Priests at an ancient Shiva temple in South Gujarat have decided to remove a Sai idol from the temple complex following Dwarka Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati’s controversial claim that Hindus should not worship deified figures. “We totally accept and agree with Swami Swaroopanandji. Going by the Vedic Sanatan dharma, Sai Baba cannot be considered a God. And then, there are no documents and writings as a matter of evidence to establish him as a deity,” Shivji Maharaj said. “Our temple goes by the directives of the Shankaracharya who heads the Sanatan dharma.”
Shivji Maharaj is the mahant (administrator) as well as a trustee of the temple in tribal-dominated Dharampur town in Valsad district. The priest clarified that they would not desecrate or immerse the idol but hand it over to the Sai followers to enable them to consecrate it at a Sai temple. The idol at the Dharampur temple was installed just three months ago.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria town, the removal of a Sai idol from the famous Deorahi temple has triggered tension between the Sai and the Hindu Mahasabha camps. The Sai followers have alleged that the local administration removed the idol under the pressure of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha. They also threatened to stage a “movement” to protest against the removal of the idol.
The controversy was triggered off when Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati objected to the worship of 19th-century religious figure Sai Baba by the Hindus. Swami Swaroopanand had said Sai Baba of Shirdi was a Muslim and that Hindus should not worship him. He had also claimed that Sai Baba was declared a Hindu avatar by those who have been trying to weaken the Hindu religion.
Sai followers had condemned these utterances and held demonstrations across the country. Protesters had burnt Swaroopanand’s effigies in Haridwar, Shirdi and Varanasi.
While the Maharashtra Police had booked Swaroopanand after a Sai Baba devotee filed a complaint against him, authorities of a Sai temple in Lucknow had moved the Allahabad High Court seeking an FIR against the Dwarka Peeth shankaracharya.
Shirdi Sai always says alla malik (god is everything) he never said I am a God..
Why swami swroopandha swami doing like this. i think swami swroopandha swami is not developed in spiritual. real sanyasi or swami never criticize.
when we see the god in other persons that time only we developed in spiritual.
already our Hindu religion(Hindu is not a religion its way of life for understanding i am writing religion) is in critical position why this fake swamis doing like this criticisms..? Shirdi sai avatar of Dattatreya.
Heloo Mr. Swroopanda you should start do all devotional works from first . you’re in very poor stage in spiritual. ur fake..
if you know what is Spiritual you never criticize anyone (who are in position of sadguru.)
If I have powers I will suspend you from peetadhipathi position. you’re not eligible as a peetadhipati. your fake
I wonder over this all bursting over Sai, there must be any other reason of this bursting, other then religious. Hindus in the lakhs of number gvisits Dargah;s, specially as seen by me at Ajmer where I took berth, visits Dargah and offer what ever they want, never and never Shankaracharya made any halla- gulla on this. I also wonder, what is the utility of being him as Shankaracharya for Hindus, he has not done anything to spread Devotion in Hindus, which actually they have lost. It is better for him to improve the level of devotion in Hindus so that they need not to visit to such places, other then their own religion, he must not waist his energy and religions’ money on such protests.
It is saddening that Hindus have become so inclined to praying to some one who is but an ordinary human being.The unfortunate thing is Hindus have forgotten their root in Sandana Dahrma the true way of life espoused by our sages and Avatars such as Hari Rama and Shri Krishna.But this misguided group is wrongly idealising Sai Baba equating him in par with the Avatars.Among the misguided people who are protesting are highly educated who claim or identify themselves as Hindus but ignorant of Sandana Dahrama which is what is currently called Hinduism.We are so immersed into believing anything and everything the British made us to believe in,we even believe that Rama and krishna are a myth as they wanted us to.We are not even Indians as the British made us to believe but Barathans and India is not India but Bharath.In the same way we have immersed into believing Shridi sai Baba is an Avatar, as those with vested interest wanted us to believe.This is to ,keep us divided, so I say please wake up to the truth and abandon the protests.The pernicious effect of this protest only divides Hindus further weakening our unity,so kindly listen to this Mahan Dwarka peeth Shankaracary.
What Dwarka Peeth Shankarcharya uttered is correct and right.
Believe me the divine is in each and every one,if one is cognizant of it,it can lead to attaining the divine qualities, just like Sai Baba because the divine attributes will surely shine just like it did to Sai Baba,Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the likes.Instead of attaining that divine qualities why go and pray to those who achieved it who were mere mortal.These protesters are going form zero to zero.
Ultimately don’t allow any body to break your will and stead fast belief in Sandan Dharma.
