Ayodhya Priests Condemn Vandalism of Hindu Temples in California
Priests from Ayodhya have condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California. This incident marks the second attack on a BAPS temple in the past 10 days. They have urged the Indian government to take immediate action following the vandalism.
Diwakaracharya’s Concerns
Diwakaracharya of the Lila Bihari Temple in Ayodhya expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on Hindu temples worldwide. He referred to the recent vandalism in Sacramento, which is being investigated as a hate crime by local police. He stated, “It is extremely worrying how Hindu temples are being targeted. The Indian government needs to analyse how Hindus and their temples are becoming unsafe worldwide.”
Diwakaracharya also blamed certain individuals of Indian origin, accusing them of engaging in anti-India activities abroad, thereby weakening India’s global image. He called on the Indian government to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safety of Hindus and their places of worship. He added, “The government should ensure that Hindus and Hindu temples are safe all over the world. India, as the birthplace of Hindus, holds responsibility if Hindus are harassed globally.”
Mahant Avdhesh Das’s Statement
Mahant Avdhesh Das, Treasurer of the Saint Shri Tulsidas Ramlila Committee in Ayodhya, also expressed concern. He blamed internal divisions within Hindu society, saying, “Some of our Jaichands (traitors) born within the Hindu society talk nonsense to earn their political bread, and as a result, we are being attacked in foreign countries as well. We are trying to strengthen the Hindu society to prevent such attacks, both domestically and abroad.”
Details of the Vandalism
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was vandalised on the night of September 25, just days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in New York. Graffiti with anti-Hindu messages such as “Hindus go back” alarmed the local Hindu community. In response, the community vowed to stand united against hate. The BAPS Public Affairs team stated on X (formerly Twitter), “We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.”
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the vandalism and noted that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative for California’s 6th District, condemned the act, stating, “There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County.” The Hindu American Foundation thanked Bera for addressing the hate crime, calling it “an anti-Hindu hate crime.”
Doubts Revealed
Ayodhya -: Ayodhya is a city in India, known for its religious significance in Hinduism. It is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama.
Priests -: Priests are religious leaders who perform rituals and offer prayers in temples. They guide people in their spiritual practices.
Vandalism -: Vandalism means damaging or destroying property on purpose. In this case, it refers to people damaging Hindu temples.
Hindu Temples -: Hindu temples are places where people go to worship Hindu gods and goddesses. They are important for religious activities.
California -: California is a state in the United States of America. It is located on the west coast of the country.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple -: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple is a Hindu temple belonging to the BAPS organization, which follows the teachings of Swaminarayan.
Sacramento -: Sacramento is the capital city of California. It is where one of the BAPS temples was vandalized.
Diwakaracharya -: Diwakaracharya is a title given to a respected Hindu priest or scholar. In this context, it refers to a priest from the Lila Bihari Temple.
Lila Bihari Temple -: Lila Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple in Ayodhya. It is named after Lord Krishna, who is also known as Lila Bihari.
Indian government -: The Indian government is the group of people who run the country of India. They make laws and ensure the safety of its citizens.
U.S. government -: The U.S. government is the group of people who run the United States of America. They make laws and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Mahant Avdhesh Das -: Mahant Avdhesh Das is a senior priest or head of a temple. In this context, he is a religious leader from Ayodhya.
Internal divisions -: Internal divisions mean disagreements or conflicts within a group. Here, it refers to disagreements among Hindus.
U.S. Representative Ami Bera -: Ami Bera is a politician in the United States. He represents people in the U.S. Congress and speaks out on important issues.
Religious bigotry -: Religious bigotry means being unfair or hateful towards people because of their religion. It is a form of discrimination.
