Christian Missionary Role In India - 5

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Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 02-17-2006

Headlines before Khumb
QUOTEHindu fair ignites fear among Christians 
Daily Times - Feb 12 4:09 PM
SUBIR: Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of western India on Sunday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism. The three-day âShabari Kumbh Melaâ which began on Saturday in Dangs district in

Indian Hindus head west to "reconvert" tribals 
AlertNet - Feb 12 3:10 AM
SUBIR, India, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of western India on Sunday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism.

Gujarat event sparks fears of re-conversions 
Gulf Times - Feb 13 12:45 AM
SUBIR, Gujarat: Tens of thousands of Hindu activists gathered in a tribal district of Gujarat yesterday for a religious fair, sparking fear among Christians of communal violence and forcible conversions to Hinduism.

GFA Founder: 'Pray & Fast for Persecuted Believers in India'
Crosswalk.com - Feb 09 12:10 AM
The founder of Gospel for Asia is asking Christians worldwide to pray and fast for believers in India who are facing increased persecution. Tensions between Christians and Hindus in the Indian State of Gujarat have increased in the past few weeks, as a major gathering of Hindu extremist groups is imminent.

Call for prayer and fasting for believers in India 
Reformatorisch Dagblad - Feb 10 4:20 AM
CARROLLTON - The founder of Gospel for Asia is asking Christians worldwide to pray and fast for believers in India who are facing increased persecution

United Methodist Church Takes Stand Against Forced Conversions in India
Christian Today - Feb 10 1:17 AM
The mission wing of the the United Methodist Church has taken a stand with tribal Christians in India against

'Another Gujarat waiting to happen' 
rediff.com - Feb 09 1:29 AM
The book launch of Dionne Bunsha's 'Scarred: Experiments with Violence in Gujarat'

Centre urged to ban Shabri Kumbh Mela
India Daily - Jan 21 7:13 AM
The All India Christian Council (AICC) and All India Confederation of SC/ST organisations today alleged that the VHP, RSS, Sangh Parivar and Bajrang Dal sponsored ''Shabri Kumbh Mela'' to be held at Dang in Gujarat from February 11 to 13 was only a ploy to indulge in large-scale conversions.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 02-17-2006

QUOTEHINDU EXTREMISTS IN INDIA CALL FOR NATIONWIDE ANTI-CONVERSION LAW

Speakers at the Shabri Kumbh, a "reawakening" event organized by Hindu extremists in the Dangs district of western India's Gujarat state last weekend encouraged tribal Christians to "reconvert" and passed a resolution calling on the Indian government to enact a nationwide anti-conversion law. At press time, however, there were no reported attacks or attempts to reconvert tribal Christians as a result of the event --
in part due to a heavy police and military presence in the area. Organizers and local sources estimated that 300,000 Hindus converged on the Dangs region for the three-day rally that began on Saturday, Feb. 11, although the official government figure stands at 160,000. A Gujarati police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the local people of Dangs were not happy about the event. "Most residents stayed in their homes and did not take part," he said. "Most of the Dangs people who did go to the rally were from the poorest tribes -- paid off by the organizers who offered free food and transport."
(Compass/Assist News Service)

Christian fundmentalist version.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 02-17-2006

QUOTE(Mudy @ Feb 16 2006, 09:43 AM)<div class='quotetop'>QUOTESecularists left speechless 
Pioneer.com
The ancient rituals of tribals at the Shabri-Kumbh Magh Mela proves they are Hindu, says Tarun Vijay

Something unbelievable is happening in the forested tribal areas of south Gujarat, the Dangs. I see miles after miles of people coming down the hills and village roads making it almost impossible to drive up to the venue where Shabri Kumbh - commemorating the legend of Shabri - is being held.

Till Saturday afternoon, more than 3.5 lakh tribals from every nook and corner - from the far Northeastern States to Port Blair and Uttaranchal to Kerala - had arrived. At midnight, they were still reaching from places as far away as Itanagar in Arunachal. It's a unique event in the tribal history post-independence India, and its magnitude is difficult to measure for a reporter who is able to see only a part of the whole even after a hectic day-long tour around the five sq km stretch of the venue on the full moon day of the month of Magh.

Why should tribals feel threatened in a nation whose Constitution provides protection to their cultural and religious identity? It is so "because the constitutional provisions have not been used effectively so far", says Mr Jagdeo Ram Oraon, a tribal leader from Chhattisgarh and president of the largest NGO working among tribals, the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram. Mr Oraon who is also chairing the Shabri Kumbh Committee. "We are not against any religion or institution, but are trying to put our own house in order. What's the fuss about?" he asks.