It is alright for the shankaracharya to tell us that we should not poojafy the Sai Baba but what is the age of the present Shankracharya ? Where was he all these years when people were poojafying Sai Baba ? Why create unnecessary controversy ? I am a staunch HINDU in my religion I even invoke the frogs and donkeys to get us some rains, then what is that big crime that people all over the world like Sai Baba. We all know what happen to the Kanchi Kamakoti, so let us not divide people.
Revered Swaroopanand Maharaj. You are a head of Peeth established by Aadiguru Shankaracharya. Your verdict of Hidu and Muslim says that you are not a realized soul.
You want to compare yourself as Aadiguru Shankaracharya as he fought against Buddhist. You might have known the reason, if not then read from the history. But your meaning is to popularize yourself. But the power like Aadiguru Shankaracharya or Revered Sai Baba has to be create within yourself.
You are mistaken that Sai Baba was Hindu or Muslim. He was much more than these cast and creed. You worldly people divide the people in such a way.
If you are doing so or think like that, you have no right to hold such the highest post of Hindu religion. You should dethrone yourself from the post and meditate or do Bhakti From the beginning.
More over you should see your past, need not say more.
Om Namaha Sivaya. Om Namaha Narayanaya.On printing and selling Ramayana Books ,Maha Bharatha, Siva Puranam Books etc.lakhs of people are living.Due to temples lakhs of people are living. Those Souls are omni Potent and Omni Present Dieties. Sambhavami Yuge Yuge!They had their own population then and today and tomorrow.After them Great Souls might also take Birth.People might be attracted towards those Super Souls which have shown wonders and changed the mind-sets of a few individuals and continued to change after their Niryanam also.That is their Greatness.It is only a matter of Faith and Belief. No doubt Temples are coming up and worshipping Sai Baba. But one thing one should note. Those temples accommodate various other Hindu Gods also. And no muslim photos or christian photos. So Sai Baba is only an Attraction Soul to propagate Hinduism. I heard Baba is a Brahmin boy,and brought up by a Muslim family. Stands correction.
It is un-necessary and un-wanted statement. Faith is power and power is god. Hinduism worships god in all shapes of creatures. One who knows that he himself is god is nobody but god. Sadh sants, yogirajs are this type. When a lizard, snake and dog are worshiped as god’s replica what objection does arise when most of the people think and pray Shiridi Sai as God? A man is not less than any other creatures in which god or the feeling of godness is attributed and worshiped. Jagadgurus are respected but can not control and dictate terms on hinduism which is broad. If you belive in Shiridi Sai Baba the godness, it is automatically generated. No controversy has place in the feelings of people and especially Hindus. Such statements leads to un necessary confusion and they are not upto the status of a Peethadhipathi.
SWAMI SWARUPANANDA SARASWATHI ,IN RECENT PAST HAS MAN HANDLED A PRESS GUY. SHIRDI SAI BABA IS NEIGHTER HINDU NOR MUSLIM. HE IS BEYOND ANY RELIGION.FOR GOD CANT BE RESTRICTED TO ANY RELIGION. SHIRDI BABA ALWAYS WANTED HIS DEVOTEES TO TRANSCEND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALIST ATTITUDE. IF ONLY THE DWARAKA PRIEST HAD SOME SENCE. SANATHANA DHARMA IS BEYOND ANYBODYS REACH AND ETERNAL .SHIRDI SAI BABA IS ALSO ETERNAL AND RESTRICTING HIM TO ANY RELIGION IS HIMALAYAN BLUNDER. YOU DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO BE DEVOTED TO SHIRDI BABA, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY RIGHT IN THIS REGUARD. PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMIT .PLEASE PREACH TO YOUR DISCIPLES WHAT EVER YOU WANT .YOUR TEACHINGS ARE NOT UNIVERSAL.PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMITS. SWARUPANANDA SARASWATHI JI PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMIT.
Dear Hindu Brothers,
Swamiji is correct. God is one and he has been decribed in our Scriptures to be Govinda or Krishna. Hindus do not study their scriptures and listen to all types of rascals and follow them. This is their fault. Sai baba is not a worshipable godly person. He had some siddhis owing to his past good deeds which he displayed during his lifetime. How can god be so cheap that eats meat and do all nonsenses and that we consider him to be God. Wake up Hindus study your scriptures – Bhagavat Geetha and Bhagawatham – under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master and understand God in the correct perspective. Do not waste time running after baba’s as babis.
