Dalits are often not allowed to engage in cultural and social activities with the rest of the community, including entering temples, taking part in religious programs, eating with the rest of the community during village ceremonies and using the same wells. They hardly have equal opportunities for upward mobility and hence remain economically backward. Last August, as the Dalit Asmita Yatra made its way from Ahmedabad to Una, amidst shouts of Inquilab zindabad, they demanded land, and their rights to be recognized. One saw a different kind of Inquilab in a free India, free of the British but still in the shackles of caste oppression.

On the other hand a socially and economically powerful community, the upper caste Patidar community demanding reservation quota through their numerous agitations for the last two years, gives rise to a thoroughly new speculation of reservation, caste system, and vote bank politics that will impact the coming State assembly elections.

Gujarat, also the birthplace of the Mahatma, has seen the abuse of religion for political ends which has resulted in the worst carnage against a religious minority post-independence. In the past several riots have rocked the State with communal violence involving massacre, arson and looting on a large-scale resulting in sharp Hindu Muslim polarization. While the Mahatma had ahimsa, i.e. non-violence as a tool against the powerful British, violence often became an electoral incentive if past studies and reports are to be relied on. Following the ideals of the Mahatma often seems to be impossible and only lip service given the domination of electoral arithmetic in the political economy of the country.

The Ashram lives on today. The isolated house has had a city grown around it. The waters of the river polluted, clouds of smoke in the air, ugly blocks of concrete growing all around like an infection, somehow quite rightfully illustrating our mindless, chaotic, struggles in the contemporary times. The Ashram sees the development around it but fails to feel the growth. Fails to understand why the inequality in India still persists and more so than ever, why there are violent incidents and restrictions on human beings. However, it still preserves the dream that India will eventually live up to and is waiting to see the country free of all kinds of senseless and insensitive oppressions on its own people.

In times of turbulence or unrest when not so often the civil society raises its voice against the atrocities by holding protests and sitting on dharnas outside the Sabarmati Ashram, the world gets a glimpse of the reminiscences of Gandhis freedom struggle in the form of demonstrations, protests, marches and boycotts which formed the core of the political satyagrah movement for freedom in India. But it is only a look alike of the yester timesthere is hardly the fire, the will or the respect for the very cause of these collective actions. The conscience seems to have become slightly dormant, the inner voice seems to be fading and the will to dream is slowly losing its life. But the Ashram reminds us to be hopeful and optimistic. It tells us to not thwart the vision of the Mahatma even in the face of immense adversity. The Ashram embodies the true memory of Gandhi, his pure truth and his utmost humility as his way of life. The Ashram still personifies the ideals of truth and humility of a man who once lived there and lived for a nation and died for a nation. A man who wanted these high ideals to be held high always by a nation so great as India.

The Ashram tells us about one mans dedication, determination and ideals but also reminds us of the road we still need to traverse in order to realise Gandhijis dream of an India free from injustice.

On its 100th birthday, the Ashram had a wishWe need Gandhiji more than ever. It muses How long will I have to wait to see his dreams fulfilled, an India with equality and equal opportunities for all?

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Sabarmati Ashram: A century witnessed - The Indian Express

AHMEDABAD: Sabarmati Ashram will turn 100 on Saturday. On this day a century ago Mahatma Gandhi and other Ashramites shifted to the Satyagraha Ashram at Sabarmati from Kochrab. Interestingly, Bapu was in Motihari on June 17, 1917, where he was right in the midst of recording farmers testimonies in East Champaran. Bapu reached Ahmedabad on June 23, 1917 and wrote an article. "We have Rs 10,000 in cash in Ashram fund. Besides this, I have jewellery and other gifts worth Rs 20,000 given to me before I left for India. A friend again, has promised to buy and donate land and this should mean Rs 10,000. We have thus a total of Rs 40,000." On Saturday, on the occasion of the centenary celebrations, the newly refurbished 'My Life Is My Message' gallery will be re-dedicated to the public by former West Bengal governor and Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi. He will then dedicate a new Charkha Gallery at Magan Niwas. After a brief function, Gopalkrishna Gandhi will release two books, "Letters to Gandhi" and "Pioneers of Satyagraha" after which there will be a recital by Vidya Rao.

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Bapu's ashram turns 100 today - Times of India

CHENNAI: Tension prevailed at Zamin Pallavaram on Sunday as an angry crowd ransacked an ashram of the controversial godman Swami Nithyananda alleging the ashram had been built by encroaching the street used by locals. They also alleged that a few Nithyanandas followers were passing lewd comments on local women. The local residents ransacked the premises and even toppled a car belonging to the ashram at Pachaiamman Nagar near Tirusulam.

Based on the complaint by both sides, police arrested C Gopi, a Nithyananda follower, and nine others on charges of damaging the ashram property. Police said the crux of the dispute was over a piece of land measuring around 2.15 acres, donated by Valli, a devotee of Nithyananda, to set up the ashram. However, the particular land is said to be under a property dispute since another person also claimed ownership of it.

Even as the dispute was pending, the ashrams followers allegedly fenced off the land and portions of the street passing near it causing hardship to local residents. What triggered the attack on the ashram was the comments allegedly made by a Nithyananda follower against a woman when she was crossing the ashram on Sunday. On getting information about the attack, police questioned three of Nithyanandas followers and 15 local residents. After enquiries, police have arrested Gopi and nine local residents.

