(CNN)

His disciples maintain he is in a deep meditative state, others say he is dead.

Now a court in India has ruled that the followers of deceased spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj can continue to preserve his body in a commercial freezer, indefinitely.

Founder of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (Divine Light Awakening Mission), Maharaj was declared dead by authorities in January 2014.

But disciples at his 100-acre ashram in northern India claim he is in a state of samadhi -- the highest plane of meditation -- and will return to life after the fulfillment of his spiritual mission.

A court battle over the body began almost immediately after Maharaj's death.

Dalip Kumar Jha, who claims to be Maharaj's son, had filed a petition demanding the right to cremate his father's body in line with traditional Hindu rituals.

But on Thursday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed his petition.

The court cited "freedom of religion" and a "lack of cremation laws" in ruling in favor of the continued preservation of Maharaj's body.

Maharaj was apparently born in the northern state of Bihar and left his family to become a religious preacher. He founded his sect in 1983 in Punjab to promote "self awakening and global peace" amid a period of militancy and armed conflict.

Maharaj is a controversial figure in Punjab, with local media alleging he had faced protests and threats to his life from conservative Sikh groups in the region.

His sect claims it has over 5,000 volunteers and conducts more than 40,000 events across the world. Its followers took to Twitter to celebrate the court's decision.

The court also overturned a 2014 ruling by a lower court that had ordered the state to cremate the guru.

In a 40-page judgment, the court remarked that since no laws existed to make disposal of a body by the state compulsory, no action could be taken against the ashram or its preservation of the body.

"We thus, find ourselves in a piquant situation where in the absence of any law or obligation flowing therefrom, to give any directions to dispose of the body even if one were to venture considering to do so," read the ruling.

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Court rules dead guru can be preserved in a freezer - WCVB Boston

Grace Vincent founded the Ashram Community with her husband, John, a Methodist minister

My friend and colleague Grace Vincent, who has died aged 83, was committed to the cause of social justice, and her example inspired many others.

With her husband, John, a Methodist minister, Grace founded the Ashram Community in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 1967. They were part of a movement that asserted the importance of following the radical example of Jesus in living a Christian life, with the aim of making a significant difference in the world. The community adopted both the eastern concept of building a spiritual resource and the western emphasis on commitment to working among people experiencing poverty.

Grace and John encompassed the very best of modern Christianity, combining vision with day-to-day application. This always took a bottom-up approach, working with people rather than on their behalf, both in community work and in style of worship. Through the Ashram Community, Grace provided support and encouragement to several generations of people living in disadvantaged urban areas.

Grace was born in Kodaikanal, south India, daughter of the Rev Wilfred Stafford and his wife, Dora (nee Johnston), Irish Methodist missionaries. The family remained in India until Grace was 14, when she was sent to school at Methodist college, Belfast. She later studied English literature at Queens University Belfast and in 1958 married John Vincent.

From the Rochdale mission, Grace and John moved in 1970 to inner-city Sheffield, where Grace taught English as a second language at local schools. She set up New Roots, a wholefoods shop for justice that inspired many, including me and other local students, with its evident call to environmental and social justice.

This stands alongside the inner-city work the Ashram Community established and still sustains, most notably at the Burngreave Ashram in Sheffield, which offers a weekly free meal to all (Grace last took part a week before her death) and where destitute migrants and homeless people are often housed. There are also a number of community houses in the area and those living in them work and volunteer locally. The Ashram Community has spread throughout the UK and continues to be inspired and guided by Grace and Johns vision, writings and dedication.

John and their three children, Christopher, Faith and James, survive her.

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Grace Vincent obituary - The Guardian

Shares of Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) touched a high of 1.20and dipped down to a low of 1.20before settling at 1.20in the most recent session. The stock has experienced bearish momentum as its ATR or Average True Range has dipped consistently over the past 10 sessions.

When focusing on technical stock analysis, traders and investors may choose to also study the ATR or Average True Range. The present 14-day ATR for Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) is currently standing at 0.04. The ATR basically measures the volatility of a stock on a day-to-day basis. The average true range is typically based on 14 periods and may be calculated daily, weekly, monthly, or intraday. The ATR is not considered a directional indicator, but it may reflect the strength of a particular move.

Currently, the 14-day ADX for Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) is sitting at 33.16. Generally speaking, an ADX value from 0-25 would indicate an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would support a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would identify a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would lead to an extremely strong trend. ADX is used to gauge trend strength but not trend direction. Traders often add the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI) to identify the direction of a trend.