Later in the evening, I meet the lady pastor of the local CNI church. Her grandfather was the first pastor of the same church established in 1932. She says they have nothing to fear from such gatherings as the tribals are always non-violent though there are bad memories of a few incidents that occurred in 1998 in this region. This time the administration has given them full protection. "It's the media reports that make us anxious," she said. And she was right. In spite of everything remaining peaceful, a section of the media tried to create fear amongst the Christians.

It is noteworthy that the tribals have fought more than hundred recorded battles against the British led by heroes like Alluri Sitaram Raju, Birsa Munda, Sidho, Kanho Chand and Bhairon, Pazhsi Raja and Rani Gaidinliu. Without exception, all of them had to resist the onslaught of Christian missionaries, too, as the battle against the British also meant battling to safeguard their religion.

Take the example of Rani Gaidinliu of Nagaland. She had led a heroic guerrilla war against the British and when defeated by the mightier army, was rewarded life imprisonment by means of a "fair trial" -- all this when she was just 16. Nehru met her in Kohima jail and wrote poetically about her heroism calling her "fit to be a Rani", hence the title of Rani.

After independence, it took Nehru more than a year to see her out of jail. Indira Gandhi awarded her the Padma Bhushan and also a tamra patra in the silver jubilee year of independence. But Kohima church and the Christian leaders of the NSCN opposed vehemently when there was a proposal to have her statue installed in Kohima after her death because she had declared her Heraka and Zeliangrong movements Hindu and had refused to convert to Christianity.

In order to convert a tribal, his beliefs, customs and deities are condemned, pronounced "incapable of providing salvation"; his entire worldview is sought to be replaced with Romanised concepts and ways of worship. It was the fear of this aggression that made Congress leader and current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh create a Dony Polo mission. He also began motivating tribal public educational institutions so that his people were saved from conversion.

Shabri, who waited a lifetime to welcome Ram, is believed to have treated the Lord with her part-eaten wild berries in the Dangs (derived from Dandakaranya) according to the beliefs of the local tribal population. Surely, she has emerged as the most powerful icon of tribal-nontribal harmony, the legend thus helping the evolution of a unique cultural chemistry.

The same place is today witnessing a powerful assertion of tribal rights to protect their identity and culture. They have given an unambiguous call to their converted brethren to return to their original fold. "We are not giving a call to the citizens of Vatican to convert to Hinduism, but calling our own people back," asserts Morari Bapu, world-renowned preacher. In the village of Shabri, it was an unprecedented sight: Revered Shankaracharyas, sannyasins and Brahmins were embracing the tribals and seeking forgiveness if they had been wronged in the past.

But the secular Taliban-like voices refuse to see anything good happening to Hindus. They tried their best to ban Shabri Kumbh, some media persons surveyed the venue in advance and the prophets of doom declared the programme a threat to environment.

Those who merrily lauded the fraud of Benny Hinn, went hammer and tongs against a great Hindu event. But all of them have been silenced by the grandeur and peaceful conclusion of the biggest expression of tribal assertion in our history. This is also the beginning of a new order, which declares: Come what may, obstructionist politics of hate cannot stop the march of the indigenous people.


Great event is over and no news in mainstream media.
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Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 02-18-2006