He is absolutely right…Sai baba is a fake mulla and he used to slaughter animals to eat MEAT and used to speak in URDU a mleccha language…He died of FEVER and was buried replacing the Paramaatma Sri Krushna deity and people are worshipping a DEAD BODY AND NOT JIVA SAMADHI LIKE with our VAIDIKA ACHARYAS LIKE ADI SHANKARA,
SAI BABA IS A COMPLETE FRAUD AND HE IS AN IDIOT and this cult was started exactly to weaken SANATANA DHARMA
So now a man who wants to be worshipped himself tells us not to worship a man:-)
its time to leave all these unspiritual people and not follow them anymore
its good
our sampradaya the tradition & culture should be educated
it should not be considered as putting someone down.
giving up the ‘Paaramparya’ is damaging & will be damaging the ‘Paramparaa’ more
Hindus should be always interested in learning through knowledgeable people
we are living together as a community enjoying the benefit of our tradition. and hence we should be aware not to reduce its strength due to our won deeds.
Om tat sat.
Namaskar to all Hindu Brothers and Sisters
I too pray and pay my respect to Shirdhi Baba as a Guru and avatar not god.
The larger picture is we accept all messengers of God unlike other faiths. But to sanctify them in temple depends on case by case.
If this temple which is managed by Shankarachariya’s pitt than they have right to decide
which statues allowed and not allowed. So we leave it as it is.
Baba is not going to be bothered about all this. What matters is we behave as good humans.
We Hindus believe that Everyone is Responsible for his/her action.
Who are we to be so judgemental. I think Sai has to answer to his “Maker” like all of us.
I am a devout Hindu & like people to make up their own mind.
THIS shankaracharya should be immediately
removed from his post. he is the most
uzseless fellow ; his motta body shows
what type person he is ; our country has
already gone to dogs with such people a nd
dirty politicians.
It’s really stupid on the part of Shankaracharya. He has no right to criticize the beliefs of individuals. These are the fake swamy’s who are responsible for creating confusion in people. Please continue to do things for Lord Saibaba, regardless of whether he is the god or not but he has done a lot to our human beings. Keep Shankaracharya out of who to worship and who not to. I don’t care they can publish my email or contact me if needed. There are too many swamy’s who go by, don’t let your tender thoughts to be stoles away by the so called Shankaracharyas. I wish these people can donate some money to the poor, I bet they will not.
our shankaracharya is right hindus start believing where little miracle is shown that any one can achieve by meditating fools hindus u should only follow sanatan dharam thats d ony god of our hindus
Dr.Parvathi,
Very sad, to peruse the above article entitled,”Ancient Gujarat temple to remove Sai Idol after Shankaracharya’s condemnation”.
To start with the first incarnation of Lord Dattatreya is Sri Pada SriVallabha, whose birth place is Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh and spent HIS precious life to uplift the mankind in Kuruvapuram,Telangana, while the second incarnation is Sri Nrusimha Saraswathi born in Karanja,Karnataka and spent most of HIS life in Ganagapur, Maharastra. Both the avatars have come with two main purposes of destroying the ego of people ridiculing GOD and to protect devotees like eye lids to the eye.
He wanted to establish Sanatana dharma. What is Sanatana Dharma-the term is used to denote the “eternal” or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect.This can be understood by reading the book, entitled Sri Guru Charitra.
The proof that Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was a Sadguru of this kaliyuga,this has been told by the first incarnation of Sri Dattatreya- Sri Pada Srivallabha Himself. He also told where this Sadguru will be born and other details of HIS objective.He quoted Shirdi’s name as Dheesila Nagaram also known as Seeladhi Nagaram.He also quoted about Nanda Deepams under the sacred Neem tree in Shirdi. He also told that the Sadguru is a brahmin, born in Bharadwaj Gothra.All these facts are given in “the book titled “Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam” by Shriman Shankar Bhatt (Contemporary of Sree Sreepada). From this book please read Chapters-4,5 either in telugu or english editions. After thoroughly reading the book the devotees who mock Shirdi Sai Baba as a muslim, have to change their verdict and must repent.
When Lord Dattatreya Himself proclaims that Shirdi Sai Baba will be born in Shirdi in kali yuga to care and protect the mankind as a Sadguru, there is not one iota of doubt. Sai is a Sadguru who wore tatters-unlike modern gurus wearing silks, never used AC cars for travel,never accumulated money in banks or trunks’ never feasted with sumptuous meals ate only food got from begging.Please compare and judge.If you do not have faith in HIM please shun off, but do not malign other devotees mind.The life of Shirdi Sai Baba is neither logical nor dialectical.
We should first understand ….. what is Advaita…. if understand—- universe – you and me are GOD’S particle—–
Why?
This sect guru should go to Pakistan, to claim the Hindu Sites.
Kalyan, BABA never asked anyone to treat him as god or pray him. You should tell to people who are doing it if you want to. Why cusring BABA? we can’t even think of who he is..If you can sit and eat with a dog feeling like : “Brahmam eating Brahmam with Brahamam” then you can comment.