‘Dharmacharyas, Not RSS, Should Decide Religious Matters’: Bhagwat’s Remarks Spark Backlash from Seers

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Dec. A contentious debate has erupted over Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent comments advising Hindus to avoid raking up temple-mosque disputes. Bhagwat’s remarks, made during a lecture on “India – The Vishwaguru” in Pune last Thursday, have faced sharp criticism from several Hindu seers and religious leaders.

During his speech, Bhagwat emphasized the importance of maintaining social harmony, particularly in the wake of the Ram Temple’s construction. “After the construction of the Ram Temple, some people have started to believe that they can become Hindu leaders by raking up similar issues in new places,” he said. Bhagwat added, “This is not acceptable… We have been living in harmony for a long time. If we want to provide this harmony to the world, we need to create a model of it.” He further stressed that no one would become a Hindu leader by focusing on temple-mosque disputes or fostering communal division.

However, Bhagwat’s advice has not gone uncontested. Hindu religious organizations, particularly the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (AKSS), have expressed strong disagreement. AKSS general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati criticized Bhagwat’s statement, arguing that decisions regarding religious matters should be made by religious leaders, not by a cultural organization like the RSS. “When the subject of religion arises, it is for religious gurus to decide. And whatever they decide will be accepted by Sangh and VHP,” Saraswati stated.

Saraswati also pointed to the continued identification of temple structures at 56 new sites, despite Bhagwat’s remarks, suggesting that religious organizations act in response to public sentiment rather than political motives.

The controversy has intensified with Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya, a prominent Hindu religious leader, also voicing his disagreement with Bhagwat. “I completely disagree with Mohan Bhagwat’s statement. Let me make it clear, Mohan Bhagwat is not our disciplinarian, but we are,” Rambhadracharya declared on Sunday.

Swami Avimukteshwarananda, Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, echoed similar concerns. He accused Bhagwat of speaking “according to his convenience,” and questioned why Bhagwat was speaking against the resurrection of temples after initially supporting temple issues when political gain was at stake. “Hindus have faced several atrocities. Temples were destroyed. If Hindus want that such temples be resurrected, there is nothing wrong with it,” he added.

The remarks come in the context of ongoing disputes over mosque surveys and claims that several mosques were constructed on sites that once housed Hindu temples destroyed by Muslim invaders. These disputes have led to clashes, including recent incidents in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where a petition to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid triggered communal tensions.

Bhagwat’s statement, intended to promote peace and unity, has thus ignited a wider conversation within the Hindu community on the role of religious leaders in shaping the narrative surrounding temple restoration and interfaith relations in India.