The Hindu : Steady progress in efforts to build temple at `undisputed site': Kanchi Acharya

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2004

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Steady progress in efforts to build temple at `undisputed site': Kanchi Acharya

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, FEB. 15. The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, said today that steady progress was being made in the efforts to build a Ram temple at the "undisputed area" in Ayodhya.

At a meet-the-press programme organised by the Central Press Club here, he said Muslims should understand the spirit and help in the construction of the temple. Letters were being exchanged and there was a steady progress in this direction, he said. Regarding the disputed area, a dialogue was on with the Muslim community. He expressed the hope that a consensus would finally emerge, which would be conveyed to the court.

There was, of course, a dispute between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and sections of the Muslim community with regard to the sanctum sanctorum, the Kanchi Acharya admitted. The demolition of the Ayodhya structure was a painful incident. Emphasising that there should be no hurdle to building a temple on the acquired undisputed land, the seer categorically said his efforts should not be linked to politics as his entire initiative was aimed at serving the cause of "dharma".

Asked for his views on the demand for a Hindu Rashtra, he said, "everybody knows that the majority of [the] citizens are Hindus but at the same time there is equal respect and freedom to practise any religion in this country." He hailed the State Government's decision to impose a complete ban on cow slaughter saying he had gone on a fast demanding such a ban.

On the Madhya Pradesh Government's decision to declare Omkareshwar and Amarkantak as holy places, the Acharya said it would help maintain the sanctity of these places.

Omkareshwar, on the banks of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva and has a special significance because it was in a cave here that Adi Shankaracharya was spiritually blessed by Govind Bhagwatpaada.

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