Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Calls Prayagraj Incident “Soul-Shaking,” Raises Questions on Justice and Humanity
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati described the incident that took place in Prayagraj as deeply disturbing and said it has cast a serious shadow over justice and humanity.
He stated that bathing in the sacred waters of the Sangam is not merely a religious ritual, but a path to spiritual fulfillment and inner peace.
Through the media, he said, he wished to convey to society, the government, and the authorities that the wait for justice never truly ends.
If feelings of anguish and guilt remain, even the cooling waters of the holy rivers cannot wash them away.
He added that he was leaving Prayagraj with the echo of truth, which would resonate not only across the city but throughout the world.
He remarked that silence itself would stand as a witness to the fact that what did not happen during Mughal rule has now occurred under so-called Hindu governments.
This, he said, would deeply impact every follower of Sanatan Dharma.
On one hand, the Union Home Minister had stated in Gandhinagar a day earlier that governments that insult saints and neglect Sanatan followers can never remain stable.
On the other hand, here in Prayagraj, the greatest symbol of Sanatan Dharma — the Shankaracharya himself, along with young Brahmacharis — was being humiliated.
He termed this the government’s double standards.
The Shankaracharya offered a prayer saying,
“O Prayagraj, O Mother Ganga, O Mother Yamuna, O Mother Saraswati, O sage Yajnavalkya, O sage Bharadwaj, and all the deities of Prayagraj — we have waited for justice for 11 days. It is now your responsibility to ensure the guilty are punished and that we receive justice. Victory to the Mother.”
“An Assassination of Honor is the Greatest Pain”
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati termed the episode an “assassination of honor.”
He said that while a physical attack was allegedly planned on the very first day, what ultimately succeeded was the destruction of dignity, carried out by officials.
He added that the stance taken by the Uttar Pradesh government and its leadership during this period made it appear as though the entire episode was conducted under their direction.
According to him, there were two main reasons behind this treatment.
First, people claimed that the Shankaracharya had held Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for the stampede during the Kumbh.
He clarified that he had not blamed the Chief Minister for the stampede itself, but for attempting to conceal the incident — a claim that later proved to be true.
The second major reason, he said, was his strong advocacy for cow protection, something the government allegedly does not favor.
He further stated that the strategy for the next phase of the struggle would be decided in consultation with his close associates and supporters.
“Lord Ram Also Took a Decision After Three Days”
When questioned about the sudden decision to leave the fair, the Shankaracharya said it was not abrupt. He had waited for justice for 11 days.
He recalled that even Lord Shri Ram showed anger toward the ocean only on the third day when his patience ran out.
He said his hope was shattered after 11 days. During this period, many meetings could have been held and decisions taken, but nothing meaningful happened.
CBI Probe Sought Through Letter Petition in High Court
Prayagraj: The dispute between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the administration has now reached the Allahabad High Court.
Advocate Gaurav Dwivedi has submitted a letter petition to the Chief Justice seeking a CBI inquiry into the incident that occurred on January 18 during Mauni Amavasya.
The petition also demands the suspension of the Prayagraj Commissioner, District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, and the Mela Officer.
Additionally, it seeks registration of cases against the police personnel accused of assaulting minor Brahmin students (Batuks) while they were in custody.
The petitioner stated that the Prayagraj Magh Mela is a sacred festival of Sanatan Dharma, and the Mauni Amavasya bath holds the highest significance.
This year, on January 18, when Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati was proceeding toward the Sangam in a palanquin along with his disciples, officials, and police personnel forcibly made him step down and instructed him to walk to the bathing site instead.
Not only that, the young Brahmin Batuks aged between 11 and 14 years who were accompanying him were taken into custody and beaten. They were allegedly dragged by their hair (shikha).
The petitioner argued that such abuse of minors violates the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Protection Act and constitutes a punishable offense.
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