Shankaracharyas In Focus As Congress, VHP Debate Over Inauguration Of 'Incomplete' Ayodhya Ram Mandir

The Congress questioned the legitimacy of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony slated for January 22, raising concerns about the "incomplete" construction and the absence of Shankaracharyas.

File Photo of Congress leader Pawan Khera

Source : PTI

Criticising the upcoming 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Congress raised questions about its timing and legitimacy, seeking clarity on whether the event would be conducted under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the four peeths, major shrines in the country. This comes as all four Shankaracharyas, leaders of major Hindu shrines, announced their absence from the Ram Temple inauguration ceremony on January 22, expressing discontent over the event not adhering to religious scriptures.

Khera, questioning the consecration ceremony, stated, "If this event is religious, then is it happening under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the four Peeths? All four Shankaracharyas have said clearly that the Pran Pratishtha of an incomplete temple cannot be done", news agency ANI reported.

"If this event is not religious, then it is political... It is not acceptable that people of a political party are sitting as middlemen between me and my God... A political group is acting like a 'Thekedar'," he added.

The Congress leader further pressed, "Which 'Panchang' has the BJP referred to before finalising the date? The date has been chosen keeping the elections in mind."

Khera further questioned, "Who will decide who enters the temple and who doesn't? Who are you, the ones orchestrating the VVIP entry in Pran Pratishtha? Who are the ones using a battalion of cameras for the incomplete ceremony? And who is the individual depicted in the advertisement catching Lord Ram's finger, claiming superiority over God?"

Khera also asserted, "After displeasing the Shankaracharyas, the RSS chief will go and sit there and the Prime Minister will consecrate the idol under his supervision. This is not a religious event; it is entirely political."

Earlier in the week, prominent Congress leaders, including national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, declined the invitation to the Ram Temple opening, as the grand old party termed it an event of the BJP and RSS.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh on Thursday criticised the BJP for involving the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the Ayodhya ceremony, describing it as the "BJPfication" of Pran Pratishtha. Singh emphasised the incomplete construction of the Ram Temple and alleged a political motive behind the ceremony, stating, "This is against the holy scriptures and religion."

He said, "Forget the invitation. What we are objecting to is that the construction of Ram Temple is not complete. When the construction is not complete, what is the 'pranpratishtha' about? This is a crooked attempt to benefit by making this an election issue." More On It: 'What Is The Consecration About When...': Digvijaya Singh Targets BJP, VHP Over Ram Temple Ceremony

VHP Defends Ayodhya Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony, Slams Congress

In response, VHP International Working President Alok Kumar refuted Singh's claim that the temple is incomplete, stating, "Digvijiya Singh's statement that the temple is incomplete is not true. Ram Lalla is to be settled on the ground floor, which is complete... Three Shankaracharyas have expressed joy at the completion of the temple and welcomed the Pranpratishtha."

"I have never seen such a reason to decline the invitation stating that the temple is incomplete except from the Head of Jyotish Peeth. Three Shankaracharyas have expressed joy at the completion of the temple and welcomed the Pranpratishtha... He (Digvijaya) mentioned the names of the parties which are partners of the INDI Alliance. 'Mausere bhai' (maternal cousins) have decided to not come," he further said criticising the Congress party and its alliance partners, as per ANI.

More On It: VHP Defends 'Pran Pratishtha' At 'Incomplete' Ayodhya Temple Decision, Says 3 Shankaracharyas Are Happy

Shankaracharyas Boycott Ram Temple Inauguration, Cite Violation of Religious Scriptures

The Shankaracharyas, who oversee the peeths in Joshimath (Uttarakhand), Dwarka (Gujarat), Puri (Odisha), and Sringeri (Karnataka), established by the eighth-century scholar Adi Shankaracharya, have taken a unified stand against attending the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Consecration ceremony.

In a video shared on January 9, Joshimath Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati emphasised, "None of the four pontiffs would be in Ayodhya on January 22 because the temple is being consecrated before construction is completed."

"It is the duty of Shankaracharya to ensure that religious scriptures are properly followed. The scriptures are being undermined by carrying out consecration before the construction of the temple is complete. There is no reason for this rush," he added.

Earlier, Shankaracharya Nishchalanand stated that he cannot participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony as he was mindful of the dignity of his position. He asserted that Prime Minister Modi touching the idol of Ram Lalla on the day goes against the protocol.

He emphasized that the consecration of the idol in the Ram Temple should be done according to the scriptures. He also opined that the politics surrounding the Ram Temple should not be happening.

Nishchalanand also criticised the construction of corridors being built around religious places. He stated that today, religious places are being turned into tourist destinations, linking them with luxury and extravagance, which is not appropriate.

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