Sringeri Shankaracharya won’t attend Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya. Here’s why

The Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharda Peetham is also known as the Sringeri Sharada Peetha.

It is one among the four Shankaracharya Peethas — seats of the titular Shankaracharyas who head the amnaya monasteries in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hinduism.

The other three are Uttarakhand’s Jyotir Mutt, Odisha’s Govardhan Math, and Gujarat’s Dwarka Sharada Peetham.

Govardhan Mutt pontiff Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and Jyotir Mutt Pontiff Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati have both declined to attend the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

He pointed out that, among other things, the idol installation ceremony was being held against the Shastras (sacred Hindu scriptures) as the construction work of the temple was incomplete.

According to Avimukteshwaranad Saraswati: “None of the pontiffs from the four Shankaracharya Peethas will take part in the consecration ceremony.”

While the construction of the Ram Temple is yet to be completed, the installation of Lord Ram’s idol in it has been scheduled for 22 January, with invitations extended to several religious, political, business, and cultural leaders, as well as sporting personalities.

The preparations for the consecration ceremony are in full swing across the country.

Related: Sonia Gandhi, Kharge decline Ram temple consecration invite

‘Pre-scheduled programmes’

The Sringeri Sharada Peetha pontiff’s Personal Assistant Krishna Murthy confirmed to South First that the Shankaracharya would not be attending the ceremony.

He also said: “The peetha has pre-scheduled programmes on that day. Hence, the Mahaswami will not be going to Ayodhya.”

In a statement, the pontiff conveyed his blessings and said “every astika (believer) must suitably take part in this most sacred and rare prana-pratishtha (giving life to the idol) and be a recipient of the unbounded grace of Bhagavan Sri Ram”.

It also said that several media platforms have falsely mentioned that the Sringeri Shankaracharya had expressed displeasure over the prana-pratishtha.

Also read: Opposition says PM Modi politicising Ram Temple

‘Not anti-Modi, but not anti-tradition too’

With this, it has been officially confirmed that the pontiffs of three Shankaracharya Peethas will not be attending the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya.

This significant decision by the Shankaracharya Peethas reflects their concerns regarding the adherence to religious scriptures in the consecration process at Ram Mandir.

In his post on X, Jyotir Mutt pontiff Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati pointed out: “If the temple would be following Ramananda tradition, then why should Champat Rai and others be there?”

Rai is a politician who is not only the vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad but also a keeper of the Ramlalla, the infant form of Lord Ram to be established in the Ayodhya temple.

“These people should be removed and the Ramananda tradition should be restored before the consecration. It should be the people of Ramananda tradition undertaking the consecration,” he said.

He, however, was quick to clarify that this was not to be construed as a stance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We are not ‘anti-Modi’ but don’t want to be anti-Dharama Shastra either. None of the four Shankaracharyas will be going there (Ayodhya),” Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati clarified.

22 जनवरी के प्रतिष्ठा के पूर्व रामानन्द सम्प्रदाय को मन्दिर सौंपे रामजन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र ट्रस्ट –

रामजन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र ट्रस्ट के महासचिव चंपतराय जी के इस बयान पर पूज्यपाद ज्योतिष्पीठाधीश्वर जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य स्वामिश्रीः अविमुक्तेश्वरानंदः सरस्वती ‘१००८’ की प्रतिक्रिया… pic.twitter.com/h0IqLN8wFe

— 1008.Guru (@jyotirmathah) January 9, 2024

He further said: “It is not because of any hatred but because the Shankaracharyas must follow rituals of the shastras and ensure that they are followed. The rituals are being ignored there.”

He continued: “The first thing is that consecration is taking place even though the construction of the temple is incomplete. There is no such situation that it has to be done immediately.”

Ram Temple consecration: Tamil, Telugu signages in Ayodhya for devotees

Other objections

Highlighting the previous instances of keeping Lord Ram’s idol in Ayodhya amid various circumstances, Pontiff Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said: “None of the four Shankaracharyas raised questions about previous instances of keeping the idol of Lord Ram in the temple because of the circumstances.”

He added: “Currently, conducting solely the prana-pratishtha ceremony on 22 January, seems unnecessary to the Shankaracharyas. Performing it in a partially-constructed temple is unacceptable to us. This stance should not be misconstrued as anti-Modi. We are not opposed to Modi, but we cannot compromise on adherence to Dharma Shastra, which guides our actions.”

He continued: “Champat Rai claims that the Ram Mandir belongs to the Ramananda sect and not Shaivas, Shaktas, and Sanyasis. Ramlalla will be enshrined according to the Ramananda tradition, aligning with the sect’s practices. The then question arises: Why is Champat Rai there? Why is Nirpendra Mishra there? Why is the BJP involved? The trust should be entrusted to the Ramananda community, and they should oversee the ceremony. My concern lies with individuals assuming positions after removing the monks and saints.”

The pontiff also pointed out: “If the temple does not belong to Shankracharyas, why did they accept money from us? The funds should have been sourced solely from the Ramananda community. The terminology used, whether it’s Rashtra Mandir or Ram Mandir for a specific community, is creating division.”

He added: “The temple should unite the entire Sanatan Dharma and Hindu community. The Nirmohi Akhara traditionally conducted the puja first, and they should be given the right to continue. If Champat Rai and Nirpendra Misrra truly adhere to the Ramananda tradition, they should resign from their positions in the trust.”

According to The Print, Puri’s Govardhan Mutt’s pontiff Nischalananda Saraswati announced that he would skip the ceremony because he was “conscious of the dignity of his position”.

“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 was seen asking in an undated video tweeted by the Nagaland Congress.

Modi Ji will inaugurate, touch the idol, and I will applaud there with a resounding victory chant…

– The supreme spiritual leader of Hinduism, the head of Govardhan Math Puri, ‘Shankaracharya’ Swami Shri Nishchalanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj pic.twitter.com/61HPm0HzCM

— Nagaland Youth Congress (@IYCNagaland) January 3, 2024