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A controversial incident
during the ongoing Magh Mela 2026 in Prayagraj has shaken the entire Sanatan
Dharma community. Disciples of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth were detained by the police, and their palanquin
(chariot) was forcibly removed from the Sangam area. This incident occurred
during the holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, disrupting a centuries-old tradition of
saints bathing at the confluence. Is this the way to protect Sanatan Dharma?
Let's delve deeper into this incident and understand what happened, why it
happened, and what its potential impact might be.Details of the incident: On
January 18, 2026, on Mauni Amavasya, a major bathing festival of the Magh Mela,
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, along with his disciples, set out for the
Sangam bath in a palanquin. The journey from their camp to the Sangam ghat
began normally, but the police, citing crowd control and security reasons,
asked them to disembark from the palanquin and proceed on foot. The disciples
protested, leading to a scuffle between the police and the disciples. The
police detained approximately 35 disciples, some of whom have alleged being
beaten. Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged that his elderly sanyasis were beaten
with shoes and that a Nepalese saint was beaten after being grabbed by his
hair.
Following the incident, the
Shankaracharya staged a sit-in protest in front of his camp, demanding an
apology from the administration. He said, "They tried to kill us, but we
will stand firm in protecting Sanatan Dharma."
Videos and posts about the
incident went viral on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where
many users termed it an attack on Sanatan Dharma. One post read,
"Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Ji's disciple saints were detained and
their palanquin was forcibly removed. A centuries-old tradition disrupted—what
kind of Ram Rajya is this?"
This incident is not just a
mere clash, but it is also linked to a long-standing dispute over the
Shankaracharya's title. Swami Avimukteshwaranand was appointed Shankaracharya
of Jyotish Peeth Badrinath in 2022 after the death of his guru, Swami
Swaroopanand Saraswati. However, this appointment is under review by the
Supreme Court, and the Magh Mela authorities issued him a notice, asking him to
prove his title within 24 hours.
The administration stated that
no one can assume the title of Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth until the
court's decision. Objections were raised to the sign displaying
"Shankaracharya" at Swami Avimukteshwaranand's camp. Responding to
this, the Swami said, "Hindus are cowards, Muslims are blessed... because
they are united." He accused the administration of double standards,
alleging that some saints were being given special privileges while others were
being obstructed.
This incident has caused deep
outrage among followers of Sanatan Dharma. Several posts on X (formerly
Twitter) described it as an insult in the name of protecting Sanatan Dharma.
One user wrote, "What kind of Amrit Kaal is this where a Shankaracharya is
insulted and some babas are honored?"
Political parties also
reacted. Leaders of the Samajwadi Party and Congress termed it government repression,
while the BJP cited security reasons. The saint community of Uttarakhand also
protested and condemned the incident.
In a press conference, Swami
Avimukteshwaranand said, "The police tried to kill us in a stampede, but
we will not be intimidated." He challenged them to show the CCTV footage.
Impact on Sanatan Dharma: In
Sanatan Dharma, the bathing of saints at events like Kumbh and Magh Mela is a
sacred tradition, dating back to the time of Adi Shankaracharya. Going to the
bathing ghats in a chariot or palanquin is a symbol of the dignity of the
saints. Disrupting this tradition not only hurts religious sentiments but also
raises questions about the unity of Sanatan Dharma. Is this action by the
administration in the name of security or a result of political pressure? Swami
Avimukteshwaranand has been active in the Ram Temple movement, but in recent
years, he has also criticized the government on some issues. This incident
forces the Sanatan community to ponder whether saints are being insulted in the
name of protecting Sanatan Dharma. This incident at the Magh Mela 2026 serves
as a warning that religious traditions must be respected. Swami
Avimukteshwaranand's protest continues, and he will not return to the camp
without an apology. The Sanatan society must unite and protest against such
incidents. Is this how we protect Sanatan Dharma? Time will tell, but one thing
is certain: such incidents can affect religious harmony.