Indian Defense
Date of Event:
Jan 21, 2026
Source:
https://www.PKDefense.com
Brahmin Boys Dragged by the Hair and Beaten: Shankaracharya Stopped from Bathing in the Ganges — BJP’s Downfall Inevitable?
Invoking the phrase “Vinash Kale Viparit Buddhihi,” recent incidents reported along the banks of the holy Ganges reflect a deeply disturbing breakdown of restraint and respect for faith. Brahmin boys were allegedly subjected to extreme assault—dragged, abused, and beaten—while attempting to perform a ritual bath, an act that holds profound religious significance in Hindu tradition. In a separate but equally alarming episode, a Shankaracharya was reportedly stopped from taking a holy dip, and saints were manhandled, sparking widespread outrage. Such acts, if established, represent a grave violation of religious freedom and personal dignity, and are viewed by many as among the worst insults to Hinduism’s sacred practices and custodians. Civil society leaders and religious communities have demanded swift, impartial investigations, accountability for those responsible, and concrete measures to ensure that sacred spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible to all devotees, irrespective of identity. The worst thing is that it happened in the reign of Yogi Adityanath.
Lucknow | Updated: January 21, 2026 08:03 AM IST
6 min read
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati at Sangam during the Magh Mela, in Prayagraj on Monday. (ANI Photo)
The ongoing tussle between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth Badrinath and the Prayagraj administration in Uttar Pradesh over Mauni Amavasya snan at the Sangam escalated on Tuesday after the Magha Mela Authority, citing a 2022 Supreme Court order, issued a notice to the Swami, asking him to explain why he is using the “Shankaracharya” title.
The Mela authority has given him 24 hours to comply.
In response, Swami Saraswati’s team said it would take legal action against the authority and accused it of interfering with the age-old traditions of Shankaracharya and his disciples. The team has also started an online signature campaign against the administration, seeking supporters of “Sanatan” to join them.
Swami Saraswati said notices were selectively issued against him because he raised demands related to cow protection.
On Sunday, during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya, Swami Saraswati and his supporters were on their way to take a dip at the Sangam when police allegedly stopped him.
Reacting to the Mela authority’s notice to the seer, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP and its allies of being divisive and arrogant. Calling the Mela authority’s notice to Swami “highly condemnable”, the SP chief, in a post on X, said those seeking certificates should first present their own credentials.
The Congress also slammed the BJP and asked whether any government, chief minister, or prime minister has any right to question the status of the Shankaracharya. “BJP people who used to ask Muslims – ‘kaagaz dikhao’ (show the papers) – are now telling the same to a top Hindu seer… This is against all traditions. What is happening is unprecedented. Every single Hindu across the world is watching what is happening in Uttar Pradesh. These people are sinners. They will never be forgiven,” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press meet in Delhi.
“When Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed his head before Avimukteshwaranand ji – till then he was a Shankaracharya. As long as Avimukteshwaranand ji did not question the government about cow meat – till then he was a Shankaracharya… But now he is no longer a Shankaracharya because he did not bow his head before the king, and that is why the Yogi Adityanath government is demanding papers from him today,” the Congress leader added.
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Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Tuesday, in an open letter addressed to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, demanded strict action against officials allegedly involved in “stopping” Swami Saraswati from taking bath at the Sangam on Sunday. Seeking a public apology, the Hindu Mahasabha said the incident “amounted to an insult to saints and seers”. The outfit alleged it was part of a conspiracy to “tarnish the image of the Uttar Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath”, and said any disrespect to saints was unacceptable.
In its notice dated January 19, the Mela Authority referred to a civil appeal pending in the Supreme Court and asked him to explain how he was using the title of Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth.
Devotees gather in large numbers at the Magh Mela Kshetra to take a holy dip at Sangam, on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, in Prayagraj on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
The notice stated that since no further order has been passed in the plea, until the Supreme Court disposes of the appeal in question or passes a further order regarding the consecration, no Dharmacharya can be consecrated as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth.
“It is clear that no Dharmacharya has been consecrated as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth. Despite this, you have declared and displayed yourself as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth on a board installed at your camp during the Magh Mela… This act of yours demonstrates disregard for the order of the Supreme Court,” said the notice.
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“… besides complying with the above order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, you should also clarify within 24 hours of receipt of this letter as to how you are using the word Shankaracharya before your name or promoting/propagating yourself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth?” it added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sanjay Pandey, communications in-charge of Swami Avimukteshwaranand, said, “…we are going to reply accordingly. However, matters related to Shankaracharya are [part of a tradition spanning] over 2,500 years, where the position is [passed on] to a chosen disciple. It is a matter of Sanatan tradition, which the administration should not interfere with.”
Questioning the timing of the notice, Pandey added that they had been camping at the site for the past month and wondered why the administration had “suddenly woken up” to the issue of the title.
The Mela Authority and District Administration maintained that no one was stopped from taking the “snan,” but said the Swami’s cavalcade and procession were not permitted in accordance with the prescribed system to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
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Prayagraj District Magistrate, Manish Kumar Verma, told mediapersons that following the SC’s 2022 directions, the administration sought legal opinion on conferring the Shankaracharya protocol to Swami Avimukteshwaranand. Based on the recommendations, no such protocol has been accorded to him at any mela since then.
Refuting the allegations made by Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his followers, Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal said no one was stopped from taking a snan.
However, she said, given the heavy crowd at the Sangam nose that day, Avimukteshwaranand was repeatedly requested to step down from his chariot and take the snan, as allowing the entire procession would have posed risks to the safety of pilgrims and Kalpavasis.
Officials said their repeated requests went unheeded, leading to a major block of over three hours.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand, however, alleged that the administration’s action against him was biased, claiming it stemmed from his criticism of the government’s functioning following last year’s stampede during the Kumbh Mela.
