Sringeri, Kanchi Shankaracharyas Extend Support For Ayodhya Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha Ceremony

Rejecting rumors about their opposition to the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, the Shankaracharyas of Kanchi and Sringeri affirmed their complete support for the event scheduled on 22 January in the holy city.

“Due to the blessings of Lord Rama, the Ram temple pran pratishtha ceremony will take place on 22nd January in Ayodhya. The yagyashala will also be worshipped during the ceremony. More than 100 scholars will start the puja and havan of the yagyashala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially has faith in the development of pilgrimage places in India. He has also expanded the premises of Kedarnath and Kashi Vishwanath temples,” Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal said in a statement.

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Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya also expressed support, confirming the ceremony aligns with Hindu rituals and said that Modi, as a representative of the people of the country, had every right to perform the rituals as guided by priests.

“Joshimath’s Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Shankaracharya of Puri Nischalananda Saraswati have expressed reservations about the pran pratishtha ceremony for their reasons. What they have said has nothing to do with the Hindu religion and its rituals, which are being performed as prescribed in our religious books,” Daivajna K N Somayaji, Dharmaadhikari of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Somayaji was speaking on behalf of the Shankaracharya, ToI reported.

He clarified that ‘Ved Shastra’ permits ‘pran pratishtha’ after the sanctum’s completion.

“Construction is a long process. It has often been carried out by two to three different generations. However, once the ‘garbha griha’ is completed, which has been done at the Ayodhya temple, there should not have been any dispute about the ceremony,” Somayaji said.

He said Modi will be carrying the Lord Ram idol to the sanctum santorum barefoot after a long process of purification, in conformity with Hindu traditions. “Moreover, we should not forget that he will be there as a representative of the entire country,” the Sringeri Peetham functionary said.

This comes as Joshimath’s Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said none of the four Shankaracharyas will attend the ceremony in Ayodhya on 22 January as the 'Pran Pratishtha' was being done before the construction of the temple was completed.

Additionally, on 4 January, Puri’s Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati had reportedly said that he would skip the consecration as he was “conscious of the dignity of his position”.

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