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?...ess=1&id=107024

QUOTESangh eyes Orissa tribals

Statesman News Service
BERHAMPUR, Feb. 16. â By organising a grand celebration of the birth centenary of the second RSS chief, MS Golwalkar, in April, the Sangh Parivar is seeking to cement its support base in Orissa in a big way.
The president of the organising committee of the celebrations and former chief of the Orissa unit of the RSS, Mr Sibaram Mohapatra, said the event would be held at Chakapada in the tribal district of Kandhamal from 8 to 10 April.
That they have chosen the tribal area as the venue for the celebration shows that the Sangh Parivar is aiming to attract the downtrodden towards the organisation.
Sangh Parivar plans to make it a big affair by roping in the RSS chief, Mr KS Sudarshan, and the VHP leader, Mr Ashok Singhal along with the Puri Sankaracharya, Nischalananada Saraswati.
Kandhamal district was a scene of conflict between the Sangh Parivar and Christian missionaries whom the former accuses of engaging in largescale conversion of tribals. The Christian missionaries, active in Kandhamal district, allege that they were being attacked by members of the Saffron Brigade. As is the case, the plans of the Sangh Parivar are surely going to make the situation volatile in the Kandhamal district.
Sangh Parivar also plans to take out eight rath yatras â which would converge at Chakapada â to precede the centenary celebrations. The chariots would traverse rural and tribal areas of the state. With an aim to winning the hearts of believers, all the chariots are named after famous goddesses of different areas in Orissa.
While Bimala rath will start from Puri, Tara Tarini rath will start from Ganjam district. The rath that would be flagged off from Jajpur is named after Biraja. Cuttack will see the Chandi rath chug along to Chakapada.
While the Patneswari rath will move from Sonepur district, Tarini rath will be from Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district. The Samaleswari rath will depart from Sambalpur, while Manikeeswari rath will leave from Malkangiri district.
Mr Mohapatra said all the yatras will converge at Chakapada on 8 April. As part of the celebrations, the Sangh Parivar has also decided to install the idols of Shiva Lingam and Adi Shankaracharya at Chakapada.
A big health camp will so be organised in Chakapada for the benefit of the poor and the tribals during the three-day function.
When asked whether reconversions would be conducted in Chakapada during the celebrations, Mr Mohapatra replied that although there was no programme as such, if any repentant person wanted to come back to the Hindu fold, ceremonies would be held for it during the celebrations.
He alleged that largescale conversion of tribals was continuing in Kandhamal district by exploiting the poverty of tribals. To check it, the Sangh Parivar has recently started imparting vocational training to the tribals to make them economically self-sufficient, he said.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - acharya - 02-20-2006

Pat Robertson Accused of Damaging Movement

By SONJA BARISIC, Associated Press Writer Sat Feb 18, 8:15 PM ET

NORFOLK, Va. - Fellow conservative religious leaders have expressed concern and even open criticism over Pat Robertson's habit of shooting from the hip on his daily religious news-and-talk television program, "The 700 Club."

The Christian Coalition founder and former GOP presidential candidate has said American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and suggested that Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for pulling
Israel out of the
Gaza Strip.

Some observers say Robertson, who'll turn 76 next month, courts controversy as a strategy to stay recognizable and keep his followers mobilized. Others say he remains important to the evangelical movement that he helped create when he established the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960 â but he needs to stop damaging it with his words.

He canceled a speech planned for this coming Tuesday at the closing banquet of the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Dallas after NRB leaders said they were concerned that his appearance could detract from the event.

"He is in a very visible leadership position and comments such as recent ones related to Mr. Sharon and so many others are misinformed and presumptuous and border on arrogance," said David Dockery, president of Union University, a private college affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Dockery suggested Robertson might want to consult other theologians "before making these pronouncements so quickly."

"It puts the evangelical movement in a bad light when that happens because people make broad generalizations, rightly or wrongly, all the time," said Dockery, who also is chairman of the board for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Robertson, through a spokesman, declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press.

He recently said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he ad-libs his comments after watching news segments.

He later told the Christian magazine "World" that he's being more careful and reviewing news stories before going on the air because "I have seen an intensity of attack against me that is unparalleled in the 40-some years of the broadcast."

He apologized after facing swift condemnation for his Jan. 5 statement that Sharon was punished for "dividing God's land."

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's ethics and religious liberty commission, has said he was "stunned and appalled that Pat Robertson would claim to know the mind of God concerning whether particular tragic events ... were the judgments of God."

Robertson cited other demands on his time when he canceled his speech to the National Religious Broadcasters convention. NRB President Frank Wright told Associated Press Radio that Robertson was not asked to cancel, but he said NRB leaders did worry that the firestorm over his Sharon comments would detract media attention from the convention's focus. Robertson is on the group's board of directors.

Robertson started out as a Southern Baptist, but today he is a charismatic evangelical and believes that God is involved in guiding world events, said Barry Hankins, professor of history and church-state studies at Baylor University. He tries to interpret contemporary events as "being part of the drama of God's activity in the world."

"He puts the most fantastic spin on things to have a gripping quality about them to keep the ground troops alert," Hankins said.

On the other hand, Brian Britt, director of the Religious Studies Program at Virginia Tech, said Robertson's remarks aren't just "off-the-wall, crazy uncle stuff" but part of a strategy that earns him headlines.

When people attack Robertson, he wins sympathy for appearing to be an underdog, Britt said.