Checking in on some other technical levels, the 14-day RSI is currently at 34.10, the 7-day stands at 31.60, and the 3-day is sitting at 37.17. Many investors look to the Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading of a particular stock to help identify overbought/oversold conditions. The RSI was developed by J. Welles Wilder in the late 1970s. Wilder laid out the foundation for future technical analysts to further investigate the RSI and its relationship to underlying price movements. Since its inception, RSI has remained very popular with traders and investors. Other technical analysts have built upon the work of Wilder. The 14-day RSI is still a widely popular choice among technical stock analysts.

Investors may be watching other technical indicators such as the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R. The Williams %R is a momentum indicator that helps measure oversold and overbought levels. This indicator compares the closing price of a stock in relation to the highs and lows over a certain time period. A common look back period is 14 days. Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO)s Williams %R presently stands at -91.84. The Williams %R oscillates in a range from 0 to -100. A reading between 0 and -20 would indicate an overbought situation. A reading from -80 to -100 would indicate an oversold situation.

Taking a closer look from a technical standpoint, Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) presently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -53.97. Typically, the CCI oscillates above and below a zero line. Normal oscillations tend to stay in the range of -100 to +100. A CCI reading of +100 may represent overbought conditions, while readings near -100 may indicate oversold territory. Although the CCI indicator was developed for commodities, it has become a popular tool for equity evaluation as well.

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Putting the Technicals Into Perspective For Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) - Union Trade Journal

BBC News

Ashutosh Maharaj: Followers win fight to keep guru in freezer BBC News The heavily-guarded 100-acre ashram in Punjab where the guru has been kept is just one sign of his vast financial assets. Mr Jha has accused the guru's disciples of retaining his body as a ploy to keep control of his wealth. Shortly after his death in ... Indian court allows guru's disciples to continue preserving his body in freezerThe Guardian Hindu Disciples Put Dead Guru In Freezer, Because He's Just MeditatingThe Daily Caller HC allows preservation of Ashutosh Maharaj's body in deep freezer ...NYOOOZ all 21 news articles »

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Ashutosh Maharaj: Followers win fight to keep guru in freezer - BBC News

The Sarva Dharma Ashram building which is situated in Welbedacht.

In an effort to raise much-needed funds and stay true to its slogan of the home of love, compassion and sacrifice, the Sarva Dharma Ashram will host a massive charity event that will feature a host of vocalists, dances, comedy and entertaining sketches. SAs top show band, Dilkash, led by the talented Rajive Mohan, will also perform at the highly-anticipated event.

Organisers are going the beyond the call of duty to ensure that the function is a tremendous success and is encouraging the community of Durban and surrounding areas to show their support. Due to an increase in demand for help by the local community, the ashram often embarks on initiatives that can benefit underprivileged individuals.

The show has been held for the past 10 years and during this time, the ashram stayed true to the fundamentals of social responsibility by bearing all the major costs.

This years event will take place on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 6pm at the Kendra Hall in Durban. Sumptuous vegetarian meals will also be provided. For tickets or more information, contact the ashram on 031406-3766 or 082-355-3123.

Originally posted here:

Ashram to host fundraising charity event - Rising Sun Overport

Plainclothes police visit a branch of the Sathya Sai Baba sect on Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province on Sunday as part of the investigation into the death of Belgian tourist Elise Dallemagne. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

KOH PHANGAN, SURAT THANI - Police searched an ashram affiliated with a religious cult on Sunday as part of a wider investigation into the death of a Belgian tourist on neighbouring Koh Tao.

When police from Koh Phangan station arrived at the ashram, a branch of the Sathya Sai Baba cult, they found only two Indian members on the premises.

Koh Phangan police chief Pol Col Somchai Noppasri said the two Indians told the investigators that Raaman Andreas, a German who is the sect leader on Koh Phangan, left for Sri Lanka and India two months ago. They did not know when he will return, he added.

Police believe Elise Dallemagne was a devotee of the Indian sect but have not yet linked it with her death.

Pol Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee, the deputy of the Provincial Police Region 8, on Sunday again asked Mr Andreas to help police clear up the mysterious circumstances of her death.

Dallemagne was found dead, reportedly hanging from a tree with a rope around her neck, in jungle terrain above Koh Tao's Tanote bay on April 27. Police ruled that the 30-year-old Belgian committed suicide, and the autopsies substantiated the ruling.

