The tensions from the January 3 showdown at Prayagraj’s Magh Mela between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand and officials have now reached Ayodhya, where the local saint fraternity has voiced strong support for the spiritual head. Leaders from prominent temples are pressing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to launch an unbiased inquiry into the alleged mistreatment.
Speaking exclusively, Acharya Amit Das of Hanumangarhi Temple lambasted the incident. ‘Administering such behavior to a Jagadguru is unacceptable,’ he stated. ‘False narratives were spun to discredit the CM and state government. Those who grabbed the shikha of the Shankaracharya and Batuk Brahmins deserve immediate punishment. The shikha is our sacred tradition in Sanatan Dharma—its violation is sacrilege.’
He called on CM Yogi to ensure a thorough, impartial probe. Deveshcharya Maharaj of the same temple described the mela as the supreme celebration for devotees, enriched by the presence of ascetics and bathers. ‘Such conduct towards them marks a shameful chapter,’ he remarked. ‘The shikha embodies complete spiritual identity. The administration had no right to demand proof of his Shankaracharya status—this reeks of a plot to smear reputations, hurting the government’s image too.’
Acharya Narayan Mishra from Mahant Parmahans Samadhi Sthal noted that all religious leaders deserve access to the holy dip during the mela. While praising the Yogi government’s arrangements, he pointed fingers at mischief-makers trying to defame the administration. ‘The CM reveres all saints, but vested interests are at play,’ Mishra observed.
This unified stance from Ayodhya’s spiritual leaders underscores the deepening rift, highlighting concerns over respect for religious figures and the need for swift corrective measures to restore faith in governance.