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Locals attack Chennai ashram of godman Nithyananda alleging encroachment, lewd remarks - The New Indian Express

Written by Lakshmi Ajay | Ahmedabad | Published:June 18, 2017 5:51 am Besides places related to Mahatma Gandhis freedom struggle, the train connects cities like Varanasi, Gaya and Allahabad. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

It was more aastha (spiritual immersion) than an acquaintance with Gandhian ethics and values that spurred several of the 623 people to take the inaugural journey of the Aastha Special Tourist Train (Gandhi Darshan) on Saturday morning from Sabarmati station here. Besides places related to Mahatma Gandhis freedom struggle like Sevagram Ashram (Wardha), Champaran Satyagraha Memorial at Bettiah and Motihari, the train will connect cities such as Varanasi, Gaya and Allahabad popular pilgrimage destinations.

The special train was flagged off by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the morning with Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu, who joined in via video conferencing from Bandra. Ahmedabad based businessman Ramesh Dhanwani (58), said that his keenness to visit the places on the itinerary made him book his tickets. I am particularly interested in visiting places like Sangam in Allahabad and Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Buddhist temples in Bodhgaya, he said.

Another Ahmedabad resident, Preeti Patel (65), said she paid Rs 7,320 per person for the tour and is travelling with a group of 11. I am keen to visit the Kashi-Vishwanath temple at Varanasi located on the ghats of the river Ganga where the last rites among Hindus are usually done and the Hanuman temple at Triveni Sangam. I am told that the river that merges here travels all the way to the holy spot of Kailash Mansarover, which is good for me to visit at my age. We will also be taken to places of religious importance like Vishwanath temple in Allahabad and few places relating to Gandhiji in Wardha. This train has good facilities.

The train is being operated by the IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation), a PSU of the Indian Railways. The Gujarat tourism department and Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara and Ahmedabad collectorates came together to bring in 300 passengers for the inaugural journey. The train is carrying tourists from Gujarat in 10 sleeper coaches, arranged solely to commemorate the centenary day of the Sabarmati Ashram and to mark 100 years of the Champaran Movement. After travelling through major landmarks of the Champaran movement, the train in the last leg of its tour will move to spiritual places like the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple in Gaya, Sarnath and Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Triveni Sangam in Allahabad.

The train, with the last of its passengers boarding from Surat on Saturday evening, has 19 students on board from an orphanage in Anand and senior citizens from an old age home in Surat rushed in through collector offices. The tour package for nine nights and 10 days costs around Rs 8,720 including tickets, vegetarian meals, stay at dharamshalas, transfers to tourist spots, travel managers and an unarmed security guard in each coach, with IRCTC also offering 20% discount on bulk bookings.

According to Gujarat tourism officials, the train received 252 bookings from Ahmedabad, 40 from Anand, 111 from Vadodara, 20 from Bharuch, 111 from Surat and more than 70 through the IRCTC portal. Brushing aside claims that the marketing and planning of the train was rushed, Dr A K Manocha, CMD of IRCTC, said it was delayed due to weather. The Gandhi Darshan tourist train was organised to make people aware about Gandhijis values and ethics and to commemorate the Champaran Satagraha and 100 years of Sabarmati Ashram.

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100 years of Sabarmati Ashram: Gandhi Darshan tourist train flagged off with 623 onboard - The Indian Express

ahmedabad, June 17 A grand celebration was held today on the centenary of Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi here today.

Mahatma's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who attended the celebration, said at a time when the country is divided on the lines of religion and caste, Gandhi's ideas have a special significance.

Two new permanent exhibition galleries on Gandhi's life -- My Life is My Message Gallery and Charkha Gallery -- were opened at the Ashram on this occasion. Also, there was a tree plantation program.

Gandhi established the Ashram on June 17, 1917. As he became the leader of the freedom struggle, the Ashram virtually became the movement's headquarters.

It was also from here on 12 March 1930 that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi march and vowed not to return to the Ashram till India gets freedom.

Two books -- 'Letters to Gandhi' and 'Pioneers of Satyagraha' -- were released on the occasion today.

My Life is My Message Gallery has exhibits depicting Mahatma's entire life. Charkha Gallery showcases models of Charkha (spinning wheel) collected from across India.

"After the Ashram's establishment, the freedom movement was run from here," Gopalkrishna Gandhi noted.

As the country is increasingly divided on religious and caste lines, we need to spread Gandhi's ideas, said the former West Bengal governor.

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Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram was set up on this day 100 yrs ago - Outlook India

GURUGRAM: Union minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday urged chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to change the name of Bhondsi ashram to "Chandra Shekhar Smriti Van", a day ahead of the launch of an eco-tourism and nature awareness centre there. Khattar will inaugurate the centre on Saturday, while Vardhan is the chief guest at the event.

Bhondsi ashram, which was once a farmhouse of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, has been shrouded in controversy after the Haryana government took over parts of it in 1998. There was no work on the ashram done during the years of Congress rule . "I also feel it will be befitting tribute in the honour of great personality like Shri Chandra Shekhar. I shall be personally grateful if suitable instructions are issued in this regard," the Union minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences wrote to Khattar (a copy of the letter is with TOI).

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Name ashram after former PM Chandra Shekhar: Harsh Vardhan - Times of India