Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 7, 2001
Shankaracharya of Kanchi Sri Jayendra
Saraswati said that the people of Gujarat are unitedly facing the situation
created by the January 26 quake irrespective of considerations of caste
and creed. He stated this in a press release issued by his
Mumbai office on Tuesday. The pontiff recently went on a four-day
tour of the affected areas during which he not only distributed relief
material to thousands of people, but also performed 'havans' for their
general well-being. Among other things, a team of priests and
Vedic scholars from Kanchi performed a four-day Prithvi Shanti 'havan'
at Bhuj.
Along with a team from Mumbai's
SIES Institute, the Shankaracharya visited nearly 45 villages in four days
covering an average of 300 km per day. The places visited included
Bhuj, Loria, Lodai, Ratnal, Anjar, Adipur, Navagau, Sakar Bagh, Kumbardi,
Chopari, Barodia and Bhachau.
He also visited several temples
and schools which are being held in tents and consoled the affected people.
He dispelled the wrong notion that the quake was an act of God.
During the visit he also held discussions
with several NGOs, including the Sri Swaminarayan Trust, Shrujan and RSS,
on the future course of the rehabilitation work. "The Shankaracharya
was unhappy to note that in several areas debris remained piled up and
there was a serious threat of epidemics breaking out."
There was also a general apprehension
in the minds of people that they would lose ownership of their old houses
if they accepted alternative accommodation from the government.
The authorities should clarify the situation, he said.
While in Gandhinagar, the swamiji
laid the foundation for the Shankar Mutt complex.
