The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP; "World Hindu Council" in Hindi), is a Hindu nationalist organisation in India, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The leading spirit behind its formation was Swami Chinmayananda; the founding religious leaders included Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. It was founded in 1964. Its slogan is "Dharmo rakshiti rakshitah", or "By defending what is righteous, you will be protected." Its symbol is a banyan tree.

It is agitating for the construction of a temple to Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi, the site of the destroyed Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

See also

• Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
• BJP
• ethnic conflict in India
• Sushil Kumarji
• Hindutva
• Bajrang Dal

External links

• Official Website of VHP (http://www.vhp.org/)