Police on Koh Tao returned to Tanote bay to look for additional evidence and check CCTV footage at a shop nearby. The video showed Dallemagne visiting the shop on April 21 to buy plain rice and a ferry ticket for April 24.

The Belgian checked into Triple B Bungalows on April 19. She abruptly left the resort on the same night after a fire which, according to the owner, started in her hut before spreading to other bungalows.

The footage seen by police on Sunday confirmed that she went to Tanote bay after the fire.

After her story was run on the Samui Times, an online outlet, police reopened their investigation. They have questioned more than 15 people -- ranging from staff at the bungalow to ferry crew members -- in bid to end speculation about her death.

Crime Suppression Division police from Bangkok were sent to the resort island to assist local police.

Pol Col Wichorb Kerdkliang, the deputy police chief of Surat Thani, said about 10 more people remain to be questioned, and they hope to complete the questioning process on Monday.

Police will review the evidenceand study the autopsy reports before reaching a conclusion on the case.

"So far investigators and police from Koh Tao and Koh Phangan police stations have not found anything that suggests a murder motive or the involvement of anyone else in the death or Dallemagne," Pol Col Wichorb said.

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Police search ashram for clues on Koh Tao death - Bangkok Post

Lucknow: A push for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is likely to gain momentum from Guru Poornima next week when saints gather at the Naradanand Ashram in Sitapur to chalk out a roadmap in this regard.

"Saints from different akhadas of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states will be assembling at the ashram to discuss and deliberate on the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya," Swami Vidya Chetanaiya Maharaj, who heads the Nardanand Ashram (in Sitapur), said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditiyanath. PTI

"Guru Poornima is on 9 July and it will mark the beginning of a campaign to gather support from not only the saints, but also from the common public for construction of the Ram temple," he told PTI.

Referring to his 27 June meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chetanaiya Maharaj said, "We are confident that the commencement of construction of a grand Ram temple will begin well before 2019."

The 58-year-old saint also informed that after the Guru Poornima rituals are completed in Naradanand Ashram, he will embark on a special rath (chariot) and travel to different ashrams in the state, and also in the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand to elicit support for construction of the temple.

"After nearly one-and-a-half months, I will be returning to the ashram. And, then the final roadmap will take shape," he said.

President of the Rashtriya Kisan Manch, Shekhar Dixit, said until and unless the condition of 'rishi' (saints) and 'krishi' (agriculture) is improved, and problems addressed, "dawn of Ram Rajya in India will always remain a distant dream".

"Both rishi and krishi are an asset to the nation, and if their interests are not taken care of, then this will definitely not augur well for the country as a whole."

Dixit went on to say, "A large number of saints and farmers face threat from the land mafia, which tries to grab their land. If the Uttar Pradesh government intervenes, and sends the land mafia behind bars, then it will set a right precedent."

He added that on Guru Poornima, the volunteers of Rashtriya Kisan Manch will take a pledge to dedicate themselves to resolve these problems.

"We will work tirelessly, and continue to do so till the last farmer gets justice," he said. He was also of the view that time has come for construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

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Demand for Ram temple to get a major push as saints gather to mark Guru Poornima - Firstpost

Ahmedabad: M K Gandhi, the young barrister who had becomefamous for fighting for the rights of Indians in racism-riven South Africa, settled in Ahmedabad in February 1915. On May 25 that year, he set up an ashram in Kochrab to further his mission to fight for Swaraj and to foster the system of community living.

On June 17, 1917, Gandhiji formed a new ashram in Sabarmati with 40-odd members. That institution changed the direction of India's freedom struggle.

The Sabarmati Ashram became a landmark in the world's conscience, owing to its association with Gandhiji's history-shaping campaigns such as the Champaran Satyagraha, the strike of mill workers in Ahmedabad, the Khilafat Movement, the Kheda Satyagraha, the Non-cooperation Movement, and finally, the Dandi March.

To commemorate the centenary year of the Sabarmati Ashram, the National Archives of India and the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation & Memorial Trust have organized an exhibition. From June 29, the ashram has been hosting the exhibition, titled 'Sabarmati Shatabdi Ek Karyanjali'.

An eponymous book was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 29. The exhibition will be on view till July 29.

TOI presents some vignettes from the book and the exhibition related to the Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhiji's association with Ahmedabad.

DESH SEVA ASHRAM?

Gandhiji was influenced by his experience of community living in South Africa, Santiniketan in West Bengal, and at the Gurukul Ashram near Haridwar. As mentioned in Volume 13 of "The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi", the names he considered for the ashram in Ahmedabad included Deshsevashram, Seva Mandir,and Satyagrahashram. But eventually both his ashrams were known by their location Kochrab and Sabarmati.

