After the police registered a case against Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda on the orders of the court, there is a sharp reaction in the saint community. Shri Mahant Suryamuni of Bada Udasin Akhara expressed serious concern over this entire incident and said that filing a case against a supreme religious leader like Shankaracharya is not a matter of just one person, but it is a matter related to the sentiments of Sanatan Dharma.

He said in clear words that if there is any allegation against any religious leader, be it Shankaracharya, Mandaleshwar or Mahamandaleshwar, then there should be a fair and transparent investigation. Any kind of haste without concrete facts and thorough investigation affects not only the Sant Samaj but also the faith of crores of Sanatan followers.

‘This lawsuit is motivated by hatred’

Shri Mahant Surya said that in the Sanatan tradition all four Shankaracharyas are considered pillars of religion, and any allegation against them has a wide-ranging impact. Therefore, it is necessary that this matter be investigated impartially and under the constitutional process, so that the truth can come out and the dignity of justice is maintained.

Former chairman of Idgah Committee Haji Naeem Qureshi has also given his reaction in this matter. He said that Shankaracharya is not an ordinary person, but a respected religious guru of the country. He alleged that filing of such a case seems to be motivated by malice. Qureshi said that the Constitution of India gives freedom to every citizen to express his views and taking such action against any religious leader without proper investigation is against the spirit of the Constitution.

Demand for thorough investigation of facts

He said that Shankaracharya is a respected personality not only for Hindus but for all communities including Muslims. If there is any kind of dispute or allegation, then first a thorough investigation of the facts should have been done and only then legal action should have been taken. He also said that any kind of religious intolerance or hasty action in the country can affect social harmony. In such sensitive matters, balance, dialogue and fair process are the real identity of democracy.

Regarding the dispute with the administration in Prayagraj Magh Mela, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati held a press conference in Varanasi and fiercely targeted the government and administration. During this, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand said that he was asked to provide proof of his being Shankaracharya and was asked to provide it within 24 hours. Then it was said that why not be denied entry into the fair itself? We have given them a reply within 24 hours and they have not yet accepted the reply given by us, which means they found our point correct.

Along with this, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said that now he has asked for his proof, now you will have to give the proof, you will have to give the proof of being a Hindu. He said that Hindutva is visible not just through speeches but through saffron, what have you done for cow service which is the first step for Hindutva. The first condition of being a Hindu is to be a Gotra cow protector, after that every step, and that is why we are asking you for proof of being a Hindu. We are giving you 40 days time to prove that you are a Hindu and a cow devotee. If you are not able to give then it will be understood that you are a fake Hindu, a pseudo Hindu, a fake and a hypocrite.

By selling cow meat you will establish Ram Rajya with dollars – Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya said that by selling cow meat you will establish Ram Rajya with dollars. You defended the meat of mother cow by calling it buffalo meat, if you are not able to declare mother cow as the mother of the state within 40 days, then you will be declared a pseudo Hindu. On the question of bathing again in Prayagraj, Shankaracharya said that now that matter has been left behind, now the matter is about the real Hindu and the fake Hindu. This matter had come from the officials but they did not come forward for it and wanted to tell us many things but we did not accept it.

Declare mother cow as mother of the state within 40 days- Shankaracharya

Along with this, Shankaracharya gave an ultimatum to the CM Yogi Adityanath government and demanded that Mother Cow be declared the mother of the state within 40 days. Shankaracharya said that from today we are starting the counting, it will be completed on March 10. If you do not declare for 40 days, then on March 10, instead of going to Delhi, we will gather Sant Mahant Acharya in Lucknow and then take a decision.

Shankaracharya told the UP government that you should learn from Maharashtra, you should learn from Nepal, of which you are the head of Uttar Pradesh. More than 40 percent of the beef being exported from India, almost half is being exported from Uttar Pradesh. You tell me if you are a Hindu, otherwise take off the saffron robe.

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati is once again in the news after the confrontation with the administration regarding Sangam bath in Magh Mela of Prayagraj. The tradition of sages and saints, questioning power and open frankness – the combination of these three has kept him in the headlines time and again, but this journey did not happen suddenly. The story of how Umashankar Upadhyay, who contested student union elections, became the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, is equally interesting.

