Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Two Shankaracharyas & two comments
Ashok Chowgule, VP, VHP hits hard at the attempts 'to manufacture a controversy'
In reference to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, specific efforts are being seen to manufacture a controversy. It clearly shows ‘an ulterior purpose to push an agenda where truth has no role to play’, writes Ashok Chowgule, vice president, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharat.
By Ashok Chowgule
Most of the English, and much of the Bharatiya language media, are saying that the four Shankaracharyas of the matths established by Adi Shankaracharya are not going to attend. But there is a difference between NOT going to attend and not ABLE to attend. Two Shankaracharyas, the Puri Matth and the Jyothir Matth, have said that they are not going to attend, while the other two, Sringeri and Dwarka, have said that they are not able to attend. The latter two have also said that all their institutions will be celebrating January 22, 2024, as another Diwali, and have requested their followers to do the same. Not making the distinction is an attempt to deliberately manufacture a controversy.
The two who are not attending have stated their objections to the Pran Prathishta ceremony in various scriptural terms. The date and the form of the ceremony was decided six months ago by the spiritual leaders who are the trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, in consultation with many sants in the larger Hindu fold. In the Shaivite tradition there are sants who are called Mahamandeleshwar, Acharyas, etc. In other traditions, there are no such formal titles, and their followers address them as Swami. No prominent sant, other than these two, has raised any scriptural objection to the ceremony.
The fact that the controversy is being manufactured in the last two weeks, and being amplified by the Khan Market Gang, does show an ulterior purpose to push an agenda where truth has no role to play. An impression is being created that the ceremony will not be graced by any prominent sant.
Shri Govind Giriji Maharaj, the Treasurer of the Teertha Kshetra Trust, has respectfully suggested to the two objecting Shankaracharya that he is willing sit with them and others and discuss the scriptural objections, and make improvements in the ceremonies if required. This has not been taken up by either of them. It has to be stated that amongst the two, only one of them (of the Jyotir Matth) has allowed himself to be used by many members of the Gang by appearing on their electronic channels or in the print outlet, to mouth the same objections over and over again. None of these Gang members have put forward to them the response from Govind Giriji and others.
This has forced other sants to respond in relatively harsh terms. One of them is Mahant Raju Das, a prominent sant in Aydhoya and actively involved in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement for a long time. When asked to comment on the two Shankaracharyas not attending, he said what does it matter if they do not come. A harsh response but said in a calm way – something that needed to be said. Mahantji’s interview of nine minutes can be watched at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF5QlsU2Lpo
It is the Hindu tradition that everyone will be taken along. It is also the Hindu tradition not to give a veto right to those who wish to manufacture a controversy.
Related article:
https://indiainput.com/ram-rath-yatra/
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