Rs 6,000 IS WHAT BAPU WANTED FROM AHMEDABAD

While establishing an ashram in Kochrab, Gandhiji had written a detailed letter to Sheth Mangaldas Girdhardas. In the letter, he had mentioned the names of all 40 inmates ready to shift with him to the new ashram. He said that he would need about 50,000 square feet of land for living quarters and three kitchens for 50-plus residents. He also asked for at least five acres of land for cultivation and a bullock cart or a horse-drawn carriage if the site was far from the railway station. He estimated the expense to be Rs 10 per month per person. "Thus, with an average of 50 inmates, the annual expenditure will come to Rs 6,000. If Ahmedabad is not prepared to do this for a year, I am in a position to provide for the boarding charges," Gandhiji wrote.

SHIFT FROM KOCHRAB TO SABARMATI

In 1917, two years after the Kochrab Ashram was established, plague broke out in Kochrab village, posing a health risk to ashram inmates, especially children. However, that was not the only reason for moving. As Gandhiji notes, "An ashram without an orchard, a farm or cattle would not be a complete unit. The ashram at Kochrab lacked these." Gandhiji also found the location between the central jail and the local crematorium appealing "jail-going was understood to be normal for Satyagrahis", he noted drily. He also observed that the sites selected for jails have generally clean surroundings! The shift took place on June 17, 1917, when Gandhiji was busy with the Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar.

STRIKING MILL WORKERS BECAME ASHRAM BUILDERS

The Sabarmati Ashram functioned on the principles that coalesced at the Phoenix Settlementwhich was founded by Gandhiji near Durban, South Africa, in 1904but with Indian sensibilities. Those who helped in creating infrastructure included Anasuya Sarabhai, Shankarlal Banker, and Narhari Parikh. Gandhiji in a letter to his nephew, Maganlal Gandhi, wrote that he estimated the cost of construction to be about Rs 20,000 while agreeing on the rough plan for the premises. In 1918, when mill workers went on strike in Ahmedabad, their services were rendered for the ashram in filling the foundation of the weaving school with sand.

ECONOMY OF THE ASHRAM

In a letter dated July 1, 1917, Gandhiji wrote from Motihari in Bihar that he needed Rs 400 per month as recurring expense and Rs 1.18 lakh for buying 55 bigha land for the construction of workshops, living rooms, and kitchens.

As the book of accounts on the display shows, the financial records of the ashram were meticulously maintained. A page indicates that the ashram had received Rs 5,000 as donation from Revashankar, and that Rs 350 was earned from the ashram's produce. The ashram spent money for maintenance, salaries, postage, and packaging.

On July 15, 1921, Gandhiji wrote to Hermann Kallenbach one of his closest associates in South Africa that crops grown at the ashram included cotton, wheat, millets, and various kinds of pulses. Oranges and pomegranates grew at the ashram orchard. Rain being scarce, the primary source of water for irrigation was a well in the compound. By 1928, the ashram had about 100 acres of land with grain and fodder fields, vegetable gardens, and a dairy with 25 cattle.

NOT GAU RAKSHA BUT GAU SEVA

In Volume 50 of "The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi", it is revealed that the Sabarmati Ashram inmates had tried to live without milk and ghee for a prolonged period. It was later decided to include the items in the diet as "the health of the children as well as the adults suffered under this regimen." Thus, it was resolved to keep cattle at the ashram. Gandhiji writes, "The Ashram believes in gauraksha (cow protection) as a religious duty. But the word gauraksha savours of pride. Man is incompetent to 'protect' animals, being himself in need of protection from God who is the Protector of all life. The word gauraksha was therefore replaced by gauseva (cow service)."

GANDHIJI'S FREEDOM RIDE

In February 1928, Gandhiji had taken part in an executive meeting at the Gujarat Vidyapith. After the meeting, the car belonging to Ranchhodlal Sheth was to drop him at the Sabarmati Ashram. However, the car did not arrive on schedule and Gandhiji had some appointments at the ashram. Without waiting further, Gandhiji borrowed the bicycle of Amrutlal Shelat, a Vidyapith student, and reached the ashram in time for engagements. Interestingly, the bicycle was made by Freedom Cycle Company. Amrut Modi, a trustee of the Sabarmati Ashram, got the bicycle from Narandas Gandhi in Rajkot and the trust restored it over 14 months.

