Swami Agnivesh begins 5-day silence

BANGALORE: Even as a non-bailable warrant issued against Swami Agnivesh by the Hansi Court for hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus after he called the Amarnath Yatra a religious deception, remains pending, he is observing a ‘maun vrat’ for five days at the Art of Living (AoL) ashram on Kanakpura Road on the outskirts of the city. According to ashram sources, Swami Agnivesh arrived at the ashram late August 29 night to participate in a five-day silence and meditation programme being conducted by AoL. Participants are not supposed to speak for five days. Swami Agnivesh is not likely to speak till Saturday evening as the programme commenced on Tuesday morning. He had undergone ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ training, a major programme of AoL, seven years ago. According to the press note issued by the ashram, Swami Agnivesh would be guided by AoL founder Sri Sri Ravishankar and other senior teachers.Around 3,000 people are participating in various programmes at the ashram.The Art of Living has said that it will not interfere if the police wants to take any legal action against anyone in the ashram. It may be recalled that a case was registered against Swami Agnivesh under section 295/A of the IPC for hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus. A Hansi sub-division court in Haryana had issued a non-bailable warrant against him. As the Punjab and Haryana High Court has turned down his application to quash the FIR, police have to produce him before the Hansi Court by September 19. Swami Agnivesh had said in May that he does not understand those who go for the Amarnath Yatra. He said that it is a religious deception and he does not believe in this type of religion.