Why did the Prayagraj controversy come into limelight again?

On the day of Mauni Amavasya, Swami Avimukteshwaranand and the local administration came face to face regarding the Sangam bath. As the matter escalated, tension appeared between the saints, administration and politics. His supporters call it protection of tradition, while the administration talks about rules. This conflict again brings to the fore his identity in which he speaks openly on Sanatan traditions and keeps distance from compromise.

Beginning of becoming a monk with Umashankar Upadhyay

Swami Avimukteshwarananda was born on 15 August 1969 in Brahmanpur village of Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. Childhood name was Umashankar Upadhyay. His primary education was in Pratapgarh, then he reached Gujarat for further studies. There he came in contact with Brahmachari Ram Chaitanya, a disciple of Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj, with whose inspiration he took the path of studying Sanskrit.

Sanskrit education and ideological formation

Umashankar Upadhyay received Shastri and Acharya education from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. During this period, he started thinking deeply about scriptures, traditions and social issues. Sanskrit education shaped his ideological personality, which was clearly visible in his public statements later on.

Student union elections and political activism

While studying in Banaras, Umashankar Upadhyay remained active in student politics. In the year 1994, he also contested the student union elections. In later years, even after becoming a monk, his political understanding and intervention became a topic of discussion. The effort to field candidates from Varanasi in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections was an example of this activism, although it did not get widespread support.

Sannyasa initiation and name change

On April 15, 2003, Umashankar Upadhyay was given initiation into Danda Sannyasa. With this he got the name Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. After retirement, he dedicated himself to the protection of Hindu religion, conservation of Ganga and propagation of Sanatan traditions. In 2008, his fast demanding declaring Ganga as the national river was quite popular.

How did Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath become?

After the death of his guru Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati in September 2022, Swami Avimukteshwaranand was appointed the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. Some controversies and legal discussions also came up with this appointment, but his followers called it a decision in accordance with tradition. Even after becoming Shankaracharya, he remained vocal on social and religious issues.

Outspoken statements and continuous headlines

Whether raising questions regarding the sanctity of Ram temple or objecting to administrative decisions, Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s clear opinion gives him a distinct identity. Supporters consider him the voice of traditions, while critics question his methods. This conflict brings him to the center of discussion again and again.

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Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati’s big statement has come out regarding the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. He held Sheikh Hasina responsible for the atrocities on Hindus and said that India has given shelter to Sheikh Hasina, due to which Pakistan-like nature is awakening there and their anger towards India is increasing.

During this, Shankaracharya also supported the statement made by narrator Devkinandan Thakur about Shahrukh Khan and his comment on the Bangladeshi player. He said that you are living in India and you should make a difference on whatever happened to Hindus in Bangladesh. Have you become a star because of Bangladeshi Muslim? It is the Hindus of India who have made you a star, if you do not stand with their suffering then you will become a victim.

Hatred increased because of Sheikh Hasina

Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati further said that due to granting asylum to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, Pakistan-like nature is awakening within Bangladesh. If India does not take a decision on Sheikh Hasina issue, Bangladesh will become another Pakistan. Sheikh Hasina should be told that we kept you safe for so many days, now you should go to a safe place, otherwise the anger of the people of Bangladesh will increase towards India.

During this, Shankaracharya raised questions on the PDA almanac of Samajwadi Party and said where is Yoga and Karan in this almanac? This is neither an almanac nor a socialist thing. Because, socialist ideology is not just of PDA, it belongs to everyone. This means that SP has limited itself.

This will hurt those who are genuinely passionate about socialist ideology. They should bring out Samajwadi Almanac. This shows that the Samajwadi Party has now shrunk and become a communal and party of a few people.

Counterattack on PM Modi’s statement on Somnath temple

On the allegations made by BJP on Congress regarding Somnath Temple, Shankaracharya said that since last 12 years it has become his nature to bring Nehru in everything, this nature cannot be changed. One can also hold Nehru responsible for the story of his birth and marriage. But there is nothing wrong if the Prime Minister of India remembers Somnath Temple.

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