Yogi Adityanath Breaks Silence on Shankaracharya Row, Says ‘Not Everyone Can Claim the Title’
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday addressed the ongoing Shankaracharya controversy for the first time.
Speaking during the discussion on the Governor’s Address in the Assembly, he asserted that not everyone can assume or write the title of Shankaracharya at will.
He emphasized that the title is conferred only after due certification by a recognized Vidvat Parishad (council of scholars).
In his nearly 2.13-hour address, the Chief Minister took repeated jibes at the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress.
Drawing a parallel, he remarked that just as not everyone can roam across the state claiming to be a Chief Minister or a minister, the position of Shankaracharya—being the highest spiritual seat in Sanatan Dharma—cannot be self-assumed.
Referring to the recent Magh Mela in Prayagraj, he noted that nearly 45 million devotees had gathered on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.
He stressed that the law is equal for everyone and no one stands above it—not even the Chief Minister himself.
He reiterated that Adi Shankaracharya had established four peethas (monastic seats), each rooted in specific Vedic traditions.
Only those certified based on Vedic knowledge and endorsed by a Vidvat Parishad can legitimately hold the title of Shankaracharya. “Everyone must adhere to established traditions and discipline,” he said.
The Chief Minister also questioned the opposition, asking if they now acknowledge someone as Shankaracharya, why was that individual allegedly assaulted and subjected to an FIR during the SP government in 2015?
He further stated that standing at an exit point meant for devotees during a massive religious gathering could have led to chaos and a stampede.
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