manlion
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Tamils will forever be a thorn to sanghi's flesh
New Delhi: A temporary structure that has come up at a UNESCO heritage site in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district has irked a section of its residents, political parties as well as heritage enthusiasts, The News Minute (TNM) has reported. Built in the Brihadisvara temple complex, the structure is set to host a two-day event by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living (AOL) Foundation on December 7 and 8. The event, titled ‘Unveiling Infinity’, is expected to attract 2,000 followers from different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Friday stayed the event.
Photos put up by a journalist, Ar Meyyammai, show a pandal erected on one side of the temple, stretching onto the lawn adjoining it. The 11th century Shiva temple, classified by UNESCO as one of the “Great Living Chola Temples”, has been under protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1922.
While the ASI said the AOL has received required permission to host the event, temple sources consider a structure disrupting the path taken by devotees to pray to be disrespectful to the place of worship, TNM reported.
“Godmen such as Sri Sri Ravishankar enjoy close ties with the BJP. This is why ASI, which is a central body, is giving in to their demands. Irrespective of who is asking, a heritage site cannot be used as a venue for private events. The state is already struggling to maintain its temples and idols. If they give permission in such an iconic temple, such events will start mushrooming across the state,” VCK leader D. Ravikumar warned, as quoted by TNM.
Historian V. Sriram asked why permission was given for events at a recognised heritage sight.
https://thewire.in/culture/art-of-l...g-temporary-structure-at-unesco-heritage-site
A petitioner had said the two-day event would affect the sanctity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The court was hearing a petition filed against the event being held at the temple, which said it will affect the temple’s sanctity, reported The News Minute. The petitioner reportedly cited that the organisation had been held responsible for damage done to the Yamuna banks in Delhi when it had held a massive festival there in 2016.
The Archaeological Survey of India had granted the organisation permission to hold the event at the UNESCO-protected monument. The state government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department also reportedly played a role in helping the organisation receive permission.
Following the court’s order, Art of Living said it is shifting the venue for the event to a private property. “There is no change in the schedule of the event,” the event’s programme coordinator Pradeep Kumar told Puthiyathalaimurai TV.
The organisation’s media coordinator Raji Swaminathan, however. claimed opposition to the event could be politically motivated. “Sri Sri Ravishankar is apolitical but he is linked to the BJP for no reason,” Swaminathan said. “These protests seem to be a targeted campaign with political viewpoints in mind. This is just a perception issue.”
Meanwhile, around 30 members of the Tamil Desiya Padhakaapu Yekkam staged a protest outside the temple on Friday against the event being held there.
The event first received attention on social media on Wednesday when Madurai-based independent journalist Ar Meyyammai visited the temple and tweeted that the UNESCO World Heritage site was being disturbed for the programme.
A space on the left of the temple’s entrance, between the fortified outer wall and the main temple structure housing the sanctum sanctorum, had been earmarked for the event, Frontline said. A temporary structure reportedly capable of accommodating nearly 5,000 people has been erected in that space.
Meyyammai@armetchi
When Ravi Shankar, Art of Living Founder, wishes to conduct spiritual discourse/yoga, the Great Living Chola Temple of 11th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site & an exemplary example of Dravidian architecture maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, can be disturbed. #ASI
https://scroll.in/latest/904868/tam...y-on-art-of-livings-event-at-thanjavur-temple
New Delhi: A temporary structure that has come up at a UNESCO heritage site in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district has irked a section of its residents, political parties as well as heritage enthusiasts, The News Minute (TNM) has reported. Built in the Brihadisvara temple complex, the structure is set to host a two-day event by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living (AOL) Foundation on December 7 and 8. The event, titled ‘Unveiling Infinity’, is expected to attract 2,000 followers from different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Friday stayed the event.
Photos put up by a journalist, Ar Meyyammai, show a pandal erected on one side of the temple, stretching onto the lawn adjoining it. The 11th century Shiva temple, classified by UNESCO as one of the “Great Living Chola Temples”, has been under protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1922.
While the ASI said the AOL has received required permission to host the event, temple sources consider a structure disrupting the path taken by devotees to pray to be disrespectful to the place of worship, TNM reported.
“Godmen such as Sri Sri Ravishankar enjoy close ties with the BJP. This is why ASI, which is a central body, is giving in to their demands. Irrespective of who is asking, a heritage site cannot be used as a venue for private events. The state is already struggling to maintain its temples and idols. If they give permission in such an iconic temple, such events will start mushrooming across the state,” VCK leader D. Ravikumar warned, as quoted by TNM.
Historian V. Sriram asked why permission was given for events at a recognised heritage sight.
https://thewire.in/culture/art-of-l...g-temporary-structure-at-unesco-heritage-site
A petitioner had said the two-day event would affect the sanctity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The court was hearing a petition filed against the event being held at the temple, which said it will affect the temple’s sanctity, reported The News Minute. The petitioner reportedly cited that the organisation had been held responsible for damage done to the Yamuna banks in Delhi when it had held a massive festival there in 2016.
The Archaeological Survey of India had granted the organisation permission to hold the event at the UNESCO-protected monument. The state government’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department also reportedly played a role in helping the organisation receive permission.
Following the court’s order, Art of Living said it is shifting the venue for the event to a private property. “There is no change in the schedule of the event,” the event’s programme coordinator Pradeep Kumar told Puthiyathalaimurai TV.
The organisation’s media coordinator Raji Swaminathan, however. claimed opposition to the event could be politically motivated. “Sri Sri Ravishankar is apolitical but he is linked to the BJP for no reason,” Swaminathan said. “These protests seem to be a targeted campaign with political viewpoints in mind. This is just a perception issue.”
Meanwhile, around 30 members of the Tamil Desiya Padhakaapu Yekkam staged a protest outside the temple on Friday against the event being held there.
The event first received attention on social media on Wednesday when Madurai-based independent journalist Ar Meyyammai visited the temple and tweeted that the UNESCO World Heritage site was being disturbed for the programme.
A space on the left of the temple’s entrance, between the fortified outer wall and the main temple structure housing the sanctum sanctorum, had been earmarked for the event, Frontline said. A temporary structure reportedly capable of accommodating nearly 5,000 people has been erected in that space.
Meyyammai@armetchi
When Ravi Shankar, Art of Living Founder, wishes to conduct spiritual discourse/yoga, the Great Living Chola Temple of 11th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site & an exemplary example of Dravidian architecture maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, can be disturbed. #ASI
https://scroll.in/latest/904868/tam...y-on-art-of-livings-event-at-thanjavur-temple
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