Dispute Over Shankaracharya Title Escalates as Authorities Clash With Noted Seer at Hindu Religious Gathering
The Prayagraj Mela Authority has issued a formal notice to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, questioning his use of the title “Shankaracharya” of Jyotirmath, one of Hinduism’s four cardinal seats of Advaita Vedanta.
Citing a 2022 interim Supreme Court stay on his coronation, the administration has demanded a response within 24 hours, escalating a standoff that began during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual at the Magh Mela in Uttar Pradesh.
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| Image Source: Dr. Kiran J Patel on X |
In October 2022, the Court explicitly stayed the pattabhishek (coronation) of Avimukteshwaranand or any other individual to the Shankaracharya post pending final adjudication.
Despite this, the seer has publicly presented himself as the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya, including via signage at his camp. In response, the Mela Authority stated that doing so “shows disregard for the order of the Honourable Supreme Court.”
The controversy erupted during Sunday’s Mauni Amavasya when Swami Avimukteshwaranand and an estimated 200–300 followers attempted to take a traditional palanquin procession to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Authorities halted the procession at a pontoon bridge, citing public safety and protocol restrictions. The administration maintains that no individual was barred from bathing, but that vehicles and processions were prohibited due to high crowd density and security constraints.
The seer refused to proceed on foot, alleging that police manhandled his followers, with at least a dozen reportedly injured. He began a sit-in protest near the site, stating he would not return to his camp or take the holy dip until the administration formally apologised and escorted him to the Sangam with proper protocol.
His team also initiated legal consultations and an online campaign accusing the state of interfering in Sanatana Dharma traditions.
Senior officials, including Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal and Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar, denied the allegations of misconduct or assault.
They said the Swami was requested multiple times to walk, given that the route had been declared a no-vehicle zone. They also reiterated that the title of “Shankaracharya” remains under legal contention and has not been officially recognised in the current context.
This is not the first time Swami Avimukteshwaranand has courted controversy. Appointed by some factions in 2022 following the passing of Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, his claim to Jyotirmath has been contested in courts and among Hindu institutions. Despite the stay order, he has continued to use the title, arguing that his consecration predated the Supreme Court’s injunction.
Political fault lines have now emerged around the episode. The Congress party sharply criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of the seer, accusing the BJP of insulting a leading Hindu religious figure despite projecting itself as a protector of Hindu traditions.
The party called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, labelling the incident “unprecedented and shameful.”
This friction comes against the backdrop of the seer’s complicated relationship with Congress. Last year, he “excommunicated” Rahul Gandhi over alleged disrespect to the Manusmriti, while at other times defending him from BJP attacks.
His protest now finds him politically aligned, at least temporarily, with the opposition, even as he accuses all parties of opportunism.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand continues his sit-in protest, demanding formal redressal. Meanwhile, the Prayagraj administration insists it followed the law and acted in the interest of public safety.
The title dispute remains unresolved, and the Supreme Court’s final ruling will likely determine the future of leadership at Jyotirmath, one of Hinduism’s most revered seats.