In India, religion matters. Worship and celebration take place in public and faith is central to the identity of millions of ordinary people. But India is not a theocracy. The strictures of a religion do not form part of the law and there is no religious high command that rules our daily lives.

But even though the tenets of Hinduism are open-ended, the religion has a hierarchy and a priesthood that is sacrosanct to its faithful. The five Shankaracharyas are the pillars of this structure. The shockwaves created by the arrest of Shankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati on Diwali day reminded us of this fact once again.

The arrest of the Shankaracharya on a murder charge is a significant and sensitive event. There are various dimensions to the case that go beyond the law and those involved will have to tread very carefully for the next few weeks. The arrest has sparked agitation on the streets and speculation of a political tussle that harks back to the Tamil Nadu caste war of the late 1960s. The Shankaracharyas are the high priests of Hinduism, figures who represent centuries-old Brahminic domination of the religion. The state Government that has made the arrest stands for the forces of the powerful Dravida movement. The arrest challenges and questions the heart of Brahminic orthodoxy. Yet, it is highly unlikely that the police would have dared make the arrest without thorough investigation.

Our cover story this week is an indepth analysis of the case, its legal outcome, its political consequences and its cultural impact. Associate Editor Amarnath K. Menon put together the story in Chennai. He says, "This incident has harmed the image of the muths but has also brought their functioning under much-needed scrutiny."

In the past decade, whether it was Hindutva or the Babri Masjid issue, religion and politics have become more deeply intertwined in India and have produced unpredictable undercurrents. Things lie dormant and simmering for years before surfacing in unrest or violence, much like Sikh militancy did after Operation Blue Star.

India has suffered greatly through this inflammable mix of religion and politics. Hopefully the arrest of the Shankaracharya will not lead to a repeat of what we have seen in the past. India cannot afford that.

(Aroon Purie)

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