Shimla: In a dramatic turn of events, Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Swami, expressing his outrage, refused to visit Shimla's famous Ram Mandir.
The reason? The presence of a Sai Baba, a cult guru, statue inside the temple. Like all modern gurus - Acharya Ranjnish, Osho, newer Gurus like Baba Ramadev, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, to name few most revered among their devotees are considered as cult gurus, not Sanatani God.
They may be preaching Sanatana Dharma but their status cannot be equated with the Sanatani Gods, expressed his disciples.
The Shankaracharya deemed it an "insult to Sanatan Dharma to equate Sai Baba with God in the sacred Ram Mandir".
Instead of entering the temple, he organized his Jai Sabha under a deodar tree at the Hanuman Temple in Jakhu, where the Gaoudhwaj (Shankaracharya's insignia) had already been established.
Jagatguru left for Uttarakhand as per his scheduled programme.
The Sanatan Sabha of Shimla was nonplused as it has made long preparation for a Jai Sabha at Ram Mandir where he was to set up the Gaudhwaj.
His move has sparked a heated debate among devotees and religious scholars, making it the talk of the town creating ripple across Sangh Parivaar and Hindu Fraternity in the country.
