“Who Will Decide If I Am a Shankaracharya — the President?” Swami Avimukteshwaranand Hits Back at Magh Mela Notice

Prayagraj: Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has strongly reacted to a notice issued by the Magh Mela administration questioning his use of the title “Shankaracharya.” Calling the move unjustified and beyond administrative authority, he asserted that only Shankaracharyas themselves can determine who holds the title — not the state government, not the Chief Minister, and not even the President of India.

Speaking to the media, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said, “When the Shankaracharyas of Dwarka and Sringeri themselves acknowledge me as a Shankaracharya and have taken the holy dip with me, what more proof is needed? Will the administration decide whether I am a Shankaracharya? Will the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister decide? Or will the President of India? Even the President does not have the authority to decide who a Shankaracharya is. Only Shankaracharyas decide Shankaracharyas.”

He added that out of the four traditional peethas, two Shankaracharyas openly recognize him, while the Puri Shankaracharya has neither endorsed nor opposed him. “He has remained silent. In the Supreme Court earlier, it was claimed through an affidavit that he had opposed me. But when we obtained a copy of that affidavit, it clearly stated that no one had asked him for support, and therefore he did not give any,” Swami Avimukteshwaranand said.

Magh Mela Incident: Entry Denied, Tensions Rise
Raising the issue of alleged misbehavior during the Mauni Amavasya Mahasnān, the Shankaracharya said he was stopped from going for the holy dip and treated disrespectfully. “We are not leaving the Magh Mela, but we will also not enter our own camp. I am neither on a dharna nor on a hunger strike. We are sitting at the same spot where the administration left us after stopping us from going for the bath,” he said.

Demands Public Apology from Administration
Swami Avimukteshwaranand demanded that the administration publicly apologize for its actions and escort him respectfully for the Sangam Snan. “If this does not happen, I will continue to come to the Magh Mela in the future but will not enter my camp,” he warned.

He also demanded the creation of a dedicated corridor for the Sangam Snan of Shankaracharyas and Vaishnav Akharas. Responding to allegations of barricade-breaking, he clarified, “Our disciples did not break any barricades. Government employees accompanying us had them opened. The administration should release CCTV footage related to the barricades to reveal the truth.”