INDIA, June 18, 2018 (Economic Times): The much-awaited DNA study of the skeletal remains found at the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi, Haryana, shows no Central Asian trace, indicating the Aryan invasion theory was flawed and Vedic evolution was through indigenous people. The lead researchers of this soon-to be published study — Vasant Shinde and Neeraj Rai — told ET that this establishes the knowledge ecosystem in the Vedic era was guided by ”fully indigenous” people with limited ”external contact”.
”The Rakhigarhi human DNA clearly shows a predominant local element — the mitochondrial DNA is very strong in it. There is some minor foreign element which shows some mixing up with a foreign population, but the DNA is clearly local,” Shinde told ET. He went on to add: ”This indicates quite clearly, through archeological data, that the Vedic era that followed was a fully indigenous period with some external contact.”
REUNION ISLAND, June 18, 2018 (France TV Info, translated from French): The Hindu Temple of the Chaudron district of Saint-Denis is getting a new look. On the eve of its centenary, this place, deeply linked to the history of the importation of indentured labor from India and of the Chaudron district, is open again, after a little more than two years of work. As it prepares to celebrate its centenary, the Hindu temple of Cauldron has been totally renovated. Since 2016, the place has been under reconstruction. The work has been done by artists from India with the assistance of young people from the neighborhood.
It must be said that the temple, built in 1920, is an important element of the neighborhood. It would have been built in the manner of those in southern India by Indian laborers who worked at the Domaine du Chaudron sugar plantation located nearby. The latter settled in the surroundings of the estate once the sugar factory closed. After 5 days of prayers, the temple has welcomed many devotees this Sunday, for this final day of ceremonies in honor of its consecration. It remains an important cultural heritage for the generations of today.
Short video at ”source”.
INDORE, INDIA, June 17, 2018 (Times of India): Opposing the concept of ”grihasth sant”, or householder saints (ie, married men who claim to be sadhus), the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad has said that they do not accord ”saint” status to married persons. The ABAP is an apex body of 13 major akhadas, or religious orders, of Hindu saints and seers. The statement from the ABAP comes amidst a debate on saints following the alleged suicide of spiritual leader Bhaiyyu Maharaj on June 12. Bhaiyyu Maharaj, who was reverentially called ”rashtra sant” by his followers, committed suicide allegedly due to stress from a family dispute, a preliminary probe has revealed.
Mahant Narendra Giri, Akhada Parishad president, told PTI that it did not recognize the concept of grihasth sant, adding that such people were not considered seers till about 50 years ago. ”We are grieved at the death of Bhaiyyu Maharaj. He was a respected person. But we clearly believe that, in religious and spiritual fields, married persons should not be called saints. We do not give any recognition to the concept of grihasth sant,” he said. ”Personalities from religious and spiritual fields should decide whether they want sainthood or they want to be part of a family. They should not ride on two boats at the same time, otherwise they will naturally be affected by family discord,” Giri said.
Look at the man who walks on a tight rope. He is performing various tricks, but his mind is only on the rope. So also, we may be doing various things, but our minds must be on God.” Sri Sri Sri Sivaratnapuri Tiruchi Mahaswamigal (”Trichyswami”) founder of Kailasa Ashram, Bangalore
