'Dharma Sansad': Mohan Bhagwat, Yogi Adityanath to attend; Ram Temple, religious conversion on agenda

The three-day conference will deliberate upon the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, protection of cow and prevention of conversion among others, VHP’s international joint general secretary said.

UDUPI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend a three-day ‘Dharma Sansad’ beginning Friday that will be organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to discuss the Ram Temple issue.

It is being organised at the time when talks of resolving the Ram Temple dispute outside court has gathered momentum. Art of Living Foundation chief Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is trying to resolve the dispute by mediating between different parties.

“A large number of sants and sadhus are invited to participate in the Dharma Sansad,” VHP’s international joint general secretary Surendra Kumar Jain said. Both Bhagwat and Adityanath will deliver the keynote address at the event.

The three-day conference will deliberate upon the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, protection of cow and prevention of conversion among others, he said.

More than 2,000 saints, mutt heads and VHP leaders from across the country will attend the meet, which would also discuss the issues of discrimination on the basis of caste and gender, and explore ways to ensure harmony within the Hindu society, organisers said.

Building a Ram temple in Ayodhya, cow protection, eradication of untouchability, social reforms and prevention of religious conversions would come up for discussion, Udupi-based Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swami, who chairs the reception committee for the mega event, said. The seer said the Dharma Sansad was completely delinked from "politics and political agenda" and would purely be a conglomeration of Hindu saints.

Dharmasthala Dharamadhikari Veerendra Heggade is the vice chairman of the reception committee and scion of the royal family of Mysore Yaduveer Krishan Datta Chamaraja Wodeyar the patron. Saffron banners and buntings adorn the main streets of this temple town.

The Dharma Sansad will be inaugurated by Shivakumar Mahaswami of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumakuru, and Veerasomeshwara Rajadesikendra Shivacharya Swami, Ramabhapuri, at the Royal Gardens here.

Nirmalanandanath Swami of Adichunchungiri Mutt would release a souvenir Paatheya at the inaugural function.

A convention of the Samaj Pramukhs or heads of communities of different districts of the state would be held on November 26.

The Dharma Sansad would adopt resolutions on November 26. The participating saints would take out a Shobha Yatra procession the same day.

A mega Hindu Samajotsava, where Yogi Adityanath would deliver the key note address, would mark the conclusion of the Sansad. In 1985, the second Dharma Sansad was held in Udupi. Tee first edition was held the previous year in Delhi to consolidate Hindu seers and saints under an umbrella body.