"It reinforces an image of Christianity as a persecuted religion, a religion that is being hounded by the secularists out of the public square, rather than a dominant and hegemonic force," Britt said.

___

Eds: Associated Press Radio reporter Steve Coleman contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 02-26-2006

Bill banning conversions likely in Rajasthan 
www.hindu.com/2006/02/26/...631000.htm
JAIPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government in Rajasthan is planning to introduce a Bill during the budget session of the Assembly starting February 28 outlawing religious conversions.

The proposed Bill is expected to target Christian missionaries even as some radical organisations have launched a major offensive against Christian organisations across the State. .....................

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-03-2006

Evangelized foreign policy?QUOTEWASHINGTON â When President Bush recently used a public forum to announce his support for a more robust international intervention in Sudan's Darfur region - catching even some of his senior aides off guard - it was yet another milestone for the rising interest of Christian evangelicals in US foreign policy.

In just a few years, conservative Christian churches and organizations have broadened their political activism from a near-exclusive domestic focus to an emphasis on foreign issues.
....................

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - acharya - 03-03-2006

SEPTEMBER 23, 2002
http://www.religionlink.org/tip_020923c.php

FOREIGN POLICY
Evangelicals and foreign policy: new religious might
Evangelical churches in America are growing, and so are their financial resources - giving them more ways to affect the neighborhoods and world around them. At the same time, the way people give money is changing: They're more likely to give to a particular church cause than to give a particular percentage of income. One important way that plays out in congregations is a new focus among evangelicals on international issues - from sexual trafficking to the persecution of Christians to missionary activities to the Middle East (and INDIA) and Israel.

"There's no question that evangelicals, particularly religious conservatives among evangelicals, are broadening their political interests," says religion-and-politics expert John C. Green of the University of Akron. Yet in an election year, they're also not likely to abandon staple issues closer to home, such as abortion and education, says Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

In your area, how are churches balancing their desire to affect issues globally and locally? Are churches giving to international causes, missions and projects? How are they working on the Nov. 5 election, particularly in states with hotly contested Senate races? How does this growing segment of American Christianity think it can best use its resources?

Why it Matters
The influence of the Religious Right is closely watched, especially because some once-powerful conservative Christian groups have faced financial trouble in recent years. The spike in attention paid to foreign policy and international issues offers insight into where the growing evangelical community feels it can most effectively affect policy and politics.

Skip to background

National sources

Click the map for interview sources
in your state and region
â¢ John C. Green is the director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron. Contact 330-972-5182, green@uakron.edu.
â¢ Sylvia Ronsvalle is the executive vice president of Empty Tomb, which tracks evangelical giving trends. Contact 217-356-9519, research@emptytomb.org.
â¢ Michael Cromartie is the vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Contact 202-682-1200, crom@eppc.org.
â¢ Rev. Richard Cizik is the head of the National Association of Evangelicals. He says that the evangelical community's shift to international issues - and their ability to affect foreign policy - is a largely untold story. Contact 202-789-1011, rcizik@aol.com.
â¢ Edith Blumhofer is an historian of evangelical Christianity in America, and she can speak to the history of evangelical focus on international issues, from missionary activity to interest in the Middle East. She is the director of the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College. Contact 630-752-5437, isae@wheaton.edu.

Background

â¢ According to the City University of New York's American Religious Identification Survey, the number of Americans who identify themselves as "evangelicals" more than quadrupled from 1990 to 2001, from 242,000 to 1,032,000.
â¢ Read a Christianity Today article on whether the evangelical community's focus on international issues is a new phenomenon.
â¢ Read a table from the World Evangelization Research Center listing global statistics including the income of American church members and the percentage of the world that is not evangelized - 26.5 percent.
â¢ Read the May 2002 International Religious Freedom Report, assembled by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The U.S. State Department will submit these findings to Congress later this fall.
â¢ The debate about religious involvement in domestic politics is encapsulated in the so-called "Jones Bill," which is scheduled to be voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives in late September. The bill would alter churches' tax-exempt status and allow them to endorse political candidates from the pulpit.
â¢ Read an article from the Washington Post on how the American Christian Right is working together with Islamic governments overseas to lobby the United Nations on issues of global social policy. (Username and ID required).
â¢ During the economic expansion of the 1990s, giving to churches actually declined. Read a 1997 report from Empty Tomb that discusses the future of congregational giving and stresses the need for churches to distribute their money to causes in a more organized and focused way.
â¢ The Persecuted Church is sponsoring an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 10, 2002. The organization, sponsored by an array of evangelical groups, works to stop the persecution of Christians in China, Sudan and elsewhere.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - acharya - 03-03-2006

HINDU RELIGION MARKET

HINDU RELIGION MARKET

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-11-2006

http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/10wsj.htm
 Indian in US auctions soul, sparks debate

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-11-2006

Is this the Person the "wind" beneath the wings of "broken yindoos"?????????