VEGETARIAN=ANNAHARI?

Gandhiji used to receive hundreds of letters from across the globe and he would make it a point to answer most of them. Many were not about his work. In one such letter displayed at the exhibition, Bhagwaddas Brahmachari, the priest at the Rajadhiraj temple at Bakri Pol, Ahmedabad, asked Gandhiji about the exact meaning of the English term 'vegetarian.' "Do those identifying selves as vegetarians consume fish, eggs and milk?" the priest wrote. "Also, do they consume prohibited garlic and onion? So, what would describe them the best? Niramishahari or Satvikahari, as shakahari is a very limited word." In reply, Gandhiji wrote that foreign countries had the VEM vegetables, eggs and milk diet for vegetarians. He did not consider consuming chilli 'satvik' and thus suggested 'annahari' as an option. "As per my thinking, whatever we are eating apart from meat is 'anna' (food). I know it is not all-inclusive but I have found it best among the possible options," Gandhiji wrote.

ASHRAM HANDED OVER TO HARIJAN SEVAK SANGH

On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji and his associates left the Sabarmati Ashram on the Dandi March, vowing not to return until India attained Swaraj. The population of the ashram dwindled considerably by 1932. When the government seized the property, Gandhiji asked it to forfeit the ashram. The government did not oblige so Gandhiji decided to dedicate the ashram to Harijan service. On July 22, 1933, exactly 16 years after its establishment, the ashram was formally disbanded. The ashram inmates first stayed at the residence of Anasuya Sarabhai and then joined different ashrams inspired by Gandhian thought.

BAPU BRIGADE: STARS BEHIND THE STALWARTS

Apart from luminaries of the Indian freedom struggle and stalwarts such as Vinoba Bhave, Kakasaheb Kalelkar, Imam Bawazeer, Mahadev Desai, Dadasaheb Mavalankar, the ashram also attracted Indians and foreigners who were enamored by Gandhiji's movement and mission.

Maganlal Gandhi: Gandhiji's nephew had designed and supervised the construction of the Sabarmati Ashram. Following Gandhiji since his South Africa days, he efficiently managed all the ashram activities. Gandhiji was grooming him to be his heir. When Maganlal died in 1928, Gandhiji had famously remarked, "I have been widowed."Maganlal's residence at the ashram, the Magan Nivas, has been converted into the Charkha Museum. That is fitting because Maganlal had introduced innovations to the spinning wheel.

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100 years of Bapu's timeless idea - Times of India

The Hindu

KTR and officials visit Sabarmati Ashram , River Front in Ahmedabad The Hindu Mr. Rao along with a delegation comprising Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Navin Mittal and others visited the Sabarmati Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi spent a good part of his life and ... My fight is based on Gandhiji's principles: Meira Kumar at Sabarmati AshramThe Indian Express PM Narendra Modi visits Sabarmati Ashram, says it enlightened human raceEconomic Times Meira Kumar begins with her election campaign from Sabarmati AshramThe Indian Wire Firstpost -Zee News all 1,038 news articles »

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KTR and officials visit Sabarmati Ashram , River Front in Ahmedabad - The Hindu

Summary: IT & Textiles Minister K T Rama Rao, who is on Gujarat tour, today made a visit to Sabarmati Ashram of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. Later he tweeted that he was privileged to visit and experience Mahatmas Ashram at Sabarmati. Gandhiji was a very simple man and spent a glorious life, KTR said. He also addressed a round table conference later along with Union Textiles Minister Smrithi Irani and Chandrababu Naidu. It is great honour to visit Gandhijis Sabaramthi Ashram, the minister stated.

IT & Textiles Minister K T Rama Rao, who is on Gujarat tour, today made a visit to Sabarmati Ashram of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. He also visited a Museum at the Ashram and had a glance of it besides taking a photograph at the Charkha that was used by Mahatma Gandhi. It is great honour to visit Gandhijis Sabaramthi Ashram, the minister stated.

KTR interacted with some students on the occasion. Gandhiji was a very simple man and spent a glorious life, KTR said. Later he tweeted that he was privileged to visit and experience Mahatmas Ashram at Sabarmati. What a simple man and what a glorious life Gandhiji had, he tweeted. It may be mentioned here that the minister, accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu while visiting Telangana Textile Stall during a Textile India Expo at Gujarat on Friday.

Source: http://www.siasat.com/news/privileged-visit-gandhi-ashram-ktr-1206508/

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Privileged to visit Gandhi Ashram: KTR - NYOOOZ