NEW DELHI: The top spiritual leaders of Sanatana Hindu Dharma, the Jagatguru Shankaracharyas, have decided not to participate in the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22. The absence of these revered figures, representing four prominent mutts, including Govardhan Mutt and Jyotir Mutt, has sparked debates over the involvement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “chief host” in the event.
The decision comes after the pontiff of Puri’s Govardhan Mutt, Nischalananda Saraswati, initially declined to attend, expressing concerns about the incomplete construction of the temple and since he was “conscious of the dignity of his position”.
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“What will I do there? While Modiji inaugurates and touches the idol, will I stand there and clap? I don’t want a position. I already have the biggest one. I don’t need credit. But what will Shankaracharyas do there (at the consecration)?” he asked in an undated video tweeted by the Nagaland Congress.
His counterpart from Uttarakhand’s Jyotir Mutt, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, echoed this sentiment, stating that none of the four Shankaracharyas would attend due to the ceremony being held “against the shastras” or sacred Hindu scriptures. Avimukteshwaranand emphasised that their decision was not “anti-Modi” but a commitment to following the shastra-vidhi, or rituals outlined in the scriptures.
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He said, “Hum anti-Modi nahi hain, lekin hum anti-dharmashastra bhi nahi hona chahte (People are saying I am anti-Modi, I am not anti-Modi but I can’t become anti-dharmashastra too).” He highlighted a key issue of the consecration taking place while the temple construction remains incomplete.
Swami Avimukteshwarananda, has also raised concerns about the appointment of a Shudra as a temple priest for the Ayodhya Ram Temple, stating it deviates from Vedic traditions reserving the priesthood for Brahmins.
Adding to the concerns, Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati of Govardhan Mutt expressed his reluctance to be part of what he described as the government’s endeavour to build not a “sacred temple” but, in his words, “a tomb.”
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Shankaracharya Bharati Teerth of Sringeri Sharda Peeth, despite expressing joy about the temple’s construction, declined the invitation, citing concerns about consecrating a temple that is still under construction. His reservations also extended to the simultaneous construction of what is claimed to be Asia’s largest mosque in Ayodhya, marking an unfortunate turn of events in his view.
Shankaracharya Sadanand Saraswati of Paschimannaya Dwarka Shardapeeth cited timing issues, stating that the consecration in the inauspicious month of Paush goes against scriptures, proposing Ram Navami as a more suitable time.
As the nation eagerly awaits the consecration of the Ram temple, the non-participation of these highest Dharma gurus brings not only a religious setback but also carries broader social and political implications, reflecting the delicate intersection of spirituality and governance.