Ms. Helen Eklund ------- of dalitstan fame??????????

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-12-2006

QUOTEChristian CM Rajasekhara Reddy Plans to Demolish Part of Tirumala Temple
Posted March 10, 2006
Source: Deccan Chronicle, Feb 21 www.deccan.com
http://www.christianaggression.org/item_di...S&id=1141971282

Varanasi and Tirumala are always on the hitlist of Christian evangelicals. Soon after assuming power as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Samuel Rajasekhar Reddy, himself a fundamentalist Christian appointed Christians and sold-out Hindus to the executive board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

Mr. Samuel Rajasekhar Reddy originally a street goon, whose father was killed in a gang-war has at least 4 family members heading south-India chapters of major American missionary organizations.

This evangelized TTD team now wants to demolish the original temple structure in the main temple in Tirumala and construct netra dwaralu (hatchways). Though the priests objected to this citing Agama Sastras and highlighted temple security mismanagement, the evangelized team is going ahead with its plan.

The same TTD team was responsible for destroying 1000 pillar structure and allowing 7 churches to be built on 7 hills.

Senior archakas and Agama Sastra pundits are up in arms against the proposal of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to demolish the original temple structure in the main temple in Tirumala and construct netra dwaralu (hatchways) to relax the movement of pilgrims. TTD top brass seem to be determined to go ahead with the proposal despite the suggestions of Agama Sastra Advisory Committee, the top body where the Agama is concerned. The committee has voiced its opinion against the netra dwaralu twice at TTD trust board meetings.

Sources say the firm stance of the TTD officials comes after the laxity of the official machinery was exp-osed when a new team took charge. Recent incident like stampedes and over-crowding inside the temple were blamed on lack of proper planning.

The officials feel that the netra dwaralu are the only way to prevent bottlenecks in the queues, which are imminent especially during the Maha Laghu darshan (shortcut darshan). The pilgrims get stagnated at Vendi Vakili since this same door is used for both entry and exit.

The question that arises is why this arrangement has become necessary when the previous arrangements had raised no inconvenience. "The netra dwaralu is just a means of covering up the failure of the officials," said a priest on the condition of anonymity.

The issue has been burning for the past four months and the TTD officials made a bid to prove their point by involving Mr Subrahmanyam, the TTD chief security advisor. He inspected the temple and while leaving said that the netra dwaralu were a must despite what the pundits thought.

Mr Subrahmanyam opined that Vaastu and Agama Sastras are man-made and can be altered. Though the Agama pundits refuted his statement, his comment added fuel to the fire.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-12-2006

this guy seems like the sonia gandhi of south india !!!

i was in varanasi about a fortnight before the blast and it made my blood boil to see the St thomas church, almost bang in the middle of Godhulia.

BTW, can anyone tell me the puranic significance of Tirupati??
Did one of the joytirlingas fall here or did parts of the body of Kali fall here or what?? "I know what is special about Varanasi (northward ganges), Prayag (triveni), Pushkar (brahma temple) etc... so what made peopel choose this site for the temple??

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-13-2006

no one knows why Tirupati is holy?

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-13-2006

I might not be the best person to give you the exact answer Ben ami But tirumala is the vatican of the east ,For millions of Hindus in the southern part of the country right till maharashtra Balaji is a household deity.

http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_varaha.htm

Usually the Sthala Purana and Kshetra Purana of temples give the reasons for its holiness and history , Above link is directly from TTD.

Legend says that at the onset of the Kali yuga when all the sages gathered in Naimisharanya(UP) to propiate the trimurtis for the best course of action for Kali Yuga , a series of events led Lord Vishnu to take the form of Balaji.

The temple itself belonging to the Smartha Tradition has been blessed from Adi Shankaracharya to Ramanujacharya.

Lord Venkateswara is worshipped as Lord Vishnu's avatara for the kali yuga , The deity itself is very charming and you feel a strange peace standing in the abode of the lord.

Hauma or Sunder might be able to give a better explanation of the Temple itself.

