‘How did you become Shankaracharya despite Supreme Court stay… reply within 24 hours’, Magh Mela Authority issues notice to Avimukteshwaranand

Prayagraj (The Uttam Hindu): The controversy linked to the Magh Mela has taken a new turn after Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s procession was stopped during the Mauni Amavasya bathing festival. The Magh Mela Authority has issued a notice asking him to explain why he has used the title “Shankaracharya” despite a stay by the Supreme Court.

In the notice, the authority referred to a civil appeal pending before the Supreme Court and said that no final order has been passed so far. Because of this, no religious leader can currently be considered formally anointed as the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth. Despite this, boards installed at Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s camp in the mela area display the title “Shankaracharya” before his name. The authority has directed him to correct the board and submit an explanation within 24 hours.

The dispute intensified after Swami Avimukteshwaranand was stopped while heading towards the Sangam with a procession to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya. Calling it an insult, he accused the police of misbehaving with his disciples and began a sit-in protest against the mela administration. On Monday afternoon, he addressed the media regarding not taking a dip during the main bathing ritual. Senior police and administrative officials later presented their version of events.

Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal said that the swami was not stopped from bathing but was only requested to cooperate. The administration objected to the use of a wheeled palanquin, which he wanted to take up to the Sangam Nose. At that time, the area was overcrowded with devotees, and allowing the palanquin could have led to a stampede or another untoward incident.

According to officials, on Sunday, the police stopped the procession of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati that was moving from the camp towards the Sangam with the wheeled palanquin. This led to a clash between disciples and police, after which some disciples were detained. The disciples alleged misbehavior and assault by the police.

Upset with police action, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati sat on a protest near the gate of his camp on Triveni Marg. The police, however, claimed that the disciples broke barricades. Several people, including disciple Pratyakshachaitanya Mukundanand Giri, have been taken into custody.