Swami Rambhadracharya, the renowned Indian seer with extensive knowledge of Sanatan scriptures and close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has stated that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the organization do not represent the Hindu community. The seer expressed strong disapproval of Bhagwat’s comments on mosque-temple disputes.
Swami Rambhadracharya, the founder of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot and the Tulsi Peeth religious and social service institution, addressed reporters’ questions regarding Bhagwat’s criticism of Hindutva groups fueling controversies after the Ram temple’s construction in Ayodhya.
These groups allege that mosques were built by Muslim invaders over destroyed temples, filing numerous petitions for reclamation in courts.
“I reject Bhagwat’s unfortunate remarks. They offer nothing positive. He must follow us, not the other way around,” said Rambhadracharya, who received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
“Is Mohan Bhagwat the ‘thekedar’ (guardian) of Hinduism? Saints, not him will guide Sanatan Dharma. He may lead a group, but he doesn’t represent all Hindus,” said the seer, who had testified as an expert witness in 2003 before the Allahabad High Court on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. In the Supreme Court, he reiterated his assertion that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya.
Rambhadracharya, also a Sanskrit scholar and poet, frequently shares platforms with Modi and Adityanath.
Bhagwat, speaking in Pune last week, advocated for an inclusive society and condemned the escalating trend of alleging Mughal-era mosques were built by demolishing temples, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
“New disputes arise daily. This cannot continue. India must demonstrate that we can live in harmony,” Bhagwat said.
He emphasized that while the Ram temple in Ayodhya was necessary, stoking enmity over new issues daily was unacceptable, urging India to set an example of coexistence.
Rambhadracharya, who is visually impaired, accused Bhagwat of pandering to appeasement politics.
“The RSS operates under Hinduism, not the other way around. We will reclaim all places where evidence of our temples exists,” he declared.
Bhagwat’s comments were interpreted by many as a message to Adityanath, whose administration is reportedly supporting court cases demanding mosque surveys based on claims of temple demolitions.
In most cases, district authorities in Uttar Pradesh seem to side with Hindus.
Adityanath, appearing to oppose Bhagwat’s call for harmony, maintained his stance on advancing a Hindu supremacist agenda.
Without naming Bhagwat, Adityanath remarked in Ayodhya on December 20, “Who were those who harmed symbols of Sanatan in the past? What were their intentions? They sought to turn the earth into a hell.”
He referenced the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, and the prophecy of Vishnu’s Kalki incarnation in Sambhal.
“Sanatan Dharma alone can bring peace to the world. It is Bharat’s national religion. Bharat will endure as long as Sanatan Dharma exists. We must work together to protect it,” Adityanath said, promoting an exclusivist religious outlook.