Shankaracharya face-off: Akhada meet on March 16

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 10

The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad has decided to convene a meeting of members and representatives of seers’ organisations in Haridwar on March 16. The saint body is aggrieved by self proclamation of Swami Achyutyanand Maharaj of Bhuma Niketan Peeth as Shankaracharya of Sharda Peeth Muth.

The convention will be held at the ancient shrine of Shri Daksheshwar Prajapati Temple in Kankhal in which decision will be taken on action against “fake” Shankaracharyas and saints who don’t follow proper procedure for becoming head of any muth or seat.

Mahant Narendra Giri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, says invitations and communiqué are being sent to Akhada Parishad office-bearers, representatives and noted saints for the meeting. “Self-styled Shankaracharyas will not be allowed to enter Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh zone for which the local mela administration and the state government will also be informed,” Giri says.

Already two noted saints of Juna Akhada, Arjun Puri Maharaj and Vinod Giri Maharaj, have been suspended from the Akhada Parishad as they attended the coronation of Swami Achyutyanand Maharaj as Sharda Peeth Shankaracharya.

Mahant Narendra Giri says adhering to the norms of Sanatan Dharma, Vedic scriptures knowledge, the consent of the Akhada Parishad and the incumbent Shankaracharya is must, but Swami Achyutyanand violated the norms of the centuries-old practice for the Shankaracharya post. This is the highest position in Sanatan Dharma, practised on the lines of Adi Guru Shankaracharya who established four muths Sharda, Dwarka, Shringeri and Puri.