Invoking the phrase “Vinash Kale Viparit Buddhihi,” recent incidents reported along the banks of the holy Ganges reflect a deeply disturbing breakdown of restraint and respect for faith. Brahmin boys were allegedly subjected to extreme assault—dragged, abused, and beaten—while attempting to perform a ritual bath, an act that holds profound religious significance in Hindu tradition. In a separate but equally alarming episode, a Shankaracharya was reportedly stopped from taking a holy dip, and saints were manhandled, sparking widespread outrage. Such acts, if established, represent a grave violation of religious freedom and personal dignity, and are viewed by many as among the worst insults to Hinduism’s sacred practices and custodians. Civil society leaders and religious communities have demanded swift, impartial investigations, accountability for those responsible, and concrete measures to ensure that sacred spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible to all devotees, irrespective of identity. The worst thing is that it happened in the reign of Yogi Adityanath.
Magh Mela Row | Swami Sarawasti gets notice for using ‘Shankaracharya’ title, he says admin interfering with age-old traditions
Mela authority cites 2022 SC order; Cong, SP and Hindu Mahasabha condemn action
Written by Maulshree SethLucknow | Updated: January 21, 2026 08:03 AM IST
The ongoing tussle between Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth Badrinath and the Prayagraj administration in Uttar Pradesh over Mauni Amavasya snan at the Sangam escalated on Tuesday after the Magha Mela Authority, citing a 2022 Supreme Court order, issued a notice to the Swami, asking him to explain why he is using the “Shankaracharya” title.
The Mela authority has given him 24 hours to comply.
In response, Swami Saraswati’s team said it would take legal action against the authority and accused it of interfering with the age-old traditions of Shankaracharya and his disciples. The team has also started an online signature campaign against the administration, seeking supporters of “Sanatan” to join them.
Swami Saraswati said notices were selectively issued against him because he raised demands related to cow protection.
On Sunday, during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya, Swami Saraswati and his supporters were on their way to take a dip at the Sangam when police allegedly stopped him.
Reacting to the Mela authority’s notice to the seer, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP and its allies of being divisive and arrogant. Calling the Mela authority’s notice to Swami “highly condemnable”, the SP chief, in a post on X, said those seeking certificates should first present their own credentials.
The Congress also slammed the BJP and asked whether any government, chief minister, or prime minister has any right to question the status of the Shankaracharya. “BJP people who used to ask Muslims – ‘kaagaz dikhao’ (show the papers) – are now telling the same to a top Hindu seer… This is against all traditions. What is happening is unprecedented. Every single Hindu across the world is watching what is happening in Uttar Pradesh. These people are sinners. They will never be forgiven,” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press meet in Delhi.
“When Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed his head before Avimukteshwaranand ji – till then he was a Shankaracharya. As long as Avimukteshwaranand ji did not question the government about cow meat – till then he was a Shankaracharya… But now he is no longer a Shankaracharya because he did not bow his head before the king, and that is why the Yogi Adityanath government is demanding papers from him today,” the Congress leader added.
Story continues below. Subscribe to see fewer ads.
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Tuesday, in an open letter addressed to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, demanded strict action against officials allegedly involved in “stopping” Swami Saraswati from taking bath at the Sangam on Sunday. Seeking a public apology, the Hindu Mahasabha said the incident “amounted to an insult to saints and seers”. The outfit alleged it was part of a conspiracy to “tarnish the image of the Uttar Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath”, and said any disrespect to saints was unacceptable.
In its notice dated January 19, the Mela Authority referred to a civil appeal pending in the Supreme Court and asked him to explain how he was using the title of Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth.
The notice stated that since no further order has been passed in the plea, until the Supreme Court disposes of the appeal in question or passes a further order regarding the consecration, no Dharmacharya can be consecrated as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth.
“It is clear that no Dharmacharya has been consecrated as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth. Despite this, you have declared and displayed yourself as Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth on a board installed at your camp during the Magh Mela… This act of yours demonstrates disregard for the order of the Supreme Court,” said the notice.
Story continues below. Subscribe to see fewer ads.
“… besides complying with the above order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, you should also clarify within 24 hours of receipt of this letter as to how you are using the word Shankaracharya before your name or promoting/propagating yourself as the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth?” it added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sanjay Pandey, communications in-charge of Swami Avimukteshwaranand, said, “…we are going to reply accordingly. However, matters related to Shankaracharya are [part of a tradition spanning] over 2,500 years, where the position is [passed on] to a chosen disciple. It is a matter of Sanatan tradition, which the administration should not interfere with.”
Questioning the timing of the notice, Pandey added that they had been camping at the site for the past month and wondered why the administration had “suddenly woken up” to the issue of the title.
The Mela Authority and District Administration maintained that no one was stopped from taking the “snan,” but said the Swami’s cavalcade and procession were not permitted in accordance with the prescribed system to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Story continues below. Subscribe to see fewer ads.
Prayagraj District Magistrate, Manish Kumar Verma, told mediapersons that following the SC’s 2022 directions, the administration sought legal opinion on conferring the Shankaracharya protocol to Swami Avimukteshwaranand. Based on the recommendations, no such protocol has been accorded to him at any mela since then.
Refuting the allegations made by Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his followers, Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal said no one was stopped from taking a snan.
However, she said, given the heavy crowd at the Sangam nose that day, Avimukteshwaranand was repeatedly requested to step down from his chariot and take the snan, as allowing the entire procession would have posed risks to the safety of pilgrims and Kalpavasis.
Officials said their repeated requests went unheeded, leading to a major block of over three hours.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand, however, alleged that the administration’s action against him was biased, claiming it stemmed from his criticism of the government’s functioning following last year’s stampede during the Kumbh Mela.
