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As Uttar Pradesh prepares for the Ram temple inauguration on January 22, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government makes elaborate arrangements. Despite political leaders receiving invitations, especially from Congress, deciding to boycott, citing political motives for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, an unexpected dissent emerges from spiritual leaders.
While political leaders cite political motives for boycotting the event, spiritual leaders, particularly the four Shankaracharyas, express reluctance. Nischalananda Saraswati questions PM Modi's role, expressing concerns about political undertones. Spiritualists like Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati criticize the premature temple consecration for political gains.
The four principal monasteries or mutts, established by the eighth-century Hindu saint Adi Shankara, are headed by Shankaracharyas. These mutts - Jyotir Math (Joshimath, Uttarakhand), Govardhan Math (Puri, Odisha), Sringeri Sharada Peetham (Sringeri, Karnataka), and Dwarka Sharada Peetham (Dwarka, Gujarat) - symbolize the cardinal directions and hold significant reverence in Hindu pilgrimage.
Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati of Puri's Govardhan Math decided to skip the event, deeming the consecration rituals "against the scriptures."
Jyotir Math Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati objected to the inauguration rituals, stating they deviated from the shastras. He called for transferring temple management to the Ramanand community before the event.
Spiritual leaders emphasize their reluctance is not against reverence for Lord Ram or "anti-Modi," rejecting media reports suggesting otherwise.