Sai Baba Devotees are Outraged as Shankaracharya Refuses Entry to Ram Mandir Over Statue..

Shimla: Devotees of Sai Baba are up in arms. In a recent row Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Swami refused to visit Shimla’s revered Ram Mandir, condemning the presence of a Sai Baba statue as an “insult to Sanatan Dharma.”

For millions of Sai followers across India, the Shankaracharya’s stance was a shock.

Sai Baba, they believe, embodies universal love and unity—values rooted deeply in Sanatan Dharma.

Prof. Dr. Ramesh Chauhan, Pro-Chancellor of APG Shimla University, voiced the frustration of many.

“This pseudo-Shankaracharya lacks understanding of Indian spirituality. Our culture celebrates inclusion, not exclusion,” he said.

Sai Baba devotees are questioning the Shankaracharya’s view that Sai, along with other popular figures like Osho, Baba Ramdev, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, are mere “cult gurus” rather than true Sanatani God's.

The Shankaracharya’s disciples argue that while these figures may promote Sanatan values, they cannot be equated with  Gods enshrined in traditional Hindu scriptures.

Instead of entering the temple, Shankaracharya held his Jai Sabha under a deodar tree at the Hanuman Temple in Jakhu, where his Gaoudhwaj, or insignia, had already been established.

His decision had left the Sanatan Sabha of Shimla disheartened, as they had arranged for a large gathering at Ram Mandir, only for the Shankaracharya to change his plans.

The controversy has divided the Hindu community, with Sanatan traditionalists supporting the Shankaracharya’s stance, insisting that Ram Mandir should remain exclusive to ancient deities.

On the other hand, Sai Baba’s followers argue that his teachings of compassion, love, and unity align closely with Sanatan values.

The larger question echoing through this debate: Can Sanatan Dharma adapt to include such modern spiritual figures?

As Shankaracharya continued his journey to Uttarakhand, the dispute he ignited remains the talk of the town, resonating across the Sangh Parivar and Hindu circles.

The impact of his move has only added a new layer to the ongoing debate  on Sanatan debate and acceptance within India’s spiritual world.