Ayodhya: Shivalinga, idols found while levelling temple site

A shivalinga, broken idols and other artefacts were unearthed recently during levelling of the site for a Ram temple, the trust charged with its construction said.

The levelling work using heavy earth moving machinery began on May 11. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust reported that a five-foot shivalinga, seven black touchstone pillars, six red sandstone pillars, a 'flower pinnacle' and four broken idols of gods and goddesses were found.

The trust posted pictures and videos of the artefacts it said were recovered during the levelling process.

News: Rediff

Char Dhams of Hinduism

The Char-Dham were defined by Adi Shankaracharya. 

These are: 

• Badrinath
• Dwarka
• Jagannath Puri
• Rameshwaram

Just notice how these 4 are in North, West, East and South parts of India. We know that Hinduism is the true unifier of India. And Adi Shankaracharya was the true visionary who did great service to our dharma by his work. He had identified the need to unite all Hindus and whole India in those times! 

Badrinath shrine’s portals opened for summers

The portals of Badrinath Temple were opened early on Friday in the presence of only 28 people, including the chief priest, due to the lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), news agency ANI reported.

The doors of the famous shrine in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, which was decorated with strings of marigold flowers, was opened at 4:30am after a long winter break.

“Devotees will not be allowed entry into the temple during that time. The decision has been taken in view of the guidelines issued by the Centre amid Covid-19 pandemic,” Anil Chanyal, Joshimath’s sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), had said in a statement earlier.

Religious ceremonies were also held on Wednesday at the Narsingh temple in Joshimath ahead of the scheduled date for the opening of the portals of the Badrinath temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Around 10,000 pilgrims had visited the shrine last year on the first day of its opening as per an estimated figure.

One of the most visited pilgrimage centres of India, Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams or the four main pilgrimage centres of the Hindus located in Garhwal hills.

Source: HT 

Hisar, Haryana: 30 families convert to Hinduism

Source: Dainik Jagran, New Delhi

30 families of the Muslim community today announced to convert to Hinduism in Bithmara village of Uklana block of the district.

They took the decision to embrace Hinduism after the demise of an elderly woman Phulli Devi today. Satbir Ahlawat, son of the deceased, informed that his mother died today and his family cremated the body as per Hindu rituals.

Source: Tribune

USA: Hindu priest chants 'Shanti Mantra' at White House

Vedic chants reverberated across the lawns of White House on Thursday as a Hindu priest joined the National Day of Prayer Service in Rose Garden. 

Pandit Harish Brahmbhatt chanted 'Shanti Mantra' at the invitation of President Donald Trump. 

Brahmbhatt was among those invited by Trump to join the National Day of Prayer Service amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hindu Priest Invited By US President Trump Recites Vedic Prayer derived from the Yajurveda At White House on the occasion of National Day of Prayer Service. Says in "troubled times of COVID-19, social distancing, and the lockdown, it’s not unusual for people to feel anxious or not at peace" Brahmbhatt. 

He informed that the beautiful Hindu prayer is derived from the Yajurveda before reciting the prayer.

Complete news and source: DNA

Jind, Haryana: 35 People Convert to Hinduism

Thirty-five members of six Muslim families, belonging to Danoda Kalan village in Haryana's Jind district, have embraced Hinduism.

Danoda Kalan sarpanch Purshotam Sharma told TOI, “Muslim community members came to meet me a few days ago and said they wished to adopt Hinduism. We didn’t oppose them. These families told me some Muslims, such as Tablighi Jamaat men had created bad image of their religion. They also said their ancestors were Hindus at the time of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb but had embraced Islam. Now they wanted to return their original religion.” There was no pressure on these villagers to convert, the sarpanch maintained.

Naresh Kumar (38), whose father died on April 18, said, “We were not completely Muslims as we were following rituals which were similar to Hinduism except performing the last rites after death. Now, we have decided to convert to Hinduism and have no pressure on us.”

Source: TOI