Hope this helps.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-13-2006

yeah it did... tho i was looking for an exact quotation or reference to the place in ancient hindu scriptures. in fact i also want to know how long Tirupati goes back.

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-14-2006

Some blog
QUOTEAs you can imagine, I've gained a great deal of knowledge about Hinduism from our visits to the pervasive temples in each city or town we visit. Likewise, here in the city of Trivandrum (in the state of Kerela), Amit is supplementing his knowledge of Christianity by visiting some churches with me. Inside St. Joseph's Cathedral today, I felt like I could have been in anywhere in the world. It looked like a church of my childhood; there was something disturbing about seeing the white faces of Jesus, the Virigin Mary, and the saints.

It turns out that there are benefits to being raised Catholic, even in India. When we strolled onto the grounds of another Christian church - this one a missionary church - and the pastor came out to meet us, his hand outstretched. He nodded at me when I told him that I had been raised Catholic, but, when Amit confessed that he had been brought up Hindu, we were promptly escorted away from the church.

Conversely, at the oldest temple in town, I wasn't allowed in. "Where are you from?" the gatekeeper asked Amit several times, dissatisfied with the answer, "From the United States." Once the gatekeeper learned that Amit's parents were from the state of Gujarat, he asked to hear some Gujarti, and, then - just like that - Amit was whisked away from me into the interior of the temple. I was told that they were sorry, but foreigners were not allowed in.

......
In fact, Amit and I have spent some time arguing about Hinduism (he, of course, was raised with a practical Hinduism, and I have been reading about it), so perhaps the atmosphere is getting to us too!

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-14-2006

Ben ami

The exact References to Tirumala are in the Varaha Purana , originally it being Varaha Kshetra , Lord Vishnu was worshipped in his boar form not long ago in India ,Many places especially Nrisihma Kshetras being originally Varaha Kshetras.

Bengal in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ISKCON also have the Nrisihma Worship.

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/temples/tirumalai/overview.html

http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/south-indi...ala-balaji.html

Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya is referred to in several Puranas, of which the most important are the Varaha Purana and the Bhavishyottara Purana. The printed work contains extracts from the Varaha Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Harivamsa, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmottara Purana, Aditya Purana, Skanda Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana. Most of these extracts describe the sanctity and antiquity of the hills around Tirumala and the numerous teerthams situated on them.

The legends taken from the Venkatachala Mahatmya and the Varaha Purana, pertaining to the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala, are of particular interest.

According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested Himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini, while Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came to reside on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.

Bunch of References
The Lordâs appearance in Tirumala is mentioned in about 12 different Puranas.

<!--emo& Smile

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-14-2006

Tirumalai/Tirupati has always been considered the northern most limit of the Tamil country of yore.

Known as vada venkatam people have been trekking to the Hills to have a darshan of the Lord from time immemorial

Christian Missionary Role In India - 5 - Guest - 03-14-2006

QUOTE(sarangadhara @ Mar 14 2006, 07:12 AM)Ben ami

The exact References to Tirumala are in the Varaha Purana , originally it being Varaha Kshetra , Lord Vishnu was worshipped in his boar form not long ago in India ,Many places especially Nrisihma Kshetras being originally Varaha Kshetras.

Bengal in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ISKCON also have the Nrisihma Worship.

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/temples/tirumalai/overview.html

http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/south-indi...ala-balaji.html

Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya is referred to in several Puranas, of which the most important are the Varaha Purana and the Bhavishyottara Purana. The printed work contains extracts from the Varaha Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Harivamsa, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmottara Purana, Aditya Purana, Skanda Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana. Most of these extracts describe the sanctity and antiquity of the hills around Tirumala and the numerous teerthams situated on them.

The legends taken from the Venkatachala Mahatmya and the Varaha Purana, pertaining to the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala, are of particular interest.

According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested Himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini, while Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came to reside on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.

Bunch of References
The Lordâs appearance in Tirumala is mentioned in about 12 different Puranas.

<!--emo& Smile

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /> Hope you have not gotten into a arguement with Buddhists or Commies on orgins of Tirupati , Dont beleive the trash they spew out , They will claim all sorts of things right from Tirupati being a ancient Buddhist shrine.

Will post the exact verses once can find them ,Meanwhile more learned members might be able to clarify.
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thanks for the info. all i needed to know.

and no i didnt get into arguements with commies or any one else. just that i never heard of the "legend" associated with tirupati (i know about the legend of most other holy places, say like pushkar).