Varanasi, February 14 (IANS). Swami Avimukteshwarananda has reacted to the statement of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He said that in Sanatan Dharma, Shankaracharya is the one who works for Sanatan Dharma. The first adjective of Sanatan Dharma is Satya, one who speaks the truth, protects mother cow and protects Sanatan Dharma.
On CM Yogi’s statement in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly that ‘not every person can be a Shankaracharya’, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said, “How is (Shankaracharya)? Let him tell. Those who think that Shankaracharya is like this, then let them clarify. Will the one who supports him be a Shankaracharya? The one who talks about Sanatan Dharma is not a Shankaracharya. What kind of definition have you come up with? There has never been such a definition.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while mentioning the limits of Sanatan tradition on the Shankaracharya controversy, said that the post of Shankaracharya is considered supreme and extremely sacred in the Sanatan tradition of India. This is not a common title that any person can adopt on his own.
The Chief Minister said that Adi Shankaracharya had established four Peethas in the four directions of the country, Jyotish Peetha in the North, Sringeri in the South, Jagannathpuri in the East and Dwarikapuri in the West. These four Peethas have their own traditions, responsibilities and spiritual basis. Four Vedas are associated with these Peethas – Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Each Veda has its own Mahavakya – ‘Pragyanam Brahma’, ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, ‘Tattvamasi’ and ‘Ayamatma Brahma’. These great sayings are the soul of Indian philosophy and give an understanding of the highest state of spiritual practice. I am Brahma, when any seeker reaches the pinnacle of his spiritual practice, he realizes this. This is also the declaration of the Upanishads.
On Saturday, Avimukteshwaranand said in his statement, “Only one Adityanath Yogi has come, who slowly came to the Math while maintaining his relations and after that, keeping his relations, he directly got planted on the post of Chief Minister. He is the only one who is eligible? Apart from him, is there no one in the world who is eligible? What kind of definition have you created?”
He said that this country is very fertile. There is one scholar here, one hardworking person and one capable person. You give them a chance. Avimukteshwaranand said, “Hypocrites have come and sat down, they have kept the good people behind. Once their cover is removed, one Yogi will emerge one by one and they will handle the state well.”
Regarding the upcoming assembly elections, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said, “Such a person should become the Chief Minister who is law abiding and considers his subjects as his sons and daughters. Nothing more is expected from any Chief Minister. A person who nurtures ego, who is ready to spoil the soil, such a person should not be the Chief Minister. If so, then it is a big mistake, it should be rectified.”
Regarding the statements coming from Keshav Prasad Maurya, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said, “We felt good that at least someone is thinking that the government should be saved from the embarrassment it is facing and those who have been hurt should be healed. When his (Keshav Prasad Maurya) statement came, we welcomed it at that time. More than this, we have nothing to do with Keshav Prasad Maurya.”
Swami Avimukteshwarananda also responded on the topic of his safety. He said, “We should ask those who want to kill us to protect us. You see, the people who are involved in cow slaughter, who have a history of being involved in cow slaughter, are the people who are helping the cow slaughterers. When they are attacking us, when the UP Police is attacking us. At this time we are sitting in UP, from whom should we demand?”
–IANS
DCH/
