11 January 2024
Four Shankaracharyas have announced that they “will not attend the January 22 inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya because they feel that the inaugural event is being organized against the regulations of Sanatan Dharma,” according to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth in Uttarakhand.
The Shankaracharya of Puri Gowardhanpeeth, Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati, said at Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh two days ago, that he would not attend the religious event that is against the teachings of scripture.
In Haridwar, reporters were informed by Avimukteshwaranand on Wednesday that none of the four Shankaracharyas would be present at the event on January 22. “We don’t harbor any animosity toward anyone. However, it is the duty of the Shankaracharyas to uphold Hindu religious traditions and advise others to do the same. They are disobeying the accepted Hindu religious regulations when it comes to building the temple and planning the event,” they said.
The holding of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram without completing the construction of the temple is the first violation of the doctrines of the Hindu religion and there was no need thereof in a haste,” added Shankaracharyas.
